Night helped Liz get to her feet and even though she offered her hand to him he knew that’d he’d end up pulling her down with his weight. He laughed even though he appreciated the gesture. He dusted himself off and looked over Liz as well, instinctually. He realized that she was once again entranced by their surrounding and he joined her in looking as well.
He watched her interact with the Spreekalin’s with a wide eyed expression. He left most of the conversation to her since she was more curious and he still wasn’t sure what to say. He followed her lead towards the Elder Spreekalin’s house, his fingers clutched in her hand once again. He observed in quiet wonder all of the colorful surroundings and lively creatures. There were no words to express what kind of paradise this was.
Night watched the tribes people jump all around them with wonder stuck on their faces. They were just as cautious as he had been before and this set him somewhat at ease. He felt better knowing that they were just as mortal in mindset as he. He wasn’t sure how old they were or how long they lived but he knew they were just as hesitant as he was not even an hour ago. He looked back to Liz’s face to see the excitement he expected to be there. He found it amusing that she was always so curious yet sometimes he worried for her safety.
The Elder called Fulwah watched in amusement. He waited for his people to get their fill on the newcomers before he cleared his throat. They all froze in place, looked towards him and then scattered like bolts of lightning. He walked slowly back over to the two and said “Tonight it will be safe for you to reside here but then you must be on your way up to seek Kandai of the Cah Pu Kae Kah Cliffs…” He observed them both in silence for a moment. His dark orange eyes set on Liz once more. “Your heart is strong, young one. Trust it. Follow it and its strength will guide you.” He neither moved a muscle nor turned his head as his eyes averted up to Nights silvery stare. “You are her guardian. Keep her from harm. Trust your eyes.” Fulwah’s body relaxed and he hobbled up closer towards them. He touched Liz’s heart with one finger and a warm sensation claimed her body. She gasped and her eyes grew with a sight that Night could not understand. Fulwah spoke as his index finger touched her chest in a language neither of them could understand. Liz’s eyes glowed with neon pink energy and as her mouth fell open a butterfly of the same energy emerged. It was odd shades of pinks, purples and greens.
Night’s eyes were wide with worry and shock. He didn’t know what was going on or what this creature was doing to her. Liz’s body lifted slightly off of the ground as the light grew brighter and Night’s eyes went straight to Fulwah as his worry increased. At the same time he could see the Elders eyes glow in white as he continued to mumble words not of this world.
Finally, her little body set itself back down and of all the things he thought, the one that surprised him was how happy he was to hear her giggle…. A giggle?!! He wanted to slap himself in the face. “That tickled.” She said with a giddy tone. Night wanted to fall over… but instead he pulled her to him with one arm and hugged her. He looked somewhat pale.
Liz blinked a few times, realizing something was different… her eyes shifted from left to right and she peeked down her shirt. Her eyes went really wide and she jumped up and down with glee. “I got a tattoo! I got a tattoo! I bet my mom would shoot me.” She laughed again and rubbed the spot through her shirt.
While the smile across her face, practically from ear to ear, was still there she blinked a few times. She blinked a few times more like something wasn’t clicking inside. (This is a O_o moment btw) One of her eyebrows went higher than the other and she tilted her head. “Uhm…” She rubbed her eyes and looked, then rubbed them again and stared. She was seeing things that she never saw before. Everything was in a much higher resolution than before and as she squinted she realized she was forcing her vision to zoom in and look at the details of things she KNEW she could never have seen before.
Fulwah looked at her with his unchanging eyes. “You are gifted young one. I have merely amplified what is in you.” He shifted his stance to face Night and looked him in the eyes. “She will take time to adjust but she knows that you will help her along the path you two will walk.” Night half smiled and nodded, knowing nothing else to say.
Fulwah took his staff and raised it high above them. He mumbled some words as Night stared at him cluelessly. Suddenly, Fulwah’s staff came down and clunked Night in the back of the head, almost knocking him to the ground. Night caught himself at last second and landed on his knees. Liz tried her best not to giggle as she felt bad for his pain. Night rubbed the back of his head and gave the Spreekalin a look that would kill. The Elder just looked at him and then burst out laughing. Liz followed, not being able to keep it in. Night was hurt but he laughed despite the pain.
Fulwah spoke once more, “Rise, Night of silver moons. You have been charged with the guardianship over the Red Rose.” His staff passed over little Liz as to motion the name he had just given her. He looked back to Night. “As one of the guardians of Marshmallow Island, I grant thee this power.” Night felt a surge of energy through his body, as if he’d slept the best night of his life and that he could lift two of his own ships from the waters themselves. He smiled and felt more confident.
Liz looked at him strangely and wondered why he smiled. She watched as Night looked over himself but she saw nothing. She shrugged her shoulders and hopped over to him. She stood next to him and looked at Fulwah once more.
