Spirit Animals: The Keeper's Book

Chapter Three: Devin Trunswick

Two Years Ago:
By the morning, the group trotted out of the castle grounds. Devin was riding a strong black stallion while Jenna was riding a calm white mare, Dawson was riding a kind brown pinto stallion, Conor was riding a patient gray stallion, and Jenna's parents were both riding a pair of bay horses. Jenna rode side by side with Devin. When he tugged on the reins for the horse to go forward Shadow's constant movement made him rock from side to side as though he were on an unsteady boat out at sea. Jenna reached for his elbow again, her horse moving neck and neck with his. "You're trying too hard for control. Don't fight her movement, move as he does."
"Easy for you to say. I have the grace of a nearsighted goose," Devin said.
"Trust me," implored Jenna.
Devin exhaled a large amount of air he didn't know he was keeping in his lungs and tugged the reins, making the horse move forward. He rocked side to side at first, but did as Jenna told him. Not to fight the movements, but to move in rhythm with the hose. It felt strange at first, but once Devin relaxed, paying attention to Shadow's breathing he slowly found his grove. He kept staring at the horse's neck which made him anxious so instead, he focused on the path ahead. Jenna was still riding close by, smiling in encouragement, and Devin took in the fresh forest air.
The winds were particularly strong today, carrying the scent of pine and mint leaves from across the forest. The leafs spun and twirled around them like dancers performing for an unplanned crowd. Before Devin knew it he was riding the horse with little issue.
Devin chuckled. "Nothing gets by you, does it?"
Jenna shrugged and hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm. Maybe it's a gift. Or maybe I'm actually physic."
"Really? Can you see my future, Madam Jenna?" Devin laughed when Jenna positioned her two front fingers over her forehead and hummed as though she were having a vision and spoke in a dramatically ominous voice. "I foresee, in the near future... a tree branch."
"Wait, what?" It was quickly followed by a loud "Smack!" "Ow!" Devin took a tree branch to the face and he almost fell over. Miraculously, he didn't fall off his horse.
Devin spit the leaves out of his mouth and Jenna started laughing at the sight, her eyes shining with amusement. "I tried to warn you!" Jenna's mother looked over her shoulder and laughed softly at the sight of it.
The group strolled through town, with several people stepping aside for them. Jenna explored the sea of faces, hoping to find anyone who struck her as familiar, but everyone felt like a stranger to her. Most of the townspeople stared at her with looks that ranged from surprise to intrigued, muttering whispers amongst each other. Jenna heard one villager comment about her hair and eyes, saying they were beautiful and foreign. She didn't know how to respond to that.
A group of young girls stared at Jenna, some with envy while others gave her looks of admiration, wishing they had her looks and flawless skin. The looks she received from the young men were less divisive. They stared with widened eyes and mouths opened ajar, some even winked and flexed their muscles which reminded her of other guys. She rolled her eyes at the sight and looked away, much to Devin's amusement.
The children's reactions were more pleasant.
They waved and and smiled with innocent enthusiasm. A few elderly villagers and younger people were also friendly, so she wasn't met with suspicion everywhere she went. Her heart swelled when she saw an elderly couple sitting on a bench. The husband gifted his wife a rose.
The Trader's Market was more energetic than Jenna expected. There were people coming to and from various shops and stands to sell a variety of items like handcrafted jewelry, plates, and pottery, some being made right there next to the stands as a crowd of people watched the artists at work. Jugglers entertained the locals and visitors, minstrels playing on their lutes, accordions, and pipes. The music was infectious, pulling Jenna to join in the group of people who got up to dance in the town square.
People were selling cooked meat and deep-fried kabobs on sticks, cooked fish sliced up and served with lemon at an outdoor restaurant, fresh berries being squeezed into wine for the grownups and juice for the children, and of course sugary treats like caramel apples, pies, ice cream, and bars of chocolate, some molded into the form of animals like dogs, horses, and bears. A few were shaped like dragons or griffins, and even bunny rabbits. Jenna's stomach grumbled as she took in the smell. Every aroma intermixing in a way that made her hunger grow with each breath. Luckily for her, the three boys shared her sentiment. Her mother paid for their meals while she and the rest of the trading party spread out to check out the marketplace. Jenna was amazed by how good the food tasted. The chicken was delicious and the ice cream they were offered was addictively sweet.
Naturally, Dawson had the waiter bring jelly tarts for dessert, but Devin suggested to Jenna to have a cupcake. which were said to be just as good, if not better than jelly tarts. Dawson was insulted by this claim for nothing could eve be as good as jelly tarts. When the pastry arrived Jenna could understand Devin's opinion. It was in the color of vanilla and has white frosting sprinkled with blue, it's like a small cake in the size of a teacup.
