The Snow Maiden, or the Case with the Holiday Blues (Dreamhealers Book 4) by M.C.A. Hogarth

Author:M.C.A. Hogarth [Hogarth, M.C.A.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Stardancer Studios
Published: 2011-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

It took several days, the aid of the history professor, and the input of several teachers and parents before they were pleased with their cobbled-together mythology. They named the principal figure Alet-Claws, because no one could resist the pun, and using the Universal word for friend (formal mode, singular), derived originally from the Seersan language, seemed too good an opportunity to make an oblique reference to Nisia. Not wanting to forget her staff, they worked them into the mythology too—

"Elves?" Vasiht'h said, going through the bookmarked sections in the lovingly maintained books the history professor had unearthed for them on the customs of Terra.

Jahir made a face. "Too humanocentric. Most of the officers there will be Pelted."

Vasiht'h scratched his head and flipped through the next section in the encyclopedia of mythical creatures. "Brownies?"

"Those are... some kind of fairy?" Jahir said, frowning.

"They helped in people's houses, and accepted gifts of sweets and foods," Vasiht'h said. "They didn't take any payments for their aid, and no one ever saw them."

"Alet-Claws and her collection of brownies," Jahir said, laughing. "What a hodgepodge. It just might take."

Vasiht'h sat back. "Do you think we're meddling again?"

Jahir glanced at him, amused. "This is a persistent worry of yours, arii. Do you think all psychological problems should be resolved by the correction of someone's mental state?"

"It is our job description," Vasiht'h said, closing the book and setting it on his forelegs.

"Our job is to help people resolve their difficulties," Jahir said. "If that difficulty is not a manifestation of an entirely interior pathology, why should they be forced to fix it by themselves?" He took the book carefully from his partner's lap and set it on the table, handing down a steaming cup of kerinne. "We are a community, Vasiht'h. Nisia's problem stems as much from her relationship with her community as it does from within herself. We can teach her to cope with unfairness, but in the process we will also teach her that she must prepare for injustice, and a little to expect it. We create a new pathology to replace the old one."

Vasiht'h made a face. "You don't know that's the case."

"She feels unacknowledged by people who live by her labors," Jahir said. "Shall we tell her that she must expect to be taken for granted? When we can do something about it?"

Vasiht'h sighed. "Well, when you put it that way." He smiled, lopsided. "It seems strange to me that you've internalized this lesson better than I have, about people's mental states having to be treated holistically with their environment and relationships. I'm the one who grew up in a place that idea's taken for granted."

"Maybe that's why I've internalized it," Jahir said. "Where I came from, we had no such belief. I came to it as an adult, evaluated it consciously, and chose it."

"Maybe," Vasiht'h murmured. And sighed. "Still, it seems like this is... an extraordinary effort for a single person."

"If it was for a single person, it would be," Jahir said. "But it's not.

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