Chapter 8

Crackles and pops exploded in small sporadic bundles from the main fire as it was quickly surrounded with people. The meat had finished cooking, and the morsels were shared around evenly on large, stiff leaves. It was barely more than a mouthful, but each seemed grateful as they talked and laughed and tried to find a good seat. The Witch and the Hunter joined the circle, he took a seat while she remained standing, walking close to the roaring fire.

"Tonight, I will tell the story of our world, from the beginning to current time." A hush fell over the people, the Knight especially as he watched the Witch grab a handful of dust from the satchel at her side. She threw it into the fire, causing thick smoke to plume over the roaring flames and settle over their heads in a cloud, changing color and shape as she spoke. The story was an old one, told to every child at least once at bedtime by their parent, but the Witch's voice made it sound like it had never been heard before.

"Many centuries ago, when Da'nu was calm and balanced, the Mother Tree stood tall and proud in the center of our world. Her branches were wide and full of life, her roots intertwining far throughout the lands, creating the border between regions where they jutted from the ground. She gifted each realm a Companion, a powerful and strong animal born from the power of the Tree herself. Given the task to choose for itself a Guardian, each Companion bonded with a being born from the human races that inhabited the lands.

"She created the violet fields and carved the river that floods Spring Meadows with the subtle growth of clover patches, which brought the birds and filled the air with their song." Rain Dancer, a winged horse was formed as the Companion of Spring, its flowing tail and feathers adorned with every color imaginable as it flew through the cloud of smoke. It's pearly iridescent horn curled tightly around itself, cutting through the gray in a long, glistening line. "With a flap of her wings, a thunderous ovation can sweep through the land, causing showers to fall in her wake. Cea'dah Tep'um named Colla Tep'um, Petal Dancer, a kind and gentle soul chosen because of the love her people had for her.

"She formed the plains of the Summer Sanctuary, vibrant with mature, lush prairie grass and scattered it with Beyos and other grazing cattle." The Companion of Summer was a dragon, bright red and orange as the fire that burned in its gut, a streak of pure gold running from the tip of his nose down his sides and speckling out in the tail. "Sun Riser had wings so massive it could cast a shadow over a whole village, and breath hot enough to turn the very ground into liquid. Dar E'um named Leo'ra, Ember, for she was the wealthiest in all of Da'nu.

"Our Mother crafted the gentle rolling orchards of Autumn Fall, painted the trees in golden hues, and lured the playful wind." A massive owl wise and looming known as Wind Runner was the Companion of Fall, with shades of auburn and gold painting his feathers, and eyes a dazzling hazel. "Talons sharp enough to cut stone, yet gentle enough to rock a newborn babe. Coo'Rah Be'um named Coo'Har Be'um, Gust Runner, a witch by birth gifted with grace and an ability to influence those around her.

"She rose the Winterland mountains and locked them in ice, filling it with furred and skilled hunting beasts of all sizes." The smoke twisted through forms of Snow Bringer, the Companion of Winter. His sapphire eyes and stark white mane glowing as he cantered over their heads. "Cea'em Two'um named Cea'ra Diem, Frost Slayer, a warrior known throughout the Winterlands for his strength and courage."

The Witch's voice grew louder.

"She filled The Forest of All with an abundance of wonderful, spiritual beings, and gave every inch of the forest her love and power."

Twin Mighty Stags were formed as the Companions of the Forest of All, each standing at least nineteen hands tall. "One white as the blossoms that once bloomed on the Mother Tree named Life Breather. The other, Life Taker, as dark as the shadows cast by her branches, chose twin brothers, one just seconds older than the other. The dark Fra Key'um named Dovah for his patience gained from years of stalking animals through the brush, and the white Fra Soo'um named the younger brother, Korva for the attention to detail and planning he put into everything he sought to accomplish." The smoke twisted and twirled through visions of glimmering forest-filled landscapes, swirling sprites, and dancing deer, all in harmony with each other.

"The Guardians took on the abilities of their Companions in time, each given a power helpful to the region they were sworn to protect along with elongated life.

"All lived in perfect harmony for many, many centuries." She paused for a moment to let the words sink in, especially to the Knight, who would be hearing this other half of their worlds history for the first time.

"But this was not destined to last for all eternity."

The smoke billowed black and dark, consuming the first images as they tried to scatter away without success. "The second born of the twins could not be content in his place in the world. The beings he was tasked with creating were ugly in his eyes, too soft and kind for his liking. He chose his own path, away from the way the Tree had given him and took the creatures and twisted them into what he saw fit." Again, the smoke shifted, images of terrifying animals, just skin and bones and at times, no skin at all with glowing, red eyes filled the air.

"This satisfied him for a time, and he was able to hide his creations from the Mother. But he grew restless quickly, his manipulations were not enough for the growing evil within him. One day without any forethought, he turned his twisted spirit on his Companion." The smoke ran deep red and filled the air over their heads like a cloud of blood.

"He attempted to change Life Breather, and it died at his hand with a piercing screech that rang through all the souls of Da'nu. Without the Companion, his power was stripped from him in that moment, and a great shift shook the land. The Mother Tree could ignore the darkness within him no longer. She called to the other Guardians in their tongue. ‘Garuk!'" All around the fire jumped as she yelled the ancient word. By now, they all spoke in hushed whispers if they spoke at all, comforting those beside them with held hands, and all attention was on the Witch and her smoke.

"We came as fast as we could..." Her voice sobered as the smoke swirled, and the Knight could see a line of Guardians and Companions rushing to the Tree, the owl and dragon flying above the two horse-like beings, the Mighty Stag leading the charge.

"We came to Her just as he did, the dark evil inside him seeped from his mouth in a thick black fog, the legion of twisted half-dead creatures at his heels to defend him. We fought as hard as we could, but we were losing, as the ground at our feet shook." The smoke swirled through images of giant rock statues emerging from the ground in the heat of the battle.

"The Mother Tree had called the Drum'ma from the earth, giant stone beings to stand at our side and together, we forced the fallen Guardian from the forest." All gasped and cheered as the smoke showed the brother crossing out of the fores t into the endless frozen drifts of the Winterlands.

"Although we evicted this great evil from our forest..." She gave a moment for the cheering to calm down. "...the scars of his presence have not left. The beings Korva twisted still roam our wilds, and the dark smoke still swirls upon our dirt, reminding us at every step the uphill battle we have to face to restore normality." The camp was quiet, every head bowed at her words. "Many of you have been raised in this madness, born into this world, and it is all you have ever known... The Winter and Summer Kingdoms fell to his evil hand. Autumn Fall feels the effect of his reach, and soon Spring Meadows will be engulfed into his rule. Nothing will stop him from coming for the Mother Tree.

"But fear not, for a great shift is occurring! For in your mist sits the Son of the Winter King, thought lost in the tragedy that befell his father and mother, but alas no more!" The Gypsy stared straight at the knight, and all at once, he knew she was talking about him. "Cea'em Two'um, Snow Bringer, has accepted the knight as his Guardian. We have begun a quest for him to win his destined Fair Lady, the Queen of Spring Meadows. If there are any who wish to join us through the inner rings to the Mother Tree, let these words stand as your invitation." With that, she turned and left the circle.