© Avalon Lee, 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 1: Enlightenment

    The young Ferra slipped beneath the cool, swirling waters of the river. "Auqamora helte," she whispered. The Ferra, Skynair, was able to do magic, like all the others of her kind. Her powers were limited, however. The water around her ceased to flow, and the current stopped, creating an area of calm water around her.

    Skynair broke the surface, taking a deep breath of the cold pine-scented air. She could see smoke rising above the trees now. The members of her tribe were awakening, and it would soon be time to leave and go back.

    Skynair regretfully climbed out of the water and murmured the spell to dry her hair and clothes. Setting off towards the village, Skynair walked at a brisk pace, eager to get back to the warm, smoke-filled hut she called home.

    Upon arriving, Skynair could see that the village of Or'Naquak was bustling with activity. And at this early hour? she wondered. Looking around, she spotted her father, Carius; her mother, Iarah; and her brother, Damon walking towards the center of the village, where the tribe's Elders were. Skynair hurried to catch up with them. Iarah turned and smiled when she saw her daughter. "You were out swimming again?"

    "Yes," Skynair confirmed, nodding. "Where is everyone going?"

    "The Elders have a very important announcement to make," her mother replied. "Everyone has to go to hear what they have to say."

    Skynair couldn't help but wonder what the announcement was. Is there going to be a drought? she thought. What if we can't get enough food?

    Skynair had heard about droughts before. They were times when the rains wouldn't come, and the farmers' crops died. Entire villages had to move, or face starvation. Luckily, Skynair had never had to experience a drought. No one had for years. She was confident that, despite her worst fears, the announcement wouldn't be too bad.

    It didn't take long to arrive at the center of the village. The seven Elders were assembled in a semicircle facing the villagers, their expressions solemn and dignified.

    The Elders made all the decisions for Or'Naquak, from what to do when war occurred, to when it was time to harvest the farmers' crops.

The lead Elder, Taryn, now stood. All the tribe-members fell silent. They had great respect for him, and the other six Elders. His voice sounded unexpectedly somber.

"What we have feared has finally happened. The Dark King, Arsenus, who has been a threat to our peace for so long, has raised an army of Shadowlions and rebel Darygyns, and is finally going to try to conquer and rule all of Naturia."

    No! thought Skynair. Thoughts and excuses roared through her head, like the unleashed rage of a river during flood season. It can't be! Denial flooded every part of her being. Skynair's voice joined countless others in protest and accusations directed toward Taryn.

    "Silence!" Taryn commanded.

    All the villagers immediately quieted. Taryn swept his gaze across the assembled people, his stormy gray eyes lingering lastly on Skynair.

    "Now, I know you may not believe me, but I heard tell of this from one who witnessed it himself. We must amass our entire nation to stop Arsenus from rising again!"   

An instant uproar from the villagers met his words. Gradually, everyone made their way to their huts.

    As soon as she entered her home, Skynair voiced the single question that had been lingering in her mind since the village meeting. "Does he speak the truth? Has Arsenus really returned?" Iarah gave her daughter a meaningful glance and switched her gaze to the window. "I don't know. We can only hope that it won't be like last time, when he was at the height of his power."

