Dragon Prince: The Storm's Heart

Chapter Fourteen: A Mother's Love

Through the sparse canopy of leaves, the light of the fading moon shone through in soft rays of light silver. The air was frigid, so frigid, that even the clouds that hung in the sky were stiff with cold weather. All the animals were huddled in their nests and dens, trying to keep themselves hidden from the solo human walking within the forest. The only creatures that dared be out were a few rabbits that munched on the leaves, and a few skittering squirrels, searching for spare acorns on the forest floor.
The wind was howling vigorously like a pack of wolves at a full moon. The snow was packed in a thick layer and on top walked a pair of feet slowly and carefully. Walking through the trees, the girl looked around her surroundings into the early dawn for any sign of danger. Pulling her cloak closer to her figure, Shira continued walking on determinedly, on her cloaked back was on her archery equipment and her breath visible in the ice cold air. Carefully descending the mountain slope, she continued walking through the forest not to far away, moving with the shadows as one.
Despite the cold weather of the mountains, it's uniquely beautiful around them in Shira's eyes. In the gathering dusk, the icicles glowed like firelight marble, covering most of the snowy forest and the valley. Snow dusted around them and the ground all around them; more crystalline flakes were falling more quickly from the sky. Soon, an incredible mountain range appeared before her after they continued walking through the mountain pass, rivaling the Mountains of Katolis in height and breadth. Its surfaces were frosted with bright snow from the peaks to the bottoms. The snowy landscape was dotted with sheer cliffs and pure blue lakes. Ahead was a canyon, and the snow seemed to be trampled from wild horses, revealing pine trees and bushes. She saw a white bear in a cave from a safe distance, a herd of elk were hidden amongst the forest, a couple of winter foxes went into the woods, a few white owls swept past them, and a pack of wolves had slicked across the tundra. But, at the foot of the mountain pass, was a massive frozen lake. The wind was strong, and it pushed the fog towards the mountains and blew the snow around them hard.
Shira soon came up a hill to see a mountain village, her dark blue cloak gently flowing behind her. The small, quaint houses were covered in at least a foot of snow, and smoke rose from the chimneys. A towering mountain with a flat top created a backdrop for the town.
She smiled sadly at the village she has grew up in by herself. As the sun had started to rise from the golden and blue sky, the people of the village had started to awakening and getting ready to start their day.
Her day is about to begin.
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It wasn't long till she started following Ellis and Ava through the forming swampland again. Despite her wariness, the three of them continued going through Cursed Caldera with Ellis and Ava as her guide. They jumped over ledges, climbed rickety fallen trees, and walked single file along narrow ridges. The hours passed quickly as they navigated the many obstacles, and by the time they reached a clearing halfway up the mountain, the day was ending. The sun was low, and the sky was on fire with a blazing sunset and into a calming twilight.
But they stiffened when they suddenly heard a howl of a powerful beast. Shira narrowed her eyes as the huge beast stepped from the foggy forest.
Shira steeled herself when she suddenly heard a massive roar, but Ellis and Ava both seemed somewhat calm. Once the snow cleared a bit, they could see the roaring monster standing there in the center of the caldera. It was a terrifying sight to see such a beast in front of them. The monster was huger than a Shire horse, while his arms and legs are both furry and strong like a gorilla's arms and the legs seemed to have come from a mountain goat. His sharp and white fangs gleamed like a mix between a wolf and a wildcat. He has coarse brownish-white hair and seemed to be thicker at his shoulders. His neck was a mass of muscle and fur leading up to his enormous head and cruel black eyes, on his head was enormous black and white horns.
The massive beast was soon joined with by huge, snarling black dogs and four massive spiders that seemed almost impossible to knock down.
Shira closed her eyes and let out sigh, remembering that the monsters are illusions made by Lujanne.
"Lets keep going." The sun had set completely on the Cursed Caldera, and the sky was growing darker by the minute. Up high, the flora was scarce and the trees barren, and the forest floor had given way to a dusty, dried mud. Misty clouds obscured the path, but the lantern glowed softly in Shira's hands, illuminating the way.
They had arrived to the Moon Nexus and was greeted by the Lujanne and Phoe-Phoe. "Lujanne. Do you know how to reverse this curse?" Shira showed the three cursed coins to the Moon mage.
Lujanne nodded. "I do. But it'll take a while." Her expression became serious. "You should go and help your friends." Shira nodded. "Before you take off, I've forgot to give this to you." Shira was given a parchment scroll. Shira turned the scroll over carefully. It was stamped with the official golden metal seal of the Sky symbol and tied by an bronze ribbon. "I was asked to give this to you by your mother in case you ever did come up here."
