Novel

This is the first chapter of a fantasy novel I am currently working on. I am looking for a dedicated person to help me expand and stream-line it. Currently, I have six chapters written.

If you like the story, and would like to help develop it, please email me. In return, I will help you with your work too. Please include your name, age, and how you can help me (i.e. character development). Serious inquiries only.

Thanks, and enjoy:

Chapter 1 of "Untitled"

by Courtney Kelly

I knelt silently before the crystal pond, awaiting my honor. My eyes closed but I could still see Hearia’s reflection, the Great One, on the back of my eyelids.

"Demeena o'pourah semintrua," I whispered as so many others had before me. My twin whispered it too, beside me.

"Wash away my fears," We translated in unison for the Ambassador of Man that stood amongst my family and fell into the icy waters of Hearia's pond. My brother reached for my hand and we swam together to the bottom. I smiled at him in the crystal waters as we turned to tip toe along the sandy bottom.

We closed our eyes and pushed off the ground for the water’s surface, the last step of our graduation.

"NICTICKTOO! VISMARD!" Screams filled our ears when there was no water left to shield us from their pain.

"Lona! Johad! Stay in the waters. Stay underneath! Use the breathing spell. They will not see you there!" our mother pushed us underneath the water again.

In horror, my brother, Johad tried to speak aloud. He choked against the water that filled his mouth. Stay still, Johad, keep me calm. We must practice our breathing spell now.

He nodded in understanding. Sister, I will keep you calm.

Together we chanted the breathing spell without the breath to speak it. We held close to one another, and tried to forget the beasts above. We sank to the bottom and fell into a deep sleep.

* *

Lona? I could hear him in my mind. Lona! Wake up, dear sister. Don’t leave me now. I awoke and his green eyes shone with fear.

I am here, Johad. We fell asleep. I attempted to yawn, but remembered the water in time. Johad’s hair flew around him like a lion’s mane.

I can’t hear them… If we were in the air, I would see his tears.

Maybe they are unconscious. Let’s go look. I tried to hide my doubts by averting my eyes.

Johad grasped my hand and we swam cautiously to the surface.

I am the oldest, I will look first, Johad said to me. By two minuets! We’ll look together, I replied.

Slowly, we raised our heads above the waters and looked out onto our city.

Smoldering coals slowly died where once tall trees lived. The sky was painted gray with smoke and destruction. The once soft grass was scorched and trampled. I held back my tears.

Johad, this means nothing. Our city is gone, but I see nothing of our family.

We crawled out of the water and looked tentatively around at our once great city. The old trees had disappeared. Not one family tree remained. A single purple flag flew in the smoky wind, our Great Star half burnt by vicious flames.

Johad grabbed my hand. We must look. I let him led me through the coals. Our bare feet stepped lightly to avoid the heat. I kept a close eye for more Vismard’s, and Nicticktoo; perhaps they had not left yet? Johad sensed my nervous nature and held my hand tighter still.

A crack of breaking wood, and we dived to the ground before the sound had time to reach us. Without the trees, we were not safe here. I tried to slow my breathing and readied myself for an enemy.

We cannot hide, I said to Johad. Get up with me.

Slowly, we stood up. Without our bows, we had nothing but magic to keep us safe, but the cold waters had drained us of strength. I felt shaky and weak with this new fear. They would kill us too.

We cannot do this, Lona; we will die here along with the many others.

I took back his hand and simply commanded RUN.

We bolted towards the nearest entrance into the thick forest. We could hear the Vismard yelling to one another close behind but did not dare to look back. Arrows screamed past our bodies, thankfully missing their mark.

Johad leapt gracefully up into a high branch as soon as he entered the woods, and I followed as quickly as I could. My heart beat quickly with fear, my legs and arms slipped with the adrenaline. I tried to regain my control but the Vismard’s heavy footsteps were close behind and I could concentrate on nothing else.

I lost my balance and fell fast to the ground. My breath ceased but the fear drove me on. An arrow skimmed my shoulder as I leapt back into a tree. Johad was far ahead of me now. Thankfully, I began to find my rhythm. Johad looked behind him, and hesitated whether he should leap on, or wait for me. I commanded him to keep moving, not to worry about me. I’ll catch up, I kept telling him: I’ll catch up.

* *

My legs burned after hours of running from branch to branch; Johad was still ahead, but not as far as before. We leapt through unknown forests, in plain sight without our cloaks. I could not run any longer. My face was red with exhaustion.

Johad, we must stop. The Vismard have lost us.

He leapt onto the tree branch on which I stood. We are far from home.

Yes, Johad, but we cannot go back.

“I understand.” The first words spoken aloud since graduation. “What about our cloaks, our bows?”

“We will make new ones,” I leaned against the tree trunk, trying to catch my breath.

“The nearest market that sells Ganishin Fabric is two Sun’s away.”

