by c a king
“Good, she is taking some ice chips,” said a voice Willow recognized. Panic set in again. It was the man who had restrained her earlier. They had done something that made her go back to sleep. She wanted to run as fast as she could, escape to a forest and climb to where she knew no one could follow, but she couldn't. If she opened her eyes she would feel sick again and she definitely couldn't walk yet. If she was in a forest she wouldn't have to. The trees would send their branches to cradle her and lift her away from all her problems. They would protect her.
“Don't be afraid Willow,” Clairity said sensing the emotions of her friend. “It's just the healer. He means you no harm.”
Was this a trick? Willow wasn't sure. She could hear Clairity's voice and she trusted her best friend, but deep down she was so unsure. Everything seemed so foreign to her, especially the way she felt. She had never been sick before, never needed a healer. She was scared.
A new voice appeared. “She is frightened. This experience is overwhelming for her. She is not yet able to communicate verbally. Earlier her screams were pure adrenaline. Now she is calmer. It could take awhile. I suggest only voices she knows well talk in her hearing range until she has regained the use of the rest of her senses.”
“Shelby?” Kiera said. “Is that you?”
“Kiera, my friend, yes, your keeper spared my life. Without her I would still be broken beyond repair.”
“Lasel?...and your keeper?”
“Prisoners, deep beneath a castle at the heart of a stone mountain, in a world ruled by madmen convinced they deserve retribution. I am afraid they are lost to us, with many more,” Shelby said.
“I am sorry. Is there nothing we can do?” Kiera replied.
“Perhaps, but now is not the time. Willow must recover fully before we discuss the possibilities. Unfortunately, I believe that may take weeks if not longer. She was subjected to a taste of the torture I endured. The torture that broke me. We must tread carefully, make sure she is back to normal before she takes on any more.”
Willow wanted to shout out to them she was fine, but the dryness of her mouth and throat still only let her make a few squeaks. Truth was she wasn't fine. She was dizzy, felt sick to her stomach, very tired, and weak. She had never felt like this before and she didn't like it.
“Perhaps I can help steady her senses,” Aslo said as he joined with her becoming a picture on her arm in the same spot where Shelby had previously been.
“How does that help?” the doctor asked.
“When the Leander...feline guardians become one with another being, we give some of our traits to that being. In Willow's case, when she is joined with Aslo or myself...or one of our children, she receives the benefit of agility, stability, additional balance and night vision to name a few,” Kiera said.
Willow felt more like herself almost instantly and her mind began to race through information of what had happened over the past weeks to share with Aslo.
'Shhhhhhh child, now is time to relax. We can discuss everything when you are better. I don't want you to strain right now,' Aslo's familiar voice sounded in her head.
'Okay, but I feel better with you here. Do you think I could open my eyes without spinning in circles now? I should very much like to go to the restroom and then wash up some,' she replied back so that only her guardian could hear.
'Yes, slowly open your eyes and adjust, then try to sit up first. No sudden movements. Everything you do must be slow. Also keep in mind you haven't used your muscles for a bit and they are considerably weaker now than you remember.'
She followed Aslo's advice opening her eyes slowly and adjusting to directly in front of her first, then slowly looking around to see everyone. She made sure she was in control of her eyesight before attempting to slowly move to a sitting position. Once she sat up, Clairity offered her a cup with some water, which she took a sip from. After a few sips she found she could speak, just a word or two and the feeling wasn't pleasant, but it was progress.
“Thank you,” she mumbled to her friend for the water. Shortly after she asked if she could try to get up with one word, 'restroom'. Clairity agreed to help her if Richard would allow it. She let out a little sigh of relief when the healer agreed to let her try walking.
As soon as she set her feet down on the floor she realized what Aslo had meant. Her knees were buckling at first not used to supporting her weight. Clairity supported her so she didn't fall flat on her face. After a couple steps, she felt a little more steady, but couldn't imagine she would be running across tree tops anytime soon.
Clairity helped her wash up and dry off. It wasn't until she looked in a mirror that she realized what she was wearing. It was an off white colour and like an apron of some sort. To her shock she had nothing on underneath and the back was open except for the part that tied together at the neck. Someone could see her backside if she was walking.
“Where are my clothes,” she screamed as loud as her voice would let her.
“It's okay, just relax,” her friend answered. “They had to take them off you to keep you clean and washed while you were out.”
Okay? She thought no part of this was okay by any means. What part of people seeing her without clothing would ever be okay? She spent her lifetime making sure she was covered as much as possible.
“I am not leaving this room without clothes,” Willow said in tears.
The sound of rain outside was clue enough for Kiera that something was wrong with her girl and she headed into the restroom to see what was wrong.
“She wants her clothes,” Clairity said.
“Of course, I will find someone to bring her some. There was an extra set of her keeper clothes in the backpack you brought through the portal,” Kiera answered and headed off to find someone to bring the outfit over to the medical centre.
