Kiatana's Journey (Creatures of the Lands Book 1)

by Natalie Erin

  “Don’t go alone!” Casiff cried atop Lavender’s back, but Snow Drop had already whirled around before his sentence was finished and was battering her way through the crowd until nobody could see her anymore.

  “It’s going to take a miracle to have us win this,” Dragonstar said with a meaningful look at Vixen as he crushed a Mare beneath his hoof. The fairy glared at him from his back and hissed under her breath, “What would you have Vixen do? Vixen hasn’t brought her out in years…”

  “You must summon her!” Dragonstar snapped at her. “Only you can end this! It’s what you were ordained to do! As your second in command I demand that you let her emerge!”

  “Not yet,” Vixen said, and she sliced off the head of a Mare as she did so. “If Vixen does now all the power will be gone from her and we will still be outnumbered! She hasn’t been able to roast a whole army since she was chosen!”

  “Make her come out fast, or more of us are going to die!” Dragonstar said.

  “Vixen,” Lavender wheezed, “I’m getting tired.”

  The fairy looked at her animal sympathetically. The battle with the Terrors had taken more out of her than the rest of them. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing Vixen can do.”

  “Or nothing that you will do,” Dragonstar said. He brought down a smaller Mare but not before another one, a mountain lion Mare, leapt for Vixen and was inches from pulling her off. Dragonstar let out a loud bray and Lavender leapt into action, charging forward with her violet horn down and not looking where she was going. In an instant Lavender got a long leg stuck in a rabbit hole. The unicorn fell, and her leg snapped. Casiff began to fall under her, knowing he would be crushed.

  “NO!” Vixen shot out her hand and latched onto Casiff. She pulled him onto the back of her own unicorn and looked down at the wounded Lavender. The unicorn gasped in pain, her body wracking with terrible tremors. Vixen dismounted, and Dragonstar moaned, “Why her? Lavender!”

  “She’ll be eaten alive,” Casiff said, looking at the Terrors. A tear ran down Vixen’s cheek and with a shaky voice she said, “Oh, poor baby. Vixen is sorry, but she must do this.” She pulled a knife from her belt. She looked at Dragonstar before striking and he nodded his head. “Don’t let her suffer,” he begged.

  Casiff stared with wide, open eyes while the other unicorn looked away. With a single stroke she put the screaming animal out of its misery. “At least Vixen’s Casiff is safe,” she whispered softly. She kissed Lavender on the cheek and closed her eyes before leaping back unto Dragonstar. “Grab onto Vixen and we’ll get out of here,” she told Casiff.

  “Of course,” Casiff said in a comforting tone. “I would do anything for you, Vixen.” He smiled at her and she tearfully smiled back, pushing Dragonstar back into battle.

  LILJA STARED down his opponent menacingly. Every vein in his body was pulsing with rage, every tear on his face shimmering with the beauty of a broken heart. The Terror in front of him was the only thing that stood in his way between the forest and the cliff. The giant bird cackled and Lilja shifted on his paws, his teeth bared.

  “I’ve got nothing to lose,” Lilja growled, and the Terror looked at him with gleaming, greedy eyes. “Try and take me on. I swear I’ll kill you.”

  The bird seemed to laugh. Lilja didn’t move one muscle. It was all over. Lottie was dead, Ionan was gone, and the forest had ceased to exist. The only thing that existed was this fermenting monster in front of him that he was going to fall.

  Even if it killed him in the process.

  Lilja’s hackles rose, and his fangs shone like ivory in the sunrise.

  KIA AND KEOTA ran after Malaki, gaining ground on the old man. On the way they ran into Casiff and Vixen, riding double on Dragonstar. “What happened to Lavender?” Keota asked the two.

  “She got her leg stuck in a hole and snapped it like a twig,” Casiff informed them depressingly, saving Vixen from explaining. “There was no way we could have saved her. Have you seen your father, Kia?”

  “We’re chasing him now,” the fairy told him. Her small hand fell to her stomach. “We’ll find him. I’ve picked up on his trail.”

  She couldn’t have finished her sentence before the fairy responsible for the fighting appeared right in front of them. His old body had enough. He knew it was useless trying to run anymore. He glared at them and his eyes fell to his daughter’s middle. A small knife was raised in one hand.

