Fire and Rain (1,691 words)

The earth was quiet and alive, the soft pattering of rain, the lapping of the gentle waves against the sand of the nearby shore. Peaceful and serene, the rain was a good omen for the birth of the little kit tucked safely in her mother’s arms. A soft lullaby escaped one of the huts when a cloth door covering was pulled back. A priestess with dark fur stepped silently through the door, one clawed hand holding open the door drape. Her amber feline eyes watched the scene inside with obvious happiness. 

The young mother lay propped up in her bedding, her sandy colored fur slick with sweat, and yet beautiful happiness radiating from every pore of her body made her state seem like a wonderful miracle of nature. It was from the young mother’s open mouth that the traditional song to welcome infants to the world was sung. Her rich purring tones were soft, but the joy was as loud as the largest tidal wave crashing into the shore. Next to the mother, the new babe’s grandmother quietly twined her own voice in with the melody, pride apparent in her tones as well. 

The young priestess allowed the door drape to fall over the scene as she stepped out into the rain. The fact that the desert sky had blessed the tribe with life-giving water on the day of this little one’s birth was auspicious indeed. She raised her tired face to the water, letting the water drench her fur, mouth slightly open, drinking in the potential and life. 

Regaining her train of thought, the priestess shook the water out of her eyes, face drifting down to look at the small bonfire that was being tended five paces from the front of the hut door. A man sat there, sitting on his haunches, protecting the flame with his body, a stick clenched tightly in a clawed hand, poking the coals to keep the fire going strong. “Priestess Kalyuua!” He smiled at her widely, for all he looked soaked to the bone. “I can hear the lullaby, how is-.” 

Kalyuua smiled raising her hand to the nervous father. “Your mate and babe are fine. The fire burns well, despite the rain I trust?” She asked the man quietly. He shook himself allowing some of water that clung to his fur to slip off. 

“Yes priestess. It took well and quickly just a minute before the rain started to fall.” He looked up at the priestess, his canines flashing in a nervous yet proud smile. “Good signs for my babe, are they not?” Kalyuua bared her canines in a cheerful grin for a brief second. 

“Such wonderful omens must mean that your little kit was blessed with the Mother’s smile and kiss before giving her to you and yours.” The father’s eyes widened with delight at the mention of the babe being a girl. He trembled as happiness took him over, as if the wind itself could not get him to his family fast enough, but he must tend to the fire until she bade him otherwise. Kalyuua struggled within herself for a silent moment. These omens were powerful… should she consult with the High Priestess? 

The High Priestess sat down in her small desert flower garden, opening the pots that were customarily used to catch rainfall while Kalyuua stood behind her in the half bow that one was to stay in while the High Priestess was lower then those in her presence. “You shall go to Talnar and Lithuna, tend to them for the birth of their child. You alone are the best one to go to them.” The High Priestess had opened every single water catcher in her garden before dismissing the young Kalyuua whom had all but run towards the village proper, white linen robes flapping behind her like a dove in flight. The sun shining brightly in a cloudless desert sky. 

Odd as the encounter had been then, it seemed the High Priestess had known it would rain. She must trust the High Priestess’s judgment. If she were the best, then she would complete the life-flame ritual as she had been taught. She kissed the new father’s forehead. “Go to your child.” 

“Thank you Priestess!” Talnar stood and bowed, speeding towards the hut, joy in his feet. She chuckled and sat down, the rain had already soaked her light robe and fur, but it was a pleasantly warm shower, and Kalyuua raised her face to the strong patter once more before focusing on the task at hand. 

The flame was indeed strong, the hood dry with the intensity of the heat, while the size of the fire was still relatively modest. The priestess removed a pouch of crushed shells and sprinkled a pinch over the flames. Slowly they turned a deep purple. The child would be gifted with the arts, unsurprising with such birth omens. Kalyuua smiled and waited patiently for the flames to return to their normal color. She sat there for long minutes, and it wasn’t until she reckoned that five minutes had passed before the flames started to fade back to their normal orange, yellow and red. 

