The Girl Under the Mountain

Chapter 2 (Flower Crowns)

Everyone in the colony has a job, which sometimes can be related to their name. Names are a sacred thing to Mainecoons, names are given by elders after they've proven themselves worthy of one. In Mama's case, she got her name from fighting off a serpent and claimed 'Cobra' as hers. Rowan got hers when she climbed an entire tree before she could fly and took a branch of fruit half her size down to feed a pack of starving jackalopes. However, I never got a name. I never made any big achievements so everyone just called me whatever they wanted. I'd thought about giving myself a name but it felt wrong, no one else just gave themselves a name.
To get my mind off all this thinking Rowan and I went out hunting, that was one thing I was good at. Rowan had taken off into the bush after what I'm guessing was a squirrel or something, I took a small dagger I crafted out of some shiny black rocks and tied it to a stick. Crouching in a bush chasing out a rodent I ended up losing it. I kept walking on and came to the river bank that separated our land from the Whispering Hollow. A memory flashed through my mind and I had to rub my eyes snapping out of the painful thought. Every Time I got close to this place that always happened, a painful flash in my brain. A loud crash came through the trees and I thought we were being attacked until I saw familiar claws breaking through the treetops
"Are you kidding me right now?!". I couldn't believe he was back. Rowan quickly ran through the trees to hide, we both knew how important it was to keep the colony safe.
"What are you doing here?" shouting and walking towards him.
"I want to show you something" He said with a sort of cocky smile.
"Are you- you're joking. You have to be joking". He tracked me all the way out in the woods just to show me something. What was he doing stalking me? Its been days since he helped me escape good gods...
"I am not joking, I want to show you something"
"Why? What on this planet would make you come find me and show me something?"
"Well I want us to be friends" he gave me that charming smile again and my cheeks started to hurt and it felt like they were swelling up.
"Friends? I don't really make friends" my voice lowered.
"You mean you don't have any friends?" he tilted his head. Dismounting his dragon and approaching with a kind demeanor not like his sister.
"No, I don't need them I'm happy by myself"
"But isn't that sort of well lonely?"
"Stop asking me questions, what do you want to show me?" I crossed my arms.
"Seriously come on it'll be fun". He kept moving towards me and trying to be friendly, extending his hand in a weird way out to me. Is this how all humans acted? Mainecoons never really acted like this towards each other, suspiciously asking someone to go somewhere after their sister just kidnapped you.
"Fun?" I questioned.
Some bushes rustled behind me and Rowan was peeking over the bush nodding at me to go with him. Scowling back at her Ajax peeked over my shoulder to look at what I was looking at.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, erm..fine I'll go with you but I'm coming back at sunset no later"
"Deal" Ajax was happy with my response and quickly saddled back onto his dragon. Leading him over to me. The sienna shaded dragon lowered to his belly so I could climb on, we walked a few steps then lifted off into the air. Rowan wasn't following us thank the gods so I relaxed and guess I was going to try and have fun.
"Oh, by the way, this is Gooseberry, but I just call him Goose" Ajax tried to make a conversation. "I'm sorry, you named the Mainecoon known for its strength and power and being nearly extinct...Gooseberry?" I raised my eyebrows, was he dumb? Gooseberry? The heck kind of a name was that?! Though I did have to admit he was a cute Mainecoon, much more chubby and well mannered. Goose made a murrow and looked back at me with a toothy grin. I just gave a small giggle as Goose focused on where he was going again.
Looking forward into the distance I quickly spotted where we were going. It was this tiny island covered in flowers of all colors and shapes. When Goose landed in the field it showered his fur in a yellowish dust. Ajax held out his hand for me to hop off beside him and taking about two steps a small screech came from in the flowers. I bent down to pick up whatever it was and it was a little gopher. They don't have wings but they did have tiny horns and were buried mostly under rocks. It looked slightly horrified but eventually calmed down and nestled into my hand giving gentle licks to my palm.
