Spirit Animals: The Keeper (Discontinued)

Chapter Two: Greenhaven

It had been a week since Freya had left her tribe to be the Keeper of Greenhaven. She and Keith had boarded on a ship called the Ninani's Heart. Freya had quickly figured out that Riza really likes sailing in the middle of the sea, but Keith seemed to be getting a little seasick.
Freya had gotten out from her boat, she felt both bored and tired from her voyage. She was dressed in her hunting leathers with her bow and quiver filled with arrows, but tied to her belt was the family's sword. It had been passed down from generation to generation. It's very beautiful: it has a sparkling silver blade, laced with pure gold and had a swan on the hilt. In the sunlight, it looked like fire was dancing off of it.
Her uncle had gifted the sword to her after the ceremony and had allowed Riza make a meal out of the stag that Freya had caught.
Freya watched as the ocean pulsed in movement. Barely moving from the top, but ever moving underneath. She gently touched the feathers braided in her hair, she had decided to keep them there as well as her family heirloom. Her jeweled pendant was tied to a leather cord around her neck. The pendant was a crystal in multiple of colors, with rivers of gold and orange flowing beneath its surface and glints of red that pulsed with life.
She lowered her hand and felt familiar sleek, soft head rubbing underneath the palm of her hand. Freya chuckled softly as she lowered herself to the ground and ruffled Riza's fur playfully.
Riza purred, which sounded three times louder than a normal cat. Last night, Freya had trouble sleeping last night and Riza had became her cuddle buddy, it was truly special for Freya. Freya was quite surprised, since Riza was acting like an older sister that she never had before.
Freya slipped a hand through Riza's fur between her shoulders and gently scratched in between Riza's ears. Riza purred and looked up at Freya with a playful gleam in her stunning green eyes. She gently took hold of Freya's wrist with retracted paws and made Freya crouched down to her level.
The two of them both had a playful stare down before Riza had placed her paws on her lap and licked Freya's cheek, making Freya laughed and hugged Riza's neck. She watched as the tigress rolled onto her back and Freya started rubbing Riza's white and striped tummy. Riza rolled up to her paws and started grooming herself with gentle strokes of her tongue, Freya smiled and ruffled Riza's head.
"Hey, you have a spirit animal?" asked a haughty voice.
Freya turned around to see a handsome boy around her age. He has brown hair and pale skin. His gray eyes glinted like silver and gleamed with hidden admiration. He was dressed handsomely in rich robes that only lords or earls wore. By the boy's looks and accent, he sounded like he's from northern Eura.
He started walking towards them with a curious and arrogant look in his gaze. Freya met his gaze warily and ready to accept whatever challenge that he had brought with him.
"Yes, I do." Freya eyed the boy warily before she replied, "I've bonded with her a few days ago." She looked at him curiously. "When you come of age, what spirit animal do you hope to summon?"
"Probably a big and fearsome beast," the boy said. "Like a fierce and loyal black panther."
Freya rolled her eyes, a little amused by the boy's proud daydreaming about having a black panther as a spirit animal, before she said, "If you say so."
"So, what's your name and where are you from milady?" he asked.
"My name is Freya," said Freya as she stood up and kept a hand in Riza's soft fur, who was eyeing the boy warily. "I'm from Amaya." Freya eyed him up and down before she asked, "What about you? What's your name?"
"My name is Devin Trunswick," Devin said as he puffed his chest proudly. "I'm from Eura, Trunswicks."
"How about you tell me about yourself?" asked Freya.
He hesitated for a little bit before he spoke again, but a little softer and more confident. "I am about to be the future Lord of Trunswicks and...umm... that's pretty much it."
Freya's gaze softened as she looked at him. During her time on Ninani's Heart, she had came across a boy Niloan-Zhongese boy named Kirat, who is pretty much like Devin, born and raised to live up to his family's reputation and the family name with nothing else in mind.
"What about you?" Devin asked curiously.
"I'm one of the huntresses in my family," said Freya with a smile.
Devin nodded with a smile before she looked at him again with a wary smile.
"Devin? Are you here?" A boy who's around six years old had came to the deck and saw them together.
Freya saw that he has lighter brown hair and pale skin. His gray eyes were bright and went wide with astonishment as soon as he saw Riza sitting next to Freya. By the second boy's looks and accent, he also seemed to be from northern Eura. By the way the slightly softened expression on Devin's face, Freya guessed that the younger boy was related to Devin.
"I'm guessing you two are brothers?" asked Freya as she leaned lightly against the railing.
"Yup, I'm Dawson Trunswick." Freya shook his offered hand before they pulled back when they all saw Keith walking a little unsteadily towards them, still looking a little pale in the face.
"I'm sorry about the brief meeting, but I better go now," said Freya apologetically.
She walked away from the Trunswick brothers and towards Keith, looking curious as ever.
"Freya, we're heading towards Greenhaven as we speak," said Keith with a weary smile.
After they had arrived to the port, Freya followed Keith off of the ship. She followed Keith down a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side there. Freya didn't speak much as she followed him.
A hundred questions filled her mind as she looked at the huge island. Why did the Greencloaks searched for her? What was the Keeper? But her questions were almost immediately forgotten, she could see a beautiful sight in the light of the rising sun.
