Wings, Beasts and Claws: Amethyst Flame

Ch. 13 : The Sacred Four

My stomach was in knots for the rest of the night, and Ivy’s constant gleeful comments weren’t helping me relax. When I did manage to get to sleep I dreamed about ridiculous things that didn’t make sense at all. And they all centered around the Crown Prince. I felt like I had truly gone mad with these increasing confusing emotions and now my dreams were being plagued by this man I wanted nothing to do with. A part of me was strangely filled with peace when my mind conjured up those deep red eyes and thick black hair. And an invading wave of unwanted emotions filled me when I’d hear his voice echo in my mind. Emotions that I never wanted to feel again.

Thankfully, the other piece of me was able to shove those things down once I awoke the next day. I had gotten up expecting to still feel exhausted and drained because of those dreams but I was delightfully refreshed and energized instead. That alone made me slightly angry and more than a little annoyed. Ivy could see it in my face when she walked in to help me get dressed and my brother steered clear of me as I moved around my room, having witnessed me snap a few times. But as I sighed and grumbled to myself, a small little ball of brown hair and laughter burst through my door and rushed in.

“Good morning!” Calix skidded to a stop beside me as I sat on my desk, looking through the few letters that had come in for me.

“Good morning to you as well.” I laughed, setting the letters aside and patting his head. “Did you sleep well?”

His head bounced up and down rapidly, his hair flying over his forehead before settling back down. I glanced at the door to find his mother standing there, her eyes were slightly red still and there were bags under her eyes. Worry still stuck to her like a second skin and she smiled weakly when she caught my eyes. Ivy offered to prepare some tea and sweets for her but Lana declined, explaining that she needed to return to the Palace Library and just wanted to make sure that Calix would be safe. I slowly approached her and reached out to take her hand in mine, but she darted forward, knocking my hand out of the way as she hugged me.

“Thank you.” She whimpered into my ear, holding me tightly before stepping back and letting go.

I smiled back as she backed away, her eyes flicking over to her son who was chatting away happily with my brother about Knights. When she finally turned and walked out Ivy started her to apologize for failing to announce a visitor while she prepared the small dinette for tea. I brushed her off and managed to get her to stop her pointless apology, reminding her of how little things like that mattered to me.

Calix sat next to me while my brother took off the seat across from me as we enjoyed our tea and sweets. Calix devoured the little cakes and cookies that were on display in a large three tier tower, humming along as he swung his legs. He would ask random questions to my brother and I about being a Knight and the different skills and training that one would go through to become one. He swallowed every little bit of information Arden would give him, his amber eyes nearly alight with wonder as he learned more and more. When tea was finished and the remnants of the sweets cleaned up my brother excused himself, letting us know that he’d be back once he finished running a few drills and seeing how the other Guards were handling what had happened.

“What’s this?” Calix asked after a long moment of silence, pulling out a book from the small stack on my desk.

“That is a book of tales and myths about our people.” I said, smiling when he placed the book next to me on the loveseat. “It holds the story of the original Shifters and the Four Sacred Dragons that founded the four Kingdoms.” Calix climbed onto the seat and grabbed the book, raising it to me as he settled against the armrest. “Would you like me to read it to you?” I smiled as he nodded again, his brown hair bouncing around as he leaned in a little closer.

I opened the book and started flipping through the pages, looking for a good story or myth to read to him. I paused for a moment at the title page that read ‘The All Mother and the Sacred Four’, tilting the book towards Calix. He smiled and scooted closer, nodding again as I turned the final page and cleared my throat.

“In the beginning there was only sky and the world around us was young and full of endless life. The All Mother Goddess walked among the mortal realm in solitude, watching as the world grew and changed around her. She had grown lonely as time passed and was wondering what she could do to alleviate the loneliness. She soon walked in on a mother dragon that was struggling to give birth to her spawn. She was wounded and losing blood rapidly after another dragon had tried to force himself on her. The All Mother felt her heart grow heavy with sadness at the sight before her and chose to help the frightened dragon.” I glanced over at Calix for a moment, smiling widely as I caught him nodding along with a little smile on his face as he started out at the room.