"Sorry little guy I didn't see you there". Putting him down near a rock I looked out into the ocean. I was always fascinated by the water and how it moved into tides bringing creatures along with it and picking them up later. The flowers slowly swayed in the wind sending small pollen particles into the air. The smell of sweet roses filled my nose and I sat in a little open space to make a flower crown. I used to make these all the time with Rowan, we'd go out into flower patches and sit for hours but that was before we had responsibilities. I suppose I was a little lonely now that Rowan was doing more for the colony, I often looked back at those times when we were younger, Rowan was a lot smaller too. I used to be able to just jump onto her back without having her bend down, and I was nearly as fast as her too so we always used to race around the forest between the tall trees and singing streams.
"What are you making?" Ajax sat beside me, leaning over to watch my hands folding and pinching flower stems.
"It's a flower crown you just weave the ends together and tie a small knot and then you repeat until you have a crown". Gooseberry curled around us and I giggled as he sniffed a flower and sneezed sending the petals everywhere. Ajax held some flowers to my eyes and picked specific colors out of the twenty he had in front of him.
"What was that for?"
"I was just checking something," he mumbled.
"And that required you shoving flowers in my face?"
"Yes it did" he pulled the flowers together and placed them on my head adjusting them to fit perfectly "There,... woah" his eyes widened a tad.
"Woah what?"
"Your eyes.." he started
"What about my eyes?"
"They're stunning". Taken aback by his words that feeling came back I felt sick but not in a bad way and my cheeks started to swell up again.
"Are you blushing?" Ajax teased.
"No, I am not" turning away, I put the flower crown I made on Gooseberry's head and he smiled with his adorable teeth.
"Aww aren't you adorable?'' I scratched his chin and small deep purrs came from his chest. His Mainecoon seemed so different from the colony Mainecoons. I had asked the elder about it that same night I got back and she said some Mainecoons had stayed with the man to keep peace in the village. Gooseberry must have been a descendant from those Mainecoons. He was a lot chubbier than them, and his throat didn't have much skin showing like he's never used his fire before.
"Can I ask you something?" Ajax piped up interrupting my thoughts.
"Depends what it is" Looking back Ajax had moved closer. "Do you really not have a name?"
I looked down at the flowers and thought hard if I ever did have a name but I was too young to remember.
"Yeah, I never had one"
"How? Didn't your parents ever-"
"No, because mine died a long time ago" I quickly cut him off. I didn't want to talk about my parents or what happened. I hated talking about it and there was nothing to talk about. Besides I had Mama she was my guardian.
"Oh wow I'm so sorry.."
"Don't be, they weren't your parents" I said coldly.
"I know but still that's awful.'' His voice was sincere and kind, offering words of comfort.
"Well, I manage to get by just fine without a name. How did you get yours?"
"What do you mean? My parents just gave it to me when I was born"
"O-oh well yeah um but is there anything special about it?"
"I was named after my great great grandfather Ajax and I just named Gooseberry, Gooseberry since he's my buddy".
Ajax had started messing around with his dragon play-fighting. The elder would be confused and slightly angry. After one hundred years the Mainecoons living in that village have completely lost their way of life, the naming ceremonies and I'm guessing their soulmate dances and traditions too. Mainecoon traditions were everything to them and made them who they are and it's how they've survived so long.
Hours ended up passing before I even realized it. I was having fun and it felt amazing, all these years alone as the only human in a tribe of dragons, I never knew how much fun being around another person could be. The sunset turned the sky into this aurora of pinks and yellows and oranges of the sweetest shade almost like peach fuzz.
"We should get you home," he said sitting up. We'd been lying in the grass watching clouds fly by pointing out clouds that looked like objects.
"Yeah I don't want to get eaten'' We laughed but it was true being out past dark was dangerous. Direwolves, while beautiful creatures are extremely dangerous during the night. They were silent stalkers and were the Mainecoon's rivals since they were similar in size, numbers, and weapons like their jaws and claws. Gooseberry swept Ajax off his feet with his large fluffy tail and onto his back and started running around like a kitten. Tiny baby butterflies scattered into the sky and petals drifted into the wind. Laughing at the two of them as Ajax struggled to get onto his saddle, Goose eventually stopped for me to get on. The sky had slowly shifted from pink to blues and violets as night swept over us.
