Hi guys, sorry for not updating in a while. Things just haven't been that great at school and all, but so far I am starting anew and no I have not gone brain dead with this story, it's just going to be a while before I can put a few more chapters up. But since I have a long vacation coming up, I hope to at least get two more chapters up if I can. So hopefully you guys enjoy this and if you have any questions, just let me know and I will try to answer them as best as I can.
Chapter 2: The Truth of Virelith and remembering a friend.
After what felt like forever, the group finally came to the entrance to the woods, an opening meadow covered in purple Foxglove flowers, a rare flower to the big 5. Maj lead the group through the grasses and flowers until they were at a large boulder that shielded them away from the forest.
"Alright, we should be safe here for now, at least until the noise dies do-" Maj stopped her sentence as she saw the forest entrance turning black, "Oh no. They know we're here!" she then turned to Apollo and Athena, who were panting slightly from the rush, "You should have never gone there, or have brought these guys here! Now Hades knows about what you two did and it's only a matter of time before he finds Cadaliri. Why can't you two do as your told?!" she shouted as the two shrank in shame.
"Why shouldn't we have come here? We can help you guys out. We can fight you know?" said Bunny, offended by Maj's outburst.
"I know, but this is our responsibility and we have already lost too many casualties. Many of them Pookas. Either way, I want to apologize for these two bringing you guys here since you already have much to do back in your side of the world" explained Maj.
"What do you mean, 'our side of the world'?" asked Jack.
Maj sighed, knowing that this was going to be a lot to explain.
"Alright, you know the temple that you all went through?" she asked, receiving nods from the 5, "That's known as the 'Gateway Temple to the Two Worlds of Earth'; you may know it as the Afterlife Gate. Virelith is an ancient language, ancient more than Hebrew, word meaning "life after first". It is the land of the gods because, just as you started as someone before you became guardians, we were also someone before we gained our authority. The ones who started this were the first ancestors of the gods, Gaea, mother earth, and Uranus, father sky." She paused, letting it sink it for the guardians.
"From them came the monsters and titans who plunged the world into darkness. In an offense to stop the world from crumbling to asteroids, Gaea and Uranus, who were in a deep slumber at the time, called to the world of the mortals and found a few dying souls who needed a second chance, creating the third generation of gods, the original gods as we call them here. They are the backbone of our guardian powers and status. However, they were not granted total immortality, only 1000 years or so, depending on their need/worship. So they were to find heirs, or suitors, to continue the legacy of their powers and their timeline. But when the world started to change and our worshiping was over-ruled by Christianity and other ways of worship, we had to find a new way to use our powers in a positive way. So Uranus, who transformed himself into our moon when he found no suitors to take his place, took this as a chance for us to no longer help the people, but to help nature when it was needed most. It has been this way for thousands of years. However, after the first suitor, everyone stuck with the name of the past, such as Apollo and Athena" she then gestured to the two teens who turned their heads in embarrassment, "the same is said to many others and it has been this way for all millennia" explained Maj.
"But what about the Pookas?" asked Bunny, "How did they get into the mix?"
Maj shook her head as she looked to the sky with a laugh, "Ho-oh, now that's a trip down memory lane. Alright, where to start?" she paused to think, only for a sound of retching coming from beside the boulder to interrupt her thoughts.
Everyone turned to see Jack with black surrounding his lips as he tried to clean himself with his shirt sleeve.
"Sorry" said the pale spirit, "I think that troll breath is getting to me" he said as he gagged and puked again, using the rock to shield his face.
"Aww yeah, that's what troll's breath will do to you" said Maj as she made her way to Jack. She pulled a small wrapped package out of her sling and opened it to reveal a small amount of white cheese-like food. She took a medium sized chunk and handed it to Jack. "Here, eat this. It'll help with that"
Jack placed the piece in his mouth and started to chew. When he swallowed, he took a deep breath, which Maj placed her paw over his mouth and nose.
"You'll see, this is essential" she said reassuringly.
