Of Spirits and Ice.

[Ashen Rain]

~(Here is the first segment of a new story I'm writing.

Nothing too terribly exciting happens in it at the moment, but you all will probably enjoy the turn of events that come soon after.

Please feel free to comment at any time. ^^)~



The loud thud of a thick pole being slowly driven into the ground sounded in the ears of the people who lived throughout the small village of Tree Hearth. Women who were within short log houses and tending to their children poked their heads from open windows to see what the noise was about. The children that they were watching looked up from their chores, and, delighted in their mothers distraction, quickly found something more interesting to do. The men of the village did not turn at the noise, however- it was something that was heard every year. Nothing but another man doing his job, just as they were doing theirs.

The racket came from a group of five live stock farmers and their families, who had just finished the journey along side the bended river that always lead them home. Though there were other farmers in the village, this was the group that would move most of the breeding livestock to a warmer climate during winter, and now that spring was upon the land they had returned for the next three seasons. Generally, a close watch was kept on those who traveled to and from the village, but these farmers were always welcome, as Tree Hearth was where they all had been born and raised.

All of them that is, save for Arthur. Twenty-one winters ago, when Arthur's mother had been heavily pregnant with him, the snows that chased off the migratory farmers had come unusually early. Rather than staying behind in the village, however, she had decided to follow after her husband and the rest of the farmers, though she knew full well that the babe would be born within the time that they were gone. Arthur's father had asked his wife to stay behind, as it was considered bad luck for a child to be born outside of the village, but she was not the superstitious sort and would not have her husband miss the birth of their first child.

Had it not been for Milynn however, Arthur's luck would have run out before he had even been born. After having gone into labor, Arthur's mother had had a complication with pushing the baby out. Though the farmers standing by had seen and helped many of their own livestock give birth, they had never truly encountered a problem such as this. They were days away from the village at this point, and Arthur's father feared the worst, until in the distance someone had spied a figure leaning carefully on a cane.

Milynn had walked along as fast as her aging legs would take her. It was wise of her to predict that something like that would happen, which was exactly why she had been named an Elder of the Shaman arts at Tree Hearth. Though her hair had been turning gray and her legs had hurt from the walk, she had still followed the farmers and their herd just in case- and she had been correct. Being a Shaman of such high ranking, she was quite skilled in the ways of healing, and with her help a new baby boy had been born into the world.

And so it was, that Milynn saved Arthur's life, and he was the first babe in the history of Tree Hearth to have been born outside of it's land. Though many were confused when the herders returned home with a young one that they did not recognize, most accepted him none the less. So it became that every year Arthur traveled with his family past the spot where he had been born, and a season later they returned to the village, as welcome as any other villager though he had not been born there. As Arthur grew, he learned the job of working with the animals as most sons of farmers did- though he also became interested in the jobs of others in the village. He seemed to become skilled at nearly everything he could get his hands on- be it hunting or fishing, scouting or looking for medicinal herbs. Nothing seemed to slow him down, and he was as helpful as he was intelligent.

Milynn had grown fond of Arthur, and though she had helped many other mothers give birth to wonderful children, she could not shake the feeling that Arthur would do something spectacular one day. Wise as she was, she never predicted that twenty one years later, on the day Arthur returned, would be the start of an event that he would never forget. She would never even realize that it would be her who would set into motion his actions on the first night of spring.

[Nasari]

*throws self to ground*

I'M NOT WORTHY!

*gets up*

You write very well. I have to say, I'm intrigued. I can't wait for the next chapter!

[Ashen Rain]

...

*Tackles Nasari in a big hug*


THANK YOU!


You've just proven my theory that shorter posts and chapter like segments in stories written here go over a tad better than posting a giant story all in one sitting. ^^

Also, thank you for the comment as well. You've raised my spirits quite a bit. ^^;

[Goron40]

We have also proven that Blackstar has taken its toll on Nasari's sanity. Excellent!

As for your story, it is most acceptable. I shall place it on the list of things I may enjoy doing again.

[Ashen Rain]

~(Ah well. You win some, you lose some. =p Also, thank you. ^^

I've decided that about a page of writing in open office is the recomended amount of writing per post, so that no one person has to sit too long reading something gigantic that makes their eyes hurt.

