Illutiana’s mother was distinguished among the Tei. She was the ruler of all she surveyed, for the local humans had dubbed her a goddess of the land, sea, and air. And so it was that with the birth of her child she naturally expected to have a legacy.
Illutiana’s father was somewhat more nomadic. He would stop by the dry lands where Illutiana’s mother, Mara, lived, and bring her tidings and bid her luck. With a child he expected an adventurer, one who would clime the highest mountain to slay the strongest dragon, and collect riches from the human villages that bordered her home land.
So it was that on the day of little Illutiana’s arrival much seemed to be already written in the fait of this soft, white youngster. A festable was held, and the human’s were told that they were witness to they’re future god, and that they were to bring food and clothing and gifts for the mother and child. In the windy valley of Kanica Illutiana’s father was preparing her mount, the immortal black unicorn of Arthidus. But Illutiana didn’t seem interested in adventure, diplomacy, or power. At an early age for immortals she had begun to venture far beyond the borders of her mother’s desert home. She would go fourth, not to slay dragons, but to bring back butterflies and wild flowers. She would bring small animals into her mothers territory, and she would daringly try to make friends with the human children.
Mara was frustrated. The picture she had painted in her mind had been so perfect, there was only one thing to do. She beckoned Meristide, the gargoyle-elf, for help and council.
Meristide lived in the cliff-like mountains of Sria. She was often called upon to bless a new born child, give counsel to those who felt they needed it, and act as a living record of all that had happened through out the many years of her life. The only problem was that Meristide lived atop the vast, sheer mountains, and to get to her one would have to risk one’s life. But Meristide was willing to answer a plea for help, so when a blue feathered bird carrying Mara’s message reached her, Meristide glided down the rocky mountain side to give aid.
She reached the dry-land four sunsets after the message was sent out, and was greeted with curious blue eyes by the toddling Illutiana. Illutiana had never been to the gathering of Rivian, a place where immortals go to share they’re wisdom and wonder with all who dare to make the trek to the deep pools during the bright season. This was the first time any immortal, other then Illutiana’s parents, ever set eyes on her.
When an immortal is born it is a special occasion. Lucky is the human who witnesses such an event in they’re or many generations of they’re kin’s life time. Immortal children are born only as often as stars, and they take the time it takes for a human child to develop in it’s mother’s womb until it passes from this world for an immortal to reach full maturity. Usually when an immortal child is born his or her parents take her to the gathering of Rivian to show all. But Mara never attended the gathering. She used to, but that was many years ago. She used to attend regularly, she was, indeed, one of the first children ever to be presented there. It was there that she met Onius, Illutiana’s father. For many passes, uncounted and uncountable, they would appear at the gathering together, and disappear together. But long ago Mara had stopped attending the gathering, and Onius continued to go alone, illregularly, as most immortals do.
“This child need to be shown to all.” Meristide said. “She needs the teachings that our tales of past provide.” For that was how immortal children were taught of the history and the great deeds of they’re people. They listened to the tales spun by they’re cousins and ancestors, and threw them they learned the valuable lessons of life.
Mara gazed across the dry lands to the human village, small in the distance, and distorted with the wavy lines of heat that rose from the sand.
“I can not,” she said, solemnly. “They will take note of my absence, forgive me, but I can not leave my humans godless.”
“Mara,” Meristide coaxed. “You are not a true god. Your humans believe that you are and so you encourage them in they’re folly. Still, leave them alone for a time, they will not forget you. If anything they will tell of your departure as a trial of they’re loyalty, they will anshously await your return, and you will be more loved even then you are now.”
Meristide knew much of all that had come and passed threw out the immortals’ known history, still, how could she know? No one could predict the fickle behavior of those illogical creatures known to those who spoke of them as man.
“Take the child to her father.” Mara said. “She is of no use to me anyway. Take her away and have him raise her. Bring her to the gathering if you wish, but I wish not to have her here any longer.”
