by Darren Lewis
Table of Contents
I Ellie and the Rabbits
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
II Ellie and the Dragon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
The night before
III Ellie and the Battle
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
The Seren Trilogy
Darren Lewis
Copyright (C) 2014 Darren Lewis and Creativia
Published 2014 by Creativia
eBook design by Creativia (www.ctivia.com)
Cover art by http://www.thecovercollection.com/
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.
To Ellie. Here's the book you wanted.
I
Ellie and the Rabbits
Chapter 1
Ellie watched with a smile as her younger brother crawled towards mummy. He was laughing at something, but as he couldn't talk yet she didn't know what could be so funny. Ellie looked into the blue sky and saw a few clouds, but nothing that would spoil the day. It was warm and she was sat on a blanket, while her daddy removed their food from a picnic basket. Her brother Jack had finished whatever he had been doing with mummy and now crawled her way, trailing his blanket which was clutched in his small fist. He sat himself in front of Ellie with a serious expression on his face as he looked at his sister. Ellie wondered for a moment what he wanted, and then remembered when she had seen that look on his face. It meant it was time to change his nappy. Ellie loved her little brother but he could be very noisy and, like now, extremely smelly. She smiled and turned him round.
“That's right, go and see, Daddy.”
*
“Mummy, I've finished my sandwich. Can I go and play?”
“Yes, Ellie. But don't go too far.”
Ellie nodded, stood up and ran from the picnic blanket towards a small group of trees that had taken her interest since she had sat down and started eating. Full of food and feeling happy in the sunshine she ran through the long grass to what her daddy called “climbing trees.” Big thick branches sprouted low down on the trunk, and then the upper branches seemed to form ladders extending into the sky allowing anyone to climb and see far into the countryside. Ellie wasn't a climber yet. She just wanted to explore the trees and sit down on the lower branches and swing her legs.
Just as she reached the first tree, she thought she could hear a voice coming from behind the trunk. Ellie stopped to listen. She didn't remember seeing anyone else while they were having their picnic. She looked over her shoulder and could still see mummy and daddy so felt safe enough to move a little closer to see if she could hear what the voice was saying.
If Ellie was being honest she would admit to being a bit nosey and loved to know and get involved with other people, especially if they were doing something that looked interesting. Her daddy called it “a natural curiosity about the world”. Her mummy called it being a nosey parker, but laughed when she said it.
She stepped closer to the trunk and listened. The same voice was still speaking and now Ellie could make out what was being said.
“So, as long as the others agree, then I shall leave today.” In response to this, Ellie heard a number of different voices mumbling. Not saying yes but making the adult noise of “mmmm” when they seemed to agree but weren't that happy about it. The noise stopped. Ellie frowned as she tried to listen harder, but was distracted by a small thump on her ankle. She shook her foot and leaned against the trunk to get her ear closer to where she had heard the voices. Her ankle was thumped again. Making a small growl of annoyance, she looked down while shaking her foot. Standing next to her foot, holding a very small stick, was a brown and white rabbit.
“What do you think you're doing, eh?” it asked.
Ellie stared in shock. She blinked, she couldn't think, she had just been spoken to by a rabbit!
She closed her eyes and counted to three, then opened them. The rabbit was still there, looking directly at her. Although still young, Ellie knew enough from school and her parents that she hadn't fallen over and hit her head, and apart from the fact she was looking at what seemed to be a talking rabbit holding a stick, she felt fine. The rabbit continued its stare and poked her shin with the stick.
“Hello, anyone home?” it asked.
Ellie took a deep breath. She was well aware that she should never talk to strangers, but felt confident enough that this rule didn't apply to a rabbit. She was also aware she didn't enjoy being poked with a stick.
“Yes. Hello, rabbit.” she paused, trying to think of something interesting and polite to say, “My name is Ellie, I like your stick.”
The rabbit's eyes bulged slightly and its whiskers quivered with annoyance.
“Stick! Stick!” it shouted. “I'll have you know that this is a symbol of my authority as protector of my family. It was handed down to me by my father when I took over his responsibilities.” The rabbit held the stick high as if wanting Ellie to have a closer look. She leaned forward and studied the upheld stick. On closer inspection, it was covered in tiny black markings of what seemed to be rabbits, each of them holding a stick aloft in its paws.
She nodded. “It's very pretty.”
Somehow the rabbit's eyes bulged even more and the stick began to shake. Ellie thought, he's going to poke me again. Just as the angry rabbit drew back the stick for yet another jab another rabbit ran around the tree trunk.
“What's all the noise about Plume?” it asked. It came to a quick stop. This rabbit was as black as liquorice and its voice sounded higher than the one it had called Plume, so Ellie assumed it was a girl. The black rabbit sat back on its hind legs and looked Ellie up and down.
“Oh, I see.” She sighed.
