Sentari: ICE

by Trevor Booth

  Sky lay down on the stone. She stared out at the darkness that surrounded her, as she slowly drifted to sleep.

  ***

  A gentle humming noise woke Sky from her slumber. She raised her head. It was still very late at night. The darkness was broken by a soft, orange glow that radiated throughout Ardeya.

  A strange sound called Sky to her feet. She wandered aimlessly through the ruins. She did not even notice that she was alone. An old, yet familiar voice caught her attention. She turned around to see Gaia sitting by a small fireplace, smiling back in her direction.

  “Please sit down. I have waited a very long time for this moment,” said Gaia, as a three-year-old Sky ran past and snuggled up next to her mother. Sky, still totally stunned, sat down opposite them. She gazed at them through the crackling fire. The light from the fire danced all over Gaia’s face. Her skin was soft and warm and her hair shimmered almost as much as her gentle smile. She could feel the warmth in her heart as she gently stroked young Sky’s hair.

  Gaia took a small cloth out of her pocket. She laid it in her hand and gently unfolded it. Inside was a small silver pendant. The pendant shimmered in the moonlight. At the centre of the pendant was a hand-carved golden butterfly. The pendant was old, but Gaia had taken extremely good care of it. “This was your grandmother’s,” said Gaia.

  “It’s beautiful,” said young and older Sky, both at the same time.

  A warm glow came over young Sky as Gaia placed the pendant in her hand. She held it close. “Keep it safe,” said Gaia.

  A crack of thunder shattered the silence. Sky was jolted from her sleep. She woke up with tears in her eyes. The orange glow was gone and replaced with the familiar sight of mist hanging over the ground. “It’s ok, just a storm. Go back to sleep,” said Oonuk. Sky laid her head down on the ground. She stared at the trees above, wondering if what she had dreamt ever really happened.

  ***

  The night seemed long there. The warmth from the stone helped them to sleep more peacefully. In the morning, Oonuk sat at the edge of the stone praying.

  There was a strange silence amongst the group as they all packed their things to prepare for the day ahead. Sky picked up her blanket from the ground and noticed a glimmer in the dirt. She brushed the dirt away and, sitting on the ground, was the pendant her mother had given her. Her heart missed a beat as she picked it up. She cleaned it off. The pendant was a little more worn than she remembered, but still beautiful. She put it in her pocket for safekeeping.

  The group slowly began their march out of Ardeya. As they began their walk, Te’oma kissed Ariana gently on the forehead. “I need to spend some time with her,” he whispered to Ariana, who smiled back at him. Te’oma ran up to Sky who walked alone behind Oonuk. She seemed warmer to Te’oma today – more open to his presence. They did not speak; they simply walked together through the forest. For hours, they walked side by side. Their connection was apparent for all to see.

  The forest began to thin as they reached its edge. Te’oma saw the lone mountain through the trees ahead for the first time and instantly knew that this was the place his father was talking about all those years before. “Where almost there,” said Te’oma, as they walked out from the trees and onto the dry, dead ground that surrounded the mountain.

  Miles of dried-out red stones lay in front of them. At the base of the mountain was something none of them expected to see. An enormous canyon ringed its way around the mountain. The canyon was so deep that the bottom could not be seen. It was shrouded in mist and a dim blue light glowed in the depths below.

  Directly in front of them was a solid glass bridge that stretched across to the mountain. There were no sides on the bridge and no hand rails, simply a flat, glass platform.

  “This is it,” said Te’oma. They all stood side by side behind Oonuk. “Now, all we have to do is hope that he lets us past,” said Oonuk, as he walked towards the bridge.

  “Hope who lets us past?” asked Ariana.

  “the Shadow,” said Sky.

  As they walked on the dried-out red stones, the bridge seemed to get further away. The stones were quite large and their feet were getting sorer and bloodier the further they walked. Oonuk walked ahead of them, marching over the stones like they weren’t even there.

  Te’oma, Julius, Ariana and Sky all walked side by side for the first time. “Who or what is the Shadow?” asked Ariana.

  “He protects the last of the seven,” replied Sky.

  “Well, that couldn’t be more cryptic,” replied Te’oma.

