Ethera and the Island of Evisara: Book One of The Enrovia Series

by Anna J Walner

  He must have thought he was in trouble, as he seemed unsure and scared as they walked along.

  “What’s your name?” Ethera asked.

  “Dusty,” he said through a terrible overbite, making the st sound like a th.

  As the last of the animals had entered the forest, their jubilation subdued. The only sound she heard was the padding of soft paws on dirt, as perhaps the gravity of their choice was becoming clearer to them.

  “You are very brave Dusty.” Ethera told him, as she watched his eyes and head droop.

  “No I’m not, I’m a coward.” He said, his ears almost dragging on the sand.

  “I don’t believe that. May I ask why you volunteered?” Ethera asked him.

  “My brother wants to go back, but he can’t,” he said simply.

  “Well I’m sure he would want to go back with you, wouldn’t you rather stay until Empira is free and you can both return to the world together?”

  The little dog sniffled, looking at Ethera through tears. “No, I don’t ever want to go back.” He said.

  “Things could be different next time.” She tried to pursuade him.

  “Our owners left me in a cage every day. I heard what they said about me, they didn’t even like me. I’m glad they didn’t make it behind the falls.” Ethera’s heart ached for him.

  Those of Eaforasa received either the greatest joy or the greatest heartache of all Enrovians. If their human never makes it behind the falls they can never join them, forcing them to remain here or be reborn. A great sadness is shared by all when Corrigan must deliver that news.

  “I don’t ever want to go back. Tanner, my brother does, but he still has hope. I don’t have any hope left.” Self-pity flared orange in the little dog’s essence.

  “Then why do you want to fight?” she pressed again.

  “Because I love my brother, I want him to get what he dreams about every night. I see him while the others share stories about their human, bragging about this trip or that treat, how they were their best friends. When Corrigan gives them the word it’s time to go to the falls I see the look on their faces, and then his. I want that for him.” He wept, tears falling into the sand.

  Sengei stepped beside Ethera, standing tall and proud over the dog and said, “Self-sacrifice, for the good of another is one of the bravest things a spirit can do. To love so much to give up ones future and essence is never a cowardly act, but one that requires the most courageous form of love.” The cheetah, having said his piece turned and walked toward the bare woods.

  “Dusty, come with me, I need your help to find something on the way to the city.” Ethera told him.

  His stubby legs moved a little slow, but the lamb was patient, keeping pace with him through the trees. For several hours they would walk, lit only by the moonlight until the sun began to rise.

  The dead forest was so named because before the division of the animals, in a time too long ago for Ethera to even know of, all animals regardless of their distinctive nature lived on the island of Evisara. The division of power had not taken place, the other islands sat uninhabited.

  At this time the dark lights and the others of the land lived side by side, until the dark ones began to withdraw and soon claimed the dead forest for themselves.

  A large expanse of brown and broken trees covered the east end of the island. Nothing green or healthy can exist in harmony with dark lights, the very balance won’t allow for it. As time went on and more dark lights arrived. The island of Ealdume was chosen as the island for them at almost three times the size of Evisara. Very soon after, the council formed, rulers were chosen, and the stones of power divided among them.

  Sengei’s long legs kept him in front of Dusty and Ethera, the cheetah glancing back from time to time, but remaining quiet. Daylight began to sweep away the darkness as they walked, step by step, closer to the city. They had been walking for nearly two hours when Dusty spoke up again.

  “What does it look like?” Dusty asked nearly half way to the city.

  “What does what look like?” Ethera asked.

  “The thing you want me to help you find.” He said matter of fact.

  “Oh, it is a flower. A very special flower that grows under the water. Its petals are translucent and very hard to see. We will have to look for a large tree by a pond of standing water.” She told him.

  “Ok, I’ll let you know when I see it.” He lisped.

  Ethera knew the spot already, they were almost there. A large boulder marked the small path up a rocky climb ending at a mossy oasis. Up ahead she potted the large rock standing out among the greenery.

