#the abbey of st gobnait

[badolmen]

real talk, when did shit get really real for the botanist when the woods began to take over?

👀 well since you asked and I’m incapable of answering anything normally...

There was a time when Aleks liked cutting down small trees by hand, when they found peace in hacking down stems no wider than their wrists. Now it was a tedious chore, a daily reminder of how quickly their world was changing. Their axe cleaved another tree to its stump, but the fast growing plant needed a push to reach the ground.

At the very least, they would never have a shortage of firewood so long as the forest kept this pace.

“Run out of gas again?” Even though the voice was familiar, the botanist couldn’t help but tense their grip on the axe in their hands. These were dangerous times.

“I’m saving it for the generator. From the sounds of it they won’t be getting the power lines back up any time soon.” Aleks explained, picking up their discarded jacket and tucking it under their arm.

“I heard the same.” Kalina sighed wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

“What are you doing here? Not that I – not that, uh, I don’t enjoy the company, but you usually send a message.” The botanist asked, walking around to the front of their home with the nun.

“That’s actually why I’m here,” She said, voice soft. “The birds won’t fly over the woods. We’ve tried everything. They’re afraid.”

“Everyone is,”

“Come now, you know better than anyone that those birds would rather fly from here to the village than stay cooped up in their nests under any other circumstances.” The nun said, shaking her head as she looked at the where the sun peeked between gathering clouds. “Just, come look at them. Sister Ada thought they might be broody but…better safe than sorry.”

“You’re right about that. Give me a minute and we’ll be on our way,”

The pair walked through the woods, weaving between trees and occasionally glancing at the dark canopy above. Aleks pretended not to notice when Kalina held their arm, sticking closer to the botanist as they followed the overgrown trail deeper into the woods.

There were whispers of men going mad in the village, abandoning homes and taking up the role of brutal savages deep in the woods, somehow surviving the horrors of night without light or fire. But no such savages had made it this far north in the woods, as far as they knew.

“…There’s also the bees, which are as strange as the birds these days.” Kalina continued, listing the news from the past week. Sister Sonia had spent every waking moment in the shrine, while Mother Hedwig assured the sisters that they were safe within the abbey. The priest, Father Kos, had left to the Archbishop in the east just two weeks ago, to bring concern for the forest to wider authorities.

“I meant to ask you about that – the hive in my greenhouse has been in a swarm mood despite the season.”

“Same with ours. The east hives have already swarmed – we can’t find the new colony, not that we’ve looked far.” Kalina paused as the steeple of the abbey came into view between the tree crowns. “Do you think it’s the trees?”

“If it is, I don’t understand how. Not yet.”

The pair walked through the open gardens, other nuns hacking away at the encroaching woods with axes sharper and larger than Aleks’ own.

“Sister, for the hearth.” A nun addressed Kalina, handing her a basket of tinder branches. “Mother wishes to speak with you, now that you’re back.”  

“Of course, Maria,” Kalina took the basket and pulled Aleks toward the abbey gates. “The birds are in the steeple, do you remember –”

“I know the way, meet me there.”

The familiar stonework of the abbey that was usually busy with song and clergy lay dusty and silent, save for the occasional cough and quiet murmur of the nuns. Another sound was missing from the empty building – the typical cooing of doves no longer echoed from the tower above, even as Aleks climbed the spiraling stone stairs.

The steeple held nothing but feathers and dead doves.

“Christ the King,” They muttered, picking up one of the limp birds, still warm to the touch but no hum of life under its skin.

“What’s – oh Lord,” Kalina stepped beside the botanist, peering over their shoulder. “What happened to them? They were fine, well, mostly fine this morning…” She reached past them to pry a still twitching bird from its nest. “It’s…it’s having a hard time breathing.”

Aleks had set one of the dead birds on the ground, knife steady as Kalina whispered prayers and comforts to the dying animal in her hands. Birds never bled much, and that they were grateful for as they sliced through the delicate skin and easily cracked the fragile ribcage.

“We’ve never burned candles up here…and its so well ventilated here in the steeple, I don’t know how…” There was a whimper from Kalina, Aleks hardly hearing her soft whisper. “Oh, I’m sorry little one.”

“It wasn’t anything you burned,” Aleks said, eyes seeing but brain struggling for an explanation of how they were seeing what lay before them in blood and feathers. Kalina crouched to their level, still cradling the dead bird to her chest.

