Cat stirred in the soft pillow I went to him and smiled at him as he opened his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t want to be alone and I didn’t know where else to go.”
“It is fine Little brother but please don’t talk so loud. The firewater aches in my head. You can share my space anytime you like. “I mumbled in disconnected thoughts with my head still throbbing.
Cat sat up and whispered, “I’m sorry I can’t seem to do anything right. I guess is just better to be oblivious to the world like lizard lips”.
“You can’t do anything right I am, how you say batting 0 for my team. I have betrayed my people and hurt my dream and harmed my buddy.”
“What do you mean?” Cat looked confused; “We already have a plan of getting all the baby’s you can take. What else do you need? I’m sorry about him. It’s dangerous around us. About dreams they get smashed on a daily basis around here. Betrayed your people?”
“Let’s go get some of the fruit we bought at the rising of the sun on the day before the night.” I wondered how they could keep track of all the rotations in a cycle. ” Then we can stretch. I need some air. I will explain then. I will cook for you if you can make a flame for me
“Sure let’s eat.” He moved gracefully in his human form. He got up from the bed and starts to go down stairs while muttering, “Ever time I fail, that’s a few more dreams of good people that get smashed”.
Raven laced her arm in his as they descend the staircase. “Can you hold secrets for me, little brother?”
“I just wish we could get paid for what I do here maybe get some training. I know how to fight but this job takes so much more than that. I guess I could. What do you need to tell?”
“I need a place to store my logs of my life and I need an ear to hear my pain. We are not allowed to hold pain within our self else we turn dark. How much have I told you of my home?
“Ok I understand.”
I felt good and smiled brightly at Cat. I turned my attention to food and pulled things from the cold box. “So where is the flame and a good cooking pot of metal?”
He turned a knob and a flame blossomed into being. He looked amused and began to cut up the fruit for me. I taste the ingredients to make sure I was using the right thing and made us rolls and berry spread. I ate and ate. My tummy felt so empty. Cat smiled and ate up his shared too.
“What do you need to talk about? I guess I’ll listen for a change. Your friend Valoki got an ear full last night.”
“I have a feeling deep within my heart ever since my eyes meet Cufean’s. He lied to me and I made a fool of myself. He had me tell secrets of the forest I am not allowed to teach till after the mates are about to leave. I know not of this thing called love but from what your holy book and Cufean has says I think I love him. It hurts so bad when he called that Sable love and than to hold her and kiss her and not to leave me or at least release me from the room when Valoki was healed.” My eyes filled with tears. “Is that love Cat?”
He gathered his thought for a moment, “I don’t know. What we want and what we let ourselves have is not very often the same thing. He might have wanted you but already had a commitment to the … killer. I don’t know, my grand father said that love between husband and wife is more of a commitment that a feeling. It’s something you do, not feel because feelings come and go. Your childlike looks and behavior as we see it would drive most men wild. Here wisdom has a habit of coming with, how would you say it, a darkness and Sable has darkness to spare.”
“But I am Raven of the Fireoak Forest, Seeker, Teacher, and Protector. I have the knowledge to do great things. I am to be the burning flame in the cold and green. I am not supposed to fall to the dark. I have always had a little dark in me Josho, did not wish me to do with out it. He said it would make me strong to understand it.”
“Look, here people are very careful on whom they commit to, at least woman.” Paused and realized something and asked, “Who’s Josho?”
“Josho, was my parent. He was a high protector before he became my parent he told me my mother had been a seeker but the elders said different. The one who bears is a mother right?” I so much wanted to know of these separate family units that they all belonged to.
“I guess the best way to say it is your male parent is your dad and female parent is your mom. The one who bore you is your mother and the one who seeded your mother is your father.” He was happy with his choice of words; “I think it’s better to be a dad than a father but is fun to become a father. The problem is if you let the darkness takes over, you will just be doing for yourself no matter who you hurt. Look at Drakon.”
“Let us stretch our legs I would love to see the beach and the sunrise again,” my heart ached and I added, “This time with no…. Archer… Aaron…. Ghost….. Cufean… What ever the name of the day is.”
“I have two names. Simon my human name and Cat my hero name. He needs more, his Hero, human and elf names. Sometimes you need more than one.”
