Storm's Rise

Fyora was pacing in her study, she often paced these days. Her normally shining lavender hair was in ragged ropes around her face. She looked pale and thin as though she'd been losing sleep and wasn't eating properly. From a chair by the window Jhudora watched her. The dark faerie's eyes following the Queen's movements.

"Why is this happening?" Fyora demanded of the dark faerie. "That power, that darkness, that evil, has to be coming from somewhere!"

"You're right," Jhudora replied sinking back in the arm chair. "It is coming from somewhere. But it is no faerie magic so far as I can tell. Our magics, despite they are darkness, still hold threads of the other elements. But this..." Jhudora's voice trailed off and she stood, gazing out the window into the steadily dimming sky. "But this Fyora, is pure, undiluted, darkness. Such a power should not exist, it would be so overbalanced, so overwhelming, that it would kill its vassal instantly.

"Telling me that it shouldn't exist does not help the situation!" Fyora growled. Jhudora turned and fixed the Faerie Queen with eyes that were blank and lost.

"Fyora... there's nothing we can do." A tear ran down the dark Faerie's cheek. "You remember the prophecy don't you?"

Fyora sank into the chair Jhudora had vacated, clutching her face with trembling hands. And recited the words that had burrowed dread deep into her heart.

"The darkness weeps in last remorse,

for all that is gone.

Life, and love, and light shall fail,

In this last stretch of dawn.

Watch and sorrow for the dying land,

For the seas do grow cold.

The fading stars and silver ghosts,

of all that has been told.

Darkness to light the kindled spark,

of ruin and destruction.

The sky to fall in bitterness

awaiting resurrection.

Now to be bound for eternity,

Until crawling death does creep.

Forever in self created misery,

does the heart of darkness weep..."

Fyora finished the verses and let out a little whimper of grief. Jhudora said nothing, the gold and scarlet light that shone through the glass glinted on her violet hair. The sun was steadily going down in the West. "As I said," The dark faerie murmured, watching the sky grow painted with reds and golds. "There is nothing we can do to stop the inevitable." Her voice trailed off, and Fyora knew what she was thinking.

The Faerie Queen lifted her gaze. All hope had gone from her eyes. "This next dawn, shall be our last."

The green Lupe lay on the railing of his balcony watching the sea glow gold with the last light of the dying sun. It felt warm on his dark evergreen coat. ScinanDarkShine loved living on Mystery Island it was always so warm. He loved being able to see such sunsets as these. Scinan stood and stretched, balancing precariously on the railing.

Then he jumped down off it and strode into his room. It was rather plain, but he liked it that way, just a chair, a bed, and a night table. Scinan shoved his nose under the bed and peered into the shadows underneath.

"Ah, there you are," he murmured, reaching under it and drawing out a blue-white snake like creature. The petpet yawned and from her breath a large freezing mist rose. The bluna opened large eyes and gazed indignantly at Scinan. "Oh don't give me that look" Scinan scolded. "You've been sleeping all day, it's good for you to be up and about anyway Caligo." Scinan draped the bluna over his shoulders and made his way into the upstairs hall.

The door to his brother, EaldorStormLife's room was open a crack. Scinan could hear loud crunching noises from inside. Then a very discernible 'thud' followed by a loud "Ow!" Scinan nosed open the door and peered inside. Ealdor was sitting on his bed, the red Eyrie was rubbing his head furiously.

"Did he hit the ceiling again?" Inquired a light female voice from behind Scinan. The Lupe turned to see a blue Shoyru peering at him from her open door way. She was MaestitiaSunSorrow, and Scinan's only sister.

"Yes," Scinan confirmed, his golden eyes sparking with amusement."

Maestitia rolled her eyes and walked to the thresh hold of Ealdor's room. "Honestly if he keeps bouncing on that bed and hitting the ceiling he's going to give himself brain damage." She said, sounding irritated.

"Too late," replied a new voice. LeohtShadowLight poked his Zafara head through the railing that bordered the stairs.

