Birthday Pt. 2

Icas, Kalzin, and Fallon walked back up to the Raydn house. Mkiea opened the door when she saw her son approaching with his friends. "Fallon!" she called. "Breakfast is ready!"

"Yay!" Fallon exclaimed as he barreled through the door with his friends in tow. Everyone sat down at the long wooden table. Crystal plates sat before each chair with a fork and knife to match. On a large platter in the middle, was a stack of pancakes that had a grainy texture to it. "Your favorite," Kifeda said as he passed the platter to his son.

"Thank you!" Fallon said to his parents who smiled in return.

"So, Icas," Kifeda said. "I hear you will be getting your powers tomorrow. That must be exciting."

Icas nodded. "I can not wait. I will finally be able to protect someone." Icas sighed as the memory came back to him.

"Icas!" Six-year-old Icas turned to look at his parents. They were trapped in the long tentacles of a shadowy creature and were slowly being squeezed into its body.

"Mother! Father!" Icas cried as he ran through the pouring rain back up the cobblestone pathway to reach his parents.

"No!" his father yelled. "Get as far away as you can!" Icas stopped and hesitated.

"Go!" his mother shouted as she and Icas's father were sucked into the beast. Icas screamed their names as a single hand reached back out and tossed an object his way.

A single golden rose landed in the wet mud at the boy's feet. Taking the last memory of his parents with him, Icas ran into the woods, vowing to kill the creature when he received his powers from Maisha.

"I'm sorry, Icas," Mkiea said. "The Kivuli are horrible creatures."

"Do you have any idea where they come from?" Icas asked.

Kifeda thought for a moment. "I do know that they sometimes work with the Nites over in Nitra if they get something in return but there are hardly any around here."

Icas nodded slowly and looked out the window. One day, he thought. One day I will avenge you both.