The priestess’s whiskers bristled in appreciation, the babe’s arts would be very strong, and that most certainly meant a considerable amount of time as a member of the cloth. In a second pouch she drew out a vial of the birthing fluids that had surrounded the babe in question. Half of the contents were poured onto the fire, and Kalyuua drew out a thin piece of honey colored glass and looked through it with a keen eye towards the center of the flame, leaning forward with baited breath. 

A swan lay sleeping in the center of the flames, waking slowly and starting to glide through an imaginary sky. Its eyes were open wide and a brilliant blue color. Several birds joined the sky with the bird, everything from owls to hummingbirds. But when a crane with red under-plumage entered the sky the swan and the crane started to fly together in circles, wingtips touching gracefully as the rest of the birds fell away from their joyful dance in midair. 

A raven entered the image of flight, breaking apart the crane and swan, the crane fell back but tried to keep up with the wing-breaking pace the raven set, a dove entered the picture as the raven drifted off, and now instead of the crane fighting to keep up, it hung back, as the dove and swan twirled in the air, both shining a brilliant white. The dove and swan touched foreheads as the dove flew up and out of site, growing even more brilliant as it disappeared. 

The swan flew in lonely circles, still bright, as birds of all types and markings flew around her. The crane however dove out of the tide of birds, plummeting down and out of site while pearly tears shone in the swans eyes. 

She grew brighter and brighter, never being touched or flown directly with by any of her flock, opening her wings to protect them from a snarling sense of danger and claws. 

Despite the swan’s best efforts, birds in her charge fell, spiraling down in death and being lifted into the Goddess’s bright light that revealed they were rewarded for their devotion. The swan grew brighter and brighter as each bird she tried to protect, and those that protected her fell. 

Then the crane appeared again, this time taking a invisible strike that sundered the beautiful auburn bird into pieces, red plumage scattering to the wind. This bird did not bask in the Goddess’s holy glow. The swan cried out in outrage, glowing brighter and brighter until the entire flames were transformed to a brilliant white color. 

And with that the flames returned to normal. 

Kalyuua’s eyes were open wide and unblinking as she stared at the normal flames through the honey colored glass still. She would forever remember the girls astral self and the twists her life would take her through. And the fact that she herself would keep the girl away from her mate, from happiness… Kalyuua shivered, her fur ruffling as she dispelled the water that now seemed cold to her. Her soul-form was that of the very same dove whom had danced with the white swan with bright blue eyes, she and the girl would share much in their future. 

She had looked into the fire, only expecting to see the astral forms of the young babe and the babe’s eventual mate… The priestess had seen so much more then that, a genuine birth prophecy. Kalyuua covered her eyes in respect and awe, not looking directly back to the flames while rapidly ingraining the symbols and forms into her memory. 

Change was coming, and this tiny infant would be the key to it all. Kalyuua carefully poured sand onto the coals, stifling the flames whilst still not looking directly into it. After the coals were hissing wetly and the last flicker of orange faded from the pit, the priestess wished she had not been tasked with this knowledge, that she could forget or prevent the innocent babe’s great and terrible future. What if she did not have the correct interpretation in her mind… What if it cost the little babe dearly? 

Her spine stiffened and Kalyuua steeled her nerves. The High Priestess had tasked her with this knowledge, had said she was the only and best one to know. She would help the girl as best she could, and try to guide her to a path of happiness in the cloth and hopefully a peaceful life after her great task to the Mother Goddess was completed. The priestess stood up looking down at the coals, and turning back towards the small happy family. 

She would have an interesting life, this little girl, power and authority, and the support of many powerful people as well. Her name would be sung by the future generations of Keritish without a doubt with just as much love and adoration as the three in the little hut now sang it with.

'Litlu'

a story of creation (1,144 words)

Before existence there was the great void, and in the void existing and not existing lay four pair of closed dreaming eyes.

The first entity dreamed of deep blues, floating in a sea of cool and warm currents, the natural to and fro motion alien to the void, making her dreams fantastical in nature. Her thoughts were the first waters, deep oceans with cradling motion and gentle coolness.

