Everflame

by Peters, Dylan

  “Did you hear? Our boys won a johnball match today.”

  “No, but I can’t say I’m surprised.”

  “Yes, I should send a gift to Wintersun’s and Redcoat’s fathers for teaching their sons to be good sportsmen and taking it easy on a lesser opponent. My boy is lucky to have such kind friends.”

  Whiteclaw looked at his friend in confusion.

  “Eveneye, when was the last time you watched your son play johnball?”

  “Well,” he hesitated, “I suppose that it has been a while. Why?”

  “Well, first off, your boy is as large and capable a man as I have ever seen. Should he walk into a human village right now, they just might mistake him for a bear. Secondly, I assure you, no one is taking it easy on him. He is a very good player.”

  Eveneye beamed.

  “Well, I’ll have to make some time to see him play.”

  The bears had reached their destination and entered the room. All the advisors were seated around the table and Eveneye and Whiteclaw took their places. Eveneye didn’t wait for someone else to begin.

  “All right, I already know what this is about, and I have to say that I would ask you to have a little more faith in my ability to know when the time is right. I–”

  “Er, Your Highness,” interjected Oaktongue, a small brown bear with a nasally voice, “I don’t think that this meeting is about what you think it’s about.”

  “Yes,” added Forestmoon, “this meeting has been called to address a rumor that has been coming from outside of the kingdom.”

  Eveneye looked around at his five advisors quizzically. This was definitely not what he was expecting and he was not prepared.

  “Sire,” said Whiteclaw, always addressing Eveneye more formally in front of others, “we have reason to believe that one of the Ancients has returned to our world.”

  “You can’t be serious,” returned Eveneye. “What evidence do we have of this?”

  “Not a lot,” answered Oaktongue. “Just a rumor really. But the rumor has spread. Our scouts have heard the same rumor in the North of Ephanlarea as well as in the South, and it would seem that the rumor originates in the West.”

  Gray Mountain was located in the middle of the land of Ephanlarea. Eveneye knew it was uncommon to hear the same news over such a vast area unless there was some validity to it.

  “Well,” and Eveneye shrugged, “continue.”

  “The rumor is this,” continued Oaktongue, “a foot print has been found around the area of the White Mountains. The foot print of a giant griffin to be exact.”

  “Tenturo,” uttered Eveneye.

  “Yes, sire,” said Oaktongue, “it would seem so.”

  A vast span of time had passed since the Ancients had been a part of the world. It had been so long that some bears believed the Ancients to be fiction created by the elder bears. This rumor seemed fantastical. Eveneye spoke:

  “I do appreciate being informed of this rumor and I would like to be updated with any new information that may arise, but I hardly see why I have been called to an emergency meeting that has me missing dinner with my family. I cannot justify taking action on a rumor, even if it is concerning the Ancients. Please tell me you weren’t expecting me to take a rumor at face value.”

  Now it was Whiteclaw’s turn to speak.

  “No, my King, not exactly. We did not expect you to believe this rumor. Yet this rumor, true or false, causes an issue that we need to address. Namely, the effect it will have on Evercloud’s life.”

  “Oh, I see.” Eveneye stood up and paced around the room for a moment. The other bears didn’t dare interrupt him as they knew this was a delicate matter, but Eveneye didn’t take very long to come to his decision. “Send for the boy.”

  “Excuse me, sire?” said Forestmoon.

  “You heard me. Have a guard retrieve the boy. It’s time that he be told…everything.”

  The Ancients

  Evercloud entered the advisors room for the first time in his life and it felt sacred. His father and five other bears sat at a round table of mahogany. There were no windows and the room was rather small. Four torches lit the room dimly, just one in each corner. As Evercloud looked around the room, each bear looked up at him with seemingly different expressions.