  “I can smell water, can’t you Dusty?” Ethera asked.

  The little dog lifted his nose and sniffed the air. Looking unsure he nodded anyway. “Let’s go this way.” She suggested, leading the way up the rocky incline.

  Little by little they made the climb, Ethera stopping every now and then to check on the dog, whose stubby legs were proving to be less than ideal for the terrain. Finally they crested the top and stepped onto level ground.

  The clear pool of water was rimmed in a wide array of flowing bushes, fragrant and eye catching. Splashes echoed along the banks as frogs and turtles dove into the cool water, creating rings of shimmer on the surface.

  “We found it!” Dusty beamed, clearly proud of himself.

  “Now we just have to get it” Ethera mused. “Egret should do the trick.” She said, shifting into a white bird with a long neck and impressive beak. Staggering over the roots, her long legs picked their way to the far end where the biggest nest of roots emerged from the water.

  Bending down and twisting her neck in an impossible configuration, she plunged her head under the roots and water, searching for the flower. Small fish and frogs darted around her head, surprised by the great bird. Ethera spotted the floating petals of the flower, barely visible in the shadows.

  Carefully selecting the base of the stem she gently tugged, freeing the root of the plant and bringing it to the surface. She laid the flower on the ground and shook her head, sending droplets of water in every direction. She picked her way back to the entrance of the lagoon laying the flower at Dusty’s feet.

  “Wow.” He gawked at her.

  “Now comes the hard part, I need someone to carry it all the way to the city.”

  “I can do that!” Dusty offered, grabbing the flower gently between his crooked teeth and holding his head high, not letting it drag the ground.

  “If you would do that, I will be very grateful.” She told him.

  Never dropping the flower he nodded his head and turned, testing each step down the rocky slope before joining back up with the main path to the city.

  It proved slow going at times, the small dog flagging with effort, then pulling himself together and trotting ahead again. On they traveled nearly to the city clearing. The sun filled the eastern sky, spilling rays of light through the leaves.

  Ethera and Dusty rounded the last corner before the city, finally catching up with the soldiers of Eaforasa, who stood awaiting their orders.

  The crowd parted as the Egret strutted through them, followed by a little black dog with a drooping flower in his mouth. Lars and Sengei rested in the shade as she approached.

  “Send word to Adapa, reinforcements have arrived and have one of his men escort them to the front lines.” She instructed Lars.

  “I will return.” He tipped his head, and then watched him shift into a sparrow lifting off into the sky.

  “Welcome to the city at Evisara,” she addressed the waiting crowd of soldiers. “Make yourselves at home, you will find a broad range of animals here, and you may wander at your leisure. By the time of mid-sun you will meet your escort, who will lead you to your destination.” She paused, searching each face in the crowd.

  “Any of you who have second thoughts should come forward now. The simple act of volunteering is bravery enough.” Not a single soul stepped forward from the crowd. Their faces set, their wills
solid as stone, they waited.

  “Please let me know if there is anything I can do while you are here.” She turned and led them through to the clearing. It was still early, but the city was already full of other animals wandering around busily. Some turned to investigate the new animals, greeting and welcoming them.

  Standing tall the egret shifted into the woman Hailey had come to trust and bent down to the small dog at her feet. “Thank you Dusty. I may need your help again.” Dusty laid the flower on the ground looking up at the lady.

  “Anything.” He assured her.

  “I will let you know as soon as I do.” He proudly lifted his head and turned, ambling towards the group of his fellow companions, and finding another dog with three legs who seemed to be a friend.

  Ethera bent down and grabbed the flower, walking to the largest bungalow near the center of town. Sengei followed, ducking through the door behind her.

  Ethera searched the collection of odd items she would bring back form Hailey’s world from time to time. Locating a shiny bowl she pinched the bulb root from the stem and laid it inside.

  “Where is the girl now?” Sengei asked from the corner of the hut.