Meristide looked the child over for a long moment. Illutiana giggled and patted the dry earth with open hands. “If you are sure that that is you wish,” Meristide said. And Mara nodded, and Meristide bent down to lift the small child, and as she flew off to the valley of Kanica. Illutiana wailed for her mother, reaching in the air with loose fingered hands.
Onius whipped a few beads of sweat from his brow. The waters before him writhed and churned like a living thing. Finally he flung the long polished stick into the sparkling blue with a swift, clean cut. From out of the waters a pretty, young girl with a look of fear in her deep green eyes leaped into the air, and then fell with a crash into the frothy pool. She slapped her tail desperately across the water’s surface and then lost strength and floated aimlessly to the bank where she was met with a pair of smiling brown eyes. Cutting her long golden hair, the tall, cream-colored Tei spoke softly to her.
“Now, ya see? Your a tough little mer-girl but you ain’t nothin’ to me.”
He did a thorough job, until every glossy, wet strand was bundled and braided, and coiled into his brown, leather pouch. “That didn’t hurt much.” He said, the tailed woman didn’t answer him. A mermaid’s hair is of great value to mortal men and trolls, and can be traded for many fine ordiments that the immortals lack the tenacity to create. However, a mermaids hair is of great value, also, to the mermaid. For it determines her status, and marital worth. A mermaid’s hair will grow it’s entire life, but once cut will never grow again. many of the merfolk keep they’re long glorious hair in braids so as not to clog they’re gills.
Spilling the tailed woman back into the pond Onius began to walk toward Karn, the centaur, his long friend and hunting companion.
“Beautiful.” He said simply.
And that was when they were greeted by a long, thin, wail.
From out of the sky a tiny dot grew from a red speck on the horizon to a doll-sized form with wings, and finally to Meristide, the gargoyle-elf, holding a crying bundle. She stopped only steps away from the two men, and presented Onius with a bundle. “Your daughter,” Meristide said simply, and handed the bundle to the Tei, but gazed wistfully into the eyes of Karn. He turned away, and before he could change his mind she had gone.
“So,” said Karn, “This is the child I hear you speak so fondly of.”
Onius looked into Illutiana’s soft, blue eyes and smiled. “Ain’t she a beaut, an’ strong too.” He put a finger out for her to grasp and she did so, pulling tightly.
“She is truly a treasure.” Karn replayed. “But tell me, why have the other’s not seen her. She must be presented at Rivian for all to behold.”
Onius nodded. And so, during the next bright season Illutiana was presented atop the speaker’s rock for all to admire. She was chubby, with soft, rounded features, and sleek, white-as-snow fur, except for the tuff at the top of her head that showed the start of her mane, which, white as it was, was so glossy that it picked up the light of the sun and reflected in all the colors of the rainbow. She wore brightly colored garments, pants and a short vest, these had been bought from humans along with some food for the exchange of her former clothing, a long, white dress, resembling nothing so much as a christening gown. Her bright blue eyes looked around with curiosity, and she twice ventured to the edge of the cliff, before changing her mind and returning to the center of the rock to plop down and stare again.
Every immortal got their chance to hold, and to coo at, and to talk about the baby. Meristide told the story of her first child, and then she sang of some universal rules of child raising:
Bright eyed,
soft cheeked,
Dimples and rose colored shine.
All the beauty
of all creatures
in the new born child of thine.
Sweetness,
and mischievous,
playful and wild,
found all in the joys
that are brought by a child.
Firmness,
and kindness,
are expected from you,
logic and patience
in all that you do.
You are protector,
and teacher,
nurturer,
and most,
you are you child’s
mistress and host.
Be gentle,
be adaptable,
but be stern,
and consistent.
Don’t compromise safety
because your child’s persistent.
When she throws a tantrum
don’t get in her way,
and remember she loves you
no matter what she may say.
Remind her you love her,
she’s cherished,
and grand,
and most important of all:
You must understand.
Illutiana, of corse didn’t understand a word of this, and Onius was too stubborn to be told what to do anyway. After all was said and done it was decided that the beautiful little girl was better off with her father, for he had brought her to the gathering, and that she would now become a cowboy type, like her father.