  He first looked upon Oaktongue, smallest of the bears at the table, who seemed to be indifferent. Forestmoon, however, seemed nervous and jittery. His frame, which was thin by bear standards, almost seemed to vibrate with unease. This did not help Evercloud’s own nerves. Sitting next to Forestmoon was Firerock, a large gray bear. The bear was scowling at Evercloud. He hoped that Firerock’s name served as an indication that the bear always had an unpleasant disposition and that it wasn’t due to Evercloud’s presence. The next advisor, Redriver, seemed rather happy by Evercloud’s measure. That helped calm Evercloud’s nerves a bit. However, all nerves were cast aside and replaced with confusion as he looked upon his uncle and then his father. Whiteclaw beamed at him with obvious pride. This would have been a great comfort, were it not for the fact that his father’s face seemed so tortured and morose. Evercloud tried to remain balanced as he greeted each of the bears individually, although he was sure that he must have seemed apprehensive.

  “Please, my son, be seated.” Eveneye pointed at an empty chair across the table, right between Oaktongue and Forestmoon. Evercloud smiled and took his seat. “We have called you here today to teach you a bit of the history of the world. This is something that no man knows. It is a piece to a puzzle that has been lost to man for a very long time. In fact, this group has been in debates for the majority of your life as to whether you should be told at all. This information, it is believed, could be very dangerous in the hands of men.” These words seemed to explain each bear’s reaction toward Evercloud. “Recent events, however, have caused me to remove the issue from debate. I believe that it is now necessary to tell you these secrets. Better that you hear it from us, than from rumors that will undoubtedly spread through the kingdom. If you are ready, I will have your uncle tell you of the Ancients. He is a better storyteller than I.”

  Evercloud’s mouth was dry as he spoke.

  “I am honored to have this knowledge bestowed upon me and I am ready.”

  “Then we shall begin,” said Whiteclaw. “Once, there was nothing. Or at least that is the word that we use to describe what there was. You see, Evercloud, at one time our world was made up of things that we have no words for and no images for, things our minds cannot conceive of. So we say that once, long ago, there was nothing, and we imagine it as infinite blackness.

  “All we have as a clue to our origin are the teachings of the elder bears. Though even they do not know of true origins. The first things they have told us of were the Ancients. The Ancients were strange creatures. Not at all like the creatures of today’s world, but at the same time, very much like many of the creatures we know. There were four of them and they controlled the elements of our world.

  “There was the mermaid, Chera, who controlled the water. There was Bahknar the dragon, who controlled the element of fire. Tenturo the griffin, who had the head and wings of an eagle, but the body of a lion. He controlled the air. Finally, there was Densa. Densa was a gigantic beast, who most closely resembled a gorilla. He controlled the element of earth.

  “Each of these Ancients created many creatures to populate the earth. It is believed that it was Densa who created the Kingdom of Bears. Man, however, was another story. The Ancients wished to create a creature that embodied a bit of them all. So they gathered together and drew upon all of their strength. Densa created the form and Chera added to it water. Bahknar used fire to give it warmth and then Tenturo breathed into it air. This was the way in which they created man. Man was to be the connection between all creatures. Man was to be the balance. The Ancients also gave unto man some of the powers of the elements. They gave man slight control of wind, water, earth and fire, so that man may help the world flourish. The Ancients had created a utop
ia and man was their bastion of peace. The earth saw ages of prosperity for itself and all creatures.

  “But then the Great Tyrant came and destroyed the utopia of the Ancients. It is said that the Great Tyrant possessed a power that the Ancients did not. It is said that he could summon the lightning from the sky. The Ancients were powerless against him. The Great Tyrant hunted the Ancients, hell-bent on destroying them. Given little choice, the Ancients fled from the earth, never to return.

  “The Great Tyrant took control of the creatures of the earth, driving them apart. Mankind became his slave and he forbade them from controlling the elements, under the penalty of death. The Great Tyrant had cast an ominous cloud over the earth and ruled it for many ages. After a time, mankind forgot its powers. It was not long before the entire world had forgotten what it once was. It was now a world afraid, amid the storm of the Great Tyrant.

