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All of us stood at the base of the towering quartz mountain in front of us, dark energy swirling off of the mountain. Exhaustion weighed on us all, Darwin was even seconds from passing out from the lack of sleep. Something had been hunting us for weeks, always escaping us before we could catch it. The trail snaking up and down the mountain was the only way through to our safety, Boran’s head rested on my shoulder. Turning back towards everyone, we needed sleep in order to conquer this mountain correctly.
“Get some sleep everyone. Somata and I will take the first watch.” I announced casually, Boran’s hand raising in protest. “Please get some sleep.” Unable to protest, they all set up their pads. Somata sat next to me on a large shard of white quartz, his head cocked to the right. Darwin bounced over to Boran’s mat, cuddling up to his chest. The sight of them sleeping so comfortably melted my heart, Somata nudging my shoulder. Ignoring him for a second, my eyes followed Finapple jumping into a deep pond. Air bubbles floated to the top, Finapple slumbered on the bottom. Touching the scar on my eye, his pleasant smile calmed my nerves. My life had been so chaotic that my heart was seconds from bursting.
“How did Boran take the bruises and the scar on your eye?” He queried kindly, passing me a knife. “Do you mind cutting my hair? It keeps getting in my way.” Turning his back towards me, the sleek blade felt heavy in my hands. Hesitation prohibited me from cutting his hair, my hands trembling with anxiety.
“Are you sure?” I stuttered nervously, raising the blade to his neck. “I don’t want to take away your honor.” Shrugging his shoulders, his hand cupped mine. Lowering the blade, his eyes twinkled with pure joy. A tender blush rose to my cheeks, the thought of me ruining his hair causing me to look away. Every cell in me was screaming not to ruin his hair.
“I am sure. I really want this.” He promised earnestly, pushing my hand up to desired length. “Hair has nothing to do with honor around here.” Pressing my lips into a thin line, a rush of morning air nipped my cheeks the moment the blade cut off his hair. The silky white hair fell to my lap, a few quick swipes perfecting the back. A long scar snaked down into his white wool shirt, his hand fluffing up the back.
“Perfect!” He chirped cheerfully, dancing around. The front of his hair hung over his eyes, his baby face making him look as young as me. My lips parted to speak, the thing that had been hunting us leapt over us. My face paled, sweat beading on my forehead. The skeletal creature scuttled around on six legs, the ivory color of the bony body splattered with fresh blood. A giant skull spun three hundred sixty degrees, the ruby eyes never leaving mine. Disappearing further up the mountain, both of us sprinted after it. Untying my scythe, Somata spun his blade in his palm. His shadow guardian towered over him, Dackworth waking up to a cloud of dirt irritating his eyes.
“Could you calm down with the damn dirt!” He snapped testily, tears flooding from his one eye. “I can’t see a damn thing! Why are you chasing that thing down anyway?” Rolling my eyes, someone had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Wicked words rested on the tip of my tongue, Dackworth not really getting it.
“We have to take that thing down. It is a skelidor, the insect of death. If one of those things catches your scent, they will hunt you down unless you kill them.” Somata explained calmly, barely out of breath. “So we must get to work before anyone wakes up.” Nodding in silent agreement, my boots only moved faster to keep up with him. Dackworth whined the entire time, something feeling off. A steady stream of curse words flooded from my lips, the creature flying over our heads. Flipping into the air, Somata waving at me as he matched my jump. Freedom twinkled in his eyes, his usual blissful smile dawning on his face. Landing gracefully behind it, his mouth was moving a mile a minute. Before he could finish, a giant black bear swallowed it whole. Half the mountain crumbled away, a myriad of monsters bursting out of the rubble. Running back towards our companions, a large enough shard of quartz slid past us. Hopping on, the hot air lashed at our cheeks as we rode down. An involuntary smile spread across my lips, the raw freedom of riding down the mountain was so exhilarating. Mouthing a silent spell, a wall of pale blue vines prevented the monsters from getting to our companions. Focusing on our next move, we needed to work together. Standing back to back, green energy merged with his shadow.
“Very good.” Somata complimented gleefully, raising his blade to the attack position. “Now that powers are connected, we can really bring it! Just follow the shadow and our strikes will be bold and true. Are you ready, Little Sis?” My breath hitched at the sight of the glowing green shadows pointing where to swing. Raising my sword, blue vines curled up the handle. Launching into the air, my blade followed our guides. Blood and guts rained down on us, the next few moments of chaos fading to a dull quietness. Standing on the large pile of dead bodies, something still felt off. Shock widened my eyes, the bodies decaying to grayish ash. The air grew still, a red beam shot into the sky. Launching into the air, Somata caught me in his left arm. Hanging limply, an onyx portal spun erratically.
