THE FIFTH ISLAND OF ARCANTHA PT 1: Lydn and the Pomi Stone of Sala
Waking up in the middle of the night was all Bara did, and so for the remainder of the night he just lay there. Awake. He turns over and looks through the dark out to the entrance of the tunnel. As he stares out he sees two bright blue/white flashes flying throughout the sky. The lights seem majestic; magical in a way and it makes Bara smile brightly. He gets up from his bedding area and heads towards the tunnel entrance and looks out at the lights flying through the sky. Suddenly it seems the lights, which he can see has four pairs of bright sparkling reddish black eyes, sees him standing at the side rail entrance. They move towards Bara and as they move closer and closer Bara notices the ridges on their backs and realizes that they aren’t lights at all. They are full grown Sapis. One lands in front of Bara and the other lands behind him crouching low and forming a circle with its body. Bara is laughing by now at the wonder that is before his eyes and realizes they are here for him and Yuki.
Bara:
You’re here for Yuki and I aren’t you? Did Tog call for the two of you?
One Sapi, the female it seems, for she had higher ridges than the male and they were green, nodded and smiled at Bara with kind eyes. The male Sapi, who has smaller dark yellowish blue ridges, looks at Bara and forms his thoughts into Bara’s mind.
Male Sapi:
Hello little one. We are Togs parents. Though we have let our son fly on his own we are always watching over him making sure that he is okay, and being well taken care of. We do not exist on this plane, but as the spirits of Sidia and Charma’s animal forms we can exist to those that are in need of our help. Tog knows how to call us and it seems that you do as well.
Bara with wide eyes in bewilderment:
I know…how…to call you? I didn’t know I’d called you to begin with. This is all so new to me.
Female Sapi:
Well my dear your spirit knows the call. We answer the call and we come to you in this form. Think of us as Sidia and Charma. Remember Bara you have the mark of a spirit caller. You can call on Sidia and Charma in any form. It seems you’ve called to us in this one. You needed wings and here we are to provide just that.
Bara:
Wait. So what happened at the fountain—?
Female Sapi:
--Was the awakening of the Four Clans. You will learn more once you reach your destination and not a moment sooner. Right now you will rest up until morning the journey from here on out only gets more complicated. You must have all your strength, for when the time comes you will be greatly needed.
Bara:
I can’t believe this is all real. Are my friends and I in any danger? Can you tell me what we are up against?
Male Sapi:
You will learn of your fates when the time comes. Come now, rest up. You’ve got a long day ahead of you.
Bara slowly walks over to the one behind him, the male Sapi, and lies in its curled up body falling asleep just as soon as he lays his head down on the warm body. By morning Fazil, Casee, and Yuki are up and about getting ready for the trip. Fazil had come up with a plan to get all four of them across. It seemed pretty good to Casee and Yuki now they needed to tell Bara, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Casee looking around for Bara:
Hey where did Bara go? I know he wouldn’t just wander off like that.
Yuki cleaning up his area:
Maybe he left for good. At least that’s what I keep dreaming he’d do. Every night I go to sleep and awake in hopes that he has finally gone away!
Casee frowning at Yuki:
Don’t be mean; he’s one of us, Yuk. We don’t speak of one another in that awful manner. We say good things or nothing at all.
Yuki:
Uhm-hm, yeah, whatever. You say one of us I say thorn in my side.
Casee glaring at Yuki:
Yuki! You will not be mean!
Yuki unenthused of Bara missing:
If you say so. (throwing down the last of his bedding) Let’s go find the troublemaker.
They look around the tunnel and wonder if he’s gone wandering off around the tunneling system. They hope he hasn’t and dare not go lurking around the underground tunnel way. Fazil decides to look out the entrance way and sees two large creatures lying before him with small Bara nesting on one of them comfortably. The sight is rather amusing to him and he smiles and calls the other two to come and take a look. Casee and Yuki run up to the entrance to see what all the commotion is about. Tog comes up from behind Fazil as Yuki and Casee stand at the entrance looking at the sight of the two Sapis and little Bara nestled on one of them. As Tog flies over to the grown Sapis Casee and Yuki stare in amazement wondering when they had arrived.
Yuki with a big bright smile:
Hey! Those are Tog’s parents. They left him with me when Tog had just learned to fly. Sometimes he goes off to some place in the mountains where Sapis grow and learn to be spirit receivers or rather Guides. Sapis are meant for people like Bara. I haven’t seen them since I was eight.
