by C. J. Haines
Hoosun stood on the balcony, far above the many walls, surveying the beauty of the day as leaves blew wildly upon the limbs that sat high above the great chamber, rustling softly in the calm breeze.
The owl stood like a statue on the curvaceous outlook. It was a truly serene day.
The Mother Dhahn made herself seen from the mouth of the chamber and stood next to her friend, looking down as laughter was caught on the wind from below and carried to her ears. “Quite a beautiful day, isn’t it, Hoosun?”
The owl smiled through his beaky jaw, and nodded his head, agreeing with her statement. “Yes, Mother, it truly is, and what a deserving day it is, too. You know what today is?” The Mother closed her eyes and felt the breeze tickle her fingers as she stretched them out upon the balcony rail. “Yes I do Hoosun, how could I ever forget?”
Hoosun breathed the smooth air in and held his arms behind his massive form. “Of course you wouldn’t, has she mentioned it to you?”
The Mother Dhahn removed her veil to feel the breeze on her face, as the clothes about her danced in the wind. She opened her eyes which were a sight to behold, a bright green, like a fine crystal, bursting with light, beautiful and calming.
The clothed figure answered without turning to her friend. “She hasn’t. I imagine she feels rather sensitive about mentioning such a thing. I trust she told you because she trusts you as I do. You’ve taken such great care of her over the past six, near seven, years. You really have made yourself quite an important facet of the child’s life.”
The owl blinked proudly and turned to his friend of many years. “I think of the child as my own, she is dear to me as I am to her.”
The Mother grabbed her friend’s hand and smiled at him, drawing her veil back down upon her face. “And you are dear to me too, my old friend.”
Below the balcony, the trio of Samana, Amen, and Henk had left the innermost wall and wandered about the center of the Order.
Amen climbed a tree, skillfully, and started plucking fruit, tossing it to Samana, who upon catching the fruit, started peeling it with a short blade she kept in a small sheath tied to her left arm.
Henk sat beneath the tree, allowing her weight, little as it was, to be tested upon the fruit tree. Samana had finished peeling an apple, when several small children had run next to her. The one at the back of the pack was a straggler, and not a very good runner. The small child tripped and landed on his face. Samana laughed at the comical sight and picked the kid up from the ground, dusting their shoulders off with her hands. “Woah, watch it their kid. You’re gonna splat yourself if you keep this up.”
The kid sat, dusted, and was caught staring at the beauty of the girl. Samana pulled an awkward face with the apple in hand, and decided to offer it to the kid and then send him off. “Here…take this, and watch where you run, okay? No more trippin’ up for you, aye?”
The kid grabbed the apple, hungrily, and nodded doubtless agreement, returning to the fray of chasing children.
Samana looked at her hand that was formerly sheltering the apple and pulled a sour face. She had just given away the apple which she was planning on eating, which did not aid her rising hunger.
Henk was lying peacefully with her head rested on a soft patch of grass. Rustling was heard from above her, and she opened her eyes to see Amen hanging upside down from his legs, above her. She sat up and stared at the blue eyes of the boy, as he stared into hers.
Henk was beginning to blush, when Amen pulled an apple from behind his back and handed it to her. Graciously accepting, Henk took the apple and rubbed it on her coat. “Thank you, Amen.”
Amen was wearing a smiling kerchief, when Samana walked behind him, speaking a question which she would not be able to finish, due to Amen already knowing what it was. “Hey, Amen, you have another…” An apple was flung into Samana’s possession, and she smiled and bowed her head to her friend, thankfully. “Thanks.”
Rustling back into the tree, the silent one began picking more fruit and soon had them raining down upon Henk, in a boisterous barrage, one which Henk had something to say about, for sure. “Amen! Amen! Amen! Stop it!” The air was filled with laughter as Samana watched the sight from her position of leaning on a tree across from the mess. “Keep going, Amen, keep going…haha”
Henk was blocking the torrent of fruit with her arms raised in front of her face. “Amen! Stop it!” The barrage had stopped.