  “I don’t know.” She said mashing the root into a paste, adding water bit by bit until it formed a thick paste at the bottom. “I had a home built for her yesterday, I assume we will find her there.”

  Satisfied with the consistency, she took the bowl and carried it outside. “Don’t frighten her, Sengei.”

  The cheetah rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. They walked back out into the sunshine and Ethera took the lead, heading towards Hailey’s temporary home. Nearing the hut, she spotted the girl, sitting on a log outside, a pile of palms lying at her feet.

  Hailey

  In the time since Ethera left I had woven a very flat and uncomfortable mat from the fronds I collected by the stream earlier. Before I knew it, the long day caught up to me. The flat makeshift mattress suddenly became more comfortable, and my eyes grew steadily heavier until they closed. I never even noticed that Lars had wandered off.

  I heard, or thought I heard someone whisper my name, waking me. But as I glanced around I realized I must have been dreaming. My last memory before falling asleep was watching the stars cross the sky. It could have been Lars back for a visit to whisper my name, but as I looked around I saw no one. I was alone.

  I decided to go inside, dragging the sparse mattress with me and already planning on finding more fronds. As I grabbed the mat, something caught my eye. A silver white chain with a bright red garnet at the end, tumbled out of the fronds and fell onto the ground.

  Shrugging and still partly asleep I stuffed the necklace into a small pocket on my back pack. Most likely it belonged to one of the animals in town. I should remember to ask Ethera later today if and when I saw her.

  Inside the safety of the hut, my mind relaxed and I drifted off again. The night did not last as long as the day thank goodness, passing along in about 12 hours. Still longer than a normal night back home, but nothing like the marathon day today would bring again.

  When I opened my eyes, I could tell that it was morning. I stood, stretching my tired muscles.

  My back protested standing, my tailbone sore from resting on hard clay. I hadn’t been camping in years, and now I probably never would again. I looked around the entrance of the bungalow and then out, letting my eyes wander around the town in search of a friendly face, but still no Ethera or Lars, or even Feilvus for that matter.

  While I had some time to myself I decided to harvest more fronds. At least it would keep me busy until Ethera returned, and I desperately wanted to sleep a little more comfortably, dreading another twenty-four-hour day.

  I walked to the edge of the stream, picking up where I left off last night, searching for any sign of Tindo, in case he decided to surprise me again. I saw no sign of the bear as I set to work, hauling arm after arm of fronds to the side of my bungalow, laying them by my log bench.

  I made trip after trip until my legs started to ache again and I had a pile almost as tall as me.

  As I was laying the last load on the ground, I heard a sound in the distance. Standing up I looked down the slope of the meadow, my eyes fixed on the trees to the east. Emerging from the jungle I saw Ethera, followed shortly by hundreds of dogs spilling from the tree line at the far end of the clearing, all bounding toward me.

  Not just dogs, but cats and other small animals, all neared the city center and me. I watched the crowd slow as they came closer. Yips, barks, and howls filled the clearing, bouncing from the walls along the city, reverberating around me.

  Residents came to greet them, excited by the arrival of new faces. A few of the new arrivals took notice of me, standing by the bungalow, and came to investigate. A large dog, black with tan above his eyes, came close enough for me to pet, seeming to enjoy the scratch of an ear, then growing bored and wandering away.

  More ambled along, glancing in my direction but carrying on within their group. I sat back down on the log, taking in the scene around me, picking up another frond and weaving it together with others I had been working on. I was getting quite skilled as a palm weaver, my hands flying back and forth along the leaves, making mat after mat until I had a fairly respectable bed for tonight. It only took three hours out of my morning, but what else did I have to do?

  Looking up from my task I saw Ethera walking through the throng of dogs followed by . . . . Was that a cheetah? I stood and waved to her, but she did not see me as she ducked into her large bungalow, followed by her guest. I sat watching her door, waiting for her to come back out so I could talk to her.

  After several minutes, she and the big cat left the hut and headed straight in my direction. I held my breath, remembering where she had been last night.

