İntrospection

A thousand miles above the ground, high in the sapphire sky and hidden by the glare of the burning sun, the inky feathers of the raven flapped. It glided, following after the keepers below. The ominous bird remained on their trail as the sun rose and fell. It flew overheard watching closely until they were well beyond the treeline and crossing into the Drakh.

The keepers' haven, foresthome would not let it through. The forest was said to be the harbinger's first home. Over time and through continued exposure to her essence, it had evolved to have a mind of its own. Only the harbinger and her keepers were allowed through its dense and congested buttresses.

From above, the raven watched as the Drakh parted and the keepers passed through, finally walking beyond its sharp gaze.

*****

The dense forest of Drakh parted as the keepers approached. It revealed a path that lead to the large clearing that held Alayni's cabin. Their essence, a part of what was once the harbingers could never be mistaken for anyone else. As though they were instructed to do so, the trees came together as soon as the keepers walked past, closing off the entrance.

Deeper and deeper into the heart of the forest, the path led. It lay bare not a single plant grew on it. On either side however, grass, flowers and shrubs grew side by side. Large canopy trees with thick trunks stood tall, shooting high up into the sky. Their leaves blocked out the sun's glare leaving only a few rays to peak through. Birds could be heard singing and chirping in their nests. Life thrived here. It was as though the rules of life, of competition did not apply in foresthome.

Weary as they were, their steps were sure as the keepers strided down the path. The further they walked, the stronger their feel of the wind and forest keepers.

Five paces.

The feeling engulfed them, they were close. They could feel the pull getting stronger. Their essence' called out to each other, yearning, reaching out with phantom hands.

Three paces.

It grew. The hairs on the back of their necks rose as the essence' caressed each other. The phantom hands were on their skin causing tingles to run across it. Their hearts beat faster. Joy. Belonging. Home.

Two paces.

One.

Anahita and Calida crossed into the clearing and there only a few feet away in the shade of an enormous white tree, Alayni and Eirik stood awaiting their earthbreaker and her wavecaller. Their essence' sang in joy, their skin vibrating from its resonance. The tingles stilled and their heartbeats calmed. The keepers were at last together. The convergence was complete.

*****

Alayni had not been this content in a long time. Orphaned at a young age, she'd moved from workhouse to workhouse. Any ties she formed with the other children were soon broken until she retreated into herself and refrained from forming them. When the harbinger's essence began to manifest inside her, the keepers had approached and brought her to foresthome. She had not minded being alone in the keepers' forest. Sitting at her table, eating and conversing with the three however, filled her with a peace that she had not known she yearned.

"You are quiet. You're never quiet" Erik's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Just lost in thought" she replied with a small smile.

Eirik stared at her for a while before looking away. Alayni tuned into the conversation when she heard the mention of the harbinger.

"Did you ever meet her?" she blurted out. Her cheeks warmed when all eyes turned to her.

"None of us have. I doubt even the very first keepers were granted that privilege." Anahita answered, the usual soft smile playing on her lips. Her silky voice left Alayni's heart beating wildly. It had her wondering what it would be like to have a mother, a living one.

"Then, how do we even know for sure that our powers come from her?" she asked.

"You doubt the harbinger?" Calida spoke, a disapproving frown on her face. A heavy hush fell upon them. Her tone demanded it, commanded respect. Alayni shifted uncomfortably under the earth keeper's scrutiny. She had not expected this turn in the conversation. Though, she probably should have put more thoughts behind her words in Calida's presence. Immortality was both blessing and curse and it seemed, the immortal one had tasted the bitter part of it. Calida stared at the forest keeper, her gaze perusing, as though she was seeing past the surface into her soul.

"I didn't..." Alayni started but was cut off by the first keeper.

"Her choices have never been wrong. Perhaps this time, it was." The meaning behind her words was obvious. They cut through skin and bone until they pierced Alayni's organ. The earth keeper pushed back her chair and walked out.

Eirik looked between the two women. Anahita was staring after Calida before she turned back to Alayni. He narrowed his eyes at the look he saw on her face, he knew that look. Her motherly smile and voice made even he crumble at times, it was obvious she was about to use it on Alayni who was already on the verge of tears. He decided that was not a conversation he wanted to be around for. He cleared his throat and rose from his seat. Silent as the wind, he walked out.

"You are still a child. You are naive to the pain your words cause."

Wavecallers voice flowed as a stream. Soft yet firm. The tearful eyes of the forest keeper met hers and behind those enthralling green orbs, she saw loss, pain and above all else, a loneliness locked deep inside. The keeper of seas finally understood. The thought had not occurred to her before but now, looking at the child sitting before her, it dawned upon her that she knew truly nothing about her. Nothing of the pain tied to her past.

They had all been orphaned when the essence began to manifest. They unlike Alayni however, had had each other. Wars had brought them together. Through battles and beyond, they stood by each other and despite choosing to live apart from one another, they had formed a bond unbreakable even by time. A bond they did not share with this child.

Anahita's eyes softened. Perhaps the girl was not naive at all. Perhaps Alayni was simply searching to validate the home she had finally found. She held Alayni's though tearful, unwavering gaze. Silver locked with green and without words, she conveyed her message.

I am here, you are not alone. Her storm coloured eyes said.

The tears she had kept at bay, rolled down Alayni's cheeks. Anahita did not move, neither did she. They simply sat, gazes locked while she cried tears that had been begging to be let loose for years.