The guardian returned quickly with Mike carrying the backpack containing clothes. Clairity came out to retrieve the bag and quickly returned. Willow was still weak. Leaving her alone for any amount of time, even resting in a chair, wasn't an option. After dressing she tied her hair back off her face. It was limp and dull and seemed somehow thinner than she remembered. She made a comment about how horribly thin she looked in the mirror. Her face was pale and her bone structure was peeking through as if her skin was transparent.
“I look sick,” she said.
“You have lost weight and muscle. There is a medical program in this world they call physical therapy. People use it to rebuild strength after being immobile for long periods of time as you were. It could help you. Aslo and I have discussed it with the medical healers and think it is the fastest way for you to recover, although it will still take a long time,” Kiera said.
“Time is something we don't have a lot of. There is an invasion coming and it will come here. We just don't know how long we have to prepare or try to stop it,” Willow said leaning hard on her friend.
“Don't worry,” Clairity said. “Nathan found a prophecy about the bird guardian. It says when you wake up things will be better.”
“What prophecy? What did it say?” She hadn't had time to review all the prophecies yet and Nathan, last time she saw him hadn't read the book yet. She was happy to hear that someone was working on figuring out what they all meant.
“Nathan shared the book with me,” Clairity said just before reciting the prophecy exactly as it appeared in the book.
' A race forgotten shall appear again, in need of intervention
one soul so pure shall see the cause and alter what could be,
devastation averted, a world now saved,
one life shall be the reward, within its mind a soul has been lost
and another shall fall to slumber, the signs on doors to show the way,
with rest and time life shall renew and mind shall mend
all shall emerge with questions answered
life preserved and new hope granted.'
“See it fits perfectly,” her friend said in an excited voice.
&
nbsp; “I am afraid I am too tired to think right now, but keep in mind prophecies can have messages for more than one person. There is usually more to them than just the obvious, or else they would be...well...useless,” Willow replied.
“I see what you mean,” Clairity replied with a puzzled look on her face. “So how do we learn what they mean?”
“I think the best we can do is all know them, study them and figure out a rough time line. Then when the time comes, hopefully we will see the answer and use it to our advantage.” Signs of stress from all the activity were beginning to surface.
“We best get you back into bed now,” Kiera said. Willow agreed. From the short trip, she was tired and sore.
Back in the main room of the medical centre there were a few more people now. She was definitely glad she had clothes on so no one was staring at her bare backside. Mike and William spoke in whispers to the healer man, while looking at her walk slowly across the room with concern. Shelby was sitting on a chair. Ashlyn was doing something at the table beside where her bed was. As she came closer to the bed she saw there was a vase of water with something in it. A flower she thought, straining her eyes to see that far. No, not a flower but a branch.
“Ashlyn, is that...” Willow's knees buckled and she collapsed, luckily on the bed so she didn't hurt anything else.
“Willow!” her dream walker friend screamed.
Everyone rushed over to her side and helped her into the bed again. She closed her eyes for a few moments before finishing her question “Is that what I think it is?”
“I thought it meant something in the dream when it fell, so I brought part with us through the portal. I was hoping it would make you feel better.”
Willow interrupted her. “Ashlyn you are brilliant, you know that? I need to get outside,” she said trying to stand.
“You are too weak to go anywhere little girl,” Mike said.
“If this means what I think it means, it is the most important thing that could happen to any of us. Carry me if you have to, but I need to get to the middle of the field by the sleeping quarters.”
“The training fields? What for?” William asked.
“Just please trust me. I am getting tired very fast I need to do this now,” Willow answered grabbing the branch from the vase. Aslo appeared back in his cat form beside her on the bed.
“Do you really think this will work?” the guardian asked.
“I think so, as long as I have enough energy...”
Aslo nodded to Mike to go ahead and move her as requested.
“Okay squirt hang on tight,” Mike said picking her up and heading out the door to the training yard.
There were still groups practising combat skills outside. Word spread quickly that something strange was happening. Soon every building emptied. Everyone was watching Mike carrying her. At first she couldn't help but feel self conscious. She looked like a fragment of the strong girl everyone had known, thin and sickly, not even able to walk across a field, but then she realized her task was far more important. If she was right, this could turn the tides for them. It was all there in the prophecy Clairity had recited. It was so obvious. This had to be what it meant.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Without the guardians connected to her she was much more wobbly on her feet. She noticed the difference as soon as Mike put her down.
“I will have to sit to do this,” she said to him.
“Sit to do what? Are you going to tell me what you think you are going to try to do?” Mike asked.
“Just help me get down on the ground...please. I would prefer to do it with some dignity rather than a face plant.” The faint laughter that escape her lips made Mike smile.
“Alright,” he said helping her down on the ground.
“Thank you. Now back up and keep everyone a good distance away. It is important no one gets too close,” she said. All in all, she figured for a normal human man he was a great addition to their team, even if he could be a bit of a jerk sometimes. In fact, there were several men and women who she considered a gift to have on their side.
After everyone was a safe distance away, she mustered up her strength and drove the branch into the ground. She took a deep breath and lifted her arms up. A gold sparkle appeared around the branch like a small twister surrounding it, getting larger and larger until it looked like it touched the sky.