  “No one really knows where the Shadow came from. He has protected and served them for generations,” said Sky.

  Finally they approached the glass bridge. The rocks had dissipated until all that was left was the dry, cracked earth at the edge of the canyon. Oonuk stood at the bridge, looking at the mountain ahead. The rest of the group caught up with him.

  “What are we waiting for?” asked Julius.

  “We must show respect to the Shadow. Only the worthy can meet the last of seven. We will wait until we are invited to pass,” replied Oonuk.

  For nearly an hour, they sat on the dusty ground, staring at the glass bridge that lay unguarded. Oonuk intently waited the whole time, his eyes fixated on the bridge.

  “I don’t think anyone is coming,” said Ariana.

  Sky walked over to Oonuk. “I agree with her. The whole Shadow thing is obviously a myth designed to keep people away. Let’s just walk across the bridge and see what happens,” said Sky. Oonuk continued to look forward, unmoved by Sky.

  Sky stepped towards the bridge. Oonuk reached out and grabbed her by the arm. “Sit,” said Oonuk, with authority. Sky sat back down in the dirt with a huff and crossed her arms.

  Another hour passed and there was still no sign of the Shadow.

  “That’s it, I’m going across,” said Julius. He stormed towards the bridge. Before he got there, Oonuk stepped forward and stood on the edge of the bridge. Gradually, a breeze started to pick up in the canyon below. It started off as a small and quite placid wind, then it built until the mist below was being blown around the canyon like dust in a tornado. Julius stepped back. Sky, Ariana and Te’oma looked on. Oonuk stood firm at the edge.

  The mist rose out of the canyon and swirled around. The noise had become deafening. The wind had funnelled into a cone and it moved towards the edge of the bridge. The dust from the ground was being pulled up into the air and all of them, except Oonuk, covered their eyes from it.

  The wind suddenly stopped. The dust fell to the ground softly like gentle rain. They rubbed the dirt from their eyes and, standing in front of Oonuk, was the Shadow.

  A tall creature, the Shadow was dressed in a light, flowing cloth. His face was obscured by a hood but his eyes stood out, dark blue and very cold. His arms and legs were a pale white colour with dark blue veins running through them, visible through the skin.

  The Shadow pulled his hood back and revealed his face. The skin was pale and cracked. Not a single hair remained on his head. The blue veins on his face intermittently appeared. They moved through his face like a worm trapped under the skin. He was truly a terrifying creature, but Te’oma could not help but sense some humanity locked inside that grotesque exterior.

  Oonuk looked him directly in the eye. “We have come to see the last of seven,” said Oonuk. the Shadow looked intently back at Oonuk, then, with a deep quiet tone, he spoke. “Choose your path, sacrifice or victory,” he said.

  Oonuk walked back to the others. “This is a decision we must make together,” said Oonuk.

  “I don’t understand. What are the options?” asked Te’oma.

  “There are but two ways to pass the Shadow, either a great personal sacrifice, or one of us must defeat him in combat,” said Oonuk.

  “I will fight him,” said Sky, ever the impetuous one.

  “No, you are not ready,” said Oonuk.

  “We have no sacrifice to offer,” said Ariana.

  “If fighting
is our choice, then I will fight,” said Oonuk. “Better an old man dies that one of you,” he said.

  “But you have no weapon. How do you plan on defeating that thing?” asked Julius.

  Suddenly, the ground below shook. A small hole appeared in the earth between them. They stepped back. A long silver sword rose from the ground. “You have chosen victory. I wish you well,” said the Shadow.

  Oonuk grabbed the sword from the ground. It was the most stunning sword he had ever seen. It was perfectly balanced, made entirely of silver except for a small hand guard, made from gold that wrapped around the leather handle. He turned to face the Shadow.

  the Shadow reached under his cloth and took out a small, rusty old sword. Blood stains covered the sword. It may not have been much to look at, but the sword had taken down many mighty men.

  Sky looked terrified. Oonuk had aged considerably in the last few years. Te’oma grabbed Sky by the hand. She instinctively squeezed it back.

  Oonuk stepped forward. “I will take no pleasure in your demise,” said Oonuk, respectfully, to the Shadow.