The second pair of closed eyes thoughts were not of floating, but of rather of standing, walking sitting, not moving not floating and of solid earth. Free from the insubstantial surroundings of the void. Deep greens and tall browns, speckles of colors and natural patterns. His dreams were the first forests, the flora and grasses.

Another pair of eyes dreamed simply of sensation. Of movement, through emptiness which was not truly empty. Flying, dipping and wheeling, constant sound rushing to take the place of a constant void, a soft whistle of noise, a harsh roar, gliding and manipulating the emptiness that wasn't empty. Her dreams were the first wind, breezes, thermals and harsh storms.

The last entity dreamed of warmth, dancing and moving, light of birth and destruction. Powerful and deadly beauty in red, orange and yellow. His dreams were the first fires, the warmth of life and the flames of death and rebirth.

For no length of time and forever the eyes existed and dreamed until the last pair of eyes burst open, and from his dreams, so powerful and vivid for seeing something that had never existed, birthed the sun. Large and slowly spinning, the fiery orb lit the void and transformed it into space. The new light illuminated the four figures. Each distinct in their differences but with two general forms. The newly born gods rejoiced in their new sight and reveled in the reality of one of their dream.

Eagerly the three remaining rushed through space to create an orb of their dreams. The god who dreamed of green things and dirt had no trouble with a solid orb of earth, so different from the void, now space, it floated gently and perfectly. The goddess who dreamed of oceans however could not get an orb of her dreamed element to stay in a perfect shape all on its own. She moved to her brother of earth and begged for the secret. The god of earth showed her how he had managed it, and only while the orb held her full attention did it remain floating and perfect like her dreams, the moment she turned to share her joy of its creation it disappeared in space. The goddess of wind comforted her as best she could, for she couldn't get her rushing wind element to stay an orb.

The god of earth looked to his orb once more and with a great hand, remolded it to include many ribbons and spots, and a great basin. He caught the tears of his sister and placed them in the great basin, but they would not remain there either. The god of fire dived into the center of the orb and filled its middle with the hot fire like the sun which was so suited to staying in a round shape and keeping its flames.

His dive into the land created the first volcano, which erupted in the emptiness of the great basin and harmed none of the green life on land. The god of earth again caught the tears of water and placed them in the great basin. This time the water clung to the earth and in joy the two brothers showed their work to the weeping sister. Her last tear dropped into the great basin and excitement ran through the assembled gods once more.

The goddess of wind pressed her element to the outer edge of her brothers' and sister's orb, finding that this rushing nothingness which was something also clung to the earth and water because of the fiery innards of the ball of earth.

The god of earth created more of his trees, flowers, grasses and mountains. He even gave his sister plants in the great waters of earth, reeds and long green grasses. The god of fire contented himself to sleep in the center of the hallowed earth, surrounded by his brother's and sister's creations and immersed in his own. The goddess of wind enjoyed the wheeling sensation of flight for a long time before she became envious of her brother and sister, still enjoying the happiness of creation. She wished she could create more wonders in her dance of rushing air.

Her feverish dance swirled and swirled until her envy and desire birthed the first tornado, it ripped apart some of the greenery below before the goddess, entranced entirely by her dance and thoughts, realized. The god of earth's anger was immense, and the entire planet shook and some parts even cracked in his anger, more volcanos sprung up in his fit of rage and burned even more parts of his glorious creation.

Thus earth declared that water was the giver of life for all things that lived on land. The goddess of wind apologized profusely, and offered in peace to carry the water to all places around the land that were not right next to water. So began rain and storms.

And so for no time at all and forever the four deities were satisfied with their creations. The goddess of Water fell to the dreaming slumber after the god of Fire, then the Wind, and finally Earth.

The goddess of Wind was the first to stir. From the dreaming haze of her second slumber, her lonliness, sprang beautiful feathered creatures who could ride the wind with graceful wings and light bodies. All diffrent colors of plumage and sizes sprang from her eyes, fingertips, and ends of her hair. Doves, cardinals, sparrows, eagles... on and on her creations spilled into the new earth, and the creatures of Flight were first.

