The Island Of Avalon (2) “Aliandra please let me...” “No now I see why she thought having you here would cause nothing but trouble.” she bows her head. “Water magic in my blood, with the strength to cause a flood, send Tora to his home., Avalon is only a magical dome.” with the incantation said, water swirled around him. “Aliandra, please!” he begged as he began to disappear “SILVER FOX!” he screamed as he disappeared completely from the island of Avalon, and Silver Fox. Tora glanced around, he knew this place all to well, it was his village. Tora was home. “No” he cursed himself for being so foolish. He should’ve waited for a better time, but she had responded to him, she’d given herself to him. Those silent murmurs, the inaudible moan, he had heard them, and relished in them. “Why?” he asked to the sky, “Why did you take me away from her? Why can’t I love her?” “Tora?”a meek voice called. He spun on his heels to glance behind him. Their stood a young girl of about 9 winters, her ebony mane flew wildly in the wind, and her crystal blue eyes shone with joy. “Tora!” she squealed and jumped into his arms. “Karasu.” shocked he hugged his sister tight. “Oh Tora, we were so worried about you. We heard what happened to your ship, about how it went down and no one survived, but thank the gods you’re alive.” sobbed the racking girl. “It’s alright, I’m home Karasu.”he whispered to calm to the girl even though his heart was breaking at being back in his own land. “Come mother and father will be so happy to see you.”she jumped from his arms, grabbed his hand and raced through the village, pulling Tora with her. Tora couldn’t help but laugh at his sisters antics. She pulled him all the way to a lavish stone house, just out of the village, far enough to be ride of the noise, but close enough to trade, and shop. “Mama! Papa! I’m home, and guess what? I found Tora!” She yelled through the house. “What?” both parents pounded down the cobble stone stairs, their gazes landing on their son. “My Tora. My little boy.” the woman rushed over and wrapped her son in a big hug. “Tora, what happened?” asked the gingerly old man as he looked his son up and down to make sure he was alright, and in complete contact. “I’ve not a scratch father. The Gods were kind to me.” though at heart he didn’t feel that way. “Come my son, you must be starved, I will make a feast fit for a king.” she sat him down, and went off to the kitchen. Karasu jumped in to his lap, and squeezed her brother around the waist. “Sister, would you like me to tell you a story?” “Oh yes Tora, would you please?” “Of course sister, here we go: Once upon a time, their was a shipwreck in a vast ocean. No one had survived except for one very lucky young lad, and he prayed to the Gods to aid him to live, and they granted his wish, and soon he found himself washed up on the island of Avalon. . .” “Silver Fox! Silver Fox are you alright?” a panicked nymph begged “Aliandra what has happened here?” “It was the human Minara, he did something to her, he kissed her and when I found her she was as this. It’s absolutely terrifying.” “It is. I’ve never seen her like this, the fear and pain in her eyes. It chills my core.” “Should we alert the rest of the island?” “Heaven’s no! Who knows what would happen if we did that. Best to call a healer and maybe they can think of something to aid her.” “Alright, I’ll go and find a healer, keep her rested and keep everyone away from her.” and with that Aliandra jumped in the pond and swam off to find a healer who might help Silver Fox. “Please Silver Fox, we need you, get better.” sobbed Minara as she held herself “Minara,” Silver Fox rested a hand on her face, “I will be fine, I promise. Do not cry, I hate seeing tears shed over me,” “Silver Fox.”she moans as she collapses and holds on to Silver Fox. “I simply need to rest, that is all, just rest.” her eyes drifted closed as she layed back and fell into a deep sleep. “Silver Fox! Silver Fox!” Minara began to panicked, “What’s happening? Silver wake up! You have to!. You have to bring out the night and stars! Please wake up?” she begged and begged, as tears streamed down her face, but Silver Fox did not awaken. Seconds seem like hours, minutes seemed like days, Minara thought she’d go crazy if Aliandra didn’t return soon with a healer. Just as she thought those last words Aliandra resurfaced in the pond. “Minara, what is it?” Aliandra saw the panic in her eyes. “Silver Fox has fallen asleep, and I can not wake her.” “I’ve brought a healer, she will help us.” Aliandra climbed out of the water, pulling the healer out with her. “This Jadrine. She is a great healer amongst my people, I know she can help us.” “I will do my best.” the healer began her tests on Silver Fox when a loud crashing sound was heard. “What was that? It seemed to come from the sky.” all three women looked up. “Look at those clouds they are as dark as the night.” another sound was heard as streaks of light flashed across the sky. “What’s going on?” “No, it’s not possible.” the healer mumbled “What is it Jadrine?” Aliandra questioned “You know all the legends, about how Silver Fox created Avalon, to protect the children, correct.” “Yes, what about it?” “Silver Fox not only controls this island, she is joined with it. She controls all that happens, and now that she is unconscious she can no longer do that. Avalon will spin out of control if we don’t wake her.” “What will happen if we don’t?” “Then girls, Avalon will be destroyed.” Clouds rushed over the sky making it as black as a crow, rain began a down pour as thunder and lightning battled in the sky. Tora gazed out the window at the beast in the sky, and knew all was not right in Avalon, but he was powerless to do anything. Tora’s father joined