“The first of the young that entered the world were an opposing pair; one baby as dark as the night sky with eyes as bright as a ruby in the sunlight, and the other baby as white as the clouds above them with eyes the color of a frozen river.” I started feeling someone's gaze on me as I read, choosing to ignore it so I could focus on the story for Calix. “The second pair was just as unique, with the first being a light golden brown that closely resembled the fine gold threads The All Mother wore and eyes of a soft lavender color that twinkled in the light. Its sibling was a pale grey that seemed to glisten in silvery streaks like the moon and had eyes that shined a deep teal, like a hidden underwater treasure.” Calix leaned against me and rested his head on my arm making me smile. “The All Mother then turned to the mother dragon, smiling at the sight of her beautiful children. But the mother dragon had passed, her body embraced by a soft pink light that pulsed softly with her final heartbeats before fading. The All Mother turned to the four innocent young and pondered what she should do, questioning whether she would be able to look after the four of them as good as their own mother would have. Then an idea crossed her mind and she began to smile, small tears escaping her eyes as she looked at the four wriggling young.” Ivy came into view as she set down another cup of tea for me, smiling widely as her eyes twinkled with amusement.

I shook my head at her strange expression, wondering why there was so much excitement in her movements.

“The All Mother then took the four young and decided to look after them, gathering things as she traveled with the four of them. Years passed on quickly and soon The All Mother had enough of what she needed and decided that it was time. She placed the four dragons at the corners of a small circle that surrounded her, smiling down at their sleeping forms. She took the herbs she gathered and prepared everything, creating a paste that seemed to glow faintly. She dipped her fingers into the deep red paste, leaving an arch on their little foreheads. Once they were all Blessed she began to gather her strength at the center of the circle, picturing the way the little dragons would look if they were to look like her.” I giggled softly as I poked at Calix, smiling at the sound of his laughter when I would poke the body part I mentioned. “She pictured two little legs with toes just like her. A warm and soft center that would become their tummy and hold their hearts. Their short little arms that could bend and grab things with elegant fingers. Then a slender but strong neck that would help their little heads look around at anything they wanted. She pictured where their eyes would go, and a nose and mouth just like her. She added ears and even pictured what each one's hair would look like, the length and color along with their eyes.” Calix ended up lying down after I had tickled every little part that I had listed, his little head now resting on my lap as I continued.

“Once she felt ready she opened her eyes and watched as each little dragon was swallowed up by bright lights of different colors. She walked up to each one and bestowed upon them a unique Blessing with a single touch of her hand. To the solid black dragon she gave the Blessing of Lightning, smiling as the red light around her glowed even brighter. To the snowy white dragon she gave the Blessing of Ore, watching as the icy blue light grew around him. To the golden brown dragon she gave the Blessing of the Sea, laughing as the lavender light danced ever higher. To the silver grey dragon she gave the Blessing of the Earth, throwing her hands up into the air as the teal light joined the other three in setting the sky alight.”

“Is that why dragons can do cool stuff?” Calix cut in, looking up at me.

“Yes,” I answered, smiling as I poked his little nose. “That’s why dragons are able to wield special abilities, because they were the first ever Shifters.”

He nodded and smiled, wrinkling his nose when I poked it again before returning to the book.

“With their Blessing from The All Mother, her added and most heartfelt wish and the completion of the Ritual, the four dragons transformed and soon looked like people. They were little kids and were finally able to speak to The All Mother that had helped and raised them all. They spent more years together like a little family, traveling the world and meeting all kinds of animals. Each time they would meet another little family, The All mother would help them in some way, and the new young animal would join them in their travels, grateful to The All Mother. After days of following along but never being able to communicate with them, The All Mother would perform the same Ritual with the new animal and grant them the same shape as herself and the dragons. This was how the first Shifters of the other species came into the world.” Calix shifted as he listened, giggling at something before looking up at me.”

