ICILIA WINTERS

Maybe it was all a dream, I thought and slowly opened one eye and then the other. I smiled thinking that yes, it was all a dream and stretched my limbs. While doing so, I apparently hit some wall. That's weird. My bed is in the center of my room. I slowly turned towards the other side of my bed, fearing the outcome.

Oh my God. Shit. "What the f**k are you doing in my bed?" I asked the person, pushing that person out of my bed, sitting straight up. "Who gave you the permission to sleep here you psycho?"

He groaned. "Ugh! Could you push me out of the bed any gentler?"

"No. Answer my questions," I demanded.

"Somehow our mothers found out we were mates. No idea how. And they forced me to sleep in your room for the night as our friends, family and grandpa and Priest are sleeping in my house," Zoran answered, still rubbing his back.

"The heck?! You mean to tell me, they left us alone in my house and you freaking agreed to it?" I narrowed my eyes. "What? Did they think we'd get down and dirty?"

"Maybe," Zoran shrugged. "I didn't come here voluntarily, they threw me in the room and locked me in. We're probably still locked in."

"Who gives a f**k?" I asked. "And why didn't you sleep on the couch that's in the room, next to the window?"

"I don't want to sleep on the bloody couch. Do you know how uncomfortable that is? My body's gonna hurt like shit the next morning if I do. And I'm pretty sure you enjoyed the extra warmth," Zoran smirked and winked at me. He bloody winked at me.

"Do you want my fist to meet your face? 'Cause you're seriously asking for it, you dumbf**k," I growled.

"Chill it," Zoran said, putting his hands up in surrender. "Don't smash my face. In case you don't remember, we have to go meet Oracle Xyla today."

"Shit. Yeah. I completely forgot about that," I groaned, falling back on the bed. "I just want to sleep knowing that I don't have huge weight on my shoulders. Why, Lord, why? Why me? Why me with Zoran?"

"Oh my God! Will you for one sec shut up? Will you for the next sec not talk some insensitive shit about me?" Zoran asked.

"No," I said in a duh tone. "You should know that by now."

"Whatever. I'm going to my house to get ready. Your mum had told me last night that we should be ready by eight in the morning today. And it's already seven," Zoran said, getting up from the floor.

"So," I shrugged my shoulders, "We have an hour to get ready."

"That includes eating breakfast and packing the necessary stuff to meet Oracle Xyla."

"Damn it," I shouted, running to the bathroom and shutting the door. I heard Zoran's chuckle and cursed under my breath. "That applied to you too Zoran."

I heard some curses, shuffling of feet and the sound of the door being shut. Now, it was my turn to chuckle.

I quickly brushed my teeth, took a shower and got dressed in jeans, a tank top with leather jacket and combat boots. I put my hair into a high ponytail and pinned my fringes with some bobby pins. The main reason of the bobby pins was that it'd come in handy if we got locked up somewhere. What? You can't trust no stranger! I also put a knife in the knife holder in my boots just so I'd have a weapon in case we were ambushed by anyone or anything.

Then, I packed an extra pair of tees, pants, rubber-band, bobby pins, knifes, socks, blanket, sanitary products, torch and a lighter along with a bottle of pepper spray and deo. The deo would come in handy in case the torch was exhausted and we had to light something. I also put in some handkerchiefs, a water bottle and some snacks. We may have to camp out at night or even take a break. As far as I know, we had to trek up the Chysh Bluff as the road stops about a mile from the cliffs. There are dense forests out there and some wild animals as well. Remind me to pack some spare knifes later on!

Once I was done, I went downstairs to have breakfast. It was not that late as it was still seven thirty but all our friends were seated at the dining table having their breakfast already except of course, Zoran.

"Oh look! There comes the beauty queen who hasn't told us who her mate is yet! Who could it be? Hmm," remarked Regi.

I shot him a look and took my seat at the table. "Don't ask something you don't already know Regi. I'm pretty sure my mom would have told you guys already."

"Not really. No one told us anything," Regi said.

