Chapter 3: Ninani
Malvina's POV-
The sunset's glow shimmered on the lake's calm surface. Mute swans glided across the water, heads bowed in a majestic stance. An eagle cried out overhead, eager to return to its nest and partner. The ending of the day in Eura was always the most beautiful. Calm, quiet, and relaxing.
The taste of supper was still clear in my throat, as I heard sudden clangs of pots and dishes come from the lakeside cottage that my family had inherited from so many generations ago.
My great grandparents had made the bold decision to escape from the hustle and bustle of the markets and festivities in Kintore, a small but successful village atop the River's Hill. They built a cozy little cottage of stone and clay beside a large but secluded lake. Constant hunting or foraging trips made life adventurous.
It was my family's paradise.
I sat a safe distance away from the water, on a smooth, sunbaked rock, watching the swans silently fishing for food and dragonflies flitting only centimetres off the water. I examined the precious crimson garnet, my birthstone, hanging off the thin elastic bracelet that my grandmother had given me for my eleventh birthday about ten months ago. It was supposed to increase energy and calmness.
As the sun fell below the mountains, its red and orange hue painted the clouds with beauty and colour. Night breezes rustled the greenery and danced through my ginger-coloured hair. Life was good. Even without the Spirit Animal that I had dreamed of summoning for years.
But it was well past my eleventh birthday now and there was only a very slim chance of summoning one.
Sighing in contentment, I slowly got up from my cross-legged position and made the short trip to my home.
The cottage's walls were made mostly from stacked stone, along with the chimney protruding from the roof, which was made from a very different material, straw and other types of dry plants. Windows were plentiful to reveal the outside view from the inside.
I approached a welcoming door made of dark rowan wood. I grasped the carved handle and pulled, the hinges not sounding any sign of wear.
The first person that caught my eye was my older sister, Aileen, to my right, her wavy, ginger hair matching mine, and her confident aqua eyes landing on mine. Dressed in a green tinted, plaid, skirt and knee high boots, it looked like she was getting ready for her night hunt, when wild sheep and birds sleep. She hastily shouldered her quiver of deadly arrows before unhooking her longbow from the small weapon rack.
"Malv! Back from your sunset watch I see," she greeted, a smile spreading across her lips. "You should come with me on my hunting trip tonight and hone those archery skills of yours. If you have any, of course." Aileen was always smug about her hunting skills, and once tried to teach me how to shoot an arrow.
We had headed out to the woods that day, and Aileen offered me her original bow that she owned when she was my age. It had beautiful carvings of bears and eagles, dancing across the smooth birch wood. My sister taught me how to properly stalk animals by choosing thick bushes that were stable and blended in with my clothing. She complimented me greatly on how silent and graceful I was when sneaking up on prey, but scolded me on how long it took for me to pull back the bowstring, how awful my accuracy was, and how my short distance shots were caused by weak arms.
That was the last day I held a real weapon.
"No, I think I'll stay home today," I protested quietly. "Where's Mom?"
"Probably out by the lake dumping out the excess water. Surprised you didn't see her," Aileen responded, not stopping from the trek to the door. With a creak and a bang, she left, leaving me alone in the silent cottage.
I peered around, noticing that the dining table was already clean from supper's mess, and the kitchen was all wiped down and refreshed. Both sat at the far wall, a direct and welcoming space. By the entrance was the coat rack, shoe carpet, and outdoor gear. Placed in the middle of the left wall was the cozy living room.
Something suddenly leaped from behind the kitchen counter, and I widened my eyes in surprise. But it was just Pounce, our golden retriever. He used to follow Aileen on her hunting trips to retrieve her kills, but recently seemed out of it. I guessed it was because of aging.
Paws on the counter, he barked twice before making his way around towards me. His golden fur shone radiantly even in the dim moonlight coming from the multiple windows. Mimicking his name, he pounced on me, his weight bringing my light build down to the carpeted ground. The canine licked me once on the cheek as I laughed aloud before getting off and jumping on the comfy chair in the living room, relaxing and panting.
I smiled at him, and made myself comfortable next to the dog, his body heat radiating from his neck and head. I gave him a quick belly rub before grabbing a book off the table in front of the seat, and opening it's plain, blue cover to reveal the printed words inside. Pounce stared into the book, then tilted his head, as if not understanding. I chuckled, knowing dogs couldn't read, however smart they were.
Then, as if attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere, Pounce quickly rotated his head to the front door, barking excitedly as he dropped down from the chair to the door, effortlessly gripping the knob with his mouth then exiting like any other human would.
"Pounce! Where are you off to?" I questioned, but he was already gone. Worried, I dashed after him, grasping the half open door by the side, and swung it open with quite some force, then followed the energetic canine down the the lakeside.
He barked madly, catching the attention of my mother who was only metres away. She looked up in confusion, her brown eyes asking me what was happening. I ignored her as I was focusing on something dazzling just beneath the lake's surface.
A blue light, calming but bright, was emerging from just under the water. It seemed to grow slowly in size and brightness, until the entire body of water was seemingly glowing with this mysterious glow. Pounce remained silent, and my mother kept her wide eyes on the scene. All the swans in the lake began to stop their graceful swim, and froze in a silent trance.
Once the light became overwhelmingly bright I turned away from the sight to prevent being blinded, and when I turned back, I was entranced by the most magnificent creature I have ever encountered in my life.
There, sitting upon the flat throne of the lake, was a giant swan, it's plume as white as snow, it's neck arched in a graceful curve, and it's wings like an angel's. Time froze as it pointed its pitch black beak towards me, calming eyes on mine.
At the far end of my attention, I heard my mother stutter something: "N-Ninani?" My vision came into the real world again, released from the trance of the Great Swan. Yes, Ninani. But, who was her companion?
With silence and grace, the large bird skated across the lake to the shore, rustling the lush greenery, and stepped with unusual ease for a waterfowl, towards me. It was astonishingly large, its height well past my waist.
She reached out with her neck to my hand, nibbling softly on my hand with her tough beak. That's when I knew, she was my Spirit Animal.
A/N: Hello hello hello there! Sorry for the abrupt ending but I realized it was getting a tad long for my liking. I'll be uploading at least once a week from now on, so expect more chapters! The next Spirit Animal (and last of the introductions) might surprise you a bit, even though I'm sure the habitat is a tadddddd off.
Until the next time peoplez,
Rainbowcookies :)
PS Yes I was feeling a bit wonky while writing this author's note.