him by the window “What goes on out here? Do you think the Gods angry?” “No father I have a feeling something more deviant is going on.” “Sorcery. It be those damned magic’s again playing with our skies.” “Silence father! You should not speak of them in such an ill manner. They are not as you think.” “And what would you know? You are just a boy.” “Father! I know more than you think. It is because of those magic’s that am alive.” “What?” “Father, they saved me from the ocean’s and now I have a terrible feeling that they are in great trouble.” Tora sighed, “I want to help them. Please let me help them.” “Where am I? What is this place?” “Silver Fox.” a voice echoed around her “Who . . . who’s there?” panicked she turned in the darkness to find the one who spoke “Silver Fox, listen to me. Avalon is falling apart. The creatures are panicking and the island is crumbling. “But that can’t be.” “The mountains are crumbling, the oceans are raging, and the earth itself is coming apart and swallowing the life.” “No,”she moaned, “why is this happening, my children.” “Listen to me. Because you have fallen asleep, you no longer control the island, and thus it is dying, if you don’t awaken soon Avalon will disappear from the earth and all will be lost.” “But how? I’ve tried, I don’t know how?” “Hush. This is how you must awaken: To awaken from this deadly sleep, you must awake by the means of which you fell asleep.” “Who are you?” “I’m hurt you don’t remember me. I am Infinity. Now hurry before it is too late.” the voice disappeared. “How did I fall asleep?” she questioned herself. As she paced in the darkness a vision came to her “Tora.”his eyes were full of worry as he gazed up at the denigrated sky “That’s it!” “This is such strange weather for the summer.” “What are you talking about boy? It is the time of the harvest.” “What? Tora exclaimed shocked, as he starred at his father “You’ve been gone more than a winter lad, that’s why everyone thought you dead, but the Gods were kind and brought you home safely.” he patted his son on the back, “Come your mother will have dinner on the table soon.” Another year passed. The sky remained dark throughout all the seasons, and all the creatures of the forests stayed away from open areas, for fear that the sky demon might strike them down. Tora was going mad. He had done everything he could to distract his mind, but nothing worked. He wondered through the forest in hopes of finding some game, but he found the forest reminded of the forest where ‘she’ lived. “I want to help.” he spoke to the sky, but no one would hear his prayer this time. Panicked screams filled the air as everyone rushed around the island in hopes of finding some kind of salvation. “Jadrine what do we do?” sobbed Minara “Keep your head straight girl. We will be find, we just need to find a way to wake her. Aliandra, you seem unusually calm, what is it dear?” “I’m not sure, but I see no use in panicking, I fell as if everything will be fine.” “It is good to keep hope alive.” though she herself did not see much of it “Aliandra” “What?” her head shot up, she recognized that voice “Aliandra, listen to me.” her voice like a spirits whispered in her mind “I hear you Silver Fox.” both Jadrine and Minara stared at her as if she was insane “You must bring Tora back to the island. He is the only one who can wake me.” “But how?” “With a kiss. It is the means of which I fell asleep, and it is the only way to awaken me.” “Wonderful. I’ll do it, btu only because we need you and want you back. “Thank you Aliandra.” the voice drifted. Alaindra looked at the others “We have to bring Tora back. He is the only one who can awaken Silver Fox.” “What?” Minara cried in shock “I know it seems strange but it’s what she said.” “Great. And how are we exactly supposed to do that.” “I sent him to the human world when my power was at it’s peak, so if we pull all our powers together I’m sure we can bring him back.” “And if we don’t succeed?” as if to answer her question, the ground began to quiver and split “Ok, ok. I got it. Lets do it already.” the three magic’s took hands and began to pull all their powers together, to bring back Tora. “Silver Fox.” he mumbled as he slept, “No!” he jerked up. His head spinning, and everything was dark, as he looked about his familiar surroundings. “I’m still home.” he spoke with a sigh, “Was it just a dream? Or is Avalon dying? No it can’t be. It just can’t.” his mind raced with thought of never seeing the angelic face of Silver Fox again. Tora stood from his bed a dressed himself, since he could not sleep, he’d go for a walk. He snuck from his home in hopes not to wake his parents or sister. He headed towards the forest, no longer caring what animal lay there, perhaps they could put him out of his misery he thought solemnly. The forest was thick with greenery, the air was dense and stale. Most unusual for this normally beautiful and fresh place. Tora could remember the times he had played in this forest as a child. It had always been so welcoming and friendly, but now it seemed as if the trees frowned upon him. Their roots seemed to lift in attempts to trip him, and their branches low to hit. “What is going on in here?” finally one of the snagged him and he fell face first but did not quite hit the ground, there was a crack and he fell through the split. “Well it’s about time.”Tora shot up, he knew that voice, that threatening voice of hatred. “Aliandra.” disbelief shot through him, but there she was, standing before him, her hands poised on her hips. “What. . . Where. . .”was all her could manage. “Good day Tora, well actually it’s a horrible day. This all your fault and you’d better fix it.” “What? I don’t understand.” “It’s quite simple. Because of you, Silver