"Really?" I asked, surprised as my mom would usually spout things out like this. She's not a great secret-keeper. I helped myself to some vadas and idlis.

"Really what?" my mom asked as she came to the dining table to serve the parathas.

"Nothing mom," I said quickly.

"Aunty, your daughter's refusing to tell us who her mate is," Regi whined and I shot him a glare to which he simply smirked and winked as though my glare didn't feign him one bit.

"Oh, you don't know yet?" my mom questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Nooo aunty."

"Shouldn't you have guessed by now?"

"Uuumm.."

"Oh it's okay, Regi. Her mate's Zoran of course. Zoran's mother and I got to know soon after the mating ceremony ended which is why we forced them to sleep in a room together. Well, more like Zoran's mother and I forced Zoran to sleep in Icilia's room next to her as she was already fast asleep," my mother winked.

Oh Lord! Kill. Me. Now.

I hid my face, reddened with shame or embarrassment... I had no idea. I just knew my face was red.. and definitely not because I was blushing because of someone. More like because of something someone, that someone being my oh-so wonderful mother, said.

Ignoring the giggles and chuckles and my read face, "How do you know aunty? Did she tell you?" Fayth questioned my mother.

"Come on guys. Use your brain cells," my mom let out a sigh, "If her mate wasn't Zoran, she would have told you by now wouldn't she? She'd be so excited that more than half of Qrison Vlesa was wrong that she wouldn't hold it in."

"Wow aunty! You're right! We never even thought of it that way. Even Zoran didn't tell us who his mate was. We should've guessed. Damn!" Darin remarked. Thanks a lot mom!

"Hah! I was right! I was right! Yess! I was right!" Regi started dancing all around the dining room, pointing his finger at me to which I rolled my eyes and turned away. Again, thanks a lot mom!

And at that right time, Zoran walked in. You couldn't have come in at more right time Zoran. Really, you couldn't have. Like honestly, why did he have to step into the house or the dining room at that particular time only. Couldn't he have been at least a minute, or even thirty second late? Seriously! Like I wasn't suffering enough! No! He just had to add the salt to my wounds. Well, it was his wounds too technically. Thinking about it, I'm actually glad that he came in now. At least now I wouldn't be the only one with a red face and wallowing myself in self-pity and misery. He could take half the burden!

Regi pointed at him as well and started dancing while shouting, "I knew it! I predicted it! I was right! Yes!"

"What's he so happy about?" Zoran asked as he took a seat, helping himself to some parathas.

"They got to know we were mates," I muttered.

"How?"

"How do ya think?"

"Your mom?"

"My mom," I confirmed.

"So is everyone ready?" Sanya asked. "Has everyone packed all essentials like an extra pair of clothes, water bottles, snacks, weapons, chili powder, sanitary products, blanket and other stuff?"

Yeah's and yup's were heard from everyone. "Good," Sanya muttered.

"So if everyone's ready, can I call my dad so that he can send the car?" Vanessa asked us to which we all nodded our heads. "Awesome."

Within the next ten minutes, the car was here and we all piled into that car. The gang insisted that since Zoran and I were mates, we're supposed to sit next to each other so that even by mistake if my lips touch some body part of his or his touch mine, we'd have the mate bond to which, we obviously resisted but Darin and Fayth being themselves, they pushed me in the middle seat of the car first, then pushed Zoran and then Darin sat next to Zoran and Fayth sat next to me, so now, the four of us sat in the middle. Treznor sat in the passenger seat and Vanessa, Sanya and Regi made themselves comfortable at the back of the car.

We said goodbyes to our parents and off we went. The car zoomed past all the trees, the village and by ten o' clock, we almost reached the end of Krynarc Woods and the car stopped. "This is as far as we can go by vehicle. From here on, you guys need to trek and reach Cyhsh Bluff, then reach the Styzuhst Pinnacle Mountains and on the eastern side, is Oracle Xyla's cave. Grandpa Albert told me to give you guys this map and he apologizes for not being there this morning," the driver, who happened to be Sawyer said, handing me the map.

