“Are you sure you want to do this?” Questioned the strong gravely voice within her mind.
“You know I must,” Rav’s sweetness of mind replied, “It is the only way I may leave my seed safely.”
“You are no longer bound to their ways. Let us turn back.”
” I have made up my mind. Please just fly.” She spoke gently to the massive sandy colored dragon beneath her legs. “I will not leave you. You know my heart.”
“Yes, that I do.”
Her mind wandered back to the home in which she came from. The forest was new and the seven souls who called up the flame became the trees that housed them. The flame was good, life was good, and all within the flow was good. Than why did she leave this heaven? It was the need of the people. What was there a few dozen of her brethren? And the bloodline was limited, children prospered and souls joined with the flame and the trees grew. It was the beginning of the new age for elven kind. No longer would they be hunted and killed like creatures of sport. The flame would protect and the powers of the seven great mages of people would also be there for all times.
She still could see back to when it all started, back before the great day it was done. Once thirteen tribes roamed the land, sea and air. Now only eight of bloodlines had escaped the human purge of the land. The few of them left, had fled across the great desert, yet the hunters continued to press after them. Many of the ones she loved dropped in the heat of the day and on the cold of the night. No real food or water, it was only a matter of time before they would all be left for the animals to chew on. One of the great seven, Zen was his name, came up with a plan. It was only a legend he spoke of, a child’s story of fancy, a Myth. It could never be. But what did we have to lose. The seven agreed to try.
Each of the seven mages where powerful and each had a special gift on top of that. Zen had the gift to open portals within the time of space. Hair white as snow and skin to match. He towered over most of us but gentle as the breeze. His blue eyes could reach within you and touch your soul. Talons had the gift to transform life into shapes of life. He was one whose hair was never the same and eyes of gold. Strong and fast was he on his feet. Efan held his own against the other men. His Hair shimmered like silver and eyes burnt red as fire. He had the power to shield all that stood near but only as long as his strength could hold. Mirth was a small little thing. She had hair of flame and eyes of purple but a spirit that was strong. She could control the elements. Bell stood taller than most women did but never as tall as Zen. Her hair was short and brown and eyes to match. Her special gift was of life it self. She could heal wounds and open wombs. Sarah was new to the people. She had lived elsewhere and came to warn the people of the new danger. She was the last of her own people. Her hair was the color of amber and eyes where cool and black. She was a seer of what was to be. Than there was Merlock. Grey was his hair and eyes were cold as the steel he wielded. His muscles expanded to a full bulk of the warrior he was. His gift was of destruction. With just a thought he could send a weak-minded to his death. He had been her stepfather.
“We are almost there little one,” The voice spoke tearing her from her thoughts.
“Oh,” she paused, “Is the chosen one in range?”
“He has not been called to arms yet. I will wait till we are closer before I draw him to you but the forest is reaching out. Close your mind.”
She only smiled. How could one so great be so worried? Her thoughts drifted back into time. The hunters had turned back. The people where to weak to move any further and all around them was the barren land of sand and stone. The mages circled and made plans of the great undertaking.
First was the matter of seeding the women who would be left if they succeed in the great task. Each of the men took a woman and seeded the women with a new life as Bell opened their wombs. No one chose the black hair green eyed beauty, for Merlock would have killed anyone who would have touched his stepdaughter. He never showed her any kindness or love but he stood by and protected her. Talons using his transformation help the female mages leave their seed. Each of the seven had a seed unto them self to leave the people, the bloodlines must survive.
The night fell and Merlock went to Rav, “Child!” he sounded and she stirred with a fright.
“Yes, father.” Her jade green eyes sparkled in the moonlight.
“We will be weaving you a home at the coming of the sun,” the harshness in his voice seemed so out of place. “Your mother gave me this when we had meet.” He dropped a stone into her hand. “It is a dream stone. If you stare into it long enough you will see your dream. She told me when I saw my dream in it in full, I was to pass it on to my dream in order for the dream to live.” He paused for a time and she dared not speak. “The stone is now your. Do not lose it and do not keep it or the dream will die.” He turned around and left her. He almost looked sad as he walked away.