  “Poisoned blades are cruel little things,” he said calmly, keeping his eyes locked on Kia’s stomach. “It won’t kill a full grown fairy, but a little one will be no problem. You’ve seen that with the wolf brat.” He flung the knife and Keota tried to pull her quickly out of the way, but it was too late. The blade sank deeply into Kia’s unprotected stomach. Kia lurched forward and would’ve fallen if Keota hadn’t caught her. He lifted her into his arms and set her on the ground. She yanked the blade from her flesh and pressed a hand over the wound as her clothes started to stain.

  But it was too late to stop the poison from taking effect. The child would die. Both she and Keota knew that.

  Blood spurted from her fingers where the wound was hidden. Keota held her up and they both began to cry in pain and sadness for their unborn child. Casiff let out a loud yell. Malaki laughed and Vixen stared with huge eyes at Kia.

  “Vixen, do it now!” Dragonstar cried, stomping his hooves.

  The sound of Dragonstar’s voice seemed to strike a chord in Vixen’s brain. The fairy’s eyes flashed a horrible color and her whole form seemed to ripple like a river. Her eyes landed on Malaki and her mouth was brought up in a raging snarl, her voice dark and deep. “NO, YOU IGNORANT FOOL! THE CHILD SHALL NOT DIE!!!”

  Vixen launched herself into the air with surprising strength, her skin contorting and beginning to change. She started to glow like the sun, and as they watched her hover in the air as they saw a beautiful maiden of old, every part of her made of light with a long black dress that trailed down over her feet. Her eyes glowed white as she rode upon a great eagle made of fire, engulfing every part of the sky itself yet not setting flame to the trees. Those on the ground covered their eyes against the brightness of her. When she raised her arm animals of fire seemed to spring out of the eagle’s wings and they galloped onto the ground, creating a protective ring around everyone except Malaki.

  “The Great One is a girl!” Keota exclaimed from behind Kia. “I can’t believe this!”

  “Great One!” cried Malaki in fear. “I had no idea you were here! I’m sorry! Please don’t hurt me, and I’ll do anything you ask! Anything at all!”

  “YOU CANNOT REDEEM YOURSELF!” the Great One boomed.. “YOU HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CHANCES TO STOP YOUR FOOLISH MISSION AND NEVER ONCE HAVE YOU EVEN CONSIDERED DOING SO! FOR YOUR IGNORANCE YOU WILL PAY WITH BLOOD!”

  “Please…I will change…I promise I will,” he stammered.

  “YOU LIE TO ME! YOU PLAN TO RUN FROM ME THE INSTANT I TURN AWAY, YOU SEEK NO FORGIVENESS!”

  “I…I…forgiveness?” Malaki whimpered. “Put myself aside? I…I have done nothing wrong!” Malaki said.

  “MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO FOLLOW A PATH OF EVIL AND DESTRUCTION! AND NOW I WILL END THE SUFFERING YOU HAVE CAUSED THIS LAND! YOUR BLOOD WILL PAY FOR THE DEAD AND THE DYING, YOUR DEATH SHALL BE MY REVENGE!” she snarled at him. “NOW DIE, FOOLISH FAIRY!”

  A blast of light shot from the sky and struck the fairy on the top of his head. The smell of burning flesh filled the clearing as his eyes burst from their sockets and onto his cheeks. Blood leaked from his mouth and his tongue was on fire. His lips curled back and burnt off, while his skin and clothes charred. The light vanished and all that was left of the elder Malaki was a burnt skeleton. Kia’s father was dead.

  Once the threat was gone the animals of flame that had been circling the group rose up to meet the Great One in the sky. She pointed her finger to the east and said, “GO AND ERADICATE THE NIGHT MARES AND THE NIGHT TERRORS FROM THE LAND! RUN THEM ALL OUT AND LEAVE NON
E STILL HERE!”

  At her command the thousands of fire creatures raced off into the trees. Through a clear spot in the woods the group watched as the fire creatures took down each and every Mare and Terror, leaving none behind.

  “HA HA HA HA HA HA!” the female ruler threw back her head and laughed. The rich sound was of pure enjoyment and pride, and it caused shivers to run up Keota’s spine.