    Skynair remembered the stories told of when Arsenus was king, before he was overthrown by the mighty warrior Harkenari. Arsenus had traveled across Naturia, demanding taxes to support his growing army, and not bothering to protect villages from impending Shadowlion attacks. Once he was defeated, Harkenari ruled in his place. Now that Arsenus had returned, Harkenari would have to rally Naturia together to defeat him once and for all.

~~~~~

     The newborn green leaves of the great oak danced softly in the wind. Skynair adjusted her position on the branch, mindful of the height she was above the ground. She sighed and leaned against the tree's trunk, fingering a leaf. She turned her gaze toward the endless noon day sky. Few clouds drifted in its vast depths. The young Ferra's brilliant blue eyes searched for movement in her earthly surroundings. At the edge of her vision, she glimpsed a deer, most likely a female, and its speckled fawn. Birds fluttered about the tree, calling their spring song to one another.

           Skynair's brow furrowed in concentration. She spotted unnatural color amidst the green of the forest. "Velno maxis," she muttered, hoping to magnify her vision. She had observed some of the other Ferras using the spell, but didn't know how to use it herself. Still, she tried. "Velno maxis!" She was met by disappointment. Skynair was by no means experienced in the field of magic. She had only seen fourteen winters, and her overprotective father had discouraged her from practicing it, fearing she would injure herself. Despite his warnings, Skynair explored magic in secret, learning to use it through observation of other villagers.

           The object Skynair had seen drew closer now. Her eyes widened as she recognized it. Father! Her father walked through the trees below, clearly looking for her. He looks everywhere but up, she thought in faint amusement. She knew what his reaction would be to finding her one hundred feet from the ground in the tallest tree in the forest. She sighed. He would discover her location sooner or later.

           "Father! I'm up here!" she called. Skynair's father turned his head to look up into the canopy. An expression of surprise spread across his face when he finally spotted her in the oak tree. Just as quickly, it was replaced with concern and fear. However, this wasn't the first time he had found her climbing trees.

           "Skynair! Come down!" he cried. Not wanting to worry him anymore, Skynair descended through the limbs of the oak, grasping each branch with practiced ease. Although her father may not have known it, she had been climbing trees since she could walk. On the last branch from the ground, Skynair slipped, losing her grip, and used her legs to hold on. She heard her father inhale sharply. Her heart pounded, and she felt blood rush to her face. Don't fall! she reminded herself. Not in front of Father.

           She dropped to the forest floor, skillfully landing on her feet. She lowered her head, avoiding her father's gaze. She braced herself. Finally: "You know I don't like you climbing trees," Carius said.

           "Father . . ."

           "It's dangerous!" he insisted. He put a hand on her shoulder and tilted her chin so she had no choice but to look at him. Blue eyes met blue eyes for a long moment. "You could get hurt, and I . . ." he couldn't finish the sentence. Guilt filled Skynair's heart, making her uneasy. Part of her rebelled.

           "But, Father, I'm fourteen now and . . ."

           "And you're not yet an adult."

           "But I'm not a child!" she argued. She faltered at seeing despair in her father's eyes. He knows I'm right.

           Carius turned away. "Let's go home," he said firmly. Defeated, Skynair followed her father back to Or'Naquak, away from the forest and freedom.

~~~~~

Iarah patiently listened to her daughter's complaints. Carius had sorrowfully left the hut after bringing a sullen Skynair home.

           "He never lets me do anything," the young Ferra pouted, sitting cross-legged on a woven mat, arms stubbornly folded across her chest. Her mother regarded her for a moment before answering.

           "He's trying to protect you."

           Skynair scoffed. "From what?"

           "Injury, death . . . Skynair, if you keep putting yourself in danger like this, you're going to be hurt." Iarah knelt next to her daughter and placed a hand on Skynair's cheek. "Your father and I couldn't bear it if something were to happen to you."

           Skynair turned away from the contact and said, "And what of Damon? You let him do all sorts of reckless things."

           Her mother's gaze hardened. "He is almost a man, and can take care of himself."

           Skynair was shocked. Have my parents no confidence in my abilities? "I can take care of myself, too! I'm in the forest far more than he is, and I've never been hurt."

           Iarah's amber eyes narrowed. "You are a lady and are expected to act like one. We only allow you to hunt because Damon is not yet old enough."

           "So that's it then! You don't think I can do anything! Don't you believe that females are just as competent as males?"

           Skynair's mother stood up suddenly, and looked the epitome of authority as she glared down at her daughter. Skynair felt very small.

           "You will not speak in such a way to your mother!" Iarah commanded sternly. Then her eyes and voice softened as she continued. "Skynair, this is the way things are."

           Finding some hidden reserve of bravery, Skynair stood up also, and refused to back down. "Say whom? Things don't have to be this way. We can change ourselves and what we do, and make a difference. I can change this—and I will."

With that, the young Ferra turned on her heel and walked out the door. "And woe betide the one who tries to stop me," she muttered.

Okay, there's the first chapter. There is a difference in the style of writing: the first part, up till the tree scene, I wrote in 6th grade. The second part, from the oak scene and onward, I wrote in 8th grade, when I was rewriting the beginning. I hope you enjoyed it, because there's more to come! :)

Until we meet again,

Avalon Lee