Initial Arrival 19

Day 2
Date Unknown
Yakutsk, Siberia, USSR

I came to a hut in the forest. The hut was standing on large chicken legs and surrounded by skulls. A woman flew down in a large bowl or cup, using a large club as a rudder. The design was meant to be reminiscent of a mortar and pedestal. She was old and skinny, with a large nose. Her name was Baba Yaga.

She spoke to me. “Did you come seek me out of your own will, or were you told to come?”

“I don't know. I think it was recommended to me that I come, but not required. And I wasn't told what I would find, only to explore. I don't know of you and didn't come for you.”

“You never can give an either / or answer, can you?”

“If the assumptions which lead to the choices offered were valid, the criticism would make sense. But like many cases, false assumptions are made. In this case, it was assumed that I knew what I sought, that it was either my own conscious desire or the will of another rather than instinct or nature, and to some extent, the existence of free will.”

“Your insight is valid.” She paused, looking at me. “But you are displeased by my physical appearance.”

“It is just, well, you resemble the stereotypical witch, designed to denigrate women and traditional pagan society and especially female knowledge by a patriarchal, Christian elite. … To construct a villain, to destroy fluid thinking, complexity, uncertainty. To make people submissive and obedient.”

“This from the one who often imagines herself as an angel?” I appeared before her with wings in a white dress. “Like nature often is, I may not be nice, and I am often cruel, but I am not the villain of your story.”

She continued to speak, but her tone changed. “You seek to regain your will, your identity, your soul. I will help you, but know that the path won't be easy. Like many, your desires are often mixed with your fears. You will be asked to do many things which you may not understand. And you shall take the form of those whom you had been told are your enemy.” As she said this, my appearance changed, taking the form of a soldier.

“For now I will ask you to do something with which you often struggle. Take this pendent and take the time to rest.” She handed me the pendent. “You will need this if you are to accomplish what will be requested of you.”

As we were leaving each other, I responded with an unrelated question. “Why didn't you take me into your house?”

“Because I don't wish for you to stink up my house with your Russian scent.”

Then I was back in the clearing. There was a wolf and the avatar, but I didn't have the pendent. I think … it no longer existed in its original form.