Henk sighed heavily and was pleased that the fruit assault on her body had stopped. As she went to bite into her well-polished apple, another of the fruit fell and bounced off of her head. Curling her lip, Henk blinked silently at Amen and eyed her apple in hand.
But a moment later, the apple was flung from Henk’s grasp and bounced off of Amen’s head, causing the silent figure to plummet onto her lap as further laughter was produced from Samana as she stood viewing Henk, with a spread of apples about her, and the boy Amen on her lap.
Henk grew red from embarrassment and pushed Amen off of her lap. Amen just stared at her, as she was red and trying to keep her attention from his stare.
Amen looked about the scattered apples and picked one up, gesturing for Henk to take it, holding it in front of her face. Henk couldn’t help but laugh at his manner about things, and took the apple in hand. “Thank you, Amen.”
The trio of friends laughed and goofed in the gathering of fruitful trees, but none as fruitful as the friendship they shared together.
Out in the far southern sands, beyond the mountains, three heavily clothed figures strode wearily through the dense wind of sand rushing about them. The head of the group walked beyond the top of a sandy dune, and removed a masking cloth from his face, revealing bright yellow eyes, wild and watchful. The figure looked ahead and was able to make out the slight outline of the mountain pass ahead, smiling to reveal sharp fangs in response to his sighting. Calling back to his two followers, both of which were dressed in similar fashion to him, the tallest of the three gestured ahead of them, calling over the intense weather. “Ahead lies the Khergy Pass, it should be a few good days’ walk to our destination.” The three continued their way through the thick air, with a purpose set before them.
Back at the Order, the three friends were laid out on the soft grass, still among the fruit trees. The sun was beginning to come down as Samana’s eyes were closed, her nose sniffing the sweet air blowing over from the west.
Henk and Amen sat next to each other as Henk examined Amen carving an image into the side of an apple. He etched skillfully with the sharp blade, which he borrowed from Samana.
It was quite peaceful, but the peace was soon broken as the duo of Theira and Dred approached. Now led by a third member to their party, a hussy named Mensh.
The girl leading the duo, turned trio, wore a green vest that had no sleeves, but had strands of orange, ruffled cloth draping down its front, as it was surely a fine-stitched vest. Her hair was curly and brown, her eyes were also brown, but with a slight glint of orange when light was cast upon them directly. She had a habit of wearing her hood over her head at all times, with her long, brown hair escaping the mouth of the hood to drape down her shoulders, with a few strands escaping down the front of her vest.
The trio approached the opposing trio of Samana, Amen, and Henk, Samana rolling her eyes as she caught them in sight.
Amen had finished his craft upon the apple and previewed it to Henk, who smiled and laughed at the spectacle in reaction to the cute drawing. The silent one tossed the apple to Samana, she caught the apple skillfully as she was holding her palm open and at the ready, just as the trio of Theira, Dred, and Mensh arrived upon the scene, the leader of the bunch speaking in a snippy tone to the apple holding girl. “Oh, hello, Samana, gonna play more games with the apples? Gonna throw another at my head, like you did last time we were out here?”
Amen closed his hand into a fist, and moved it into his other hand, which the palm of opened as flat as possible, upon his fist colliding with his other hand. The sile
nt one scattered the fingers of his fisted hand, as to make the impression of an apple colliding and becoming smashed.
Samana smiled at the gesture, which went unnoticed by the terrible three, and replied to Mensh’s question, tossing the apple in hand, up and down, up and down. “Hmmm…I was thinking of it. It has been such a good time since I last smashed a good, ripe apple upon a well-deserving skull. If only there was one thick enough around here for me to do so with.”
Mensh squinted her eyes ruefully to the comment, and shared the tree with Samana, leaning on it as she began kicking grass up with her booted foot as her short skirt swayed with the wind. “Oh, Samana, always the kidder you are. I’m thinking you should start watching your mouth, you never know what might happen to you or your friends if you keep causing trouble as you are.”