“Fuck…” She breathed, though she briefly made the sign of the cross. “What in the name of God is that?”

“It…it looks like a mycelial mat, but, but somehow growing…filling the lungs.” Aleks was not thrilled by the thoughts swirling in their mind. “Where did you last send a bird?”

“East, to…to Father,” Her dark eyes were searching for meaning in the dead animals around them. “The bird never delivered its letter…”

“What are you two – doing…up here?” Sister Ada’s harsh tone faded as she saw the birds and the blood. Aleks sprung up to their feet.

“I need to talk to Mother Hedwig, now.”

---

“Are you sure you’re alright to walk home by yourself?” Kalina’s smile was honest, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Now that’s a question I haven’t heard since university,” Aleks said, trying to force their own smile to match. “I’ll be fine. Thank you and the Sisters for letting me stay the night.”

“Alright,” She tucked a stray curl of hair beneath her habit, eyes unfocused as she stared across the gardens where the other nuns were already at work tending the vineyard and attacking the ever growing woods. 

“Hey,” The botanist said, leaning into her. “At least your bees are okay. A little confused about the season, but they’ll settle down once we get a hard freeze.”

“You’re right, you’re right…” Kalina sighed, leaning against them. “Let me know how your hive is doing once you get down the greenhouse,”

“Will do. Might take a bit longer if I have to catch the Courier and convince her to head up your way.” The botanist said, standing from the abbey steps and stretching. “I’ll visit again soon,”

#ra speaks #darkwood #darkwood fic #the botanist #the apiologist #the abbey of st gobnait #me. hoping to avoid all work today: what's this? an excuse to write about the garden gnome and their hellworld? absolutely. #what's that old saying...a canary in a coal mine? a dove in a tower? hmmm??? #the italics just mean this happens all in the past relative to all the other times I write the botanist

[apostleshop]

Saint of the Day for Friday, February 2nd, 2018 - Saints & Angels

Great News has been shared on https://apostleshop.com/saint-of-the-day-for-friday-february-2nd-2018-saints-angels/

Saint of the Day for Friday, February 2nd, 2018 - Saints & Angels

St. Joan de Lestonnac

St. Joan de Lestonnac was born in Bordeaux, France, in 1556. She married at the age of seventeen. The happy marriage produced four children, but her husband died suddenly in 1597. After her children … continue reading

More Saints of the Day

Tomorrow’s Saint

St. Blaise

Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebastea and a doctor. The first known record of the saint’s life comes from the medical writings of Atius Amidenus, where he is recorded as helping with patients … continue reading

More Saints

Saint Feast Days by Month

Browse Saints by Category

Popular Saints

33.

St. Gabriel, the Archangel

St. Gabriel is an angel who serves as a messenger for God to certain people. He is one of the three archangels. Gabriel is mentioned in both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible. … continue reading | shop

34.

St. Raphael

St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord, and one of the only three mentioned by name in the Bible. He appears, by name, only in the Book of Tobit. … continue reading | shop

35.

St. Dymphna

Dymphna was born in Ireland sometime in the seventh century to a pagan father and devout Christian mother. When she was fourteen, she consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of … continue reading

All Popular Saints

Female Saints

St. Abigail

St. Abigail, more commonly known as St. Gobnait or Deborah, was a medieval Irish saint born around the 6th century in County Clare, Ireland.

According to tradition, Abigail’s family was always feuding. This caused her to run away from home to settle on Inis Oirr in … continue reading

More Female Saints

Angels

St. Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel isn’t a saint, but rather he is an angel, and the leader of all angels and of the army of God. This is what the title “Archangel” means, that he is above all the others in rank.

St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, as we … continue reading

St. Gabriel, the Archangel

St. Gabriel is an angel who serves as a messenger for God to certain people. He is one of the three archangels. Gabriel is mentioned in both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible. First, in the Old Testament, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel to explain his … continue reading

Saints Fun Facts

St. Bertin

St. Bertin was born about the beginning of the 7th century near Constance, France, and received his religious formation at the abbey of Luxeuil, at that time, the model abbey for the rather strict Rule of St. Columban. About 639, together with two other monks, he … continue reading

St. Blaise

Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebastea and a doctor. The first known record of the saint’s life comes from the medical writings of Aëtius Amidenus, where he is recorded as helping with patients suffering from objects stuck in their throat. Many of the miraculous … continue reading

Source link