Creations

Serse walked among the villagers easily. Some backed away from her, but many simply weaved around her, so had always had the aura of someone easy going and kind. Many times she asked if anyone had seen a yellow goddess but no one had. She was losing hope until she reached a far out settlement, when she asked a villager he told her that he had seen a young goddess walking through the forest near the village while he had been gathering. She asked him in what direction she was headed and he pointed out the way.

Serse had a surge of hope, she quickly walked in that direction and soon found herself in a clearing. A small house was nestled in the hills, surrounded by golden fields. In the centre a woman dressed in purple had her back to Serse, but Serse saw a young green child running circles around the woman.

"Alora!" Serse called.

The woman startled, one hand grabbed the child and pushed them behind herself. Alora had grown older since the last time Serse had seen her, she was taller and more forbidding, though some of that eased when she saw who the caller was.

"Is it you Serse?" She asked.

"Yes, it is I," Serse walked closer to her, "I have searched desperately for you since you fled Onicent."

Alora's face darkened, "does that man still rule over the overworld?"

Serse was now within an arms length, "Onicent is the leader, but around him his siblings have formed a counsel, they make decisions together." Serse watched the child peek out at her.

Alora noticed this, "the child is my daughter Elsbeth. Onicent must not know of her, swear to me now that you've located me that you won't alert him to her existence."

"I swear," Serse said solumly, "but Alora you must return with me. For I found you through word from villagers, it will reach Onicent eventually, then he will come here."

Alora nodded, "I cannot leave my child."

"Onicent will come here if you don't come with me," Serse said this all kindly though.

Despair crossed Alora's face. It was then deep from the ground their was a murmuring. Both Serse and Alora listened to the voice of the mother goddess. She sounded asleep yet she'd come to their aid.

"Take your knife Alora, and with a few drops of blood your answer shall come. Press the cut to the trees around this clearing."

Alora took out her knife and pressed the tip to her finger till a few drops welled up. Then she walked to the nearest tree and pressed her finger to it, she did this to four more trees. From the very trunks came figures, young girls dressed in leaves with skin that matched the tree bark.

"Lady Alora," they bowed their heads to her.

Alora closed her eyes, "thank you mother."

Elsbeth walked up to one of the new creatures, "hello!" She chimed. They smiled at her softly.

"We shall protect her while you are gone Lady Alora, no one shall harm her in our care."

Alora was hesitant, but agreed to leave with Serse. It was then that three more joined them, girls in deep purple cloaks.

"These are my helpers, Dinetee, Nevlin and Endra." Alora said. The girls bowed their heads to Serse.

"Is it true then, their is a counsel of gods?" One of the girls said.

"It is true," Serse replied.

The three turned to Alora, "forgive us, but we must go speak with our father."

"You've served me well, I bless your journey home," Alora replied.

And so Elsbeth was left in the care of the tree nymphs, and Alora and Serse headed toward Onicent's palace. While the three young daughters of Maiguh returned home to report their news.