  “What about Kia and the baby?” he moaned. “You must help them!”

  The Great One grinned at them foxily. “YES, I WILL HELP! THE CHILD WILL NOT DIE TODAY!” Her skin began to ripple and contort once again. She turned back into the form of a fairy they had all called Vixen and walked over to the young couple. Keota drew Kia away from her protectively, but Vixen chuckled and said, “You knew me as Vixen before, no? You will still know her as Vixen now. Trust me,” she smiled.

  Keota slowly backed away. Vixen leaned forward and said, “Poor child must be scared to death! Vixen will make him better though. The young boy will live yet!” She beckoned to Dragonstar and forced the younger girl to remove her hand. “Vixen will fix it now. All will be okay.” She nodded to her stallion and Dragonstar put his horn to the wound. Kia felt the poison’s effect wear away and vanish completely, her pain ending and her health restoring.

  “Thank you, my lady,” Kia sank on her knee and bowed as low as she could.“I owe both my life and the life of my child to you.”

  “Vixen only does what she feels is right. Accompanies and fairies should live together in peace. Vixen only needed to find the perfect pair to fall in love,” she smiled slyly at them.

  “My lady, I owe you everything. I am sorry I disobeyed your laws, but I couldn’t help myself.” Keota bowed as low as Kia and stayed that way, ashamed.

  “Arise, and look at Vixen, child. Vixen forgives you and offers you her blessings for a happy marriage and a healthy young child.” She smiled at them and placed a hand upon Kia’s scarred middle.

  “Thank you,” Kia smiled at the ruler. “We accept your blessings greatly but we are unsure if we will be married.”

  “Will this make it a sure thing?” Keota asked. He got down on his knees and displayed from his pocket a golden ring. A small emerald and two smaller diamonds decorated the band, and the ring glimmered in the rising sun.

  “It was the one thing my mother gave to me before I left,” he admitted sheepishly. “She told me to keep it so when I found the right girl, I could propose to her. I was going to sell it, but now I’m glad I kept it. So, Kiatana Abrilion Shaman...will you marry me?”

  “Yes!” Kia flung her arms around his neck. Keota slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her. When the sun finally rose over the trees the battle ended and all the creatures of the forest surrounded the clearing to see the newly engaged couple, to help repair the forest and to mourn over the dead. Rejoicing encompassed the land, but the joy never reached a small black wolf or the heart of a Changer, who was desperately trying to save what life, if any, was left in Lottie’s body.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  SNOWFALL

  T he first thing Lottie realized was that she wasn’t in any pain. She looked around and saw she stood in a woody forest in the dead of winter. It was comforting, but very strange. For some strange reason, she felt at home. She whooped and jumped into the snow drifts, and danced with the large, puffy snowflakes. She was alone, but it didn’t matter. She tried catching snowflakes on her nose and danced on her hind legs as she pawed at the air. It was only a little while before she realized that she was back in her old home. She laughed, happy to be here again.

  “Lottie,” she heard from somewhere. Lottie stopped playing and turned around on the spot, confused.

  “Lottie,” it called again. She knew that voice from somewhere, but like the woods, she couldn’t recall from where. She followed the voice, enchanted by its sound.

  It was eerily silent in the forest. Even her footsteps didn’t make much noise. “Lottie.”

  She saw someone sitting in the snow. The figure was silvery-white and camouflaged against the falling crystals. “Lottie,” it said one more time.

  Then Lottie knew who it was. She raced joyfully towards her and cuddled up to her soft, warm fur, sighing with happiness.

  “Mama,” she said.

  The she-wolf laughed. “Hello Lottie.”

  “Mama,” she said again. “Why did you die?”

  “Lottie,” she said. “Do I look dead to you?”

  She looked up at her and saw how real she was, more beautiful than Lottie had remembered. She looked so solid, so shiny and happy…so amazing. “No,” she said.

  “My body may have died,” she said, “But my soul still lives, and that is the part that matters. I am still here.”

  “We miss you so much,” Lottie whispered, hugging closer to her.

  “I know.”

  “Mama, am I dead too?”

  Caini snuggled her and said, “No, little pup. You are still alive.”