Fazil:
Wow so they are here because--?
Yuki:
Bara’s spirit called out to them. They are a holy animal form of Sidia and Charma. This is so cool. Amazing!! I really can’t believe they came to us all because big face Bara over there called to them. I didn’t know he had it in him.
Casee:
A holy form? So what are there others—guides—like Tog and his parents? And do you know anything about them?
Yuki:
Well I know there is one holy animal form for each clan, but I’m not really sure what they are. And I don’t know much about them. Tog’s parents told me about Tog when they dropped him off with me.
Casee:
Okay, cool. So what are they here for?
Fazil:
Well, let’s go see. They are waking up now since Tog is there playing with the one with the yellow blue ridges.
Yuki:
That’s his dad. His name is Appa and the other one is Gaia.
Casee:
I can’t believe you know so much about this and didn’t even tell us. You were holding out on us! I thought we were supposed to tell each other everything I can’t believe you omitted this from the group, Yuk!
Yuki:
Well I don’t think it would have mattered until it really needed to be brought up. I guess now it needed to be brought up.
Yuki shrugs off Casee and walks over to the three Sapis and Bara. Casee makes a face and walks off towards the Sapis after Yuki. Yuki begins petting Appa who nuzzles him back as Gaia kisses her son on the cheek then nuzzles him warmly. Fazil and Casee walk up and stare in complete wonder. Bara looks at them and smiles knowingly waiting for them to speak.
Fazil:
So exactly why are they here Bara?
Bara excitedly:
They are our rides to the Fifth Island. Since you and Casee have wings and Yuki and I don’t they have offered to carry us on their backs while you two fly.
Fazil a bit taken aback:
Wow that’s pretty cool. My idea sucks compared to this one. I was just going to suggest that Casee and I carry you and Yuki to the Fifth Island since we have wings! But this one seems a lot more sensible and less strenuous on Casee and me.
Yuki thinking through Fazil’s idea:
Yeah that idea does suck once you put it up against this one.
Fazil feeling a bit down about his idea:
Well, you don’t have to shoot it down like that, Yuk.
Yuki sympathetically:
Yeah, sorry Fazil, man. (Shaking off the sympathy just as quickly as he felt it) I want to ride Gaia she can do dives!
Bara laughing a little:
Fine by me. I just want to ride them because this is cool. This is beyond cool! I get to ride a holy animal!
Fazil feeling a bit excited:
This is really cool. I’m still shocked that they are even here helping us in the first place.
Casee in a small voice:
Hey do we get a chance to ride?
Appa in a gentle yet coarse tone of voice:
If you would like to then you are welcome to. We are here to assist you four on this journey. Since it is a big one then more help was surely needed.
Fazil:
But why?
Bara:
You’re not getting anything out of them, Fazil, I tried. They aren’t trying to give up any information.
Fazil:
When did you try?
Bara:
Last night when they showed up. I couldn’t sleep so I went and stood by the entrance way when I saw these two bright lights in the sky. They both had blackish red eyes that glowed so brightly. Then they landed here and I slept in Appa’s arms. It was awesome. Their scales feel like water when you touch them.
Fazil smiling brightly at Bara:
Well I’m glad you had an amazing night, but now it’s time for us to head on out. We’ve got ground to cover. We need to be on Lydn before dark otherwise the Island itself disappears behind the dark clouds that come down from the mountains every night. We might need to camp out there so everyone bring what you need and nothing more.
Casee:
Isn’t that place deserted?
Fazil:
Well not exactly. There are people who inhabit the place but mainly in the main village, Colith.
Gaia in a deep, smooth, rich tone of voice:
Oh but we’re not going nowhere near Colith. We’re headed to a smaller village that is indeed deserted. Only ruins of what used to be dwell there. We’ll be the only inhabitants for miles around.
Casee:
Well, I’m ready. Let’s go.
Yuki:
Yeah I’m not so sure about this, but since I don’t have a choice…
Fazil:
You’re going to have to grow a backbone and fast Yuk. We’re going to need you to stand with us. Bara, are you ready? Bara? Bara?
