by Natalie Erin
KIATANA AND VIXEN raced along on Lavender. Vixen did not lie; unicorns really were the fastest and best form of traveling quickly. Lavender never missed a step, and it seemed to be mere minutes before they reached the heart of the forest.
Kia turned and looked over Lavender’s ears and her great silver horn. Finally, in what was only a miraculous matter of three minutes, they were there.
A large rock stood in the middle of the forest, glowing with a strange white light. She rushed to the boulder and saw something in a crack that looked just like black poison. She stared at it and realized that it was all around her...on the ground, on the trees, everything. She ripped the unicorn horn out of her bag. Lavender squealed in revulsion and tried to run, but Vixen held her back.
“A horn of one of my brethren!” Lavender screamed, struggling against Vixen. “What dark madness has fallen upon us?”
“Kiatana, stab the horn in now!” Vixen yelled. Without another thought Kia plunged the horn into the crack. At once the blackness grew away from the horn, and the healing qualities of the unicorns spread throughout the forest to the trees and the grass and all else. Kia could hear animals in the brush sigh in relief, and the birds finally began singing again, something that hadn’t happened in months. The silence was gone. It was over. The soreness in her chest was gone, and Kia knew the forest was well.
With Lavender now calm, Vixen was looking dangerously at the remaining traces of the black poison. “Vixen knows what this is,” she whispered. “This is a terrible toxin. It affects plants first, then grows as animals eat the plants. It spreads fast and is dangerous to make. It is not a natural cause. Humans made it, long ago. When it got out of control, they left.”
“That’s why there are no humans,” said Kia in wonder. “Do you think Casiff made it?”
Vixen shook her head. “Casiff is too young and too inexperienced to make this. Not even memorable and knowledgeable Vixen can make this. It had to have been done by a fairy with much more skill and cunning than Casiff, in order to plant it without your knowing in the heart of the forest. It had to be someone who could sneak in and out of your territory without you realizing it.”
An unexpected answer clicked in Kia’s mind. She recalled the monster in the caves, the Ortusans in the Black Woods, and Snow Drop falling ill. Most of all, she remembered the letters that constantly sent them into danger, even when it seemed like they were giving help. She shook her head quickly, for the unicorns had been right.
She knew who her attacker was.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CASIFF’S CHILD
O nce she had made her way back and found her group in a clearing, Kia took the next few hours to explain what she found out to Keota and Ionan. Lottie and Lilja had gone with Kikan to ready for battle, along with Dragonstar and Lavender. As Kia’s story continued the pair listened intently.
“It makes sense, but I can’t believe it,” Keota commented as she finished. “How in the world did your father manage all of this?”
“All he’s ever wanted was my land,” she said, and tears were welled up in her eyes, her fists clenched. “He never actually loved me. All those letters he sent…they were tricks to hurt me, and his so called concern was just a ruse. He’s never wanted a relationship…all he wanted was to chase me away like the rest of my family so he could take the forest for himself. If he kills off all my animals then that just makes it easier for him to start over and run things his way. He used me, just like he used my mother to try and get the throne. But she was smart enough to run when she had the chance, unlike me, who fell right into his trap.”
“We must find him and try to knock some sense into his thick skull,” Ionan growled, twirling his long scaled tail around his hind legs.
“I agree. This is wrong, all that he’s done to you,” Keota said angrily.
“We must find and stop Casiff first,” Kia said sourly. “If my dad has been using him as a pawn, then he’s going to try and kill me.”
“How do you expect to find him? Even half destroyed, your forest is huge!” Keota threw his arms out to emphasize his point.
Kia didn’t answer. Ionan tapped his claw impatiently against the ground, thinking. His sharp eyes spotted something on the ground, a large shape that was glowing white. “What may this be,” he whispered, and the group knelt down to get a better look.
“It’s a wolf print, I think, and it’s pretty big,” Kia stated. They glanced farther ahead and saw that there were paw prints all along the ground, glowing white and hidden by the long, dying grasses.
“It could be tracks from the Night Mares,” Keota shivered.
“No…” Kia stated. “Night Mares don’t leave tracks like this.”