Time passed, and with the endless patience of an immortal, Onius began to teach little Illutiana to hunt, and to ride. She showed little or no interest in these things but an immortal dose not give up, for they feel no need to hurry. When Illutiana was in adolescents it was decided that she would take her greatest challenge, she would tame, and ride the black unicorn of Arthidus. He was presented to her in the season of colors, and by the bright season Illutiana was to ride him to Rivian. News of this event spread like wild fire. Onius’s child was going to do it. There was no doubt that she could, she had learned to hunt very quickly, and so now the challenge before her would make her truly her father’s daughter.
When the unicorn was brought to her in a harness crafted of silver, Illutiana looked into his furious eyes, and named him Wildfire. That day she climbed upon his back with out fear and was thrown painfully to the ground. The next day she approached him with an iron bit. Upon finally getting it into Wildfire’s mouth she climbed onto his back and when he ran she pulled tightly upon the restraint, and he stopped, only long enough to buck, and toss the pretty, young girl high up into the air. Still the next day she tried putting chains upon his strong, thin legs, and he again tossed her off likedust.
The season of frost set in and Illutiana had still not tamed the wild black unicorn. She came to him one day with a whip and he a cried out upon sight of it and began to kick, and stomp. That was when she got the idea. She kept him chained at the feet, but she removed his mussel and bit and offered him a fresh root at arm’s length. Wildfire made a lunge and snapped at her hand with strong jaws, but she pulled away and left for the day. She returned the next day with a cup full of oats and grain. Slowly she set the grain down just out of Wildfire’s ability to reach. He strained for the cup but could not reach it. Smiling Illutiana nudged the cup a little closer, until Wildfire could easily reach it. He ate graciously, but when Illutiana stepped forward to stroke his sleek, black coat he nayed and attempted to bite her.
Illutiana continued this routine until the season of new growth, when Wildfire let her touch his back, and then turned with anger when she attempted to rap her arms about him. That day she removed the chains from one of his strong legs, and reworded him with a handful of sugar placed upon a leaf at his feet. The next day she removed his front legs entirely and went to stroke his neck, when he kicked her hard in the chest, and she was kept in rest by her father for the remainder of that season.
For many nightfalls and daybrakes Illutiana did not visit Wildfire, or even venture near him. When she did it was only to re-chain his front legs, and to look at him with eyes of pity and regret.
When the season of colors came around again Illutiana unchained Wildfire’s front legs and then backed away. She fed him oats and fresh fruit when he did not try to kick her, and when she touched his back he did not move away so she gave him a cup of sugar and then left for the day. By the season of new growth Illutiana was able to clime upon Wildfire’s back, and to stroke his mane, and by the bright season she was able to ride. She rode him proudly to the gathering of Rivian, and her father beamed. Then, suddenly she jumped off his back, and leading him to a clearing she released him.
The immortals looked upon her with unbelieving eyes, but Illutiana just smiled. “May I?” she asked politely, eyes lifting to the speaking stone. Meristide smiled warmly. “Of corse, dear.” She replied.
“Just now, I have gotten many looks of question, and one or two of admiration. Let me explain.”
Once upon a time, if I may begin my tale that way, there was a young girl who knew not of want, but who was shackled in the chains of expectation. She was lead down two different paths, but wanted neither. The humans of my mother’s territory keep small birds in cages. They like to listen to the beautiful singing of these once wild creatures. The caged bird is often content. It is not until they peer out at the long, endless blue that they feel the longing. That is why once a caged bird is wild it can never be caged again. likewise, however, once a wild bird has been caged, and pampered it can never again return to the wild, and so it would be better if man never interfered, yet he dose.
Some times a child can feel the same way. Like the bird that is trapped somewhere in-between. Now Wildfire is the free caged bird. I can just say that I empathized with him, and so I let him go. I have no wish to be my mother’s princess, or my father’s hero. Once apon a time this little girl found inspiration, and now I, like Wildfire, have to find my place, somewhere in-between…