“Tell us about the girl.” Seraphina said gently.
“I will let Lars tell you,” Ethera bowed her head and gave the floor to the lizard king of Elora.
“Her light is pure,” the green anole said as loudly as he could. “I have seen it with my own eyes. Her spirit is a brave one. Hailey has treated me and each of the spirits she has encountered with nothing less than respect. In my humble opinion, we have nothing to fear from her.” Lars proudly delivered his report, and then likewise stepped out of the conversation.
Ethera gathered her strength, ready to plead for the girl’s life if it should come to that. She felt sorry for Hailey. How scared and alone she must feel in this strange and unfamiliar place. Even the animals who first come to Enrovia go through a period of adjustment. Although Hailey seemed to be settling in fine, she couldn’t know for certain. She was truly brave, as Lars had said.
Stepping forward she addressed the group again. “You are all familiar with Tindo, the Kodiak bear. You remember as well as I how he suffered when his mate was taken from him by Drugan in the beginning of our fight against him.” Some nodded, some only stared at her with contempt, but she continued anyway.
“He suggested that Hailey accept the serum from the tree. I sought Seraphina’s guidance on the matter, and we both agreed to allow it.” An uproar began anew.
She yelled above the din. “What they saw. . . What we all saw was good, there was no ring of darkness, no sign of a hidden nature.”
Valcone hopped towards her, staring intently at the lamb. “How can you be sure? Has she started to see yet?”
“No. Not that I know of. She has not made it known if so.” Ethera promised.
“As soon as she can, she’ll begin to get curious. We may find ourselves fighting two evils instead of one.” Valcone continued.
“I know you must see for yourself. We can not be hasty, as Seraphina said. You will see, as we have,” she gestured to Lars, “that she is a kind and gentle soul who wants nothing more than to go back home.”
The group grumbled among themselves, as Seraphina leaned in to whisper to her. “You know I believe you and Lars, but the council may take a while to come around. They have every reason to be cautious.” Ethera nodded. She did understand.
“We have some concerns.” Valcone stated matter of fact. “Can she hear us yet, have you also gone around us and given her the Selerium root as well?”
“No, I have not. Although I am asking for you to grant it, I have told her nothing of it yet.”
“And would you come to us the very moment you suspected anything suspicious in the girl. Had we known earlier, had you not kept what you had seen in Drugan from us, we may have changed the course of things to come before it was too late!” Valcone continued.
“Yes, you have my word. The very instant, I will fly to you and allow you to decide her fate.” Ethera conceded. “The girl only wants to go home. She has no interest in staying.”
Seraphina spoke up at this. “Have you tried? Did you allow her to try to leave?”
“No. It was a miracle she made it to shore. I counted eleven great whites as I came through. It’s getting riskier. At least the orcas have come to guard Evisara, but still the last few times I’ve slipped through by the narrowest of margins. With Nuneuka’s help, I may have a better chance, but it’s still too risky for the girl. He vessel was damaged in the storm, it needs repairing.”
“I vote we send her anyway. She wants to go home, let her try.” Metis spat at her.
“Let’s not send her to her death just yet,” chided Corrigan. “I would like to meet her for myself before I make my decision.”
“And what if she’s captured by Drugan’s army and sides with him? Not only have we turned her away, but she’s found someone else to side with. Drugan has always been charismatic and persuasive,” Nuneuka reasoned.
Valcone rolled his eyes, several others grumbled their dissent, knowing a majority vote must be reached. “We are wasting precious time,” argued Metis.
“That may be true, but you already have two votes against you. Mine, and Ethera’s,” Lars interjected. “I also agree with Seraphina. We should not decide yet. What can one more day matter?” he asked the council, glancing at each member in turn.
“I agree, and I also condone the use of the Selerium root. I think we would get a better sense of who she is if she can understand us all.” Seraphina weighed in.
Gradually two sides were formed, the mastiff, the lizard, and Ethera on one side of the dividing rock, the thylacine, the seal, the hawk, and the cheetah on the other. The council has reached a stalemate, to the dislike of each opposition. But a reprieve had been granted for the girl, for now at least. Tomorrow was another day.
“Fine!” Metis gave in. “But the moment I see a hint of something I don’t like I will bring her to my island, and let the raptors have her.” The others beside him grumbled in agreement.
Ethera shuddered, images dancing through her mind. “As you wish.” Ethera bowed to him, giving him the last word.
Seraphina stretched her wings, readying for the flight home to the top of the mountain. “It is decided. The girl will be given the gift of understanding, and by nightfall tomorrow we will meet again in the dead forest. The girl will be expected to attend as well” she nodded to Ethera, “and a majority vote must be reached one way or the other.”
With a strong downbeat, Seraphina’s wings lifted her into the air, climbing back up to the snowcapped mountaintop, leaving the council alone with her decision.
Metis and Valcone were the first to leave the caves, Valcone racing into the sky and Metis transforming into an eagle, following him north. Corrigan, Nuneuka, Lars, Sengei and Ethera stayed behind.
