the first village, trails begin

Waking up very slowly, I feel different. I feel a lot warmer, light as a feather; I hear the water flowing over the rocks more than I hear the animals. I can hear them when they speak. My eyes are wide open, and I see a forest ahead of me. I look behind me at a tree that reaches the sky, a great oak; next to the base of the tree is a big boulder, as large as an elephant's rear end. This rock was here first when the world was created, when all the animals in the world gathered around it—some legendary animals, some mythical ones, and even magical ones. No animal is out of the picture.

I touch the boulder with my staff, and it becomes embedded in the jewel of my staff. It is time to find a place to conduct a trial and clean up. Why did I become the Goddess of this place? I will find out later, but for now, let's get to work.

Walking through this forest is so beautiful. I touch a tree that tells me it's clear ahead, no animals. Just a little further, and there's a tribe.

Wow, there are fruit trees with apples and figs. One of them is bigger and taller than the others, and the figs are abundant.

About a mile away from the tribe, I circle the area with flowers. Snakes, rodents, scorpions, and foxes are among the creatures that are provoked to leave. Approaching the tribe, I see a few people outside the cave, with others on the far side. One of them, with silver hair and silver eyes, stands at 5'11," with a slim body, toned arms, and long legs.

He begins walking toward me, and his eyes fill with tears. "Goddess, oh Goddess, you came! Thank you for descending from another world. This person hears you; what request do you have?"

"Hmmm, I need everyone in this tribe to come here. I want everyone out here to participate in the trial, including you," I respond.

He stands up straight. "Yes, Goddess."

I use my staff to touch the ground, then lift it. A boulder will form a circle, with the center being the boulder. The distance between them will be the length of two bodies, so it won't disturb the other creatures.

Two tables close to Boulder, then two rows, each with a length of two people to keep them apart. Not long after, the people came out, and the fox led the way. I saw a white lion and his family of black lions. Wow, how nice! A white lion is rare; those are my people who will trail personally.

I see a sick panther whose life hangs by a thin thread if it weren't for the beast keeping him alive.

Then a very tall man appeared, graying but still young in some ways, as if he could be a father and chief.

Then I saw foxes and a snake; great! I don't know why, but the snake wasn't even present. In the past, the snake kept away. Some of them, if they got close, would get burned to a crisp.

"Goddess, I got them for you as you commanded. Is there anything you want?" I went to him, grabbed his arms, and made him sit on the table. Then I got the lion.

I looked at the panther; I will not take him; he won't last long, even parting with the beast.

I got other lions: a nice jaguar, bobcat, lynx, and cougars.

Now, five foxes are bad, and six came to watch a person to take care of as women asked for help. I found out he wanted someone to be his son. He never took another Numa; she is in his heart. I placed him on the table.

Six snakes are bad as well, as no other seven helped their kin. For all the bad people, I placed them in jewels to be in pain forever.

"Boy, you will go on the trail, but keep in mind you have the hardest one because of your beast, that you are 'lying,' that has to prove yourself more. If, big IF, you get out, you will change."

He looked down; great, I see he has someone in his kin who was caught and is to be killed.

"Yes, Goddess."

I got ready to start casting for the trail.

Then the panther came up to me. "Goddess, please let me."

"Boy, you know you don't have much time; it is a miracle that you did not pass because of your beast. This trail is not about power but will and heart. Both of your hearts need to be in it."

"Goddess, he's one of the lost; please," the fox said.

I placed my hand on his head; I saw it—same day as the other Numa was taken away.

I looked at him.

"How much are you willing to give, boy?"

He looked at me. "Everything, Goddess. Please, my beast says he feels her still but is in great pain, and I can't find her. Please, Goddess, let me." At this point, he was crying. Sigh.

"Fine, I will let you, but know this: the hell you will go through won't be easy. I will give you little blessings that you will have a longer life and nice things with Numa if you reach level 7."

Now, the last two.

"When you get out of this trail, you will come with me, and I will place a spell on you so that you can't find your Numa until I find out why I am here and locate the other people in my group."

There was anger at first, but the fox was smart; he knew the reason it seemed. "Yes, Goddess," said the fox.

But the lion was not so quick.

"No Numa forever?"

I looked at the fox, and he nodded. "Not like that, just until we find the others and kill the person of the other." Then, anger knew no boundaries.

"Yes, Goddess."

Then the trail began.