So, here is the next chapter, split into two posts so everyone can take their time reading without their eyes bleeding.

Which ironically rhymes.

Also, if anyone notices any typos, please let me know. >>

Chapter 1: Part 1)~


Arthur stood calmly along side the large faelk, stroking it's rich black fur with one hand and polishing it's horns with the other. The creature's rump came up to Arthur's chest, though the man was over six feet tall. This didn't bother him though- Not many people would come near Brute due to his frightening appearance, but Arthur knew that a good scratch on the neck would calm the large male faelk instantly- which was probably a good thing. Before Arthur had unsaddled him, Brute had been jumpy and skittish, due to the pounding noises of the other farmers setting up a fence in the empty field beyond the river. Brute's small and goat like tail had been twitching at the sound, and he had been shifting about dangerously on his tri-cloven hooves. Though this young and eager stallion did look frightening, Arthur knew him to be nothing more than a big push over- unless you were threatening one of his girls.

Arthur reached up for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow, running his fingers through his short stubble and straightening his goatee. His scraggly brown hair was wet with it, and his skin had been tanned to a rich tone while he had been working. Squinting up with his clear gray eyes, he watched the sinking sun before nodding. He'd have to get Brute back out to pasture with his mares before they wandered into Colluk's territory. It had happened before, and both males had gotten into a fairly nasty fight. In the end, Brute got his girls back, but both boys had quite the few scratches on them.

Arthur took Brute's reins and slowly led the creature from his make shift stable toward the newly fenced in area. In the distance he could see the cattle grazing, as well as Brute's the three shorter horned mares nickering near the fence posts. Brute whinnied back to them and picked up his pace, causing Arthur to laugh as the large creature quite nearly pulled him through the river before they had even made it to the bridge. Once on the other side, he quickly opened the large gate and let the black stallion through to his females. While closing the fence and locking it up tight, he glance over at the pigs in their smaller pen near the muddy river bank. They had been returned to the traveling farmers upon their arrival, and though he knew already that they had been well taken care of, he liked to check them just in case. Grunting happily on their backs in the mud and waggling their short stubby legs in the air, Arthur chuckled, then turned around in enough time to wave to the other farmers who were herding the last of the goats and sheep into the big pasture. Satisfied and sure that most of the animal work was done, he turned and looked back at the village as the days commotions slowly quited. The sun was sinking softly into the forest behind Tree Hearth, and while watching the dazzling scene he jogged back to the village, eager to dust off his bed and get a good nights sleep.

Just outside his door, a two figures caught him off guard and he slowed to a halt. He squinted only a moment before a grin slowly crept onto his face, and he quickly closed the distance between them.

“Milynn!” He stated in joy, bending down to hug the stooped and silvery haired woman before him.

“Yes, yes,” The shaman elder chuckled, patting him lightly on the back and attempting to keep her balance. “It's good to see you too. You remember my granddaughter, Siren?”

Arthur nodded, letting the old woman go before looking up at the beautiful young woman before him. Her rich auburn hair was pulled back in a loose pony tail, with small curls hanging about her face. He smiled widely, and nodded a second time. “How could I forget?”

Siren giggled softly at him and shook her head, though Arthur was sure he could see her blushing even in the fading light. “It's good to see you again too, Arthur,” she said softly, smiling in return.

Milynn chuckled quietly to herself. “You know that Siren has surpassed her rank of apprentice shaman, yes?”

Arthur's eye brows raised. “No,” he stated, looking from the Shaman elder to the new shaman before him. “I hadn't heard. Great job! You know, Milynn, you've got a great new shaman on your team now?”

Siren smiled. “Thank you Arthur, but I couldn't have done it without you.” She idly plucked an herb from a pouch at her hip. “If you hadn't of helped me study those herbs, I would have never remembered them all when asked.”

“It's nothing, really,” he stated softly, giving her a slight nod. “I'm sure you would have remembered them all on your own without my help.”

“I don't mean to interrupt,” Milynn pointed out, “But while we're on the subject of herbs, there's something I need to ask of you Arthur.”