"I heard that," Ealdor said furiously, he stuck his head out the door to glare at Leoht. The blue Zafara merely stuck his tongue out in reply. Maestitia snorted in disgust at the immaturity of her siblings.

"Anyway," Leoht said, "Hry told me to remind you guys that we're having guests over for dinner tonight."

Maestitia slapped her forehead. "Faeries! I forgot!" She cried, "I better go see if Hry needs any help setting up." With that she was down the stairs, her brothers soon followed.

The four pets' owner, ruinstar, was busily preparing the dinner. Hryre had her long red streaked brown hair pulled back in a uni tail. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up and there were specks of flour all over her. At her pets' entrance she looked up and smiled.

"Good you guys are here, will you go set the table?" Maestitia and Leoht took a folded table cloth from a cabinet, Ealdor and Scinan followed with the dishes. As they set up the table for ten, the pets chatted about their dinner guests.

"What do you think they'll be like?" Maestitia asked. "I know she has a Shoyru, I wonder if he likes to read?"

"Heh, I just hope they're not goody-two-shoe pets." Leoht replied, his eyes sparking with mischief. At that moment Hryre poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Now, Leo I order you to be nice. No pranks, do you hear?" She said sternly.

"Aw Hry, you take all the fun out of life." The Zafara complained.

"That's as may be, but I want your word that you'll behave tonight." The girl insisted.

"Fine, fine whatever Hryre." When his owner glared at him the Zafara razed his paws defensively. "I swear, I swear!" Hryre frowned, not trusting Leoht's words, but it would have to do for now.

Something pricked Scinan's ears. He turned and gazed out the window, confused. As he watched, the reddened light that streamed through the window began to dim. As the dim darkness fell across him, he felt unimaginably cold. So cold that he thought his very blood would have frozen in his veins. The moment passed and Scinan shivered.

Maestitia noticed. "Sci, what's the matter?"

"I – I," Scinan cast about for an answer. "I think it's going to rain..."

"What?" Maestitia gazed out the window to see charcoal black clouds gathering on the horizon. "I think you're right, looks like a bad storm is coming."

"Well," Leoht said. Twirling a fork in his fingers. "It is the stormy season here."

"I don't like it," Maestitia said quietly. "That storm is coming on awfully fast." Her eyes narrowed and she squinted through the glass.

"My advice," Ealdor said as he took the fork from Leoht and placed it in its proper spot. "Don't tell Hry anything is happening. She's already stressed out enough making this dinner, the idea that something spooky is happening will probably make her snap." The others nodded in agreement. Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Ack!" Came Hryre voice from the kitchen. "Will you guys get the guests into the Lounge please?" She called, "Leo, come help me with this!" The Zafara scampered away as his siblings went to open the door.

Standing on the doorstep was a girl and four pets, a red Lupe, a striped Pteri, a yellow Lupe, and a red Shoyru. The girl smiled, she was tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. One of her hands was clamped onto the baseball hat that the chilled wind that had come from no where threatened to blow away. She was aisa1123, or just Aisa. Ealdor led her and her pets to the Lounge while frantic bickering between Leoht and Hryre could be heard from the kitchen.

Aisa put a hand over her mouth to hide a grin. "Not a cooker is she?"

Ealdor chuckled. "She tries, give her credit for that." He turned to Aisa. "I'm EaldorStormLife, this is MaestitiaSunSorrow and ScinanDarkShine."

"And our other brother who's trying to help Hry avert disaster is LeohtShadowLight." Maestitia said.

Aisa nodded. "Please to meet you, this is Fiyrelement." The red Shoyru smiled at Maestitia, who blushed. "DemonInuyashaX" The red Lupe twitched his ears. "Kanshlamasutwo" The striped Pteri waved a wing in the air. "And ArizonaSpirit." The yellow Lupe inclined her head.

"Whew," Hryre came into the room. "Sorry for the delay, but dinner's ready now."

Aisa shot Ealdor a glance, wicked laughter in her eyes. The Eyrie grinned and led the way into the dining room.