Bara is already on the male Sapi ready to go. Fazil looks up and laughs bringing his wings from their place between his shoulder blades. Casee, whose wings are a pinkish red with decorated horizontal lines, does the same as Fazil while Yuki awkwardly mounts Gaia. Tog sits in Yuki’s hair as the two large dragon-like creatures rise and takes off the ground from the tunnel entrance. Fazil and Casee are not far behind flying through the air like little angels. As they fly through the air Yuki and Bara look down and see Crale and Traal below looking like miniature towns meant to be played by children. Casee looks ahead and sees the mountains and not too far below them is the Fifth Island, Lydn. She calls out to Fazil who looks at where she’s now pointing.
Casee:
The Fifth Island is directly ahead below the mountains. I see the village where the ruins are we should land there.
Fazil:
That’s a good idea. It looks secluded like no one has been there since forever.
Appa:
That is because no one has. We’ll be the first in centuries to stay there. After the plague on Clover many fled to the Fifth Island to Zeha, the small village we’re going to. After they arrived they all died, but unlike Clover, Zeha wasn’t cut off from the rest of the island it was just merely left alone. The houses fell to ruin and the land was left unattended.
Casee feeling sad:
All this knowledge is just so saddening. Is it like what I saw in my eyes back at Sala’s fountain?
Gaia:
It is exactly like that. I’m sorry that you four are incredibly young, but Arcantha needs you. Sidia and Charma want to reunite the Four Heads of the Four Clans and you four are the vessels for this. Sidia cries while Charma sits still they dare move from the heavens to help those that wish to harm others. Since you four ran away from evil a pathway was set for you; a destiny.
Fazil not fully understanding:
What is our mission exactly?
Casee:
Yeah I would like to know that as well.
Gaia:
To punish those who have done wrong; to right the wrongs of so many decades done. Your spirit shadow colors now belong to the Head God and Goddess of Arcantha.
The four of them are silent upon landing on Lydn’s smallest village Zeha. Fazil and Casee store their wings within their shoulder blades once more then begin walking about the village taking it all in. Yuki and Bara soon join the two wondering what was to come next. They take their possessions and begin setting up camp. Tog and his parents curl up in balls and fall fast asleep while the four children hatch out a plan to find the Pomi stone.
Casee:
So what exactly does this stone do?
Fazil:
I think it’s supposed to help us see Clover so that we can access it. Kind of like a path for us. The stone may just be a guiding tool... I’m really just guessing here.
Casee:
Yes, but the only way to find Clover is to not even try to access it at all. “You find what you are looking for when you are no longer trying to find it”.
Yuki:
That’s what the book says. Still why do we need the stone? What’s so special about it that we desperately need it? Having it as just a guide seems too simple, no the stone is meant for something.
Casee with a sudden idea:
Remember when Bara saw Sala’s fountain smiling at him? She had her arms out just like she did on Crale. In one hand she’s holding the Arcanthian seal in the other something is missing.
Bara catching on to what Casee is saying:
The stone is missing! That means the seal wasn’t a seal at all. The stone and the seal in her hand form to become her weapon, or at least it did. It represents what she did for Arcantha in fighting the war against Blithe. It also represents her love for Sidia.
Yuki:
Wow you’ve really caught on to this stuff huh? At any rate it does make sense when you put it that way. So that means Sala is the protector of Clover. What is Clover supposed to be?
Fazil:
It is the Holy Island housing the Holy gates, the four Holy Fountains, and the Holy castle. I think we’re supposed to go there to bring out a punishment to those who’ve done wrong, but who are these “bad people”?
Bara sadly:
They are our parents, Fazil. They are the parents of other children who are going through the same things we’ve gone through. We need that stone. We have to get to Clover.
Gaia quietly to Appa:
Bara really is special. He’s finally starting to realize this. Although, they aren’t to punish just people who treat the children of Arcantha wrong they are to punish all who treat our great World wrong; peace must be restored one way or another.
Gaia rubs her head against Tog’s and smiles at Appa. Appa smiles back then rests his head on his body once more.
**
The children of Arcantha are the key to the future. They are our leaders, our teachers, and our explorers to new lands and new possibilities. They will unite us greatly, or become our World’s undoing.
Bara sitting up suddenly hitting the side of his head:
Someone is in my head. Someone’s in my head!
Yuki sitting up and cleaning out his ears:
You’re not the only one who’s spooked by those creepy words. I heard them to!