“Then what does?” Ionan asked, perplexed.
“We’d better find out. It could be another weapon Malaki has in store for us,” Kia said.
“You will not go without Vixen. She wants to see some sort of action before she leaves for home.” Vixen walked up behind her from out of nowhere, cockily skipping through the grass. Her black wings glimmered in the sunlight and her black fox ears were back again, along with her long black tail. “Vixen hasn’t seen a battle in many moons.”
“Be ready for an ambush,” Kia told her, and Ionan changed into his white lion form. They followed the prints cautiously, step by step. The thing that had made them seemed to be heading towards the stream. Kia took Keota’s hand in hers and led him through the forest. Ionan and Vixen followed close behind them, ready to strike. “If something happens to me I want you to take care of my forest,” Kia whispered to Keota. “I fear that either Casiff or my father may cause my death.”
“I will, and I will see to it personally that Malaki won’t get away for bringing sickness into such a beautiful place,” Keota replied. “You can be sure of that.”
“Thank you.” Kia got up on her toes and kissed him on the corner of his mouth, making him blush.
As they broke out of the trees a short time later later they all peered out from behind the bushes, gasping at what they saw.
Casiff sat beside the river, his head in his hands. He looked like he had been crying. A very large white she wolf sat behind him, her head on his shoulder. He didn’t seem to notice her there. When the group broke away from the shelter of the trees she looked straight at them with two very familiar, mismatched eyes.
“That’s Caini,” Ionan rumbled. The group began to back away, but the wolf simply walked towards them and passed straight through their bodies. The group watched as Caini’s paw prints faded away and she melted into the air behind them. In less than a few seconds she was gone.
“The Night Mares never took her body,” Ionan said. “She will live on in peace.”
“Thank the Creator for that,” Kia whispered. With Caini gone they turned their attention back to the broken Casiff. It was if he had never seen Caini’s presence. This was the look of a devastated man, not a killer. He didn’t seem malicious at all, not in this miserable state.
Like it mattered to Kia.
“Casiff, I demand you leave this place at once. This land is not yours!” Kia commanded, her voice echoing around the river.
“Just leave me be!” Casiff turned, yelling. “Can’t you see that I’m in pain? This is all your fault, Kia! Your filthy land made my beloved Caini sick, and now she’s dead! My only friend! I’ll…I’ll kill you!” Casiff rose and charged at Kia at full speed.
Kia dodged him with ease and he ran right into the arms of a war hungry Vixen. “Hello there, little man,” Vixen cooed. “It’s all okay, Vixen won’t hurt you.” The fairy smiled evilly. “Yet.”
“Unhand me this instant!” Casiff pulled away from her and flung himself at Kia a second time. Vixen flipped into the air and landed perfectly before him, and he crashed once again in her arms.
“No, no, no. You cannot harm the queen. If you do the Great One will be very angry,” she said softly.
“Queen?” Keota asked. “I thought you were the princess?”
“As soon as I turn twenty, the throne is mine,” Kia said.
“That’s right. And you will be turning twenty in about three days now, darling,” Vixen smiled at Kia. “A new queen will soon rule and peace will be restored to our world! Vixen is thrilled!”
“Will you please let go of me? I won’t attack her again.” Casiff’s moan was muffled against Vixen’s chest, and he sounded thoroughly miserable. “I swear I won’t.”
“Vixen does not wish to let you go yet,” she said. “Vixen likes Casiff very much indeed.” Vixen stroked Casiff’s hair gently.
“You were looking to kill us all,” Kia growled, furious.
“All I wanted was some more land,” Casiff grumbled. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone!”
“You weren’t exactly my best friend growing up,” Kia hissed.
“Ok, so yeah, I was greedy.” He rolled his eyes and Vixen squeezed him tighter. “But if I’d have known that your father was going to backstab me and take it all for himself then I wouldn’t have done it. If I’d have known about the plague I wouldn’t have even tried! It wasn’t worth the death of all my animals and…” he breathed raggedly. “Caini.”
Casiff frowned and said, “What if I told you that I was guilty and I really feel sorry for what I did? There’s not a day that goes by that I don't regret this…and not just because of what I lost. Forgive me, please?”
