“I want to go with you, Molakei. If they hear it from me about the Dragons, maybe they will believe. I will tell them about Zlemtec and….” Kaida’s argument was interrupted.
“No, Kaida. Not now. They are looking for someone to punish for the things that have happened. I don’t want you to speak of Zlemtec. Their fear has closed their eyes and their understanding. I worry now that they also wish to blame you,” he answered, his face lined in deep concern.
He stooped and looked into her watery eyes. “I understand such thinking does not make sense to us. I need to find a way to explain it to them and turn their thinking. Now go inside and wait for my return. I go to visit all that have survived.”
Flower Bird took Kaida’s hand and looked deep into her father’s eyes. She felt his pain and knew it would be hard beliefs he had to move. Her heart was too heavy for words. Instead she took her free hand and placed it on her heart then extended her open palm towards him. Molakei returned the gesture and walked towards his peoples.
Once inside, Kaida gathered broken pottery and placed them into baskets as Flower Bird straightened shelves and took inventory on what was not ruined by falling. Much was still usable, she thought. This is good. The wolves, Sigrunn and Tyrianua, returned dragging a deer and stopped at the cave entrance. Flower Bird and Kaida ran over and graciously accepted their gift.
Tyrianua explained as they dropped the deer, “This one was hit by a falling rock. It killed him. We brought it so his life was not wasted.”
“Thank you both,” Kaida said as she scratched their necks. “I will help Flower Bird save the meat. Come in and rest, you have worked hard.”
“Yes, a rest would do us well. We will bring you more soon,” Tyrianua said as he circled looking for a spot to sleep. Sigrunn sprawled out, head on her paws and quickly closed her eyes. Kaida moved her hands over their fur, thankful for their friendship. With that thought, her mind wandered to Zlemtec, her Dragon friend, and wondered what was happening with him. She missed her Dragon friend dearly.
Chapter 2
The King of the Mursei Hail of Dragons took Galdean with him to check on the other Hails after the ground became more stable. As they took to the ledge, they surveyed the area for damage. They had been spared massive destruction. True, the fireballs had left their marks all across their vista but the mountain held strong.
They flew to their neighbors and found all the Hails had survived without much incident. At the far end of their mountain, there had been rock slides but the Hails were not using those areas. A fine film of dust had settled on the lush green foliage making that area less desirable for collection of greens but they still had a sufficient supply closer to their home.
They returned to give a full report of the good findings to the Hails. Queen of Mursei, relieved, guided the Dragons back up through the mountain and into the common area where they all felt their worries diminish.
Zelspar, the old White Dragon and Elder of the Qyrdrom Hail, pulled the King of Mursei away from the others.
“Rynik, I have need to go the place where Kaida lives. I am worried that she may have been in danger from the recent events. You have told us of the dust covered plants just south of us and Kaida lives further. I fear they have experienced ash fall out from the destruction of our second moon and homeland of Verlaunde. I wish to make sure she is doing well,” he stated.
“I understand your concern, as I had also thought about it after seeing the blanket of dust. First, hear me out my friend. It would be far easier for me to go check on her. I can hide my colors as to not alert her or the peoples she dwells with. Let me make this journey. We would all like to be reassured,” Rynik said, pleading his case.
The old White Dragon rubbed his whiskers and thought it over. “You make good points, Rynik. I would not want to raise alarm and I also didn’t want Zlemtec to go in case there is … devastation.”
“You are correct, my friend. Zlemtec would plow through them all to get to Kaida. I know he will want to go and that is why I will leave it to you to let Starleira know where I’ve gone. Talk to her privately, so Zlemtec won’t hear. I can’t take the risk of him charging in and causing any unnecessary problems.”
“When would you leave?” Zelspar inquired.
“Straightaway. If others approach you, only tell them I’ve gone to check caves for falling debris,” he answered
“Agreed. I’ll join the others while you take your leave. I will take Starleira to the side and let her know the details of your departure.”
