Crimson Cove

The True Cove

Neytiri and Renae finished the coffee they sipped and cleared the deck so that preparations for the dinner could be made. It was almost seven o'clock when they finally were ready to begin the preparations that were so important to the Cove and their night. Neytiri glanced at Renae.

She will want to see me before I go to be cleansed, she will have final wisdom she wants to impart, I can meet you at nine o'clock with the twins so that you may rest a moment before this day challenges you.

Tiri, you promise you will come right? Nae looked her in the eyes.

I promise Nae, this is far more important than anything else, my mother is everything to me, I will not fail her, not now, not ever.

Then go, she will need to see you one more time.

Neytiri smiled at Renae, they had grown as women together, they trained and worked hand in hand to help maintain this Cove for the past four years side by side. Her mother had known they were more like sisters and that is why she had sent Renae, she knew Neytiri could never lie to her.

Renae wrapped her in a hug and turned her towards her mother's room, go get this day going, I will be waiting with the twins for you. Neytiri went to the door at the end of the hall slowly, she reached out her hand touching the door. As her fingers touched the wood a soft electric jolt sprang forth electrifying the wood. It gave effortlessly under her fingertips, opening to a beautiful room decorated with her mother's favorite things. Neytiri gracefully sauntered into the room bringing a breath of soft lilac-scented air with her.

My sweet girl, I have been waiting for you. the voice came floating to her ears.

Hello mother. Neytiri gracefully crossed the room to her side. The door closed behind them shutting them away from the rest of the world. Saffron had created a safe haven within a safe haven for herself. The room was covered in red vining foliage, it was more of a sacred space, a clearing in the woods within their home. Saffron loved the nature that surrounded the Cove, it was what had brought her there in the first place. She lived and breathed the Cove. It was her, and she was fully a part of it.

I see you have not been cleansed yet my child. she spoke softly.

No Mother, I came unclean so that they may wash away any residual energy before dinner tonight. As per your wishes.

Thank you, darling. You have so many things I need to share before tonight. Renae can help the twins make ready once I have given you the knowledge you need for the future.

Yes, mother. Neytiri had always been in awe of her mother and her strength.

Tonight I give you more than just the Cove my sweet girl. You will know before you leave this room where your name comes from, why I gave it to you, and what this Cove truly means to me. I have chosen your path very carefully, and you may not like it, but once you see what I have given you will be fully happy and the Cove will be revived and stronger than it ever was. Do you agree to the terms?

I do, I give all of me to the Cove and its future.

I am going to tell you a story Neytiri, the story of how you and the Cove came to be. Can you allow me the time I need to weave the words into images for you?

Neytiri looked into her beautiful red-brown eyes. I give you all the time you need Mother, all I ask in return is the knowledge you choose to impart.

Good, then please my child lay down with your head across my legs, the willow will show us the way. Neytiri laid down under the crimson willow her mother had created for them. As she floated into her mother's awaiting lap everything began falling away, all she could see was the branches of the willow closing around them. She was not scared, she knew her mother had been preparing for this her entire life. Saffron was the strongest light being that Neytiri had ever known. She gave everything to her mother and would as long as she was still drawing breath.

Close your eyes Neytiri, I need you to feel everything and observe it all. You cannot change anything I am about to show you, so please do not try or it will end me and you will never know the true purpose of the Cove.

As Neytiri closed her eyes everything else faded away, she saw the Cove, or what she had believed was the Cove. It was beautiful but green and lush with all of the flowers and rolling hills that she had heard about. It was bright and green and full of life. Not the Cove she was used to. All of her life it had been Crimson red, she didn't know how this was possible but she knew she had to watch to see how this marvelous countryside became what it was now.

Open your eyes, child. Her mother spoke.

As Neytiri obeyed she realized her mom was the same, she never aged, and her mother's gorgeous red hair glistened in the sun of the mid-day Cove.

This is the Cove I first came to as a young witch. It was my sacred space from the moment I saw it. I fell in love with the freedom it afforded me. I could be me, all of me here. When I first came here it was just like this, free of humans and the trappings of their lives. It was a peaceful and serene place that nobody knew existed.

Neytiri looked at her mother, How then did you find this place mother?

Your father to be honest Tiri. He brought me across the sea on his ship, to port on the other side of the cliffs. I wasn't supposed to be there. When he found me in the ship's food stores he allowed me to live. He protected me from the crew and captain. He even brought me water and allowed me to eat some of his portions to keep me from perishing.

Neytiri was shaken by what her mother had revealed. She never spoke of the man who gave her to her mother. He was a myth in her mind.

Saffron casually walked to the lone willow standing before them.

Is this willow...Neytiri was staring at the tree.

The same one. This is the very tree your father and I created you under. This was our place. He was everything to me, before you that is.

Neytiri glanced at the beautiful young woman who was older and wiser than her body showed.

Mother, what happened?

Come with me, I will show you.

They walked a path she had never seen before. The cliffs were made of quartz, reflecting all the colors of nature surrounding them. They followed the path away from the Cove, taking them farther than Tiri had ever been. As they crested the cliff side she was in awe of the land sprawling out in front of her.

Your father was nothing more than one of many men who came here a thousand years ago. The ship he was part of was Viking, and so was he, but I loved him with every fiber in me. He was my only weakness. Her mother's voice took on a euphoric lilt. They came to the mainland here to take the port for their own, and anyone who dared defy them fell under their swords. His name was Vidar, he was a strong man with a heart of gold. When he and his crew took the port just there, Saffron pointed in the direction of the small port town on the other side of the island, there wasn't much resistance. The people who were living there were almost grateful that they had come.

Why would any people be grateful for an attack on their village? Neytiri was confused.

