Swept

The Return

She was running. Why was she running? Behind her trees fell, the ground cracked and trembled, and waves of calm overtook her.

Why was she running?

There was no need to run.

… quiet. The quiet was like a resounding wall seeking to intimidate and subdue.

She kept running.

Finally she saw it. It shimmered before her; inviting, enticing.

Her paced slowed as her smile broadened. The colors were mesmerizing. A rainbow shimmered before her in the shape of a dense broad door. As she neared she felt the port slowly opening.

Her smile widened. She seemed like a maniacal thing-her eyes wide, bulging, and her smile broad, gleaming white teeth shining.

As the "rainbow" opened, her heart pounding, a deep blue sky opened up before her. A clear blue sky greeted that maniacal face and welcomed it enter.

Her pace quickened and the area once again rumbled and quaked. Trees gave way and fell before nothing. The ground rumbled yet nothing passed. No wind stirred, no foot fell.

Still she ran even though she knew she could reach her destination at a leisurely stroll

And then she was at the rainbow door. Her foot stepped across the threshold and she embraced the blue sky and it embraced her.

As the door closed behind her the land calmed then repaired itself even improving with more abundant flora and small animals stirring.

Delicate herbs sprouted from her footsteps. Herbs in vibrant greens, pinks, and yellows.

Leaving the herbs behind didn't phase her because she knew well that all gains would patiently wait for her, the area sealed never to allow another to enter until she returned.

On the other side of the rainbow door the sky was a pure crystalline blue of an indescribable shade. The rainbow shimmered before a silver-edged gold path. The path glistened brightly within the cloudless sky. She crouched upon the path, her body in a tight ball, and she did not move until the rainbow door completely closed.

"…" she wanted to face-palm as she slowly stood "… Why must I always be so dramatic." She forced herself not to roll her eyes.

"Why are you always waiting for me? You know very well that I can find my way"

"How can I not await you when I am the one who has summoned you?"

She actually rolled her eyes at this as she stretched her back and limbs to re-accumulate to the gravity of her realm. "And why have you summoned? " she moved forward smiling up at the sky allowing her body to absorb the nourishment it so dearly missed.

She loved her home and missed it dearly. She also loved Cramnal dearly. He was her best friend and they had been through too much together.

There was silence for a long while and then a soft subtle sigh. "Andis has disappeared."

The simple statement forcibly brought her from her revelry. She swiftly twirled her body toward the voice even though she knew no one stood there. Her eyes narrowed. She spoke slowly through clinched teeth "Where… is… our sister?"

There was another soft sigh. "I would not have called you if I knew. Forgive me my lady. We lost her in Sibbia. Struns believes Marce has her."

Rachel closed her eyes and lifted her face. She could not physically see him but she knew he was now prostrate, his face as low as possible. So many things changed between them when she became Milana.

So many things changed for him and she wished they could go back but she knew they never could.

"Come forth Cramnal. Where are Rebecca and Struns?"

The area behind her wavered with shimmering rainbow light. A tall man with deeply hued blond hair with random multicolored strands and eyes that were like rainbow colored gems stood looking at her back. His smooth caramel skin seemed to shimmer with rainbow light. She did not look at him only began a brisk pace down the paved road knowing he would eventually answer and keep pace with her.