“There was a leopard, a lion, a fox, a wolf, a falcon, a coyote, a bear, a hawk and many other predators that had joined in their travels. The All Mother rejoiced among her new companions, no longer feeling alone and helped them learn to live their lives as two separate but equal beings. She explained what their Inner-Light was, how mating would work and how to heal each other if they were to ever become injured. But the four dragons were no longer happy. They were jealous of the new additions to their family, not liking how much attention they were getting from The All Mother that raised them.” Calix nodded along, his little brow knitted together as if he were focusing very hard on the story.

“They soon started to fight amongst the others for her love, even turning against each other when one would succeed. The fighting soon grew out of hand and the young adults were now hurting each other, drawing blood as The All Mother tried and failed to keep the peace. Soon, four different factions divided her children and they each claimed land as far from each other as they could, no longer wanting to be a family. The Shifter birds followed the golden brown dragon, settling on a very large island after drifting off at sea. The Shifter bears followed the silver grey dragon and picked a land that was surrounded by forest after months of travel. The Shifter wolves followed the deep night black dragon and chose to settle on the highest mountain peaks. The Shifter lions followed the bright white dragon and settled in a deep valley that was nearly across the world.” I smiled as I caught Calix yawning, his little fist coming up and rubbing his eyes as he turned to the side.

“Sadness and solitude swallowed The All Mother again and she soon returned to the heavens to watch over her children. She would come down and visit each one's new home, trying her hardest to stop them from plotting against their sibling. But each time she would visit them, another one of her young was attacked by the other and her heart ached at the suffering that they caused. As punishment she took away the ability to find their Mates, hoping this would get them to stop fighting one another. But it just seemed to fuel their anger and a massive war soon took over the land. It was around this time that the four dragons finally opened their eyes and realized their grave mistake. They reached out to The All Mother, hoping that they could apologize and earn her forgiveness. But The All Mother was filled with the pain of her many hurt Shifters, her tears sending the oceans into a rage, the wind whipping with fury and the earth quaking with sorrow.” I glanced down and nearly jumped as I caught Calix still looking at me, his little eyes blinking slowly as he struggled to fight the sleepy glaze that was taking over him.

“They stopped their war and hoped for the return of The All Mother, but she never came. Time soon passed by and the four dragons were nearing their deaths when The All Mother appeared to them in a dream. She welcomed them into her arms and cried along with them as they begged for her forgiveness. She calmed her children and told them that the weight of sorrow in her heart was too great to return to earth, but she would be waiting for them among the stars when the time came. They didn’t want her to leave but she had promised to see them again, leaving behind one final gift among the four as their dream faded away.” I looked down and smiled once more, my eyes softening as I looked at the peacefully sleeping Calix.

I sighed and slowly closed the book, wondering when he would ask for me to finish the story as I set it on the side.

“He must still be tired.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I looked up towards the open door of my room, finding the Crown Prince standing there with a gentle smile on his face. A bright pink flush took over and spread across my body, heating up my fingers and toes. How long had he been standing there? Why didn’t he say anything? Why didn’t Ivy?

“Forgive me for startling you.” He says, moving towards the loveseat across from me and taking a seat. “I didn’t want to interrupt the story.”

I nodded, unable to form words as I struggled against the wave of embarrassment and tried to calm my racing heart.

“Your Majesty.” I finally said, smiling weakly as I met his eyes. “There is no need for an apology, it’s alright.” I breathed in deeply and managed to calm the chaotic emotions that were starting to rise in me. “But… why are you here?”

“Don't you remember?” He asked, his deep red eyes flashing with a mixture of his own emotions that I struggled to read. “I said I would come by and report what I found out.”