a/n- life sux. wut do ya do when there is nothing to do? write. so, i'm
writing. basically rambling nothing, so forgive me if this chapter makes no
sense.
* * *
disclaimer: ya'll know i don't own UoB. i wish i did. then i'd know wut happens in books 6-8. lindsay, i'd like 2 take ya up on that offer 2 write out #6. pleeeeeze?
* * *
A great big thatnk-you to Silver Spell and TalkoftheTown4eva for reviewing! ^_^
* * *
As twilight descends upon Balinor, the gentle, serene spring breezes that are usually present are absent. The land felt eerily calm, the air heavy with moisture. Isilme looks up from her grazing as she feels the strangeness in the air. Looking toward the forest, she is surprised to see black, ominous clouds creeping toward the village, almost seeming unnatural.
Their ebony bellies light red with anger as a streak of lightning streaks across them. Moments later, the sky takes on the clouds' coloration. Isilme gazes at it with a mixture of hatred, fear, and wonder. Then, the sky seems to fall upon her as black hordes of flies surround her.
Twisting and turning, she tries to get them off. The flies meld all into one dark blanket. No longer feeling their biting and swarming, she opens her eyes, but immediately wishes she hadn't.
A great flaming eye is gazing at her intently through the blackness. A form is visible behind it, which is running toward her. As it runs, it becomes clearer and clearer what exactly it is.
It is a huge black unicorn, with a sharpened horn of iron and hooves of steel. His eyes, red and flaming with hatred, gaze at her intently.
"Isilme!" he shouts at her. His voice is low and hoarse, but menacing. She slowly backs away in fear and revoltion.
"Isilme!" he repeats, a little quieter.
"Go away!" she tells him.
"Isilme!" his voice is no longer a shout, but a normal tone.
"Isilme!" she hears her mother shout.
Isilme opens her eyes abruptly and sees her mother standing over her. Golden sunlight filters in through her open stall door. She slowly stands up, shaking straw and wood shavings from her coat.
"Mother! I had an awful dream! First, I saw huge black clouds and then these flies came and then they went away and the world was all black and I saw a great big red eye of fire and then-"
"An eye of fire?" her mother interrupts, "Was there a black, shadowy form behind it?"
"Yes, I was just getting to that part! There was a black shadowy form behind it and it was running toward me and it kept getting clearer and then!" she takes a deep breath, "And then I could see it and it was a black unicorn and he was really big and had a sharpened horn and he kept calling my name!"
Tara nods understandingly, "You saw the Shifter. And the unicorn was most likely Moloth."
"Who's Moloth?" asks Isilme.
"He is the leader of the Shadow Unicorns." Tara replies, "Now, I was visited by Atalanta in the night. She told me I am to return to the Celestial Valley today. Since I cannot leave you here alone, you are coming with me. Atalanta is coming to help us cross, and we cannot miss her. So come along."
They leave the stable and cross the field. Taking the same path they had come down the day before, they soon reach the high meadow. A twinkling star floats out of the sky, light violet in color. Isilme gazes in wonder as a graceful twilight purple unicorn slowly takes form from the light.
"Taramalë, you are in great danger here. The Shadow Army will soon be passing through!" she says urgently.
Tara and Isilme canter briskly across the meadow to where Atalanta is. A huge crack of thunder sounds and Isilme stops in alarm. She looks to the same place where she remembers the black clouds and is met with the same sight. Only now, the wind is blowing and picking up speed. The dark clouds blush fiery red with lightning.
"Mother! It's the clouds from my dream!" she shouts to her mother.
"I know, dear, now hurry!" Tara shouts. She stops near the Dreamspeaker and waits for Isilme to reach them.
Atalanta rears up and sings a low note, and they are all soon traveling into the sky. A sky blue, twilight purple, and midnight black star can be seen faintly against the fury of the storm. The wind dies down as they ascend. Soon, the storm is left far behind and they approach a beautiful valley. Unicorns of all colors of the rainbow can be seen as spots of color, grazing quietly in a semicircle against the edge of a cliff wall. Young off-white colts and fillies are playing under the supervision of a mare in the center. Isilme gazes at it all in wonder.