[Ashen Rain]

~(Chapter 1: Part 2)~


Arthur turned his gaze toward Milynn, his eyes becoming thoughtful and serious. “Sure,” he decided. “Whatever it is, I'll get it for you. What is it that you want?”

Milynn smiled and nodded. “Such a good boy,” she muttered, chuckling. “You see, we're all out of cricket grass. You know how it makes a fine tea, correct?”

Both Arthur and Siren nodded at the same time, causing Arthur to glance sideways at the young woman in amusement. “You need me to get you some?” he asked, turning his attention back to the Elder Shaman.

“If you could, dear.” Milynn answered softly. “It helps ease the aches in my joints now a days. Siren tried, but she wasn't able to find any near by.”

Blushing, the young shaman coughed slightly. “I was a bit afraid to go too deep into the forest, you know.”

Arthur smiled widely, and reached over to gently brush one of the hanging curls out of Siren's face. “Don't worry,” he told her. “Cricket grass seems to jump from place to place where it grows, so don't feel bad about not finding it- I have troubles locating it too. The next time you go into the forest and you're worried though, come get me and I'll take you in.”

Siren sighed softly and nodded, pressing her cheek gently into the palm of his hand, nearly making his heart stop. “Only if you're not too busy with working on something else.” She whispered. “I wouldn't want to bother you.”

“You could never bother me,” he stated simply, his smile softening as he watched her. A sudden thick and dull pain of a cane smacking into his calf caused him to turn while quickly pulling his hand from Siren's face. He straightened a bit, and Siren went rigid, the both of them attempting to avoid the somewhat bemused gaze of the Shaman Elder before them.

“This always happens when I get you two together,” She snorted, shaking her head. “You'll have time for admiring each other some other day. You need to get going now Arthur! It's almost sun set already.”

Startled, Arthur looked at the sky, realizing that he hadn't been paying attention to the passage of time. He nodded quickly and turned, giving Siren's shoulder a soft squeeze before hustling along to the forests edge. Arthur soon realized however that the thick new foliage in the tree branches caused the forest to be incredibly dim. He stopped and turned around, aiming to find his way back out of the forest when he tripped and fell on his stomach. Apparently, the thick foliage on the forest floor was not only nigh invisible, but hard to traverse through in the dark. Standing, he quickly brushed himself off and tried to get back to the village. A bright light glittered in front of him suddenly, causing him to blink a few times as his eyes adjusted. A soft giggle brought his attention directly to the one holding the light- Siren had followed him.

“I thought you might want this,” She said softly, handing him the torch. “Are you alright?”

Arthur coughed and nodded. “Of course. Why do you ask?”

With another giggle, Siren reached up and plucked an old dead leaf that dangled from the hair on his chin. “No reason, really.”

“Ah,” he smiled slightly, knowing he had been caught. “Will you be joining me in my trek for cricket grass?”

“Not tonight, I'm afraid.” She whispered, sighing. “I'm supposed to walk my grandmother home, and I don't think she would find it proper if I were out here with you alone and in the dark.”

Arthur laughed and shook his head. “It's no trouble. Tomorrow then? I'll remember where I found the grass, and I'll take you to it in the proper lighting.”

“That sounds nice,” she whispered, smiling. “See you tomorrow then.”

Grinning, he nodded and took her hand. “See you tomorrow.”

Smiling at his gesture, she gave his hand a soft squeeze, then let it go and headed back to the village. Arthur grinned on after her till he couldn't see her any more, then finally turned and headed into the now lit forest.

[Panther385]

@_@

...

Wow.


You are one absolutely amazing writer, Ashen.

I can't wait for more.

[Ashen Rain]

~(Thanks Panther. ^^ That's very kind of you to say!

Here's a little suspense for you. Spooooky.

Chapter 2: Part 1)~


Arthur sighed suddenly, rubbing his eyes. He knew the forest here like the back of his hand, but at night that knowledge seemed useless to him. The only parts he hadn't seen were in the darker section of the forest- the one where banished men went. He looked up for a moment, in the direction where he thought the banished were. If he were close, he would know soon enough. The totems surrounding it had been carved in the names of good spirits, and they made sure that nothing evil walked past alive. He remembered one time when he was very young, Milynn had told him that guards would take the banished to the totem barrier and throw them within it. Those who were innocent ran back out unharmed. Those that were not and tried to escape any way fell as though they had hit a stone wall, and lay rigid on the dark soil, screaming even after their own hearts had stopped.