Before the break of the first light the mages gathered the people in a circle and stood in a circle with in the circle. Each dropped a necklace of acorns from their home forest in a pile. Zen started the chanting as he drew an old scroll from his belt. The earth began to rumble and the sky broke in two. One side of night and the other of day. The earth divided and a shoot of flame broke the ground and took the acorns. One flaming seed fell to the feet of each mage and they continued to work the magic. In the center of them the flame took on the form of an oak tree blazing in middle of a great fire. The branches of the flaming tree stretched out to each of the mighty mages. Zen ordered the people of the outer circle to enter the flame. At first no one moved but Rav saw the strain on Merlock’s face and for a moment saw what her mother must of saw, a man who would give all. She was the first to enter the flame. The others gasped. The flame felt good, it felt loving, it flowed within ever fiber of her being. Soon she felt the others coming. She was one with but unto herself within the flames.
The seven mages smiled when all had entered in. It was the last smile any of them held, for as they did this there legs became roots and arms became branches and they grew. Seven mighty flaming oaks now stood around the flame and they could hear them in their mind’s eye. “It is now time to join our branches and live in peace. We can now protect as one and we will all be one for all times. One unto each other.” They left the flame and climbed the branches. On some of the branches was fruit and all ate. There was water now but none that could be drank. The water steamed and burned anything that touched it. A snake slithered out of the flame and moved freely in the water, all things have exceptions. Other creatures of magic and fable that had been lost to their world, came forth from the flame and it was good.
The hunters had not turned back. They had only gone to get supplies to track every last of them down. We saw them off in a great distance. Some feared and wanted to flea our new home but the flame whispered you must never leave the rim or you will be lost to us. You are safe as long as you stay.” The hunters came and as they neared the circle of flaming oaks, many screamed in pain and fell. Others made it to the base of the tree but the heat made them weak and collapsed. Soon none of the hunters were left standing. The people of the trees descended on the unconscious hunters and took their flame of them, expect for Rav. She looked on as they killed these beings like the animals they where hunted for. Revenge was all they thought and it was bad. The flame took the spirit flame of the dead and joined them in the heart of their new home. A new tree sprouted for every flame taken, expanding the rim
Inside the Great oak Zen, was a hollow room, and each name was recorded. All who lives in the flame was recorded. She read her name that was near the floor just right of Merlock, “Rav” Faint carvings where beginning about each of the women that had been seeded and the children of the mages now trees where linked to their parent. The line recorded for all to see.
“Wake sweet one,” spoke the dragon’s voice in her mind. “It has begun.”
The great beast had already landed, she slide down to the hot sand of the barren place. The flaming forest rim was not far from her. She lay down on the ground covered in a shimmering silver cloth. She watched the flaming tress as she knew he was drawing near. Her friend took to the sky. The chosen ones name was Josho. The only seed of the seven that was near pure. The dragon friends had sat within the Zen tree for hours reading the names to find him. He had been chosen for her. She looked in to her dream stone and closed her eyes and knew that they had chosen correctly.
Josho approached the rim. The trees screamed in warning of attack. Each proctor search for the evil that made the cry so loud. Further and further they spread out, near to the rim he did approach. Just a short run beyond the rim laid a mound. It was covered in silver and was not moving. Josho’s mind raced should he break the laws of the people and go to it or stand his ground at the rim. The mound moved and the body of a female was revealed. Josho was more torn. This could be a sister, one that the evil ones took from them and left her hurt out to die beyond the rim. No, he was a Procter he was sworn to protect life. He stepped out of the forest and an empty feel engulfed him. No longer could he feel the warmth of the spirits of the forest. He ran to the woman. He knelt down besides her and uncovered her face. Two perfect almonds, dotted with deep green of jewels, lips of rose and a smile that made him feel whole. His blood began to boil for the first time in his life. Her long silk black hair draped her lovely form. He searched for injury on her with trembling hands. She was beautiful in his eyes and so unlike the people of his forest but she was elven.
