Book of Ellagar

Chapter 28: Shells

The sun had risen twice since the battle, casting long shadows over the swamp. Ellagar sat at the base of the Mother Tree, her eyes vacant and her heart heavy. The once vibrant swamp was now eerily quiet, the usual chorus of frogs and insects replaced by an oppressive silence.

Thelara's spirit hovered nearby, her presence a comforting yet bittersweet reminder of their loss. "Ellagar," she whispered, her voice gentle yet filled with sorrow. "We need to move forward, but I know it's hard."

Ellagar nodded absently, her mind replaying the final moments of the battle. She could still see Ardvek's determined face and hear his brave words: 'Brother, remember who we are. I come to join you.'

She whispered hoarsely, "I can't believe they're gone," her voice breaking. "My younglings... how do we go on without them?"

Thelara's spirit pulsed with a soft, warm light. "They are not truly gone, Ellagar. I can still feel them, as if they are merely sleeping. We have other tasks as well, my dearest. The acorn must be planted soon. Something calls me back to the place we first met the Mother Tree."

Ellagar looked up, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Sleeping? Do you really think we can bring them back? And yes, let's return to our island. I should thank the Pixie Queen. And maybe..."

Thelara's spirit glowed brighter, reflecting Ellagar's growing hope. "I know we can. Their spirits are strong, and I can feel them. We must find a way to awaken them."

Ellagar took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You're right," she said, though her heart still ached. "They will find us when the time is right."

As they sat in the shadow of the Mother Tree, a gentle breeze rustled its leaves, as if offering its own form of comfort. Ellagar closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the swamp wash over her. The scent of damp earth and late-blooming autumn flowers filled the air, a reminder of the life that still thrived around them. But as her gaze fell upon the pile of dust and debris that was once the black dragon, a surge of anger welled up inside her.

"That vile creature," she spat, her voice trembling with rage. "It took my nestlings away from me. I won't let whatever remains of her rest here. We need to do something about it, Thelara. I need to do something about it!"

Thelara's spirit glowed brighter, reflecting Ellagar's determination. "Yes, Ellagar. Let's wash away her memory."

Ellagar stood, her resolve hardening. She raised her arms to the sky, feeling the energy of the earth beneath her feet and the air around her. She whispered an incantation, her voice steady and filled with purpose. The winds began to stir, responding to her call. They started as a gentle breeze, rustling the leaves of the Mother Tree, but quickly grew stronger, swirling around her in a powerful vortex.

Ellagar's hair whipped around her face as she directed the winds towards the remains of the black dragon. Her heart pounded with a mix of anger and sorrow, each gust of wind carrying her pain and determination. The gusts picked up the dust and debris, lifting it into the air. She could feel the resistance of the dark energy, but she pushed harder, her determination unwavering.

Tears streamed down her face as she called upon the rains. She extended her hands towards the heavens, summoning the clouds to gather. The sky darkened, and a low rumble of thunder echoed through the swamp. Fat raindrops began to fall, slowly at first, then faster and heavier. The rain poured down in torrents, washing over the land.

The combined force of the wind and rain battered the remains of the black dragon, dissolving the dust and debris. The dark energy that lingered was swept away, carried off by the relentless storm. Ellagar stood firm, her eyes glowing with the power of the elements she commanded. Her chest heaved with the effort, but she felt a sense of release, as if the storm was washing away her grief and anger.

As the last remnants of the black dragon were washed away, Ellagar's eyes widened in astonishment. Where the pile of debris had been remained a large blue and white egg, glowing with a pulsing white light. She stared in wonder, her breath catching in her throat.

"The final egg," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "Thelara, the final egg!"

Ellagar ran to the egg—it was bigger than any egg she had seen before. As she reached out to touch it, she felt a familiar presence emanating from within. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the touch of Ardvek's spirit.

"Thelara," she called out, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and disbelief. "I can feel Ardvek's presence inside the egg!"

Thelara's spirit pulsed with excitement. "I sense Verak in the egg as well! This is why they are sleeping. Ardvek used the time energy to reset things."

Ellagar knelt beside the egg, her heart swelling with a mix of hope and determination. As she placed her hands gently on the egg's surface, she felt a familiar voice in her head. Grandmother had returned, gloating, "My child, I do think you fixed what you broke. Let's try this again, shall we? Look after them. I have a prophecy to write."

Ellagar smiled through her tears, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "We will protect you," she whispered to the egg, her voice filled with resolve. "We will bring you back, my younglings."

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the swamp, Ellagar felt a sense of peace and hope. The Mother Tree stood tall and strong, its energy restored. The swamp, once silent and oppressive, began to come alive again with the sounds of nature.

Ellagar hugged the egg, feeling its vibrant energy. She grinned as she held the acorn. "Come on, Thelara, let's find Sageclaw and go home to our island and plant this acorn. We have a nest to build and some clutchlings to hatch."

The End.