I interrupted him; “I have one name and proud of it. If I must take a second name I will do like you are Simon Catling. I will be Raven Fireoak.” That is good, none of it lies.
“That will work, do you want a Hero name? How about THE SEEKER” Cat smiled brightly at my new name.
We went back to my “room” and he picked my clothes. Found a sheer over shirt to cover my thin stringed tank top and a pair of what he called shorts and we went to his two-wheel cart. We rode to the west and came to the darken sea. It was black and cold and the wave moved in and out in a rhythmic pattern. Empty and vast like the deep pain in Cufean’s eyes. Slowly the sky to the east broke in deep shades of purple. The sky warmed in shaded colors of fire. I turned back to the sea and saw the vast darkness lightened into gray and soon the colors of the sun played upon the swells of the surf. If was breath taking yet nothing could I think of could compare to the wonder of this sight.
Cat was quiet and thought only of his own pain for Kara. The sun was up and as it has been since I arrived the day was good and we played in the sand together and ran and laughed. We talked about so many things that it filled my soul and the darkness left me. I smiled and felt almost at peace. We on the sand spoke again about sweet Cufean. He lied and I burned for him. He hurt me and I burned for him. He was by all definitions dark but I burned only for him. I grew sad again but stood up and poked a jab at Cat. He stood up and we practiced fighting. The sun had moved and he needed to go to school. I went with him.
College was so informative. So many facts and figures to learn and ideas. Men and women just the in their ripeness of age for mating. Men not so unlike Cat. One that was in the fullness of mature walked up and put an arm upon Cat’s shoulder. He was Mr. Cal Catling his “father. Cat tried to excuse us but it was to no avail. The man patted his son’s back proudly and winked and took us out to eat. After lunch Cat took me back to the mansion.
When we arrived my little sister was there. I grabbed Kara and pulled her to my room. I than explained to her that my people did not have real brothers and sister but it was a title of trust. I am not sure she understood that if I trusted my brother she could trust him with the troubles I burden her with and him to her. No one person should carry the weight of another’s trouble alone but the peace of this wonderful day was soon come to a close as it in this land of green. The darkness had fallen and Cat called out for Kara and I. Cat called to us, “Guys there’s something wrong”. We started to run down the stairs as the lights in the place blinked out. I made a leap to the bottom. I open my mind’s eye and saw no danger. I could here the guys calling for us from outside. I sent Valoki to scout ahead and made to the front door. I opened the door and screamed “Where are you little brother?” Kara jumped from behind me and took to the air as I heard the voices from the back yard. I made my way to the large French doors at the back of the house. I had just left the doors when I saw the drake in the sky to the east growling out his question, “Who are you!?” The night air was filled with the smell of death, of slaughter … of the grave … In the shadow a hulking human form stands. He was bare to the waist and on either side of his chest are tattoos of snakes… I looked at his snakes and than to my living art. “No,” I thought, “he is not one with my quest.”
Around his hips he wore a simple loincloth of animal fur. His face was hideous, the eyes seeming to glow with a fevered light. His body was on the verge of rotting, not quite, but close. With my minds eye, I could see nothing not even a flicker of a flame. The thing looked up at the Drake and snarled, thrusting his hand forward suddenly, unleashing a sickly green ray of power.
The blast streaked past the dragon, the smell of rot filling the air. Chameleon flew up to meet with this creature of death. She opened herself and a sent forth a bolt of lighting totally missing it but making a wonderful hit on the hut of huts. Drake took in the wind and blew our flame. It bathed the creature in a brilliant glow of reds and yellow but the stench in the air grew thicker. When the flames died down the thing seemed unaffected I ran closer hoping to help. The thing lifted into the air, climbing with astounding speed toward the dragon. This undead’s face was contorted with hate and with clenched fists he sent forth a nearly blinding beam of light at Drakeon. The beam slices the night but nothing else. Drakeon shifted into hybrid and proceeded down to attack. Drake landed his foot in the chest of the creature at the same time, I looked out with the inner strength of my self and tried to pull it out of the sky. The creature fell back a little. I could feel him stayed for now but he struggled against my will. I screamed to all. “Blast him.”
