“Ryliss, are you ok?” she whispered frantically once the fighting died down.
“Oh, better than ok!” I chuckled as I climbed on the back of my cat and started massaging her neck. As if her bones suddenly dissolved, Naurakka dropped to the ground, and a loud purring session ensued that made the ground vibrate. The Jag’uri rolled back and forth to make sure I hit all the good spots.
“Andea, I would like to introduce Naurakka. Her name translates to ‘Fireclaws’ in common.”
She cautiously slid forward and extended her hands until she came into contact with the broad cat’s head. Squatting down, Andi leaned forward so she could gently rub the huge triangular-shaped ears.
“I like this one already.”
The girl smiled broadly as she ran her fingers over the animal. “Naurakka is the same kind of cat you became last night; the fur is the same softness. I bet she’s gorgeous to see.”
“Oh, she is. She is a Jag’uri Puma. But for now we need to find a place for you to stay while I locate your brother. Rakka, can you please stay here with Andi for a while? I need to look for a particular tree. Andea, Naurakka will watch over you while I’m gone.” I watched her nod resignedly as she continued to stroke the big cat.
“No harm will come to the cub.”
Setting out, I walked through the trees, casting about for a glade or open area that would look promising. I had watched Julia cast spells to summon dryads or spirits of the forest many times, but Jules was probably the most powerful Druid born in a thousand years. She always made it look easy; I’m pretty sure she could summon a dryad in the desert. I sent a silent prayer to the Earth Mother for her assistance, but really expected no response.
I happened upon a flat, grassy area. Judging by the lay of the land, I would have to say this was formerly a shallow pond or pool that had finally filled in enough for the grasses to take hold permanently. It probably still got pretty soggy after a good rain, but it had been weeks since that had last occurred. Twenty minutes had passed and I still hadn’t found a suitable tree. My mind alternated between searching and pondering what Andi had told me about her being a seer. I didn’t get the feeling I had gotten the complete story from her about everything either. Still crossing the meadow, I was startled to sense I was no longer alone. There was a short, dark-skinned human woman walking silently alongside me, step-for-step. I pulled up and stopped, dark elves are not typically known for letting anyone sneak up on them. She looked old, almost ancient; her face was like tanned leather and broadly featured. She was dressed in a long, dark green gown with colorful living flowers tied into her coiled long hair. Hummingbirds darted around her head, stopping periodically to sample the nectar from her hairpiece.
“Hello, Ryliss, I am pleased to finally meet you,” she said aloud, her voice sounding high-pitched and strangely musical.
I froze and the little hairs on the back of my neck rose straight up. The only other time I can remember that happening was in the presence of King Alex’s parents, the Nova. Dropping to my knees, I bowed my head and dutifully whispered, “How may I serve you, Earth Mother?”
She smiled and chuckled, the sound of her voice like wind chimes. “You already serve me very well, my child. Please stand and walk with me for a ways.” I did as she requested and fell in with her as we continued our walk through the tall grass, stealing glances at her when I could.
“My dear, I would have you deliver a message to your King Alex for me.”
“Certainly, but why would you choose me for this task? King Alex already counts Julia and Lin as kin, and as real Druids, surely they would possess more credibility with the King.”
Her laugh pealed out across the warm meadow like small bells. “It is always the questions with you, young scholar, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I am not offended. In fact, I find you strangely refreshing. And don’t ever believe you are not a ‘real Druid’ just because you did not attend some wizard school. Being as one with nature comes from the heart, not a spell book.”
“But there lies the crux of the matter,” I said resignedly. “I would feel more comfortable with the spellbook, or any book for that matter. If it weren't for Naurakka, I would be a total fraud in the forest.”
“Times are changing and my guardians of nature must be intelligent and resourceful enough to change with them. My Druids can no longer wade into the fray animating trees, causing floods, and wielding plagues of locusts. There are currently only ten living Druids on the entire planet…well, make that eleven,” she said, tilting her head as if contemplating a private joke only she was privy to, and then continued, a frown crossing her face. “I lost hundreds of my guardians to the undead and the human armies that attempted to use the Druid’s powers for their own purposes. It will be centuries before those losses can be replaced, if ever.”