He shook his head, and looked down, clearing those thoughts from his mind. He didn't need to be thinking about evils like that out here. They would only serve to make him nervous, and besides that fact, there was nothing out here that would readily harm him. That was probably the part that frightened most banished members of the village- the fact that the more predatory creatures never ventured beyond the totem barrier.

Arthur stooped low to the ground, holding his lantern close to a patch of thin grasses, before realized that these were not what he was looking for either. He sighed again, and looked up through the tree branches. From what he could see, the stars were out now. It was terribly late, and if he didn't find the cricket grass soon, he'd have to search again tomorrow. Siren had been right, he thought. The cricket grass was growing no where near Tree Hearth this year.

A soft and chilly wind blew by, that left the young farmer rubbing his arms to keep warm. He soon stopped however, confused. A cold wind at the beginning of spring? He shook his head a bit, and kept walking. It was probably the last remnants of the winter winds and nothing more.

As he trudged along, growing ever tired, a soft chirping noise caught his ear. He grinned, following the sound to a patch of thin grasses with soft, feather tipped leaves. Gently, he brushed the stems of the leaves together, and he almost automatically heard the sound once more- the sound of cricket grass.

Plucking as many a stem as he could, he stuffed the grass into the pockets of his trousers and went to stand. Another sudden wind came by, whipping past him this time, and quickly blowing out his torch. He groaned slightly in frustration, tossing the now useless stick to the ground. Arthur looked back, squinting and trying to make out the path he had walked here when yet another noise, this one soft and sad, turned his attention. His heart froze in his chest, and he swallowed.

Someone was crying.

[Panther385]

ARGH! Don't leave it there!

*attacks Ashen in a fangirl-type mauling*

[Ashen Rain]

I'm working on the next part as we speak Panther, don't worry. =p

If you're still on in an hour or so, you'll see what happens.



... Maybe....


*Insert evil laughter here*

[Panther385]

I'm staying up just so I can read it.

And...

*whips out a kitten cannon*

To make sure you post it.

[Ashen Rain]

~(I feel bad now that you stayed up. >>';;

Frito came home and needed to go to bed, so I couldn't type any more.

I'm sorry Panther >< I'll have it up today, with probably a lot more, I promise.)~

~(EDIT: Here it is. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Part2)~


He listened again, trying to hear if the noise had been a trick of the wind. His heart beat pounded in his ears, making it hard for him to tell if the noise was human or not. Had he even heard it in the first place?

Another small sob echoed slightly, causing him to spin to his left. Quickly, Arthur attempted to move toward the voice, sure that he had heard something this time, however soft it was. As he ran, his foot caught on a root, sending him hurtling toward the ground. Cursing in annoyance, he pushed himself from the ground, noting a stinging feeling on his face and arms. He ran his hand over the cut on his face, and sighed in agitation at feeling his warm blood on his fingers. If only that stupid torch hadn't gone out, he thought. If only he could see, he could figure out where this crying person was.

Arthur suddenly stopped. Before him, a faint blue light began to glow. It wasn't bright enough to light the entire forest, but with it, he could make out where he was going. On top of that fact, the young farmer was fairly certain that he would find who he was looking for on the other end of that glow.

He walked on this time, stumbling here and there over foliage and dry earth, the sobbing getting louder as he drew closer to the delicate shine the rested atop a small hill. In the same moment that he began to crawl up the incline, the light unexpectedly vanished. Arthur halted, unsure if he had just been seeing things now, until he heard a crash. Whoever it was who had the light had collapsed down the other side of the hill.

Scurrying up the hill and pulling himself along as fast as he could with his hands, Arthur made it to the top, only to stare in astonishment at the sight before him.

A young woman, who looked about the same age as Siren, lay at the bottom of the hill. Everything about her was incredibly pale- her clothing, her skin, and even her hair. The odd light he had seen earlier was coming from a pendant around her neck- and the bright coloring, even for such a faint light, only served to make her look paler.

