~.~
Safe, protected, honest. These are the words that I desperately wish to use to describe my world. These are the words only the young ones use, as they are protected from the truth. Every day, new threats are presented, but the elders feel that it's safer for the young to remain oblivious.
We are Shifters; beings who are connected with their spirit animal and can harness their power and form. Our world has been connected to animal souls for centuries, these connections are called the 'Spirit Cords'.
A connection is made and kept with the personality of the Shifter.
For instance, if a child is born with the gift of kindness and bravery they would be tied to an animal such as the Blue Jay.
A Shifter that lives shy and introverted may live life connected to a rabbit. No one gets to choose the spirits, in reality they choose us.
This is the world of the Shifters, known as the 'Safe haven.' It's said to be protected by the gods from any evil presence.
We live in huts and houses, simple but lovely, where the children can run carelessly across the fields in beautiful robes, where we can be safe. Or at least, this is what we are told. The government chooses what should be banned and learned. Only the Shifters of the government know that everyday soldiers come back harmed, and injured- and sometimes- dead.
Yet I am young and I know this, and I can see through their mind tricks and lies, though I still play dumb. When asked what I think of my homeland I simply answer, 'God has blessed me with this life, I am safe here under the watch of my superiors.' This sentence is always accepted with a simple nod and a 'Bless you child.'
I am not blessed. Our world isn't the only one out there. There is, of course, the human world, which we try to avoid. Some people are banished there, but that is only when the elders are feeling generous.
If someone is sentenced to death, they are banished to the 'Kurai ōkoku'or The Dark Kingdom.
This is the Vampiric land, ruled by a bloodthirsty king who seeks power.
This is what we are threatened by daily, and what haunts us at night, why we think of our lands as a safe haven. The Vampires hunt Shifters, killing them and their spirit animal with bloody weapons.
They don't just hunt us, they want to exterminate us. Their lands are polluted with evil and darkness. Vengeance is potent in the air, the ground is soaked in scarlet blood.
Their castle is pitch black like their withered trees. Our land is bright, cheerful, with plentiful fields of flowers and peaceful rivers that are lined with lavish green moss.
Our lands would be a great prize to their king; not only would he own two dimensions, but he would have the most holy land under his command.
As long as children like me stay away from their dimension we should be fine, right?
Wrong.
Our 3 dimensions are connected by one dimension: The Between. These lands are home to anyone, except Vampires. The Between is like a second home to us Shifters. It welcomes us, and protects us when needed.
If one wishes to teleport through dimensions, one must pass through The Between. Teleportation could only be accomplished by the strong. If a younger, less experienced one wishes to transport, he or she would have to be taken in with a superior who can pass through worlds. One cannot simply teleport whenever, to wherever they want. There are special points in the lands you must go to.
Most are hidden, like a roof. Simply flying or jumping into a special roof will make you teleport to another dimension that portal leads to.
Anyone without permission is not allowed near these areas; they are considered sacred and only travelers and traders may go through. That is, unless they send troops to the Kurai ōkoku.
This is my world. I live in the Safe haven observing everyday as if it were a story playing scene by scene in front of me. I may be silent, but a thousand thoughts run through my mind each day. I just don't understand how the others don't question their world like me.
They run aimlessly, chasing each other with flowers and sticks, laughing their childish laughter. They are dimwitted, but happy. Sometimes I am jealous of them.
I know what lies beyond here and am secretly worried for my life and others. I would give my knowledge of the worlds just to be like them. Happy. Carefree.
I rest my head on the palm of my hand as I observe the children my age running about. My friends play tag in a circle and sometimes glance over at me with a worried expression, but push away the thought of worry after seeing me smile at them.
They smile back and resume playing. My look became a bit saddened when they didn't notice how empty that smile really was.
I usually wonder what animal's spirit will be attracted to my soul and choose to link with me. What animal is curious, isolated, lonely, scared, and yet cheerful at the same time? There will be a time when I find out. You see, Shifters don't get to choose when they are linked.
It's sort of like puberty for Humans, it comes between the ages of eleven and sixteen. Once the spirits are linked, that's when the first Shift occurs. The Shifter's body will be shared by the animal spirit and will contort in different ways until the bones have rearranged themselves to be the animal.
It hurts, I have seen it. Families usually throw parties for their first Shifting. They cheer and chant while the new Shifter screams in pain and agony.
When the children in my class were told how the shifting occurs and how it will be, they were frightened and scared. They didn't want to be thrashing on the floor as their skin rubbed against their shrinking and growing bones. Kids do not wish to have their first shifting.
They shake and shiver, while sweat drips from their faces. While I was intrigued, the thought of any spirit choosing me for who I am made me happy.
The pain will be worth it when I look into the mirror and see something that's a new part of me. Not the shaggy pink hair tied back with two red ribbons, pale skin, a short and frail stature, and dark brown eyes. I would see something that isn't a part of Minian Gravel.
"Minian come play with us." Lilly chanted, her short blonde hair bobbing up and down as she jumped towards me. "Why would you want to sit and sulk when you could play with Lilly!" She grabbed my hands and softly pulled me out of my sitting position on the grass. I looked into her emerald eyes as she smiled. "Lilly wants to play with Minian!"
Giving her a small smile, I responded, "I would love to, but my mother and father don't want me to rough house with you guys."
Lilly's face went into a fake pout, "Aww, why not?"
I chuckled at her childish action, "They are afraid that I will get hurt."
"That is a part of life Mini. We will fall and cry. And love-"
"And die."
She gave a sad smile and nodded, "This is life."
I know Lilly. I agree with you. I thought. I have always been thought of as delicate, and fragile. Especially in the eyes of my parents.
A round rock can cut me, a drop of water can give me a cold. This is what they seem to think. Being the youngest of my class makes it seem like I need protection. I am ten years old, while my friends are eleven or twelve. Some are even thirteen and fourteen years old.
Most of my class has already been linked, and are a part of the Spirit Cord. Lilly was found to be linked to a deer. She shifted at night and her parents were so proud of her when she finally transformed.
The deer was probably attracted to her sweet and gentle ways. A motherly aura is always flowing from her. I can't help but be jealous of some of them. Maybe not some, like a boy who turned into a beetle.
But at least he was chosen. Being chosen by my animal will make this my safe haven. I will finally feel accepted, I will finally feel special. I know this isn't the first time someone has thought this.
There is Kentori Tio, fourteen years of age with silky black hair just touching her lower back, calm grey eyes and light skin. I know that she wants to be different too. Like me she is often found sitting alone, and like me, she hasn't been linked to an animal.
She is so mature, lady like, yet she can be so spiteful. That is what her parents told mine. No one really talks to her, but that's fine, because she doesn't talk to anyone else either.
I can tell she knows about everything I know, like the Vampires. I know that she can feel that something is going to happen.
Our Save Haven, the world we live in.
Something will happen, and it will be soon. This- this is what Kentori and I both know. Things will be different. Somehow, someday.
~.~
YOU ARE READING
Key to Safe Haven
Fantasy"Some lives are destined to have greatness. Some lives are Kept safe in a bubble by their loved ones, untouched, pure. But then there are some lives that are destined for something big. Something bigger then all of us. All the lies kept from us till...