  “None have been victorious,” said the Shadow.

  “I will see your debt paid,” said Oonuk, as he lunged at the Shadow with all his might. the Shadow easily deflected his attack and kicked Oonuk to the ground with great force. The cloth around the Shadow fell away; his body was pale white, but extremely strong. His muscles pulsated with blue veins.

  He walked towards Oonuk with purpose. He had become quite swift at dispatching challengers. He lifted his sword high, then slammed it down at Oonuk. Oonuk quickly rolled away before the Shadow’s sword slammed into the ground. Oonuk swung his sword at the Shadow’s arm, ripping right through it like it was butter. His arm fell to the ground and turned to dust before their eyes. No blood spilled from the Shadow’s open wound. Then, amazingly, a new arm grew out and took its place.

  Oonuk struggled to his feet. Sky squeezed Te’oma’s hand harder. Oonuk began to chant, but nothing happened.

  “Your magic is no good here,” said the Shadow. Oonuk looked concerned. He had spent his whole life embracing the power of the dragons; now that power was gone.

  The Shadow moved towards Oonuk quickly. He wrapped his strong hands around Oonuk’s neck and squeezed tight. Oonuk stabbed the Shadow in the side. The Shadow winced in pain and dropped Oonuk to the ground. Oonuk ripped the sword out from the Shadow and, for the first time in a very long time, the Shadow was hurt. Angered, he charged at Oonuk.

  Oonuk swung his sword at the Shadow. The Shadow fought back and the two become locked in sword battle. They traded blows for some time, before the Shadow eventually knocked the sword out of Oonuk’s hand.

  The Shadow put his sword up against Oonuk’s chest. “Surrender now and you may leave, never to return,” said the Shadow, gracefully.

  “I think you should take that offer,” said Julius, but Oonuk was unmoved.

  Sky let go of Te’oma’s hand, walked over and picked up Oonuk’s sword. She walked towards the Shadow.

  “Sky, no!” pleaded Te’oma.

  Sky stood behind Oonuk with steely resolve. “I choose sacrifice,” said Sky and, as quickly as she said it, she pulled Oonuk’s head back and slit his throat from ear to ear. Oonuk slumped to the ground and a puddle of blood formed around him.

  Sky stared at the Shadow with cold, dead eyes. The sword in Sky’s hand, stained with the blood of Oonuk, suddenly turned to dust before her eyes. The Shadow stepped aside and gestured towards the bridge. “You may pass,” he said. Sky quickly walked towards the bridge.

  Te’oma, Ariana and Julius looked on, stunned. “If you wish to follow her, the time is now,” said the Shadow. They quickly walked out onto the bridge. Te’oma looked at Ariana, dumbfounded.

  “Don’t look at me, she’s your sister,” said Ariana.

  The glass bridge was incredibly thin. They could see straight through it to the depths below. They walked tentatively across. Sky walked at the front as quickly as she could. Tears streamed down her face. She reached the mountainside and wiped away the tears. The Shadow stood at the edge of the bridge. “This is as far as I go. You will find what you seek at the top of the mountain. You are the first to pass the test. Great sacrifice was not easy. Do not question your decision, or it will haunt your days,” said the Shadow as he turned into mist and faded away from sight.

  The four of them looked up at the mountain that lay before them. “That looks like an awfully long walk,” said Sky, hoping that the others would still talk to her.

  “She’s right,” said Julius. “I think we should make camp here for the night and head for the top in the morning.”

  It was not long before the sun set in the distance. Te’oma, Julius and Ariana sat around a small fire, trying to keep warm. Sky sat a little way from them, staring at the night sky intently. “What have I done?” she said to herself, repeatedly.

  Te’oma walked over to her side and reached out his hand. “Come, join us by the fire,” said Te’oma. Sky gladly took his hand and walked over to the fireplace. Te’oma already felt a strong love for his sister. Ariana and Julius were a little more wary of her, with good cause.

  Sky could not sleep. She looked at the others as they slept blissfully. She quietly snuck away, crossed back across the glass bridge and sat down at Oonuk’s side. “I’m so sorry,” she said, as she cried uncontrollably.

