Spirit Animals: The Keeper's Book

Chapter One: Greenhaven

The sunlight shone down to reveal an unknown girl watching the ocean by the ship's railing, staring at the distance. The wind gently ruffled her long, wavy light golden caramel hair. As the sun continued rising into the dawning sky, her blue eyes shone like the sea. Her skin is lightly tanned from her time in the sun. She was dressed in a beige tunic that's on top of her dark brown pants that ended at her dark brown boots. A soft wool cloak could be seen flowing behind her and is in the color of tree hollows.
The girl's name is Jenna Wiseheart.
It had been a week since Jenna had left her home to be the Keeper of Greenhaven. She and Keith had boarded on a ship called the Ninani's Heart. But Keith seemed to be getting a little seasick. She had gotten out from her room, she felt both bored and tired from her voyage. Jenna watched as the ocean pulsed in movement. Barely moving from the top, but ever moving underneath.
She gently clutched her necklace and gazed down at it, her family heirloom. Her regally jeweled pendant was tied to a leather cord around her neck. The pendant was a crystal in multiple of colors, with great rivers of gold and blue flowing beneath its surface and glints of green that pulsed with life. She also stared at the braided cord bracelet with three emerald gemstones on her left wrist. Jenna sighed as she remembered what happened all those years ago.
She and her parents were great travelers of Erdas, and they were traveling with their crew of sea traders. Jenna's mother was half Niloan and half Zhongese while Jenna's father was half Euran and half Amayan. They've told her stories about the Greencloaks, the Great Beasts, the Fallen Four, and the great heroes of the past.
But all of that has changed when bunch of foreigners had sailed started to sail next to them. Unsure what to make of it, Jenna's father sailed a little away from the unknown ship to make sure they won't accidentally crash into each other. But that's when the horror had happened. The trading ship had accidentally hit an unknown sandbar and the foreigner ship had disappeared without a trace. Jenna's mother had given her the family pendant while her father gave her last minute advice before the horror sank in. As one of the few survivors, Jenna was rescued by a ship of Greencloaks and was taken in by the sea traders.
She snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned to see the Greencloak who had found her. "Keith."
"Jenna, we're heading towards Greenhaven as we speak," said Keith with a weary smile.
After they had arrived to the port, Jenna followed Keith off of the ship. She followed Keith down a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side there. Jenna 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, Jenna 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. 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 Jenna's hair. It's has a beautiful and relaxing peace within the forest, despite the slight disturbances from the exiled hunters in Amaya. Jenna 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." Jenna 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. Jenna 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 Jenna 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. Jenna 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 former chieftain.
"Yes," said Lenori softly. "She'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 as he spoke in dry sarcasm. "Awesome, more walking." His expression softened as he gazed at Jenna. "Good luck with the Nectar Ceremony. I hope we meet again." Jenna smiled and nodded as she gave inward chuckle as she watched Keith scouted his way back to Greenhaven.
"Hello, young one." She watched as the man 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."
"Don't be nervous," Lenori told her gently. "All you have to do is drink from the Nectar of Ninani. It takes just one sip. Here." She showed a covered flask to Jenna and she hesitantly took it.
Jenna drank the Nectar. It was a bit thick, and very sweet, like sweet apple slices dipped in chocolate. It became solid in her mouth. It was delicious. She had never tasted something so good.
The birds screeched. The animals in the woods started to cry out excitedly, as if they were responding to the Nectar Ceremony. The ground started shaking. The air turned darker, like there was a cloud before the sun.
A bright flash ran through the air, but closer than Jenna had ever seen. She was blinded by the flash and blinked desperately to try and see something again. Warm feelings spread through her chest to her arms and legs.
That's when she saw the wolf.
"Your dreams were right Lenori!" Olvan exclaimed. "Congratulations young one!"
She has never seen a wolf up close in person before. Jenna has heard many stories about Briggan's Great Pack and seen a few glimpses of wolves watching them from a distance. Jenna even howled a few times, which made the wolves howl sometimes. And now, the biggest wolf Jenna had ever seen was standing in front of her, she held her head high. She's a beautiful animal, strongly and gracefully build, well-fed and with the most beautiful chocolate red pelt that Jenna has ever seen. The wolf has big paws, sharp claws, pointed teeth, and shining amber eyes.
With fluid movements, her muscles churned underneath her pelt, the majestic animal walked towards Jenna with such elegance and strength with a hint of pride and cheekiness, her fur seemed to radiate with power. She nuzzled her leg and they both met each other's eyes, Jenna somehow knew that they were confirmed as equals. As soon as Jenna was touched, the feeling that she was being electrified disappeared. Suddenly, Jenna lowered herself down to the wolf's level.
