The Beautiful and The Broken, a Fantasy story

One

I wake up to the sound of rushing water and the smell of dirt. My eyes flutter open and I can see small streams of light dancing around the cave, reflecting off of the droplets of water covering the walls. It is so beautiful, but I can’t help but feel bitter whenever I see something that possesses the gift of beauty. I never wanted things to end up this way, but scars like mine just don’t ever go away. I guess I paid the price for my carelessness, but at the same time, I earned my freedom from a world that centers itself on physical beauty. I close my eyes as the memories flood back.

“Eclipse, make sure you’re back before dark!” I smile as my mother, the Queen of Elysium, gives me the warning she gives every time I leave the palace. I smile and fly away, enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face and the gentle breeze ruffling my long brown hair. I pick up speed and fly straight upwards, then break right through the clouds. It is so bright, so heavenly. I hover for a moment, then fly south, towards the cliff range. The cliffs are very dangerous and only the warriors are allowed to venture there, but even the bravest of them find the place too foreboding and mysterious. I, on the other hand, find the cliffs to be a wonderful place full of excitement and freedom. I know my parents would hate it if they found out I spend most of my time there, but I feel drawn to the place. I feel like something is calling me there every day, someone that needed to be found, someone who is lost and without anyone to lean on. So I continue my visits to the cliffs, hoping that one day I will solve the mystery that brings me back every day.

I fly for over an hour before I finally see the top of the tallest cliff rising out of the clouds ahead of me. I fly faster, and soon find myself sitting on a ledge just below the clouds. I twist around to look at my wings. They are beautiful, powerful, and majestic. They are not like fairy wings however, but more like the wings of an Eagle, strong and unfailing. They are big enough that I can wrap them around myself like a huge blanket. I reach back and smooth my soft black feathers, it’s become a habit now since the air here has such strong wind currents. I stand up and step off the ledge, quickly spreading my wings to catch me before I even begin to fall. I fly slowly downwards, watching out for jagged rocks jutting out into the mist. Finally, I reach another ledge, this one closer to the ground than the peak of the tallest cliff. I’ve flown this area many times, and I know that the ground is two thousand feet below me now. I gently land on the ledge and take a deep breath. I’ve been preparing for this many times, and I’m finally going to attempt a dive into the gulley. I have never dived in the cliffs before, it has always seemed too dangerous. Today is my day to prove to myself that I am the brave person I’ve always wanted to be. I have flown up and down the drop off multiple times and calculated my timing to make sure I will be able to stop myself before I hit the sharp rocks or river at the bottom. I smile and take a deep breath. I know I can do this, so why do I feel scared? I’ve dived so many times back in the Elysium that is my home, so I should have no trouble pulling off this stunt.

I press my arms against my sides and dive headfirst off the ledge. The feeling of free falling is indescribable! I feel so free, so alive! The wind whistles in my ears and the skirt of my dress ripples out behind me. I am so caught up in the amazing feeling of falling that I forget my calculations. I realize I’ve been picking up speed rapidly, and I can feel mist from the river hitting my face. I open my eyes and scream just before my face hits the surface of the violent river. Then, my world goes black. When I wake up, I’m lying in a dark place that I do not recognize. I hear the sound of trickling water nearby and also the distant sound of a rushing river. I sit up slowly and instantly feel a throbbing pain in my head. I reach up and touch my face, but what I feel is… different. I feel a huge gash running down the entire right side of my face and I bite my lip to keep myself from groaning, since the pain is so intense. I look around and see a little bit of light coming from a tunnel in the back of the cave. I slowly stand up and walk towards the light. Maybe it will lead out of this dark, cold place.

After following the light for a while, I finally find the entrance to the cave and walk outside. I shiver as the night wind ruffles my feathers and slowly walk over to a small puddle that is illuminated by the sliver of a moon that shines in the sky. I kneel down and look into the puddle. When I see my reflection, I gasp in horror. There is a long, jagged gash running down the right side of my face. It looks like a dragon hooked his claw in my forehead and dragged it down my face. I burst into tears, and wonder what I will do when I get back home. Back in Elysium, there is no one with a single blemish or scar. Even the warriors are almost immaculate. My people take pride in their physical beauty, and there has never been anyone with even a scar the size of a twig unless they had obtained the wound in a battle, and there has been no battles in Elysium for the last four hundred years. I look up at the sky and let out a pained scream. I had been foolish to jump off the cliff in the first place and attempt that dive. I never should have even considered it. Now I am left with a permanent mark to remind me of my foolishness. I sigh and decide I need to go home. But will they accept me? Of course they will, they’re my parents. I spread my wings and fly towards home. When I get back, it is almost dawn.

As soon as I set foot in the palace that I call home, my parents and all the servants of the house surround me. From that point on it’s a blur of wings and crying and angry words. They don’t even let me explain before deciding to banish me. I ask why and the only answer I get is “because we are a beautiful race and we cannot let our society be blemished by the mistake of one foolish child.” Next thing I knew, I am back in the cliffs, wandering through the barren wasteland that I once found so enticing and mysterious. Now, it is just a bitter reminder of my mistake. The mistake that decided my fate, that I am now alone forever with no experience, still only a child at the tender age of fourteen… But I swear that I will perfect that dive. Even if it’s the last thing I do…

I let out a sigh and shake my head. Ever since my banishment, I became obsessed with perfecting the two thousand foot dive off the ledge. I’ve been doing it every day for the past four years, with the only comfort being that I know there is someone lost out here besides me. I have felt it, and known since the accident. Someone saved me that day, and I know in my heart that whoever it was is still out there somewhere. Now I just have to find them. I’ve searched every possible hiding spot in the cliffs and found no one, but I have never set foot beyond the massive cliff wall that rises up on the far south border. I have no idea what is beyond it, and I’ve been at war with myself trying to decide if I should venture past the wall. The idea is terrifying and exciting at the same time. I’ve heard sounds from beyond the wall, sounds that I’ve never heard before. I want to believe I am brave again, but ever since the accident I can’t believe in my decisions anymore. I can’t trust myself to make the right choices, but I know I can’t just stay here and waste away in the shadows. For the past four years I have been living off of the water from the river and when I’m lucky, I get fish. I have grown so skinny that my ribs are showing and my wings are getting weak. I know that if I am going to ever get across the wall, I must fly over it today.

3: Two

Two

I stand up and look towards the wall, looming above me with its top concealed by the clouds. I spread out my wings, ignoring the dull ache in my back. I slowly flap my wings, and my feet lift off the ground. I smile, close my eyes, and pick up speed as I shoot straight up into the air. The feeling of flying is exhilarating, and I am still thankful that the accident didn’t take my wings away from me. I can live without beauty, but living without my wings would be unbearable. I am soon above the clouds, where the sun is shining like a golden jewel in the sky. I hold my breath as I soar over the top of the wall for the very first time.

I keep flying forward until the clouds begin to disappear, and I can see the ground far below me. I gasp in wonder, it is so… beautiful. I begin my slow descent and when I come close to the ground, I hover for a moment before letting my bare feet touch the grass. It’s been so long since I’ve felt soft, cool grass under my feet and I miss the feeling. I lay down in the tall grass and take a deep breath, the scent of flowers, earth, and dew filling my nose. I close my eyes and smile, letting out a laugh of pure joy. I roll around in the grass for what feels like forever, then I open my eyes to see a strange creature looking down at me. I jump up, startled by its odd appearance. It is slightly taller than me, with four legs that have feet that look like smooth stones. Its face is long and slender, and its body is muscular and covered with short, white hair. It has long hair growing out of the top of its neck, and it has a tail made of the same hair. It also has huge, beautiful wings growing out of its back. I wonder what it is, it doesn’t look dangerous. I slowly take a step towards it and a reach out to it. It leans toward me and nuzzles my hand gently, and I laugh. It seems startled by my laugh, because as soon as the noise leaves my throat the creature spins around and runs off into the distance, spreading its wings and taking flight, disappearing into the clouds.

I sigh and look around, hoping to see another person or creature, but there is nothing but grass, flowers, and a few trees scattered here and there. I am too tired and exhausted to fly, so I walk over to the nearest tree and look for any fruit that might be growing on it, since I haven’t eaten for the past two days. I guess I am lucky, since this tree is covered in bright red apples that look like rubies sparkling in the sunlight, so beautiful. I pick one and bite into it, savoring the sweet taste. I climb up to the highest branch of the tree and sit on it, leaning on the trunk. After my apple is finished, I drift off to sleep. I feel safe here, like no one will ever have to look at my ugly face again. I can live surrounded by beauty without anyone to tell me I’m a flaw in the perfection of everything around me.

I awaken to the sound of a gentle breeze rustling the leaves and birds chirping. I stretch and yawn, feeling lazy and happy. Oh, it’s wonderful to be happy again, it’s been so long... I don’t think I will ever go back to Elysium. They will never accept me, I’m scarred forever. I’m ugly. But here, it doesn’t matter, since there is no one to see or be offended my hideousness. I climb down from the apple tree and set out to explore, wondering what else I will find in this strange, beautiful world.

After a long day full of wandering around, I have discovered many new creatures, one of which has been following me for the past two hours. It’s an adorable little creature, with four legs and floppy ears. It is black all over, the color of my wings. It is soft and sometimes barks at me. It has a long tail, and it never seems to stop wagging it. The funny little thing also won’t keep its tongue inside its mouth, and it enjoys licking my feet. I am going to keep it, since it won’t stop following me and hasn’t tried to hurt me yet. I think I’ll name it Feather, since it is the same color as my wings. My wings are the only thing left of me that’s beautiful. I wonder if I will ever feel beautiful again… It doesn’t matter now, no one can hurt me here.

I journey on for days, and I’ve lost track of time. For the first time in years, I am not constantly hungry. I’ve found so many varieties of food I can’t even name all of them. I am beginning to put on a little weight, and I feel stronger with every passing day. My little companion, Feather, has become like a very close friend and we often chase eachother around the meadows. I enjoy flying in the sunlight, and I absolutely love being able to see the stars at night since there are no clouds hiding them from view. Now, I don’t feel so alone and trapped by the walls of the cliffs. At night, I no longer shiver from the cold wind seeping through my dress, which is now barely a few threadbare rags. I really need to make myself a new one, but what is there to use? Besides, there is no one around to see me anyway. I take off the dress and rip it into smaller pieces, then tie the small pieces into a skirt that reaches just to my knees. Next, I weave together some soft grass and tie it around my chest. It’s not much, but it’s better than a dress so worn out that it’s see through.

Hours pass and the sun goes down, leaving the sky dark and filled with the lights of glittering stars. I lay down in the grass and wrap my wings around myself, then I close my eyes and begin to fall into a deep sleep. Suddenly, I hear a noise that sounds like footsteps. I sit straight up and look around. Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement. I whip my head around, but it’s too late. Whatever was there a moment ago had disappeared into the shadows. I already know I won’t be able to sleep tonight with the knowledge that someone or something is watching me. I keep my guard up all night, and when morning comes I am exhausted. I know I should catch up on sleep, but I need to find out who or what was watching me last night. How long has it been following me, and why?

4: Three

Three

I have been wandering for so long now, I don’t even know how long I’ve been out here. I can no longer see the cliffs anymore, I don’t even know which direction they are. It doesn’t matter now, at least I have plenty of food and I no longer have to scavenge. My little companion, Feather, has been growing bigger and more beautiful every day. I am still searching for my pursuer, I need to know what it is and why it’s following me. It doesn’t seem to be out to kill me, or it would have a long time ago. Might it be my rescuer, the one who saved me after the accident? I have always felt watched, ever since my fall, but I have never been able to catch a glimpse of the person or creature who has been watching me all these years. Tonight, I will catch them. I will not let it slip out of my grasp again. I need to know, I’ve been wondering for the past four years. Tonight, I will only pretend to sleep. I will not miss my chance.