Chapter 2
Ellie now sat with her back against the other side of the tree trunk while being stared at by six rabbits. She had considered running back to her parents, but she was very curious about discovering talking rabbits and the black rabbit had asked her very politely if she wouldn't mind sitting down while they had a talk. Sensing no danger from these creatures, Ellie did as the black rabbit asked.
Except for Plume, who was keeping watch close by, the black rabbit and the others were all sat close together whispering, looking at her and then whispering some more. They quivered in what Ellie thought was fear and she felt bad for them. The last thing she wanted was for these animals to be afraid of her. She looked at the black rabbit.
“Hello, I'm Ellie. I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm having a picnic with my Mummy and Daddy and then I heard you talking.” Ellie smiled trying to show that she was a friend. The black rabbit blinked and then nodded to herself as if her mind was made up. The rabbit stood up and walked ever so slowly towards Ellie.
Ellie had sat with her
legs straight out in front of her. As the rabbit approached her she slowly drew them back to sit cross legged. The rabbit jumped slightly and paused, waiting to see if Ellie would move again. When she was happy that Ellie would not she came forward to sit in front of her.
“Well, Ellie, it seems we've all had a surprise today.” The black rabbit said. Plume let out a snort of laughter at this and shook his head while he said to himself.
“Silly place for a meeting, but would anyone listen? No Plume, no one listens anymore…” A stern look from the black rabbit stopped Plume from mumbling. He sighed and hopped back around the other side of the tree. The rabbit continued.
“You've discovered something no other of your kind has ever found out, and it's too late to change that.” The black rabbit looked deep into Ellie's eyes. Ellie kept quiet, sensing that something very important was happening. “Can you keep a secret, I wonder?” The rabbit quivered its nose in amusement. “I think so and besides, who would believe a story about talking rabbits?”
Ellie nodded, and the rabbit tilted her head as she studied her. Ellie was subjected to an intense stare, she felt as if her mind was open to this animal. The rabbit nodded.
“Yes, you can be trusted, can't you? And you came to us today, of all days.”
“What do you mean?” Ellie asked a bit nervously. The black rabbit blinked and seemed to gaze past Ellie. What she saw Ellie didn't know but the rabbit started smiling, or what Ellie hoped was a smile.
“Yes, I'm sure of it.” She said to herself. She looked back at the other rabbits and said. “Go and find Cast and bring him here.” The others looked shocked and exchanged worried expressions. “Well, go on!” the black rabbit added impatiently. They scattered. She turned back to look at Ellie. “Something is telling me I need your help and if you're willing we're going on a journey you and I.” The rabbit's hind leg began thumping the ground with excitement, “Yes, we're going to save the world today.” Ellie's eyes widened in shock, but as she stared at the black rabbit's beautiful eyes she completely believed her. The black rabbit twitched her nose and stood up straight on her hind legs. “I am leader of this clan, in fact of all clans. It is my duty to lead, it is my destiny.” Said the rabbit somewhat importantly, then chuckled, “My name is Rox.”
*
Although a connection of friendship and trust seemed to have been made between Ellie and Rox, the black rabbit still seemed slightly timid when near Ellie. Ellie knew that new friends should at least shake hands. She had seen her Dad doing it when meeting new people. So she held her hand out and smiled. Rox jumped back startled, eyes wide and wild. Ellie snatched her hand back and clutched it to her chest as if she had injured it.
“I'm sorry,” she said,” I didn't mean to scare you.”
Rox quivered a little more and then calmed down.
“That's okay. Just don't make sudden movements around us, that normally means a predator is trying to catch us.” Rox looked around nervously. “And more importantly you must never touch any of us. We're wild rabbits, the moment you touch us we lose our speech and our ability to think. We would only be good for being kept by humans in cages.” Rox shuddered again as she explained. Ellie was shocked that she had almost accidently hurt this lovely black rabbit and promised to be more careful. As Rox relaxed she saw another rabbit approaching from the woods. By its walk and tired looking eyes this rabbit seemed much older than any of the other rabbits Ellie had seen. When it spoke it was a voice of wisdom that came with age.
“Rox, you summoned me?”
“Thank you for coming, Cast. I assume you were told what has happened?” Rox lifted a paw and pointed at Ellie. Cast looked over at Ellie and nodded. Once again she was subjected to an intense stare from another rabbit. It seemed these rabbits could read Ellie's mind and innermost thoughts when they did that. Cast then twitched his nose at Ellie and then placed a paw on Rox's shoulder. Cast smiled and he said to Rox.
“I can see what you wish to do.” Rox bowed her head as Cast took his paw off Rox's shoulder and walked over to Ellie.
“Tell me, young girl. Are you true of heart, empty of lies and fully aware?”
Ellie stared at the older rabbit.
“Well?” he prompted, in a serious tone.
Ellie quickly glanced at Rox and then back to Cast.
“Umm, I don't know what you're talking about.” Ellie said quietly.
Cast was silent and gave Ellie a hard stare and then he made Ellie jump by breaking into laughter. Rox followed with a laugh of her own which made Ellie smile. A rabbit's laugh was a wonderful sound.
