Starfall (The Starfall Chronicles Book 1)

by R. M. Anderson

  Radianne smiled. “You probably think I'm pretty amazing because I'm the first woman you've seen in years, stuck in that cave of yours," she said with a laugh as his face flushed. “And anyway,” she continued, “I honestly don't expect to be with Henrick. As I said, family, then Floppersnogs. I do believe he is on his own path. And so am I.”

  Adventure would always be there, she knew now. Maybe romance too, later. But some other precious things might not. She had to see her family soon. And first, there was Blink.

  She again thought of his dire predicament, and of home, and the Floppersnogs and the promise she'd made to their mother. Her smile faded. She prayed to The Creator that both she and Blink would find their way in the days to come.

  **************

  Henrick had seen the whole thing unfold as he stood behind a tree in the little forest. He had been taking a walk when he saw her. And then he decided to watch her, as he had that first day he'd met her, dealing with mixed emotions as he thought of the right words to say before he approached. He was finally going to let Radianne know how he had been feeling. And apologize for his outlandish and inexcusable behavior. But then… Thomas had sat down. He'd missed his chance.

  The cave dweller had come and swept the only woman he'd ever loved off her feet and there was nothing he could do now but watch the whole sordid affair unfold before his very eyes. Even so, as he'd watched Thomas kiss Radianne, the fury he would have normally felt wasn't there.

  Instead, there was a deep ache. An ache for things that had been and things that could have been and things that would never be. He had brought it on himself, he knew. His behavior had been horrendous at times and he supposed he deserved it.

  His new friends were slipping from his grasp and soon he would be alone again. The Floppersnogs had been taken hostage. Blink would be gone tomorrow, hopefully, back to where he rightfully belonged. And most of all there was Radianne – who, it was obvious from the kiss, had fallen for Thomas's odd charms. She would no doubt join up with him when all was finished.

  Squaring his shoulders, he told himself to be stronger for once in his life. To stop whining and stop being negative. To be confident and positive. Like he used to be. Though it seemed that was so very long ago…

  There was no time for self-pity or acting like an infant, he decided. He would get through the disappointment, as he had for years. As always, he would go it alone, in the end. He knew he had a purpose and part of that purpose was avenging the death of his family and rescuing his sister and the Floppersnogs. That should and would be his real focus. He had to save them.

  When it came to Radianne he would just accept things as they were, he told himself as he walked back to the castle. He realized that perhaps she had ultimately come into his life to help lead him to his sister. And that was a very good thing.

  And yet – as he walked down the hallway to his quarters, he couldn't deny the deep sadness he felt in his heart at the idea that there was nothing more.

  -24-

  Until We Meet Again

  I

  n the middle of the night, Radianne woke with a start. Her heart beat quickly. She felt anxious and her skin was clammy, and she knew that although Blink still lived, his time was drawing precariously to a close. Attempting to go back to sleep just then would be futile. In the shadows, she saw that Blink was sleeping. Distraction would be good. She hoped the Queen wouldn't mind her taking a stroll at the late hour.

  Quietly climbing out of bed, she left the room and headed down the hallway. She walked down the corridor of Pegasus ancestors, passing their watchful eyes, and through several white halls that seemed to go everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It seemed the castle could go on forever in such a maze-like fashion. She lost track of time and of where she was going.

  After a while, she found herself standing in a great hall with a shining silver door located at the rear. Two pearly white doors stood on opposite sides of the room. Radianne looked around quizzically. How odd, she thought. She felt as if she shouldn't be in this particular place and had suspicions it was off-limits. Perhaps she should turn around and go back to her room. The only problem was, she realized, she now felt lost. Looking back the way she'd come, it seemed to be a jumble of corridors and dizziness rose up in her head at the thought of trying to make her way through the maze again.

  The room spun just then. She focused on the silver door. As she concentrated, the dizziness cleared and a pull led her toward that door with an insatiable curiosity. Just what was behind it? Where would it lead?

  As if in a dream, Radianne put one foot in front of the other and made her way to the door, looking around guiltily as she did so. It wouldn't hurt just to take one peek, she reasoned with herself.

  She paused when she reached it. There were no knobs or handles, as Pegasus had no use for such things. Taking a deep breath, she leaned forward and gently pressed on its shiny surface, wondering if it would even open. To her surprise, it gave way quite easily, with barely a creak.

  Radianne stepped inside the mysterious room. The door immediately closed behind her and she hoped she would be able to get back out again.

  A sort of white fog covered everything so it was difficult to see much in the room. Very strange, she thought. She could see, however, that the walls and floor were all silver.

  As her gaze continued to sweep over the chamber, her eyes came to rest on an ornate silver table placed directly in the middle of the room. The table appeared be covered with a glass dome, and she walked toward it, intrigued. An object was housed inside the glass. Radianne peered at the dome's contents for only a moment or so before full understanding registered. Covering her mouth, she stifled a scream.

  It was the star. The star that had turned to rock. A chill coursed through her body and she backed away from the table, stumbling once. She had to get out of there! She shouldn't have come. She needed to get back to Blink, to spend what little time she had left with him. With horror, she realized she just might have glimpsed his future.