  Sky sat at his side for nearly an hour, before she started scraping away at the dirt with her bare hands. She dug until she had a hole deep enough for Oonuk to fit into. She gently dragged Oonuk and placed him in the hole. She closed her eyes as she pushed the dirt over his body, never once looking directly at him. Once the dirt had completely covered him, she began to gather rocks. She built a pile of rocks in a dome shape over his grave, the closest thing she could get to a tombstone in such a desolate place. Sky stood over Oonuk’s grave and prayed for him, long into the night.

  None of them slept very well that night. Their minds were racing with thoughts, not only of what had just occurred, but what was about to come.

  As they packed up their gear in the morning, they noticed a strange sight. Dark grey clouds had started to roll over the mountain, almost threatening rain. It had not rained on these slopes for hundreds of years.

  Ariana was in an unusually good mood that morning. “Come on!” she said. “The faster we pack up the sooner we can get there.” Of the four of them, Ariana was the only one who had actually met Drake, and she was excited to see him again.

  “How much water do we have?” asked Julius. Water was not something they’d ever had to conserve.

  “I’ve got some here,” said Te’oma, holding up his water sack.

  Sky took four sacks of water out of her bag. “Will this do?” asked Sky.

  “I’m starting to like you already,” said Ariana with a smile. Sky smirked back.

  As they set off up the giant slopes that were before them, Sky looked back at Oonuk’s grave, one last time, then looked forward and marched on, leaving the life she knew behind.

  They walked and they walked. The slope just seemed to go on forever. They were all exhausted, but they pushed on. Ariana led the way out front, but her pace was not quick. The ground was covered in small rocks, making walking incredibly difficult. The ground was so slippery that they were forever falling over.

  “That’s it, I need to rest,” said Ariana, as she collapsed to the ground. Her feet were aching. The rocks had rubbed away the skin and large blisters had formed on all their feet.

  The rest of them plonked to the ground without any protest. Te’oma looked back down the mountain. They had come so far that the glass bridge had disappeared from sight. His spirits lifted momentarily, until he looked up at the mountain before them. The top did not appear to be any closer. “We’re never going to get there,” said Te’oma, disheartened.

  “We will. We still have plenty of water left and many hours of daylight,” said Julius.

  “Actually, we’re down to our
last sack,” said Sky, holding up the empty sacks.

  “We’re not going to make it to the top with just one sack of water,” say Ariana, alarmed.

  “We have to. We’ve come this far. We can’t go back,” said Julius.

  The rest felt like five minutes but, in fact, it was closer to an hour. Sky got to her feet. “We must keep moving,” said Sky, determined. Te’oma, Julius and Ariana dragged themselves to their feet.

  They pressed on, stumbling slowly up the seemingly never-ending mountain. The summit drew painstakingly closer, as they inched their way forward. Ariana sucked every last drop of water out of her sack. Julius dropped to the ground in a heap. Te’oma knelt down to help him up. “Go on. I’ll catch up. I just need to rest,” said Julius, as he closed his eyes.

  “We can’t just leave him here,” said Te’oma. Ariana passed out from dehydration and dropped to the ground. Te’oma quickly ran to her side and, before he knew it, Sky has passed out too. ‘What do I do? It can’t end like this,’ he thought to himself.

  Te’oma stood alone on the mountain, looking at his fallen friends. He was in two minds, but eventually he decided that the only way he could help them was to press on and try to get help from Drake.

  He reluctantly continued to walk up the mountainside. The top suddenly appeared to be a lot closer, and he started to move with some purpose. He pushed himself hard and trudged up the rocks. He looked back at his friends, who had quickly turned into little dots in the distance. He had covered a great distance in a very short time.

  His eyes began to become blurry as he stormed on. His mind slowly wandered, no specific thoughts, just fragments of words, bounced around his head. He slowed as his vision got worse. His head began to sway back and forth, and his eyelids became so heavy that they closed. He dropped to the ground and fell out of all consciousness.

  No thoughts passed through Te’oma’s head, no sweet dreams of better times filled his mind, just an empty void – no sight, no sound, nothing. He was barely even aware of himself. He fought the darkness, but soon realised that there was nothing to fight. He was nowhere.