The Forest Under the Sea

Chapter 1

There is a whole world full of magical creatures and extraordinary places. One ruled over by gods and goddesses that watch over every life form in it. The name of this world is lost to time immemorial , but we are one of the many species that call it home. Some call us fairy folk because of our fair skin and graceful movements, but we are far more peaceful than the fairy. Some call us ghosts because we are rarely seen and have fallen among legend, but I can assure you we are far more real than a fairy tail. Among our own people we are known as Elves, and we are the oldest race in existence. We have made our home within the Forest Under the Sea.

It is in the deepest depths of the ocean, a beautiful forest surrounded by a bubble of magic that shimmers like diamond. The water is as clear as the sky after a storm. The trees a lush green that is even more beautiful at night when the world glows. Flowers of all different colors, shapes, and sizes grow along the floor. The ground beneath your feet is a rust red and has the texture of dirt. The Forest Under the Sea is a whole world hidden within a world.

Now there are some essential facts you need to know about us. I'll just make a list for you, oh wait I already did, hahaha. Here you go:

1. All elves can use magic like it is an extension of ourselves.

2. Elves very rarely eat meat because having the ability to hear the animals thoughts and know their feelings makes us a little upset to take their life.

3. We are the strongest species on our planet and we have Seikatsu, our god of life and joy, to thank.

4. We have the ability to bond with any species on the planet. When we do, it is a pact between us and them that we will protect each other no matter what along with helping to protect the others people.

5. We are the guardians of our world.

Well there you have it, plain and simple, the basics of Elves. Now you are going to be following around my granddaughter, Kanashimi. She is a very special girl that has a long and harsh path ahead of her. She isn't quite fully an elf, but shhh you can't tell her that okay. She will have to figure that out herself. Promise me you wont tell her..... I mean it. -Looks at you sternly- Good thank you. Well here you go off on your adventure.

Oh wait I completely forgot to give you this -hands you a small round sapphire orb- when you see that my granddaughter is in great danger break this and it will help you both in a way that you can't even begin to comprehend. -kisses your forehead- You be safe now little one.

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"Come on Yanagi one more push she is almost here," the  nurse maid says as she helps Yanagi give birth. Pushing as hard as she can Yanagi's body shutters and releases the child into the world. With a loud cry the baby breathes her first breath of air and a cry of joy comes from her mother. But when the nurse maid sees the child, she cringes and gasps in surprise. The child's hair is as blue as coral, and when she opens her eyes to take her first look at the world the nurse maid looks back at the child in revulsion. Her eyes are as red as freshly spilled blood.

"This is no child," she says holding the baby away from her. "It is a demon. Why would you allow yourself to give birth to such a beastly creature?"

With a cry of alarm Yanagi reaches for her child, but is too weak to move. When she does catch sight of the child in the nurse maid's hands she gasps in horror, then her face turns to stone and her voice is as cold as ice. "Get that thing away from me, and destroy it."

A low growl fills the room. The nurse maid turns to the door to see a wolf padding over the threshold. Halfway across the room, a flash blinds everyone present. When their vision clears, in the wolfs place, there is a beautiful woman with silver hair and eyes the color of coal.

"Who are you, Okami, to walk in here were you are not welcome?" Asks the nurse maid putting enough venom in the title to show her apparent hatred of her kind.

***

Okay so you are probably sitting there trying to figure out what the hell an Okami is. To put it simply, they are Elves that can walk as animals. But this particular one is an Akami, an animal that can walk as an Elf. And she is pissed.

***

"You should watch your tone little Elf, and stop insulting me. I am Akami and nothing like you. Besides I am here on behalf of the gods. If you kill that child you will release the wrath of the dragon's gods down upon your heads. Whether you like it or not you are to raise the child to adulthood. Not that I give a damn either way. I'm just the messenger."

Silently she takes the child and holds her out to her mother. "Will you not accept the child that came from your loins?"

Hissing, she spits at the Akami's feet and says, "That demon is no child of mine, it is a trick of the gods. Get that beast away from me."

Turning to the room she asks, "Will anyone here take care of the child?"

The innocent child is reaching out for someone, anyone to hold her. Her stomach is cramping with pain and she is crying out desperately for her mother to hold her.

Out of the shadows a willowy old woman steps forward, "I will care for my grandchild."

The Akami silently hands the crying girl to her grandmother and vanishes from the room. Cradling the girl to her bosom, she faces the rest of the room and says something that will haunt the girl for the rest of her life. "You will forever more be known as Kanashimi, Sorrow, and may the gods have mercy on you child for those you trust will betray you when you least expect it.."

Turning she leaves them all standing there in silence. As she walks through the village those around her move aside and bow their respects of the retired guardian. But she simply ignored them, her thoughts on her vision. Looking down at the girl she says, "I wish there was a way I could ease your suffering, little one. But as it stands you have a long and hard road ahead of you."

Kissing her brow Waizu enter her house and heads to a room for Kanashimi.

Because of their height Elvish homes are built into trees. Or more accurately they are the trees. Using their magic elves create their homes from the trunks of trees. The sing a song written by themselves and as they sing it their home is built. The child's grandmother's was sung from the trunk of an ancient oak. There are two floors, the top containing bedrooms, while the bottom consists of everything else.

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This is just a rough draft. Later on after I finish the book i will go back and edit along with add in more details. I would love feedback good and bad. Just don't be too harsh, please. Thanks for reading Have fun my little raptors.

EDITED