“If ever?”
“Trouble brews on the horizon, young Druid, and therein lies the message. The gods of this world, weakened though they are, are very angry. Even though the Nova saved this world from destruction, they feel as though Sky Raven is nothing more than a Nova-based foothold to take over this planet. They are jealous of the power and want Sky Raven either subjugated or destroyed.”
“But King Alex has no designs on ruling the world. He will only interfere if there is demon magic involved,” I protested.
She stopped, winked at me, and chuckled. “I know that, Ryliss. Alex is a good man, and he and Maya are wise and fair rulers.”
“Forgive me, Earth Mother, but now I am really confused. On one hand, you maintain the gods of this world are angry at Sky Raven, and on the other, you acknowledge that he is a good ruler. I mean, aren’t you one of the gods of this world, as well?’
She sighed and continued walking with a quickening pace and a fierce determination. “I am the Earth Mother; I existed before the first primordial ooze washed up on a rock and decided to make it home. Do not count me among these late-coming pretenders that call themselves the gods of men. I require no worshippers to survive, nor is my power based on their prayers or numbers. I will continue to exist until the day our ‘new sun’ becomes old and burns all life on this world to a crisp and it once again becomes a lifeless rock.”
“Well, then, can’t you just tell the gods of men to back down?”
“Child, I prefer not to interfere in the ways of man or their ridiculous gods. You forget while I am the deity of fluffy goslings, pretty daisies, and delicate waterfalls…” She punctuated this by making a stunningly beautiful turquoise and orange flower rise up out of the mossy floor and paused for effect. “…I am also the goddess of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions.” I shuddered as the ground split directly under the pretty flower revealing molten lava, which instantly crisped all the plant life in a five-foot circle, and turned it to dust. “At any time, if I choose, I could destroy all life on this planet down to pond scum. I’ve done it many, many times; entertaining, yes, in the short run, but oh so boring waiting for new results. Humans, in another time and another place, might say that I have anger management issues, which is why I have you Druids, to handle all the annoying human and elf situations.
“Besides, I am much too busy. As much as I appreciate that the planet was not incinerated, the solution the Nova came up with certainly messed up the natural world. The new solar day is slightly off and the tides still aren’t right. I have geese flying the wrong directions even after five years, but then again, geese were never my most brilliant fowl. Salmon migrations are still bollixed, and don’t even get me started on the cicadas and their migraine problems…”
I shook my head dubiously, choosing to ignore her complaints. “But yet, aren’t you interfering and taking sides by giving King Alex this warning?”
She giggled and then tilted her head expressively. “I need to remember never to engage an academic in a debate. To put it bluntly, my young dark elf, I admit I favor King Alex’s position in all of this. That’s why three of my best Druids call Sky Raven home. Besides,” she paused as if
deciding what else to reveal, “in a way, Alex is as much my son as he is the Nova’s.” The confusion on my face must have spoken volumes, as she smiled sheepishly and continued, “You recall the Nova needed to negotiate with the gods of this world to obtain a body for Alex before he could be born.”
I nodded.
“So what does a god of thunder, a god of wine, or a goddess of beauty, know about creating a living, breathing organism out of thin air? Pffft, I’ll tell you! Absolutely nothing! They were in an absolute panic when they heard the Nova’s request.”
“And so they were forced to come to you, Earth Mother,” I filled in.
“That’s correct, child, and it was quite a piece of work, too. Besides being genetically perfect, I added a few small enhancements of my own. So you see, I like to think I had a tiny part in Alex’s success, and…” she grinned, “there may have been a few other timely aids thrown in as well.”
“I will give King Alex your words, Earth Mother,” I said, sensing the discussion was nearly over. “I have a blind human girl that I must escort to safety; would it be possible for you to heal her affliction?”
