Mysirii
07-04-2012, 04:46 PM
“Neria, wake child it is time”
The soft voice made the small child smile as her eyes fluttered open. The Huntress, Artemis, loomed over her. The goddess’s vivid red hair flowing in long waves over her shoulder to tickle Neria’s face, giggling she leapt, a gesture of movement that flowed like a gentle breeze, from the bed to run around the Huntress, her small bare feet making soft patting sounds against the stone floor.
“Neria, come here. I have something important for you.”
The goddess had sat down on the small bed where Neria had slept. Smiling, she walked over to stand in front of the Huntress who began speaking again, holding out her cupped hand where a small seed rested, “Neria this is your father tree, whom you will guard, nurture, and protect.”
Nodding, an expression of seriousness not normally seen on a child so young, Neria gently took the seed from the Huntress. “Thank you. He will grow tall and strong and never suffer because of me.” Neria’s voice was soft and reminiscent of the whispering sound made by rustling leave, something that would be lost with childhood.
The Huntress smiled as she said, “I know he will, dear child.” Artemis pressed her fingers to Neria’s forehead and Neria was gone from the goddess’s realm; ready to take root in a forest of her own.
--------------------
The birds announced the oncoming morning before the first rays of sunlight had even breached the horizon. Robins, sparrows, blue birds, and other song birds chirped and tweeted as they ruffled their feathers, preparing for the day ahead. Somewhere in the distance a mountain cat yowled as its cubs ran across it, rambunctious and ready to begin the day of exploring. As normal as it all was, there was a heaviness in the air; a distinct sense of unease as if something was waiting just around the next tree to attack. A dark shadow looming.
Nestled within the heart of her father tree, she observed the forest as it awoke. The wind rustled through the upper most leaves of her father tree, something she felt as if the wind brushed through her hair. A gentle thrum from within the tree sent her senses throughout the forest, searching. Something was happening in her home forest, a disturbance she hadn’t pinned down. It had begun months before just as Spring was taking hold, the world awakening. It had begun with the air being ripped apart with a sudden screaming as brother trees violently died, their vibrating presence suddenly disappearing. It was this that had finally awoken her from her quiet hibernation.
Panicked groups of animals followed shortly after, their fear sending a rippled of unease through the forest. Unease that continued to grow as more animals fled in this direction. Every day she remained still, safe within the father tree, as more brother trees fell. Yesterday the screams were so close, and she felt the rumbling in the ground, so deep that even her deepest roots picked up the shivering as the ground trembled. She had gotten her first glimpse of the beasts that were spreading so much fear in her home forest.
Man.
It had been over a century since she’d last encounter them. Not since leaving her Greek home with the seed given to her by the Huntress. They had since left, but if the last few months were telling, they would return soon to begin their slaughter again. Deep within the heart of her father tree, Neria trembled with a mix of fear and rage. These humans would reach her soon and she would make sure they continued no further.
The soft voice made the small child smile as her eyes fluttered open. The Huntress, Artemis, loomed over her. The goddess’s vivid red hair flowing in long waves over her shoulder to tickle Neria’s face, giggling she leapt, a gesture of movement that flowed like a gentle breeze, from the bed to run around the Huntress, her small bare feet making soft patting sounds against the stone floor.
“Neria, come here. I have something important for you.”
The goddess had sat down on the small bed where Neria had slept. Smiling, she walked over to stand in front of the Huntress who began speaking again, holding out her cupped hand where a small seed rested, “Neria this is your father tree, whom you will guard, nurture, and protect.”
Nodding, an expression of seriousness not normally seen on a child so young, Neria gently took the seed from the Huntress. “Thank you. He will grow tall and strong and never suffer because of me.” Neria’s voice was soft and reminiscent of the whispering sound made by rustling leave, something that would be lost with childhood.
The Huntress smiled as she said, “I know he will, dear child.” Artemis pressed her fingers to Neria’s forehead and Neria was gone from the goddess’s realm; ready to take root in a forest of her own.
--------------------
The birds announced the oncoming morning before the first rays of sunlight had even breached the horizon. Robins, sparrows, blue birds, and other song birds chirped and tweeted as they ruffled their feathers, preparing for the day ahead. Somewhere in the distance a mountain cat yowled as its cubs ran across it, rambunctious and ready to begin the day of exploring. As normal as it all was, there was a heaviness in the air; a distinct sense of unease as if something was waiting just around the next tree to attack. A dark shadow looming.
Nestled within the heart of her father tree, she observed the forest as it awoke. The wind rustled through the upper most leaves of her father tree, something she felt as if the wind brushed through her hair. A gentle thrum from within the tree sent her senses throughout the forest, searching. Something was happening in her home forest, a disturbance she hadn’t pinned down. It had begun months before just as Spring was taking hold, the world awakening. It had begun with the air being ripped apart with a sudden screaming as brother trees violently died, their vibrating presence suddenly disappearing. It was this that had finally awoken her from her quiet hibernation.
Panicked groups of animals followed shortly after, their fear sending a rippled of unease through the forest. Unease that continued to grow as more animals fled in this direction. Every day she remained still, safe within the father tree, as more brother trees fell. Yesterday the screams were so close, and she felt the rumbling in the ground, so deep that even her deepest roots picked up the shivering as the ground trembled. She had gotten her first glimpse of the beasts that were spreading so much fear in her home forest.
Man.
It had been over a century since she’d last encounter them. Not since leaving her Greek home with the seed given to her by the Huntress. They had since left, but if the last few months were telling, they would return soon to begin their slaughter again. Deep within the heart of her father tree, Neria trembled with a mix of fear and rage. These humans would reach her soon and she would make sure they continued no further.