The night was my favorite time of day, it always has been. The bioluminescence of the Whispering Hollow in the background glowed like it was on fire and everything was covered in embers. The clouds swirled around Goose as he glided through them, the cool mist kissing our faces as we soared silently above the treetops. The tranquility of the flight was a stark contrast to the chaos of earlier events, and I found solace in the rhythmic beating of Gooseberry's wings. We descended gracefully, landing near the river that marked the boundary between the Whispering Hollow and my forest. This river was a sanctuary, a place where the world seemed to pause and breathe.
The water, though undrinkable, held an ethereal beauty. At night, it transformed into a shimmering spectacle, glowing with bioluminescent specks that danced and swirled beneath the surface. The plants along the banks mirrored this luminescence, their leaves and stems glowing softly in the moonlight, casting an otherworldly glow over the entire area. Tiny, iridescent fish darted through the water, their scales reflecting the light like living jewels. The gentle sound of the river flowing over rocks was soothing, a natural lullaby that made this place feel like a hidden paradise. I often found myself lost in its beauty, mesmerized by the way the light played on the surface of the water and the gentle rustling of the glowing plants.
As Gooseberry folded his wings and settled down by the riverbank, I slid off his back and took a moment to appreciate the serene surroundings. The tension of the night melted away, replaced by the comforting familiarity of my favorite haunt. Here, at the edge of the Whispering Hollow, I felt a sense of peace and wonder that the outside world could never offer. Ajax was watching me as I put my hand in the water letting the fish swim around it.
"Why did you bring me to that island?" I asked, my gaze fixed on the shimmering river.
"Because, like I said, I want us to be friends," Ajax replied, his tone casual but sincere.
"I know, but still, why me? I'm sure you have a girlfriend who's extremely upset right now." I couldn't help but tease him. He seemed like the type who'd have girls lining up for him back in the village.
"Girlfriend? I've never had a girlfriend. All the girls in the village are... well, let's just say they're not my type," he chuckled, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his modesty.
"Oh, sure. And I am?" I smirked, turning to face him. His cheeks flushed slightly, and I couldn't suppress a grin.
"Well, maybe you are but your too crazy to be my type" he retorted playfully "your glares seem like you'd want to kill me"
"Are you a mind reader?" I quipped, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," he replied with a grin.
"Then what am I thinking?" I challenged, crossing my arms.
"That I am the most handsome, charming, and amazing person you've ever met," he said with mock seriousness, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Yeah, not even close," I replied, pretending to stifle a laugh behind my hand.
"Well, you'd say it more like this," he said, suddenly adopting a high-pitched voice and striking a dramatic pose.
"Ajax is sooooo handsome and sooo charming. I'd marry him on the spot if he asked me, and maybeeee I'll ask him to marry me because he's sooooooo super handsome."
My jaw dropped in disbelief. "What in the gods' green earth was that?" I managed to gasp between giggles. "You sound nothing like me!"
He burst out laughing and his dragon was on its back laughing with him. Fireflies rushed out of the grass under Gooseberry's body and illuminated the space around us and one landed on my nose. I shook my head gently watching it fly away.
"You're unbelievable and so rude!" I ended up laughing because it was a tad funny. We both laughed for a while just making jokes and more small talk as the sky slowly shifted into its dark haze. The small glowing ember-like bugs flew out of the Hollow and into the forest, their wings reflected in his eyes back at me.
"I'd never go near it people go missing in that forest at least once a year"
"Seriously? Are you sacrificing them or something?"
"What no! People always try to go in and come out alive proving they don't believe in the myths'' he shrugged.
"Myths? What myths?". I've heard stories from the elder about the creatures in the Hollow. I wondered if maybe Gooseberry's ancestors passed them down too but I doubted it.
"It's said that creatures far too dangerous for this world were banished to this forest to live out their days since it was impossible to kill them" he started "One day the almighty Mainecoon dragons used their magic to banish them".
