MEOVANNI
She heard the chickens cluck. The child giggled as she turned and leaned on the cedar fence. She glanced at her dark blue bangs that overlapped her left eye and quickly blew the stray strands of hair away. She looked back at the small birds and watched them take the feed from her father's gentle toss. Like her, he had blue hair, the perfect match for their grey fur and black tabby-ish markings. Her father looked at her and smiled with the white fur around his mouth expanding lightly. Just like her.
"Good morning, Blue Skies," he called her, "Did you dream well?"
"I dreamt I was swimming with mommy," Blue Skies replied happily, "And I wasn't afraid this time!"
The farmer chuckled, "Well good. Mommy wants to take you back out to the lake again today."
Blue Skies looked down at her tummy as her stomach suddenly ached. She still felt the shivers of the scary water. She had hoped she would not have to go back. Still, her dream said she would have a good time and that she would not be afraid.
It's ironic that you're scared of the water.
Blue Skies shivered at the male's voice. She looked back up to her father but he was gone. The chickens were gone too. She whirled around, looking for her father. The voiced frightened her. She felt she ought to stay silent, but she decided instead to call out for her father.
The ground shook underneath her. She tumbled, crying. As Blue Skies sat, she became aware of another presence. She then felt someone breathing behind her. The child gaped for air and started screaming.
Kaelin awoke instantly. She gaped for more air, as if she was continuing her nightmare. Upon realization that she was in her clay hut, she calmed a little. The gentle pit pat of an evening drizzle helped ease her fears. She sat up and wiped a tear from her eye. She still felt weak from her recent 'encounter' with the musical furre in Slen, so she decided not to get up just yet.
You are beautiful, Blue Skies, a voice chuckled.
Kaelin's adrenaline returned with the voice. She sat straighter and looked around her hut for the intruder.
"Who's there?" she demanded.
One of you, the voice said, I'm always with you.
Kaelin leaned to the right of her bed in attempt to reach for her sword. The space that welcomed her instead told her that the furre took it already. She looked harder into the darkest corners for the male. She was starting to get an idea as to who it was.
"Demon!" she called, "Show yourself, you traitor!"
Your father grew corn and fed it to the chickens, the voice continued, He was dangerous. I had to kill him and his family.
"What?" Kaelin gasped, "How could you have killed him? You were only a toddler when they died."
Kaelin wanted to stand up to face the demon, but she did not want to show how weak she was. She heard the voice chuckle again. Her throat went dry. He already knew.
I didn't realize you survived. How stupid of me. I could've hunted you down when you were a child. It would've saved me the anguish Xte's army put me through when you were in charge. Damoxte was easy to take, as was I.
"You took yourself?" Kaelin asked, "Or are you trying to be smart with me again? Your intelligence would had been your only chance with me, considering how ugly you are."
At her words, her bed shook. Kaelin still had a way to get into the former officer's head. At this point, she would take advantage of anything. She gently felt her left leg and was satisfied with the confirmation.
When she tried to withdraw her paw, she realized that she could not move. She felt something cold drape around her front. She looked before her and could scarcely make out a thin cover of dirt.
I'll show you what you've been missing out on, the voice said.
Kaelin grunted. The grip was intense, squeezing her and preventing her from breathing. She felt her fingers wiggle. The Earth obviously did not think that they were much of a threat. Trying to be as calm as possible, she gently loosened the instrument on her leg.
Nothing to say, I see? the voice asked, I think you're even prettier that way. When we're done here, I'll join my child's child in Slen and take the poet. He is very intriguing, wouldn't you say?
Kaelin suddenly thought of Gorian and Mar. She never met the poet but she remembered Damoxte mentioning the furre of seasons being with the two orphans. Just then, she cursed herself for her tangent thoughts. Earth was listening.
Furre of seasons? the voice laughed, You know more about this than I do. And Damoxte is still around? I wondered what became of her. I couldn't get to her before she died. What else do you know?
No, Kaelin thought, You're not getting my thoughts. I won't let you in.
Kaelin ... you are beautiful. And you're still conscious. You must've been able to master your breathing underwater.
Kaelin was growing fatigued. She knew she was about to lose consciousness. If she did, the Earth would be able to take her thoughts without a struggle. She started to desperately claw at her leg. Finally, the dagger became free.
You know of someone else. A close personal friend, perhaps?
I will not let you in, Kaelin shot back.
Fire.
Stop this, Kaelin grunted again. Her eyes were growing heavy.
Light, the voice continued. He was randomly selecting the elements Pidth took away from him almost two decades earlier, Sand...
Noo, Kaelin whimpered.
... stars.
Suddenly Kaelin thought of Moonlit Star and Gorian. They were in the tall grasses, laughing as the furre of stars pointed at Gorian's ancestor's constellation. Kaelin and the Earth looked on as Moonlit steered the star across the night sky. The distinct vibrations behind the twinkled star resonated back to the officers of Xte.
Yes ... , the voice said in content, the furre of stars is here ... in this town.
Earth was distracted. Kaelin screamed without her voice and ripped her left arm out from the dirty drape. She clenched her teeth and threw the dagger at the straw roof above. The tiny weapon sliced a few strands of straw and quickly fell back, striking the wooden planks with the blade. She looked up at the roof with remorse for the lack of damage. Glancing back at the floor, she spotted the dagger with it's blade imbedded in the wood. But it was too far out of reach.
The Earth chuckled as Kaelin's eyes started to roll into unconsciousness. Clever. I should've picked up on those thoughts, but I guess I was ... distracted. I hope Moonlit Star would be just as much fun ... and beautiful. Pleasant dreams, Blue Skies.
A drop of water landed on her dark blue hair. It was cold and wet, an excellent wake up call for her, despite not being able to breath. She felt another soon after. She smiled. It was coming. She heard the roof sag as she felt a loose ribbon of water drip down her forehead.
Why are you smiling?
Kaelin moaned a response, but the Earth could not hear. The voice was only starting to return to her, she could not sound out complete words yet.
What did you say?
"You ... ugly."
The Earth shook the ground in response. His anger was what she needed. Her eyes looked back up to the roof. The sagging continued as more drops of water were falling on her, making her stronger. Kaelin chuckled.
In one last creep, the roof gave way. The wet matted straw landed on both dirt and Kaelin, followed immediately by a sudden and continuous rush of water. The rain had picked up, Kaelin noted. She looked down at the Earth's drape and watched it dissolve. All around her, a muffled scream was heard. The Earth was wounded. Kaelin felt her limbs return to her own will, with a new surge of strength.
You can't take me, the Earth said, At least, not before I grab a star.
Kaelin heard the Earth leave her hut. She jumped off her bed and grabbed her dagger. She glanced around quickly for her sword, but could not locate it. She ran through the watery hut and dashed out the door. She knew she had to kill the officer of Xte, before he took Moonlit Star.