“Is it still unstable enough for us to seal it shut?” I queried oddly, blood pouring from my eyes and nose. “I don’t know how much longer I can last.” Shrugging his shoulders, an ocean blue sapphire spun in his palm. Childlike wonder brightened my face, a new hole forming near the top of my scythe. Popping it into the hole, a bright blue light blinded us. My scythe clicked, Dackworth’s eye twitching wildly. The light died down, a silver crown with a sapphire crescent moon rested on my head. The dainty silver curled around the moon, a serene peace washing over me.
“You must be the new queen.” A sweet voice whispered in my ear, a white hand cupping mine. “If you agree to my terms, I will give you the power of the moon. The first rule is that you may never leave this land. The second one is that you will give me one eye. The third is that you must see the beauty in all things.” A lump formed in my throat, the thought of never going home again causing reprehension. Boran would stay with me no matter what, but what would Mina say? Shaking my head, I didn’t have a choice. This was the only way to gain enough power to seal up this portal to wherever. Such sacrifices were necessary for the greater cause, my fingers playing with the hem of my black wool dress.
“I agree.” I promised proudly, my nerves fraying on the inside. “I promise to protect the land with all of my abilities. I promise to see the beauty in all.” Terror widened my eyes, her beautiful nails extending into claws. Digging them into the top of my hand, my heart stopped for a moment. Everything turned to white with touches of silver, sparkles drifting aimlessly. A clear pool of water shimmered underneath my boots, my left eye lightening to a shimmering silver. Glancing down at my scythe, silver devoured all of the blue remaining on it. Dackworth’s eye was still a lovely shade of green, a warm smile illuminating my face. Something else had changed, a silver wolf’s tail wagged behind me. Feeling the top of my head, silver wolf ears bounced up and down. Panic gripped my mind, everything feeling so wrong. A silver spirit floated into the water, her white robes creating ripples with every step. Her gentle smile could calm the roughest waters, her slender hands cupping my face.
“You are the child taking my place.” She mused playfully, her laugh like a twinkle of bells. “Your soul is pure indeed. I see. You have the powers of a Goddess coursing through you. The power of the Moon will surely meld well with them. This will be the last time you see me, so take care of my kingdom for me. I look forward to taking my final breath of existence.” Tears welled up in my eyes, her lips brushing against my forehead. My salty teardrops shattered the smooth surface, her arms embracing me warmly. Lifting up my chin, my watery eyes met hers.
“You need not worry, Lottie.” She continued sweetly, wiping away my tears. “These tears prove my point. You care for everything. I have been trapped in a gem for far too long, so thank you for my freedom. Goodbye, my dear.” Looking up at the starry sky, she raised her hand to touch it. Her skin decayed to silver butterflies, tears streaming down her cheeks. Nothing, I could say nothing as the last butterfly fluttered into the sky. Falling to my knees, Somata splashed into view. Smiling happily to himself, wonder illuminated his eyes. Tucking his hands into his pockets, he looked so peaceful. Offering me his hand, my fingers wrapped around it cautiously.
“How can you come in here?” I stuttered brokenly, my own reflection throwing me off. “I thought only I could enter here.” A fit of laughter burst from his lips, blood pouring from his nose. Instead of helping me up, he crouched down to my level. Adjusting my crown, he lifted up my chin with his finger. This seemed to be a common thing today, the weakness of being so broken getting to me. Unsure of what to do next, his brotherly presence melted all of the stress away.
“I closed the portal, so you don’t have to worry about that.” He assured me blithely, waving his free hand around. “I am your knight, remember? You look fine, this is the true you. No other creature adores the moon more than a wolf. Boran will definitely notice.” Sitting back on my bum, Somata did the same.
“I don’t get it. I wasn’t born here, so why me?” I questioned sadly, resting my hands on my knees. “I don’t belong here, yet I feel like I do. I can’t explain it.” Chuckling lightly to himself, his real smile shined brighter than the moon up in this bubble. Nudging my shoulder, the blissful smile never left his face.
“You didn’t have to be born here to get the crown.” He laughed gently, gazing up at the stars twinkling in the sky. “I know everything will fall into place, Little Sissy.” Raising his hand up to the sky, it all made sense. A lump formed in my throat, a single tear slid down my cheek. She had been his lover, my heart shattering into a million pieces for him.
“She was your lover, wasn’t she?” I asked cautiously, hoping not to upset him. “I am sure of it. What you just did says it all?” Tears began to flood freely from his eyes, guilt eating at me. Had I just drudged a horrid memory?
