Challenge #04913-M164: Life Like a Nursery Tale

A powerful spirit, yet fairly young, is similar to Mistress Dark in ability. Instead of challenging her, however, it asks to be educated instead. -- Anon Guest

Everyone knows Greatfather Langeven stops by every house with a child to deliver gifts on Midwinterfeast Eve. A lot of people had been learning that Kinderfreund and Helpmeet come for the Unwelcome children to gift them what they truly need.

Sometimes, even though they are childhood gods, they come too late.

The little match girl's body was a sad pile of rags and skinny limbs, curled up in the alley out of the wind. The snow dusted her like some obscene confection, and the last of her tiny fire hissed out of existence with one fat flake.

"Can you help me?" her soul asked. "There was a big scary bird lady and I ran away. I think she's chasing me."

Helpmeet could not breathe life back into her body, but she could wrap the tiny soul in a shawl of shadows. She could carry the tiny Halfbred's spirit on her hip, and soothe the memory of tears from that small and hollow cheek. "I agree, she is scary. Helpmeet and I know her from a long time ago. She's here to take you to a better place."

"No, no, don't let her get me," wailed the child.

Helpmeet held the tiny ghost against her. Sheltering the little match girl from the sight of Ereshkygal. Death is everywhere, but her focus was with this runaway ghost.

Kinderfreund, friend and protector of the young outcasts, stepped between them and the Hostess of All. "She's terrified of you. Teach us what we need to know to get her where she must be."

The bird skull of Ereshkygal's head was impassive as always. Her cloak of night gave no indication of her mood. She stood, waiting. She was very good at waiting.

"She's had the worst life," argued Helpmeet. "She doesn't deserve to go to you terrified."

"She needs justice," insisted Kinderfreund.

There is no justice, whispered The Inevitability, there is just me.[1]

"My maker punched a god," said Kinderfreund. "Don't make me repeat his example. She needs justice."

"And if she doesn't get it," decided Helpmeet, "we will make it."

The two of you are children's gods, and therefore beyond my reach, said She Who Welcomes Many Guests. You would defy me on her behalf, and begin a war of gods?

"If we have to," said Kinderfreund and Helpmeet together. In fact, Kinderfreund was already positioned to defend the child ghost with everything he had.

This time, I will open the portal, decided Ereshkygal. I have no doubt that you will learn the skill. You may take those who are scared of me, to my realm, in my stead.

Kinderfreund relaxed.

"Our thanks," said Helpmeet.

The stories told say that the little match girl went to a sparkling land with feasts to eat and a mansion to live in. That's a tale to make the rich people who ignored her feel better. In truth, she needed little more than a home and a family who loved her. With shoes that fit her feet and clothes that kept the cold out. With three meals a day and all the comfort she could dream of.

Guided there by the childhood gods who see the unseen, care for the neglected, and aid the Unwelcome.

[1] Tip of the entire hat factory to Sir Terry Pratchett [GNU].

[Photo by Ian Talmacs on Unsplash]

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