Ellarowe

Night had fallen on the usually tranquil and peaceful forest of Forstialla, but tonight was anything but. Where a night in this forest would normally see brush winds and calm skies, all the forest could offer tonight was a furious storm. Thunder struck, destroying limbs, and not a creature could be found, except one.

Through the shaking trees and the rumbling thunder, a single buck came rushing through the lands with only the glow of his necklace lighting his way, looking for the biggest tree at the center of the forest. As the rain poured and the darkness surrounded him, he followed the footprints in front of him, some of which would not normally belong to the creatures residing in the forest, before the rain washed the prints away with the mud. Taking deep breaths, the buck calmed his mind and closed his eyes.

“Please…lend me your strength…,” said the buck.

The paw-shaped jewel in the middle of the necklace lit up, with the path that had been washed away now being fully illuminated for the buck’s tender eyes.

“Thank you, your grace,” the buck said with a smile, continuing to follow the path to the center of the forest.

Through many twists and turns on the path, the buck finally arrived at the large tree he was looking for. The colossal tree, five hundred feet tall with a seventy-foot base, gleamed with stained glass panels like a cathedral of nature. Near the base of the tree, a doorway-like opening was carved through the trunk with two of the roots forming an archway, almost as if an invite was being given to any who approached.

The buck entered the great tree, and with determined purpose, transformed into a human wearing a brown short sleeve shirt with dark brown pants, and brown leather shoes, his deer antlers still visible on his head. His figure was stern, with his hazel eyes highlighting his pale complexion, while also offering a bit of timidness. He held his necklace, and wondered if the torrential storm would ever calm, still listening to the screaming wind. As he sighed, the man walked up fourteen stairs, leading to a round table discussion with the most Acclaimed members of the land, with the man being the fifth and final member of the council. Getting closer to the table, the man heard the Acclaimed, shouting at each other like a pack of wolves howling into the moonlight.

To the left of the man, Orcana, a woman wearing red lipstick, wearing a white button-down shirt, black dress pants, with a dorsal black fin perfectly parallel to her spine. To her right, Albasso, an older gentleman with gray hair donning a blue garb-like robe, with blue and pearl feathers on his right arm. On the right side of the room with a booming presence sits Felicio, a man in his mid-thirties, his flexed muscles shown through his peach and yellow toga, and two-inch long black claws coming from his hands. Lastly, directly right of the man sits Deltora, a skinny woman with orange hair, donning a green dress, her spiky scales and hissing showcased her presence. The four continued to argue as the man sat down.

“These are means to an end, I tell you!” said Albasso. “We have no right to proceed with the current situation!”

“Rich coming from the air dweller!” said Orcana. “What do you have to worry about? Your worries are of no interest to me!”

“Rich coming from the non-land dwellers, isn’t it?” Deltora laughed. “More important matters are present at the moment!”

“And what would those be?” asked Felicio. “We have a simple matter, which is our survival, you hypocrites, if you even make it!”

“Is that a threat, Felicio?” barked Orcana. “If it’s a fight you want, I can assure you I…”

The bickering continued. The antlered man sat down and looked straight ahead at an empty chair. The chair was tattered, and had some dust on the backside near the armrests. On the seat sat a single wilted rose, its color faded. He shapeshifted his arm into a hoof and struck it on the table three times as if it were a gavel. The room fell quiet, the echoing storm being the only thing heard.

“Uzalo…apologies I didn’t realize that you-” said Albasso.

“This room is rather rampant. What have I missed so far?” said Uzalo. He addressed the members of the council from right to left. “Deltora, Felicio, Albasso, Orcana.”

“We have yet to reach a proper strategy for the future of our land,” said Orcana. “Our tribes seem to value other matters at present.”

“An interesting way to describe what our focus should be,” Felicio fired back. “We still have an established threat to our home world. It would be most wise to eliminate it before she gains more supporters! We must retrieve the Heartroot Crystal!”

“And what becomes of our people then?!” asked Orcana. “You seem to believe that our citizens are all willing to throw themselves on the battlefield for our cause while we sit on the sidelines?”

“A land that is led correctly should already have prepared its people for a situation just like this.” Felicio remarked.

“Lovely. Your citizens must lead a very happy life, constantly believing their only purpose is to die for their fearless leader.” commented Deltora.

Felicio growled at Deltora. She responded by flaring up her scales like fire scorching over kindling. The two already had a rough history with their decision-making, and Felicio was more trigger happy than she would have preferred. Uzalo sat silent still, listening to his comrades.

“We seem to be of the belief that this must result in some kind of war or deadly combat,” said Albasso. “Is there truly no way to make peace instead of further escalation?”

“Are you blind man?” Felicio reprimanded. “Miss Ella is dead, killed by her-er-their hands! In my eyes, they have already started another war, even if the Dark War has just ended. If we do not act now, any one of us could be next.”

“This is true,” said Deltora. “I cannot deny that we, as well as our citizens, are in grave danger. We must have a compromise.”

“We could have another Dark War if we’re not careful,” stated Orcana. “And if that happens, may Ella help us all.”

The council sat in silence for a moment, as if in agreement with Orcana, with all five members lost in thought for what was to come. Uzalo waited if there were to be any more discussion. With the four others speechless, he stood up.

“I think I have a solution to our problem.” stated Uzalo.

“Please, speak brother,” said Felicio. “We are willing to listen.”

The rest of the council nodded in agreement.

“It is a risky move, however,” warned Uzalo. “It may yield negative consequences.”