The goddess of Water was the second to wake. Her second slumber birthed large schools of fish, colorful and sleek, slipping through the water with ease as they made their homes among the coasts and deep ocean beds of the water. Tiny fish, turtles, sharks, dolphins and whales all sprang up from the sands of deep ocean floor.

Next the god of earth awakened, and he birthed creatures of the land, each suited to speficic areas of the land he had created so not to over crowd them. From the smallest mouse to the largest elephant, the god of earth molded them of dirt and breathed life into each of the multitudes of diffrent types of animals.

Last the god of fire opened his lonely eyes, and left his home in the center of the earth out the world's first volcano and went to speak with his siblings. "I dream of something that I alone can not create." He told them, his voice sorrowful. The three remaining gods looked at each other confused, nothing in their wildest imagination had been denied theirs to create, raptly they listened to their brother describe a creation in the basic likeness of them, one molded of earth, with water and warmth inside and dependent on the breath of wind to live.

A creation of all four of the elements. With wide eyes the four gods descended to earth to try and shape these beings. The god of Fire steadily molded a mound of earth into the likeness of his brother, the goddess of Water slowly traced water along down each finger, arm, and leg. Earth brought the spark of life and Wind blew gently into its mouth. Much slower the assembled gods created only hundreds of these beings. Each was from a unique spot of soil of the earth and each looked slightly diffrent and after each one the assembled deities looked more and more exhausted.

The newborn humans looked upon the assembled gods and goddesses, and kneeled, praising them and all their creative powers. Slightly revitalized, the god of Earth wrapped himself in a large oak tree, the biggest tree on all of earth. The people shouted out in amazement, and all proclaimed this god "Heartwood!" Transforming her human legs a tail of a large fish, the goddess of Water slipped into the great basin with a splash to sleep among the reeds and schools of fish. "Sea Mother!" The newly human cried together. The goddess of Wind walked into the sky and lay down around it like a blanket obscuring nothing but creating a obvious protection for the little planet. "Our Guardian!" the assembled declared as one. And before the god of Fire climbed into the top of a volcano he turned to his the reality of his dreams and gave them one last gift, the gift of fire. "The Light-Giver" his children thanked and named him in one voice.

fin.

into the bonfire (1,075 words)

The bonfire danced high above even the tallest members of the crowd gathered around it. Akashii stared with sorrowful eyes at the large cheerful flames. It was the festival of the Goddess, mother of the Keritesh people, it was a time for fertility in all aspects of life especially love, and wealth. The friendly chatter around him clashed with the emotions burned deep into the depths of his dark brown eyes.

                                                                                           

He crouched low down the inner ring of gathered people. The songs and stories of the goddess drifted more than playful banter in the sitters, these were the elder people of the tribe, the old priests and priestesses. Even these songs and stories brought him no comfort. He would never be reborn as a star to dance and feast with the Great Mother, his taint was unforgivable, and his blaspheming could be called severe by the kindest of his people. Akashii had cursed the goddess's name for many a year now. Ever since Litlu had been chosen as a member of the cloth.

 

Aged eyes closed in pain. Sweet Litlu. He remembered when she had first met him, a scared and angry warrior, soured by the last ten turns of his life. His darling Litlu, she had healed his wounds, both with her impressive gift for the arts, and her caring and free-spirited soul. He was thirty turns at that time, too old for a young maiden of barely nineteen, and he had turned away from her often when she came to try and care for him. By her strength he begun to live again, and Akashii had grown to love her for it and all other truths that she was.

 

Kind, compassionate, honest, loving, and beautiful... Oh, she was as beautiful as all the years were long. With the copper fur most common among their people, she still stood out, her coat gleaming like a soft fabric made of precious metals. Gracefully long arms and legs and petite of figure, the veteran warrior had thought too long about over the last years. But most of all were her eyes. Unlike a majority of the Keritesh, her eyes were as blue as the desert sky at daybreak, or the waters of the bay during noon.