The moon is high in the sky, and it’s been dark for hours, yet I still have not caught even the slightest sound of footsteps or seen the tiniest movement. The night is still and peaceful, and a small breeze occasionally rustles the grass below me. I am sitting in the top of a tall oak tree holding my little companion, Feather, who is asleep. I sit still, watching the ground. I have never heard the sound of wings when my watcher flees, so I am expecting an approach from the ground. My wings are wrapped around me and my eyes are closed just enough to look like I’m asleep. My breathing is steady and deep, like that of a person who is long gone into the world of dreams. I am beginning to get restless and I feel like giving up. No, I can’t give up now. I scan the ground for any movement, when suddenly I see a figure approaching slowly, and in complete silence. It looks like one of my kind, but it has no wings. The figure is wearing a hooded cloak, so I cannot tell if it is a male or a female. Suddenly, it looks up and takes down the hood of its cloak.

I almost gasp in complete wonder and awe. The face staring up at me is the face of a young man, and is the most handsome face I’ve ever seen. His features are absolutely perfect, with no flaws at all. He looks so sweet and innocent, but there is pain in his eyes. His beautiful blue eyes. I wonder what he is, since he has no wings. He cannot be one of my people, so I wonder if he is an elf. No, he can’t be an elf, his ears are not pointed. He carries a wooden staff in one hand, and he never makes a sound when he moves. Is this my rescuer, the one who has watched me for all these years? I want to call out to him, to ask him, but I have not spoken a word since my banishment. I have laughed and screamed, but my voice sounds like claws scraping a rock since I do not use it often. I feel so frustrated, so angry, so… sad. I have not cried since I was banished, I never felt the need to. I would let out my anger and sadness by flying and diving, twisting and turning through the air. But tonight, I let out my sadness and anger that has built up over the years. I begin to cry, softly at first, then my silent tears turn into sobs.

Suddenly, I hear leaves rusting below me. I look down and see him climbing the tree, with the agility and skill of a squirrel. He drops his staff and climbs up until he sitting next to me on my branch. I am glad he is sitting on my left side, so that he cannot see the hideous scar on the other side of my face. I bury my face in my hands and keep crying softly. I feel a touch on my shoulder and look up at him, letting my hair fall over the right side of my face. “You okay?” He asks in a voice that is deep and soft, gentle but bearing the weight of a great pain and sadness. “Who are you?” I whisper, hoping that he can hear me. “My name is Shadow, what’s yours?” He replies, giving me a little smile. I clear my throat, hoping my voice might work. “Eclipse” I reply, my voice sounding slightly hoarse but not as bad as I had feared it might. “That’s a beautiful name,” he says softly. I look away and bite my lip, wishing that I still had a beautiful face to match. “Why have you been following me and for how long?” I say in a raspy voice, feebly attempting to change the subject.

“I’ve been following you and watching over you ever since your accident. You took a nasty fall,” He says, frowning. “So you are the one who rescued me that day, the one who pulled me out of the river and left me in that dark cave. You could have just left me to die in the river, you know. Then no one would ever have to see my mutilated face again,” I say bitterly. I know I should be grateful to him for rescuing me, but I can’t help but be angry at him for never showing himself and always hiding in the shadows. Just like his name, Shadow. Dark and mysterious. He sighs. “I couldn’t just leave you there to die, you were so young and… I know what it feels like to lose beauty,” he says, then turns away as if regretting what he just said. “What do you mean?” I ask, suddenly wanting to know more. “Nothing, just forget it,” he says, leaping off the branch and landing on the ground in a crouch. He stands up, picks up his staff and lets out a shrill whistle. Suddenly, the white creature that I had seen on my first day beyond the wall comes flying down from the sky. “What is it?” I call down to Shadow. “It’s called a Pegasus, or a winged horse,” He replies. “Her name is Alifer, which means winged in Latin.” I smile. Alifer. What a beautiful name. I watch as Shadow swings himself up onto Alifer’s back and the Pegasus takes flight, disappearing into the night like a ghost.

I don’t sleep at all, my mind is too full of questions and I don’t know if I will ever be at peace until they are answered. What did Shadow mean when he said that he knows what it’s like to lose beauty? Why did he always hide from me? Why did he feel so obliged to protect me? What did I need to be protected from? With every passing moment I get more and more confused, trying to solve this mystery that has been haunting me for years and is now a reality.

5: Four

Four

It’s been a whole week since I’ve even seen Shadow, and I find myself beginning to miss his presence. Even though I never saw him before that night in the Oak tree, I feel connected to him and now that he is no longer following me, I feel lost and alone. Every night I lie awake for hours hoping to hear him approaching, but he never does. I am glad, however, that I still have Feather to keep me company. I walk slower now, since I feel like I am getting nowhere. Everything around for miles is all the same. It’s beautiful, but there is something missing. There seems to be a sadness hanging over everything ever since Shadow left me that night. I want him to come back, I hope he does soon. I miss him. I don’t want to miss him, but I still do.

I sigh and look up at the sky for the millionth time, hoping in vain that I will see Alifer flying through the sky with Shadow on his back. Still, I see nothing but the bright sun shining like a golden ring of fire. I know I need to find him. I will find him. I look towards the sky again and spread my wings, it’s been a while since I’ve flown. I look down at Feather, who stares up at me with big black eyes. “I’ll be back, just stay put,” I say, leaning down and planting a kiss on her soft nose. I do not know for sure if it’s a girl, but I will just say that it is. Feather lets out a sad whine and I feel bad for leaving without her, so I lean down and pick her up. I cradle her in my arms for a while, wishing I could bring her with me, but I know that I my wings are not strong enough now to carry the both of us. So, I sadly set her back down in the grass. Suddenly, she sees a butterfly and starts to chase it, giving me a chance to fly away without being noticed. I look back once, hoping that I will find her again someday.

I fly all day, scanning the ground and the sky around me to try and find Shadow and Alifer, but I never see them. I continue my search for the next five days, and I begin to feel horribly discouraged. He wouldn’t just leave me like that forever, would he? I don’t want to feel abandoned again. Not when I finally felt like someone cared. Just when I am about to give up my search, Shadow and Alifer appear out of nowhere. “So, you really do care enough to look for me, even when I was never there for you?” Shadow calls out, a hint of amusement in his voice. I look away, feeling ashamed for how I treated him before. “You were there for me the whole time and I just never realized it,” I say sadly. “I’m sorry.” He looks over at me again and smiles. “No hard feelings,” he says. He and Alifer suddenly dive toward the ground, and I quickly follow suit. When we are both on the ground, he jumps off of Alifer’s back and I notice how light and nimble he is. He is almost like an elf, but he has a very warrior like disposition. He is slender, but muscular as well, and looks like he’s been traveling and working all his life. His hands are rough from hard work and he has dirt smudges all over his arms and face. His slightly curly, ruffled hair is dirty blonde and goes to just below his ears. He wears fingerless gloves made of brown leather and a hooded cloak made of a dark brown material that goes to just below his waistline. His features are very elegant, yet manly, and he looks like one of my kind. But he can’t be, he has no wings.

He walks over to me and looks me over, as if studying every detail of my being. I suddenly remember my scar and turn away so the uninjured side of my face is turned toward him. “You don’t have to hide it from me, I know it’s there,” he says softly, as he turns and walks away. “Wait!” I say, a little bit louder than I had meant to. “What? I’m not going anywhere,” he says, sitting down on a rock nearby. I can see the amusement in his eyes and I feel blood rushing to my face. I walk over to him and sit down near the rock, and I begin to play with a pebble I find hidden in the grass nearby. “So, what are you?” I ask, then suddenly I regret my question. “I mean, you aren’t an elf, and you have no wings…” I say. He looks at me and I see a great sadness in his eyes. He turns and looks down at his feet. “Well, I was one of your kind once. I guess I still am, but I don’t even want to call myself that anymore. I lost my wings in an accident similar to yours, I was being a daredevil. I was only ten years old at the time, and it was four years before your accident. I thought it would be fun to sneak out in the middle of the night and find the Dragon’s cave in the cliffs. I always thought it was a fairytale, just something parents made up to keep their children from wandering there. I was wrong. I ended up disturbing the dragon and he agreed to spare my life if I gave up my wings. He said he admired my courage. So that night, the dragon left the cliffs, saying that once his horde had been found he was forced to leave so that no one would come with an army to take it from him. I ended up walking all the way back to Elysium, which took until midmorning. When I got back, they wouldn’t accept me and I was banished to the cliffs, just like you.”

I am speechless. Shadow lets out a sigh and looks straight into my eyes. “That is one of the reasons I felt like I needed to save you. I knew you would be banished, but I knew that banishment would be better than letting you just die. I felt like I needed to care for you and protect you. I never showed myself because I was scared you would reject me, since I have no beautiful wings. So I watched you, and followed you when you left. I was excited when I saw you cross over the wall, I had been waiting for you to make that decision. I have lived out here mostly, ever since I discovered it. It took me a long time to climb the wall separating the cliffs from this place, which I call Inter Mundos, which means “Between Worlds”. I had wished for freedom, all those years wandering alone in the cliffs, feeling trapped by the walls all around me. Now, there are no rules or restrictions. There is no one to tell me how ugly I am without my wings. I am free from the pressure of hundreds of people telling me how I must act or look to be considered perfect. When I saw you fall, and when I saw the … injury … you acquired, I felt your pain. I know what it’s like to be beautiful, then suddenly have your beauty stripped away in a heartbeat. I also know that I need to protect you and keep you safe, no matter what the cost.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean, protect me? What is out there that is so dangerous?” I ask, suddenly filled with curiosity. “The world we both grew up knowing was a world filled with beauty and harmony. A world of lies. We were never told about ugliness. Do you ever remember hearing or seeing something that was unpleasant, or even repulsive?” He replied. “Now that I think about it, no. In Elysium, everything was always beautiful, always perfect. I don’t know how I never realized that,” I replied. My mind was spinning. “So does this mean that all this time, everyone in Elysium is completely blind to reality? Like, whenever someone is disfigured in even the slightest way, the rulers of Elysium just banish them as if they’re not even worth a jagged stone? Just to protect the people from what they should really know the truth about?” I ask, feeling anger building up inside me. Now I know why I was banished without even being allowed to defend myself, just sent off into the cliffs to fend for myself without even getting to say goodbye to my friends and family. I looked over at Shadow, who was running his fingers through his hair. He looked up at me with eyes full of tears. “Yes. Even we fell for those horrible lies that made us believe that everything was just perfect. I have been in the real world for eight years, and I’ve seen true ugliness. I’ve seen real battles. I’ve seen violence so horrific that I can’t even describe it to you.” His voice is slowly becoming louder and angrier. “I have seen people get murdered in their sleep!” He yells. I flinch and he looks away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything,” he says. “No, I want to know. I have been blind all my life. What do violence and murder even mean?” I ask, feeling a little embarrassed that I have no clue what he’s talking about. He looks at me sadly. “I can’t exactly explain it, you would have to witness it firsthand to understand what it means. I wish you didn’t have to be exposed to it, but it is reality. Out here in the world, it’s everywhere. What you have seen so far… well, you’ve seen the beautiful side of this world.” I feel dizzy now, trying to put together all the pieces of the puzzle laid out before me. “We should probably get some sleep, it’s getting dark,” Shadow says. I nod and fly over to the nearest tree, then find a comfortable branch and let myself drift off to sleep, my mind troubled by our conversation.

