send flashback! for a glimpse into my muse’s past
Most people were inside right now, and honestly, it was starting to confuse Callisto. Suddenly, without warning, all the merchants had brought their things in–it was midday, for god’s sake–and everyone, especially the children, had seemed to disappear. If Callisto’s mother hadn’t been inside already, busying herself with cleaning the house while their father was out gathering firewood before winter settled in, they might’ve been yanked inside by the waist of their britches, too.
As it was, they were left standing in front of the only other thing outside–the strangest thing they’d ever seen in their entire life (granted, six years wasn’t much, especially since they’d never ventured far from home). It was… Tall. Much taller than they were, actually, but probably not tall by an adult’s standard. It was probably a little shorter than their mom, Callisto figured. It was covered in thick, white fur, almost like the fabled polar bear.
Maybe it was a polar bear! Callisto hadn’t actually seen a polar bear, so they wouldn’t really know what one would look like.
The thing furrowed its brow for a moment, looking down at them. Then, it opened its mouth, revealing many large and sharp canine teeth, and spoke.
“Well, little one, I’m what your people call a Windigo.”
Now it was Callisto’s turn to look confused–moreso than they did when they’d asked the question. A Windigo? But those were large, terrifying creatures that ate all the little children who dared to venture out past dark! At least, that’s what their father had told them. Callisto pursed their lips, staring up at the Windigo’s furry and adorable face. He looked snuggly.
“But you don’t look scary at all!”
Callisto huffed, rolling their eyes. “Don’t you know anything? Windigo are big,” they spread their arms for emphasis, “scary monsters who eat all the bad kids! They have giant claws and big sharp shark teeth–I don’t know what a shark is but they sound scary–and their fur’s always stained with blood!!” Before they’d even finished the Windigo was laughing, and rather loudly at that. It was an odd, wheezy noise. Callisto pouted, crossing their arms.
“What’re you laughing about?” Their tone soured.
“That’s just–” he giggled, “–that’s very cute.” Callisto immediately huffed, their face scrunching into an even deeper pout.
“No it’s not! It’s really scary, not funny or cute! You’re the cute one!! You’re like a big fluffy… Thing! Not a scary Windigo. What’re you doing here, anyways? Do you have a name?”
It took a moment for the thing–well, supposed Windigo–to recover. He reached up with one of his big furry paws to wipe a few tears from his dark eyes. Callisto waited impatiently for an answer. As the Windigo straightened, his eyes flickering over the small, scrawny child, he spared them a warm smile. Even with his sharp teeth, it wasn’t scary in the slightest. Callisto was convinced that he could not possibly be a Windigo. He let out a soft sigh.
“I’m Aster, and I was hoping to trade for some herbs today. Most neighboring villages haven’t been friendly, but I’ve never been here before, so–”
“Oh!! We’re real friendly here!” They seemed oblivious to the fact that everyone was hiding–from Aster. “I don’t know where everyone’s gone, but I’m sure I can get Claude to give you some of his magic plants! That’s what herbs are, right?” Without hesitating, the small child reached out to grasp Aster’s paw, tugging him towards one of many little hovels. “My Mommy says Claude gives very fair prices. I’m sure he won’t mind us stopping by! He always lets me play with his kids once they’re done with their chores. He’s nice.” If Aster was trying to protest, it was lost in Callisto’s rambling. By the time they’d finished, they were knocking on Claude’s door.
Claude opened the door and almost immediately shut it upon seeing Aster, but hearing Callisto’s soft, “Hello, Mister Claude!” stopped him. He looked very uncomfortable, but Callisto, ever-oblivious, didn’t notice.
“My friend wants some of your magic plants! He said he’d trade for them, and I told him about how you always let me play with your kids and–”
“That’s a good idea, Callisto, why don’t you go play with Didier while we haggle? Élie would come out as well, but he’s busy helping his mother.” Before Callisto could answer, Claude had called Didier, and the young boy–looking a little shaken–had come out, taken Callisto by the hand, and scurried over a few yards away.
“Callisto! What are you doing with that Windigo?” He hissed, eyes flickering nervously back to Aster. Callisto looked too, and, seeing that he was still there, politely haggling, turned back to Didier, frowning.
“What? Have you seen that thing? No way he’s a Windigo! Besides, even if he is, he’s really nice. He would’ve eaten me already if he wasn’t!” Didier looked absolutely petrified with fear, which completely baffled Callisto. But Didier was eleven, and supposedly much smarter than Callisto was. Still, Callisto had a feeling that they knew a lot more about Aster than Didier. He hadn’t even talked to the Windigo yet!
“Windigo are bad news, Callisto. You need to go home.” Callisto didn’t speak to Didier after that, doggedly waiting for Aster and Claude to finish trading. Aster was proving to be much more interesting and much more fun, after all. When Claude called for Didier, Callisto rushed back over to Aster excitedly. Once Claude had closed the door behind himself, and Callisto and Aster were out of earshot, they asked; “Well? Was it a fair price like my Mommy said it’d be?”
Aster smiled again as they took his paw in their small hand, nodding. “Very fair.” The truth was, however, it wasn’t. It wasn’t fair in the slightest. The prices were steep, and Aster knew exactly why. But, he couldn’t bring himself to crush the young child’s excitement. Not many humans were ever very happy to see him, after all.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent chattering aimlessly while wandering around the empty village. Snow had yet to fall this season, so Callisto eventually sat down as they grew fatigued and busied themself with picking flowers, which they gave to Aster one by one. He seemed to like them, even the dandelions, and fashioned them into a circlet which he then placed on Callisto’s head. They thanked him with a tight hug.
As the sun began to take its dip in the horizon, however, Aster rose and said that he needed to leave. All good things came to an end, after all. He thanked them for their time, ruffled their hair, and turned to leave, only stopping when he realized that they’d caught him by the arm.
“Wait! You’re coming back, right?” Aster looked confused.
“Well, I wasn’t planning on–”
“You have to come back!” Callisto suddenly sounded very oddly distressed, tears flooding their large, coffee-brown eyes and threatening to spill over. “We had so much fun today, I thought we were friends!! And friends visit each other, right? Here–” one last dandelion, a little crushed from being toyed with for too long, was pressed firmly into Aster’s paw. “You put all the other ones in my hair. And since we’ve both got gifts from each other, we’re friends! So you have to promise to come back someday so you can meet my mom and dad! They’d think you’re really cool, too!”
“… Well, alright, Callisto. I’ll see you soon.”
He was back the following week, much to Callisto’s pleasure.
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