“No, child, the young seer’s path is already set in motion; any interference on my part would be detrimental to all. But the threads of your destinies are intertwining as we speak; follow your heart. Now, I believe we have reached the object of your search.”
I had been so absorbed in the conversation that I really wasn’t paying attention to where we were going. I looked around curiously, what I had been searching for was a grand old formidable oak tree because I was hoping to coax out a dryad that would agree to watch over Andea. But the clearing where we were currently standing contained only a scrawny young laurel tree that looked like every moose and deer in the forest used for its personal scratching post.
“Umm, Earth Mother, I was searching for a large oak…”
“Yes, I know dear, but Daphne, here, needs a mentor…”
“Daphne?”
My companion stretched out her staff and tapped the side of the small tree. Instantly, there was a shimmer, a bending of the light around it, and just like someone slipping through the parting of a curtain, a young woman stepped out. She had short, spiky jet-black hair, dark, almost obsidian eyes, and attractive human features with a small button nose. When she saw me, her eyes grew very wide, and she nervously tried to smooth out the wrinkles in the dark green shift she wore over threadbare leggings.
When she shifted her gaze to the Earth Mother, she started to stutter, “M…My…” Then her eyes rolled back into her head and she slumped to the ground, instantly transforming into a large black bunny rabbit. The creature had its eyes closed tightly as it flopped over on its side and kicked spastically as if it were having a fit of some kind.
Stifling a laugh, I looked askance at the goddess, who winced and remarked, “Hmmm, her first impression skills need some work, I will grant you that.”
“What is she?”
The Earth Mother looked up from watching the display on the ground and sighed. “She, my young Druid, is an anomaly…a mistake…an abomination…a freak of nature, if you will.” She caught my shocked expression. “Oh, don’t worry, I mean that in the nicest possible way. Much of my best work starts out that way; its how new species come to be.”
“But...”
She smiled innocently. “I will be going now, Ryliss; you should have more than enough to do for a while. Keep up the good work. I do believe your other companions are becoming anxious.” At the last word, her image folded, changed, and shrunk down to a small gray dove, which then flittered off into the larger trees beyond and disappeared.
A few seconds later, Naurakka stalked into the clearing with a cackling and very excited Andea riding on her back. I reached down and scooped up the rabbit, cradling the poor shivering creature in my arms.
“Excellent! You found me a morning snack,” Naurakka sent across our bond.
“No, this isn’t an ordinary rabbit,” I returned, trying to massage the creature out of its state of shock. The big cat moved closer and sniffed Daphne experimentally.
“It smells edible enough. Is it dangerous? I heard about this bunny once that lives in a cave that killed many…”
“No,” I interrupted, talking out loud, “she’s not dangerous; at least, I don’t think so.”
“Who’s not dangerous?” Andi said, still astride Naurakka.
“Well, that’s the thing, I’m not sure what she is, Andi, some sort of shape shifter. Right now, she’s an unconscious bunny rabbit.”
Finally, rubbing the back and feet of the creature paid off, as I saw her eyes slide open languidly; at least until they fixed on Naurakka, whose panting face was still just inches away. Suddenly, she became wild in my arms, struggling to escape, but I had a firm hold on her body and my other hand held her long ears like a vise.
“Enough struggling, Daphne! Naurakka isn’t going to eat you!”
“Well, maybe later,” the puma sent archly, as Andea slid gingerly off her back onto her feet. Huffing, the big cat moved off to the shade at the edge of the meadow and stretched out. As soon as the puma was out of immediate sight, the bunny started to elongate and become heavier, until I had a girl in my arms, with her fingers interlaced around my neck and her face grinning up at me.
“Thank you for rescuing me from the ferocious beast. Kiss me and I’m yours forever!” She laughed, her dark eyes sparkling in the morning light. “But…oww, next time, mind the ears!”