Kia glanced at Ionan. The Changer raised his head and said, “He’s telling the truth.”
Vixen was still choking the life out of Casiff. Kia sighed and said, “Let him go, Vixen. I think you’re scaring him a little. As far as I know, he’s no threat to us. But we need to hurry up and get to my father as fast as we can.”
Vixen released him reluctantly. “I will find you again, my little fairy,” she said softly into his ear. “Vixen will find you. Just you wait.”
Casiff gulped. “I don’t know if I should be afraid or flattered,” he whispered to Kia.
“With her you can never tell,” Kia replied.
“Come on, we have to go. There’s not much time left,” Keota said. They started to hike back, but turned around when they saw that Casiff was following them.
“Why do you want to come, Casiff? This isn’t your fight,” Kia asked.
“Because that bastard caused my Caini to die. Your father’s been playing me, all this time, getting me to do his dirty work. He needs to go down!” the fairy snarled.
Kia thought. “As princess, if you help us to win this battle then I will declare you free of all crimes against my forest. But no turning on us. Vixen,” she said, and the fairy snapped to attention. “Be with him at all times to make sure he doesn’t become a traitor. Again. And as for my father…” she narrowed her eyes. “I get first dibs on him.”
“I can handle that,” Casiff hissed, a smile hungry for vengeance spreading across his face.
“Vixen will take you to her unicorns. She and Casiff can ride on Lavender and Dragonstar on the way,” Vixen bounced up and down eagerly.
“I’ll have to ride with you on Ionan, Keota,” Kia said.
“Where is Snow Drop to carry you?” Ionan asked.
“She’s gone to round up who’s left for battle,” Kia said. “Who else is going to command the army? If we cut through the center of the forest we can meet her on our way.”
“Let’s get going,” Casiff said. “I have a feeling I know exactly where the old man is hiding.”
MALAKI SHAMAN SAT in a large armchair in front of a fire, his house filthier than usual, papers and dishes strewn about everywhere. His plan to destroy the forest was unfolding perfectly, which would make it simple to start his own reign from scratch. His idiot daughter had fallen right into his trap and had left when her forest was more vulnerable than it ever could be. The only thing left to do now was to use the Night Mares to kill every creature who stood against his rule.
Malaki’s face stiffened like stone. There was the slight problem of the Accompany and his she-dragon...he would take care of them later, once he had gained enough power. Who did this Accompany think he was anyway, barging in here and giving him orders? Of course it was he who had come up with the idea to butcher all those creatures, and his plan had worked ingeniously so far. Malaki couldn’t help to admit he never could’ve gotten this far without his help...
He jumped when someone began to bang on the door. Was it the Accompany again? But Malaki only gritted his teeth when he heard who it was. “Open up this instant, father! I will not be ignored!” Kiatana’s voice echoed through the small cabin.
Putting on a cheery face he called, “Come in, child. What brings you here?”
The door flew open. “The sickness that nearly killed my forest, that’s what brings me here!” she snarled at him as she hurried into the room. She and her friends crowded into the room, Ionan resisting the urge to roar.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Malaki said.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t known, all this time!” Keota yelled. Ionan’s mane bristled at the sound of his voice.
“The one that you planted, Malaki. Vixen thought that you were better than this, but maybe she was wrong.” Vixen stepped forward and smiled, but it was a very cruel smile.
“I did no such thing. How could I have gotten the poison to do so?” Malaki shouted at the group.
“My father gave it to you. He didn’t know why you wanted it, but he still gave it to you, because he trusted you,” Casiff answered. “Because of you and your stupid plot, I lost Caini!”
“You’ve killed the creatures I was responsible for with this stupid disease! You’ve taken everything away from me, my mother, my siblings, my friends, everything that I’ve loved! I’m not going to take it anymore!” Kia yelled at Malaki. She took a sudden step forward, her arms outstretched. A cry rose from her throat as she did so and she bent down in agonizing pain, one hand against her stomach.
“What’s wrong?” Keota ran forward and placed a hand on her back. She didn’t rise up and his eyes widened in fear. “What are you doing to her?” he shouted at Malaki.