6: Five

Five

I awaken to the sound of distant thunder, and I look up at the quickly darkening sky. An icy raindrop hits me on the nose and I shiver. I haven’t felt a single raindrop since I left the cliffs, and the memory of them sends a chill down my spine. I fly out of my tree and swoop down to the ground. Shadow and Alifer are nowhere to be seen. I frown. Not again, why do they keep running off without me? I roll my eyes and take to the sky in search of them. The rain is beginning to fall steadily, and the wind is getting stronger. It doesn’t take me long to find them, as they are flying around in the clouds, dodging lightning and making a big game out of it. “What in the name of-” I begin, but I am cut off by Shadow’s delighted shriek. “WOOHOO! Come on Eclipse, you’ve got to try this!” He exclaims, and I shake my head. “You’re going to get yourself killed!” I yell, even though what he’s doing does look fun. He laughs and flies towards me, then reaches out and pulls me onto Alifer’s back in front of him. I gasp and try to squirm out of his grip, but he’s too strong and I don’t budge even the slightest bit.

He expertly steers Alifer through the dark, stormy clouds and pouring rain while scream my lungs out. I can’t tell if I feel terror, excitement, anger, or just pure thrill. Suddenly, his grip around my waist tightens and next thing I know, we are spiraling downwards in a high speed dive. I instantly get tense, and he laughs. “Don’t worry, I’ve done this a thousand times,” he whispers. I get goosebumps as his warm breath hits my ear. I close my eyes and relax. I trust him. He never did anything to hurt me, and I don’t think he ever will. He said he wants to protect me, and I will hold him to his word on that. I don’t know how high we are, but we have been falling through the dark clouds for a long time. How high are we?

Suddenly, Alifer spreads his wings and hovers above what I’m assuming is the last layer of clouds. The sky is darkening even faster than before and the thunder and lightning are almost constant. Alifer snorts and his eyes are wild with fear. “What is it?” I ask quickly. “Shhh. Watch the clouds above us” Shadow whispers back. I look up, and with the next lightning strike I see a huge figure silhouetted behind the clouds. It is only visible for a split second, but I see it clearly enough to make out a shape. It is massive, about twice the size of Alifer. It looks like a giant bird, with a wingspan almost the size of a small dragon’s. “What is that?” I whisper, fear beginning to build up inside me. “It’s a Thunderbird. Extremely rare in Elysium, they are considered a myth there. But out here, they’re everywhere.” He whispers back with a troubled, urgent tone in his voice. “Keep watching the clouds. We need to get to the ground now,” He hisses. I scan the clouds carefully, and hardly even dare to breathe.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning lights up the wall of clouds that now surrounds us. I bite my lip to keep myself from screaming. Straight ahead of us is the silhouette of a Thunderbird, its wings spread out to full length. I hear a piercing screech and then the creature bursts out of the clouds, coming to a halt directly in front of us. It is truly a magnificent creature, with sleek black feathers and powerful wings. It has a hooked beak, like a giant bird of prey and its talons are like curved daggers. It is a beautiful creature, except for its glowing red eyes. Shadow leans closer and whispers “hold on tight.” Before I can even take another breath, we are falling through the clouds and rapidly picking up speed. The Thunderbird is right on our tail, screeching loudly. Finally, we break the last sheet of clouds separating the sky from the earth. Alifer lands softly and I feel Shadow relax behind me. “Are we safe?” I whisper, my voice shaking. Shadow holds me tight and I feel safer already. “It’s ok, we’re safe now. Thunderbirds never attack anything on the ground. They have to stay within a thunderstorm, or they get weak. The thunder and lightning is their only source of power. Without it, they are weak and frail. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have put you in that danger, I wasn’t thinking clearly.” He says apologetically, and I feel bad for him. He loosens his grip on my waist and we both jump off Alifer’s back. I smile at Shadow. “It’s okay, we’ve both got a wild side,” I say softly. He doesn’t reply.

After we find a more sheltered area, Shadow lights a fire under a huge willow tree and then leaves to hunt for food. He comes back with an animal I actually recognize, a large rabbit. This is the first meal with meat that I’ve had since I was back in the cliffs, and even then I was unable to light a fire to cook it. I thank Shadow, and he nods in reply. Ever since the close call with the Thunderbird, he seems much quieter and I feel as if there’s an invisible wall between us. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him looking at me. As soon as I look up, he turns away. I begin to feel uncomfortable, so I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my wings around myself. I wonder if Shadow is okay, because one moment he’s laughing and joking around, and just seconds later he’s quiet and sad. I glance over at him under the edge of my wing, and he seems to be deep in thought. The firelight reflects off his soft blue eyes, and I can see shimmering tears running down his face. I wonder why he’s crying…

I gather up all my courage and slowly rise, taking a few cautious steps towards him. He looks up, then turns away as soon as our eyes meet. I sit down next to him and softly set my hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?” I ask gently, hoping he doesn’t mind my question. He looks up at me again, his eyes glazed over with tears. “Have you ever loved someone with a burning passion, knowing that they will be the only one for you… but also knowing that they will never love you because you’ve lost the only beautiful thing left of yourself?” He replies, answering my question with his own. “What do you mean?” I ask, confused by his puzzling answer, while at the same time feeling his pain. “I think you’re perfect just the way you are,” I add, then suddenly realize and regret it. He looks startled, and I can no longer hold his gaze. Just then, his soft voice breaks the silence. “Really?” He asks, and I detect a hint of hopefulness in his voice. I keep my gaze focused on the horizon in the distance and nod in answer to his question.

I am too embarrassed to stay, so I spread my wings and run towards the horizon, letting the wind take me high into the dark sky. I look back to see Shadow staring up at me from his spot under the tree and suddenly regret leaving him there. I hover for a moment, debating whether to turn around and go back to him or not. I finally decide I can’t just leave him and I fly back, landing next to him on the cool, dewy grass. I look away and my hair falls in place to cover my scar. I don’t feel like saying anything more, so I curl up in a ball and wrap myself in my wings. I close my eyes and feel a warm, wet tear running down my cheek. My breathing slows, becoming deep and steady as I slip into the peaceful world of sleep.

I wake up to the warm, blissful feeling of sunshine on my face. I yawn and stretch, then look around. I see Shadow kneeling in the grass with a big, black fuzzy ball in his arms. He is laughing and I immediately know why. I jump up and run over, while a smile creeps onto my lips. “Feather!” I exclaim as I drop down onto my knees next to Shadow. Feather jumps up and barks excitedly, and I grab her and hold her close. She licks my face all over and continues her elated yapping. I still do not know what kind of creature she is, so I ask Shadow since he seems to know everything about this place. He tells me that she is called a “dog” and people out here often have a dog as a pet. I am so glad to have Feather back, I missed her so much.

The last few weeks have gone by quickly, and the tension between us is going away. I am still embarrassed about what I said a few nights ago, but I try to forget it. It hurts me to know that I will never find someone who will love me, all because of my mangled features. Oh, why did I have to be so reckless? I’ve been with Shadow and Alifer for over a month now and I hope that Shadow has forgotten what I said that night. I don’t know why I said what I did, since I know that there is no way he shares the same feelings for me. I’m not even gonna try, I would just end up even more broken. I’ve learned to accept things as they are, even though it hurts. If I could reverse time, I would go back and re-live the day of the accident. I would not even attempt the dive, but instead I would find Shadow and take him back with me. If they wouldn’t accept him, I would just leave with him and follow him to the outside world. Then, we could live happily ever after without worrying about complete and total perfection. But that is only something I can dream about. It’s too late now, I just have to live with myself and try to forget my feelings for him. It just seems so impossible… how can you stop loving someone who literally saved your life?

7: Six

Six

For the next few days, Shadow seems a little bit happier and less tense, and I wonder what has brought on the change. Suddenly, we come to a dense forest that seems to appear out of nowhere. “Where are we?” I ask curiously, since I’ve never seen trees so thickly bunched together in one place before. “It’s time for you to see the real world. This is the gateway from Elysium to Terra, the world of humans,” is his calm reply. “But I thought The Cliffs were the border of Elysium,” I say in confusion. “In a way, that is true, since The Cliffs are the border of the kingdom of Elysium. In reality though, Elysium stretches all the way to this forest, it’s just that no one knows about it except the King and Queen and the warriors and elders. It is forbidden to cross the border to the human world, Terra, but we are outcasts and no longer have to follow their rules. We are free, no longer bound by the commandments of Elysium’s leaders,” he replies with a little smile. I can see amusement in his eyes and I blush, suddenly feeling embarrassed. He laughs and takes my hand in his, and looks into my eyes. I hold his gaze, my eyes transfixed on his. His beautiful blue eyes. “Ready for an adventure?” he asks playfully. “Bring it on,” I reply, as I feel a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Shadow and I walk towards the line of trees and I notice that Alifer has disappeared. I look around worriedly and Shadow seems to read my mind. “It’s okay, Alifer knows he cannot enter Terra, since he is a creature of Elysium.” I frown, suddenly feeling confused again. “Then how are we able to cross the border?” I ask. “We are no longer bound by the spell that keeps us here. We were freed from it when we were banished.” He says in reply, and I nod in acknowledgement. “Can Feather still come with us?” I ask, suddenly remembering my furry little friend. “Of course! She is just a dog, and not a magical creature like a Pegasus. She has crossed the border with me many times,” He replies, and I smile. I’m glad she can come along. I would feel bad if I had to leave her behind again.

When we reach the borderline, which is marked by a very solid row of Ash trees, I take a deep breath. This will be my first time in the human world. I have never seen a human, but there are old stories of them that I used to hear as a young child. They were not often mentioned however, since they were viewed as murderous, disgusting creatures and speaking of them was usually forbidden. As soon as I set foot in the forest, I feel lightheaded. I stagger and grab Shadow’s arm for support. “It’s okay, I felt lightheaded the first time I came here too.” He says reassuringly, and I smile weakly and hold on even tighter. Suddenly, he scoops me up into his strong arms and continues walking, carrying me as if I were as light as a feather. I relax, I feel so safe in his arms. Like I am invincible and nothing can hurt me.

After carrying me for quite some time, we arrive at a small log cottage. He walks right up to the door and kicks it, and I jump, startled by his action. He laughs and I feel myself turning bright red. “I feel better now, you can put me down” I say, trying to hide the embarrassment in my voice. He smiles and gently lets me down. I feel dizzy, but somehow manage to stay standing. “Come on, open up!” He shouts at the door, and I raise an eyebrow at him. Just then, the door opens and a man (I assume he’s human, since he has facial hair and doesn’t have wings) steps out. “Well, what have we here?” He says inquisitively, looking me over. I automatically shake my head so that my hair covers my scar, and the man grins. “What are you looking at?” I snap, then wish I had just kept my mouth shut. Shadow and the man begin to laugh and I cross my arms, feeling rather stupid. When they are finished laughing, the man gestures for us to follow him into the small cottage, and I follow him and Shadow inside.

8: Seven

Seven

The inside of the cottage is small and cozy, and smells like clean earth and burning birchwood. It is dimly lit, and there is a fire burning in a small fireplace in one corner. The walls are lined with log benches, and there is a small bed in another corner. In the middle of the room, there is a large, round table. It looks as if it is made of an enormous tree stump, and it has a beautiful set of rings going from the center to the edges. The table has a variety of scrolls and papers scattered on top of it, and I lightly brush them aside. I run my fingers along the smooth wood and suddenly feel a great sense of sadness and memory. I pull my hand away quickly, and look up to see Shadow staring at me. “This tree has memory,” I say softly, and he nods. “Yes, it does. It is called Ligno de Statera, or the Tree of Balance. It was the only thing that kept our worlds connected. It was the only thing that allowed peace and harmony between Terra and Elysium,” he explained. “But who broke it, and why?” I ask, as a great sadness washes over me. “All will be explained in the next few hours. For now, we will rest and enjoy good company and good food,” Shadow replies with a little smile.