“Plan on it!” responded Chameleon as she summonsed forth-another bolt. This time the bolt whizzed by the creature, again hitting the building.
The animated corpse clenched his fists and slammed them together, hurling a brilliant beam again. The twin beams cross at Drakeon’s chest blasting him but doing little noticed damage. The creature howled in frustration and Drakeon growled with pain. Before Drake could recover the rotting fiend lifted his fists, firing the brilliant beam again, striking Drakeon in the chest. This time, Drakeon if lifted a greater height in the sky. Drakeon shifts to his dragon form.
I touched Cat’s mind and we worked in unison. As cat took a leap with his foot stretched out before him, I used my inner strength to push him high into the sky. His foot connected with the zombie. Drake dove and caught cat to keep him from falling to the ground but The Cat tucked into a ball to position himself to land on his feet, not knowing that his fate will be in the hands of lizard lips.
The thing tumbled toward the ground but seem to right himself at the last moment. Upright once again, it took aim-blasting Drakeon with the sickly green ray of light, the one smelling of death. The beams struck the dragon on the shoulder, the pain stabbing deeply into his brain just before he passed out, and plummeted toward the ground. The unconscious dragon falls from the sky, slamming into the mansion’s upper floor. The Cat sprung away from the dragon and landed on his feet with pose and grace of one of my people.
The zombie stood covered in the grass and sod which looked natural on the undead. He leaped into the air and landed next to Drake. It hovered before the dragon and raised his hands. With his claws extended, he tore the dragon’s throat. Blood spurted, as great gashes appear in the dragon’s scaly throat. The dead one savored the flavor as he licked the blood from his claws.
We all attacked again and large a hole was now in the mansion but the creature returned to the ground and escaped. I bound the Dragons wounds and the blood stopped. We drug him into the house and stood in silence.
Than a wonderful thought came to mind. I would help little brother.
I suggested we three go dancing at the place Mr. Catling had suggested. Kara agreed and I sent them off on his two-wheeled cart. I told them I would catch up. I watched them leave and went back into the hut of huts. To my surprise was the great one, Nick. He was eyeing the fallen kin.
I tried my newly learned greeting,”Good day Nick.”
He nodded and replied in correction, “Good evening, Raven.”
I smiled bright and continued with, “We need a builder and a planter. How does one go about obtaining one?”
Nick pointed at the wall and ceiling speaking in the tongue of birth and recited “Perinth dah logth, de be nath”. From his lips it flowed like the music of the branches but I knew I could never sound as eloquent as he could. Nick turned back to me; the walls had repaired themselves good as new. Valoki hissed at Nick and sent warning in my mind.
I asked about his female, Rogue, he told me she was doing sport in the water. I made comment of not ever getting use to the waters of the green and that is when he did something I couldn’t believe. He held out his hand to me and I took it as if I was with the ones of my home. I know I should not be so trusting of great ones but something inside me told me they have the key I need.
Nick altered the reality of this world and found myself in a cave, the flame and cleansing sands not unlike that of my home laid before me. I looked into Nicks golden eyes searching for reason but instead I went to enjoy his gift but Cufean’s words stopped me.
“Are you also dammed by the taboos of the green,” I inquired as not to offend him.
He laughed in only the fullness of his kind, “I am above the green and cold.”
” Most of your kind are. “I agreed as I removed my boots and jeans and wore only the clothes I arrived in.
I walked upon the warm sands and filled my lungs with the sweetness. I entered the flame and felt all of the flame lick my skin removing all that had settled on it. “Why do you bother with them?” I asked.
“Because I must. It is MY duty.”
“Of your choice or of your birth?” I questioned. I entered the flame and it licked by skin and I could feel the warmth and clean of my skin…
He chuckled at my foolish statements and replied, “I was not born, I merely AM.”
He was dragon kind. He was above me. He did things for me I was in debited. I checked my skin and rubbed my art. I looked at Nick watching me, “Do you know what my marks mean? Will you tell me or is it going to be that in time I will knew but only in the full of time?”