“Nothing, I haven’t done anything to her,” Malaki said quickly.
“You had best be sure. Because if she dies and I found out it was you who caused it, it shall be you who will die,” Ionan hissed as he came up next to Kia. His protectiveness was swarming over him, taking all of his emotions over completely. Keota and Kia were merging into the same creature in his mind, into one person, as they had been ever since the attack of the Ortusan’s. He was confused, trying to differ one from the other. Keota loved her, and because of it, Ionan had to struggle not to love her too.
Kia struggled to her feet with help from Keota and looked down. The remains of her lunch now sat on the dirt floor of the cabin. She wobbled slightly and clung to Keota for support.
“Are you all right?” Keota asked worryingly.
“Fine, I just don’t feel all that well. My stomach is a little…” She leaned forward and lost the little amount of her lunch that she had left. Keota leapt back before any of it could land on his shoes. Malaki cowered even more against the wall.
“Vixen knows what is wrong with the girl,” Vixen spoke up. “Do you want to know?”
“Please,” Kia said slowly. Even though she had asked the question, she looked like she knew the answer. Casiff and Keota looked towards the fairy, perplexed. Ionan turned away.
“Kia is going to have a child!” Vixen said in a congratulatory tone, throwing up her arms. “Another fairy to help her run the forest! Keota can’t go home now!”
“Why can’t I go home?” Keota questioned. Casiff smacked his own head with his hand and Ionan glared at his Accompany, ears back.
“Because the child is yours,” Vixen said happily. “You have to stay here now. You have to stay with Kiatana.”
“The child’s…mine?” Keota asked, stunned.
“No, it’s Casiff’s.” Kia said sarcastically with a hint of annoyance.
&nb
sp; “I thought you hated Casiff!” Keota said, completely shocked, an expression of hurt swimming across his face. “What about me?”
Kia rolled her eyes, still hunched over. “Keota I’m joking, of course it’s your kid. Who else could have possibly made him?”
Keota stood there with his mouth open. He then let out a cheer and tried to spin Kia around but she pushed him away, still feeling sick. He ran his hands through his hair and said, “This is wonderful! A baby…but Ionan!” he said, turning to his Changer. “Why didn’t you tell me that she was...”
“I tried,” Ionan rumbled, clearly upset. It was all he could say. Casiff was forgetting about the excitement in the corner of the room and was inching towards Malaki, who looked at him shiftily.
Kia smiled, her nausea slowly passing. “I had figured I was. I swore that I would never have kids, but now that I’ve met you, I’ve changed my mind. If I’m going to have a baby, I want it to be yours.”
Keota knelt down to embrace her in a hug. As he did the back door banged against the wall and there was a scuffle between Malaki and Casiff. Ionan charged forward to help but didn’t get there in time, and Malaki managed to slither out of Casiff’s sloppy grip. Keota and Vixen went to go after him, but Kia gagged. They rushed to her side in concern, and in the chaos Malaki got away. Ionan longed to go after him, but his confusion made it hard to think. There was anger in his veins, death in the air and life growing in Kia’s body all at once. Most of all there was jealously, and Ionan hated it. Ionan hated it with every fiber of his being.
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE BATTLE FOR VERINIAN FOREST
Speed was of the essence as they flew back to the heart of the forest. With the battle looming closer, there was no time to give chase and they were forced to let Malaki escape from them once again. Keota hoped that Malaki would be commanding his army from a close enough location so he could be easily captured. Even in the clouds above, Keota could tell that the air was thick with impending battle. Crows and other scavengers nearly blocked out the sun, so numerous they were. It was cloudy, but not gray. Yellow rays shone through the sky on one side and a dark storm the other, so it looked like the very heavens were ready to fight. Kiatana and Snow Drop had been reunited on the way there as intended, and they flew back together so Kia wouldn’t have to ride Ionan again. Vixen was riding one of her unicorns on the ground to meet them, along with Casiff. Keota looked at Snow Drop, and then his eyes traveled up to Kiatana. He found himself staring at her stomach. I’m going to be a father, he thought. He was amazed at the life that was growing inside her, and was stunned to think that he had been a part of it.