 

Once he was well and in good standing again as a warrior of the tribe, he had begun to court her formally. He felt ten turns younger as he flirted and wooed Litlu for the span of one turn. She seemed shocked by his attentions, flattered when he expressed his desire to court her with all ceremony. And for one year, he had his happiness back. He said his prayers to the goddess and thanked her every morning and night for the blessing she had bestowed upon him in the form of a beautiful and caring mate.

 

His eyes opened and he viewed the priests and priestesses all gathered in a meditation circle closest to the bonfire.

 

One day early in the new turn, the village high priest came to Litlu's home with a fitted novice robe. Akashii felt himself fill to bursting with pride and dread. Proud Litlu was accepted into the cloth, where her arts would be trained further, where she would devote herself to the goddess and bring her family honor. Dread, for members of the cloth were devoted entirely to the goddess for their service, whether the goddess required one turn or one hundred, no courting, no mates, no babes. Nothing but prayer, worship and serving the goddess through healing her people.

 

This festival marked the ending of the third year that Litlu had been a member of the cloth. Akashii permitted himself to cry for his loss of Litlu at the end of each festival. The great fire was danced around by all the members of the cloth, and one by one, they would reach into the depths of the fire and receive a coal, marking another year of service was required them by the goddess. This year however, a sad tiding for the entire village could spell the end to all hope for him to ever mate with his beloved.

 

The old high priestess had passed into the loving arms of the Mother, to be reborn as a star in the heavens, this meant that one of the priestesses would not only pick up a coal from the fire, but would enter the fire completely and be chosen as the next high priestess, which meant a lifetime of servitude to the goddess.

 

One by one the priests and priestesses stood and began to sway their bodies in natural rhythms, slow, sensual, one with the goddess and the earth and the sky. One by one the robed clergy put their hands in the flame, three were released from their service, and cheers and good tidings were given to them for their dedication to the goddess.

 

When the hoods fell from each of their faces, Akashii's chest tightened, none were the beautiful countenance of his beloved. Five were required a year more. One of the girls reached in to grab a coal and halted, so did everyone at the festival, all eyes lingered on her as the fire stroked her arm, coaxing her to step into the flames, the fire licked at her hood, her hands, her robes, and when the hood fell from about her head. Akashii knew it was and forever had to be Litlu. It was her great destiny, one he could share no part in, for now she was forbidden to him. A roar started in the crowd, thunderous applause, stamping and cheering and happiness. Pure happiness pressed in on him from all sides.

 

Overpowering, unbearable. The warrior tore to his feet, breaking through the waves of people, only having the strength left in his rapidly shattering heart to look back at her, beautiful in all her splendid glory, shining with pride, glowing with power, the High Priestess of a Goddess he could never again come to worship.

A sob built up in his chest as he ran himself ragged through the cold desert sands. With each step away from her it doubled in size till finally he felt he would burst. Akashii fell to his knees and released a sound so primal and full of sorrow, that the distant festival-goers could hear it and they stopped to wonder briefly what had wounded an animal so badly that it cried so.

maid of honor (566 words)

Evelynn leaned her head against his shoulder, eyes drifting shut tiredly. She was so drained... everything seemed so unreal and fantastic. She had finally married Dylan? She must have, she could feel the beautiful dress swirling around her, feel him pressing her into his arms. He was in a tux. She sighed happily. It was their first dance as husband and wife... finally.

Her exhausted mind danced the loops around the preparations, the lessons, the rehearsals, the dresses, invitations, catering. All of that melted away as she lifted her head up to look into his bright green eyes, she smiled and he smiled back at her. She'd been in love with him forever and a day. His strong hand placed her head back on his shoulder and she shut her eyes again, smiling wider.

Ever since she had seen those gorgeous green eyes the first day of her freshman year, six years ago now. He’d never noticed her, and she’d imagined this day so much as a young naive girl. She'd forgone her hopes of going to school for dance in New York to stay on the West Coast near him, and it paid off. Now they were married and happy and why would she dance when she felt like she could fly. They stepped in small circles and she could feel the rustling of her wedding dress around her legs.

