The Past

Caith and Sionna finished off the last of the meat before joining Yaatra for the usual rice and tea for breakfast. She even used fire magic to heat her tea cup as it went cold in the crisp morning air.

"Remember earth magic is the magic of healing to harness it you must be filled with love. Or with great heartache. With fire you focused on feelings of passion and desire. Those emotions are fleeting, just like a flame. Earth is steady, it is always there below your feet. Love is not a fleeting emotion, it is something that takes time. It involves trust and companion. It is more than a feeling it is an act. Think of the actions that loved ones have done for you. And you have done for them. Only then will you be capable of moving the earth." Sionna nodded eyeing her tea.

"Do you think my mother didn't loved me, and that's why she abandoned me?" She asked softly.

"I cannot say for sure, if you want I can try to reach back into your memories. However, I cannot promise you will like what you find. The past is always something better off not brought into the future." He finished with a sip of tea, his eyes were closed as he drank. When he opened them Sionna was no longer looking at him.

"Will you really be able to find out?" She asked looking back into her tea cup.

"I cannot promise you anything Sionna, only that I can try."

"Could you please?"

"Of course, come stand here." He said indicating to a large boulder in front of him. Sionna quickly set her food and drink aside to stand in front of him. Yaatra closed his eyes and leaned down so that their foreheads could touch. Sionna took a deep breath closed her eyes and leaned in. As soon as their heads touched Sionna's life went backwards. So fast it was a blur she wasn't even sure how she knew it was her own. Then she came to a face she didn't know. She had never see the woman before but she had Sionna's eyes and hair.

'Mother,' Sionna thought to herself. The woman was looking down at her smiling. Then looked away her face now filled with concern. She felt a great shake, and noticed the skies above them were dark and ominous. Sionna's mother turned her body and she should now see they were on a ship.

"They will never be able to have you, her mother said holding her tighter. I will make sure of it."

The ship rocked violently and Sionna's mother adjusted her wrapping in a way her so that she was on her mothers back. Looking out she saw a crew member that knew very well. 'Papa?' Her eyes were filled with confusion seeing the man approach them. His hair she knew as grey was jet black matching his beard.

"We can't continue in this storm we need to turn around."

"If we turn around we are all dead. I would rather take my chances with the storm. My magic can get us through this I know it."

"I trust you Judicha," he said but when he looked away it was clear he was visibly distraught.

Judicha went to the bow of the boat and began chanting. The white water waves subsided and a wind picked up. Sionna realized her mother was controlling the wind and the sea.

"We need to make it back to Turtle Island and then we will all be safe. Move quickly." Sionna could hear the scramble of foot steps along the deck. Her eyelids got heavy and everything became dark.

'I think I went a little two far back,' Yaatra's voice said and the world turned to a blur.

"I can't make it to Turtle Island without you," Sionna's Papa said and she saw tears in her mothers eyes.

"You don't have to, just keep her safe. It's me they want not her." She said and Sionna felt her infant body lifted and put into the man's hands.

"What should I tell her?" At his words Sionna felt her mothers hands carcass her small face.

"Don't tell her anything, just tell her you found her. I don't want her to pay for my mistakes. It's best she never knows." At her mothers words Sionna felt her body began to rattle. And realized she was crying.

"It's okay Sionnach, I love you. May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up." Then she was gone and all Sionna could see was the sea. Her little ribs were shaking as she cried.

"It's okay Sionna, I will protect you, don't cry." She saw the skies again dark and grey. There were others on a small boat some of them she recognized as her Papa's old friends.

"It's okay, I have a invisibility spell they can't see or hear us. It's still best we make hast."

"Agreed, I will still give her something to keep her calm." She felt something bitter and awful in her mouth then everything went black.

.

.

.

She felt herself back in her adult body, she leaned back away for Yaatra. Her left felt like lead and her head was spinning.

"What did you find out?" Caith asked and she looked up at him. Tears rolling down her cheeks. She threw herself at Caith wrapping her arms around him and sobbing.

"She saw her mother." Yaatra said quietly.

'She loved me, Caith, she loved me and someone was after her. And my Papa swore not to tell me about her.' She thought, unable to string words together.

"That's good, Sionna. She must have loved you a lot to do that. She didn't want to abandon you." Caith said stroking her curly hair.

"I will leave you two alone, when she is ready we can work on earth magic." Yaatra said and Sionna could hear his steps as he walked away.

"I just want to stay like this for a while," Sionna said with her face buried in Caith's chest.

"Whatever you need, I am here for you."