“You are correct.” He admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “She spun into my life, and faded away just as fast as she came. You remind me so much of her. Now don’t get me wrong, I still look at you like a little sister.” Clutching him close to my chest, his fingers gripped my arms. Sobbing brokenly, the memory of everyone crying in my arms haunted me. Every cell in my body burned, the bubble beginning to pop. Slowly, the walls decayed back to the remains of what once was a mountain. Struggling to his feet, he shoved his hands into his pockets. His hair danced in the calm breeze, ultimately saying nothing as he marched down the remains of the mountains. Looking around, I needed a reflective surface. Clear water cascaded to a newly formed lake. My fingers brushed against the surface, my ears flattening with embarrassment.
“What’s wrong?” Mina panicked visibly, her face rippling in the water. “Oh, the prophecy came true. You really are the new queen of that kingdom. I am okay with that. I can always visit you anyway.” Tears welled up in my eyes, the urge to hug her raging away inside of me. Her hand reached out of the water, my fingers intertwining with hers. Salty teardrops crashed to the surface, a broken wail exploding from my lips. Seeing her tired face only made me realize what I had sacrificed for everyone else, the selfish part of my heart hating myself. All I knew was at home, my face snuggling into her palm.
“I will live forever, and so will Viktor.” She promised lovingly, her left eye cloudy as a foggy night. “I had to give them my eye as well, but we can leave when we want. Don’t fret about us. Besides, it was bound to happen. I love you and I have to go. Congratulations on your crown. See you soon.” Her hand sank back into the water, her fingers slipping away from mine.
“I love you so much!” I cried out desperately, her image fading away. Smashing my fists onto the surface, a tortured scream burst from my lips. The ripples reminded me of how actions could spread, the spiderweb always reaching further than we could see. A strong hand touched my shoulder, Boran wrapping his arms around my shoulders. Resting his chin on my head, the guilt of keeping my secret from him haunting me.
“I am so sorry!” I blurted out, Boran stepping back. “I am sorry for my appearance. I must look like a monster to you.” Shaking his head, he clutched me close to his chest. Shock rounded my eyes, his crooked grin hiding his frustration with me. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he kissed my forehead gingerly. A gentle pink colored my cheeks, his patience wearing thin.
“I will always find you beautiful no matter what.” He whispered sweetly in my ear, my arms wrapping around his waist. Melting into his arms, his embrace felt like home. His expression hardened, his next words mincing my heart.
“I am so frustrated with you!” He shouted heatedly, his embrace only getting stronger. “If you wanted to stay here, I would have said yes! I don’t understand you. You hide things until they are forced to come out. You haven’t talked to me for days! You came back from that mission, and just sat there quietly! You are never radio silent with me! I missed your sweet voice, so now tell me why you are crying.” Refusing to look at him, his hands cupped my face. The determined look on his face reminded me of when he would comfort me as a child when he always found me crying alone.
“I miss home!” I retorted angrily, sadness lining my voice. “I wanted to go back at least once and now I can’t! I am happy with my decision, but part of me wants to go home. I want Mina and Viktor to hug me.” Chuckling jovially to himself, confusion dawned on my face. My ears pinned back, my tail whipping around.
“I want to go home as well but you’re needed here.” He sobbed softly, realizing how much he missed everything at home. “You are my home. So wherever you go, I will go too.” His lips quivered, his lips locking with mine passionately. Time stopped, my heart fluttering with each passing second. Releasing me from his spell, his loving gaze never left mine.
“I hope you realize that you can always come to me, Lottie.” He continued with a rare vulnerability, his shaking finger playing with one of my ears. “You are my wife after all. What kind of husband would I be if I just ditched you?” My eyebrow twitched furiously, my fingers grabbing him by the collar of his white wool shirt. Yanking him closer to me, a curious glint twinkled in his eyes.
“Damn you, Tusks.” I cursed tenderly, his goofy grin making it hard to be mad at him. “You are now a king after all.” My heart skipped a beat, his handsome face inches from mine. Glancing away in shame, the bruises were still faint on my porcelain skin. Tracing the scar over my eye, his hand slid down to my bump. Resting my head on his shoulder, his big hand cupped my head. This moment felt so tender, my deepest desire was for it to never end. Yes, Boran and my companions were home. All of the fun memories that I had flashed in my head, the decision suddenly feeling like the right one. Mina raised me to step up and be the hero for the little guys. A giggle snapped me out of my trance, Darwin leaping into our arms. Cuddling together felt like magic, everything feeling just right. Yeah, I was going to be just fine.
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