Sengei, who had been quiet for most of the meeting walked toward them. “I am sorry for how things have turned out for you Ethera. I wish I could be of more help, but I agree with them. It’s still fresh, what happened with Drugan. They can’t see past their own anger, and to be honest I’m not sure if I can either.” The cheetah dropped his head.
“I understand,” Ethera offered, only halfhearted.
“If I had been forced to make a choice tonight, I would have voted with them. But I, like you believe in hope. And I hope you are right about this girl. Hailey, is it?”
Ethera nodded.
“May I accompany you back to the city to meet her?”
Ethera thought for a moment, considering what another committed ally would mean to her and to Hailey, then accepted the cheetahs offer.
“Of course, we would be happy to have you.”
Corrigan stood and ambled toward the mouth of the cave, turning to Ethera. “Until the morning then.”
“Yes, until then.” Hanging between the dog and the lamb, an unspoken understanding of ownership changed hands. The brave animals from Eaforasa would now be her responsibility. He turned, shifting into a sparrow and diving into the night air.
Nuneuka followed, without a word. Choosing the form of a bee, she jumped from the cliff of the cave, heading back to her watery rule.
The threesome descended the mountainside, racing along the treetops as hummingbirds. Lars, Sengei and Ethera banked south along the shoreline.
The full moon blanketed the landscape in a pearly glow, outlining the breaking surf along the beach underneath them. They sailed for several miles. Their wings capturing the wind, taking them past the lagoon and over the rock strewn inlets down to the southern shore where a long sandbar rested several hundred feet off the coast at the southernmost point of the island, not very far from Hailey’s boat.
This, she feared, would be Drugan’s next line of attack. Midflight she shifted into the body of a hawk, whose eyes were among the sharpest of birds. Lars and Sengei followed her lead, also shifting.
Dipping lower, they stilled their wings, using the air currents to carry them soundlessly over the shoal.
As she feared, several hundred dark lights waited on the atoll, filling the small sandy sho
re with a dim red glow.
She shifted her great wings ever so slightly, gliding away from the coast and back over the jungle canopy, never making a sound. Heading back north just inside the forest, she continued watching the trees, keeping a careful watch for Adapa’s camp.
A faint ring of white light bled through the leaves below, a canopy of lightening bugs from Elora had volunteered to provide light for the troops to gather by.
Ethera pulled her wings to her body and dove expertly through the branches, landing on a limb just above the camped soldiers. Lars and Sengei landed on either side a short moment later, then hopped to the forest floor, changing back to their true forms.
Lars sought out members from Elora, drawing a large crowd of honey bees and toad frogs, while Sengei rested under a tree observing them all. As word spread through the camp a large silver back gorilla emerged from the throng of trees.
Adapa was a formidable ally, Ethera was lucky he joined the cause early on. His leadership had proven invaluable, his knack for strategy certainly exceeded her expectations.
The great ape gave a slight bow to the hawk, addressing her formally as a General would. “Captain! Thank you for reinforcements, your men have served well today. Have you any news of the dark ones?”
Ethera floated to the ground assuming the form of a stag, meeting the ape eye to eye. “I do. As we had feared they have moved further South past the rocky inlet, almost to point Makewa. I spotted several hundred, low numbers for a full assault, but concerning non the less.”
Low tide in Enrovia was something of a spectacle. The water receded so far and so low, that the islands connected by a wide land bridge for several hours in the night. Only the island of Ealdume was completely cut off, no matter how low the tide, but the other islands had access to the main island of Evisara, where Hailey was now.
Adapa stood taller in front of his men and raised his voice to be heard. “Gather your things men! In an hours’ time we will begin to move south and back to the shore.” Soundlessly the large group began to shuffle back to camp, readying themselves to move.
“What casualties have you sustained General?” Sengei inquired, approaching Adapa, and standing at Ethera’s side.
“Several hundred just today sir, my men find it hard to go against their gentle nature. They are not as heartless or as ruthless as Drugan’s men. And I could use a few more strong fighters. The selflessness of the frogs and buzzers are appreciated, but we really need larger bodies with sharper teeth.”
Ethera had known this, but it was good for Sengei to hear firsthand the dire need she had for more of his island’s support. Lars had given millions of fighters to the cause, but Adapa was right. The buzzers as he called them were insects of every fashion. But the fearless beetles and bugs, bees and spiders did little more than distract and annoy Drugan’s troops.
“The island of Eaforasa has consented to join the fight this very night.” Ethera told him.
“That is fantastic news, how many volunteered?” he asked excitedly.
“Two thousand souls.”
Adapa nodded, thinking to himself. “When will they arrive Captain?”
“Early this morning. They will begin their trek to Evisara at low tide. I will meet them at the bridge. You should expect them no later than midday.” She told him.
“For now we have only been defending the island, think of what we could do with two thousand more feet on the ground. I would love to take the fight to Drugan himself, make an offensive play.” Strategies formed behind his amber-brown eyes, his mind working out a plan.
Ethera glanced at Sengei, the cat never breaking concentration on their conversation. She hoped she would have more of his support at their next council. It was tempting to think about several thousand lions or bears joining in the cause. The balance of force, which had solidly been tipped in Drugan’s favor, could soon shift, giving them a more comfortable stronghold, or even the ability to draw down on him.