Sigrunn and Tyrianua jolted upright and growled, hair stiff and standing on end. Sigrunn quickly expressed to Kaida for them all to get back down through the tunnel, immediately.
“Molakei, Flower Bird, come! There is great danger. The wolves said we must hurry back down the tunnel and stay in the inner chamber. Hurry!”
A rolling motion pitched them forward. Deep rumblings echoed as they hurried downward into the chamber of crystal fingers and the River of Life which flowed through it. Before they could get situated, the sound of explosions filled the cave. The mountain was lurching in a sickening way, tumbling the inhabitants from side to side.
Large crystal fingers snapped, crashing down and exploding pieces across the cave floor. Screams and howls joined the chaos of the mountain’s movement. The man, woman and child clung desperately to one another with the wolves tight in the circle. The ground made an ear-splitting screech as it suddenly dropped from underneath them and tilted on its side.
The chamber became engulfed with dust. All covered their faces with their sleeves to filter the thick air. They gasped for breath. It was darker than a moonless night and they had been swallowed whole in the belly of Urthe.
Rynik flew in the direction of the Urthe peoples and Kaida. The closer he got to the land the peoples inhabited, the more destruction he saw. His eyes flashed green, worried for the safety of Kaida and those with whom she was entrusted. His large wings tore at the air, pushing his body faster to search for Kaida.
His eyes scanned the ground and mountainside as he approached the land where Kaida lived. A sudden whoosh! hit his wings. The air pushed him up just as the range of mountains popped with dust and smoke. Before his eyes he saw part of the mountain rise, and another part slide downward. His heart hammered wildly against his chest. A few tiny dots scrambled across the ground before a large jagged crack opened up, swallowing everything in its path. From Rynik’s perspective, it looked like a lightning bolt lying flat against the ground. He gasped at the sight.
He hovered above in great shock. His eyes blurred. In minutes the landscape transformed into the unrecognizable. Part of the mountain had heaved upwards while another part had disappeared completely.
The Urthe had become still and silent again. Painfully silent. Dust and smoke gathered forming thick clouds. Rynik bellowed a mighty roar which echoed across the wasteland.
Rumbles of thunder began to form inside the clouds. He dove underneath them searching the mountain for any life. His Dragon screams made even the thunder sound muted. Rynik circled what had been the place of the Urthe peoples, searching for any movement. He searched for life. He searched for the tiniest of hope. The only movement he saw were the boulders breaking loose to fall down to the decimated ground below.
A hot wind blew, pushing against him. He flapped his wings in fury and roared until his throat could utter no more sound. He turned and headed back towards the Hails. His mind had not come to grips with what had happened. How could he begin to explain this to anyone? His mind locked onto one word. Kaida. The only word that flew with him towards the Hails.
Chapter 3
Zelspar took Queen Mursei away from the others and walked with her towards the Queen’s lair.
“Starleira. Rynik has left to check the place where Kaida lives. We both felt a strong concern for her and the peoples where she lives. He will hide his colors as to not draw attention and return to us shortly,” Zelspar quietly said to inform the Queen.
“That will put my hea
rt and I am sure, that of many others at peace. Perhaps the quaking did not reach them?”
Zelspar lunged and grabbed onto Starleira’s arm before he pitched forward and down upon his knees. His jaw dropped open and his eyes glazed over and twitched.
Starleira knew he was taken into a Vision and held tight to her friend.
Zelspar saw the Urthe being torn asunder. Mountains rose and fell. Screams of all life blended with the upturned mountains and valleys. The sky thundered and turned dark, lit only by the lightning flashes: long fingers stretched out to grab any life below. Tears streamed down his deeply etched face as his eyes raced from side to side. He quickly took a breath and held it. He squeezed Starleira’s arm with a great force, then exhaled a long and slow breath.
“What is it Zelspar?” Starleira asked in alarm.
“It is….” Zelspar began but could not find the right words to describe the Vision. His heart weighed him down like a mighty boulder was on his chest.