I did so amuse him. He chuckled lightly and answered the answer, I was told since I first could speak, “In the fullness of time you will know.” He chuckled again and continued a warning, “The seeker of the tales of other places and others like you. There is a trial before you, one that may destroy you or it can make you stronger. Raven…you do not understand the Dark. It is necessary. He stood up in a motion of such swiftness and grace it took my breath, “Come.” He held his hand out to me.
I picked up my clothes of the green with one hand and took his in the other. I stood before the great one, Valoki screamed warnings in my head not to except any more. I could not help it. His kind had always showed me ways other than the forest. I needed to know. I needed to learn. I need to repay him.
Nick twisted reality and I stood in a beautiful meadow of green, with a sprinkling of wild flowers in neat rows to the horizon “Do not move,” he warned. I stood as still as the great oak. Across the rows of wild flowers people of stunning beauty walked in a row, their step and actions seemingly synchronized.
Nick spoke as softly as the wind, “This is pure harmony…here there is no dark…here there is no fire…no death…no change…. each flower regrows in exactly the same place…the people cover exactly the same territory…Would you have your world thus?” Nick twisted reality and I stood in the boughs of the Fireoak Forest.
“Is this really home?”
“Yes, Raven, it is.” Nick confirmed but you cannot stay. Your destiny is elsewhere.” I reached out with my mind to feel the spirits of the tree. Nick took a single leaf from the tree upon which we stood and handed the spirit it to me. It does not fade. He spoke with caring in his tones; “The Flame burns brightly, warming you. It will not fade, Raven. It will forever be bound to your home. It will comfort you and warm you and in it you will see home.” Nick once again twisted reality and we stood once more in the foyer of the mansion
I looked into my cupped hands. My heart was torn in rejoice of having it and pain for the forest who lost it. “Thank thee for the gift, I need a little of the heart.” I paused for a moment and than asked more of the great one, “Will you do one more honor?”
He smiled amused at me, “If I can.”
“Take me on a flight. There is no greater joy than on a dragon’s wing.”
He could hardly hold his amusement in him, his eyes did betray, “That I can do.”
I lay my bundle in the corner with the flame hidden under and walked out with him. I climbed him with ease and found my seat. I place my hand under the one scale that could lift and stroked the soft skin beneath it. It I was ready and he knew with my touch I was seated proper. His great wings spread forth and lifted into the air. He brought me the cloak of my dream and I pulled it around me. He flew to his love and picked her up.
At first she seemed upset but climbed upon his wing using his wing as an aid. I was taken back that she did not climb but took a child’s way up. I offered her a hand to help her ascent. She settled in on his back as if she also knew the ways of flight. This was good but the great ones, love confused me. Why would she not of learn? Was this just a way to make me feel at ease? Was it more to his liking to treat all the people of the green as a child? Was the statement of concern that I was with him because she did not know his heart or that she doubted her inner ties with him? There was and is many things to think of when it comes to the great one.
He flew us north. Off in the north the curtains of blues and greens of the Aurora shimmered on the horizon. My eyes opened but I could say nothing. Valoki hide under the cloak. Nick dropped down like a striking falcon, leveling off just above the vast snow plains of the North Pole.
My voice returned to me faintly, “The land of the cold. It really is! And they say the gods are myths. But I see a myth of my own. Just like dreams do not live but they do.”
He landed in the land of the cold. His claws dug into the frozen covering, sending a spray of snow and ice to either side of us. He lowered his wing and I slide down, as did his love. I walked upon the pure white. I felt the cold soothe my veins. I looked across the vast plain of untouched beauty and all I could see was the depth of my dream, the pain of his tears. I knelt into the snow and tasted it. I smelt it. It filled me but emptied me. I just want to close my eyes and be with one with it.
They where speaking to me but my mind only wanted the rest of the cold. It was calling to me. Claiming my flame. It took the burning from the veins, the pain from my heart and expected nothing of me but me. I was very tired. I went to lay down in this blanket of cold.
Nick strong arms lifted me. The fire burned in the cave. I understood and crawled into the center flame watching them under Cufean’s cloak. He smiled at Rogue, she smiled at him. They exchanged the name of love and kissed tenderly. I closed my eyes so that the painful thought of my dreams would not fill the room.
I felt better and stood in the flame. The burning and pain was in my spirit but I was whole. I walked out and rubbed the sands over my boots to clean them.