  As she turned to leave, a voice spoke to her from somewhere in the fog.

  “Don't leave. Please stay.”

  Radianne spun around. Queen Permeredia showed herself.

  “Oh! Your Majesty,” Radianne said nervously, lowering her eyes and head in shame. “I'm very sorry. Forgive me, I have no right to be here. I should not have intruded.”

  The Queen shook her mane and spoke softly. “All is well. I wanted you to come,” she said. “In fact, I opened the door, which is usually sealed shut. Don't fret, child. You've entered my Silver Room of Secrets. You are welcome here.” Turning from Radianne, she walked around the domed table, gazing down at the star.

  “Though you must understand that there are hidden things in our midst I cannot show you,” she said. “However, I thought you would want to see Blaze, as unfortunate as his tragic tale, and the timing, is.”

  “Blaze,” Radianne whispered. She slowly walked back to the table and looked at the poor star that had turned to rock. She did not understand why the Queen would think she'd want to see him. The tragic sight just made her more fearful for Blink by the minute.

  “Blaze was his name. Our dear friend.” The Queen lifted her head and stared at Radianne with sadness and an intensity in her eyes. “Truth be told, there is always a chance that your friend will meet this fate,” she said quietly. “But it may be that the crossing of your paths has prevented this.”

  She looked down at Blaze once more. “Many fond memories I have of our time together. He has a treasured spot in this room and always will. Aside from that…” she trailed off and walked around the table, coming face to face with Radianne.

  The Queen stepped into the fog and came back out with a vial with her teeth. She presented it to Radianne.

  “Blaze left behind a trail of stardust. We have studied it a bit, and know that it has unique properties. I give it to you now, in hopes that you may find some use for it.”

  Radianne held the vial up to get a
better look. The glass tube contained a shimmering sort of golden powder. It was like light in a bottle. She experienced that odd tingling sensation she felt with Blink as she held it in her hand.

  “Thank you… thank you very much. I'm honored you would give it to me.”

  The Queen smiled sadly. “Blaze leaving the stardust behind is a good reminder that beauty and light can still remain after all hope seems lost. Come now, why don't I lead you back to your room so you can rest. We have a big journey ahead tomorrow.”

  **************

  The unbelievable part was, the Queen said she would have to fly back to the place where Blink first fell and ascend from there. Something about being limited in how long she could feasibly remain in The Outer Space. Radianne was shocked and nearly wept again when the Queen told her the plan the next morning, as she thought there would be no time to travel that far in the short time Blink had left.

  “My dear, this is the way things must be done,” the Queen assured her. “And you know little of Pegasus magic. We will make it back to Eugladia faster than you think.”

  At the first sign of morning light, Radianne climbed onto her back, Blink wrapped tightly against her chest. When learning of the power and speed of Pegasus flight – and assured they would be taken wherever they wished when the mission was complete – Thomas and Henrick both insisted they accompany Radianne and Blink on the journey. Two more Pegasus were summoned to fly with the Queen.

  Radianne felt dizzy at the thought of traveling so far in such a short amount of time. They'd retrace their path back to Eugladia, through all the lands and days and weeks she and Blink and Henrick had traveled together. How very far they'd come. She didn't voice her concerns, but as if reading her thoughts, Queen Permeredia laughed.

  “Don't fret Radianne,” she said. “It will be quite the swift journey, you'll see.”

  And how true those words were.

  The Pegasus’ flight was like the wind, as the Queen rapidly backtracked over all the lands Radianne had explored. The treacherous Ongoing Desert, The Jungle of Vancor. The Land of Sandalia – with its giant and unforgettable hermits. The barren and vibrant sections of Eustasia – over the very same spot she and Henrick first met. Many days worth of travel were covered in less than a day's time due to the impressive and magic speed of the Pegasus.

  There were moments during the flight when Radianne had to simply close her eyes, because everything was whirring by her line of vision so quickly. It was almost as if she were in a bizarre dream, floating out of time and space.

  Radianne could hardly believe her eyes when they touched down in the field near her Eugladian home in the evening. The once familiar land now seemed so completely foreign to her, and she climbed off Permeredia's back with shaky legs, feeling shocked, cradling Blink close to her chest.

  She couldn't believe the time had come. She couldn't believe she was home.

  So much had changed, she thought as she looked down at her friend, who was staring up at her with wide eyes. They seemed glazed over, as if they were focused on a far-off place only he could see.

  “We're here Blink,” she whispered. “Back to where it all began.”

  The group gathered round. Though everyone was tired, Queen Permeredia said there was no time to waste and insisted it would be best to begin the ascent to the stars immediately. Radianne agreed, with one condition.

  “Can I just have a moment?” She looked at all her newfound friends. “I need to speak to him privately for a moment. I only wish he could also talk to me one last time.”

  As they somberly watched, she left the group and walked over to her boulder, her favorite thinking spot. It seemed as if it had been an eternity since she'd sat there.

