The Red Woman came to the woods a few times a year, once on every solstice or equinox. Her first visit to the forest was on the night of a Hunter’s Moon, deep into the Autumn. The trees — the ash, beech, and oak — glowed like flame beneath the moon. The Red Woman, just past adolescence, held her own moonlit glow.

She walked under the fiery canopy, even then aware of many eyes on her. None really showed themselves to her, though she could feel their presence. When she thought she was about to become lost, the Wild Woman, ageless as a tall young tree, appeared before her.

“What here have we, under moon and tree?” The Wild Woman asked Red, and Red was not afraid.

“I come from over the hill.”

Wild smiled. “Indeed you do, my fiery one. What brings you so deep into these, my oaken woods?”

Red stood firm, trying to make herself tall. “I come for medicines, for me ma. She has the cough.”

Wild nodded, and beckoned with a gnarled hand, her eyes clear and bright. “Come with me, and I will show you what you need.”

And so Red walked with Wild through the dark Autumn woods, until they came to a small brook. There Wild, whispering sweet nonsense to the tangled undergrowth, revealed the herbs she needed, and explained how to make them into a draught for the cough. The herbs seemed to glow and sparkle a little under Wild’s hands, Red thought. She could feel Wild’s subtle power all about the place. It felt warm, inviting, and, somehow, safe. All the while Red eyed Wild closely. At the end of her explanation, Wild spoke right to Red.

“You have a question that is not medicinal.”

Red flushed at being so obvious, and nodded.

“Will ye show me more of your powers?”

Wild nodded and raised her hand once more. Around Red was raised a circle of toadstools. Red looked at them in surprise, but didn’t move from the circle. She looked up at Wild, grinning.

“I guess ye’ve caught me, faerie lady!”

Wild smiled, endeared by this carefree little one. “It seems I have indeed!”

Red sat down, still in the circle. Wild came to sit across from her.

“Are ye really faerie, or are ye human?” Red asked then.

Wild grinned sharp faerie teeth. “I am both, and neither. I am of the forest wilds, and I tread the borders of all lands.”

Red nodded again, as if assessing, approving of Wild’s explanation. “The townsfolk say ye are a witch.”

Wild laughed then, as clear and bright as birdsong in the Autumn breeze. “Of course they do. I am different.”

Red thought for a moment. “Ye are. But it is you, and I like you.”

Wild grinned. “Good.”

The pair walked back to the edge of the woods, Red with her herbs tied in a small parcel, walking quickly to match Wild’s long and sprightly strides. They stopped once they reached the end of the forest, standing in silence, looking up at the bright Hunter’s Moon.

Wild looked down at Red. “You should return while the moon is still bright.”

Red nodded and stepped to go, but turned back to Wild instead. “May I come back to ye again?”

Wild held her hands out wide. “You may come whenever you wish to me. Here I shall always be.”

Red smiled, and stepped quickly away. Wild watched her as she sped until she was over the hill and out of sight.