He told me of the leaf now being the key to this place. Rogue asked of it and I showed the spirit leaf. I only need to think of this place and I would be here and to leave all I needed to do was tell it were you would be, and I would return to his hut of huts. I spoke the words and I was in the room of my things.
The night was still young and I had a dance to find. I put on some clothes of the green and went to town. I looked for them but Cat’s and Kara trail was to cold to follow. At that moment a young man approached me.
“Miss. Can you spare a dollar for a cup of coffee?”
I looked at him. His brown eyes, they where glassed of that was one lost. His long brown hair barely kept and growth was upon his chin. No more than a new mature could he be. His clothes where tattered and torn and his body thin. I felt for him. I tried the test but the talisman stood silent. He stood there staring at me; I finally spoke, “If you wish I will buy you a meal instead.”
He smiled so brightly. He led me to a small building and took a sit in a worn and torn bench. It was not as nice as the house of pie but it smelt really good. The waitress came. She was weathered and looked tired and her clothes stained but she smiled and asked, “What will you have?”
I spoke, “I would like pie and give him all he can eat.”
He smiled and asked for a burger fries and a coke. He was William. He had been on his own since he was a “kid”. He never usually approached good-looking woman but he had noticed a guy following me and he had to do something. He talked and talked and I was totally taken a back of the stories. He finished his food and asked if I wanted my pie. I had forgot to eat it. I gave it to him.
“William, I am new to here and I need a guide and help to learn. I couldn’t offer you much as I do not have a place of my own. I stay with others. I could feed you and give a little money.”
He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Okay, What is it you need first?”
I smiled and the waitress put a bill on the table I fished around in my pocket and pulled out the money. He grinned and mumbled about how lucky that money was. He took me up and down the streets and as we rounded a corner an elder was in trouble. Two young men was pushing him around. I was a protector and I jumped into action. William’s eyes opened wide and just stood by while I pushed the one boy into the other.
These two where dark. I open my mind to the elder and told him to go to William. When the elder had moved, I took my shot by kicking one in the groin and jumping away. William still stood still in disbelief. The elder stood next to him, gathering his strength.
It was like a dance with these two. I would try and hit and they would try and hit. I jut wanted them to go but they wanted more. I could see it in their eyes. The elder grabbed a long wooden board and came charging back to aid me. William looked in disbelief but finally joined in the fray. The two young men being out numbered ran off into the darken streets.
The elder was John. We walked him to a small hut not far from where we where. His yard was filled with many carts and the wild green grew all over. He took us into his house and fixed us coffee and thanked us for our kindness. His hut was small but warm. The walls had faded patterns and pictures of people where all around the room. He saw I looked at them and explained that that was his family long since had they left this world. He handed me one of a young girl and a young man. She was in a long gown of white and he dressed in black. It was his wife, when they had married. He told of how she died when she brought forth his seed and soon after his daughter died too of illness.
My spirit felt for him. I opened up and told them both of my duty. William was quite interesting in the mating and John was thrilled to meet a real elf. John stood me up and looked me over and brushed my hair from my ears. Humans are really forward. Do they not know what happens to us when you do that?
We talked for hours. William fell asleep. I spoke of Cat and his desire for a car. John laughed and said every boy wants one and he had just the beauty to. He took me to his yard and showed me it. He said it to be a 63 corvette. I ran my hands over it.
He smiled at me. “Tell you what, since you helped me out and all I sell her to you for $500 and a kiss.”
I smiled back. “Will you help me get it back to where I stay?”
He thought for a moment, “That will cost you a hug.”
I gave him a hug. We left William sleeping and John promised to give him directions to me when he awoke. He started the car and it purred like a kitten. He drove me back to the mansion and I made note of how to return to him. Spock gave him the money and I in turned handed it to John with a kiss.
“If I was just a little younger,” he smiled, “I would love to be with you in your forest.” He handed me the keys and a piece of paper; “here’s the title, Raven. Now you behave yourself.” He turned and walked down the drive. I ran up to the room of my things and took the covers from the bed and ran back down. I covered it to hide the gift and rested on the hood. I fell in and out of dreams as I looked into the sky.
This was good. I was happy. The dark in me faded. I might yet be good seeker.