Samana had stopped tossing the apple and looked upon the red fruit, turning it in her hand. A smiling face was carved into the ripe fruit. Tossing the apple once more, the streaky-haired girl closed her eyes and smiled. “You know what, Mensh?” The hussy stopped kicking the grass, and turned her head peering around the tree. “What?” Samana shoved the apple into Mensh’s face, with the smile turned in perfect parallel to Mensh’s face as it splat. “You really need to learn to smile!!!”
Mensh jumped back from her place at the tree, and rubbed apple juice and remains from her face as she began stomping her foot on the ground, angrily. Nobody was to do that to her with Theira and Dred watching. Kicking dirt at Samana, Mensh yelled out her frustration at her. “Grrrr…you jerk! You’re gonna pay for that you ugly…stripy-haired…jerk!!!” Mensh had run out of insults, and ran off steaming, shortly followed by the duo of Theira and Dred as they stifled their laughter, hands covering their faces.
Samana leaned back against the tree, and put her hands behind her head, and smiled at her companions, questioningly. “What?”
Amen sat carving into another apple as Henk took off her spectacles and polished them, using Amen’s scarf as a swab, shaking her head. “Samana, I know she quite deserves it, most the time, but people like her will never find improvement if you keep this up forever. It’s not exactly going to help your smudged image to everyone else around here either, if our beauty queen there keeps going amongst the others and complaining about your latest feat.”
Samana felt sour. She knew her friend was right, as she picked an apple up from next to her and dropped it dryly. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right, Henk. I guess it would do some good to lay off a bit.”
Henk refixed her spectacles to her nose and smiled understandably, feeling much older than her age at most times. “I’m sure you’ll do fine with the whole improving thing, but for now, Amen and I have a surprise for you. After all, today is a special day, isn’t it?”
Henk got up from her relaxed position of the last several passing hours and pulled Amen’s collar, hinting for him to get up. The silent one stood up, and continued carving his apple in hand, and walked with the other two, as Henk led them up through the great tower stairs.
In the high chamber, the Mother sat in her stone throne and looked out from her seated position, seeing beams of purple and orange caress the sky as the sun made its farewell to the day. Many things were in her mind as the moon began to rise.
The trio, led by Henk, had reached their destination, Hoosun’s old, tower housing. Henk commanded Samana to cover her eyes, and so she did. Amen, in a playful mood, added to the effect of the moment and used one of his own kerchiefs to cover her eyes, one with a right smile drawn upon it, tied around Samana’s eyes, securely.
Opening the door, Henk and Amen pushed Samana in and sealed the door, after they too had entered. Pulling the knotted cloth from her head, Henk handed it back to her silent friend and called upon Samana to open her eyes. “Well…open your eyes.”
Samana so did as her friend had asked. Her eyes were met with a beautiful sight. Extra lanterns with colored shadings of green, purple, orange, and red were hung from the ceiling, careening down from above her head. Streams of light cloth were hung from the ceiling, a strand hanging down right in front of Samana’s face, tickling her nose.
The owl, Hoosun, produced himself from the perch’s opening and ducked his head in order to fit through the hole that seemed to be shrinking every year, if only to him.
Hoosun breathed in heavily and bowed, stretching his fine feathery arm down before Samana, shaking his head feathers humbly. “Dear greetings to you on your birthday, and how has your day been, my friend?”
Samana smiled at the surroundings, and at her owl friend, bowing herself to his great size, attempting a speech of fine manner. “It was a wonderful one, indeed, friend Hoosun. My friends and I sat out in the harvest grounds and made merry. I even got to throw an apple at that wretch of a Mensh.”
The owl stifled a laugh, as he mentally imaged Mensh covered in apple remains. “Hoohurrm...I don’t doubt you, young one. I’m sure Henk and Amen can attest to it.”
Henk shook her head, and rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, Hoosun, we sure can.”