"Thanks Sawyer. Tell Grandpa it's okay please," I said as I took the map from his hands and got down from the car followed by the rest of the gang. "Bye!"

We all started walking through the rest of Krynarc Woods, following the map Grandpa gave us and stopped by around eleven o' clock in the morning, we reached the base of Cyhsh Bluff.

"Who's ready to go for a swim?" I asked, looking down at the clear blue water. There was no way we could reach the Styzuhst Pinnacle Mountains that were on the other side of Cyhsh Bluff cliff without swimming for we had no boat, no ship, no oars, nothing.

"We can't swim, Icilia. Our supplied would get soaked and it wouldn't be of use to us then. Also, the map, that shouldn't get soaked or it may tear or stick to something," Sanya pointed out. "Besides, we don't know what's in the water or how deep it is. I know we all know swimming but there may be whirlpools and such and we may get sucked right in."

"Point," I nodded. "Anyone has any other ideas?"

Everyone shrugged. We were all quiet, trying to think of another way to get to Styzuhst Pinnacle Mountains. "Hey, there's someone! Maybe we can ask them?" Fayth pointed out and started running towards the said person.

We ran after her and stopped in front of the man who looked at us weirdly. I don't blame him. He was kinda short to be honest, like a dwarf and had a beard and was wearing a green shirt and brown trousers. What's up with him? He would blend in with the greenery in the woods. Maybe that's why he wore them? To escape from animals and thieves I guess.

"Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to know another way to get to Styzhust Pinnacle Mountains from Chysh Bluff other than swimming? We happen to have lots of goods that shouldn't get soaked with water as then, it'll be ruined and we don't have a boat. Do you happen to know someone from around here who may do?" Fayth asked, explaining our situation to him.

"Slow down, lady."

Woah, his voice was deep.

"Yes, I do know another way to reach Styzuhst Mountains," he said.

"Would you be kind enough to tell us sir?" Vanessa asked.

"Y'all need to answer four of my riddles first. If you do, I'll tell you otherwise, sorry."

"Okay, sir. Go ahead and ask your riddles," Vanessa said.

"This is how it's going to work. You guys will pair yourselves into pairs and each pair will get a riddle. Since you're even in number, you won't have a problem with that. All four must answer the riddle right within a minute or you're out. One boy and one girl will make one pair," he explained and we nodded. "Form your pairs now."

After eye-arguing, we settled with Regi and Vanessa as one pair, Fayth and Treznor as the second, Sanya and Darin as the third and finally, Zoran and I as the fourth pair.

Regi and Vanessa went first.

"Here's your riddle. It dances and skips, it's read in the eyes but it cheats with the lips. If it meets its match it's easily caught, but it may be worth something if it is bought. What is it?"

Wow. This was hard.

Regi and Vanessa kept discussing while the man kept counting off their time. In their last ten seconds, Vanessa frantically shouted, "The heart. It's the heart. When you like someone, your near and dear ones can see it in your eyes but you lie about it through your mouth using words. When you see your crush, your heart skips a beat and when you really really like that person, you feel as though you've met your match. In case of almost death as in a hole in the heart or something like that, the heart is worth something if it's bought as the heart transplant may give back life to the almost dying person."

Wow! Got to give it to them. I definitely wouldn't have thought of that.

"You're right. Next pair," the guy said.

Treznor and Fayth went next.

"Your riddle is: For now I must stay under the man who made me, but when he dies I'll be as powerful as he. They will watch and listen to what I say and some of their money to me they'll pay. Who am I?"

Treznor and Fayth discussed as well while the guy started counting off their time. Within the next few seconds, Fayth said, "The answer is either a Prince or a Princess. Their father is the king but when the king dies, the Prince or Princess takes over the throne and hence is treated as the King or Queen. The people pay them money in the form of tax."

"Good. Next."

Darin and Sanya went next.

"Your riddle is: A cloud was my mother, the wind is my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place, what am I?"

