“But, Luna. I really didn’t mean it. I was just really--”
Fae Aurora raised her hand, signaling for us to be quiet at the dinner table. Her face, usually so bright and animated, was pale and drawn.
“Mom, please drink some water first,” I urged, my voice trembling slightly. “I’m worried about you--”

Fae Aurora cut me off with a weak smile. “Just a little misunderstanding, honey. It’s nothing a glass of water and a good night’s sleep can’t fix.” She reached for the glass I held out, her hand shaking slightly.
“Mom...”
“Barbara, it’s okay, I’m fine.” Fae Aurora sighed and gently stroked my hair.
“Really, mom? You’re so pale and weak.” I touched her hand in fearness.
Fae Aurora’s hand trembled violently as she reached for the water glass, sloshing it onto the tablecloth.
“I’m fine,” she repeated, her voice little more than a hoarse whisper.

Before I could respond, her eyes rolled back and she crumpled forward, falling face-first into her plate of half-eaten food.
Panic gripped my chest as I noticed a thin trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth.
“Dave, call Healer Cruz! Hurry!”
“Mom!” I cried out, leaping from my seat. I grabbed her shoulders, trying to lift her, but she was completely limp, and unresponsive.

Dave froze, his eyes wide with terror.
I gave her a desperate shake. “Now, Dave!”
He finally snapped out of it and scrambled for his phone with shaking hands. I turned my attention back to Fae Aurora, cradling her head in my lap, praying she was still breathing.
“Please hang on, Mom,” I begged through my tears. “Please don’t leave us...”
The seconds ticked by like hours as we waited for the ambulance. Fae Aurora’s face had taken on a ghostly pallor. I struggled to find a pulse, my own heart pounding in my ears.
“Do something, Timmy please!” I cried out to Timothee who was pacing back and forth, trying to find a way to revive Fae Aurora.
Finally, Timothee lifted Fae Aurora’s body and carried her away into the bedroom. Sawyer and Asher, who had been so joyful because Fae Aurora had recovered, now stared at the scene with grim expressions.
“Mom, is everything okay? What happened to Grandma?” Asher asked.
I stroked Asher’s head, trying to catch my breath so I wouldn’t panic too much. “Honey, I can’t answer that right now. Pray for Grandma that she’ll be alright, okay.”
A heavy silence fell over the room as we all held our breath, waiting for any news from Timothee. The cheerful family dinner had turned into a tense vigil.
Healer Cruz came rushing in, his steps hurried. “What happened? Didn’t I tell you to put the potion in the food consumed by Fae Aurora?”
Dave interrupted, “It was my fault, healer. I forgot that the Fae people cannot consume sage.”
Healer Cruz’s face turned grave. He quickly made his way over to where Fae Aurora lay motionless on the bed. Gently, he felt for a pulse, then closed his eyes and murmured an ancient incantation under his breath.
A faint glow emanated from his hands as he hovered them over Fae Aurora’s body. The color slowly returned to her cheeks, and her breathing became more steady.
“She yet lives, but just barely,” Healer Cruz stated solemnly. “The sage nearly stopped her heart. We must act quickly.”
He turned to me with urgency. “Gather these herbs - cedar, sweetgrass, and dried juniper berries. We will need to burn them and bathe Fae Aurora in the sacred smoke to draw out the sage’s poison.”
As I rushed to collect the items, Dave approached the healer, remorse etched on his features. “Forgive me, I have put the entire clan at risk with my carelessness.”
Healer Cruz placed a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder. “You are forgiven, my friend. Your intentions were pure. Now we must focus all our energy on saving the matriarch.”
I returned with the herbs, and under the healer’s guidance, we began the ancient ritual.
The fragrant smoke swirled around Fae Aurora’s still form as we chanted the healing songs of our ancestors.
Bending close, I studied her face, so peaceful in this moment yet etched with suffering from her recent ordeal.
My heart ached thinking of how close we came to losing her light forever.
“Great Spirit, guide her back to us,” I prayed fervently. “The people need her wisdom and leadership to show us the way.”
Soon after, Fae Aurora slowly opened her eyes, coughing weakly. She looked extremely frail.
“Mom-” I closed my mouth when I saw everyone was still focused on the ritual. I watched as a mysterious glistening liquid was carefully dropped into a bowl of water. Then the water was given to Fae Aurora to drink.
I bowed my head, tears welling in my eyes as I felt so useless through it all. I felt like I had messed up too many important things already.
“Hey...can we step outside for a minute?” Timothee asked gently.
I looked up at him. “For what?”
Timothee could see the turmoil in my eyes. He glanced around cautiously before leaning in closer.
“I’m not sure I trust Dave’s intentions anymore,” he whispered.
My eyes widened as he continued, “Did you notice how eager he was for Fae Aurora to dig that food? Almost like he wanted to ensure she consumed it...”
A chill ran down my spine. Dave had claimed it was an honest mistake about the sage, but what if there was more to it? I thought back to the strange glistening liquid - was that meant to heal or to cause further harm?
“You don’t think...Dave would actually try to hurt my mother, do you?” I asked, my voice trembling. Timothee just shook his head solemnly.
“I don’t know for sure. But I’ve felt uneasy around him ever since Fae Aurora fell ill,” he admitted. “We should keep a very close eye on him from now on. And maybe have the healer examine that tonic more closely...”
My mind was reeling. I had trusted Dave, had let my guard down. If Timothee’s suspicions were correct, had I inadvertently put my own mother’s life at risk?