"Welcome to the Celestial Valley." Atalanta smiles at her, then turns to her mother. "Taramalë, I must return to the Pool."
"I will show Isilme around, then we can talk later." Tara replies. Atalanta walks gracefully toward the Pool.
"Come, Isilme, I will introduce you to all of the Celestial Valley Herd." Tara says, walking toward the Unicorns.
"What is this place? Who are they? And why are we here?" Isilme looks questioningly at her mother.
"This is the Celestial Valley, the home to all the Celestial Unicorns. They are the protectors of Balinor. We are here because I must help them against the Shifter, and you are here because I do not want you hurt." Tara explains.
"Oh. Are you a se-le-sti-uhl?" Isilme quesitons.
"Yes, but I crossed the Bridge long ago to follow--your father, who was being Bonded to one of the princes of Balinor." Tara quickly lied.
"What happened to him?" inquires the young filly.
"He was killed in an ambush in the forest."
"What ki-"
"Taramalë! It's good to see you again!" a voice interrupts.
"Milan (mee-lan)! It is good to see you as well!" Tara replies.
A small unicorn, her coat mirroring the gray dawn morning, approaches them. Her horn is shimmering pearl, her jewel and hooves smoky quartz.
"Milan, this is my daughter, Isilme." Tara tells her when she stops. Milan looks skeptically at her before greeting Isilme, as well.
After meeting Milan, Isilme was introduced to the rest of the Silver band, which Milan headed. Following the Silver band came the Violet band, Indigo band, and Blue band, which make up the Twilight band.
They were heading to meet the Green band when everybody went quiet.
"What's happening, Mother?" Isilme whispers.
"Hush, Numinor is approaching." Tara whispers back.
As the Golden One appears over a rise, the afternoon sun gleams on his coat, shining through his jewel, a yellow diamond. Isilme gazes at him in wonder and amazement. Right then, Numinor spotted the ebony filly amongst the Herd. Deciding to ignore her for the moment, he continues with the news.
"The Shifter is on the move yet again. He attacked Balinor earlier this morning. The Black Cloud and his flies descended upon the land, apparently searching for members of the Resistance. Other than damage to the homes and surrounding area, there seems to be no more apparent damage." he conlcudes.
The unicorns talk worriedly among themselves when they see that Numinor is finished. He descends and walks toward Atalanta.
"Atalanta!" he calls.
"I am here, milord." she replies from near the Pool. He nears, but before replying, he turns to make sure no-one was near. Then he, snorts and rears in frustration.
"Yes, I am here, and you are here, and all living Celestials are here. But why is that, that...that SHADOW here? Do you not remember why we drove them out?" he shouts.
"Of course I remember." Atalanta replies softly.
"Then why did you purposely allow a SPY into our midst?"
"She isn't a spy!"
"What makes you so sure?" Numinor argues.
"She is the daughter of Taramalë, who is just as faithful as the rest of us!"
"How do you know? She has been down there for nearly three years. She might have changed!"
"Talk to her and find out." Atalanta suggests.
"I'll do just that! And make them both leave, then I won't have to worry about it anymore!" he says, walking off.
"You can't send them out of the Valley! The Shifter will get them!" Atalanta pleads. After all, Tara is her cousin.
"I can, and I will!" he yells, turning and staring at her. She suddenly gives up.
"Fine," she says in a flat tone, "You are the leader. You make your own decisions. I have no say in it."
But rather than feel sorry for what he had done, Numinor simply arches his neck proudly and nods his head as if to say, 'That's right, and don't you forget it!', then trots off to find the 'black spy'.