We all sit around the fire on the log benches and I learn that the man’s name is Custos, which means “guardian” in Latin. I admire his name, it fits him well. Masculine, yet gentle. Custos serves us a delicious stew made from rabbit meat, potatoes, carrots, and various herbs in a thin broth. I eat heartily, since it has been awhile since I had a large meal. Shadow and I thank him and he seems more than delighted to have us in his company. He gives me some raw meat for Feather and the little dog scarfs it down faster than I even believed to be possible! Custos also gives me a soft brown tunic to replace my tattered rags, and a braided cord belt to tie around my waist. I thank him and he and Shadow leave me alone to change. When I am finished, I return to the fireplace where Shadow and Custos are laughing about some adventure they’ve had and I can’t help but wish I had met Shadow sooner.

The conversation stays playful and happy for a long time, and I enjoy hearing about all of Shadow’s crazy endeavors in Terra. Listening to their conversation makes me even more eager to learn all I can about the other world I will soon be visiting. Suddenly, Custos stands up and looks me right in the eye. “So, you want to know about the war, eh? Well come on over here and I’ll give you a story!” He says, his eyes twinkling with delight, though beneath his expression I can tell that he bears a painful memory. He rests his hands on Ligno de Statera and sighs deeply. Shadow is soon standing next to me, and he reaches out to take my hand. My fingers tingle at his warm touch, and I suppress a shudder. So sweet, yet so bitter, as I know he will never be mine.

I look up at Custos and almost gasp out loud. His hand seems fused to the table and gives off a blinding light. His eyes are the color of the sun, and he looks much younger. I start to take a step back, but Shadow’s hand on my back urges me to stay where I am. I look over at Shadow in terror, and he just smiles. “Listen,” he whispers soothingly, his eyes glinting with amusement. I relax a little, even though I am still startled. Custos opens his mouth, and his voice is like that of thunder and silence, rain and fire, cold and warm. He sounds like life itself, and I have never before heard or felt anything more powerful than I am experiencing now. I feel as if I am surrounded by memory, wisdom, eternity. It is pure magnificence.

As I stare in awe, the story begins to unfold itself…

“Long ago, before the war, our two worlds joined together were known as Terra Indivisa, or ‘Land Undivided’. Everyone, both humans and winged ones lived in peace and harmony. The winged ones helped the humans by ruling the land and the humans served the winged ones as humble subjects, farming the land beyond the borders of Elysium and bringing up livestock. The humans loved their home amongst the winged ones, and never had reason to argue. The leader of Terra Indivisa was a gentle king, and his name was Sophos, Mitis Princeps or ‘Sophos, the Gentle Ruler’. He loved his people, and wanted to keep Terra Indivisa united, but his hope for the future was soon cut short.

The gentle king was murdered one dark night in the middle of winter by a rogue man known as Cicatrix, which means ‘scar’ in Latin. He had never been seen before, nor did anyone know if he was even human. When fleeing the palace on the night of the king’s murder, he was caught and imprisoned within the next few days. The entire land was devastated at the death of their gracious king, and mourned his death for many years. For 6 years, Terra Indivisa was leaderless. In the seventh year, Sophos’ oldest son, was old enough to take upon himself the honor of being king. This son, whose name was Elucido, meaning ‘light’, was eager to take the throne. However, his motives were not all good. Elucido’s mind had been twisted when his father was murdered, and he had a very steadily growing hatred for humans. He believed that if one human was corrupt, all the rest would follow in the corrupt one’s footprints.

On the night of his father’s death, he had seen Cicatrix in the moonlight as he tried to flee the palace. Elucido remembered the scars covering the murderer’s body, and it engraved in his heart a hatred for anything scarred or unpleasing to the eye. On his first day as king of Terra Indivisa, he declared banishment of all humans, as he intended to cleanse his land of all imperfections. Once his order had been made, a riot broke out amongst the people. Men and women protested, believing that they were being greatly wronged. The protests failed in changing the king’s mind, and he ordered soldiers to escort the people across the border and form a barrier between the palace and the farmland with legions of winged warriors. He succeeded in pressing the people backwards until they were behind the border, but was unaware of the soon-to-be consequences of his actions.

For a few weeks, King Elucido lived in peace, believing that he had finally cleansed his land of humans. Suddenly, a war was upon him. The humans had collected every farm tool and possible weapon they could and broken through the barrier of his soldiers. The rebels stormed the palace as Elucido desperately gave orders to his men. The battle was bloody, and many men and winged ones lost their lives. Over the next 3 days, Elucido’s soldiers were able to push the humans back beyond the border. Desperate to seal off the passage completely, the angry king ordered the Ligno de Statera, which was the only thing connecting the two worlds and allowing men and winged ones to cross as they pleased, to be cut down. He sent 12 of his strongest soldiers to cut down the magnificent tree, and as his troops held the humans back, the bond between the two worlds was broken completely. Any winged ones who remained on the human’s side of the border were killed instantly, and every human left in Elysium became nothingness.

The moment the great tree fell, a dead silence washed over both worlds. It was at that very moment that I was born. I, Custos Memoria, guardian of memory. I was sent from above as a gatekeeper, a memory holder. Without me, all memory of the battle and Terra Indivisa would be lost…”

Custos’ voice fades away, and the light surrounding him flickers out. He looks exhausted, and he falls to his knees on the dirt floor. Shadow and I help him over to a bench and I get him a cup of water. He takes it from me gratefully, and I smile at him in return. “That is not all,” Custos says suddenly, his hands beginning to shake. Shadow gently takes the cup away from him and I take Custos’ hands in mine. He looks me in the eyes and I see the crystal glimmer of a tear forming in the corner of his left eye. I squeeze his hands and he begins to speak.

“In the generations following the war, all of Elucido’s successors were poisoned by his firm hatred of all things scarred or ugly. It was almost as if there was a curse placed upon them. Somehow, the entire kingdom was blind and never noticed the banishments when one of their people was banished because of some imperfection. It saddens me greatly that this is still their way of living, but there is nothing I can do about it. I am simply a guardian, nothing more. But I always believed that someday, someone would come along and mend the broken bond between the two worlds. Someone who would break the barrier once and for all. Now, I believe I have found my answer. You two together are exactly what I believe will mend the rift between worlds. I believe that you have the power and determination to finally create peace and equality. All you have to do now is find a way without being caught or killed.”

I bite my lip and look up at Shadow. His blue eyes look grey in the dim light and his lips and pressed together in a thin line. He looks concerned, and I glance down as Custos. The old guardian looks worn out and sad. I squeeze his hands and look up at Shadow again. “Water,” I say softly. Shadow understands and I let go of Custos’ hands so he can take the cup. He drinks and when he is done, he gets up and walks over to a high cupboard. Shadow and I watch with great interest as he opens the cupboard. Custos reaches in and pulls out a large scroll of old, yellowed paper and a large bundle of supplies. He walks over to Ligno de Statera and sets the items down on its smooth surface. He unfolds the scroll and pins its four corners down to the table. Shadow and I walk over and look at the scroll. It’s a well detailed map of Terra Indivisa before the war.

I study every detail, and I notice a small marking in the top left corner of the map. It looks like a feather, small and wispy. The rest of the map is beautifully illustrated, and the artistic ability of the mapmaker amazes me. I notice in the center of the map, there is a large tree. Underneath the tree are the words Ligno de Statera. I trace my finger along the curve of the tree and suddenly I feel Shadow’s gentle hand on my shoulder. I reach up to rest my hand on top of his and let out a sigh. “So much lost. So much hidden from us. My parents were the king and queen of Elysium. How could everyone be so blind? I just don’t understand!” I say, my eyes welling up with tears. Shadow gently turns me so I’m facing him and wraps his arms around me. I melt into his arms and cry for a long time. He hold me tight and I feel so safe, so loved. I wish I could call him mine...

9: Eight

Eight

Custos shows us through the bundle of supplies, which contains blankets, a few tin cups, some candles, a satchel of dried fruit and nuts, a leather purse full of gold coins, a small box of matches, a leather wineskin, a pigskin-bound book with blank pages, an assortment of charcoal pencils, a few daggers, some smoked, dried meat wrapped in thick brown paper, and a collection of clothing items. Once we’ve finished looking through the bundle, Custos whispers something to Shadow and he nods in reply. They exchange pats on the back and Custos gives Shadow the map. Shadow walks over to me with Custos at his side and Custos bows slightly and takes my hand, kissing the top of it gently. He smiles at me and says “good luck Eclipse. My prayers are with you both”. He glances at both of us, then walks over to the fireplace and sits down on one of the log benches. Shadow takes my hand, grabs the bundle of supplies with the other hand, and leads me out of the cabin with Feather following close behind.

I look back at the cabin and Shadow squeezes my hand. “He never says goodbyes. To him, ‘goodbye’ means forever.” I nod and look ahead again. I feel sad that we have to leave Custos behind, but I don’t know why I feel this way. Shadow and I walk for a long time in silence, and I admire the beautiful scenery around us. The trees are tall and old, full of memory. The forest is quiet and mournful, and I can only hear a few birds chirping. There are many kinds of trees, but my favorite is the Weeping Willow. There are many Weeping Willows here, and they are so sad, yet so beautiful. The soft bright green tendrils draping off the long branches brush the ground and create a canopy around the tree’s trunk. I see a bright white dove in the branches of one of the willows and I smile. Doves are so beautiful, so graceful.

After walking for about 6 more hours, we are finally exhausted and decide to settle down for the night. We find a large Weeping Willow and set up camp under its canopy of flowing green leaves. Shadow leaves to find wood for a small fire as I lay out blankets for him. I will be sleeping in the tree as usual. Shadow returns with his arms full of sticks and birchbark to use as kindling for a small fire. He gets a match from the small box inside the bundle and lights the fire, and I watch the dancing flame flicker red and orange like amber jewels in the sunset. I reach out towards the flame and feel its warmth on my fingertips, and I smile. I love being free to be who I am, and free to explore beyond the safe haven I once lived in.

The evening is mostly silent, and we eat a rabbit that Shadow brought back from hunting along with some raspberries I found nearby. I enjoy the silence, but I also wish we had something to talk about. I want to start a conversation, but I don’t know what to say. Maybe silence is beautiful right now and I shouldn’t break it. I look into the distance, even though trees surround us and there is nothing to see. It’s getting darker, and I can see the dark blue sky above the treetops. There are a few stars glittering like tiny diamonds, and I stare in wonder. If I could count the stars, I would.

I look over at Shadow, who is lying on his blanket with his eyes closed. His breathing is deep and steady, and I think he must be asleep. I silently fly up to a thick, curved branch near the top of the willow tree and settle down for the night. A soft breeze ruffles my feathers and I wrap my wings around myself to keep warm as the night slowly grows colder.

I wake to the sound of birds chirping and smile at the sight of soft golden rays of sunlight shining through the treetops. I fly down from my perch in the tree and almost gasp in wonder. The entire forest seems to be glowing a gentle green, like an emerald in the light. It smells like new earth after a rain mixed with the sweet scent of flowers. I let out a deep breath and smile, taking in the fresh, wonderful smells of the morning. I look around camp and realize that Shadow is missing. I fly around the forest for a while, and finally find him by a small pond under another beautiful willow tree.

He is sitting on a small boulder on the edge on the pond, holding the longest dagger in his hand. He watches the smooth, calm water intently, and I remain silent so I don’t break his concentration. Suddenly, he strikes out with the dagger and pulls it out of the water with a swift swoop of his hand. The dagger glints in the sunlight and there is a squirming silver fish speared on the end of it. Shadow smiles and looks pleased with himself as he examines the fish. “I caught us breakfast!” He says, looking up at me happily. “Awesome!” I say with a laugh. I sit down next to him and we stare at the calm water for a while in silence, taking in the beauty of it all. The surface of the pond is like glass, with a few lily pads and water lilies scattered along the edges like jewels in a cavern.