Jack looked confused but trusted her as he kept completely still. Suddenly his eyes widened as he felt something rush up his body system to his head and black smoke came straight out of his ears making his eyes cross in discomfort. After a few seconds, Majabelle released her paw from Jack and let him breathe again, coughing while doing so.
"What in the name of MiM was that?!" he shouted while knocking his head a few times to get the stuffed up feeling out of his head.
"That's Trolen. It's a medicine that helps with any condition caused by the breath of a troll. Comes in handy when you can't get near a healers hut or have other medicines. Plus, being the one who trains rookie pookas, I have to be prepared for anything" explained Maj.
Suddenly, a roar was heard from the forest. Everyone turned to the source to hear faint footsteps approaching.
"Come on, we better get out of here! I'll try to explain more in Cadaliri. We may meet up with Artemis before we get there" suggested Maj.
Apollo gave a small yelp at the mention of his sister's name, obviously because he doesn't want to be found by her. Jack was growing more curious about this Artemis character. He knew that Artemis was the older of the two, basically being a midwife when she first came into the world to her mother, but he didn't think of her being a bossy kind of person. He would just have to see about her. Who knows, maybe he'll like her.
With that thought in mind, Jack began to follow the group as they ran to the Kingdom of Nature.
After miles of running, Maj finally stopped at the edge of a cliff where he gestured for the others to join her.
"Here it is mates, Castle Cadaliri, stronghold and main kingdom of the guardians of nature, as well as the former kingdom of Olympus."
It stands in a hilly platue landscape where a few scattered castle homes dotted the rocky grassland. Small paths wind down a hillside off to the east leading to a stone gate that leads to a large castle on the western part of the platue. The castle itself looked industrial with smoke coming from the top of the castle towers and from the smaller blacksmith shops on the front corners of the gated castle grounds. If there was a word to describe the castle in the childhood guardians' world, it would be steampunk-like with an Italian stone design and an industrialistic edge. Flags of blue grace the tower's tops and front banners.
The guardians looked on in awe at seeing such a sight. As they were distracted by the sight, they failed to notice another pooka appear next to Majabelle. It was another female Pooka with white and tan peach fur and forest green eyes, darker tan-peach fur markings, two brown strings on her left arm, and two dark brown ankle braces with light brown details and blue and gold gems on them. She seemed like she was too delicate of a flower to fight, but no one spoke up about it.
"Sentry Turi, what's the report today?" asked Majabelle.
"Sir, it appears that the move of the guardians of both the desert and the sea Kingdoms have been successful. The new recruits are ready for battle when the time comes and, so far, there have been no known sign of the shadows from either Hades or the Ewari" explained the bright furred Pooka in a cheerful tone.
"Very good, and what of Artemis? Have you seen her?" Majabelle asked, standing proudly.
"Last I heard of her sir was this morning. She said that she had some scouting to do out to the west, where the damage has already been done. She also said something about finding an old temple that was still intact, but she would be back soon" explained Turi.
"Very well. Inform the other members that we have a newcomer to the area as well as a few new unexpected faces. Inform the rest of the castle too. Prepare the beds and all, because it looks like it's going to be a while before we help them get home. Understand?" asked Majabelle.
"Yes sir!" saluted Turi.
"Dismissed" Majabelle nodded. The sentry took off toward the palace as quick as a leaf in the wind. Majabelle then rejoined the others, who all but one was taking in the sights.
The young winter spirit was looking down at his pendant and gave a small sigh as he placed the necklace back around his neck. He was about to turn to the kingdom when something caught his eye.
In an open field placed beyond the river that separated both the west side kingdom and the east side platue town, a small white dot was moving across the plains at a fast pace. Jack squinted his eyes to try and see the dot better but couldn't make out anything. He turned to the group and looked at Athena.
"Hey Athena?" Jack asked, getting the pale maiden's attention, "what's that white dot beyond the river?" Jack pointed to the location of the dot and Athena came to him to see what he meant.
Placing her hand over her eyes, Athena squinted to see further and noticed the dot, "Oh dear, it's her"
"Who?" asked Jack.
