Follow the Moon

The leafy branch beside Amara’s hammock starts to glow. She knows it will be time to go soon, as the sundial beam of light peeking through the overhead canopy is her summer marker of passing time. Closing her eyes to preserve the last few minutes of her memories, she touches the medallion at her throat and whispers, “I will see you again.” Her thin fingers pull the slack chain as she lifts herself and jumps off the hammock and into her boots.

She tucks the necklace into her battle vest and walks back up the trail toward the camp where her present day awaits. A group of Elves known as The Seven Circles, at her command. They have been hiding here for fifty-five years this day, and they are finally ready to depart.

Passing through the leafy cover, she sees Veetrian standing guard as always. Calm returns to her lithe limbs as she knows there is no one in these woods, or their lost realm that could escape his watch. He nods his respect and matches her stride back to the others.

“You have brought them with you.” He says softly.
“How could I ever leave them behind?” She asks, clearing the clouds from her eyes that had given her away.
“We will be able to return Amara.” he says. “Dekatril is so sure of it that even Cilarow cannot smell any doubt around him.
Amara stops to face him. “I have no doubt of that.” She says.
“Then what is the doubt Cilarow smells on you.” He asks.
“The explosion that sent us here.” She answers. “What will be left of the place we return to?
Will they be there Veetrian?” She asks, pausing only a moment. “We must return, it is time.” She says with authority.
“We are with you Amara, into death if it be our destiny.” Veetrian vows, raising his hand to the sun.
“Let us hope that will not be necessary.” Amara replies like a payer and continues walking silently through the forest.

Emerging from the trees into the clearing of their camp, Amara quickly locates every member with her unescapable senses. Her unique ability to feel every individual through their memories is only one of the magical gifts of her birthright. Her royal blood reaches back to the first Elves of Eethreil, the realm of magic. The place they must return to.

Dekatril, their most scientific Elf, was nearly an outcast in that place where there is no need to explain magic. However, in this altered realm he has become an expert in the elements required to cause magic, but are not under the command of intent, as they have always known them to be. He is busily checking the inventory in the lab cases, packed for departure.

Cilarow is packing their food for the trip. Smelling each mushroom and herb with delight. He has the keenest sense of smell, able to detect even the slightest change in the mood of his companions. Which is why he must distract himself in cooking staples so often.

Elock emerges from her tent and glides across the meadow with her face lifted to the sun. She has fallen in love with the yellow light of this place and is grateful for its presence on their departure day. So many of the summer afternoons pass in rain. Today, it is as if the weather knows, and is holding itself back, just for her pleasure.

The siblings, Inashta and Rovash are guarding the melting pad at the far end of the clearing. The sister and brother team are the most formidable pair of warriors of their millennia.

Elock sees Amara and Veetrian return and changes direction to greet them. Her battle vest has pink and white ribbons tied at the shoulders, weaving through the ammunition loops, and dangling past her waist. Always keeping a part of Eethreil with her.

“We will be home by nightfall.” She says, reaching for Amara’s hand.

Thank you for reading the beginning of Follow the Moon. My first to be
continued story…
Many of my stories begin with one small element that I build a world from. In
this case, I was spending time in my hammock on a weekend afternoon, and the
branches in a nearby tree started to glow when the sunlight shifted.
Two pages later, I have a troupe of Elves, lost from another realm attempting to
return. Delicious opportunity for character development, and enough
foreshadowing and seed planting to weave two realms together, which seems
to be the case here.
I enjoy developing names based on how they feel when I reach for
representative sounds. I had the liberty to be out of this world since my
characters are clearly out of place, or time.

*Follow the Moon is officially to be continued…
Michelle Saad
The Writers Passport