He braced himself against Starleira’s arm and his walking stick and made his way to a bench. His head hung down low, looking for the words as if the dirt might give them up.
“Starleira. It is the great season of Change. It has come. Urthe has stirred and is in the process of the Change. Mountains will rise and fall. Great cuts are slicing through Urthe’s skin. Life is changing.”
“The season of Change began with our home planet’s destruction. A giant hurtling rock of enormous proportion slammed into it, turning it into nothing more than huge chunks of flaming rocks, a few of which rained down upon us. Urthe has but one moon now. The Urthe is going through … well, birthing pains I would liken it to.”
“Will we survive?” Starleira asked with trepidation.
“Yes, oh yes dear friend. But we too, as with all things, will and must change. Even as we had already begun to do so when we came to Urthe. It will not happen overnight, but changes will occur and we will change along with it.” Zelspar patted her arm and cleared his throat before he continued.
“I must tell you…” and then he shook his head. “Starleira. This is most difficult to say, so I ask of you to hold your thoughts until I finish with the Vision,” he gently said.
Starleira kept her words but impatient eyes already asked several questions as she stared at Zelspar.
Zlemtec rounded the corner to the Queen’s lair to speak to Zelspar and Queen Mursei just as Zelspar began to talk again.
“The great season of Change has taken Kaida. She is alive but … she is in a place removed from us. I see it as a world within this world. She must take this journey without us,” Zelspar was saying before Zlemtec’s voice broke in.
“No!” A scream broke through the Queen’s lair. Starleira and Zelspar both spun their heads towards the sound.
Zlemtec stood in the entrance, his talons digging deep into the rocky edge, aiding him in standing. His eyes were filled with pools of water and a low moaning crept up from somewhere deep inside. One solitary word escaped.
“Kaida!” he roared, his head thrown back in agony.
Somewhere distant, a place where Zlemtec had never been, came an answering call.
“Zlemtec!” Kaida’s voice bounced against the back wall of the crystal cave and flew out the side which was recently exposed. Her word traveled deep within this new place and kissed the unseen ceiling of this hidden world.
Zlemtec’s eyes grew large. He had heard Kaida.
Chapter 4
Kaida wiped her eyes, smearing the dust into finger trails down her face. Her heart knew she was severed from him but she heard his call. He is alive. She would find a way to him, somehow.
The dust had begun to settle. The wolves stood at the newly exposed side of the cave and sniffed the air as Molakei, Flower Bird and Kaida joined them. None of them spoke for a long time.
Kaida, the Dragon Child, flanked by her wolves took the first step out into this new land, her eyes wide in wonder.
What is this inner world? Her mind raced as she absorbed her new surroundings. Has this been here all along? She longed for the answers and knew she would find them.
Molakei and Flower Bird joined Kaida and the wolf pups and looked out with disbelief.
They had been dropped deep within the belly of Urthe as the cave in which they had hidden within was plunged into the depths of the unknown. The cave itself had been ripped from the guts of the mountain and plummeted far below. Like a nest caught up in a tremendous storm, it tilted on its side. The occupants were left staring wide-eyed at the new surroundings.
“What is this place?” Kaida whispered half to herself and half to Molakei.
“I have heard stories, in the songs of old about such a place,” said Molakei as he looked out over the lush foliage. The ground they walked upon was thick blue-green moss, which cushioned each step and sprung back as their foot moved to another spot.
Flower Bird reached out to a plant that snaked across the ground bearing heart shaped red berries as large as her hand. “Father, look!” She exclaimed. “These look like the heart berries I use to make sweet treats. One of these berries would easily replace ten of the ones in our land up above.”
“We do not know if these are safe to eat, Flower Bird. They may look the same but how are we to know if it is bad or good?” Molakei warned.
Tyrianua sniffed the huge berry in her hand and spoke to Kaida. “You may eat. My nose will detect any harmful food.” He grabbed a large berry from the rambling vine and took a large, juicy bite. He sat and waited for the others to pick the berries.
