The Trials of the Elements

Chapter 6: The Earth Trial

Hope shook as she entered the portal one final time. This was the most difficult trial out of them all, and she wasn't exactly excited to find out what it was. However, looking at the circular clearing she felt calm and at ease once more.

"Are you ready for your final trial?" Said Valterra as it floated towards her.

"We'll see," Hope replied doubtfully.

"If you've come this far, you shall do fine," said the green orb calmly.

As it said this, it began to fly towards it's large evergreen oak tree. Once she had arrived, Hope couldn't help but feel small and insignificant standing next to the oak as it towered over her threateningly.

"For this trial, you will be tested not only on your physical strength but on your mental strength as well. I would wish you luck, but I can feel that after much struggling you shall prevail my child. Touch the hollow when you're ready." Valterra said warmly.

Taking in a deep breath, Hope slowly walked over to the huge trunk of the tree, and put out her hand and touched the lip of the hole. Suddenly a sun and a moon appeared in the sky and began cycling through day and night within mere seconds of each other. As it did so, a sudden gust of wind swept the area, causing any leaves, loose twigs or flowers to be blown away. The clearing around her seemed to grow enormously and the oak tree in front of her now made her seem a mere ant. The tree however was not the same. It's leaves looked brown and withered, and it's branches sagged and swayed dangerously in the wind. As the days and nights continued changing, the grass underneath her feet changed from it's luscious green to a flaky brown and yellow, the dirt became more dry and dusty as if something were sucking out any and all nutrients from the soil, and the sky became more and more bleak as each day passed. Suddenly the wind stopped, and the sun and moon vanished once again, thus causing the sky to turn a dark grey instead of blue. Hope gasped in horror at her new surroundings. From where she was standing, Hope could just about see the cracked ground near Llyn's tree, with not a single drop of water to be found. There were barely any flowers left on the orchid tree, but from what was left, the blue flowers were wilted and seemed almost black in colour. Turning to Isaure's birch tree, she could immediately see that the branches were bare with no leaves dancing around it. The branches also seemed weak and flimsy, and the black striped bark looked like it had been ripped away by force. Looking towards Nuria's tree she couldn't see the bright red, orange and yellow leaves dancing like one large fire, instead she saw dirty brown and yellow leaves covering it's branches. The trunk was no longer ash in colour, but a strange murky brown. The clearing no longer looked tranquil and welcoming, it looked lifeless - it looked dead. Hope swallowed, she was Jack in the land of the giants. The air was still, and no other sound could be heard except for her breathing.

What happened?! Hope wondered frantically.

Looking up at the towering tree, the Thumbelina-sized girl looked for some from of sign or instruction from it. But of course, she found nothing. Deciding that there was no where to go but up, Hope walked towards the oak tree. As her right hand connected with the tree, she shivered because of how wet and rotten it was. Ignoring her repulsion, Hope began to climb the dead bark. Every now and then her hand or foot would slip because of how weak some of the bark was under her weight. By the time she reached the hollow of the tree, well over an hour had passed. Hope breathed out a sigh of relief as she sat down, as her muscles felt tired and sore. With her throat dry and itchy, the girl let out a series of strangled sounding coughs. Leaning her head back on the edge of the hollow, Hope looked sadly at her cupped hand on her lap.

If only you held water instead of air...

As she thought this, the gill-like markings on her neck began to glow a radiant blue, and as the girl looked down at her arm she could see a bright blue substance travel through her veins and out into the palm of her hand, creating a clear liquid. With eager eyes, Hope quickly brought the palm of her hand to her mouth and took a long drink. The water felt cool and refreshing as it quenched her thirst. After she had finished, the girl's eyes grew wide in awe.