Rav rested in the arms of the great one. Her mind slipped back to the early days of the forest. The mages gave themselves unto the spell of space and time to bring forth the life fire and flame of creation. It was pure and untainted by evil. Perfect in all ways and unchanged since time began.
The seven mages twisted and turned it and it rewarded them and took them. All things had a price and theirs
was there spirit flames. Forever the seven would be alive unto the people but apart from them. Forever would the seven be unto the flame but apart from it. Forever they would be the bridge that linked the people and the flame.
If only her people had stayed in the trees, if only they had listened to the mages but they didn’t. The forest new and the rim were the seven. The hunters came and the seven protected as promised but even reborn in the pure of the flame, the anger of the peoples memories cried out for the blood of those who sought to slay them for sport.
Rav stood high above her kin as they dropped to the ground and slit the throats of the hunters. At that moment the flame became colder. The seven mages wept and Rav could feel the hunter’s spirits moving in the trees. Down upon the ground little tree shoots broke the ground, one for each of the life flames taken that day. Her people where again unclean, impure and lost to the evil they did.
They all looked up at her and a cold shiver was upon her like if the hand of death beckoned for her. The new gifts of the flame filled her and she could see the evil in their eyes. Each heart was like a book for her to read, each mind sending forth messages to her. She could hear the cries of the living and of the dead and of the forever protectors. She was the only one of her kind and they hated her because she still stood pure.
Rav climbed the trees, higher and higher she went till she topped Merlock. She could feel his protection surround her. She looked down and saw they made their way up but was not following her. She sat on the branch and watched the people of her land. She closed
her eyes and could hear their plans. She was one unto the forest and the flame and her new gifts flowed in her veins.
The measure of time was not for this place. The forest was always lit in a blaze of colors and light. In her mind she still remembered the days and seasons of the land of green where she came. Many days would have pasted as she sat up there, listening. Hearing the people form a new family.
The laws where simple enough. No one would leave the rim of trees. She laughed to herself, “if only they had listen to that in the first place.” All was to work for the good of the people. Every person must spread their seed to make a child, and no one would ever speak of the wrong that was done to their enemies. At all cost the truth of the error was to be erased. Life began, in the Fireoak Forest with its untold truth.
Rav stayed in her top branches till one morning when she opened her eyes and saw him. His great swirling eyes of cosmic space, blackness so deep that froze the soul but sparkle of light like stars shone brightly in them. He was a dragon but that didn’t matter all she could see was his eyes. His eyes held her frozen in time. No fear, no surprise, no feeling, she was numb to all.
“Good day little one.” He grinned, a toothy smile that should have made a grown man faint. She just lay
there mesmerized by his eyes. “Surely you have a tongue little one?” he inquired.
Rav try to find her voice but instead her mind answered, “Yes, I can speak.” The great beast nearly fell from the branch in laughter. “Such a strong one you are.” he announced proudly, “So why have you called me?”
“I have not heard them call for you.” She looked surprised. She had listened to all the chatter and none was of a great dragon.
“Yes, little one, in the making of your home you called on us. Yet you are the only one left of the one’s who did call. I am here now. So why have you called?”Rav nodded. She thought she understood. The spell must have drawn this great one to the forest and she was the only pure one left in the branches. “I have no answer for you. You are a mystery to me.”
He again laughed, “Come little one let me take you away to where you belong.”
“I belong here,” she said confused for a moment, “This is where I belong.”
“I see,” he considered, “As you wish for now. I have all the time to wait for you, little one. I will be back.” He took two steps and leaped into the sky. His large wings casting a shadow for a moment over the forest and than he was gone into the brightness of the flame.
Rav woke up still cradled in his arms. Her mind wondered for a moment of her child and mate Josho but he would not speak again till it was time. She tried to fall back into slumber.