Eira's Destiny: The Curse of the Wind Monster

Chapter 3 Eira's Test: Eira's POV

Hours later, I found myself stepping out into the cold, just as the sun was breaking over the horizon. Filled with nervous jitters, I looked over my shoulder into Brant's dark brown eyes. He gave me a reassuring smile. He would keep me safe. That was his promise to me.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and continued following Hammond. I wasn't sure where he was leading them, only that it was a test I needed to pass for him to let me and Brant leave and find the wind monster.

That brought up another thought. I still didn't know what I needed to do to defeat Fritjof. Hammond said that I will understand what I needed to do when the situation presented itself. But, still. Of all the magic I could have been born with, wouldn't an elemental magic be more helpful to take on the magical creature? Healing was good if you got a scrape or if you were dying from a disease. But how was I supposed to use my talents offensively? It didn't make any sense. Destiny must have a strange sense of humor!

"We're here," Hammond brought me out of my inner musings.

Sadness enveloped me as I surveyed the landscape.

"Last month, this area of the forest was devastated by a lightning fire. It didn't reach us, but many creatures, and even the land was destroyed. You need to heal the land and all the creatures. There is a special creature in particular that if you can find her and heal her, she may be of great value to you," he said.

I looked around and saw many injured creatures, and I intended to heal them all.

But still...

"How do I know which creature?" I asked.

"You will know it when you feel it," was his cryptic answer.

Brant took my by the hand. "Are you ready?" he asked.

I beamed my smile at him. "Let's go."

Hammond waved good-bye and they took off toward the chard earth.

As they approached, the stinging scent of smoke and burnt flesh still hung in the air. I coughed. I bent down and placed my hand on the earth. I could feel it's should, trying to repair it's fire damage. It stung, bringing tears to my eyes.

"Don't worry," I whispered to the earth, "I am here to help you."

Clearing my mind, I focused on the dirt and the critters living there in. I thought of them crawling and slithering through their tunnels. I thought of the grass. Green and sweet smelling, swaying in the breeze. I though of the trees with their deep roots in the rich soil. I pictured each branch, leaf, and flowering bud. I poured my magic into the earth. A faint blue glow danced around me. I could feel the tingle of new life. It made me happy.

When I opened my eyes, Brant stood there in awe.

"I've never seen you do that before," he whispered reverently.

"The earth was in pain. She was hurting and needed my help. So, I gave her new life," I whispered.

I pushed up on my tip-toes at his shocked expression, and kissed him on the mouth. I laughed when he looked down right dumbfounded.

"Come, we still have more work to do!" I tugged his hand to get his stubborn feet to move.

"You are the most amazing girl in the whole world," he said honestly.

I laughed again and smiled over my shoulder. "How can you say that? You haven't met every other girl on the planet! But someday you will meet them all, and you will find the most lovely to be your bride," I teased.

"It will be you," he assured me. "It has always been you."

I tried to hide my blush. Although we were raised almost as brother and sister, my thoughts were anything but sisterly affection when I thought of Brant. I would love to be his bride. But part of me really did worry that when they left the forest, and went into the towns he might find some other girl prettier than me, the fall madly in love with her and ride off into the sunset. Even just thinking it crushed my heart.

I spotted a flock of sheep and knelt before them. Their wool was singed. Many had broken limbs.

I placed my hand on the first sheep and closed my eyes. One by one I felt each sheep's pain. With my magic, I soothed and healed each one.

I could feel Brant's strong presence behind me, even before I opened my eyes. I could feel his love and appreciation, along with his deep need to be near me.

I turned around and opened my eyes. "What's wrong?"

Brant avoided my gaze, "Nothing," he said evasively.

He reached for my hand and began walking to a meadow.

This time he knelt down with me and we placed our hands in the dirt. I could feel the rabbits and foxes. I could feel the deer, birds and squirrels. I pushed my power into each and every one.

Suddenly exhausted, my arms gave out and I landed face down in the wild flowers.

"Eira!" Brant's voice hitched.

He gathered me in his arms and held me close to him. He placed a soft kiss on my lips.

I was sure I had died and gone to Heaven.

His power was transferred from him to me, but it wasn't magic that filled me. It was love.

I reached up and threaded my fingers through his scruffy blonde hair, and pulled him closer to me.

Brant continued to kiss me sweetly, deeply, reverently. I had never felt so special in my whole life. Even after all those stories about my destiny, they were nothing compared to how Brant made me feel.

I broke the kiss. "I love you," I whispered.

Brant gasped. "I have never wanted anything more than for you to say those words to me," he admitted.

I was contented to just lay my head on his shoulder and let him hold me...

But something pulled at me; Something in pain; Something sorrowful. I couldn't stay put any longer.

I pulled Brant up. "Hurry," I urged.

"Where are we going?" he asked confused.

"I have to help her!" I explained. How I knew it was a her, I will never know.

We ran past a babbling creek and right into a small pond. There, under the branches of a willow tree, was the most beautiful baby dragon I had ever seen. It's scales went from green to blue to purple. Her horns were bright orange. Her belly and claws were red. Her eyes were bright green, indication earth magic.

She was cuddled in a nest made of dirt, holding what I guessed was some sort of egg.

"Oh, she has lost her mother. She's hurting," I cried.

I immediately dropped to my knees and hugged the baby dragon. Putting all my love and care I could muster into my magic, I pushed it into the baby dragon.

Blue magic light swirled around us.

The baby let out a might sqwak and nuzzled into me.

I laughed. "I'm going to call you Nanna. It means courageous. Don't worry little one, I'm going to take care of you."

Brant knelt beside me with love in his eyes. "I'm so proud of you. I've always thought you would be a good mother, I just didn't expect your baby to be a dragon," he teased.

I laughed.