“Then we will travel for two Sun’s, Johad.” Johad slumped onto the branch, and laid his head against the bark. I looked closer at his face as he brushed his golden hair from his eyes. Three black dots were now above his left eye.

“You have the mark, the tattoo of Hearia,” I smiled at him as he touched the dots with pride.

“Sister, as do you,” He pointed at my face and I laughed and touched my forehead as well. We joked and talked awhile, forgetting our tragedy for just a small hour. My icy blue eyes danced along with his green(,) and we curled together to watch the sun set on our new lives.

“Brother, I am hungry.”

“I as well, we have nothing to hunt with,” Johad whispered. “Let us get some sleep to forget the hunger and begin travel when the sun awakens us tomorrow.”

“You have forgotten, Johad. We are older now. We can become like a jaguar, and eat a jaguar’s prey,” I said to him, excited to be able to use my skills.

“Today, we cannot. We need rest, not magic. Food tomorrow, sleep today.”

I sighed and let him sway me into sleep.

* *

Lona, can you hear me?

Yes, mother, I hear your thoughts. I was worried, where are you?

A great light surrounded me; I live here now, with the Great Elders. A tear escaped from my eyes.

“Do not cry now.” The sound of her voice filled my ears, “I am safe here. You are with your brother - safe in friendly branches?”

“We ran mother, we saw the coals, we heard a noise, and ran. The Vismard, they saw us. They followed us into the woods. We have nothing left.” She took gentle steps towards me, and we embraced.

We walked for a while, through our city that was no longer there in consciousness. The windows of family trees lit up in the twilight hours. Lightening Bugs danced above the sugar bushes, and the sounds of people rejoicing floated through the air.

“You are wrong, Lona,” My mother turned to speak with me beside the pond.

“You have everything that you had here.” I was confused. I don’t have my cloak, food, or bow.

“What do I have?”

“You have enough to survive this new pain. Let us talk about what will happen now.” My eyebrows furrowed together, “Mother, I don’t understand.”

“In time. Now, you and Johad are the only people left of our city, but there are elves in other places that have not had the Nicticktoo devil consuming them. You have heard the stories?”

“Yes, the rangers. They left after graduation because the wind tugged at their hearts and drew them away from us.”

“That is right. They left for higher reasons as well, but that you will learn in time too.”

Keisha, my youngest sister, wandered up to me, “Lona, I like your eyes.”

“I’m sorry little one, what is so different about my eyes than yours?” Mother pushed Keisha away telling her to go home. I felt confused and lost.

“The little ones know more than they know how to say,” Mother mumbled to the air.

“Mother?”

“Before you awake, this is my advice. Find The Lost One, find Isla,” She turned and began to walk away. I tried to follow but the earth would not move beneath my feet.

“Wait, don’t leave… Mother?” I reached out to grasp her, but she was too far.

“Isla. Find him and you will save us all.”

* *

I awoke with shivers, and Johad was not with me. The sun was just cresting over the horizon.

Johad! I yelled to his mind, afraid of what creatures might be near by.

He leapt down from a higher branch, “Crow’s eggs for breakfast.” He smiled at me, “I had a dream.”

“As did I Johad. Of Mother, what was yours?”

“Of Father. He told me…” I interrupted, “to find Isla.”

“Yes, to find Isla.”

“Who is Isla? I heard stories, but I did not learn of him completely,” I reached out and took one of the eggs from Johad’s hand.

“Let’s talk after breakfast. I have also gathered Jannu fruit to drink and chew.”

I grasped the egg, and hardened the insides as Johad did the same to his. We flicked away the shells, and recited the prayer of thanks.

“Demo o’ner henia filla.” And we ate. Johad poured the Jannu’s fruit juice in both of our mouths and we watched the sun rise against the thick forest.

“Isla,” my brother began, after the last Jannu fruit had disappeared, “was once a leader of the elves long ago, before the Great War.”

He sat himself against the trunk and I leaned against him to hear his story well.

“He was the first to speak to Man, and ultimately the reason why the Nicticktoo began. He meant it well, but sometimes, good intentions bring great harm,” Johad played gently with my hair as he spoke.

“When Man returned years later to our city for help, Isla said unto him ‘we have remained neutral throughout the earths wars, and neutral we shall stay. When the war is over, we will heal the wounded, and we will heal the earth on both sides.’ Man became angry and spoke to the lesser citizens.”

“Did Isla not stop Man from doing so?” I asked,

“No, he let him speak to anyone who wanted to listen. Man said to the lesser elves, ‘your leader is blinded. He says that all of you will remain neutral in a war against beasts that will kill you without remorse; neutral or not. They hunt Man, and they will hunt you.’ And many elves became scared.”

“I would be scared too,” I whispered to myself. Johad cocked his head towards a new sound in the forest, “What is it?” I tried to listen to, closing my eyes.