  “Then why am I here?”

  “The poison nearly killed you. But your time has not come. You have too much work to do, and to prepare you for it I have a lot to tell you. First you must forgive the ones responsible for killing me.”

  “What? But they killed you and many others! How can I forgive when so much damage was done?” Lottie said in shock.

  “Forgiveness heals and cleanses, like water over a dirty wound. Some may even be able to turn their lives around because of it. You saw Kikan. He has changed.”

  Lottie nodded. “Yes. He helped Casiff with the attack, but when he saw the damage he stopped what he was doing and did the right thing. The other animals could have hated him for it, but they decided to follow him instead because they saw he was a good leader.”

  Caini kissed her daughter’s head “Hatred tears apart the soul so terribly. You can always forgive, no matter how terrible their deeds are. But don’t ruin yourself with hate. It was my time. I am much happier now.”

  “Even without us?”

  “Oh, Lottie. I want you and your brother to grow strong and old. I don’t want you to join me so soon.”

  “Will the forest be okay?”

  “The forest will be fine, as well as everyone living in it.”

  “How do you know?” Lottie whispered, pressing up against her.

  “Trust me. But there is one who will not be well, if you don’t help him.”

  “Who?”

  “Casiff.”

  “What!” Lottie jumped away. “But it’s his fault you’re gone!”

  “I loved him, little pup. He never received much love from his father. He lost his mother at an early age, just like you. His creatures don’t feel connected to him. I was the only one he has ever loved, and the only one who loved him back.”

  Lottie looked at her mother. “What must I do?” she asked.

  “When the time is right, you will know.”

  “Mama,” Lottie asked, and confusion swirled in her head, “What is planned for me to do? What are you saying, that I have things to achieve? There’s so much I don’t understand.”

  “You will be part of a revolution,” Caini hushed in her daughter’s ear, and Lottie’s eyes widened dramatically. “A movement that will affect all creatures in three separate worlds, to come to pass in many, many years. It has started with you and your friends. The work your group has done will ripple through each and every heart until nothing, for good or for bad, is the same.”

  “What will we be working for, Mama?” Lottie questioned.

  Caini lifted up her head and her eyes shone brightly, fiercely. “Freedom. It will be a long, hard fight, and I can’t tell you if you will win. The difficulties will be greater than any of you could ever imagine. One thing I must plead to you is to be loyal to your friends, and to always do everything out of love.”

  Caini snuggled her daughter one last time. “Take care of your brother. I’ll always be with you, in every paw step that you will take. Pay attention, but don’t fear
disaster. In everything try to be gentle…your gift is for healing, and without it the entire revolution will fall. At times of most crippling devastation remember that we will be together again, all of us.”

  Her mother faded away and Lottie was left alone in the falling snow.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  UNITED

  I onan flew swiftly with the limp little wolf pup in his closed claws. He felt shivers of fear as he glanced quickly at the tiny figure in his grasp. She had certainly took on the appearance of death, though Ionan knew from the frail little heartbeat inside her that she was still alive, even if it was slowing faster every second.

  He smelled blood and descended. His heart wretched as he saw Lavender, one of Vixen’s favorite and best, with a broken leg and a cut throat. He laid Lottie down gently and looked at the purple horn. He put his claws around it and gently pulled, knowing he could crush it if he was too rough. It detached easily, and a gray stub was left in place. He took the horn and pushed the point into Lottie where the poisoned blade had sunk in.

  The horn’s healing powers spread through her blood faster than the poison and she stared to breathe again. Her heart pumped faster and life came back into her newly opened eyes as she whispered softly, “Ionan?”

  “Lie still,” he told her calmly. “You’ve just been healed. Don’t move or you might hurt yourself.”

  “Where’s Lilja?” she asked, and then she looked up and saw Lavender. She screamed when she saw she was lying in her blood and tried to sit up frantically.

  Ionan pushed her gently back down. “I’m taking you to the fairies and the Great One. I don’t know where your brother is, but I’m going to find him.”

  “The Great One?” she asked weakly and Ionan lifted her by the scruff with his teeth, putting her on his back.

  “I know the Great One. Do not worry. She will take care of you. She has been put in a high place under the Creator for a reason.”