  What did they decide? Was I about to go home? Why was the cheetah following her, he must be another leader. My head swam with questions and anxiety as they neared.

  “Good morning Hailey. I would like to introduce to you Sengei, the ruler of Entepedis.” I stood to greet them.

  Bowing my head slightly I addressed my guest as politely as possible. “Good morning, it’s very nice to meet you. I’ve never met a cheetah before.”

  The big cat answered me in his own language, a mix of growls and mews, then turned to Ethera and continued the conversation, which of course I had no way of understanding. I noticed his breath came in vibrant purple hitches with his voice, then faded as it drifted up and away into the air.

  I had seen the same thing when Tindo growled at me yesterday. I didn’t remember seeing anything like it when I first arrived. Surely I would have noticed something like that. No, this was something new. Before I could ask what Sengei had said Ethera translated for me.

  “He said I was right, that your essence is a bright one, and that he approves of me giving you this.” She held out her hand.

  I stared at the small beat-up camping pan in confusion for a moment. Inside was a lumpy white mixture, which reminded me of poorly mashed potatoes.

  “What is it?” I asked, not liking the thought of another test.

  “Selerium root. Not very tasty I’ve been told, but it will allow you to understand the animals here. When I am in another form, as I prefer to be, I will be able to talk to you. You may find some comfort in knowing what others are saying.” She waited until I reached out and accepted her offering.

  “Of course,” I answered dubiously.

  “The council requested a meeting with you this evening.” My pulse quickened. A look of panic must have flashed quickly over my face.

  “Don’t worry,” Ethera reassured me. “They want to meet you before they decide anything. And this,” she motioned to the metal dish, “may make it easier for you to answer the questions when you can understand them.” She smiled.

  “What kind of questions?” I asked, leery of the way she said it.

  “Like Sengei, they simply want to get to know you a little better, that’s all.”
She glanced nervously at Sengei, who mumbled something to her.

  I sniffed the mixture in my hands. At least it smelled sweet. Dipping my finger into the mash, I tasted the tip. She was right, it was terrible. My face contorted without my control, my tongue begging to be rid of the oily bitter taste. The only thing I could think to compare it to might have been a black eyed Susan, which my cousin once convinced me to chew, telling me it tasted like licorice.

  “Wow, you weren’t kidding.” I gagged.

  Ethera and Sengei exchanged a look. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I dug into the pot with my fingers and brought the disgusting mash to my lips, fighting back the urge to heave as I swallowed the oily concoction one gulp at a time until I could take no more.

  Within seconds of the last bite, I dropped the bowl on the ground as pain exploded through me, dragging me down onto my knees. I gasped, the pain overtaking my aversion to the taste, anything and everything was replaced by fear as the pain reached its crescendo.

  “Don’t panic Hailey,” I dimly heard Ethera say. The world had almost gone silent around me. The only thing I sensed was pain. I screamed out in agony, sweat pouring from my forehead. I was panicking now.

  “Only a little longer Hailey, the pain should release in just a few moments more. Focus on me, look at me.”

  Through blurry eyes, I looked at the tall pink flamingo standing in the place of the woman, then shifting swiftly into a bear cub, then again into a lemur, dancing around on the ground. She was trying to distract me from the pain. I began to breathe more slowly as the grip of torture gradually began releasing my body.

  Laying on the ground, I pulled my knees to my chest, exhaling in long draughts. I closed my eyes, shutting out the sunlight. I heard the big cat growl again. Only this time, I heard something else too.

  I concentrated intently until it became clearer. “ . . . certain she can’t see our essence yet?”

  The waves of pain lifted with the veil of confusion just in time to hear what he had said. I opened my mouth to talk but my tongue and throat felt like sandpaper. I tried to speak, but my voice came out as a squeak. Crawling inside, I grabbed the water bottle and sipped again and again until the scratchy feeling faded. The awful taste still lingered, the oily residue refusing to leave.