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great blue lake. Perched on top of a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the dawning sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. The castle walls had four antlered heads of elks on each side of the walls. The castle was surrounded by the mountains and waterfalls.
Keith led her into the woods, Freya admired the beauty in the woods. The forest floor was dappled in the golden sunlight. The green leaves on the trees seemed to be in the shade of gold, just like Riza's eyes. There was a bubbling brook nearby. Some flowers had started to blooming from the ground. Birds were singing softly overhead and some woodland critters secretly watched on from a distance. The wind rustled through the leaves and casted golden gleams of light on Freya's hair. It's has a beautiful and relaxing peace within the forest, despite the slight disturbances from exiled hunters from Nilo. Freya could feel a single rhythm and life from everything in the forest. Every droplet of water or every gentle breeze has a life-giving rhythm that's connected to every part of Erdas.
"We're finally here," said Keith with a sigh of relief. "It's been a long journey, but you've done well. I... I know you must miss your home." Freya gave Keith a sad smile and felt a wave of homesickness washed over her. "Olvan and Lenori are just up ahead. They'll explain what's going on."
She soon saw a man and a woman. Freya knew at once that they are both Greencloaks as soon as she saw their green cloaks.
Olvan is both tall and muscular with the air of authority and leadership. He was wearing a mail shirt underneath his forest-green cloak. Despite the graying of his hair and beard, he had thick, powerful limbs and a broad chest. Age had not yet robbed him of his strength and vigor. His spirit animal must be a moose if Freya had to guess, she had seen a few people like him with such powerful spirit animals.
While Lenori had an familiar air about her, in both of her simple dress and her features. Her feet were bare. She was short and slender. The feathers in her long hair and colorful beaded jewelry gave her away as an Amayan from a different tribe. Freya figured she must have an exotic bird spirit animal with the colorful feathers braided into her hair.
"This is the one?" Olvan said in a strong, powerful voice that could rival her chieftain.
"Yes," said Lenori in a soft and gentle voice. "It's the same as my vision."
"Thank you, Keith." Olvan turned to look at Keith. "We'll take it from here. Why don't you scout the way back to Greenhaven?"
Keith seemed to give an inward groan before he said sarcastically, "Awesome, more walking." His expression softened as he looked at Freya. "Good luck with the ritual. I hope we meet again."
Freya smiled and nodded as she gave inward chuckle as she watched Keith scout his way back to Greenhaven.
"Hello, young one." He stepped towards her with a small, sympathetic smile. "I'm Olvan, leader of the Greencloaks. I'm sorry to have brought you so far, but times are desperate." His keen gaze met hers. "Very few in Erdas ever summon a spirit animal. It's a wonderful gift, but a rare one. Lenori believes you are one of the chosen few."
"Could you please summon your spirit animal?" asked Lenori gently.
Freya nodded again and closed her eyes to focus. Freya focused her attention on the beautiful tattoo on the back of her forearm. When her interest was elsewhere, she hardly noticed the mark. But she could perceive warmth beneath the image, a vague presence. She remembered to call Riza, imagined a door opening, and then with a flash the tattoo had disappeared and a certain tigress reappeared by her side.
"Your dreams were right, Lenori," praised Olvan. "Congratulations young one!" He scanned over Riza with an approval in his gaze. "Tigers — or tigresses in your case — are proud, powerful beasts. Perhaps you're a budding warrior or skilled huntress."
"Your spirit animal is your lifelong partner," Lenori said, her eyes matches the sparkling sea. "Work together to develop your bond, and you can unlock incredible power."
"And you will need power in these dark times." Olvan met her concerned gaze with his calm gaze. "The Conquerors have returned, and they are setting the world on fire."
"We've heard whispers they have a terrible substance." Lenori's expression was pained with sadness and guilt. "When fed to animals, it warps them into mad beasts."
Freya had a horrified expression at the thought of it and slipped her hand into Riza's fur. Riza leaned against Freya's keg, sensing that she must comfort her.
"Until now, there's been no way to save the creatures so transformed," said Olvan gravely. "But Lenori is a talented seer, and she believes you may have a special gift."
"In my vision, your spirit animal bond allowed you to cleanse these effects," Lenori said softly and met Freya's gaze. "If this is true, the Greencloaks could badly use your help."
Freya lowered her head thoughtfully, while Riza sat by her side and Freya stroked her wildcat's head. Riza raised her head and met her gaze. Standing this close, Freya could feel the comforting heat radiating from the tigress's body and smell the wet forest scent on her coarse fur.
Freya focused on the peaceful feeling and felt it wash over her. With her decisions hovering inside her mind, it was easy to tell that plan was to return to Amaya was logical, but reactive. It was easy to see too that it was an easy choice, but it had more possibilities close by.
Freya raised her head and looked at the two Greencloaks in front of her, both of their gazes were both looking at her in worry and concern.
"If you think I could help," said Freya softly. "Then we shall join the Greencloaks and I am willing to become one myself."
Olvan smiled in relief before he said, "Well done. I wish that a certain boy has your sense of duty."
Freya had faint sense that he was talking about Keith, he accidentally lost sight of her a few times on the ship, but then again it's pretty funny startling him a few times.
"Welcome Keeper," Lenori said with a gentle smile.