The one thing that was not pale however, was the dark patch on her abdomen. Arthur vaulted over the hill, and slid down the steep siding that this girl had just fallen over. At the bottom, he swallowed, catching a thick scent of something he had hoped he would never sense around another person in his life time. With her hands unconsciously pressed tight against her stomach, Arthur came to the grim realization that the dark stains were blood.

Carefully, Arthur bent and slid his arms under her body. The girl shifted a bit, and gave a slight whimper. Swallowing, he lifted her up gently from the ground, and looked back up the hill. The sheer side of it gave him now path to carry her back up the way he had came. With a bleak nod he turned, and, using the small light that shone out of the girls pendant, he hurried back in the direction he believed his village to be.

[Nasari]

Poor girl... That's the kind of thing people never recover from. My friend just had that happen to her (not in the same way, of course).

I love this story. To tell it truthfully, I think your writing style is far superior to mine. I can't seem to point out anything wrong with it.

You better keep writing, or I'm gonna GOUGE YOUR EYES OUT WITH MY EYE GOUGER OF DOOM!

*takes out a tangerine with the words "Fly, fly away" written on it in permanent marker*

FEAR THE PERMANENT MARKERNESS!

[Ashen Rain]

~(*Coughs* I apologize for not posting more story. Things have been tied up lately, and though I've written the next two chapters on paper, I've yet to get them completely on the computer.

I've also been working on a few more story out lines, so once this on is finished, expect to see another. =p

In any case, here is the next installment...

Chapter 3: Part 1)~

Milynn sighed softly, still awake, and standing in her lonely living room. In this home, she had lived with her husband and children. They had long grown up by this point, starting their own families, and her husband had past away many years ago. Occasionally she had visitors, or sick people staying with her to tend to, but this night all was quiet. Siren had walked her home, then scurried off to get back to her mothers house, though she was a grown woman herself now.

The Shaman Elder looked about her small home for a moment, taking in the somewhat gloomy scene. The doorway to her bedroom was dark and silent, and the same went for her guest bedroom beside it. A quiet fire place sat unlit, unneeded in the warm spring season. Only a candle sitting on her small dinner table by the window gave off any light in the room, and by that candle Milynn stood, looking out into the dark night and worrying about whether Arthur had given up and come home or not.

Wobbling over to a chair made with a soft and woolly seat cushion, she sat, resting her cane habitually on the arm of it as she had done for many a year now. She gritted her teeth and bent fore ward, trying to rub the pain out of her stiffened knees. The old woman glanced over at the candle she had lit- a special one, with small marks in it. Every time the candle melted down past a mark, she knew that an hour had gone by, and each candle was made to last for about twelve hours.

This candle, she had lit at midday. Arthur had left when it had had only three hours left in it- but now, the it was nearly out. She looked down at her knees, and sighed once more. She had sent the poor boy out to find the reclusive grass in the dark, and as kind and diligent as he was, Milynn knew he wouldn't return till he found some. She frowned and shook her head, wondering if she should have just waited till tomorrow.

A quaking thud suddenly shook the door to Milynn's house. She shouted in surprise, her old heart beating hard in her chest. Pressing a hand to her breast, Milynn tried to calm her hurried pulse as she pulled herself from her chair.

“Who is it?” She shouted in agitation. “And don't bang on the door light that again. I'm an old woman you know! You'll make my heart jump out of my throat with that racket!”

“Milynn!” A muffled male cried beyond the door. “Please, Milynn, open up! It's an emergency!”

Startled, the old woman stared at the door as she fumbled to get hold of her cane. “Arthur?” she asked, alarmed at his tone of voice. She pulled herself toward the door as fast as her sore legs would take her, worried that the trek she had sent him on had caused him some type of harm. “Are you alright? What's happened?”

She pulled open the door as soon as she got the chance, though that didn't stop her from gasping at the sight on her door step. Before her Arthur stood, a pale girl in his arms. Both of them had a good amount of blood on them, though the old shaman wasn't sure whose was whose.

“By the spirits, Arthur,” Milynn murmured, unable to take her eyes off of the two. “What has happened?”

[Panther385]

'TIs okay, I ended up being distracted by anime anyway. >_>;

Whoo, I can't wait for more! Who is she? What happened to her? What's that glowy-necklace-thingie? I MUST KNOW!