“We are willing to hear you out,” Deltora proclaimed.

“I think it is time we seek out Evelyn Lovell,” Uzalo suggested.

“You have found her?” asked Orcana. “Which region of our land is she residing?”

“We will send our people at once to receive her,” stated Felicio. “Just give us the order.”

“Well, that’s where our matter becomes dire,” said Uzalo. “Evelyn Lovell does not currently reside in our home.”

“Where does she reside then?” demanded Felicio.

“She lives among the Sapiens,” Uzalo clarified.

“You mean to bring a purebred Sapien girl to our kingdom for our chance of survival?” asked Orcana. “This is your big suggestion?”

“Yes, that is my suggestion to you all,” stated Uzalo.

“To which animal does her spirit reside?” Deltora questioned.

“From my knowledge she…” Uzalo started. The rest of the council stared in anticipation for his answer. “Her spirit has not found its animal counterpart,” Uzalo admitted quietly.

“Preposterous!” roared Felicio. “I refuse to put the hands of our kingdom into the hands of a dirty Sapien!”

“I believe she has potential,” stated Uzalo, trembling over his words trying to convince the council. “Besides, if I have discovered where Evelyn is, I have no doubt that they will discover Evelyn’s location as well.”

The council remained silent. Uzalo sat waiting for a response, his reputation determined by their vote. He pondered what would happen if Evelyn is found by her first. What torture would she be subjected to if she was found? Will the darkness consume her too? How long does she have? Will she even accept our offer? These are questions that Uzalo couldn’t answer, even if he desperately wants to.

“Need I state my case any further?” Uzalo asked. “I request that a vote be placed to settle our matter.”

The council members exchanged looks with each other, some faces showing confusion, some with worry, and some with slight disbelief. They all faced Uzalo, coming to terms with their decision.

“We shall hold a vote then,” Albasso confirmed. “All in favor of retrieving Evelyn Lovell in hopes of defending our homeland from our common enemy?”

Uzalo raised his hand first, followed by Orcana. The rest of the council remained still, their vacant stares like a lion hunting a zebra in a grassy field.

“If anyone else wishes to vote in agreement, please cast your vote now, or forever be silent,” stated Albasso.

Felicio fidgeted, tapping his claws on the council table, the decision weighing on his mind. His eyes were irritable, looking in all directions as if he were in a trance. Or maybe even a dizzy spell. He sighed calmly.

“Uzalo…” Felicio started.

“Yes, Felicio?” answered Uzalo.

“Do you really think this girl has the potential like her mother?” asked Felicio.

Uzalo stared at the wilted rose on the dusty chair, forevermore shrouded in darkness, reflected, then looked back at Felicio.

“Yes, I do, brother,” Uzalo confirmed. “I am willing to bet my life on that.”

Felicio tapped a bit more on the table, breathing heavier than before. He looked at the chair for a split second.

“Felicio? Your vote please?” asked Albasso.

“You better be right about this girl, brother,” said Felicio as he raised his hand in approval of Uzalo.

“I will do everything I can,” stated Uzalo.

“Uzalo’s suggestion is thereby approved by a majority vote of three to two,” Albasso declared.

“Thank you everyone,” said Uzalo. “I promise that this plan will yield results.”

“So, who will be retrieving the girl then?” questioned Orcana, brushing off her sleeves.

“Yes, I must ask as well, Uzalo,” stated Albasso with a rather grim look.

“Do not fret, my brothers and sisters,” declared Uzalo. “I already have a companion who is very much rooted for the job. Please, come in, if you would.”

Uzalo gestured to the doorway into the council room. A young man walked in, being somewhat shrouded in the darkness of the night, the only characteristic was a tail flickering in the wind.

“So, you are the one who will fulfill this task?” asked Deltora.

“Yes, milady,” the young man confirmed. “I will let nothing stand in my way of the girl.”

“Excellent, my boy,” stated Orcana. “We are all counting on you.”

The young man left the room, beginning his new task, leaving to join the Sapien world. How he chose to acquire Evelyn is his choice as long as she came back unharmed, for this was Uzalo’s only request.

“If there is no more business to come before the council, then I call this meeting adjourned,” Albasso declared.

Uzalo struck his hoof on the council table in agreement. Deltora, Felicio, Orcana, and Albasso rose and left the council room, all greeting and giving their regards to him. He remained in the room alone, lost in thought about the decision made. He stared at the wilted rose, almost apologetically. The Dark War had only just ended, and Ella’s death still hung in the air like smoke — but the threat hadn’t vanished

“It turns out Evelyn will be coming here, Ella,” Uzalo stated with a chuckle. “It was your wish for us to keep her safe, and that we will do. I swear.”

Uzalo laughed to himself, almost like a wild hyena or donkey. The thought of Ella reprimanding him was almost joyful to him, for he missed their conversations. Much else has also gone missing since her departure.

“I can hear you now,” Uzalo continued to laugh. “If anything happens to my daughter, you shall hear it from the very top!” Uzalo imitated. He calmed down and regained his composure for a moment. “She’ll be safe, Ella.”

For just a second, the torrential storm outside halted, the air being just mildly too quiet like a sealed tomb. Uzalo, satisfied with his approved proposal, exited the council room. After his departure, a gust of wind blew through the opening at the top of the tree. The rose on top of Ella’s chair that lay dormant, lost one of its petals and was carried to a new home, floating with the wind, starting a life anew, a gesture that change had already begun.