  As she settled onto it, she looked down at the friend who had changed her life forever. His glow and mouth were gone. His eyes still held that vacant stare. If one wasn't looking hard enough, it would seem as if she simply held a rock in her two hands. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “I just want you to know Blink, you have been a wonderful surprise,” she whispered, trailing one finger above his eyes. “You have brought excitement into my life, but so much more. You've taught me to appreciate the things I have and not take home or my many blessings for granted. You've taught me how to be a better friend… how to have faith that things will work out in the end…” she trailed off and a tear rolled down her cheek, landing on him.

  Oh, how she wished the two of them could talk again. As she thought about it, she felt that odd, now familiar tingling sensation run through her body. But it couldn't be Blink… could it? As understanding dawned, she pulled the vial of stardust out from a hiding place in her tunic and held it up. The tingling rushed through her fingers, traveling down her arm. The stardust shimmered in the glass vial. Though it was a sad reminder of Blaze, it was also one of hope. The glow reminded her what Blink was really made of and where he truly belonged. Up there in that world of light.

  Would the stardust help him now? It was worth a try. Radianne gently opened the lid and pinched a bit of the shimmery dust between her fingers. She sprinkled it over Blink.

  His own eyes filled with star tears as she spoke again. “I love you very much and I will never, ever forget you.”

  She lifted him from her chest and held him up as she stared at the sky, waiting and hoping for something to happen.

  “Tonight you'll go home. And you'll see your mother and tell her about all the things you've seen down here. About your long journey. And your heroism. And I hope you will tell her about me…”

  Radianne lowered him and cradled him in her arms once more. “Just so you know, whenever I see a star blinking in the sky, I will think of you. And I'll hope that it's you shining down on me.” She sighed. “And now… now I suppose it is time to say goodbye, my sweet star friend.”

  “I love you too, Radianne.”

  She looked down in shock. Blink's mouth had reappeared, and with it, a faint glow had returned to his body. The stardust had worked! His voice was tiny and weak, but Blink was speaking again! They both began to cry.

  The girl and star held each other for a time. It was such a bittersweet moment… the ending of something special, but also the beginning of something new. New experiences awaited them both, although they of course could not possibly know what, when, and where.

  As she clutched him one last time, she felt the familiar light and strength course through her body. Yet in that moment, she realized again that it wasn't only Blink's light making her strong. His light had helped her tune in to the light and strength she also had within, the light The Creator had also given her – the light she'd found when she'd been lost at the edge of the desert.

  A hope and maturity Radianne hadn't felt before suddenly filled her being. She knew then, how much she had changed for the better. And much of it was thanks to Blink, a brilliant soul, who reminded her of all she was – and all that she could be.

  “I'll miss you,” Blink whispered, staring at her with shining eyes. “Thank you for everything. Thank you for this adventure and for saving me and for being my friend. I will never stop thinking of you or this time we've spent together. You are a wonderful young lady Radianne. Never forget that.”

  “No, thank you, my dear Blink,” Radianne said softly. “You've changed my life more than you'll ever know.”

  “You will see me from Eugladia,” Blink whispered. “I will shine my brightest just for you. From now on, I'll make sure to give off an extra twinkle, just so you know exactly where I am. ”

  Radianne sniffed. “But you won't see me, not really.”

  “I'll always see you in my heart,” he said, and she kissed him.

  For the first time, he kissed her back. It was like a thousand sparkles filled her spirit, the light and love welled up and overflowed inside.

  “You remember too, Radianne,” he whispered. “Shine where you are planted. You have a light all your own inside, no matter where you go or who you go there with.”

 
; Radianne nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks. She slowly stood and placed Blink on her shoulder one last time, as she had done so many times before. Then she walked back to the Queen and the others.

  After Henrick and Thomas said their goodbyes, Radianne attached Blink securely to the Queen's hair and bid him a final farewell.

  “Until we meet again,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Shine bright, dear one.”

  “Yes. Until we meet again, I'll sparkle just for you. And whenever you see a star wink three times, you'll know it's me,” Blink whispered back.

  The Queen ascended.

  And he was gone.

  -25-

  Home

  T

  he Queen had announced before her departure that the special “sustenance” she'd partaken of would give her enough energy to fly Blink home and then she would immediately take herself back to her kingdom, as she didn't want to spend much time away. The group thanked her for her help before she'd left with Blink and were not expecting her to return.

  The other winged horses and Henrick and Thomas, however, were quite tired. Radianne knew they would need time to rest.

  Home was just over the bridge, over the laughing river. But as Radianne stood there, at a crossroads of sorts, she wasn't ready to go yet.

  No, she decided. She would spend one last night under the stars. She had to. She needed a sign Blink had arrived home safely. And as eager as she was to see them, she knew she was not yet ready to deal with the wrath of her family. The reunion would wait until morning.

  She sat down on the thinking boulder and her friends came and settled close by. All were quiet as they stared at the stars, waiting for something, though they weren't exactly sure what they were searching for.

  Soon, the temptation to sleep won out. The observers all found comfortable spots on the grass and curled up for the night. The hours passed and eventually Radianne also found herself on the grass and drifting off to sleep. But then – suddenly, something startled her awake.