He had just found them and was walking toward them when the ground begins to shake. The sky goes dark with black, ominous clouds. Red lightning flashes across it. He looks toward the ancient caves the Shadow Unicorns were driven from. The clouds are drifting out of them, along with a thin, oily smoke that reeks of death.
Many Celestials begin to panic when the Shadow Herd are seen marching out of the caves on the other end of the valley. The Shifter, Entia, himself, soon follows.
He is in a semi-human form, but with great wings extending from his back; made in fashion of a bat's wings. Only where the long, thin bones should have been was black shadow, and where there should have been the thin skin was fire. His skin was dark, poisonus green and glowing red eyes glare from sunken sockets. He is dressed in black leather, with black iron armor.
"What are you doing here!?" Numinor yells.
"Back off, 'Golden One'," he mocks, "We are only here for one thing and YOU will not get in our way of it."
"What is it you want?"
"Her." the Shifter points to Isilme. She looks at him, her eyes full of fear.
Numinor glances at the ebony filly, then smirks to himself. "Take her."
The whole valley stares at him in disbelief. How could he hand over one of their own, even if she did look so much like a Shadow Unicorn?
Entia grins evilly and motions to his army. Two of his unicorns walk over to her. She backs away in alarm, but they out-maneuver her and soon have her by the mane.
"Mother! What's happening? I don't wanna go!" she yells, trying to get back to Tara. She tries to save her daughter, but is stopped by Rednal, who is nearby, and can see how evilly he was staring at her.
"Let's go." the Shifter says to his army. They follow him back into the cave. Except for Moloth, who stays behind a few seconds to smirk at Tara. He then canters back to the cave. The clouds follow, and a bright flash of lightning signals their departure. The oily smoke and the stench stay behind.
Atalanta turns from the scene with tears in her eyes. *Numinor can be so cruel sometimes!* She frowns as she sees him, walking with a victorious look in his eyes back toward his cave.
* * *
i really wanna post this, so i'm stopping here. i know it sounds a little like yur story this chapter, but it won't l8r. m'k? ^_^ r/r pleeze!
read The Test of Time by TalkoftheTown4eva and Rising Darkness by Silver Spell.
* * *
disclaimer: ya'll know i don't own UoB. i wish i did. then i'd know wut happens in books 6-8. lindsay, i'd like 2 take ya up on that offer 2 write out #6. pleeeeeze?
* * *
A great big thatnk-you to Silver Spell and TalkoftheTown4eva for reviewing! ^_^
* * *
As twilight descends upon Balinor, the gentle, serene spring breezes that are usually present are absent. The land felt eerily calm, the air heavy with moisture. Isilme looks up from her grazing as she feels the strangeness in the air. Looking toward the forest, she is surprised to see black, ominous clouds creeping toward the village, almost seeming unnatural.
Their ebony bellies light red with anger as a streak of lightning streaks across them. Moments later, the sky takes on the clouds' coloration. Isilme gazes at it with a mixture of hatred, fear, and wonder. Then, the sky seems to fall upon her as black hordes of flies surround her.
Twisting and turning, she tries to get them off. The flies meld all into one dark blanket. No longer feeling their biting and swarming, she opens her eyes, but immediately wishes she hadn't.
A great flaming eye is gazing at her intently through the blackness. A form is visible behind it, which is running toward her. As it runs, it becomes clearer and clearer what exactly it is.
It is a huge black unicorn, with a sharpened horn of iron and hooves of steel. His eyes, red and flaming with hatred, gaze at her intently.
"Isilme!" he shouts at her. His voice is low and hoarse, but menacing. She slowly backs away in fear and revoltion.
"Isilme!" he repeats, a little quieter.
"Go away!" she tells him.
"Isilme!" his voice is no longer a shout, but a normal tone.
"Isilme!" she hears her mother shout.
Isilme opens her eyes abruptly and sees her mother standing over her. Golden sunlight filters in through her open stall door. She slowly stands up, shaking straw and wood shavings from her coat.