That wasn't the story at all! That was barely even a story at all. That was something that was made up by a three-year-old. The Mainecoons didn't have magic either.
"What? That's not the story!" I grumbled.
"How would you know?"
"Because the true story is this: long ago when the world was new Mainecoons took the role of keeping the circle of life in control, using their fire and abilities only for good but some creatures wanted their fire for themselves. A magical rock struck the ground one day causing colossal-sized crystals to sprout out of the ground. Powerful crystals were embedded inside. The evil creatures got to them first however and they tested the crystal's power on innocent creatures. When they found the crystal they could steal the life force and fire of a dragon."
Ajax sat next to me as I told the story intrigued. It was cute how he leaned in to listen. I recited every word exactly as the elder had told me.
"They raised a war on the Mainecoons threatening that if the Mainecoons didn't give them the fire they possessed they'd kill every creature in the forest, burn their homes to the ground, and create hell on earth. But of course, the Mainecoons wouldn't give the enemies their fire so they fought". Taking a large branch I drew out this shape into the dirt.
"Dragons the size of Mainecoons if not bigger with shadowy leather like skin, long fangs, and long thin limbs, and claws sharper than a god's tempter"
"Holy crap, those are horrid! How did you make that up?"
"Because I didn't make it up I've seen these horrible creatures" I paused and took a deep breath. Ajax had reached out to put a hand on my shoulder but I turned away.
"How? No one has ever seen creatures that live in the forest and come out alive" he said in a confused and worried voice.
"Then maybe I'm not as alive as I seem" Turning back with a serious gaze I continued.
"They called themselves the Scorpious Clan. They claimed the name from the ancient stars in the sky that formed a scorpios, The Mainecoons were losing. Down almost twice their army size because of the crystal's power, they were badly outnumbered"
"But how'd they win?"
"I'm getting to it just listen!" laughing as I continued. "The Mainecoons were ready to surrender their fire when the leaders of each species of creatures approached, saying they'd lend their strongest fighters and themselves to help fight against these common enemies. Big and small, large and tall all the creature's strongest fighters and leaders fought with the Mainecoons tripling the numbers and beating the Scorpius . One young Mainecoon found a crystal for herself and split it amongst the first line of warriors able to take the life force of their enemies and transfer it to themselves for extra strength and power. They used that magic to take down the Scorpious army and banish them to the bioluminescent forest where no one is allowed out. If they've been banished forever they've remained there hiding scared of the Mainecoon army spirits that protect us and were lost in that great battle". I had to take a long breath while Ajax was smiling. "What?"
"That was amazing oh my gods! Did you make that up?"
"No, I didn't make it up, it's the real story!"
"How do you know it's real?"
"Uh well...I've heard from the oldest of people the same version over and over again".
"Wow, what other stories do you have?". It was so funny, he was so interested in what stories I had to share and I'd tell him everything if a tree hadn't fallen behind us on the other side of the river. While it was true the spirits of fallen Mainecoon warriors did keep the Scorpious inside and many other creatures but sometimes they got out... and I have one story to tell about that but it's far too early for that. A tree on the other side of the river had crashed to the ground sending leaves and a gust of wind our way with this hissing feeling that tickled down my spine. I reached to touch my shoulder when I backed away from the river's edge and the memory hit me again.
"I-I need to go". Ajax looked confused when I rushed past him grabbing the side of my head as it throbbed.
"What? Why so soon? I know it's dark but it was just a tree"
"I need to go". I left earshot of what he was saying before I could hear anything else and I guess he must have left long after me. I made it to the colony where I met with Rowan quickly and she took me to see our healer. My head was in so much pain it was like someone took my brain and was ringing it out like a towel they just washed. When that tree fell something in my memory snapped and it wouldn't go away. I got some healing herbs for my head and to help sleep which is what I did right away. Completely exhausted, I collapsed on our cave floor and must have passed out within minutes because I was dreaming the next moment. I couldn't tell you what I was dreaming about because I don't even remember...