The Alarming Scent of Cinnamon

III

Gretel walked through the Dark Woods, attempting to cut through the fog with her new magical powers. She imagined a path clearing in the fog as they walked. She opened her eyes to find the fog was still there. She imagined it harder. Nothing happened.

"Are you ok?" Hansel asked.

"Yes," Gretel said, annoyed. "I'm trying to figure out how to use my magic."

"Oh," Hansel said. "I'll try to use mine, too."

"No," Gretel said. "Maybe only I should do it. Maybe 2 people doing magic will make it stop working,"

"Okay," Hansel said, although he knew the real reason she didn't want him to try.

Gretel kept trying to clear the fog. Finally, she tried pushing it away with her arm. The fog shifted, and moved away for a second. Gretel felt a small bit of energy leave her body. 

"I did it! Hansel, did you see me?"

"You were amazing!"

Gretel continued along, occasionally pushing the fog out of her way. She found that slicing through it was even more satisfying, and took less energy. However, it became clear that too much slicing and pushing was not very effective. Gretel grew more and more tired and she and Hansel had to keep going slower and slower. 

Gretel swatted at the fog once more and felt her legs give out.

"Gretel!" Hansel cried, catching her.

The fog began to close in. Hansel could feel it's cool humidity on his cheek. Hansel set Gretel down for a second to shape shift. He wanted to become a deer. They seemed strong and         well-built, perfect for carrying Gretel through the Dark Woods. He thought of the roe deer he and Gretel had seen in the woods. 

He focused on the image of the deer. 

He focused on becoming a deer.

Hansel felt his bones shift around, some lengthening and others shrinking. He felt his arms and legs stiffen. He was not as flexible as his human self.

Hansel looked around with his deer vision. Warm colors were muted, and the cooler colors seemed to jump out at him. He could see much better in the dark. His sense of smell was amazing. He found he could smell flowers before he could see them.

He tried to set Gretel on his back, but found it to be much harder in his new body. Eventually he was able to pick her up on his antlers and awkwardly roll her down his neck until she settled on his back.

Hansel didn't mind the cold as much with his thick, warm, hide. He took a few wobbly steps, Gretel slumped precariously on his back. It took him about a half hour to get the hang of walking, but he fell into a rhythm and found that deer were very good at traveling long distances. 

Hansel made his way through the woods, although it was difficult without a compass. Gretel was wearing the bag they had put all the witch's things in, so Hansel couldn't use any of them while he was a deer. 

Hansel couldn't really tell how much time had passed when he began to smell cinnamon. It was very faint, but grew stronger. Hansel heard a twig snap. He swiveled around, and Gretel flew off his back.

He tried to yell, but all that came out was a bleat. It was all so strange. He'd heard deer make these same noises, only now it was him making the noises.

Hansel could hear something coming. Something large and reckless. The scent of cinnamon grew stronger and stronger, until it blocked everything else out. Just then, a wild boar burst into the clearing. Hansel bleated in terror. 

Gretel was jerked awake as she was roughly thrown to the ground. She awoke to the smell of cinnamon, so spicy and strong it was almost suffocating. A large buck was being attacked by a boar. She could hear its bleats of terror. It seemed almost familiar, though...

Hansel tried to jab at the boar with his antlers. 

Gretel, help me! he pleaded silently. 

Gretel squinted at the buck. She knew that she knew it from somewhere... Had she seen it before? Or maybe it was...

"Hansel!" she screamed. Now with a bit more energy after her nap, she imagined an invisible force pushing the boar backwards. Nothing happened. 

Gretel charged the boar and pushed it backwards. Frightened, it retreated into the woods.

Hansel focused on turning back into a boy. It felt a little strange to be back in his own body. He felt more loose, and all the colors were back, although yellows and blues seemed duller.

Gretel let out a shaky breath. 

"What just happened?" Hansel said.

Gretel laughed shakily.

"I don't know," she said.

"You used magic again!"

"I did?"

"You didn't actually touch the boar. You like, pushed it back magically." Hansel explained.

"Oh," Gretel said. "That sounds pretty awesome,"

"It was!" Hansel said.

"You were good too," she replied.

"Thanks," Hansel said. "I think we're getting the hang of this."