Fox is in a state of unconsciousness, and because of that Avalon is being torn to shreds!”Aliandra yelled “But what can I do?” “You put her to sleep, you wake her up.” “How?” “The same way you did that.” she pointed to the unconscious body of Silver Fox, where Minara, and Jadrine sat to protect her from the chaos. “You mean you want me to kiss her.” he said shocked “YES!” they all cried “Alright, I’ll try.” “You’d better hope this works or you’ll be in big trouble.” “What if it doesn’t work? What if Silver Fox was wrong?” “No Minara, she can’t be. We need her.” “Yes Alaindra”. Tora glanced between the three maidens, and then to his precious Silver Fox. He had longed for this moment for so long, but now, to come back to his beautiful angle, so pail, so frail. “Silver Fox.” he whispered as he took her chilled hand in his. Gently he lowered himself down, her lips were a ghostly white. He lightly brushed his against hers, praying silently for her to wake up. Finally he kissed, fully, lovingly, trying to send his life to her, so she may come back to him. As he pulled away, a single tear feel from beneath his closed lids, and landed on her porcelain skin. “Did it work?” “I don’t know.”Tora replied “What do you mean?”she yelled. Tora glanced down at his love with hopelessness, if no one was supposed to wake her asides from him, what was he to do if it didn’t work. The ground began to split again, this time spitting fires from below. Wind howled, thunder cracked the sky, and lightning shot forth from the heavens. They all glanced down at Silver Fox, but she wasn’t there. “The ground must have swallowed her up.” Minara whimpered “No. No look!” Jadrine pointed to the raging sky. There floated Silver Fox, she was awake and ready. She knew what was happening, and knew what she had to do. She began to concentrate all her power and energy on repairing her island. The dark clouds began to disburse, and the sun through spreading light along the island. Power shot from her body, pulling the island back together. Cracks and splits vanished, and the island was whole again. Cheers could be heard all around the island. Everyone rejoiced at the sight of Silver Fox, for they knew she would save them. All the inhabitants made their way to Silver Fox’s home so that they could thank her, but she did not return. They all glanced back to the sky, she was still there. Murmurs could be heard amongst the crowd. Questions of why she was up there? And what she was doing? “Jadrine, what is she doing still up their?”Why has she not come down yet?” “I’m not sure child, but I am sure she knows what she does.” Everyone watched Silver Fox as power surged from her body again. The ground began to shake and rumble again, and everyone became frightened. New trees, and plants burst from the ground, flowers bloomed like mad, and the island began to grow. It stretched forth in to the sea becoming more vast than ever before. New area’s blossomed to suit it’s inhabitants. New mountains thrust up to the sky, deserts seemed to reach for miles, and forests cascaded shade to eternity. Everyone’s cries rose with joy, it was as if the island was born a new. The sun shone with it’s golden rays, the wind breezed over the island, giving everyone new life and hope. Someone screamed. Everyone looked to where she was pointing to. Silver Fox was falling from the sky. Doragon, master of the dragons spread his mighty wings and took to the sky. He flew swiftly with agile. He raced to her and caught her in his mighty claw. She was dazed and exhausted. He glided back to her forest, everyone parted so they could land. Doragon placed Silver Fox on her favourite cliff just above the water. Jadrine rushed over to see her. “Silver Fox how do you feel?” “Tiered and drained.” she mumbled “Alright, let me take care of you.” Jadrine began to work her magic, to heal Silver Fox of her weakness. By the time the sunset, she was back to normal. Praised welcomed Silver Fox back to her senses, questions were asked of how it had happened in the first place, and love to give her back her light was given from everyone about the island. She truly was the mother of magic. Tora stood by a tree, watching the beautiful maiden who captured his heart. He knew she would not be pleased with him, and that he would have to go home. He cursed his foolish heart for falling in love with her. Love, yes he did love her. Everything about her made him want her more, but she would never let him. Why did he have to be human? Why couldn’t he be magic, maybe then they could be, maybe then she could love him. Silver Fox assured everyone she was fine and told them all to return home and sleep, the stars were shining and the moon was high. She saw him from the corner of her eye, he stood under a weeping willow, the moon hitting him so perfectly that he looked like an angel. She sighed and made her way to him. He took a glance at her approaching , and she saw something flash through his eyes for just a moment, then it was gone. “Hello Tora.” “Silver Fox.”he bowed his head. They were alone. “I’d like to thank for saving me, and my children.” she said shyly “It was nothing.” he turned and looked into her eyes. He swallowed hard, and took her hands, “I’m ready to go home.” “Well there you have it, my sweet little children. The story of how, your father and myself meet, I hope you enjoyed it” She walked from the room, “Good night babies.” “Night mama.” the two voices call “How did it go?” “Very well my love.” “Silver Fox, my beautiful wife.” he takes her in his arms and spins her around. “Tora put me down.” “Never, never will I let you go.” “Tora.” he kisses her deeply “I love you.” “And I love you.”
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Copyright © 2001 Sandy Wasson |