“Oh yes,” said Cast, regaining his breath. “She's honest, true and aware of what she didn't know. She also had the bravery to say so. Excellent!”
Rox came over to stand next to Cast. She looked serious now.
“Ellie, I need your help. I am leader of the clan, but have only been for one season of this world and now there is danger.” Rox paused and took a deep breath. Ellie waited patiently as she could see Rox was nervous now. “Every creature on this world helps it live. Every creature has a task to perform whether they know it or not. My clan, well my clan is spread throughout this world and our task is very important.” Ellie was totally focused on Rox now and her beautiful eyes. Cast, the trees, the wood and the sounds it contained dropped away until all Ellie saw were those eyes and she heard only Rox's voice.
“We're here to keep the world turning, but now it's not working!” Rox cried.
*
Rox was upset, so Cast continued the story, his older voice making what seemed to be a dangerous situation worse.
“Our kind was spread throughout the world and we think the ability to hop was given to us so that we may keep the world spinning. At one time in this world's season we must all hop at the same time to do this, if we don't the world will slow down until it stops.”
Ellie nodded and added.
“I've watched something with my Dad and they said the planet now turns slower and that the days are getting longer.” Cast glanced at Rox with a small grin.
“She's a smart one. Yes, you're correct. It's been happening for a long time. Our clan's numbers are getting smaller. Other creatures of this world prey on us for food, even your own kind, and our homes are destroyed…our family is getting smaller.”
Cast and Rox looked down sadly, thinking of all those members of the family they had never met but had lost. Ellie looked at her new friends with sympathy. She had only known them a short time but felt a very strong bond of friendship with Rox and she knew she wanted to help. Though only young herself, Ellie knew how important it was to care for your family and friends, as they would also care for you. She brushed a tear from her cheek and smiled sadly at the two rabbits, then said bravely.
“Let me help.”
*
Cast scurried around, placing coloured stones he had collected from the woods around Ellie, who now stood in the centre of the circle of trees. Though she was ready and wanted to help, she had one small doubt on her mind and had to ask.
“Cast, what about my parents? I don't want them to worry about me.”
Cast shook his head.
“Don't worry. When you began speaking with us you entered our world and our time. As we live our lives much faster than you, you could be gone for what seems a long time to you but only a very short time would've passed for them.”
Ellie thought she understood what Cast was saying, and decided to believe him. Rox, who had left to fetch something at Cast's request, returned with quite a large stick in her mouth. Although from her experience with Plume, Ellie knew better than to call it that.
“What's that?” she asked.
Rox placed the stick down at Ellie's feet and backed away.
“This is part of our magic, it is held within here.” She pointed at the stick, “It was named after our very first leader. It is called Seren.” Rox explained proudly.
Ellie laughed with delight.
“That's my middle name. It
means “star” from where my Daddy's from!”
Cast nodded at Rox and then cocked his head.
“A strange coincidence?” he asked with a smile on his face. Rox winked at Ellie and stood outside the circle of stones, where she waited patiently for Cast. Cast seemed to have finished his arranging of the stones and then went to stand next to Rox. He looked at Ellie.
“This may feel a little strange. Do you trust us?” he asked. Ellie wasn't exactly sure what was about to happen but she had promised her help. She nodded confidently at the two rabbits.
Cast and Rox closed their eyes and then raised themselves onto their hind legs and extended their front paws into the sky. They both began murmuring quietly. Ellie couldn't understand the words but it felt like she could feel the weight of the words in the air, as if they were very important. The sky seemed to darken, as if a cloud had passed over the face of the sun, but as Ellie looked around she could see sunlight streaming through the trees onto the ground. It seemed to become darker still and she had trouble seeing Rox's black fur in the gloom. A breeze suddenly sprung up, but only around Ellie. It whipped her dress about and caused goose bumps on her bare arms and legs. She looked at Cast and saw his fur was unruffled, unaffected by the breeze. Dust, dried mud and leaves were picked up and began circling Ellie, but only within the circle of stones. At first they circled at ground level but then they began to rise up, higher and higher. Ellie looked down and could see the stones around her had begun to glow. Each of the stones was a colour of the rainbow. The breeze became stronger and Ellie was getting a bit scared, but she stood firmly in the centre of the glowing stones, trusting her new friends. As the leaves whipped around her waist the colours of the stones grew brighter and Cast and Rox spoke louder and louder. Ellie squinted her eyes against what was becoming a strong wind. Dust and grit blew into her eyes making them water. She blinked furiously to clear them, but it wasn't helping. Just as she was about to close her eyes the stones exploded with colour, each shooting a beam of light towards her. The lights didn't hit her though. Instead they all went into Seren at Ellie's feet. It started to glow white, brighter and brighter, until she could no longer keep her eyes open. Now she could hear the wind whipping around her. It shoved her from side to side and she wrapped her arms around herself thinking “don't be scared, don't be scared.”