Bara and Yuki are the only ones sitting up in the middle of the night trying to figure out why they are the only ones to hear the voice in their heads. Bara looks around him trying to see if anyone is lingering about wanting to harm them in any way. Yuki just looks scared.
Yuki:
I think it has something to do with how we find that stone. It said something about the children of Arcantha being the key to the future. That means wherever that stone lies is some place where children can learn the ways of the Arcanthian people.
Bara:
Okay, I get that part, but where would children of Arcantha learn the ways of this world, and what children exactly?
Yuki:
Right here in this very village, and Clover of course, but it starts here first. And it may be children like you and me who are gifted in the healing practice. You know not everyone here on Arcantha are powerful healers. Some just know the basics. Others like the four of us are a bit more powerful, so learning here would be plausible, and also this island is the closest to Clover. But we’re not looking for the stone here...Wait! We’re looking for the pathway to Clover…! The stone never left.
Bara looking puzzled:
How did you figure that one out?
Yuki with a bit of excitement in his voice:
Because, Clover is the Holy Island of Arcantha. The Four Clans used to gather there to worship Sidia and Charma. Also the mountains are the closest to the Sixth Island. All four fountains are there and the castle that sits on four steps of different colors; the colors of the clans’ members.
Bara adding to Yuki’s list:
Don’t forget the fortress that protects Clover.
Yuki:
Right. How can the stone leave a place that’s protected by the God and Goddess? We were looking for it here because it said it was located here. All that’s located here is the pathway leading to some secret way to get to Clover Island. If we find the path to the island then we can find the stone.
Bara:
So where do you think the stone is on the island? There is a possibility that it could be anywhere.
Yuki:
No Bara it can’t be. There is only one place for the stone to be. Therefore it is located somewhere on the Holy grounds. It never left the gates, but someone did try and take it. They couldn’t just take it because it’s part of the Holy grounds. Nothing there is allowed to leave. The person who tried to take it would be the person who created the plague in the first place.
Bara:
Baarda is said to be responsible for it. He had help, so that means the helper took it. That’s what was burning and disappeared in Fazil’s vision. It was Baarda’s helper he’d died in Clover after being killed by the people, but his soul went to Baarda because more than likely he cut a deal with him while he was alive.
Yuki now looking puzzled:
How do you figure this?
Bara:
Because Baarda’s soul was sent to Apera before the plague, yet still people on a holy Island were killed. That can’t be managed without help. Baarda had to have help. And, since he was banished to the depths of Apera he couldn’t gain full control of his powers. He needed someone to help free him. Now the stone lies somewhere where the helper fell and disappeared.
Yuki:
You seem to really understand the mind of Baarda. Sort of like a “What would Baarda Do?"… (Pause) So tell me, are you sure you’re not in league with Baarda and just don’t realize it? You know Arcantha does believe in reincarnation?
Bara in a yelling whisper:
Don’t be stupid Yuk! I have the sacred mark on me I doubt the helper had this thing marked on his chest otherwise he’d be untouchable! Or have you forgotten what the book said about Traiths who are marked?
Yuki shrugging his shoulders:
Sorry just checking. I like to cover my bases you know. Besides I did remember what the book said it was about the only little piece of information printed about your clan. And, you’re right you’re marked by Sidia and Charma there’s no way Baarda’s helper had that mark on him. Even if he were in league with Baarda the people wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on him if he was marked. But do you think he was a Traith?
Bara:
I hope that his helper really isn’t like me because then Baarda would surely have a reason to come after me. I don’t want to be anywhere near the Devil God, I can’t handle my powers yet. It’s scary to think about!
Yuki:
Yeah, and this is creeping me out! Let’s go back to sleep and we can discuss this more in the daylight.
Bara:
Finally, a good idea you’ve come up with. (Yuki makes a face at Bara) Besides, I didn’t get a good night’s sleep last night and I’m just too tired to even think straight anymore.
They both turn over and try to go back to sleep. All this has hit them rather hard causing them to be scared of what was to come. It was all becoming one big scary mission that they weren’t truly ready for, but needed to be. Bara closes his eyes repeating the small saying that popped into his head. Yuki just closes his eyes and tries to block the words from his mind. In the morning they would tell Fazil and Casee of what they discovered. They would go to Clover Island finally and find the Pomi stone of Sala.