“She is failing I can feel it,” Clairity yelled out.
Mike and William went to move towards her, but Aslo changed to his full form and blocked their way.
“She has to do this. I will not let you interfere. This is the most important thing she will ever do. This is what she was destined for. If she fails, all will be for nothing,” Aslo said snarling, his large teeth exposed.
Moments later Willow fell over. Her body lying motionless on the ground. The twister dissipated and revealed a large tree with sweeping branches. No one moved. Was Willow okay? Was it safe to move closer to see? William ran his hands through his hair and let out a large the breath of air he had been holding through the whole display.
“Can we help her now?” he asked.
“Wait, just a few more moments,” Aslo answered.
“She could be dying. We could help her,” Mike yelled.
Sobs were coming from the crowd of people now as they watched Willow's body lying limp and lifeless in a pile at the base of a tree.
Although there was no breeze in the air, the long sweeping branches of the tree began to move. They picked up Willow's motionless body and lifted her high, surrounded her with a glowing aura. Physically her body began transforming back to the girl she had been before she helped the avian guardian. Her hair broke free from the tie that bound it and swayed gently around her face, brilliant red, thick and radiant, perfectly complimenting the return of the light bronze colour of her skin. The transformation mesmerized everyone watching. Willow sat up and opened her eyes, their colour spectacular. The sprinkling of red against a sea of green and blue portrayed an image of dancing flames on water. She looked around, reaching out to touch one of the wispy branches of Acacia the ancient tree of justice. It astounded her. She had believed at one time, Acacia to be a story made up to entertain children. Now she realized everything she had known before was a lie. Eventually she would have to relearn the truths of her world and uncover all the secrets that had been hidden from her and everyone else.
“You have saved me from an eternity of torture, always burning in necrid flames but never able to extinguish my life. That part of me has now withered since you called me here through that branch. I owe you my gratitude,” Acacia said breaking her train of thoughts.
“I had some help with that. They are a good team. We could use your help,” Willow said.
“I am bound by the same rules as the guardians. Sworn only to pass judgement on the worst crimes, committed by those who choose to act on that part of themselves capable of committing the most terrible acts possible and enforce punishment if needed. I cannot intervene directly in your search or daily physical battles. These things you must do for yourselves. I can help you in another way, provide tools to help you help yourselves and when the time comes, you will know and call me.”
Everyone had been so preoccupied by the grandeur of the great tree that no one had noticed another girl had approached its base. Willow looked down, her eyes connecting with Jade, well what looked like it could be Jade. She was somehow different, her hair was without style, lacking brilliant colour. Her face and eyes had lost their luster. She was almost homely compared to her former self.
“I am here for your decision, my punishment for the atrocities that I caused,” Jade said bowing her head down.
“Hummm, yes it is true you did make some poor choices. Are you sorry?” Acacia asked.
“Yes, of course, but that doesn't make things better,” Jade cried.
“No, it doesn't, but you can make things better than they are now. What has happened has happened. Hopefully you learnt from it.”
“I did,” she sobbed.
“Then return to your father. He needs you now. When you go forward from today help others to see and change. Your part in our future is not yet over,” Acacia said and paused for a moment before adding, “Whether within an individual or an entire kingdom, there is the ability to do good, bad or nothing at all. The choice is ours to make and to choose one way does not mean we will always choose the same again. Remember what you feel now and make the most of your choices in the future.”
Jade did as Acacia said returning to her father who had been nervously watching from a distance. A look of instant relief came over Malarchy's face at the sight of his daughter walking back. A display of any form of affection had never been his style, but he too was somehow different. He hugged her tight as if he never wanted to let go.
A bright glow filled the sky with shimmering lights of purple, red, green and gold. A dusting of sparkles of gold and silver rained down on William's property and the people outside watching the events of the evening unfold, disappearing upon contact. The branches of the great tree set Willow down on the ground safely. She noticed immediately she felt strong and healthy again. She was herself.
“Thank you,” she said.
“It is you that I thank. You will find now and over time you have what you need to continue. I am anywhere you need me if you ask,” Acacia replied.
Willow started walking towards her friends. She noticed a glow was circling around. Shelby was flying above and found a branch to land on. Aslo and his family nodded at her, joining the avian guardian at the tree.
When she came closer to her friends she saw something unusual. They had all changed. Even without them moving, she could see they were stronger, faster, more powerful and there was something else. Willow stopped and smiled. She looked down at the inside of her arm and there it was, the symbol, she was a portal guard and so were many of the others. She walked over to each and turned their arms to see, Clairity, Ashlyn, Jessie, Dezi, Pete, Neil, Camile, the younger Victoria and Nathan, even Jade and Malarchy all had the portal guard symbol. To her surprise others had it as well, new additions to her family, Mike, Sarah, Richard, Mary and others who had aided William over the years had been given the honour, with it extended life and perhaps other gifts. Only time would tell.