“Mmmmm.” Kaida responded. “These are so good.”
Flower Bird placed a few berries in her gathering bag to have later. First, they needed to explore. If there was a way in, there must also be a way out. Her thoughts turned to their peoples, hoping they had survived.
Light illuminated everything as if by the sun but they could not see it. Trees grew taller than any they had ever seen, easily fifty times taller than Molakei. The ferns that usually nestled beneath the trees on Urthe, towered over their heads, nodding the deeply notched leaves which sprinkled dewdrops down as they passed. The air was a spicy scent of berries and exotic flowers, filling their lungs.
“Look!” Kaida said as she pointed at a large skybird. Its magnificent wings of white and gold made it difficult to watch, flashing the feathers brilliance in competition with the light emitting from above. The bird’s caw sounded like music drifting through the air. As his face turned towards Kaida she saw he wore a mask of golden feathers around his eyes. The skybird steered towards them. As Kaida watched mesmerized, it dropped down closer, grazing the top of Molakei’s head before climbing skyward again.
“That was close.” Molakei muttered, exhaling his breath.
“Did he harm you?” Kaida asked.
“No, but he could have. Did you see how long those golden talons were? They were a match to the size of my hand,” he said turning his hands over. “We must not seem like a threat. He could have lifted me up without a problem. I am thankful he did not.”
Flower Bird looked back at the way they had entered this place. She could not see to the top of the mountain but their cave of crystal fingers looked like a tipped-over bowl exposed near the bottom of the mountain. Something about the way it looked struck her as odd. She had never looked at the cave in such a manner but now it made the skin on her arms prickle. The crystal fingers looked like they were glowing. She was enticed to go back to take a closer look but just then she heard her father call her name. She hurried to catch up with them as they had already started down the mossy trail.
Chapter 5
“Shhhh…”
Her eyes glowed with an impossible color of a phosphorescent green. “They pass across the Meadows of the Moss. I can feel their slippery sideways saunter.”
She held a bronzed finger to her lips as she moved slowly around, trying to hone in on their exact course.
“Aha!” She exclaimed as she quickly pinpointed their location. Her verdi
gris wings veined in gold, captured the light, as they gently folded and unfolded. She rose from her Throne, the beautiful Faery Warrior Queen, standing at the full height of three and a half feet.
Her hair was flowing down in cascades, the colors of molten bronze, swaying as she moved her head. Flashes of reds, orange and golden yellow bounced down the length of her back, threatening to blind the casual looker. She is Jengar, Faery Warrior Queen of the Solteriem folk, protector of the Greens.
Heavy steps followed by … what is that? Her head tilted sideways, straining to conjure up the images of the footfalls.
“They must be the Uplanders. The ones who live in the land above us. I do not like their kind,” she said wrinkling her nose as if their odor had permeated her very being. “Uplanders disfigure the Urthe. That is part of the reason we left them to that realm and chose to come here, long ago. We will watch them, yes?” Her question was met by throngs of buzzing wings.
Jengar once again took her seat on her Opal Throne which rose up from the Inner Urthe. The throne, a platform from a boulder carved and polished to show off the veins glimmering within its hold. She rubbed a particularly large slab of the transparent opal on the armrest and looked within the Watching Stone.
The points on her ears wiggled as she followed the Uplanders progress along the Meadows of the Moss. They would have a long journey to ever get close to the Solteriem. Still … one never knows, she mused. Just to be cautious, she thought, perhaps she should alert the Squadron, those immense Dragonflies who do her bidding. Time will tell, she thought, eyes riveted to the Watching Stone.
The Solteriem folk established their presence on Inner Urthe at a time almost forgotten, back when the Ice slowly crept. As the Ice moved, it devoured their Greens. They were forced to retreat inside the mountains. The bitter cold threatened to wipe out their race. Food was in short supply. They had to find a way for survival, and that was when they stumbled across their answer.
The Legend- Revealed Page 2