You see this port has not had a stable living system or anything in place for a very long time. Long before the Vikings ever set foot in the port another more dominant and destructive force had taken this port for themselves leaving only a small amount of people to continue living and struggling here so that they may have a place to cull a small populace of people from for the winter. They are cannibals, they change physically into some other world beings that eat human flesh to survive. They attacked the people and took many with them into the woods never to be seen again. There had been search parties sent for those that were taken. They only ever found remains of bodies that were torn apart by fierce teeth and claws. Yet when they looked for signs of the creatures leaving or where they may have gone, all they found were human footprints. It made no sense, no then, not now.

Could they be shifters?

They are some form of shifters, we just aren't sure what forms they take. But because of this, we are unsure if they have evolved since the period in which your father and his crew were here or not.

What do you mean?

Because of the Viking's arrival, there was another attack on the port once the Viking captain took control of the port. Your father ask me to come to the cove and wait for him to come back. He never returned. I haven't been over the cliffs since. This is why I have cloaked the cove in the red haze that colors our Cove. I will not allow any of our women to go over the cliffs, I do not know what lies beyond them, and I cannot risk their lives or anyone else's. So I have it in place until my death that no one from our world can enter theirs, nor can they enter ours. Many have tried and failed. Once the women come here for shelter I make them sign a contract stating they have given up everything the outside world has offered them for a life of solace and peace, one where they will not be able to go back unless they give up all they knew from here. If they ever choose to leave they have their minds wiped clean of anything they knew from here. It comes with a price though. Those who have been here and have left have a feeling of loss for the remainder of their lives, no matter how long that may be. One more thing, if they have lived one lifetime here they cannot leave either as they will age almost instantly the moment they set foot outside the Cove.

Then how is it we are standing here? You are well over a thousand years old, and I was born here within a year of you coming to the Cove.

My child we are too old to leave, the Cove is our home. We cannot venture outside of the cloaked area of the cove, it is too dangerous.

That does not explain how we are here then Mother.

We are still inside my room, the magic within me and within my room allows for a view of what was the port when I came here originally. I have no clue what it is like in today's light.

Does anyone?

None that I know of. I have made it so that no one woman can leave unless I know of it, and nobody ever has, save for two.

Who are they?

They are the first two women who came to me here. I was in the cove after the attack had begun. Your father had said to cloak myself, and I had thought I only cloaked myself, but I was wrong. I had cloaked the cove entirely that day. I was unaware of my power here. The quart of the cliffs had amplified them and surrounded me and two young women from the port. They had escaped barely with their lives intact. They said they had seen a red mist envelop them as they ran through the woods to safety. I had secured the entire cove simply by chance, and they were safe within it the same as me. We walked to the edge of the cove and sat under the willow, only it had changed from a lush green to a beautiful deep Crimson. As we sat there waiting we heard the screams and watched the horrors of men and women along with the children running from the port, dying at the hands of these creatures. I watched your father be bitten and taken, I cannot imagine he lived very long after that. Those women begged me to open the cove to the others, but I was afraid they would bring death with them. They ran through the other side of the cove struggling to get free, but none of them did. I hate that I made that choice to watch so many die, it's why I opened the cove eventually to any woman fleeing her life and the trappings of those creatures. You see those creatures can take human form, and they force anyone with any powers into servitude, they make us their wives, then if we aren't useful they torture and kill us. That is why these women come here. They have heard the lore of the cove, and that we offer a safe haven from the men, creatures that would kill us all.

Is this all I need to know Mother?

No, but this is all I can share with you. I am weak, dying from finally breaking down enough that I cannot keep the Cove cloaked much longer. That is the reason for tonight's dinner. You will be given all of my power and whatever the cove has chosen for you, then you will become the new caretaker and leader of this cove. You must protect all of them, with your life if you must. Goddess has promised me you have a thousand years after I am gone to find a suitable replacement for yourself. Someone you trust to take your place in the cove. I have agreed to move on from this life and give you the chance to be the cove guardian. My work is done here. You will find all the remaining answers you may need in my room, within my journals.

The wall of wisdom?

Yes, the wall is made up of my journals from over the years, they hold everything I know about all of this island and the cove, along with the creatures from over the cliffs. You only have to touch the first book, all of the knowledge will flow from thee wall into you. Once you have the information from them you will wipe them clean simply by snapping your fingers, then the wall will start fresh with your thoughts words, and images, forming your new wall of wisdom. It is automatic, you need not do anything else but touch the first book, and snap to clear them once you have the information from them.

Thank you, Mother. I will use these tools wisely and keep our Coven safe. I swear this to you on my soul.

I know you will Neytiri, I am trusting you with everything I have worked so hard to keep safe, I have raised you for this. One more thing Neytiri...

Yes, Mother?

I know I don't tell you often, but I am proud of the witch you have become, and I love you with everything within me. You have given me more than you will ever know. I know you will be the best leader for the cove and our coven going forward. I will always be beside you.

Neytiri saw the tears forming in Saffron's eyes, she stepped forwards embracing her mother and a single tear fell from her own. I love you too Mom.

With that, they were back in her mother's room under the willow.

Go to the wall of wisdom now, you need that knowledge before the ceremony, so as to ensure it is not lost.

Neytiri went to the wall and grabbed the first book on the shelf. A cold breeze flowed around her, sending images and information directly into her neuro cortex. All that her mother had known and seen flowed into her mind. She saw everything her mother had. Turning to Saffron she realized her mother looked frail and tiny compared to moments before.

Mother?

I am fine Tiri, this is the natural course of my life. Tonight I have my final meal with my family, and by morning I will be gone, nothing but dust on the winds of change. My room is now yours, you can come back here with me after, I don't think I want to be alone.

I will Mother, you won't be forgotten, or alone. She said as she embraced her Mother gently one more time before leaving to make preparations for the night.