Darin and Sanya discussed as the guy followed his routine of counting their time. When they were down to the last few seconds, Sanya cried out, "Rain. The answer is rain. Rain is formed in the cloud and is dropped to the earth when the wind pushes the clouds together. Rain forms streams and also helps in the growth of fruits. Rain also forms the rainbow with the help of the sun and final settle down as it reaches the earth."

"Perfect," he glared at us, gritting his teeth. Probably thought we'd fail. Ha! "Next."

Zoran and I went.

"There are four siblings in this world, all born together. The first runs and never wearies. The second eats and is never full. The third drinks and is always thirsty. The fourth sings a song forever. Who are they?"

This was easy. I knew the answer. "Water. Fire. Earth. Wind," I said the exact same time as Zoran. What the hell? How did he know? I glared at him and he glared right back at me.

"Water runs and never stops or gets tired. Fire keeps taking sacrifices but it never stops.." I stared and Zoran interrupted me.

"Earth drinks water from rain and oceans and streams but is thirsty as it never stops and the wind keeps blowing, never stopping, forever," Zoran finished.

"Ugh! How did you get that right? That too all of them?" the guy stomped his feet, glaring at us and we looked at him weirdly.

"Now tell us," Treznor demanded.

"I'll show you," he grumbled and snapped his fingers. Immediately, I saw a rainbow forming, connecting Chysh Bluff and Styzuhst Pinnacle Mountains. All our jaws hung open and we rubbed our eyes to make sure we weren't dreaming. "Just get on it, it'll take you to the western side of the Mountains."

We nodded and ran towards the rainbow and got on it. In no time at all we reached the western side of Styzuhst Pinnacle Mountains. "Guys, it's over one o' clock in the afternoon. Do you guys wanna take rest, have some snacks and then trek over to the eastern side?" Sanya asked and we all nodded our heads, agreeing to her suggestion.

We all sat down and took out the snacks we had packed and started talking about something while having them.

"Remember when we cracked eggs over the guys hair and filled their hair dryer with pink dye? It was so much fun then," Vanessa reminded us as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"I know right!" I agreed, laughing.

"Oh yeah? Guys, remember when we... when we.. help me out dude," Darin said as he looked at Zoran, Regi and Treznor who just shrugged.

"Can't dude. All the pranks we tried on the girls were in their favour," Regi remarked as took stuffed some chips in his mouth.

"Like the time you guys tried to prank us by putting purple dye in our shampoos?" Sanya asked, winking.

"We rocked with purple hair. The guys did us a favour by their prank. We had been wanting to dye our hair but our parents wouldn't let us. By pranking us like that, not only did we get to dye our hair the colour we wanted to all along but you also got bashed by your parents," Fayth remarked, laughing.

"Shut up," the guys muttered and looked down, feeling embarrassed no doubt.

After a few minutes, more like half an hour, we were up and packed and had started trekking towards the eastern side of the Styzuhst Pinnacle Mountains. As we neared the eastern side, we could see the fire blazing outside a cave and the various inscriptions in the light of the fire. Immediately, I realised that that was Oracle Xyla's cave.

"Guys, that's it. That is Oracle Xyla's cave," I said, pointing to the cave lightened by fire torches and inscriptions.

"It looks amazing," Fayth remarked as we neared the cave.

We reached the mouth of the cave very soon. "Can we just enter or?" Zoran asked. It was a valid question. There was no door and no doorbell. I don't know if there was some force shield guarding the entrance of the cave.

Just as I was about to shout hello, someone came out. And wow, she was gorgeous! She had bluish grey eyes that stood out in contrast to her reddish brown hair. She wore a white Greek robe-like-dress that complemented her figure really well.

"Icilia, Zoran and their friends. Welcome. I've been expecting you," she said and started walking back in to the cave. "Follow me."

Speechless, we just followed her. Of course she'd know we were coming. She was the Oracle for crying out loud. I felt so stupid that I didn't realise it sooner. But oh well!