She wished the other leaders, especially Metis were here to listen to Adapa’s strategy and see his need for reinforcements. But for now, all she could offer were Corrigan’s volunteers.
“I will send word when they arrive at the city, one of your men can meet them and escort them to your camp.” Ethera said.
Adapa gave another slight bow, turning back to his men, who were readied and awaiting his next order. With a sweep of his hairy arm they shuffled from the small clearing back into the woods heading south.
Ethera and her group took flight, once again reaching the canopy and soaring north and then east over the dead forest towards the sandy bridge jutting into the sea. If they were to climb higher into the night, they would see radiating out from the main island, the bridges no wider than a hundred feet or so jutting into the sea. With the moon glinting off the ivory sand it would almost look like a glowing spiderweb.
As the trees under them turned from lush leaves to brown and broken limbs they began to watch for the glowing essence of her newest soldiers in the distance. For now the barren land below them was quiet, only bathed in the glow of the full moon above. At the shore, where the bridge rose through the gentle lapping water, they landed, claws gripping into the sand.
With a ruffle of their feathers they shifted once more, their gaze remaining drawn over the ocean, watching the waves gently pull and recced. “What would you do? If she turned on us, if she were to join his side?” Sengei broke the silence.
“I don’t know.” Ethera answered him sadly. She hoped she would never have to face that choice. “Let Metis have her I suppose. What choice would we have?”
Sengei nodded, shuffling his paws and laying down beside Lars. “You’ve spent time with her Lars?”
“I have, she has treated me as a friend. I see nothing that would cause me to worry.” He offered. “She seems shy around us still. Wary, although that’s to be expected.”
Sengei seemed to consider this as they waited. “I am looking forward to meeting her.”
Hours passed in silence until finally, a faint haze of essence appeared before her, bouncing with a thousand footfalls. The loping herd of dogs drew closer, their sheer number impressive. Ranges of all sizes and breeds bravely filled the beach, beagles and hounds to mastiffs like Corrigan and great shaggy St. Bernard’s, reported for duty.
Ethera controlled herself, looking out among them, imagining how many would never make it back to the island or through the waterfall to be with their human companions, which they so longed to do.
Corrigan stepped forward, the great mastiff ready to turn over his command to her. “And this is where I take my leave. I wish you luck and pray for their safety.” He said so simply, the words falling so heavily as he turned a did not look back as he returned to the bridge and Eaforasa.
She steeled herself, then addressed the anxious crowd. “Welcome brothers and sisters, to Evisara once more. Your bravery is to be commended, your sacrifice will never be forgotten. We will make our way to the city and from there you will meet with Adapa, the gorilla who commands the army of lights,” she began.
“Drugan will not be allowed to prevail. He will never rule! Standing together, paw at paw, good will triumph, we will emerge victors!” she finished her war cry to the howls and yips of the group, all eager to set out for the city.
“Lars, will you lead the way?” she asked the small lizard, who leaped into the air, transforming into a large ostrich on two knobby legs. Of course it was better to be seen if he were taller, and not short like a lizard. Ethera smiled, even at the worst of times Lars could always amuse her. His spirit, almost always upbeat, was a trait she herself had not even mastered in these centuries past.
As he set off into the broken forest, one long leg in front of the other, Ethera watched the excitable convoy trek west. Among the different breeds of dog, a few fearless housecats joined the party, a gerbil, a ring tailed lemur and a hedgehog also ambled along.
Dogs were not the only inhabitants of Eaforasa, although they did make up t
he majority, the island was home to any and all animals. Any who’s essence had been touched by their human. Humans called them ‘pets’. She herself, starting out life as a lamb thousands of years ago, had never been a ‘pet’.
But the animals of Eaforasa were happy, and it made her believe that being a ‘pet’ was probably a good thing.
They came to Evisara on their way to the waterfall, their last and final journey to join their human companion somewhere beyond this place. Corrigan walked with them each time, watching them jump with joy to be reunited with them forever, running and leaping through the arbor of flowers and headlong into the water.
That was their happily ever after. Most animals chose to go back wiped clean and begin again, hoping for the chance to call Eaforasa their waypoint on the road to that final paradise. But even some who had been chosen by a human still preferred to stay in Enrovia forever. The reasons were their own.
The permanents, Corrigan called them, would never ascend or be reborn into the world. They chose to make Enrovia their home forever. These were the animals she watched file past her now.
They took this chance, knowing that their essence could be taken from them, never getting the chance to experience life again. It sickened her to ask this of them, guilt building in her as she searched the faces of the brave. A small dog, barely a foot high and stretched out like a shaggy rubber band caught her attention, shaking with fear at every step he took.
She stepped away from Sengei, putting her hoof on the ground in front of the dog, and leaned down to whisper. “Come with me.” His ears dipped almost to the sand as he nodded and trotted behind her and out of line.
Ethera and the Island of Evisara: Book One of The Enrovia Series Page 9