“It’s just like Elysium, but somehow, it’s more beautiful,” Shadow says softly. I nod in reply and I see Shadow’s mouth curve into a little smile. I look away and smile to myself. Even if I never get to call him mine, I’m still glad that I get to spend time with him. I feel so safe and content in his company. Every moment I spend with him is so precious to me, even if he will never feel the same way I feel towards him. Suddenly, Shadow grabs my hand. “Look!” He whispers excitedly. I slowly look up to see a beautiful white swan flying towards us. It lands gracefully on the water and I stare in wonder. It is such a beautiful creature, with the grace of a dove and the magnificence of an eagle. I study every detail, from its shiny black beak to its pure white feathers.

“It’s so beautiful,” I whisper nostalgically. I sigh and look down at my hands, one of which is wrapped up in Shadow’s hand. I close my eyes as I feel tears starting to well up. I want to feel beautiful again, but no one can ever love me with these scars. I feel a rush of tears and I know I won’t be able to hold them back. I quickly let go of Shadow’s hand and jump into the air. As I fly near the roof of the tree canopy I hear Shadow call out to me. “Eclipse! Where are you going?” He sounds worried and I wish I could have stayed, but I don’t want him to see my crying. Not again. My eyes are clouded with tears and I realize I need to land somewhere before I’m completely blind.

I take a sharp left turn and land softly on a high branch in a large oak tree. I rest my head in my hands and cry for a while. I hear Shadow calling for me, his voice choked up with worry. I dry my eyes with a corner of my skirt and fly down to the ground. I walk towards the sound of Shadow’s voice and find him scanning the treetops. He looks worried, and I feel bad for leaving so suddenly without any sort of reason or warning. I silently walk towards him, trying to figure out how to explain myself. Suddenly I step on a twig, causing it to snap loudly. Shadow looks up and he instantly looks relieved. To my surprise, he runs toward me and grabs me in his arms. He twirls me around and holds me tight. “You scared me! Please don’t ever do that again,” He says softly, and his voice breaks when he says ‘please’. I bite my lip and look up at him.

“I’m sorry, I just…” My voice fades as I realize I can’t find a way to explain myself. He looks at me with those sapphire blue eyes and I have to look away. “Is there something wrong?” He asks softly. I pull away from his gentle embrace. “I’m fine,” I say quietly. He reaches out and takes my face in his hands. “No, you’re not.” He says, looking me right in the eyes. I take a shaky breath and feel the tears rushing to my eyes again. This time I can’t hold them back and I burst into tears. He pulls me into his arms and I stay there for a long time. Even though he cares about me and genuinely wants to help, I am still not ready to tell him how I feel about him.

10: Nine

Nine

“Please tell me what’s wrong,” Shadow says with a hint of sadness in his voice. “I can’t,” I say. “You wouldn’t understand.” He lets go of me enough to look me in the eyes again and I can hardly bring myself to look at him. His bottom lip is quivering and his blue eyes are glazed over with tears. He looks just as broken as me and it hurts to see him this way. We’ve both been through so much, and I wish I could help him. I’ll try my best… but who wants help from a girl who can’t even fix herself?

I sigh and look away. “If I told you, you might leave me,” I say quietly. “Why would I ever leave you?” He says softly. “I promise I won’t ever leave you for any reason.” I look back up at him. “You promise?” I ask slowly. “I promise. I want you to be happy!” He says with a little smile. I take a deep breath and open my mouth to speak, but I can’t find the words. I bite my lip and look away again. I can’t seem to hold eye contact with him anymore. I back away from Shadow and turn so that I can’t see him as I begin to speak.

“You know what you were saying a while ago about losing the only beautiful thing you had? Well, if I had to choose between losing my wings or destroying my face, I would have chosen the loss of my wings,” I say sadly. “Why? Losing my wings was the most devastating thing that’s ever happened to me and I would do anything to get them back,” Shadow replies with a confused tone in his voice. I can’t hold back my tears any longer as I continue. “Because… unlike you, I’m not a beautiful angel who only lost her wings. I’m a scar-faced monster with wings. You still have a beautiful face, one someone would remember as admirable and attractive and flawless. If no one knew your past, they would never know about the loss of your wings and you wouldn’t stand out as a flaw. I will never be beautiful, no matter how hard I try. I can’t hide my scars like you can. I am nothing. I’m worthless. I’m-”

“Stop. Please.” Shadow’s voice breaks as he cuts me off. I hear him walking towards me and I close my eyes. His hand rests on my shoulder and I shudder. I feel the hot tears running down my face turn cold as a few agonizing seconds pass. He turns me again so I’m facing him and I squeeze my eyes shut as I hang my head. “Look at me,” he says, reaching out and tilting my chin up so I’m facing him. I slowly open my eyes and see his sapphire eyes looking down at me and I instantly wish I hadn’t said anything. I don’t know what to make of his expression… his brow is furrowed as if he is worried, but his eyes are full of sadness.

“Shadow-” I start to say, but I am cut off by his finger pressing against my lips as he begins to speak. “Eclipse, you are beautiful. Don’t ever think that you aren’t. I should have told you that in the very beginning. No amount of scars can change that. You’re still you, and it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Even if no one else in the entire universe can see your beauty, I still can. I’ve known you since the day you had your fall. I’ve seen how much of a fighter you are and even though you may not think so, I think that your scars are beautiful because they show that you fought and survived. They show your strength and perseverance, and that is beautiful. Honestly, I wouldn’t want you any other way. Your scars are a part of who you are and you shouldn’t want to get rid of them. They’re a part of you, and to me, you’re crazy beautiful.”

I am stunned. “You really think so?” I ask cautiously. He nods and I close my eyes as he wraps his arms around me again. “Thank you. For everything,” I say under my breath. He squeezes me tight and then lets me go, backing away from me slowly. He reaches forward and wipes away a tear from my face with his thumb and I smile. Then, he turns around so his back is facing me and starts pulling off his shirt. “These are my scars,” He says sadly. When his back is exposed I have to hold back a gasp. Where his wings were once attached to his body, there are two huge, jagged scars running down his back. They are raised and far from smooth, and they are a reddish-pink color.

I take a few steps forward and reach out to touch his scars. As I run my fingers softly along the creased edges of his scars, I shudder. Such a familiar feeling, such a painful memory. I back away again in silence and he quickly slips his shirt on again. He turns around and looks at me again, his slightly dirty face streaked with tears. “I would do almost anything to get my wings back and be able to fly through the clouds again. If only I could go back in time… but we both want to go back and change things, knowing that it’s impossible. We just need to stay strong together and be thankful that we’re both alive. We can be there for each other,” He says with a tiny smile. “We can be beautiful and broken together.”

11: Ten

Ten

It only takes us two more days of walking before we reach the border between Inter Mundos and Terra, which looks like a thin wall of glass with a faint golden glow about it. It’s almost like a smooth, sheer curtain of pure gold separating the two domains. As soon as we are in reach of the border, I reach out to touch it. My hand passes right through the curtain and it feels cold on the other side. I quickly pull my hand back as my breathing gets rapid and shaky. My hand begins to shake and Shadow reaches out to take it. I squeeze his hand and he smiles at me. “Ready?” He asks, raising an eyebrow. I nod in reply and we both step forward into the human world.

As soon as we cross through into Terra, I shiver as the air around us turns cold and stale. The air smells dirty and dry, and the land is dusty and almost sickly looking. I frown and look at Shadow, and he sighs. “This is the worst part of Terra. The outskirts. Don’t worry, it will only get better from here, although I can’t say that it will be nearly as beautiful as Elysium or Inter Mundos. I nod and we continue on through the dusty roads. As we’re walking, we pass many alleys crowded with people. I can feel eyes on me constantly as I walk through the streets, and every time we pass someone, I am met with surprised stares.

I instinctively brush my hair over my face to cover my scars. “It’s the wings,” Shadow whispers to me and I feel blood rush to my face in embarrassment. “Oh,” I say in reply and I see the corner of his mouth turn up into a small smile. Suddenly, I feel a tug on my skirt and I look down at the dirt-smudged face of a small child. He looks as if he is about four or five years old, and he has curly red hair and freckles. I crouch so that I am eye level with him and he leans towards me to whisper something in my ear.

“Are you an angel?” He asks, with the most innocent, sweet voice. “If you think I am, then yes, I am an angel,” I say with a wink. His face lights up and he runs toward a woman standing nearby with a baby in her arms. “Mommy, look! I found an angel!” He says excitedly and I smile at him. The woman gives me a little smile, then turns and walks away with the little boy following close behind. I look back at Shadow and he laughs, his blue eyes lit up like sapphires in the sunlight.

Shadow and I keep walking down the dusty road until we come to a three-story building with a sign that says “Borderline Inn”. Shadow leads me inside and I am greeted with the amazing smell of cooking meat. The interior of the Inn is dimly lit by lamps hanging on the walls, and the entire structure is made of huge logs. To the right of the doorway, there is a staircase leading to the second level and to the left of the doorway is a bar surrounded by stools made of tall tree stumps. There are a few men sitting at the bar, and many of the tables scattered throughout the room are occupied. Feather stays close to me like a shadow the entire time.

As we walk towards the bar, I can feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me. I hold my head high and walk with confidence, even though I feel terrified. When we reach the bar, the man behind the counter turns to face us and smiles when he sees Shadow. I assume it’s another one of Shadow’s friends, he looks friendly enough. He is a short, stocky man with curly grey hair down to his jawline and gentle green eyes. He smiles and greets me with a handshake, which is unusual to me - it must be some human custom.

I learn that the man’s name is Eugene, and he has known Shadow for a few years. Eugene and his wife, Heather, opened the Inn when they were first married 23 years before. After introductions are over, Eugene leads us over to a round table in the eastern corner of the Inn and Heather brings us both huge, steaming bowls of stew. They even provide a bone for Feather to chew on while we eat. The stew is delicious, and we enjoy our meal in the good company of Eugene and Heather. When we are done eating, they offer us free rooms for the night, and we gratefully accept.

After our meal, Shadow and I are led separately to our rooms, him by Eugene and me by Heather. Heather leads me to a small, cozy room in the West corner of the Inn and I immediately love it. There is a soft red wool carpet in the doorway, and straight ahead is a dresser made from redwood with a glass vase of roses on it. There is a bed in the corner with beautiful red sheets and at the foot of the bed is a small cushion perfect for a small dog such as Feather to spend the night on. I stare in amazement at the décor of the room. It looks as if it were made for a queen, yet at the same time it is rustic and simple. There is a large round window with silk curtains above the bed and it looks elegant and beautiful.

“Thank you,” I say breathlessly as I look around the room. “No problem!” Heather says with a smile as she leaves the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. Feather runs towards the little dog bed and flops down on it, letting out a huge yawn. I stretch out my wings and take a deep breath before climbing into bed. I haven’t slept in a bed since I was banished, and to me this is like heaven. It isn’t long before I start drifting off to sleep, and I let myself slip into a world of pleasant dreams.

I wake up to the amazing smell of pancakes, bacon, and coffee seeping in through the doorway and I take a deep breath to savor the aroma. I lay in bed for a few more minutes, then I get up and quickly braid my hair so that I look presentable in front of everyone. When I reach the first floor, I see that everyone is already eating and I wonder how long I slept in. I find the table where Shadow is sitting and I join him. “Good morning beautiful,” He says with a smile and I blush. “Thank you, good morning to you too!” I say cheerfully. I can already tell that this is going to be a wonderful day.

12: Eleven

Eleven

After a hearty, delicious breakfast, Shadow and I depart again after thanking our generous hosts. As we get farther into Terra, the land gets more and more clean and welcoming. The people seem generally happier, and there are so many new and exciting things to see. There are a plethora of new animals and so many different people. Everyone looks completely different, and every single one of them are beautiful in their own way. There are people with so many different skin colors, some of which I have never seen before. There are people with chocolate brown skin, and there are others with skin as dark as a starless night. They are so beautiful, so unique. The diversity in Terra is astonishing and wonderful!

