by Ciara Graves
“Come on, Agnes. Is there a new threat to us?”
“There is always a threat, you know this. Between the ignorant non-users and those who choose to manipulate their powers for darkness, the danger never goes away. It is why we train you so hard, all of you. But no, there is no current threat.”
She said it, but her gaze glowed brighter for a second until she deliberately set her eyes elsewhere.
“When I was a kid, I might’ve believed you.”
“Ha! You are still a kid, at least to me.” She sighed and patted my cheek. “You will always be so. Now go, stay out of trouble, eh? Let Moran do his duties and do not try to break into his office again.”
“And where will you be?”
“At the temple for my morning prayers, as always. You stay clear. I don’t need you tracking in mud.” She shooed me away.
I rolled my eyes and backed away, walking to the trees, feeling the pull of nature all around me, the living force that flowed through the grass beneath my feet to the trees I ran my fingers over.
I followed the stone path overgrown with moss and small white flowers that bloomed in the cool, fall mountain air. The stones wound deep into the woods and ended at a simple stone altar set up with three archways crossing over it. I brushed leaves from its surface and then kicked out of my shoes, letting my connection to nature fill me from the soles of my feet all the way up to my head. Druids were connected to the living force of nature. It’s what powered us, gave us strength, and it was what we could guide and shape for what we needed.
I rolled my shoulders and settled my mind as I braced for the change. I was twelve when I discovered I had a rare gift that had not been seen amongst druids in many generations. Power rolled over me in waves as I focused on taking the living energy surrounding me and letting it transform my very being. Green and blue light flickered to life starting around my feet and moved up my body until it covered me. I threw my head back as my body reoriented itself and my yell turned into a fierce roar. Fur covered me, and when the light fell back to the ground at my feet, I stood on my hind legs, sniffing the air intensely in my new form. I landed easily on my front legs and lumbered off into the trees, picking up speed as I went.
Agnes told me every year I needed to simply move on and I would be able to achieve my full potential. And I tried. Every year, I tried. But a nagging voice in the back of my head told me moving on wasn’t possible just yet. Why, I had no idea. It was a car accident, end of story. Or it should have been the end of the story.
So then why did I feel like I was missing a piece to the puzzle that was quickly growing more complicated with the less Moran and Agnes told me?
Nothing I could do about it today, I decided. The new recruits would start arriving, and I would do as Agnes and Moran suggested. Attempt to play nice. I wasn’t in any mood to make friends. The last thing I needed was someone getting to know me on that personal level. I heard what Moran said, but magic being compatible had nothing to do with the people being friends. Magic was magic, end of discussion.
I stopped running when I reached the ridge that overlooked the campus and outpost grounds, breathing in the clean, mountain air, and watching the sun rising in the east.
The faint, shimmering of the barricade protecting the area was visible to someone with a keen eye. The barricade was strong and true as it had been the day Moran cast it. If there was a new threat out there, I doubted it would find its way up here in the mountains.
I’d feel sorry for the fool who attacked here; where two of the greatest legends of our time resided. They’d be dead before they ever crossed the barricade.
I hope you enjoyed Do Unto Others!
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Copyright © 2019 by Ciara Graves
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