Prophecy Awakened

Chapter 3

The vision didn't hit her all at once. It came fuzzy at first like her eyes were covered by a thin white blindfold, seeing the light and shadows but not able to make out what they were. Slowly, Izzy's vision cleared, revealing a scene that she had been growing quite familiar with over the past few weeks.

The vision always started the same. The scene began with a beautiful backdrop with a large green clearing surrounded on almost all sides by lush green trees, full and buzzing with life. The side not bordered by trees cut off downward sharply to a steep cliff with rocky edges jutting out of its face. Izzy couldn't entirely make out where she was in her limited perspective of everything, but she had a clear view of the cliff and its clearing. A dark presence laid below but the vision never revealed what exactly waited at the bottom. Then a pulse of power emanated from below the cliff and all sound stopped. The birds stopped chirping, woodland creatures ran, insects disappeared. The majestic scene grew eerie and ominous.

Aarushi stepped out from the tree line, her normally dark hair silvery-white. It whipped around her face as the wind picked up around her, her silver eyes ablaze. The markings that lined her neck and arms glowed from a light hidden inside of her. A longsword of light was gripped in her hands. Izzy always was reminded of a soldier as she saw this dream version of her friend.

Next was Snow's entrance. The vines and branches carried her from the treetops, bending to her mind and settling her down next to Aarushi. Her pale head was crowned with flowers, and vines wrapped around her arms and legs. Her outfit was loose and made out of what seemed to be some kind of plant that conformed to her body like a second skin. The bright pale pink wings behind her fluttered as she stepped towards Aarushi, saying something to her that Izzy could not make out.

Drake always came last, stealthily sneaking out of the brush. His power and light shone similar to Aarushi's but his crackled as it pulsed through his skin, like living lightning. He held two short swords in both hands as he came to the side of Aarushi, making some gesture to them.

Usually, the vision ended here and Izzy was thrown back to consciousness. However, this time the vision did not end with Drake. She watched from her invisible perch as Drake, Snow, and Aarushi all turned back to the woods and Aarushi made a strange, foreign, calling sound. It pitched high then fluttered low and rose high again, like a bird's song but it was unlike anything Izzy had her before.

Suddenly, five strangers emerged from the shadows. A man with flaming red hair that matched the fire he held in his hands, careful not to get too close to the dry brush around him. Next to him stood the image of a pale man, with pitch-black dark hair. He moved with the grace of a cat as he strode to Aarushi, talking to her about something Izzy couldn't quite make out. He flickered briefly, flashing between the man and an image of an almost identical woman. Finally, the flashing stopped, settling on the woman.

Standing the tallest out of all of them was a massive wolf. Its deep brown coat shone darkly in the sun as the muscles throughout its body rippled with each step. Clutching to it's back was a small woman with webbed hands and shining jewels planted firm along her arms and face. She opened her mouth, revealing sharp, pointed teeth, and let out a loud gurgling call that shook the trees around her. Aarushi laughed as if she understood and helped the small woman off the beast, her jewels shining brightly off her dark skin. A tall man stood stoically next to them all, reaching Snow in a single step and settling next to her side. Two wicked-looking daggers hung from his belt, along with other assortments of weapons that gleaned in the sun, looking sharp and deadly. He turned to survey the area and Izzy was alarmed at how bright his amber eyes were.

Eyes of a wolf.

Izzy was confused, to say the least. 'Who were these people?' she thought, 'And why are they in my dream?'