Fan Fiction ❯ The Keeper of the Orbs ❯ Awakening ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

Awakening

 

Sala hefted the heavy bag of instruments onto her shoulder and moved through the crowed streets once more. A few people looked her way, whispering amongst themselves. Sala knew that the villagers thought that she couldn't hear what they said. She despised these people for treating her like she was ignorant to what they said about her.

 

She came to the stand where her father's side of the family sold the instruments and rolls of parchment that had her mother's songs written on them. Her uncle smiled at her when she flung the massive leather bag over the counter and sent it flying towards her cousin. It was lucky for her that the young man caught it.

 

"Bitch." her cousin growled softly.

 

"Watch it, you little rat bastard." Sala growled back, twice as sardonic.

 

With a tiny smile towards her uncle and a sneer at her cousin, Sala turned on her heels. She took off running through the crowd once more, stirring up more stares and remarks. Sala could feel the cool dirt between her toes as she bounded through the market place. One day they would respect her...and her people.

 

The meadow came into her line of sight. She smiled and leapt into the air. As she soared through the air, her body began to change. Bones cracked and conformed to the form of her wolf shape. Deep blue fur sprouted on her shifting form. Her nose and mouth moved forward and elongated to form a muzzle. Her ears moved up to the top of her head and her eyes spread apart. Padded paws replaced hands and feet.

 

With silent grace, Sala landed among the flowers and ran free. Her heightened scene of smell caught every scent. Sala could smell her grandfather. He was so close. Suddenly, a large smoke-blue wolf launched himself at her. Sala rolled on her side and was back on her feet in seconds. Her silver eyes glared at the wolf.

 

Sathin stared back her, grinning wolfishly at the young wolf woman. He motioned for her to follow him with a quick jerk of his head. Sala cocked her head in confusion. Sathin moved off into the tall grass and flowers. The young wolf woman followed after him.

 

The two Draegas moved quickly through the meadow. Sala came to a halt when Sathin ran into the Orbian Wood. The old Mage stopped, looking back at her. His eyes asked her if she was afraid. Sala flung her head back and howled her defiance to her grandfather. They ran into the forest.

 

Sathin stopped when they came to a small stream. His granddaughter sat back on her haunches and listened to the sound of bones cracking and recon forming as he changed form. Sala looked up at him. In wolf or human form he was still a form of great power to her. He smiled down at her and she began her own change.

 

"I remembered when I came to Orbian to teach you to shift from human to Draega." he said. "It was such a happy day."

 

Sala tossed her short blue hair back. "You named me that day too." she reminded him.

 

"Only your wolf name." Sathin said, sitting down in the emerald grass.

 

Sala moved towards the tangled roots of an ancient rowan tree. "Mom told me that it is the most important name for a Draegan to have." she said.

 

Sathin nodded. "Both your common name and your true name are important to our people, Sala." he said. "You do remember what that means, right?"

 

"Woman of Song." Sala said softly.

 

Again Sathin nodded. "Your true name?" he asked.

 

"The whole thing?" Sala groaned. "Grandpa, it's so long."

Sathin gave her the do-it-because-I-said-so look. The girl sighed heavily. She knew the consequence for forgetting one's true name if when they were in wolf form. If the wolf form wasn't aware of the human form's name then that could be disastrous. The same went for the human knowing the wolf form's name. One had to be aware of their other form's name at all times. For a non-Draegan it would have been difficult to grasp.

 

"Singer of the Night and Day Who Brings Life With One Word of Song from Her Voice." Sala recited. "Singer for short."

Sathin nodded, smiling slightly. "Do you know why I gave you that name?" he asked.

 

"Hmm...because all the shorter ones were taken?" Sala asked sarcastically.

 

"No." Sathin said, rising to his feet.

 

Sala watched her grandfather as he extended his arms. Bright flames flew from his fingertips and latched onto the ancient trees. Flames shot up from the ground and surrounded them. Sala shot to her feet. Sathin turned a stern gaze on her and she was frozen to her spot. Sala felt her heart writhe in pain as she watched the trees being consumed by the crackling, life-consuming flames.

 

As suddenly as they had been conjured, Sathin distinguished them. He released Sala from his holding spell. The young woman fell to her knees and touched the charred ground. How could he? She brought her hands to her face and looked at the ashes that covered them.

 

"Sing." Sathin whispered.

 

The young woman closed her eyes. How could he expect her to sing at a time like this?! Before she realized what she was doing, Sala began to sing softly.

 

Live again

Bring your beauty

Back to this cold

And empty world

 

Live again

And show us

How strong you are

 

Bring meaning

Back to my

Cold and empty existence

Show me that I can be strong

 

 

She kept her eyes closed as the soft melody flowed off of her tongue and caressed her lips. When she felt something brush her hand, the young woman opened her silver eyes. As her voice filled the air around them, the life that her grandfather had ruined only moments before was returning.

 

When the last flower had grown back, Sala fell to the ground. "How in the fucking seven hells did I do that?!" she demanded.

 

Sathin chuckled. "Since when do you talk like that?" he asked.

 

"Since I grew up and found out what a freak I am to these paranoid bastards." Sala growled.

 

Sathin nodded. "Never mind that." he said, chuckling again. "Sing, pup. Sing."

Sala nodded and did as she was told.

 

***

 

Far to the north, a young man stood over his kill. Blood covered his tunic. The once-white cloth was now crimson with the blood of a young boar. A sick, sinister smile twisted his handsome face. Long brown locks clung to his sweaty brow and face. Deep green eyes danced with satisfied delight as he reveled in his kill.

 

A soft breeze came from the southwest and on it came the most beautiful song the man had ever heard. He whirled towards the sound. The melodious voice surrounded him and wrapped around his brain.

 

"Who...? What...? How...can anyone...make such a lovely sound and be of this world?" he asked the blue sky. "I must know who that is."

 

***

 

In the deepest cavern in the southern region of Ravika a large beast slept. His large ears moved as the sound of a young woman's singing came to him on the wind. Muscles, long since used, began to quiver. The beast could feel the power in the song and the power which the song awoke.

 

It moved to its fore legs. A large, triangular head came up from the bone littered floor of it's stone prison. Large eyelids moved to reveal crimson eyes. Black scales covered its under belly while black fur covered the rest of the body. The monstrous creature was on his feet now. It swiveled its great head around to the opening of its cavern. It was time for the King Baeriv to claim his place as King of Ravika once and for all.

 

"And you will help me do it, Traevakin." it growled lowly in its throat, causing the cavern walls to tremble.