  “The elders say that over time, the Great Tyrant’s rule became more and more distant, until it seemed as though he had disappeared. To this very day, we do not know if the Great Tyrant still controls the earth or if he has gone and left the world that he destroyed.”

  Whiteclaw stopped here to see if Evercloud had understood everything and to see if he had any questions.

  “So,” started Evercloud. “I mean no disrespect, but are these just stories or are they true?”

  “We take no offense, Evercloud. In fact,” and Whiteclaw glanced over at his King, “there are many bears who have their doubts. Though the majority of the kingdom does believe this account to be true.”

  “Does this mean that I can control the elements?”

  “The truth is that we don’t know. Outside of the elder’s teachings, there is no record of any human with these abilities.”

  Eveneye, at this point, interjected.

  “I understand this is confusing for you, Evercloud. I have labored under the weight of whether to tell you this or not for many years. I only want what is the best decision for you and for this kingdom. I only want to keep you from danger.”

  “What danger?” asked Evercloud. “I don’t see the danger in hearing these stories.”

  “Well,” said Whiteclaw, “I was about to get to that. You see, rumor has been circling the land outside of this kingdom of a giant paw print in the West, the paw print of a griffin. Many inside the kingdom, as well as outside, believe this may be the marking of the Ancient, Tenturo.”

  “And Tenturo is dangerous?” asked Evercloud.

  “Well, no,” said Whiteclaw, slightly confused. “I mean, he shouldn’t be.”

  Oaktongue took Whiteclaw’s hesitation as an opportunity to step in.

  “The danger is, Evercloud, that you may wish to explore the truth in this rumor. There is thought that you may wish to search for the Ancient, in hope of regaining the power that was given to man… There is also the fact…that some…believe you should.”

  At this, Eveneye shot Oaktongue darts from his eyes and the small bear cowered slightly.

  “It is my decision whether the boy goes or not. If it is to be debated, I would ask you to save your feelings for another time.”

  “Perhaps this is a matter we should address directly, my King,” added Redriver.

  “Fine,” said Eveneye. “Evercloud, return to your mother and let her know I will be a bit longer.”

  “Father, I have something to say.” Evercloud stood up as he said this and it surprised the bears. It was not strange for them to be in the presence of Evercloud, but Evercloud had only just become a man. It was odd for them to hear words of authority coming from him. No one knew quite how to handle it.

  “Speak, my son. What is it that bothers you?”

  Evercloud took a moment to choose his words wisely. He knew that he had little chance of being allowed to stay in the room, and he had better not say the wrong thing.

  “I want to thank all of you for allowing me to hear of the Ancients. I feel very honored to have been accepted by this kingdom. I understand that I am the King’s son, but I also understand that I am a man and that it may be difficult for you to place faith in me. I owe the citizens of this kingdom, as well as the King, my life. With that said, I am a man, and will not have my fate decided without my own input. You have had faith in me, accepting me into your kingdom, and you must now continue to have faith that I will make my decisions with the Everflame in my heart. I wish to be present for this debate.”

  Evercloud, once again, took his seat and he kept his gaze upon his father’s eyes, waiting for a response. There was no immediate reaction, but Evercloud thought that as he looked upon his father, he could see the smallest of grins break across his mouth. Then Eveneye stood, as his son had, and addressed him.

  “As I look upon you this evening, my son. I am proud and I know that the decisions that I made years ago were the right decisions. You may sit with this esteemed group of bears and your input will be considered. But first, let us go to the dining hall and eat something. This promises to be a long night.”

  Eveneye, Whiteclaw and Evercloud sat at their own table in the dining hall. Many citizens of the kingdom were taking their meals in the dining hall this night, creating enough noise as to allow for private conversation.

  “Do you think I overstepped my bounds?” asked Evercloud.

  “I don’t think so,” said Whiteclaw. I think you were assertive, yet respectful. I’m sure that the others understand your feelings.”

  “It reminded me of when you were younger,” began Eveneye with a smile.

  “Oh, here comes another Evercloud story,” said Whiteclaw.

