Their contentment was short-lived, though, for something was about to happen that would change them both forever, in more ways than one. One day Iris was out hunting for one of the elder people at the village that Opalia lived at, when she heard a high-pitched shriek. Breaking into a sprint, Iris arrived at a grisly scene. A giant snake had bitten Opalia on the calf and was slowly draining the life out of her, paralyzing her with its venom. With a shriek of fury, Iris threw herself onto the snake, tearing it off of her friend, before slashing at it with the twin swords that she always carried when she was hunting. Since she was angry, her slashes did less damage, leaving the snake badly injured, but alive (for the moment). She was so blinded with fury that she failed to see Opalia reach over with a knife and slice the snake's head off.
Iris looked up when she felt the life leave the snake's body. Opalia grinned weakly at her, before doubling over in pain. Iris rushed to her, startled, and tried to stem the flow of blood gushing from her leg, but Opalia shook her head, saying in a raspy voice, "I have not long to live, for the snake's venom has almost completed its course through my bloodstream. There is something I must confess to you before I die." Iris cradled Opalia's head in her arms. Opalia gazed at her tearfully before continuing, "All my life I had hoped for someone like you: someone who wouldn't say cruel things about me behind my back, someone who wouldn't judge me by the way I appear, someone who I could trust with my darkest secrets. I never thought I'd find someone who would actually do those things until you came along. Thank you for everything you have done for me." Tears welled up in Iris' eyes, as she replied, "No, my friend, thank you for everything. I, too, had wished for those things and had never thought I'd find them, until you came along. You have become my sun and my rain, for no rainbow is complete without both. I shall miss you forever." Opalia smiled weakly, before rasping her final words, "Goodbye, my dearest one."
As Opalia's eyes closed for the final time, her body twitching with the convulsions of death, tears leaked out of Iris' eyes and spattered on Opalia's pale cheek. Soon, her whole body was wracked with sobs, as she gazed into Opalia's lifeless eyes, the only eyes that had ever understood her. They were still beautiful, even in death, with all the colors swirled together like tiny rainbows. As she stared into those beautiful eyes, an idea slowly formed in Iris' mind. She thought, "Why don't I turn Opalia into a gemstone? Then she can be my totem, and be with me forever." A gentle breeze brushed against her cheek,as if it approved of her idea. That made up Iris' mind, so she began her tedious task.She first started by turning Opalia into a plain, grey stone, before she swirled all of the colors of the rainbow together in an empty bucket, making sure that they didn't blend together into one color, but instead complimented each other. She then poured the colors onto the stone, making sure that they were spread evenly over the entire surface, before stepping back to survey her work. Her eyes widened in surprise at what she saw. Never before had she seen so much color on one tiny surface. The splendor of the colors had also surprised her. Each hue was the richest ever seen by anyone, mortal or immortal. The colors had all reminded her of tiny gemstones mixed together to create absolute beauty. Iris said to herself, "I shall call it Opal in honor and memory of Opalia, my only true friend. The Opal shall adorn my throne, so then Opalia can be beside me forever.The Opalwill be my totem, now and forever."Thus Iris finally had a totem and the Opal was created. Now whenever anyone looks upon the surface of an opal, they are reminded of Opalia, and the endless friendship she shared with Iris.