"That…is Artemis on her white bull" explained Athena.
"That's Artemis?" Jack asked loudly.
Everyone turned to Jack as the white dot was coming closer to Cadaliri, now at a breakneck pace.
"Yep, that's Arty alright. Better sound the horn then" Majabelle said as she stood on a rock nearby and sounded a call.
"Oh no….." Apollo whispered as he bit his lip.
The dot then changed its direction and was now heading straight for them. No sooner had Majabelle stopped her calling that hooves could be heard and a white mass jumped onto the ledge the group was on.
"Whoa! Εύκολη αγόρι, εύκολη!*¹" shouted a voice as the bull started to stop. The elk looked as if it was about 4-5 years old and had a rack of at least three feet, antlers that would be a hunter's dream to catch. A bridle of green and gold covered its head with reins that lead to the back and a saddle with two tones of brown graced its back against the cloud white fur covering its body. A pair of dark eyes scans the current area and its black nose sniffs out the surroundings. From the back of the elk, a figure jumps to the ground.
After kneeling from jumping, the figure stands to reveal a young woman in her late teens that was about two to three inches shorter than Jack. Brick red hair tied in the back surrounds her head as a thick silver band graced her forehead. Eyes of a turquoise sheen shone from tan skin that surrounded her heart-shaped face. Around her neck were two necklaces, one a simple tree brown choker, the other a small turquoise blue teardrop gem on a thin string. Her dress reminded jack of something Native American as it was a simple dress that had tears at the bottom and along the neck shawl with a brown design at the waist that almost looked like farmer's brown bandana. Two silver arm braces reached from her wrist almost to her elbow if not off by three inches. There was also a cedar brown arrow case strapped to her waist with a dark cherry bow around her back. Jack could clearly see that her arrows were of oak and had feathers from a hawk of some kind. A pair of 3/4th's off knee high boots covered her feet. When a calm breeze moved by, a thick, thigh length brick red braid swayed gently in the breeze. Overall her appearance was of nothing more than one of high regards.
"Majabelle, Τι συμβαίνει εδώ?²" asked the young goddess.
Majabelle then started speaking in Greek and started to explain everything that happened to when she was out on duty to where they are now. All the while the red headed goddess listened intently. Apollo was with Athena hanging his head, as if he knew what was coming.
The guardians waited patiently for Maj to finish her speaking, but Jack was getting antsy. He couldn't stop staring at the young goddess. True she was beautiful, but that was not the reason why he was staring. The reason why is because somehow, she reminded him of his precious Valora. She just had that innocent and graceful vibe about her that somehow rekindled his old flame, but he kept his mouth shut, as she may remind him of her, he doubt that she acted like her.
"Hmmm…." Artemis hummed as Maj finished her story. She then turned her head to the group of guardians and started walking toward them, glaring over at Apollo, giving the message that she would deal with him later.
Once she stopped, Artemis cleared her throat, "Forgive me for not introducing myself before. I am Artemis, guardian of large game and overseer of the Pookas here. As Majabelle explained to me, I'm sure you know of my former status?" the guardians nodded in agreement, "Good, because that is partially what I'm known as here as well, still a huntress and also one who has a connection with the moon. However, the moon never told me that you would arrive here" she explained.
"Wait, you have a connection with the moon, as in the Man in the Moon?" asked Jack, a little intrigued by this.
"The what?" asked Artemis, before shaking her head, "No, no, not him. You see, our moon is almost like a connector between this world and yours. Think of it as like a vessel, or a tunnel with one end here and the other in your world. The moon tells me everything, such as what the future holds for us and many other things that involve the place where you are from" she explained, "but I was never told of your arrival. Did someone lead you here?"
"Yeah" said Bunnymund, "Your brother here was a wolf in our world and he nicked Jack's staff, making us follow him into the portal that leads to here" Apollo looked in fear but then in determination at Artemis.
"Yes, I broke the rules, but there is a reason. Athena told me that she saw a battle that took place in the guardian's world about three years ago here, but one and a half years ago there. They have information on the Ewari! They can help us!" he exclaimed.