I don’t know but I don’t like it. Let’s stay still for a while. I agreed without a word, and we sat close to each other listening to the sound that came ever nearer.

It’s the forest floor, someone is walking through it very carefully. I looked at Johad for a response, We should move.

As carefully as we could, we stood up against the tree. As swiftly as you can, don’t worry about keeping up, just try to be quiet. My face turned red with anger. I was graceful enough!

Sister, lets quarrel another day. Johad said before I could respond, and he swung off into the trees; the only sound he made was like a gust of wind through treetops. I leapt off to follow him, imitating his movements.

But Johad was right, I was not full of grace; the third branch I grabbed onto creaked, and on the fourth, a smaller limb broke off in my carelessness. The soft footsteps became hard, and the screams of the hunt broke loose.

Johad looked back on me, his eyes full of fear and anger. I gave up trying to be graceful, and flung myself through the trees once more. The footsteps pounded behind us, closing in on their kill.

At one point, I noticed that Johad had slipped – his first mistake in years. Tears ran down his eyes as he scraped against the tree, looking for a better hold before he fell. I raced to catch up, my arms burned to save him, but as I neared Johad caught hold. I let out a sigh of relief, as he once again, moved swiftly through the forest.

“There they are! The two children! Kill them!” a rough voice roared through our forest domain. The Vismard’s cries grew louder; their footsteps hit the ground harder.

Turn West, there is a canyon beyond the tree line. I obeyed Johad quickly; making sure the Vismard saw my turn.

Our lungs felt as if they were on fire as we raced towards the canyon. Every swing drained me of hope. Would we be able to do this? Johad was mad to think this was a good idea, but what other option did we have?

Johad and I neared the last line of trees before the 120-foot drop into the canyon’s belly, and he slowed to my pace. On three, okay? He said to me, he could sense my doubt. Yes, brother, on three. I promised.

1, Johad counted,

2, I held my breath,

3, I flung myself out into open air and watched Johad as he did the same. I turned onto my belly, and held my arms and legs out wide to slow myself. My hair whipped my face, and stung my eyes, but I refused to blink.

I aimed for a tall Maple that stood out among the Birch; the bottom of the canyon growing nearer by the second. With a thud, I landed against its trunk. My breath escaped and wouldn’t return as I scrambled to grasp onto a branch. Even though my ears were ringing, I could hear another thud as Johad landed on a tree close by. I finally found a hold on a thick branch and dragged myself on to it. Hugging the tree closely, I waited for my breath to return.

Johad came to sit beside me, “Sister?” he asked quietly.

“Yes, Johad,” My eyes remained closed. My chest, and hands still hurt from the landing.

“Next time, aim for a birch. They are softer.” I laughed carefully along with him, swearing that I would never do such a thing as that again.

“Tell me the rest of the story,” I said, still hanging on to the tree.

“Where was I… oh yes, Man had just told the elves that their enemy would hunt them as well…” Johad sat and thought for a while before beginning again.

“Then, Isla said unto the elves ‘those which will be consumed by fear will die along side men, those who are consumed by wisdom will stay and fight only when necessary. This is how it always has been; our Great Elders are wise and correct. Man is young and violent in nature. Choose, for I will not choose for you.’ And so the Nicticktoo left to help man, and the elves stayed.”

“So, Nicticktoo were once elves?” I asked as I carefully moved my arms.

“That is right, my sister. Do you know the old language?”

“Not entirely. They did not teach us that for the studies I chose.” We had parted only once, when we entered school. Johad took courses that involved history, old language, spells of protection, and accurate bow shooting and building. While I took the newer course, which involved Animal Magic, basic protection spells, and advanced cloak use.

“Nicticktoo translates into ‘abandoned’, and Vismard translates into ‘harmed’. Isla translates, roughly, into ‘lost one’.”

“Why were the Nicticktoo named as abandoned, when they abandoned us?” I turned slowly to face him, my chest still aching.

“Nicticktoo was the name the Great Elders gave them. They felt that their leader had abandoned them by not forcing them to stay.”

“And why was Isla named at birth ‘lost one’?” I tried to stand, but my legs gave way.

“This was not always his name. Isla is his nickname. After the lesser elves, and even the Elders, became solid in their idea that Isla had not been wise - Isla took his leave. He left in the twilight, not one hand reached to stop him. He was said to wander throughout the land with a great weight upon his shoulders, for he had started the end of the elves. His markings turned from Silver Star to a star as red as the blood the Nicticktoo shed in the Great War.”

“I understand what Mother said to me now. We must find Isla, he will still be amongst us with such a burden,” I stood up with more ease, and reached out my hand for his.

“What can he do?”

“I do not know that yet, but he can do something to save us all. If he began the end, he can also stop it. Mother said that there are rangers which will help us find him,” Johad took my hand and lifted himself up.

“Then we must hurry. First to the market for cloaks and bows, then to find a Ranger.”

And so, our journey began.