"I'm going to read it," Shira told Lujanne.
"You have plenty of time to read it as I summon a friend of yours." Shira felt a little confused by Lujanne's response. She doesn't know much about this friend of hers. Shira soon headed towards a table.
She heard a gentle coo and looked over her shoulder to see Phoe-Phoe sitting by her side. Shira smiled at the moon phoenix's gentle support and gently stroked the magical bird's iridescent feathers.
"I know it's strange, Phoe-Phoe, but it's like right now there are words she hasn't said to me — and they're all right here, waiting to reveal itself to me. But once I read it... Then she'll really be gone. Forever." It was such a strange sensation — holding on to these unread words. But Shira knew she was just fooling herself. Her mother has been dead for years even if Shira had never read the letter.
Phoe-Phoe looked at her sympathetically and placed her head on Shira's lap gently. Shira took a deep breath. She was ready as she'd ever be. She placed her finger on the thick wax seal and loosened it.
As she read, Shira could hear her mother's warm, kind voice.
"Dear Shira,
Over the years, there may have been a slight distance between us at times from your father's absence. I see myself and your father in you. I am proud of you. I love you unconditionally. Shira, to know something truly and deeply, you must know it with your head, hand, and heart... mind, body, and spirit. I love you with all of myself. In this letter, I am going to reveal a lie and a secret.
The advisors and scholars will tell you that history is a narrative of strength. They will recount stories of the rise and falls of nations and empires, and they will be stories of armies, battles, and decisive victories. But this isn't true strength — it's merely power.
I believe that true strength is found in vulnerability. In forgiveness. In love.
There is a wonderful upside-down truth, which is that these moments of purest strengths appear as weakness to those who doesn't know any better.
I ask you to reject history as a narrative of strength, and instead have faith that it can be a narrative of love.
The great secret that I have to reveal to you is the most important. I wish I could of have told you before I have left you.
When you arrive to the Moon Nexus, ask the Moon Mage, Lujanne, to help you remove the enchanted bracelet. I had placed it on you when you were young to protect you from anyone who is paranoid about elves.
Long before you were ever born, I had fell in love with an elf. He is a Skywing elf, a great Sky Mage. Nothing I believed about elves is true. He is kind and good. He's brave, protective, and amazing...
I know that you hold some anger towards him. But I know that, in your heart, that you want to learn why he left us. I had discovered that there's a penalty of death made by the Dragon King if any elves and humans fell in love and have any flenimu. Don't be too hard on him. I'm sure that you have room in your heart for your father.
As I write this, the sun is setting, I'm just on the edge of falling sleep. My time is almost up, and yours is just beginning. I won't be able to change anything, but you have the courage to do so. I won't be able to use my visions to protect you, to keep you safe.
Lean into your kindness and empathy in the face of evil — but do not let evil win.
You are the only person who can decide who you want to be. Don't let yourself get stuck on someone else's path. Search for what's true, and think for yourself.
Be happy Shira, Warrior of Xadia. You can change the world with your joy and hope.
All my love, Bianca."
Shira let out breath, rivulets of tears ran down from her face and she felt her heart become full at her late mother's words. Shira tried her best to wipe away her tears when she heard footsteps heading towards her direction.
She carefully slipped her scroll away into her satchel and spun around to see Lujanne. The Moon mage smiled at her sympathetically. Lujanne helped Shira onto Phoe-Phoe's back. Shira's hands clung to Phoe-Phoe's saddle, overcome with amazement. The moon phoenix's lean and strong muscles rippled underneath them both, and her wings shaped the wind. Phoe-Phoe swerved and ducked, startling some birds. They were up so high, surrounded by the incoming clouds. The mountains loomed in the distance, and the forest went on till it reach the beaches and cliffs. The world so much bigger than Shira had thought originally thought. They headed up, and then suddenly, Phoe-Phoe lifted her beak and shot down towards the mountain. Here, the wind filled Shira's ears and blew her hair down.
As they landed, Shira and Lujanne both started to head to a cliff and that has a hollow tree. The truck was as large as a small cottage and rose what had to be at least one hundred feet into the morning sky.
But they suddenly heard the loud, flapping sound of wings and the ground shook as a massive force landed on the ledge. Shira turned to see a blue Storm dragon was on the same cliff as they are and was looking at them curiously.