"Wait, Ewari? As in…..Pitch Black?" asked Artemis.
"WHAT?!" shouted the guardians that put the former gods and goddesses a few feet away from being scared by the sudden outburst.
"Pitch is here?! But how?!" shouted Tooth.
"That can't be right, he was sentence to the darkness when we beat him!" shouted a shocked Bunnymund.
"Kak eto mozhet byt' ? (How can this be? In Russian)" North said as he scratched his head.
Sandy just started rambling sand-signs above his head.
Jack just darted his eyes side to side while looking to the ground with a confused look.
All the childhood guardians started shouting and rambling when….
"QUIET!"
The big five and the other guardians looked at the red headed archeress who shouted.
"Listen, I know that this is as much as a shock to you that Pitch is here as it is to us that you actually know and have battled him, but we can settle this with the other Nature guardians inside where we plan to go into a full out war to stop this mess. If Pitch is that big of a deal, which I have a good feeling he is, then I'm sure that you can help us win this and return the world back to normal" Artemis explained.
The big 5 looked at one another before deciding that it was practically the only option they had. The nodded in agreement and decided that they want to help.
"Apollo" Artemis said sternly, "You might have done something right for a change" she then smiled at her younger brother.
"Yeah, I agree. Any who, I got to get back with the others. Aster, I'll introduce you later, but for now, I got to get the rundown from the scouts. I'll see you all at dinner" said Maj as she made her way to the Castle.
"Yeah, I better go too. Besides, I got to get to the garden and harvest the apples for the cooks. They're expecting me before dinner. See ya! Athena, you coming?" asked Apollo as he took off.
"Wait for me!" shouted Athena running after the former sun god.
Artemis just groaned quietly when her bull nudged her arm. The young female turned to her partner and gave his snout a pet.
"You're just a supportive little guy aren't you?" Artemis chuckled.
Jack took notice and decided to come over to see the large game guardian's magnificent ride.
"He's amazing" Jack said out loud.
Artemis heard Jack and saw that he was looking at her bull.
"I take it you know a lot about animals like Brutus here?" she asked the winter spirit.
"Brutus?" Jack asked. He received his answer when the white bull turned his head and nudged the pale boy. "Whoa, hehe, easy boy, easy" Jack softly replied while gently petting the beast.
The feeling of elk fur under his fingers reminded him of his own female elk, Kisa. He remembered back to the time when he first bought his female pet, and also his last day with her.
Flashback
1685, Old village of Burgess
Jack was about nine years old and had lost his last baby tooth the night before. After the tooth fairy came, he counted up his money. In total he had up to about 3 pounds, since he started saving when he was about 6 and had worked a few small jobs to gain a few pences. His last tooth got him at least five pences just enough for him to gain an even amount and to buy himself what he had been dreaming of owning for himself. He placed all his money in a small pouch and started to run down the stairs and out of the house when his father caught him.
"Hey, whoa there fox-foot, where are you running off to?" asked Devon.
"Oh, I, uh, I was heading over to Mr. Larkin's barn" Jack said, nervously.
"Larkin's barn? What for?" Devon asked as he walked toward his son.
"I was hoping to buy an elk from him. I have been saving up my money, from the small side jobs and the tooth fairy, and have a total of three pounds Dad. That's more than enough to buy an Elk, but there is one type in particular that I want" explained Jack.
"An elk huh? Are you sure you can handle the responsibility Jack? You're not really known for doing any work" said Jack's father.
"During the times when Valora and I would play, she's been teaching me about the elk and everything with it. Like how to ride them, care for them, understand them and everything. I've ridden some of the elk and have a good understanding and I have been dreaming of having one for myself. Please dad, don't make me change my mind. I promise I'll take care of her" pleaded Jack.
"Her?" Devon asked, thinking that his son would want a Bull.
"Yeah dad, I want a cow, not a bull. I had a small accident when I was riding one of the elk and Valora suggested that I ride a cow instead, and a cow suited me perfectly. So I want a cow dad" Jack explained.