When a group of minstrels pulled out their instruments and started playing some songs in the marketplace. As the afternoon went by, the duo was having the time of their lives. Dancing, trying delicious treats, drawing pictures with chalk on the ground, buying some souvenirs.
From the light rhythmic pounding of the drums, the sensuous sound of the violin, the whistling of the pan-pipe, the merry strumming of the lute, it spun around her body, pulling her feet forward. Whether it was her own doing or the music taking its hold on her, Jenna didn't care. The group of people faded from her mind's eye, becoming colorful blurs as she spun, her arms moving with the grace and smoothness of a swan's wings and she glided across the floor like a spirit.
The audience was enthralled by the girl's graceful movements. It didn't look like a traditional dance of any sort. It didn't look like any form of dancing known to anyone. It was new and fresh and beautiful. The best part was, the girl was beaming from ear to ear, laughing and giggling, her melodic voice reaching the ears of everyone present, infecting everyone. The children giggled and tried to mimic her movements. Jenna saw this and encouraged the children to join her.
Jenna harmonized to the music.
"Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings.
The world, for once, in perfect harmony.
With all its living things."
The minstrels almost stopped their playing and the villagers were frozen in place. The girl's voice was fairer than any angel in the heavens. A number of possible theories bloomed amongst the villagers, wondering if she was either a professional singer or a lady of wealthy upbringing for how could anyone possess a voice as professional as hers and not have had years upon years of practice? Yet, she didn't carry herself as a person of wealth. She danced with children, young men, young ladies, and the elders. Anyone she saw was dying to join the dance, but was too self cautious to do so. But Devin watched her nervously and sadness.
"So many things to tell her.
But how to make her see,
The truth about my past? Impossible!
She'd turn away from me."
She noticed Devin standing near the snack table, clapping his hands and taping his feet, but not joining in the dance. Jenna invited the handsome boy to partake, but he awkwardly declined.
"He's holding back, he's hiding.
But what, I can't decide.
Why won't he be the king I know he is.
The king I see inside?"
With one push, Devin tumbled onto the center of the dance by an unknown villager by accident. Jenna shot the villager a death glare as he was dragged away by some random village girl. He couldn't keep up with the fast paste movements. He managed to politely escape the village girl who went on to dance with another villager.
"Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings.
The world, for once, in perfect harmony."
But, before he could say another word, Jenna showed up, her eyes sparkling when she saw him. Devin gulped when Jenna stood before him. She gave the black-haired boy a small curtesy and Devin, by sheer instinct, gave an elegant bow. In a flash, Jenna took Devin by the hand and pulled him into the dance. "Um... Are you sure you want to dance with me?"
"Come on, it's easy," replied Jenna with a bright smile. "Don't fight the rhythm, just go with it."
Devin still wasn't so sure. He couldn't dance with so many villagers watching. Jenna took his left arm and Devin was half-sure she was about to pull him into a waltz.
"With all its living things.
Can you feel the love tonight?"
This was the usual formation for the dance, one hand in hers and the other around her waist, but Jenna instead folded his right arm to his stomach. The two froze for a moment, their faces mere inches apart. Jenna gently pulled back, shyly biting her lower lip while Devin bashfully looked away, his cheeks tainted red.
"You needn't look too far.
Stealing through the night's uncertainties."
Jenna danced in a circle around Devin at an even paste to allow him to follow. He attempted to mirror her movements, but nearly tripped a couple of times and his foot almost caught in his ankle. Jenna didn't seem bothered by it and she admired Devin's determination to try and decipher the secret to her dance. Devin nearly fell again, but found his balance when his hand landed on Jenna's. With their intertwined fingers held high they moved in a circle as the music played.
"Love is where they are."
Her smile was so sweet it made Devin's earlier hesitations melt away. He chose to focus on the girl in front of him, the multitude of faces blurred behind her as the music came to its ending. His confidence grew with every breath and he pulled Jenna towards him. She let out a surprised yelp, but quickly relaxed in his arms. He spun her a couple of times and Jenna was rendered speechless.
The audience watched in silent awe as the handsome boy danced with the beautiful girl, already commenting on what a handsome couple they made. Devin was confident enough to place his hands around Jenna's waist to spin her, more than once their hands found each other and with every touch Jenna felt what could only be described as an electric pulse prickling her fingers. Yet, she never pulled away.
When the duo stopped dancing together, they both received a surprising applause and great praises from the villagers and the minstrels while Devin gave a red rose and a braided cord bracelet with three green gemstones to Jenna, in which she graciously accepted.
