RainDrop

CHAPTER 4

More than a decade has passed since that horrific battle. The Waurotaes conquered the lands in the South and West and are slowly moving to take over the Kingdom in the East, then the forbidden Kingdom North, which the Goddesses of Vaivista guard. Rumors continue to peak interest of the missing Royals and where they could be. The use of magic started to deplete the Waurotaes lapdogs wouldn't track them easily. The Qodinian and the clans who survived mixed and moved on with their lives cautiously as some Qodinians hid further in the forest, preparing that the enemy would return one day. They built homes, planted their foods, and flourished together. The elders continued to have high hopes that the Goddess Niznja would open the gates to the Forbidden kingdom in Qosthotu, which they believed they'd indeed be at peace.

Cairbes waddled swiftly with her baby bump sticking out of her long greyish dress, her straight mix brown hair blows in the wind, and her slanted, enchanting brown eyes glitters in the sun rays that laid on them. On the side of her is her husband, Ecthelben. The years did nothing but mature him. He still is strong, tall, and masculine. He's dressed in all-grey long pants and a shirt with a black cloak; his long black hair pulled in a ponytail that suits his haunting grey eyes. Alongside him is his son, Duvendir, around 16. His hand runs through his semi-black and messy brown hair removing it from his face revealing his warm grey eyes. He's dressed in the same attire but with a red cloak. Their skin appears to be cold, like the dead on the ice. They walked through a dark, long horizontal tunnel, holding torches, shining their way, rays beamed on the vines and thorns climbing the mossy brick wall. Their feet made squishy sounds on the moist surface. The young Qodin stopped, tilted his nose in the air, and inhaled.

"Smoke? Mother, it would be best if you headed back. This smoke isn't good for you and the baby." He stated.

For a moment, the tunnel rumbled. Thumping sounds began to echo from a distance. The sound of cackling hoofs and screeching headed straight for them.

"Backs against the wall!" Shouted Ecthelben as he stretched his hand towards them.

"Weildkelious!" he finished.

A translucent shield covered the family from the front as the herd of animals rushed through. They all bumped against the protection and trampled over one another in a hurry. After a few minutes, the smoke came in thicker, and they all covered his noses with the arm of their cloak, making their way back to the starting point. Duvendir supported his mother's step as his father followed suit. They looked at each other worryingly at the checkpoint as the smoke continued to thicken.

"FIRE!" Cairbes quickly shouted, exposing her face.

Ecthelben nodded as he moved her a bit further from the smoke. He gently sat her down on a nearby log that was a good amount of distance. He then places his hand on her face in a wiping motion.

"Vriridium," he said softly.

An air bubble appeared around her face blocking out the harmful fumes.

"Father! Duvendir called out. Laegwen and Aunt Arnith are in that furnace! I sense life!" He finished.

Caribes held her husband's hands tightly. "Go, find them, please." she pleaded.

He nodded and made the same motion to his son's face and his as they ran into the tunnel. In the end, they found q fiery furnace of death burning tiny homes that started from a two-story wooden cottage that lied between two trees with a dirt pathway. In shock and terrifying eyes, Duvendir ran off, first sensing the life force out. It appeared to be a long string trail with a gold undertone. Only he can see. It was one of the gifts the Goddess blessed with him. The Qodins searched through the rubbles and smoke desperately, calling for them to answer.

"Laegwen! Aunt Arnith!" Duvendir shouted

"Arnith! Laegwen! Ecthelben repeated.

After frantically walking around, Duvendir's trail ended on a wooden door that had a foot sticking out under it; he lifted the door and uncovered a young female Qodin body that's on the ground wrapped in a blanket of ashes, consumed by smoke gasping for air. Her clothes are half burnt and dirty. His eyes opened with fear, and he frantically pulled her out.

"I FOUND LAEGWEN! He shouted.

Ecthelben shot his head back to his son's announcement and began to run to him. As he ran, his foot bumped into something hard. A loud thump echoed, and he found himself flat on the ground. He then looked back to see the rock glaring at him, then his eyes shifted, and he saw a burnt hand under a pile of scorched-up branches. His eyes enlarged, and he began to dig through the stack of branches scraping and cutting his hands and arms.

Cairbes is anxiously pacing in front of the tunnel, waiting for the appearance of her husband and son. Duvendir appeared coughing, carrying Laegwen as the air bubble burst. Cairbes rushed to him to embrace both of them with teary eyes.

"Thank goodness you both are safe! Is she alright?" she cried.

"Yes, she's fine, seems like," he replied.

Cairbes discontinued embracing them and helped lie Laegwen against a tree. She places her index finger on her chest in an upward motion to her throat. She then opened Laegwen's mouth and began to blow air into her. Laegwen lied there for a while; then she gasped for air; Cairbes repeated the action until Laegwen was no longer gasping.

"Duvendir, go help your father; he won't be able to do it alone; I'll take care of Laegwen," she stated.

He looked at her, disappointed. "I only saw one life strand mother; why's that?"

Cairbes looked shocked at his question. "One life strand?" she looked at Laegwen sadly.

He nodded. Cairbes sat there in disbelief. "One strand," she repeated.

Duvendir stood there trying to make sense of it as his father reappeared. He scanned him and saw how bruised his hands and arms were; he sauntered with shocked, wide, ghostly eyes carrying a crystal box with tiny silver droplets around it. He continued to study him for a moment and noticed he didn't even look at him; he just continued walking like a zombie. Emotionless.

"Father, where's Aunt Arnith? Did you find her?" He asked as he could feel the

heaviness of his heart.

He stared at his father a bit longer then ran back into the flames in disbelief. He tried looking for any strands of life. Over and over again. The tears started to build up until he saw a light strand; he rushed to it to find burnt branches and a squirrel that had just died. He still scanned the area, then mourning cries echoed through the tunnel broke his focus. Duvendir began to run back in the direction but bumped into something hard. He suddenly found himself on the floor. He looked back to see what had tripped him, coughing. His eyes widened in horror as he stared at a face that looked burnt, sucked, and hollow looking next to a rock. The last expression on it expressed anguish, pain, and struggle. The figure dug its nails deep into the dirt floor, and both of its eyes were burnt out.

"Aunt….. Arnith?!" he strained.

Tears filled his eyes when he focused on the body and promptly ran back to his parents, gasping for air. When he made it back, he found his mother being held by Ecthelben, clutching on the crystal box.

"I need to see her . . . I need to see my sister. Would you please let me bring her body home? Please don't leave her like that, Arnith!" She wailed.

Duvendir fell to the ground on his knees in tears looking at the cloudy sky. Everything seems to be spinning. A droplet fell on his face, and everything stood still. More began to fall, one after the next. Duvendir got up, walked towards his mother, and hugged her, getting drenched in the rain. She began to calm down but continued sobbing, holding the box.

Ecthelben walked over to Laegwen and placed his hand on her forehead.

"You poor child," he said as he picked her up.

He looked at her with sorrowful eyes then started to walk away from the scene. Duvendir followed his father while he supported his mother as her head rested on his right shoulder. As Laegwen's head dangled, her eyes squint open a bit, looking at the smoky fog and hissing rain. She saw a woman figure in a black cloak standing in the midst of it all. It's hard to make out the dark face from being in the tunnel shadow. Her deep purple hair was the only thing revealed as she pointed her sharp, long finger with silver nails and pale skin towards Laegwen. Laegwen fought to keep her eyes open and failed. Everything was spinning and a blur. There was nothing but darkness. Complete darkness.