At around midday, we come to a small cottage at the end of a long lane with multicolored Marigolds growing everywhere. It’s peaceful and tranquil, surrounded by a small grove of fruit trees. The sunlight shines through the leaves and branches in golden streams, giving the place an almost magical glow. “Where are we?” I ask in wonder. Before Shadow can reply, a lively woman who seems to be in her early twenties appears in the doorway of the cottage. She runs outside to greet us and before I realize what’s happening, I am sitting at a table with Shadow and the woman inside the cottage.

The interior of the cottage smells of vanilla and various spices. The walls and ceiling are elaborately decorated, and the wooden frames holding up the structure are covered in beautifully carved floral designs. The table we are sitting at is also covered in designs, and I trace my finger along the smooth lines. “So, what brings a beautiful winged one like you here?” The woman asks cheerfully. “You’re so far from home,” She adds with a little smile. She has a very heavy Irish accent and honestly, I could listen to her melodious voice all day. “We want to restore the bond between the Elysium and Terra and bring back peace between the two worlds and we believe that the key to achieving that lies here, in Terra,” I say with a smile.

“Ahhhh, you’re a brave one, you are,” She says with a wink. Shadow and I laugh and the woman just smiles. Now that we’re closer, I can get a better look at her. She has curly, bright red hair and freckles, along with the brightest green eyes I’ve ever seen. “What’s your name, lassie?” The woman asks. “Eclipse,” I reply politely. “Ah, what a pretty name! My name’s Caltha, which means ‘Marigold’ in Latin. I was named after a flower, you see,” She says happily. I consider introducing Shadow to her, but it occurs to me that they probably already know each other since Shadow made himself at home the instant we set foot into this little haven.

Caltha suddenly jumps up and hurries over to the stove, where a small pan of liquid is beginning to boil over. “Almost forgot about the tea!” She exclaims, and Shadow and I burst into laughter. Caltha pours the tea into three pretty little porcelain teacups and brings them over to us on a silver platter embossed with flowery designs. She proceeds to bring various trays of food, mostly desserts and fruit. I feel so at home here, everything is so welcoming and pleasant. I feel at home, yet I feel so much more than before. I feel alive, exhilarated. More than I ever did while I still lived in Elysium. We have a wonderful conversation over tea and I learn many things about Caltha. She is a midwife, a woman who assists other women giving birth.

Caltha seems to enjoy her occupation as a midwife, and I am fascinated by the stories she has to tell. Shadow is leaning back on a huge couch with Feather in his lap, asleep, as Caltha and I keep a long conversation going. She tells me about the many births she’s assisted at, and then asks me to tell my story. When I am done explaining, she looks absolutely entranced. “Wow! You’ve come a long way then, haven’t you lassie?” She says with the twinge of a smile forming in the corner of her mouth. I smile a bit and nod at her, and she lets out a sigh. “We all have our stories…” She says wistfully. I frown a bit, she suddenly seems distant, as if she’s off in her own little world. I look over at Shadow, who seems to be waking up.

I pick up my teacup and inhale the delicate scent of vanilla and ginger. Caltha rises from her seat and silently walks around the little cottage, opening the shutters of every window. Sunlight streams in, illuminating dust specks floating around the room as they pass through the golden rays. This new light seems to brighten the mood and Caltha begins humming a soft, sweet melody. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Shadow sit up and Feather jumps off his lap. Shadow motions for me to sit next to him and I oblige. I sink into the soft couch, and I imagine that if you could sit on a cloud, this is what it would feel like. “Listen,” Shadow whispers to me, and I nod in reply.

Caltha beings to sing softly, and I listen carefully to every word, every note.

“Pacificus terra, caelum, mare,

numquam figet

donec ventis mutatur, adpulsus timore

metuens animarum accipiamus finem appropinquans

amissarum fatalem diem

vinculum rupto,

nouaret

nos desperantibus

in quaesituri pacisque

nos cognovit quod nullus esset audire nostrae attollantur

nostra clamavit

lost in magna divide

separating corda

extendens wide

abyssum magnam

ex odio, timori,

poterimus nos

remedia?”

The song is in Latin, and Caltha’s voice is heavy with sorrow and passion. The translation tells a powerful story, a cry for help.

Peaceful earth, sky and sea

never lost in hostility

until winds changed, bringing fear

unsettling souls as the end drew near

all was lost, a fateful day

the bond was broken,

thrown away

we lost all hope

in finding peace

we knew none would hear our pleas

our cries for help

lost in the great divide

separating hearts

stretching wide

a great abyss

of hatred and fear

will we ever

find a cure?

The song is almost like a prayer, and it touches my heart like an old memory, a distant longing. I want peace again, and I know that I will somehow find a way to restore it. I have to; I was put here for a reason, and I believe this is it. I think I’ve found my purpose, my mission in life, and now all I have to do is figure out how to fulfill it. I close my eyes and lay my head on Shadow’s shoulder, breathing in his warm scent. He smells of vanilla and cinnamon, with a slight hint of pine. I feel myself drifting off to sleep, the world around me slowly fading to nothingness.

When I awaken, I am no longer in the same room, but I am alone in a completely different room. It is round, with only a single circular window in one of the walls. It is beautifully decorated, with flowerpots everywhere. It is almost like a jungle, there is such a wide variety of exotic plants. The walls are draped in vines, and the bed I’m laying on is made of grass. It is almost like being outside, but surrounded by brick walls. There is a sheer canopy of bright green vines surrounding the bed, with tiny pink flowers scattered all over it. It is almost like a dreamland, and I wonder if I’m actually awake. I get up and walk around, taking in every stunning detail of the foliage around me.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me. I look over my shoulder at Shadow, who is smiling at me with such an adoring look in his eyes I hardly recognize him. “What?” I say, blushing. He laughs. “You’re just so beautiful,” he says, raising his eyebrows. “You should know that by now.” I look away as he says that, I still can’t believe he actually thinks I’m beautiful. It’s just so amazing, so unreal. “Thank you,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. “I promise someday I will make you realize how absolutely beautiful you are,” he whispers back. I smile and brush my hair away from my face, this new confidence he’s sparked within me growing stronger with every heartbeat, every moment I stand here.

13: Twelve

Twelve

Shadow and I spend the rest of the day relaxing at Caltha’s cottage, wandering around her various flower and vegetable gardens. I think my favorite so far has been the herb garden, with its intoxicating aromas. There are many different types of plants, and a vast number of them I never even knew existed! As we explore the gardens, Caltha explains each individual plant, herb, and flower to us. I never thought I would be interested in botany, but the way Caltha describes everything makes this new experience quite delightful and intriguing! Once I’ve completed my mission, I think I shall plant my own gardens.

As the day goes on, I begin to wish I could just stay here forever. It’s like a little safe haven, so beautiful, so peaceful and secure. The last garden Caltha shows us is a long, winding trail through the woods behind her cottage. It is lined with blossoming trees alternating with weeping willows, and at the bases of all the trees there are various flowering shrubs and bushes. I recognize Lilacs, Azaleas of all different colors, Rhododendrons, Roses, Witch Hazel, Hydrangeas, Allspice, and Spirea. There are a few I don’t recognize, but they are all stunning and bursting with colors. The air smells like a perfume, a sweet concoction of smells mixed to create a heavenly aroma. There is a slight breeze, and the atmosphere is light and cool. I think I’ve found paradise.

My moment doesn’t last forever, and I have to face the reality of the world as it is. As we leave the last garden, I realize how much of a longing I have for peace. I want the world, Terra Indivisa as a whole to look as beautiful as this little patch of heaven. I sigh and take one last look around at the beauty surrounding me and Shadow slowly leads me away from the garden. Once we are back in Caltha’s cottage, Shadow begins to map out our plans for the reuniting of the two worlds. I sit back and let him do the thinking, since I don’t believe I will be of much help as far as mapping a route goes. After all, I’ve only been in Terra for a few days and I hardly know the landscape.

Shadow and I stay up long after Caltha goes to bed, and we discuss our plans of attack, since Shadow and I believe that this will not be a peaceful task. “In order to break the barrier, we will need a massive force. I’m not sure if an army can break through a magical wall, but we have to try,” He says thoughtfully. “Does the wall have any weak points?” I ask inquisitively, hoping to be of some help to him. Shadow raises his eyebrows and nods approvingly and I smile. Suddenly, there is a rapid knock at the door. Shadow is instantly on alert, although I’m not sure why he would be afraid of anything here in Caltha’s cottage.

Caltha appears in the stairway with a big bag in her hand. “Well, what’re ya waiting for?” She exclaims, her voice heavily accented. “What?” I ask, feeling more confused than ever. Caltha hurries over to the door and opens it, letting in a young man whom I would guess to be in his early twenties. “It’s time,” He gasps. His eyes are wide and he looks concerned. “Eclipse, slip on some shoes and put on a shawl. It’s going to be a long night,” Caltha says calmly. I set down the candle I had been holding and do as Caltha says. I shiver as I walk out into the chilly night.

14: Thirteen

Thirteen

Silver moonlight streams across the courtyard in front of the cottage, casting strange dancing shadows below the trees in the yard. Caltha hands me her bag and rushes to the barn, where she and the man bring out what I assume is a simple horse, since it looks exactly like Alifer, except it has no wings and it is a dull brown color in the moonlight. The man puts a harness on the horse and attaches the harness to a large wheeled cart. Caltha and the man jump, in and I follow suit. I assume that we are going to be assisting at a birth, and the man is the father.

As we drive through the night, a million thoughts run through my mind. If this is what I think it is, I will be experiencing something completely new and exciting! I’m a little scared as well, since I’m not completely sure what to expect. The road is long, and the air damp, making it seem colder than it is. The full moon lights our path, and we finally arrive at the man’s house. It is small, a two-story farmhouse on the edge of a field. There is a large barn on the west side of the yard, and there are many fenced-in areas surrounding the pastures. I see various animals silhouetted in the pastures, silent sleeping beasts.

Once we are inside the house I hear lots of commotion upstairs, and the man, whose name is Derrick, leads us to the bedroom where the mother is resting upstairs. We enter the room quietly, and Derrick hurries over to his wife’s side, grasping her hand in his. She smiles at him and then closes her eyes as her body tenses up, her huge belly flexing and staying locked in that position for about 60 seconds. She clenches her teeth and closes her eyes, squeezing her husband’s hand. “What’s happening?” I whisper to Caltha, who is intently rummaging through her bag. “She’s having contractions. These will continue and get more and more intense as her labor progresses. It’s perfectly normal. Eventually, the contractions will push the baby out and she will have a rest until it’s time to push the placenta out.” She replies, not taking her eyes off her work. “What’s a placenta?” I ask, my curiosity giving me a plethora of questions. “Just wait and see,” says Caltha, seeming impatient with me. I nod and watch her as she begins asking the woman questions.

I find out that the woman’s name is Acacia, and this is her ninth child. It is warm in the room, so I take off my shawl, unfolding my wings. I stretch them out, spreading each individual feather. Once I’m done stretching, I notice everyone in the room besides Caltha staring at me. I quickly fold my wings again as blood rushes to my face. Caltha lets out a burst of merry laughter and the rest of the room joins in. Then, I notice something I hadn’t before. There is a girl in the corner by the mother’s bed, and she looks to be about fifteen years old. I am assuming she is the oldest child, since she holds a strong resemblance of her mother. She has dark green eyes and coppery hair, and her complexion is pale. The only difference I can see between her and her mother is the eyes, since Acacia has soft blue eyes.