She blinked her eyes open blearily, noticing another friend from her high school days, Carrie, it was good that she had been able to invite old school friends. She smiled brightly at her friend. She was wearing a gorgeous white dress, and was smiling at Kevin, who was wearing a black tux. Evelynn closed her eyes, brow furrowing. She didn’t remember organizing a double wedding. But then again, she couldn’t seem to remember the exact way Dylan had proposed… all she could remember was the multitude of ways it had played out in her head before… Why couldn’t she remember? Such an important romantic gesture… surely she would remember it forever above her fantasies. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she clutched at the body dancing with her.

-

Dylan smiled down at the girl in his arms, leading her off the dance floor and leaning her on a cushioned window sill carefully making sure her dress wouldn't be crumpled. A hand slipped around his arm, and he turned to meet the hug and kiss of his girlfriend Rachel. "Poor girl, Carrie worked her to the bone helping her prepare for her wedding, but she looked so happy now that its all over." She twined herself in his arms, looking over the maid of honor, lightly sleeping.

"She looked more happy that she was in your arms in my opinion." Rachel's frown was worried, the blonde curly haired maid of honor was lovely after all... and they'd known each other forever. Dylan laughed softly in her ear. "Oh stop it, we've known each other since our biggest issues were acne and passing an algebra test. We're like siblings."

Rachel turned to lay her head on his shoulder, hands drifting to his lower back, pulling him tightly to her, the only noticeable remnant of her jealousy. “Lets go dance, her date can call a cab for her.” She dragged Dylan away as he tried to open his mouth to protest.

“But she came alone.”

the summer that never was (502 words)

The smell of good memories hung over the sky outside the window. Everyone knows that smell, because its different for everyone. Like childhood and innocence wrapped into a named smell, like grass, a Capri Sun pouch, or a hint of flowers on the breeze. Fresh and clean, the smell of flora and fresh cut grass wafted into Sarah's room. The smell was accompanied by the sounds of posters rustling around their edges.

Sarah lay on her side, hand dangling off the bed as her eyes stared past the never ending sea of bright green waves. The illusion of a ocean was almost complete if she closed her eyes, the sounds of the huge trees' leaves rippling in the wind sounding like waves. The only thing that was wrong was the smell. Salt and water were missing from her nose, cries of seagulls didn't reach her ears. The image of a beach shattered as she opened her eyes to the overwhelming green. It was odd that it was so serene still, so comforting even as it broke her heart that it wasn't the familiar streets, the honking and rush of cars and the smell of the beach.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she pushed aside thoughts of home... of being stuck here away from the traffic and smell of the sea. She stared out of the window at the tall waving grass where flickers of thoughts pressed in around her from all sides.

How was she getting to college? ....... Where was she going to college?.....What scholarships would she get?......Why hadn't she smartened up and taken the tests before now?.........How could she be good at a job when she wasn't even good at things she liked to do?.........What skill could she possibly have and not know about after all these years?..... Could she do this at all?

...Why did she have to feel so lonely?

Her shoulder shook as she pressed her face into the pillow. Why couldn't she have some neat little trick? Like a sport or talent wrapped neatly in a bow to use as a lure for colleges and to plan her life around in a neat straight line. But no... she couldn't sing, dance or act, she wasn't a runner or a swimmer or a volleyball player. She wasn't a beautiful model or a brainy wiz kid at science, math or literature. She couldn't compose songs, poetry or write books.

Reading, that's it. Mountains of books, all of the fantasy genre lined the shelves on the poster-covered walls. How many nights and days had she wasted with her moping around feeling sorry for herself?

The small wall she had built around her thoughts and blissful silence was quickly brought down, crumbling and eroding, as if a mighty gust was taking away soft sand. She cried, and upon the realization she was just sitting there feeling sorry for herself she cried even harder. The bed shaking beneath her as tearshot eyes looked out onto the endless sea of green.