“Ummm, before we get to that ‘yours forever’ part,” I said doubtfully, lowering her feet to the ground and removing her clinging arms, “what are you exactly?”
A flash of sadness crossed her features and she dropped heavily to the ground, drew her knees up, hugging them, and buried her face in her arms. “No one ever takes me up on the ‘kiss me and I’m yours forever’ offer. I’m just pathetic. None of the other nymphs have this problem. They all have brave, handsome knights searching the woods for them, and believe me, they get a lot more than a stupid kiss! Then, of course, they have to parade them by my poor sad little tree and show how superior they are.” By this time, she was sobbing uncontrollably. Andi walked over cautiously, centering on the sound, and put a comforting hand on Daphne’s shoulder.
“It’s going to be alright; Ryliss and I are going to be your new best friends now.”
She looked up in tears. “Huh? You don’t even know me; you’ll both hate me when you find out what I am,” she wailed, and I saw her feet twitch erratically like she was poised to return to rabbit form.
“I doubt that,” I interrupted. “The Earth Mother wouldn’t have brought us here otherwise.”
Daphne’s eyes widened in alarm. “You mean that wasn’t the carrot buzz talking? She was really here?”
I nodded impatiently. “Yes, of course, she was here. Now, Daphne, get to the explanation!”
She glanced down at the ground with resignation. “Fine, I’m only half nymph; my sire was a pooka. Are you happy now?”
“A pooka?” I echoed in disbelief, and then I recited what I knew of them. “Types of earth fae, pooka are mischievous tricksters that can lean to either good or evil. Shape changers, they normally have three or more assumable forms, usually a horse, goat or rabbit. They are considered very rare, with only about half a dozen recorded encounters noted in the archives of my people. The famed explorer, Maglor Elsenfiir, reported an incident on his storied Eregjhael highland forest expedition that involved an albino pooka…” I stopped as both of my companions were staring at me with mouths hanging open in disbelief.
“Wow, I bet you really are the life of a party,” Daphne muttered. “Anyway, there you have it. Yup, a real life, half-nymph, half-pooka. Save the nickering behind my back, horny-as-a goat and, of course, the humping-like-a-bunny comparisons; I’ve heard them all.”
I shook my head and changed the subject. “So what can you do differently than a regular nymph?”
She sighed. “Basically, I’m not
tied down to any one specific tree. I can actually move around in any of my forms. I only need a tree to make a true home in and any laurel will do. That’s one of the reasons the other nymphs hate me so much. If they get more than a hundred yards from their personal tree, they start to wilt.”
“So you actually intentionally picked this particular…specimen, then?” I said, appraising the pathetic looking tree.
“Not really, but the other nymphs bribed the woodcutters to cut down all the other nearby laurels. They left me this one to shame me, and I don’t know where to go to find a better one. I was born here and I’ve never left this forest.”
“Yet you are intelligent and well-spoken,” I complimented. “Not what anyone would expect from someone who spent their entire life in an isolated spot of the forest.”
“Yeah, well…the pooka side isn’t without a few advantages,” she muttered resentfully under her breath.
“Daphne…I need a favor.”
“You’re a powerful Druid, you know the Earth Mother personally, and you need help from someone like me?” she asked haltingly. She looked at Andi to see if she was sharing in the joke, which, of course, she wasn’t.
“Yes, I need someone to watch over Andea while I rescue her brother from an evil mage. It would have to be somewhere safe, like inside your tree.”
“My tree? I don’t know…I wasn’t really expecting company and it’s kind of a mess…”
“Daphne, in case you haven’t noticed, Andea is blind.”
“Oh, well, that’s great then…” she said, grabbing Andi by the wrist and pulling her gently toward the tree. “You can call me Daffi…everyone does.”
“I can certainly believe that,” I whispered under my breath.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her! It will be fun to have someone who isn’t mean to talk to,” the half-nymph said brightly. Then she drew Andea through the shimmering portal and they were gone.
Fireclaws - Search for the Golden Page 6