The girl walks over to me and introduces herself; her name is Niada. Just as I expected, she is the oldest child and she is going to assist at the birth. She says she hopes to be a midwife someday, just like Caltha. I tell her that I think she would make a wonderful midwife and she blushes and thanks me. She seems shy, but she has a very sweet disposition. For the next few hours, Acacia’s labor progresses nicely and Caltha seems pleased. After one of the harder contractions, Caltha squeezes Acacia’s hand and says “You’ve always been a wonderful laborer. It shouldn’t be long now.” Acacia smiles and closes her eyes as another contraction begins. Her contractions are now only two minutes apart, and Caltha tells me that it’s just about time.

My heart seems to beat faster with every passing second, I am both excited and nervous. Finally, it is time. Niada rushes back and forth, up and down the stairs, fetching towels and warm, wet washcloths. The birth passes quickly and with ease, and soon Acacia is holding her new baby girl. After a few minutes of precious bonding time between baby and mother, it is time to deliver the placenta. We wait, but nothing seems to be happening. As time passes without contractions, Caltha seems to be getting irritated and worried. “What’s wrong?” I ask quietly. Caltha shakes her head. “Nothing’s happening, that’s what’s wrong. The contractions have stopped, and there is no progression at all. If nothing happens in the next five minutes, I will need to check her for internal bleeding,” she replies.

Five minutes pass without progress, and Acacia seems weaker and even more pale than before, and she is bleeding more than I believe is normal. Caltha is rushing around the room, gathering herbs from various satchels and as she rushes past me, she whispers “she’s hemorrhaging. Run outside and look in the back near the oak tree. There should be some Shepherd's Purse. Bring me some as quick as you can. Go!” I run down the stairs and out the door, and it is not long before I have a bundle of the herb in a satchel I brought with me. When I re-enter the room, everything passes in a blur. Caltha makes a tea from various herbs in hope to stop the bleeding, and Derrick never leaves his wife’s side.

Suddenly, everything in the room becomes slow motion around me. Caltha has brought all of the children into the room to say goodbyes. There are so many tears, so much sadness. Caltha says there is nothing more she can do to save Acacia. She holds her new baby tight and sings a soft lullaby as the rest of her children gather around the bed. I remember every lyric as if she is still singing the song.

“Sleep, my babe, no ill betide thee

All through the night.

Guardian angels watch beside thee

All through the night.

O’er thy cradle stars are beaming

Silver bright the moon is gleaming;

You shall tread the land of dreaming

All through the night.

While the earth in calm reposes,

All through the night.

You shall sleep as sleep the roses

All through the night.

Hushed from sorrow and repining,

Rest until the sun is shining,

In my loving arms reclining

All through the night.”

I feel a chill run down my spine and tears spring to my eyes as she sings the last line. Next, Acacia places a soft kiss on her baby’s forehead, and leaning back, she closes her eyes and lets out her last breath. The room is silent, and every passing second feels like an eternity. Derrick is on his knees by the bedside, holding Acacia’s hand in his and rocking back and forth, sobbing uncontrollably. Niada is surrounded by the rest of her siblings, and some of the younger ones are yelling and crying, begging their mother to wake up.

Caltha silently walks over to the bed and lifts the baby off Acacia’s chest, bringing her to me to hold and I take her as gently as I can. Then, she folds Acacia’s hands over her chest and pulls a sheet over her body, covering her completely. Derrick finally stands up and walks over to his children, gathering them all in his arms. I look down at the baby and a single tear falls from my eye, landing on her cheek. I brush it off with my thumb and her eyes flutter open, revealing two beautiful blue orbs. She blinks, and in that moment I see her eyes flash completely gold, like the sun. But no, it can’t be, that’s impossible. It’s late, and so much has happened, so much tragedy… I must be imagining things.

15: Fourteen

Fourteen

Caltha and I stay at the house with Derrick and the children until morning, when we leave to call on someone to take away Acacia’s body. As we walk out the door, Derrick stops us. “take her,” he says, holding the baby out to us. I open my mouth to ask why, but Caltha takes the baby without questioning Derrick. They nod at eachother and the door shuts softly in front of us. Caltha places the baby in my arms and I frown. “Why?” I ask, my voice cracking. Caltha looks at me with tired eyes and shakes her head. “He has eight other children and a farm to care for. He cannot lay the responsibility of caring for a newborn onto Naida, she is still too young. He needs someone to care for her until she is old enough to go back to her family. I will have to find a foster home for her in the meantime.”

I look down at the precious baby in my arms and she smiles up at me. “She likes you,” Caltha says with a grin. We climb into the cart and Caltha’s horse pulls us all the way into the village, where we stop at a small, dark building. It seems like a sad place, and I can feel death emanating from inside. I look up at the sign, which says “Soren Felor, mortician.” I shiver as I read the last word. I assume the root of that word is mortem. Death. Caltha jumps down from the cart and I stand up to follow suit, but she stops me. “This is no place for an infant. Wait here for me,” she says softly. I nod and sit back to wait. It is not long before Caltha reappears in the doorway with a short, grey-haired man next to her. He looks tired, and has dark bags under his silvery eyes. His hair is neatly slicked back and he is wearing all black, as if he is constantly in mourning. He says something to Caltha, nods towards me, and turns around to walk back inside.

Caltha climbs back in the cart and explains the plans for the burial of Acacia. “Soren will be stopping by the farm today to retrieve the body, and Derrick will take care of the rest of the funeral arrangements with him later on. In the meanwhile, we will sit back and wait - let the family begin their mourning. In time, they will heal but for now we need to let nature run its course,” Caltha says sadly. I feel tears welling up in my eyes again, and I try to swallow the lump slowly rising in my throat. Caltha lays a hand on my shoulder reassuringly and I look down, closing my eyes. “It’s been a long night, and you need rest. We’ll go home now,” she whispers softly.

When we arrive at the cottage, the sun is already at its noonday mark in the bright blue sky. The air is still and thick, as if there were a storm approaching. I look to the east, where I see ominous clouds on the horizon, steadily moving closer like black ink spreading through clear blue water. I do not like the stillness in the air; it is too quiet, too...solemn. The birds have gone completely silent, and not even the smallest breeze touches the trees surrounding the cottage. It is as if time has come to a stop and the universe is standing still. It is so unnatural, yet there is something so very exciting in the mystery of it all.

As we walk towards the cottage from the stable, I see Shadow sitting out front in a hammock tied between two trees near the doorway. He is whittling a small stick with one of our daggers, carving intricate and beautiful designs into the wood. He looks up as we approach, and his face lights up when he sees me. As soon as he sees the baby however, his expression grows concerned. He steps forward, reaching out to gently pull the blanket away from the baby’s face. He looks for a few seconds, then takes a step back and looks at Caltha, who just nods at him. Without a word he wraps his arms around me and the baby, and as soon as I am safe in his embrace, I burst into tears. He holds me there for what seems like an eternity and I let myself weep. I weep for all the pain and suffering in this world of tragedy. I weep for the now motherless children. I weep for Derrick, who has lost the love of his life. I weep for all who are suffering, all who are hurting, those without anyone to comfort them.

When I finally break free from Shadow’s warm embrace, we head into the cottage. Caltha takes the baby and I retreat to my room, the room filled with a forest of plants. I collapse into the grassy bed and inhale the earthy scent. The room still smells of earth, flowers, and dew, and it is all very comforting to me. I close my eyes and curl up, wrapping myself in my wings as I always do when I am drifting off to sleep. I let out a shaky breath and feel the dark, peaceful world of sleep overtaking me, dulling my senses and shutting out the world around me. As I sleep, images and words spiral in my mind until a very clear picture is painted in my conscience.

I am alone in a room, surrounded by pure gold light. I feel as if there is someone watching me, but I am all alone. Suddenly, the golden atmosphere begins to spin and a pedestal rises from the ground in front of me. The pedestal is beautiful, made of pure gold and carved intricately with designs so that it is made to look like a tree stump. I know I have seen this stump before, but I cannot recall where. Hovering above the stump appears a small bronze feather with a slightly curved rachis. The barbs on the vane end in soft, elegant curls. Like the stump pedestal, I recognize this feather, but I am unable to recall where from. Suddenly, the feather begins to spin, faster and faster until it is nothing more than a blur of bronze. As I watch, the feather slowly touches down onto the pedestal and in a huge blast of light, they bind together, weaving and twisting up into the air. Before long, there is a magnificent golden Wisteria towering above and before me. I watch as a shimmery ripple starts at the base of the trunk, shooting upwards and gaining speed as it goes. Behind it, the tree turns natural, its trunk becoming a bronze-brown color, much like the feather. Its branches become covered with beautiful amethyst flowers and emerald green leaves, draping downward like waterfalls of bright color. I am completely awestruck. As the shimmer transforms the very topmost branch, there is a blast, almost like a magical explosion. It is so powerful, I am knocked out of time and space, falling through nothing. I can see the golden atmosphere above me becoming smaller and smaller, and just as I am about to hit another dimension, everything goes completely black.

I sit straight up and my eyes fly open. I feel different, as if something has changed deep inside, strengthening my soul. I feel renewed, powerful, even invincible. What is wrong with me? I’ve never felt like this since before my accident. I have always felt weak and vulnerable, but now I feel like I am unstoppable, ready to face the world. It’s not a bad feeling, I’m just confused as to how it has come over me like this. I slip off the bed and stretch my wings, unfolding them to their full span. Suddenly, I hear a blast of wind stronger than any I have ever heard before. It is like the sound of constant thunder, and it shakes the whole cottage. The wooden shutter on my window swings inward and breaks off its hinges, flying straight towards my head.

16: Fifteen

Fifteen

I duck and fold my wing over my face just as the huge slab of wood slams into me. My left wing catches the blow, bruising it badly, but not badly enough to prevent me from flying. I rush downstairs and find Caltha rushing towards me. “I was just coming up to get you! Lassie, your wing’s bleeding! Are you alright?” She exclaims. I open my mouth to explain, but she interrupts me. “There’s no time now, follow me!” Caltha grasps my hand and leads me to a small room with a trapdoor in the center of the floor. Next to the trapdoor there is a rug that has been pushed aside, almost as if it had been hiding it. We climb down into the darkness and I am instantly afraid. “Follow me,” Caltha whispers, leading me by the hand. We walk through a pitch black tunnel for a few minutes before coming to a small, lit room.

The room is a twenty foot square with a low ceiling and has various vegetables hanging from the ceiling. There are carrots, onions, potatoes, string beans, and rutabagas, among other things. Along the back and side walls, there are ledges about two or three feet tall; I am assuming they were made as benches, since Shadow is sitting on one of the ledges holding the baby in his arms. Suddenly, I remember Feather. As if she’d been reading my mind, Caltha says “Feather is in the barn with the rest of the animals. She should be fine, and we are going to stay down here until the storm passes just in case the roof of my cottage doesn’t hold up. We haven’t had a storm like this in years.”

Caltha’s voice trails away and her brow furrows in concern. She looks at me, then at Shadow. “Is something wrong?” I ask. “Things have been different since you came here. Shadow has been here many times, but as soon as he brought you here, the winds have changed. There is a new solemnity in the air, as if something is wrong. It seems as though you two are going to bring a change to this world. I knew you were here with the purpose of bringing peace and reuniting our worlds, but I wasn’t sure if you two were completely crazy or if you were right. Maybe you two can restore Terra Indivisa. But how? What force will be strong enough to unite our worlds and break the magical bond that separates us?” Caltha replies, her voice suddenly filled with fear.

I open my mouth to reply, but no sound comes out. I honestly have no idea how we are planning to accomplish this insane task. Suddenly, Shadow’s voice breaks the thick silence. “We don’t know. Eclipse and I are not completely sure that we will even be able to break the bond and restore peace, but we are both determined and we know that we have to try. All we have to do is find out how, and once we accomplish that, there will be no stopping us,” he says firmly. I am moved by his words, and Caltha and I remain silent. Caltha closes the door behind us and we are completely closed in, alone in this underground shelter.