Moving on from the subject, the gathered friends ushered Samana to the bed, where she sat as they produced an excellent, candle rimmed sweet bread before her, Hoosun and Henk speaking in one voice before the bewildered girl. “To you, our friend, must be given a grand day of remembrance. Let your memory stay with us always as our years grow upon us.” As the last line met her ears, Samana felt a feeling of sadness, wishing she was able to share the day with her sister.
The trio stood before Samana, as she sat paused before them, Amen with a kerchief of a mad smile about his features, awaiting Samana’s next action.
Returning to reality, Samana looked around with a slight look of embarrassment and then blew the candles out with a heavy, outward sigh.
Hoosun looked through his spectacles at the young girl with the sweet bread on her lap. The luscious brown loath of a treat was lost on her. Henk and Amen felt it, too.
The owl took the platter bearing the sweet bread from her lap, and set it on the sill. Samana played with her tied strands of hair, and set her head in a drooping position, as she spoke feeling disappointment. “I’m sorry that I’m not in high spirits at this moment. It’s just…” Henk picked the thought right from her head, and completed her sentence, with a caring hand placed to Samana’s arm. “-that you remembered your sister? You don’t have to hide it. It isn’t bad to remember her today. We all remember her, today is her day of remembrance too, and we celebrate her as much as we do you.”
Samana smiled at her friend, and nodded sadly, leaving the bed to meet the window. Her friends stood beside her, Hoosun sharing the warmth of his feathered wing upon her back, Henk holding her hand, and Amen peering through the window from behind her as all looked at the same sight.
Bright stars of light were shone upon the night, flashing in white glimmers, comets traveling among them. Samana felt warm and safe amongst her friends. They were all she had.
The friends stood together solemnly as they looked out upon the wondrous night, sharing the stars with the Mother, who stood above on her great balcony, surveying the same constant beauty as they did.
Samana spoke within her heart, sending a message to a shining star above.
“We’re seventeen now, sister. I wish upon you, star, that I may see my sister again, once more before my end.”
It was late at night, Samana had gone to rest. The sweet loath was resting on the window sill as moonlight beamed down upon it. Amen and Henk had gone to their respective housings, below the tower housing, and Hoosun sat watching Samana sleep through the window, from his perch. She was serene, and breathed softly as she lay in a bundle of sheets and coverings.
The owl smiled within at the sight of the lone twin. Though a seventeen-year-old, a young adult, she looked ever the adorable child as she slept.
Feeling a calling within, as if someone had whispered his name to him, the owl left his perch as his attention was called for from the balcony above.
The
Mother Dhahn stood upon the tongue of the tower’s top mouth and awaited the landing of her owl friend. Twin wings flapped gracefully from above as the great white feathered owl landed before his caller. “Yes, Mother, what do you call upon me for, my friend?”
The Mother gestured to the moon above them, speaking to her friend as he placed himself to her side. “Do you remember two years ago, Hoosun, the traveler from the Southern Lands that came to us, blind and broken? The tale he told us, before his departure?”
The owl nodded his head, remembering the tale. “Yes. I do, Mother. He said that long ago, when the wolves wandered about this world, that his people had made a soul pact with them to carry on the blood of the wolves within them. In exchange for doing so, the wolves would return their favor with one of dominance, which would take the form of the spirits of their wolves finding congregation in one born among their people.”
The Mother nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the moon above. “Indeed, my friend. I have a great feeling of fear that this prophecy may come true, and that Samana is tied to it somehow, that she has a purpose with the fulfillment of this prophecy…”
The owl craned his neck beside the Mother as he spoke. “The dreams I told you she’s been having have also filled me with a sense of worry. The eclipse draws nearer, only a week away. I feel we should make council with her soon.”
The Mother nodded agreement with her friend. “Let us make it tomorrow, allow her a good rest tonight.”
The owl bowed to the glorious Mother, and feeling that he would rather walk instead of fly, started his way down the stairs, back to his chamber.
Samana was in a deep sleep as she tossed and turned, sweating heavily, thrashing the covers from her form as she dreamed.