River Horse

Chapter Ten

AAAAAAAAH I'M SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING FOR SO LONG :'( I AM ASHAMED. Especially after getting so many awesome comments from people telling me to keep updating... I'M HORRIBLE!

School's been crazy, and I'm in a musical, so I've been just a tad distracted, but I shall strive to be a better writer, and not forget to update. I will also begin to dedicate chapters to people who leave me nice comments, since those really make my day :)

Anyway, love you all, and enjoy!!!!!

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The Land Walker cannot enter!

Why not? Abhainn gave us permission to let her stay!

We were standing at the entrance to a cave, decorated with carvings of flowing water and kelpies in battle. I was engaged in a heated debate with a nervous apprentice Shaman, who was refusing to let Susana in with us. She was cowering behind Diana, her tail flicking back and forth nervously.

The apprentice lifted his head high and in a snobby tone, said I am my master's favorite student. You do not want to disrespect me, as I will become the High Shaman someday. Leave the Land Walker in the forest, where she belongs. This ceremony is for our kind and our kind only.

I snorted in derision and stepped forward, my tail lashing. The day a skittish weakling like you is given the title of High Shaman is the day that all kelpies will drown themselves.

Kelpies can't drown, he said defiantly, but I could see his ego crumbling.

That's how desperate they'll all be, Tyson said, moving forward to stand beside me. His bulky muscles and scars intimidated the apprentice into stumble back.

Fine! The apprentice whined, moving aside. But if my master is angry, I'm blaming you!

Diana strutted past him and said in a patronizing tone, Now now, let's not be immature about it. The end of her tail flicked his nose as she sauntered by. I let out a snort of a amusement and followed her.

The cave was lit on the inside with a green-blue glow, coming from a huge pool in the center. Hundreds of kelpies were already crowded around the edge. I could sense the nervous energy coming off of them in waves. This was the most important ritual of the year, the seeing off of spirits.

When kelpies die, a piece of their soul attaches itself to their closest blood relative. This day, every year, the souls were freed and allowed to move on from this world. If they didn't and stayed here for too long, it could be dangerous for the kelpie that they linger in. Possession, sickness of the mind, anything could happen.

"What's going on?" Susana whispered, shifting into a human. Instead of answering, I just nudged her and gave her a meaningful look. Meekly, she shifted back into a unicorn.

We stopped by another apprentice shaman, who snorted disapprovingly at Susana, but didn't comment on her presence. Instead, he said, You must all be purified before you enter the sacred pool. Human-tainted water lingers in your fur.

Tyson glowered at him and stamped his foot. Sensing an outburst, Diana stepped in front of him and calmly inquired, Why now? We have never been required to do this before.

The apprentice glanced toward his master before murmuring into our minds, There are many more spirits here than there have been since the Elemental Wars. I shivered as he mentioned the last part. The Cursed Wars. The Elemental Wars. The Wars of Balance. It had many names. It was a war between the four elements; earth, fire, air, and water. They only stopped when an entirely new element was created; spirit. The undead rose from the grave and threatened to end the violence with force. Ironically, the threat worked and the four elemental races sought peace.