  “What?” quipped Eveneye. “Do I tell many of these?”

  “No, of course not,” Whiteclaw said with sarcasm and then winked at Evercloud.

  “How about you eat your meal and be quiet, so that I can talk to my son, you old grouch.”

  Whiteclaw chuckled and Eveneye began again.

  “It reminded me of your first day in school, Evercloud. I was so afraid that you might hate it and that the cubs might give you a hard time. When I came to collect you later that day, I asked your teacher how it went. I’ll never forget how proud I was to hear what she told me that day. She told me that you had stood up to some cubs that were bullying a weaker cub. Oh, what was that little cub’s name?... It doesn’t matter. Anyway, she said that the bullies had left and then you stayed and helped the weaker cub with his work that day. She told me that you were a natural leader and that I had done a very good job with you.”

  “I think I sort of remember that,” said Evercloud. “But why did today remind you of that?”

  “You aren’t afraid to take a stand for what you feel is right. You did it then and you did it today. It’s a good thing.”

  Evercloud nodded and continued to eat his meal, thinking on his father’s words.

  “I think we’d better finish up,” said Whiteclaw. “Firerock’s starting to shoot us daggers from across the hall.”

  “Is he always like that?” asked Evercloud.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” said Whiteclaw. “Can’t really blame him, though. I’d be angry all the time if I looked like he does.”

  Evercloud smiled and Eveneye rolled his eyes.

  “We’d better go,” said Eveneye.

  As they all returned to the advisors room, Eveneye briefly took his son aside, just outside of the room.

  “These conversations can get ugly sometimes. Do what you can to not take anything too personally. The beginning to our plan for peace is convincing those bears that do not believe in it to agree to its merit. In a way, your actions here will go a long way to convincing certain bears that humans can be beneficial allies. If you were to act inappropriately tonight, it might be difficult to counteract the repercussions. You have to remember, at our core, bears are as afraid of humans as humans are bears.”

  “I won’t fail you father.”

  Eveneye smiled at his son and they entered the room. Evercloud worried that it might be his father who might not remain collec
ted. Everyone took a seat and Eveneye began the debate.

  “So, tonight we need to come to a decision concerning the rumor of the Ancient and what action should be taken. As we usually do, we will go around the table and state our positions. After we have all spoken, we will debate. I’ll begin.” Eveneye shuffled in his seat and gazed around the table. “As you all know, I do not necessarily believe in the tales told by our elders. It is my charge to make decisions that protect the interests of the Kingdom. So my position is quite simple. Without greater proof than mere rumor, I believe it would be foolish to give this possibility our attention until we are presented with further information. Furthermore, I believe it is time to explore our options concerning our plan for peace with the humans.” Eveneye smiled. “It would seem our boy has become a man.”

  The bears nodded in agreement of the final statement and the floor now belonged to Whiteclaw.

  “Thank you, King. As you all know, I believe wholeheartedly in the teachings of the elders. Although this is naught but a rumor, I do believe it should be investigated. However, I agree with the King that it is time to implement our plan for peace. Someone should investigate the rumor, but not Evercloud. He is needed here.”

  “Thank you, Whiteclaw,” followed Forestmoon. “I, too, believe in the teachings of the elders and I fear this rumor of the Ancient’s return. If, in fact, one or all of the Ancients have returned, we need to know as soon as possible. Those who hope to have amiable relations with them should not ignore beings so strong. I agree with Whiteclaw.”

  Redriver came next.

  “I agree with the King. We cannot throw our resources into the ring with rumors. If our imminent future lies in this plan for peace with the humans, then we must put all our efforts toward that goal.” Redriver shrugged. “What do we have to gain by tracking down an Ancient, anyway?”

  “Unfortunately,” began Oaktongue, “I don’t agree with any of you. Who are we to use this boy as some political pawn? We are doing fine without the aid of humans and we have been.” Eveneye grimaced. “What is the rush in this plan for peace? Let the boy go find the Ancient. If it were I who had lost a part of my history, I would wish to regain it.”