She stroked his ears and the fire began to burn hotter inside him. He went to stand but she pulled him. She had caught him by surprise, he fell a top of her.
“Great protector I need your warmth.” She said with a smile and than kissed him passionately. His head was spinning was he in a dream. Her hands moved over his in purpose of arousal and it worked. He gave in to the passion of his veins. He was not a mate but the fire whelmed in him, burnt wildly. He could not control him self, so he gave into himself. The passion played for hours each totally into each other. He collapsed next to her covered in muddy sweat of their lovemaking. She caressed his chest and whispered into his ear, “I am seeded. My lover. I will return to you. Wait for me here, at the time of the ripening of our fruit.” He looked deep in her eyes; he melted in them and laid another kiss on her lips. She stood up. Looking down at his form. She turned and walked further into the barren.
“Wait,” He called after her,”Where are you going? Come with me to the forest.”
“I can not enter there, Josho. It is not where I belong.”
“How did you know my name? Who are you?”
“I am a seeker and I needed your seed, all things will be revealed in the fullness of time. Wait for me here in the ripening time of the child. I will return to you.” A great dragon landed and she climbed on his back. “Remember me.” The Dragon flew off with her.
Josho stood up and lifted the cloth of silver. His eyes filled as she soared out of his sight. He felt empty. Why did he feel so empty? What was this pain aching in his chest. He returned the forest and it was quiet. He felt the spirits but they where further from him. He heard the songs but they where not as sweet. “A seeker,” he thought, “none was missing. Who was she?” He had mated with all of the women of his age and none was fruitful. His seed was dead. Why did she think she had taken it? He returned to his duty. Every moment of every period of time, thoughts of her shadowed him. Hours he spent looking at the names of people wondering if the faint marking above each mate would come to fullness with one for him.
High above, she looked back at the man she mated. “Yes, love still surveys.” She held on to her great friend as they returned to the land of the Dragons. Time pasted and her belly filled with life. Each and every day of the pasting of time all the dragons came to see her, but she was always one unto herself. She looked into her dream stone as it started to fade. Pain reeked her body and screams filled the valley as she brought forth the little one.
Her eyes open. The great beast looked down at her and spoke, “You have done well. It is a female. We will call her Ravgeon.”
“Let her be Raven,” she whispered, “It is more of a girl’s name.”
“As you wish my little one. She has a friend my dear.”
“A friend?”
“Yes, he came forth when she did. They will be bound for all times.”
“We need to return my friend,” She looked down upon her daughter with tears streaming, “She will not be safe till she is with her father. ” She uncovered her child and saw the living art. “What is this on her?”
“It is a mark of greatness, She will understand in the fullness of time, as you will.”
Josho checked the rim each every day of the fullness of time. “Would she really return?” A great beast landed she slide down with basket in her hand. He left the forest once again and meet her half way. His spirit leaped at the sight of her. She walked slowly and looked in pain. “You did return.”
She smiled and lay the basket at his feet. She took his hand and laid a stone in it. “My mother gave this to my step father when they had meet and he gave it to me. It is a dream stone. If you stare into it long enough you will see your dream. He told me when I saw my dream in it in full, I was to pass it on to my dream in order for the dream to live.” She paused for a time. “The stone is now yours. Do not lose it and do not keep it or the dream will die. Protect our child and let no other but you be her parent.” She kissed him softly as she closed his hand on the stone; she turned around and left them.
He couldn’t move. He bent down and uncover two sets of eyes one of gold and one of green. The golden eyes produced a snout and hissed. He watched her fade into the sky. His heart hurt but when he looked at the full locks of black and green eyes in the basket, he felt whole. He returned to his people but not as a proctor but as the child’s parent. No one would take her from him.
It was the dawn of a new age. The flow was complete, a seed from all eight had been added in the flame.