Inspiration: Song one
Marath: Will of the Wild
I will never forget when I, Fern Miraglade, accompanied Hennrick O'June and his team on their expedition to take the Wildstone from Marath, Will of the Wild. It all started one day in Hanksville when Hennrick came storming into the local bar where I worked declaring that he needed a fourth person to accompany his team to Aetherforth valley in search of Marath and the Wildstone. "They need to have some tracking and survival experience, but most of all they need to know how to stay off my nerves." He proclaimed in his gruff voice. My father, eager to get me out of his hair, volunteered me for my small camping experience and study of edible plants. I cringed when Hennrick came to "have a look" at me, and was utterly terrified when he told my father that I would do. We left the very next morning on horseback, leaving me a bit shell-shocked, and worried of the coming events. Our team consisted of Hennrick, our leader, Jack Tier, our geologist, David O'June, Hennrick's survivalist nephew, and me, our "expert" on edible plants. "So, I've heard of the "Will of the Wild" but never any details, what or who is Marath?" They looked at me in surprise. "You volunteered for an expedition you know nothing about?" Jack asked me. "My father volunteered me." I corrected. David inhaled deeply. "Marath is the "Will of the Wild" and the keeper of the Wildstone. The Wildstone is an enchanted rock supposedly created by the first four Elemental Dragons, that controls the four elements: fire, water, earth, and wind. Marath harnesses the power of the Wildstone to control the four elements and influence the environment around him. He is said to dwell in Aetherforth valley and the mountains surrounding it." "We've been there before, we built a shack there two months ago." Jack told me. "That was when Domrian went nuts and ran off a cliff. Not that you should worry about that, Dom was never quite right in the head." Hennrick added. "Shouldn't be long now, Aetherforth isn't far from Hanksville." Jack said. "Just over this ridge." As we neared the top, I noticed that the Vegetation grew greener and more dense, forcing us to take more indirect routes. Finally, as we crested the ridge my eyes grew wide at the indescribable beauty of Aetherforth Valley. "Unpack your saddle bags, the going gets too rough for horses at this point." Hennrick told us. I was reluctant to leave my horse but I followed Hennrick's instructions. We continued on foot down into the valley, to the spot where Jack said the trail to the shack was supposed to start. He stopped, "That's odd, the trail should be right here." Jack said. Hennrick pushed past him. "Never mind the trail! I remember the way." We followed Hennrick as he chopped though the thick undergrowth until we reached a small clearing in the trees, where a sagging shack fought a losing battle with the surrounding undergrowth and constricting vines. "You built this two months ago?" I asked. "It looks ancient." David stared; dumbfounded. "Well, at least we now know something." Jack said. We looked at him in question. "Marath is close." It made sense, the shack was falling apart, completely overgrown. That couldn't be the work of just nature, it had to be the Will of the Wild. "This way." Hennrick said. "The plants are still growing." David commented, and they were. They plants were still expanding and growing; meaning that Marath had passed this way very recently. We followed Hennrick through the bushes for about an hour, until he finally stopped. "There he is." He whispered. I looked up, and there, striding ahead was Marath. I had expected him to be a man, but he more resembled a deer or an elk the size of a very large bull moose. His hide was rich, earthy, almost mahogany brown. His antlers were huge, prongs twisting in every direction. Then I saw the Wildstone. It was encased in a bubble of glittering clear water, that jumped like static electricity to his antlers until they were covered in droplets that hung delicately. Plants twisted up under his feet and as he exhaled, a breeze swept through the forest. Yet the most impressive part about Marath was the he moved. He stepped slowly yet moved faster than we could walk at a comfortable pace, he walked regally with a kingly grace. Hennrick slashed through another vine and Marath turned so quickly I could hardly believe a animal so large could move that fast. He stared us down with fire in his eyes. I felt foolish and ashamed to have come to take the Wildstone from this magnificent creature, the others seemed to feel the same from the looks they were giving me. But Henn****** stepped up with a steely glint in his eye. "Marath, Will of the Wild!" He swallowed,trying to keep the waver out of his voice. "Marath, Will of the Wild! We have come for the Wildstone!" Marath considered this for a moment, then he reared up; revealing his front feet to be paws with retractable claws, and brought those paws crashing to the ground. The ground shook and with each shockwave the surrounding plants withered and died. Then Marath began to speak to us, but not with words, it was with emotions and colors. But we could understand every word. How dare you come to me to possess the Wildstone! It is to be used to keep the balance of nature! Humans upset that balance already by their own power! You expect me to give you even more influence on the world! Marath reared up again and the Wildstone burst into flames that flickered along his antlers, and then he brought his paws crashing down leaving streaks of fire in the air. Searing pain suddenly thrashed my ankles and wrists, and wind blasted my face. We all dropped to the ground, I saw Marath standing over me, the Wildstone returned to water, and a single droplet fell onto my face and I saw Marath's blurry form moving away from me as everything faded away.
When I finally regained consciousness I was lying in long grass with tall trees looming over me. I sat up slowly, seeing the others do the same. I saw Hennrick lying in the grass, I tested for a pulse but got nothing. The ground opened up beneath him and he was swallowed up. I glanced down at my ankles and gasped. Burned into my right ankle was a anklet of black circles representing earth, around my left ankle were streaks representing wind, my right wrist had black flames, my left wrist had waves of water. Jack and David had the exact same burns. We finally made it back to Hanksville and slipped quietly into our houses; never to speak of our traumatic expedition again. That is how I got my scars on my wrists and ankles, and how I learned to respect nature and the power it wields.
The end |
