Content warning: snakes
Playtime
Joni was looking for his daughter. She had wandered off from the home garden. She had just promised him she would stay in the yard, and now she was gone again!
“Sointu! Sointu, love, where are you?” No answer. Walking farther from the garden Joni grew apprehensive. The girl seemed to be fascinated with the craggy rocks to the east of the village. Joni had told her numerous times that it was dangerous to go there alone. She always answered, that there are no trolls or beasts there. But how would she know? She was just a little girl!
Admittedly, there hadn’t been any attacks so near the village for many years, but still. Besides, grosslings weren’t the only danger. What if she fell and broke a leg? She could be crippled for life! Or even die of the complications! Joni sighed, thinking about the health care of his youth. No one needed to fear a simple wound then! Now there was word of some people being real noitas, who could do actual magic. But none of them here, at Kaijatsaari, or any of the western Saimaa islands. If they were real, maybe some would eventually end up coming here too? Sometimes Joni was surprised to find himself contemplating the possibility that magic, or spirits, or the old gods existed. What nonsense! We are on our own! On the other hand, 14 years ago the idea of a troll was nonsense...
He was approaching the crags now. And yeah, there was Sointu, among the rocks! “Sointu! What have I told you? Why are you here again? You know it’s dangerous!”
“Oh, hi dad! They only call me when it’s safe! You don’t need to worry!”
“Call? What are you talking about?” Joni was suddenly alarmed. There had been a few weird attacks on the islands, and some people were saying there was a näkki around. Usually a näkki lured its victims into water, but maybe there were other, similar creatures?
Sick with worry, Joni continued slowly towards his daughter. “Honey, listen carefully. Come to me right now! Please, come to dad!”
“Aww dad, it’s their playtime, and they asked me to join in! I don’t want to go yet!”
“Playtime? What are you talking about? You must...”
Joni stepped behind his daughter, and saw who she was playing with. There were six, no, seven adders, slithering about on the rocks and his daughters lap. The zig zag pattern on their backs confirmed them as the venomous creatures they were, but their movements seemed... friendly? A couple were swaying their heads in front of Sointu, and another two looked like they were caressing her arms. Joni knew he should be terrified, but somehow the entire scene seemed very right.
“Don’t worry dad! They know you are my father. You can come closer!” The snakes were watching his every move, but still the feeling was relaxed. Well then, I suppose there is something in this noita thing after all. Probably comes from her mother’s side though. We have always been very boring.
