Chapter 3 * Finding the lost, Losing the found
After about an hour of listening, following, seeking, and silence the couple noticed that the bright star was almost directly overhead and had stopped twinkling just as the voice no longer spoke. It was Diane that saw it.
"Numair, did you see that?" still whispering and surprised by her own voice.
"What!?"
Then it hit them. The female voice had gone away but the wailing sound grew louder and louder.
"I saw a glimmer in the brush, just for a second"
"Did it look like someone's Gift?"
"No, The gift is a solid color. This was a glimmer of Silver and C . . .C . . . Copper"
Silence came on them once more, they both continued walking and put off the question of what in any of the realms possessed two toned, silver and gold magic.
Over the last few years they had learned to use the word impossible with great respect.
Now they both heard something change in the wailing. It sounded real. Terrifyingly real. Numair ran through all the things that it could be, while Diane hurried forward with purpose.
"Numair? I found it"
Numair, half expecting to find a baby dragon, unicorn, baslik, or the more vicious stormwing, spidren, coldfang, hurrok or some other oddity, was completely taken when he stepped into the clearing.
The clearing itself was unusual. It was perfectly round, and the Bright star was directly above it shedding a steady silver glow from above. The soil had no trace of plant or animal matter and all the trees leaned into it as though they watched with anticipation.
By the side of the ring was Diane beaming and murmuring to what Numair had least expected. The sole creature least connected to Diane but madly drove her on a one-hour crusade on the longest night in the year in nothing but a nightgown and coat was . . .a human baby? A baby making a sound nothing has ever heard or made. She looked up at Numair, eyes sparkling, and mouth painted in a grin.
"Can we keep her?" asked Diane with the same sparkle of eyes as the baby. Numair was about to speak when the female voice broke the silence.
" You must," she hastily said in a horrifying tone of agony, grief, and fear.
"I'm afraid our meeting will be brief, on the last second of this millennia Chaos will take over. Tonight, I will take my leave."
" But tonight is the Winter Solstice not new years eve."
"You mortals count time differently. Ask your gods how it's really done. I best explain why I am asking this favor of you"
"Yes you best" remarked Numair
" I, like your god Mithros, am a star. Am the first star. Unlike Mithros who was blessed with many planets, I only have one. The creatures on my planet are revolting the presence of the Gods. You may wonder why can the gods not defend themselves. One millennia ago when creatures all worshiped us life was in balance. As in your world there is Chaos. Well, Chaos destroyed the balance of one being after another. Now, almost every creature on my planet all favors Chaos. The Gods were made weak by disbelief until one by one they die, vanish, cease from existence. When the last being disbelieves in me, I will too die and Chaos will rule for a millennia. Then over a millennia, beings will gradually remember the gods until the god have regained balance. It is an ever-going cycle that never should have started thanks to the folly of Father Universe and Mother Flame. This year it will change. This is the one-millionth year Chaos will take over and I have a favor to ask of you. This is my daughter. I ask you to raise her and when the time comes release her. Please do as I bid it is the only hope for this destructive cycle to end."
Awed, Numair asked, " why did you choose us"
"I knew the most powerful Gift and strongest Wild Magic would protect my child.
Numair and Diane exchanged glances. They had never seen each other in this light before. Numair sighed and nodded to Diane. She said,
"We graciously accept your Gift . . . umm"
"Mother Star. Thank you mortals for taking my child. Never forget you have befriended a star for it is a gift beyond explanation. Don't reveal my daughter's nature to her until it is time for her to take her true form"
"Mother Star, what should we call your child?" asked Diane.
"And if she is your child she must be a goddess" added Numair.
" She is a goddess you don't need on your planet for your beings are born with plenty of it. I named her after hope. Her name is Earth."
