The Call of Home

CHAPTER 1

My senses intensified as a familiar buzz overwhelmed my mind as pins and needles overtook my body while I lay in bed. I propelled what I can only describe as my consciousness forward out of my physical being going up, up, up. My soul peeled itself from my body with every count of breath fading into the back of my memory. Hurdling toward oblivion, relief washed over me, ironing the kinks of my reality, smoothing waves of all forms of emotion into one glass lake. I pictured a door, my door. My door to the world which I may only visit at night.

I glowed at the thought of returning. Putting one foot in front of the other, the velvety, rich plane on which I stood rippled outward in infinite circles with every step. There was no beginning and no end. The only illumination in the void was my door-- a warm light extended outward and danced as if beckoning, welcoming me. I placed one hand on the entrance, a door made of wood with delicate flowers painted upon it. I pushed forward, crossing the threshold, and my essence once again became tangible. My hand transformed--the deep blue translucency of my astral self began to fade and was replaced with skin, bone, and muscle, though covered in the swirls and whorls of this world's beings. As I passed through, my hair fell to my waist. Opalescent wings strained the muscles of my back as my consciousness once again relearned what muscles were to be used with this body. I gazed above, taking in the familiar sight of the pale blue and purple hue of the sky. Rays stretched and moved across in ripples of turquoise, pink and violet, reminiscent of a brighter form of aurora than what is on Earth. Their star is much larger, and though this planet is further away in this solar system, these aurora are the only form of daylight. A neighbouring planet loomed close to this world of Esmor, a planet of many colours marbled together took up a large portion of the horizon.

Smiling, I couldn't help but extend my arms and twirl at the pure euphoria surging through me, the portal disappeared behind me as I crossed the line of the Void and Esmor, and my feet fully met the plush grass and moss covering the ground. Turning toward the forest, I strode for a nearby tree, its base impossibly enormous. I marked one in particular with a bed of rocks. Reaching inside the hole at the base of the trunk, I retrieved my clothing along with a belt, my bow, and a quiver of arrows. I pulled the flowing cream coloured dress over my head, carefully avoiding my wings as the low-cut back stopped just below the hips where my hind-wings ended. Strapping my belt, I placed the obsidian knife gifted to me by a smith I met during my third time projecting here. I had stopped a thief exiting his shop with a whole sack of assorted knives and spearheads. Turns out this world thrives on trading objects and favours, of which some Enids still have the itch to take more than they need, though it seems to be a rare event. The smith considered my help as a favour, offering the gorgeous blade as payment of sorts.

I slung my longbow across my back, loading my arrows on the left side of my leather belt, securing them tightly for my flight into civilization. My back muscles tensed and relaxed as I spread my wings, opening and closing them once, twice. With an exhale I leapt, beating my wings as hard as I could to get higher than the tree canopy. Warm air caressed my face, the rolling hills of green covered in wildflowers and giant fungi on the ground below. I have never felt freer than in the air, every time just as incredible as when I first took flight many months ago.

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Homey cottages, businesses, and townsfolk pass me by, some waving in greeting as I made my way through the village of Duskhold. The smell of fresh-cut flowers and baked bread filled my nose, along with the strumming of lutes and harps by performers on the street. Enids danced and swung in circles along to the melody, joining hands and taking in the moment together.

As the song neared its close, the group took a bow, laughing and exchanging smiles, cheers rang out for the musicians and I heard a distant call of my name,