I sit down next to Shadow and look at the baby sleeping peacefully in his arms. She is so beautiful, so innocent and pure. I love the way her soft blonde hair curls over her forehead. She is so fragile, so special. I smile when I see her tiny hand wrap itself around Shadow’s thumb. I glance up at Shadow’s face, and he is smiling as well. In a world that seems to be turning upside down, we have found peace even in the darkest place. I cherish this moment now, and I always will. “Have you named her yet?” I ask Caltha, who is sitting on the opposite wall, peeling a carrot. “No, I thought maybe you and Shadow would like to name her,” She replies, raising an eyebrow. She doesn’t even look up at her work, and her tone of voice is serious.

I look back at the precious infant sleeping in Shadow’s arms and suddenly, I feel dizzy. The room around me seems to be spinning, and I see the same golden haze as in my dream. I immediately hear voices, so many that it is impossible to tell them apart. I feel as if I should be afraid, but I am not. Instead, I am completely calm. I take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, then exhale. I close my eyes and hear one word, loud and clear, rising above all the other voices. “Epifania.” “What?” I say aloud. “Epifania.” The voice has a very urgent tone to it this time. With that, as soon as they had come, the voices were gone. The golden haze disappeared, and I was standing above Shadow and the baby, looking down into her eyes. Her golden eyes. Instinctively, I reach down and pull her blanket away from her neck, and gently turn her over in Shadow’s arms to reveal the marking on the back of her neck. The bronze feather. Then, I know. I understand. This is her. This is the key to breaking, unlocking the magical barrier separating the two worlds.

“Her name is Epifania,” I say firmly, and as soon as the name escapes my lips, I feel renewed. “What does that mean? Why?” Shadow asks curiously. “It means the manifestation,” I say softly. Shadow seems to understand, and he bows his head. I look at Epifania, and she laughs. With that, her eyes fade back to their pretty blue color. “She’s linked with Custos, isn’t she?” Shadow asks, as more of a statement than a question. “Yes. I’m not sure how yet, but we will find out soon enough,” I reply with a smile. Shadow smiles back, and I sit down next to him again, leaning my head on his shoulder. I am still exhausted, so I close my eyes. I feel Shadow wrap his free arm around my shoulders underneath my wings, pulling me closer.

A few hours pass in almost silence, the only sound being Caltha’s knife on the vegetables she peels endlessly. Suddenly, she stands up and gathers all her peeled vegetables in a basket that is hanging from the ceiling, taking the basket down and walking towards the cellar door. “It’s over, come now,” she says calmly. Shadow and I follow her through the dark and narrow corridor until we reach the trapdoor leading into the cottage. Shadow places Epifania into my arms and climbs up into the light, followed by Caltha. Then, Caltha reaches down and takes Epifania while Shadow helps me climb out. I thank him and brush off my skirts, which are now edged with brown from the dust and mud lining the floor in the cellar.

Shadow and I follow Caltha through the cottage, which has a few broken windows and various object blown about the room. As far as I can tell, the cottage has held up very well considering the amount of wind there was when I got hit by the shutter. I look outside and my heart skips a beat. Caltha’s cottage should not have survived the power of the storm. Across the yard, there are branches and leaves strewn about haphazardly. A few of her smaller trees are fallen, looking as if a giant hand had reached down from the sky and grasped the tree, twisting it until it broke. I am also surprised to see the barn and stable still standing, and I wonder how they survived a storm of that magnitude. I could almost swear Caltha can read my mind, because right then, she answers my unspoken questions.

“The cottage, barn, and stables were all built back when Terra Indivisa was still standing. They were built with the help of your kin, the winged ones. They are set upon a firm foundation of stone, and molten rock and metal was poured to seal any gaps and create a frame for the structures. The mixture dries and leaves the buildings virtually indestructible. Even if the exterior wood and siding of the buildings were to get torn off and destroyed, I would still have the frames. All that would have to be done is to redecorate, rebuild the exterior. The architecture of these buildings is brilliant, and I am blessed to have been gifted with such a favor,” Caltha says.

Suddenly, I realize that she is speaking as though she was alive way back in the time of Terra Indivisa. That should be impossible, no human could live that long. Even us winged beings have a lifespan of only 150 years. I’m not exactly sure how long ago the war was, but I do know that it was several hundred years ago. I turn around to ask Caltha how she knows all this and why she speaks as if she was there, and I am not expecting what I see. She is smiling at me, a smile full of wisdom and knowledge - and her eyes are a brilliant, liquid gold. The exact same golden color as Epifania and Custos’ eyes. The color in my dream. The color of the sun.

17: Sixteen

Sixteen

My breath catches in my throat and a begin to see bright lights dancing in front of my eyes like a million stars. My head is spinning, and I am trying to wrap my mind around things. Everything seems to make sense, yet I am still unable to grasp it. I look down and let out a shaky breath, grabbing a nearby chair to steady myself as my legs begin to feel like water. Shadow is by my side in an instant, supporting me with both arms. I take deep breaths as my mind becomes a vortex of thoughts and memories that I never knew were there. I look up at Shadow, opening my mouth to speak - but no sound leaves my lips. It’s as if I am paralyzed. “It’s okay, trust me.” Shadow’s soothing voice breaks the silence and I close my eyes, letting myself relax. My knees buckle beneath me and I crumple to the floor slowly, like a melting candle. Shadow, still holding me, guides me to the floor where he gently wraps his arms around me, holding me like a terrified child. My breathing slows and I begin to regain my composure, but the flood of emotions and memories entering my mind is too much for me to handle. I look up at Shadow one last time before the world fades to black.

I wake up in the forest room again, the smell of flowers and fresh air nearly intoxicating me. The green vines hang in curly tendrils above my head, having a hypnotic effect on me. All of my senses seem sharper than ever before, and I don’t know whether to be terrified or delighted. I feel as if I am a hundred years older, filled with wisdom and knowledge. It feels like the entire universe is running through my veins, filling me with indescribable emotions, desires, and understanding.

I sit up and look around, the room seemingly more vibrant than ever before. Every leaf, every flower stands out sharply, all the different colors and textures combining into a beautiful blend of detail, a masterpiece. I feel revived, energized. I slowly sit up, sliding myself to the edge of the soft grassy bed and swing my legs over the side. A tingle runs up my spine as my bare feet touch the spongy moss covering the floor. I stand up and stretch my wings before heading downstairs. Slipping silently past Caltha and Shadow, I make it to the door without being seen or heard. I quietly close the door behind me and smile as a slight breeze ruffles my feathers, and a sudden need to fly takes over me. I begin to run, slowly at first, then picking up speed.

Finally, I push off, spreading my wings. The current catches and I soar high above the treetops, the beautiful view taking my breath away. It’s not as perfect as Elysium, but for some reason I think this new landscape is twice as beautiful. It’s not perfect, but it’s real. The flaws give it character, and its loneliness gives it a very special type of beauty. The land is beautiful and broken, just like me. After flying for quite some time, I decide I should head back. Folding my wings back, I begin to plummet headfirst through the clouds. As soon as I break through the lowest layer, I unfold my wings and hover for a few moments, scanning the ground for my way back. Before long, I recognize a few buildings and am able to map out a route to the cottage in my head. A few minutes later, I am standing on Caltha’s doorstep again.

When I walk inside, Shadow looks confused. He opens his mouth as if he is about to ask where I’d been and how I got outside, but Caltha speaks first. “Enjoy your flight?” She says with a wink, and I laugh. “I loved it! How did you know that I left?” I reply, and she just smiles and looks back at Epifania, who is asleep in Shadow’s arms. “I see. I know. There are a lot of things you do not yet know about me, young one,” She says softly, and I am not sure if she is speaking to me or to Epifania. Then, Caltha looks back up at me. “All things will be revealed in time. Meanwhile, it is best to let things come and go as always. Never rush fate, Eclipse. Remember that,” She finishes with a small grin. I nod and walk over to the stairway, where I sit on the second step. Resting my elbows on my knees, I lean forward and clasp my hands, settling them under my chin.

I frown as I begin to unravel some of the webs of mystery that have spun themselves over the past twenty-four hours. I am almost positive that Caltha and Custos are somehow linked, and Epifania somehow plays a part in the big scheme of things as well. Her birthmark, the golden eyes, my visions of the wisteria tree… Suddenly, my breath catches in my throat as everything comes together. The wisteria tree in my vision is Ligno de Statera, and the feather is Epifania. I stand up with impressive speed and look straight at Caltha. “We need to take Epifania to the tree. She is the key. I’m not sure how, but I had a vision…” I continue to describe the vision to Caltha and Shadow, and they both seem very intrigued.

When I am finished, Caltha looks up towards the ceiling and whispers something barely audible, but I am pretty sure she said “Pater, adiuva nos!” For some reason, the Latin words suddenly make sense to me. Father, help us. Such cryptic words, and yet so beautiful of a prayer. Caltha looks over at me, her eyes a liquid gold once again. “You’re Custos’ sister,” I say confidently, the words escaping my lips before they even cross my mind. “Yes, you’re beginning to understand. Custos and I were sent here when Ligno de Statera was cut down. We are the guardians of both worlds, and we see, hear, and know all that goes on within our own borders. Now that you and Shadow are here with Epifania, the prophecy will begin to unravel. I have been waiting for long enough, but even I am unable to see the future. I do not know what the effects of this will be on the two worlds, but I know that it will not be easy. One thing is certain - bloodshed is unavoidable and there will be war. I know not what realms will partake in the war, but I can only pray that only winged ones and humans will be involved,” She says with a shudder.

“What prophecy?” I ask, my curiosity sparked once more. Caltha’s golden eyes glow a bit brighter and a golden aura begins to form around her. As she begins to speak, her voice becomes strong and full, resonating throughout the room.

“Three in time shall mend the tree

outcasts no more will they be

sent to mend the severed bond

realms in turn with war respond

bringing death, the devil-spawn

‘til light shines forth, the promised dawn

shall hatred, fear, and woe begone.”

After the last line, the light around Caltha fades and her eyes return to their bright emerald color. She looks exhausted, and I rush over to help her stand, and she asks me to bring her to her bedroom where she can rest. I do as she requests, then I return to the room where Shadow is waiting with Epifania. He looks weary, his soft blue eyes seeming faded. I brush his disheveled blonde hair away from his face and look up into his eyes. He smiles a bit, and I smile back. Everything has been so chaotic lately, and I find myself wishing that we weren’t a part of the prophecy. I want to be at peace with Shadow, with nothing to worry about.

Just then, Shadow breaks the silence. “Come with me,” he says softly, reaching out with his free hand to take mine. He and I walk outside into the mild midmorning air, and the sun is beginning to peek through the clouds in bright golden rays. Shadow leads me into the forest behind the cottage and before long, I am standing in a small grove surrounded by huge weeping willows. In the center of the grove, there is a small pond with a surface and still and clear as glass. On one side of the pond, there is a small wisteria tree. Its roots are a mass of beautiful interwoven tendrils, snaking around the circumference of the small pond almost like the edges of a bowl. The small purple flowers hanging down from the slender green branches of the tree fall in gentle tresses over the water, and some of the tiny flowers fall into the pond, making little ripples on the glassy surface.

The effect of this beautiful scene is magical, every intricate detail blending into a picturesque landscape. It is absolutely stunning, breathtaking. “I come here a lot when I need time alone, where I come to find peace and quiet,” Shadow says with a smile. “I’ve never shown this place to anyone else, but I know I can trust you.” I smile at these words. “Thank you,” I reply softly. He squeezes my hand and I let out a sigh. “I don’t know how we’re going to be able to handle the whole prophecy. I mean, we’re just broken people with no experience in war or prophecies,” I say sadly. “True, but we can be strong together. Have faith, Eclipse. Faith has never failed me,” Shadow replies softly. I nod and lean towards him so my head is resting on his shoulder and we stand together in peaceful silence.

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