"Oracle Xyla," I started as we inside her cave. It  was beautiful to say the least. There were fire-lit torches and plants. It smelt of argarbati or essence sticks which gave the feel a homey feel and I felt comfortable. "Grandpa Albert told us that we would most likely receive answers if we met you regarding the Shadows suddenly stopping predicting things."

"Icilia, you're very brave but you must understand that I cannot give you all the answers you want. I know that Albert sent you and he did the right thing by doing so but my dear, my vision too is limited. I cannot give you answers that gods can. I'm just their messenger," Oracle Xyla said. It's hard to tell that she's centuries old when she doesn't look a day over late-twenties.

"I understand Oracle Xyla but we all must start somewhere right?" I asked, smiling. "If there's even one tiny bit of information you can share with us, we'd love to know."

"Of course, Icilia. But I will tell you when the time is right. For now, get yourselves ready, train all the members of Qrison Vlesa including children and mothers. Only children of years five or below should be exempted from training. I have a bad feeling about the Shadows suddenly stopping their predictions," Oracle Xyla said.

"With all due respect Oracle Xyla, but we cannot possibly ask children to fight," Zoran butted in. Idiot! I don't think her intention was for children to fight.

"I understand your concern Zoran but they're not going to fight. But they should be able to defend themselves shouldn't they?"

"Of course." Zoran smiled.

"Icilia, Zoran and all of your friends, you must beware that there may be something evil churning for the Shadows to suddenly stop predicting. This hasn't happened in over thousands of centuries so for it to suddenly happen, there's something dangerous going on," Oracle Xyla said in a knowing voice.

"And you know all about it don't you Oracle Xyla?" Zoran said and it wasn't a question as we already knew her answer.

"Yes, my children. I do. I do know what's going on hence why I'm warning you. Get the people ready for the worst of the worst."

"Don't you think that'd be easier if we knew what that was? You already know what it is and yet you're not telling us. With all due respect Oracle, this is bullshit," Treznor busted and I commend him for having such courage to talk to an Oracle like that. Way to go Treznor!

"I understand your condition and impatience Treznor but I will only tell you when the time is right," Oracle Xyla smiled. "You want something to eat or drink?"

We looked at each other like "What the hell? She's telling us to prepare the people for the worst and here she is offering eatables and drinks? The f**k!"

"No you don't understand Oracle Xyla. We're desperate and we don't want to lose thousands of life over it not being the right time," Fayth said, her anger seeping through her words. Go Fayth!

"Fayth--" Oracle Xyla suddenly stopped and mist started coming out. What are we in? A drama play?

"The day fire meets ice

The forgotten shall raise

And the heroes' choice

Shall unleash his voice

A battle to the end, and a war to decide

Who will decline? Who will survive?"

Oracle Xyla spoke these words with another's voice overlaying hers. It was as though she was possessed as she spoke them. And as soon as she was done, she fainted. Great!

Carefully, Regi, Darin, Treznor and Zoran picked Oracle Xyla up as Fayth, Sanya, Vanessa and I made the bed on the far end of the cave comfortable for the boys to lay Oracle Xyla down.

Replaying the words in my head, I kept going over what could those lines mean. Suddenly, I realised that Oracle Xyla had just spoken a prophecy.

"Guys, I'm pretty sure that what Oracle Xyla spoke was a prophecy," I broke the news to my friends as the guys returned from laying Oracle Xyla down on her bed.

"Yeah, I believe you. I've read about it and the way Oracle Xyla looked possessed and the way her voice was over-layed with someone else's just proves she spoke a prophecy," Zoran agreed and I couldn't be more thankful for that.

"What ever it is, the last line she spoke definitely didn't sound good for either us or the evil side. I just hoped that it is the evil side that declines and not us," Sanya said.

"Me too," Darin agreed.

"Well now we just have to wait for Oracle Xyla to wake up so that we can interpret the rest of the prophecy correctly," Regi said to which we all nodded our heads and made ourselves comfortable in Oracle Xyla's cave, a feeling of dread blanketing us.