"Mother! I had an awful dream! First, I saw huge black clouds and then these flies came and then they went away and the world was all black and I saw a great big red eye of fire and then-"
"An eye of fire?" her mother interrupts, "Was there a black, shadowy form behind it?"
"Yes, I was just getting to that part! There was a black shadowy form behind it and it was running toward me and it kept getting clearer and then!" she takes a deep breath, "And then I could see it and it was a black unicorn and he was really big and had a sharpened horn and he kept calling my name!"
Tara nods understandingly, "You saw the Shifter. And the unicorn was most likely Moloth."
"Who's Moloth?" asks Isilme.
"He is the leader of the Shadow Unicorns." Tara replies, "Now, I was visited by Atalanta in the night. She told me I am to return to the Celestial Valley today. Since I cannot leave you here alone, you are coming with me. Atalanta is coming to help us cross, and we cannot miss her. So come along."
They leave the stable and cross the field. Taking the same path they had come down the day before, they soon reach the high meadow. A twinkling star floats out of the sky, light violet in color. Isilme gazes in wonder as a graceful twilight purple unicorn slowly takes form from the light.
"Taramalë, you are in great danger here. The Shadow Army will soon be passing through!" she says urgently.
Tara and Isilme canter briskly across the meadow to where Atalanta is. A huge crack of thunder sounds and Isilme stops in alarm. She looks to the same place where she remembers the black clouds and is met with the same sight. Only now, the wind is blowing and picking up speed. The dark clouds blush fiery red with lightning.
"Mother! It's the clouds from my dream!" she shouts to her mother.
"I know, dear, now hurry!" Tara shouts. She stops near the Dreamspeaker and waits for Isilme to reach them.
Atalanta rears up and sings a low note, and they are all soon traveling into the sky. A sky blue, twilight purple, and midnight black star can be seen faintly against the fury of the storm. The wind dies down as they ascend. Soon, the storm is left far behind and they approach a beautiful valley. Unicorns of all colors of the rainbow can be seen as spots of color, grazing quietly in a semicircle against the edge of a cliff wall. Young off-white colts and fillies are playing under the supervision of a mare in the center. Isilme gazes at it all in wonder.
"Welcome to the Celestial Valley." Atalanta smiles at her, then turns to her mother. "Taramalë, I must return to the Pool."
"I will show Isilme around, then we can talk later." Tara replies. Atalanta walks gracefully toward the Pool.
"Come, Isilme, I will introduce you to all of the Celestial Valley Herd." Tara says, walking toward the Unicorns.
"What is this place? Who are they? And why are we here?" Isilme looks questioningly at her mother.
"This is the Celestial Valley, the home to all the Celestial Unicorns. They are the protectors of Balinor. We are here because I must help them against the Shifter, and you are here because I do not want you hurt." Tara explains.
"Oh. Are you a se-le-sti-uhl?" Isilme quesitons.
"Yes, but I crossed the Bridge long ago to follow--your father, who was being Bonded to one of the princes of Balinor." Tara quickly lied.
"What happened to him?" inquires the young filly.
"He was killed in an ambush in the forest."
"What ki-"
"Taramalë! It's good to see you again!" a voice interrupts.
"Milan (mee-lan)! It is good to see you as well!" Tara replies.
A small unicorn, her coat mirroring the gray dawn morning, approaches them. Her horn is shimmering pearl, her jewel and hooves smoky quartz.
"Milan, this is my daughter, Isilme." Tara tells her when she stops. Milan looks skeptically at her before greeting Isilme, as well.
After meeting Milan, Isilme was introduced to the rest of the Silver band, which Milan headed. Following the Silver band came the Violet band, Indigo band, and Blue band, which make up the Twilight band.
They were heading to meet the Green band when everybody went quiet.
"What's happening, Mother?" Isilme whispers.
"Hush, Numinor is approaching." Tara whispers back.