A Year Later (aka present day):
Over the days, as well as the weeks that followed, Jenna was suckered into working with her fellow Greencloaks of Greenhaven Castle, where she did her best to learn all about them. She has managed to form tight bonds with the Greencloaks and Destiny. The Keeper's reputation of defeating many dangerous Conquerors, securing lost talismans, and helping her fellow Greencloaks spread like wildfire throughout Erdas. Her bond is Destiny is one of the best that anyone has ever seen. It's as if one knew what the other was thinking without saying a word.
At Greenhaven Castle, Jenna could be seen listening to Mustela in front of his trading post, learning about her newest mission.
"They finally let me send you on one of these talisman quests!" Mustela said to her with grim pride. "Briggan's Silver Wolf is in Eura, but something's different this time."
"Any giant possessed beasts again?" Jenna asked him curiously.
"Lenori didn't see an enslaved animal in her vision," admitted Mustela, uncertain. "She saw a boy wrapped in shadow. What could that mean?"
"One way to find out is to find out." Jenna patted Destiny's head before she thanked him and took off for their next trip.

Torrents of rain poured down from the stormy gray sky in the Euran forests of the great Granite Hills. The raindrops sounded like pebbles hitting the grassy ground. Dark gray storm clouds swirled in the sky, flickering with lightning and rumbling with thunder.
Hiking to the center of Granite Hills was Jenna and her beloved spirit animal by her side. She has on a mask covering her mouth, so that only her eyes could be seen. They were both searching for the Silver Wolf of Briggan for today's mission. The two of them have both climbed a huge number of stairs to see an amazing sighting. Shimmering pools of water surrounded a collection of ruins — the remains of structures that had clearly once formed the perimeter of a moon-shaped building. A gushing, marvelous waterfall reflected the light of a faintly visible sun. It was peaceful and supernatural. Jenna knew that the past Greencloaks were the ones who had built these ruins in the Granite Hills to honor Briggan's sacrifice and legacy after the First Devourer War, only the Greencloaks of Eura blood were allowed to come here.
As the sun started to set, the pair walked along a path that led up from the Temple of Briggan to the edge of the caldera. Destiny's energy was boundless — Jenna had managed to keep up with her, both of them walked side-by-side. They soon arrived to a large platform at the top of the hill.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the caldera that spread out in front of them. It's an enormous circular crater filled with sparkling blue water. She gasped. The caldera was a miracle of nature. The clear blue water darkening in the waning afternoon light. Something about it reminded her of the moon.

But standing at the other side of the platform was a familiar boy around her age. He has brown hair and his skin is lighter than hers is. But what caught her attention was his eyes, which were silver as the full moon in a stormy night. His posture is proud and straight — a posture of a true leader. His leather armor is of the Conquerors and a dark brown cloak flowed behind him. He was holding a strong sword in his hand while standing by his side was a growling female black panther.
"So, you're the legendary Keeper, huh?" The young Conqueror said to her mockingly. "You're never going to take the talisman from me and Elda."
That's when a sudden battle has begun between the two of them. The young Conqueror against the young Greencloak, one of their spirit animals is bonded by force while the other is bonded by nature. He was a strong warrior, but so was she and her bond with Destiny is more alive than his. Their blades clashed against each other, steel against steel and enemy against enemy. Destiny's agility and strength is a strong match against Elda's abilities.
In the midst of the fight, Jenna had managed to make some room between the duo. But at the same time, Jenna's hood blew off her head from the stormy wind as she pulled down her mask from her mouth to breath the rain whilst revealing herself to him in the fierce light of the brief lightning.
"Jenna?" The young Conqueror's voice shook with emotion as he gazed at her, fresh tears flowing from his eyes. "Y-You're the Keeper?"
She gazed at him in confusion. "Do I know you?" Jenna flinched when she felt a pain in her head, but she ignored it to focus on her battle.
With an angered and heartbroken cry, the familiar young Conqueror charged towards Jenna. She quickly countered it by using the combined power of her bond with Destiny. It caused him to fall down roughly a little away from her.
She would never forget the look on his face as he lost consciousness. It was only there for a moment — the utter shock, the hurt, and betrayal — then he closed his eyes and collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. Jenna watched as Elda disappeared from her sight and into a tattoo on him. She knelt down beside him, lightly resting her hands on his chest. His chest rose and fell steadily. He was still alive, still breathing, but he was knocked unconscious by her. He remained unconscious as she quietly took the wolf talisman off him and wrapped it around her neck.
Jenna was confused by the situation, even as Destiny joined her side and she petted her spirit animal. Does she know him? Half of her memories have been lost to the shipwreck. Why did he looked so heartbroken?
But most importantly, why does she feel like something has disappeared between them?