"I see. Well, as long as you are willing to take care of it, then I have no reason to stop you. But I think I better come along just in case. Just to see if the one you choose is right for you, ok?" asked Devon.
Jack thought about it for a minute and then nodded his head. So the two of them made their way to Larkin's farm, where the bulls were fighting for the females.
"Mr. Larkin!" shouted Jack. Larkin was busy milking one of the females when he heard Jack. He pulled the bucket out from the female he was working on and made his way to the pair of men.
"Greetings there Jack. What brings ya over? I'm afraid Valora's busy helping her mom today so she can't play" Larkin stopped talking when Jack shook his head.
"I'm here for a different reason today Mr. Larkin. I came to buy my own elk" Jack then showed him his money pouch, "See? I have been saving my money to buy and elk and I have three pounds total. That should be enough to buy a cow right?" Jack asked, excitement building up.
Larkin looked at Jack in shock, "You want a cow? Not a strong healthy bull?"
"Oh no, I want a strong, healthy cow sir. I had a small accident when Valora was teaching me to ride an elk where a bull's antler kind of threw me off my saddle" explained Jack.
"Hmmm…Well….I don't see why not. We sell the cows for cheaper prices though. Will that be alright with you?" Larkin asked.
Jack just nodded his head and the three men looked to find a good cow for the young boy. Before they looked at the elk, Jack bought all the supplies he needed in caring and riding an elk for two of his three pounds. For his last pound, Jack bought a friendly cow that won his heart when she licked his hands and nuzzled his face.
"So Jack, what are you going to call her?" asked his father.
"Hmm….I think….I'll name her… Kisa" said Jack.
"Kisa? Sounds like a good name. Well Jack, she's all yours" said Larkin as he handed the reins to Jack, who wore a big smile as he looked at the reins.
1693, Autumn in Burgess
Jack was looking at the reins Larkin gave him when he first bought Kisa. This time, he was holding them in remembrance for all the good times he had with his precious friend. Unfortunately, six months after he lost Valora, he was losing his prized elk to an unknown disease that was causing her to lose weight and barely eat. He worked hard to try and revive his old friend, but it wasn't enough. Larkin was in the Hanson barn working on Kisa when he came out to tell Jack the news the 17 year old dreaded to hear.
"I'm sorry Jack, but I'm afraid there is nothing more that I can do. I'm afraid it may be best to put her out of her misery instead of letting her die like this" Larkin explained with a hand on Jacks shoulder.
Jack only nodded as he made his way inside to do what was needed to be done. The poor female was breathing shallowly as he made his way to her, sat beside her head and pulled it into his lap. He spoke a few final words, not wanting this to happen, but the female just looked at him in the eye, and Jack knew that she was saying the same thing Larkin said. And so, he finished it with a knife to her heart, he finished her life, crying his heart out as he did. With Jovan, Kisa's mate, at his side, rider and ride made their way to the small pond that Jack and Valora had their first kiss at and buried her under one of the willow trees. He would never return to that pond again, for it only brought him pain and sorrow.
End Flashback
Jack gave a sad sigh as he remembered his precious girls, when he was snapped out of his trance by Artemis.
"Are you ok? You looked like you were lost in thought there" asked Artemis.
"I'm fine. Just, old memories popping up" Jack explained.
"Oh, well I'm sorry" Artemis sighed, "If only I was to have memories of my past"
"What do you mean?" asked Jack.
"Well, you see. For us nature guardians, remembering the past is pretty much a curse" said Artemis.
And Cliffhanger!
*These are translations from the Greek language
1. Whoa ! Éf̱koli̱ agóri , éf̱koli̱ (Effkolee agoree, Effkolee) (Easy boy, easy)
2. Ti symvaínei edó̱ ? (tea semyaveo?) (what's going on here?)
So this is Chapter 2 and may be what I have for a while. But I will try to get more up if I can so I thank you all for being so patient with me and I hope you can bear with me a little more.