The wolf nuzzled her again and made an end to the stream of instincts which made her feel dizzy. Jenna stood straight again and still barely understood what was going on. The animal that was standing next to her could eat her with one bite. The wolf looked up to her with a confident, but calm and determined expression. The animal was big and wild, but she seemed perfectly capable of controlling herself. Jenna found it rather impressive that such a predator treated her with so much respect. They both see each other as equals. Behind these amber eyes seemed to hide more respect than seemed possible for an animal.
The wolf stepped back a few steps away from Jenna, feeling curious, and looked at the wolf. She has gorgeously beautiful amber eyes, shining like a pair of topazes. But that was impossible. Wolves were never summoned.
But Jenna knew she had to name her spirit animal. A great name that matches the greatness that her wolf was carrying within her. Jenna lowered herself again and nervously started petting the beautiful wolf. Jenna closed her thoughtfully, thinking up a good name for her wolf that will suit her perfectly.
"Destiny," whispered Jenna as reopened her eyes, she looked up and met the wolf's eyes. "Is it okay I'll name you Destiny?"
The wolf had let out an eager bark. She started sniffed Jenna's face, her snout tickled her face. Jenna could smell the scent of fresh wildflowers and the forest from her spirit animal. She ran a hand through the wolf's coat with a smile. "Destiny it is then."
"Wolves are renowned for their instincts," Olvan told Jenna. "They have hunting skills and teamwork, they are great protectors."
"Your spirit animal is your lifelong partner," spoke up Lenori. "Work together to develop your bond and you can unlock incredible power."
"You will need power in these dark times," Olvan said, angry and worried. "The Conquerors have returned and they're setting the world on fire."
Jenna's eyes widened, stunned and confused of the growing situation. She was impressed by them. Her reasons were simple. The armies of Amaya rarely invite women into their ranks, but the Greencloaks didn't fuss about such things. They measured people by their abilities.
"We've heard whispers of a terrible substance, when fed to animals it warps them into mad beasts," Lenori said sadly.
"Until now, there has been no way to save the warp animals but Lenori believes you may have a special gift." Olvan gazed at her keenly.
She wasn't sure to be curious or scared that soon she'll be fighting in a war. She doesn't like hurting people unless they hurt someone she cared about. But if it means to helping those who need help, then she'll do it.
"In my vision," Lenori told Jenna. "Your spirit animal bond allowed you to cleanse those effects, if this is true, the Grencloaks could badly use your help."
"Will you join the Greencloaks?" Olvan asked.
"If you think I can help." Jenna gazed at them determinedly.
"Very brave young one," Olvan said approvingly. "You'll make a fine Greencloak, there's one boy in particular I wished had your sense of duty." Jenna gazed at him, wondering who he was referring to. Keith? Another Marked kid? "By the Four Fallen!" Olvan spotted new danger coming up behind them. "It's reached even here!"
Jenna spun around to see a badger and a snake coming towards them. She could tell that they were Bile-fed, with its violent nature and darkly glowing eyes. Destiny's fur bristled as she stood next to Jenna, growling angrily.
"Quickly! Arm yourselves!" Olvan tossed her a small dagger and a bow with arrows. Jenna quickly ran at the badger and stabbed it, after a few stabs there was a small flash and it turned back into an ordinary badger. It soon wandered away from them and back into the woods. "Another one approaches, quickly strike it from afar with your bow!"
Jenna quickly put the knife on her belt and swiftly grabbed the bow and an arrow. She aimed and fired at the snake, hitting it. She watched as the snake loose its Bile influence.
"Focus on your bond with your spirit animal," said Lenori.
Jenna silently asked for Shira's help as he snapped at the snake. A foreign energy blazed into her muscles — every fiber of her seemed taut and ready to release. Her senses had never seen felt so keen. Her vision was enhanced as well, sharpened.
Her heart swelled with courage...
And she charged at it in inhuman speed. As Jenna pushed the snake back with her inhuman charge, she saw another flash like, much like earlier. Once she looked back at the snake, it had transformed back into itself and started slithering away from her.
"Incredible," Olvan spoke up, amazed. "After you weakened the animals, they were completely cleansed. You freed them!"
"In my vision, you were called the Keeper," said Lenori, delighted. "I'm so glad we found you."
"Me too." Jenna smiled shyly at Destiny and petted her fur, causing the wolf to wag her tail and give her a wolfish grin.
"We must head to Greenhaven Castle right away." Olvan soon showed Jenna the great castle in the distance. "More enemies could follow."