As the Golden One appears over a rise, the afternoon sun gleams on his coat, shining through his jewel, a yellow diamond. Isilme gazes at him in wonder and amazement. Right then, Numinor spotted the ebony filly amongst the Herd. Deciding to ignore her for the moment, he continues with the news.
"The Shifter is on the move yet again. He attacked Balinor earlier this morning. The Black Cloud and his flies descended upon the land, apparently searching for members of the Resistance. Other than damage to the homes and surrounding area, there seems to be no more apparent damage." he conlcudes.
The unicorns talk worriedly among themselves when they see that Numinor is finished. He descends and walks toward Atalanta.
"Atalanta!" he calls.
"I am here, milord." she replies from near the Pool. He nears, but before replying, he turns to make sure no-one was near. Then he, snorts and rears in frustration.
"Yes, I am here, and you are here, and all living Celestials are here. But why is that, that...that SHADOW here? Do you not remember why we drove them out?" he shouts.
"Of course I remember." Atalanta replies softly.
"Then why did you purposely allow a SPY into our midst?"
"She isn't a spy!"
"What makes you so sure?" Numinor argues.
"She is the daughter of Taramalë, who is just as faithful as the rest of us!"
"How do you know? She has been down there for nearly three years. She might have changed!"
"Talk to her and find out." Atalanta suggests.
"I'll do just that! And make them both leave, then I won't have to worry about it anymore!" he says, walking off.
"You can't send them out of the Valley! The Shifter will get them!" Atalanta pleads. After all, Tara is her cousin.
"I can, and I will!" he yells, turning and staring at her. She suddenly gives up.
"Fine," she says in a flat tone, "You are the leader. You make your own decisions. I have no say in it."
But rather than feel sorry for what he had done, Numinor simply arches his neck proudly and nods his head as if to say, 'That's right, and don't you forget it!', then trots off to find the 'black spy'.
He had just found them and was walking toward them when the ground begins to shake. The sky goes dark with black, ominous clouds. Red lightning flashes across it. He looks toward the ancient caves the Shadow Unicorns were driven from. The clouds are drifting out of them, along with a thin, oily smoke that reeks of death.
Many Celestials begin to panic when the Shadow Herd are seen marching out of the caves on the other end of the valley. The Shifter, Entia, himself, soon follows.
He is in a semi-human form, but with great wings extending from his back; made in fashion of a bat's wings. Only where the long, thin bones should have been was black shadow, and where there should have been the thin skin was fire. His skin was dark, poisonus green and glowing red eyes glare from sunken sockets. He is dressed in black leather, with black iron armor.
"What are you doing here!?" Numinor yells.
"Back off, 'Golden One'," he mocks, "We are only here for one thing and YOU will not get in our way of it."
"What is it you want?"
"Her." the Shifter points to Isilme. She looks at him, her eyes full of fear.
Numinor glances at the ebony filly, then smirks to himself. "Take her."
The whole valley stares at him in disbelief. How could he hand over one of their own, even if she did look so much like a Shadow Unicorn?
Entia grins evilly and motions to his army. Two of his unicorns walk over to her. She backs away in alarm, but they out-maneuver her and soon have her by the mane.
"Mother! What's happening? I don't wanna go!" she yells, trying to get back to Tara. She tries to save her daughter, but is stopped by Rednal, who is nearby, and can see how evilly he was staring at her.
"Let's go." the Shifter says to his army. They follow him back into the cave. Except for Moloth, who stays behind a few seconds to smirk at Tara. He then canters back to the cave. The clouds follow, and a bright flash of lightning signals their departure. The oily smoke and the stench stay behind.
Atalanta turns from the scene with tears in her eyes. *Numinor can be so cruel sometimes!* She frowns as she sees him, walking with a victorious look in his eyes back toward his cave.
* * *
i really wanna post this, so i'm stopping here. i know it sounds a little like yur story this chapter, but it won't l8r. m'k? ^_^ r/r pleeze!
read The Test of Time by TalkoftheTown4eva and Rising Darkness by Silver Spell.