A Chance at Magic

Home at last

 "Anya?! Is that you??" Mrs. Taflin managed to spit out after we hugged in silents except for my sobs, which I attempted and failed to control. I could notanswer her so I simply nodded and gestured to Yelix.

"Yelix! His mother will be glad he is alright. She worried greatly when he went missing in the fire, Everyone thought he died. You as well, I did not tell them where you had gone." She began, "Yinlel, did you happen to see him as you left? He has not been seen since that night, His father is terribly worried that he died, but no body was found, although many were burned beyond recognition."

I held back more sobs, I knew I would have to face his family, tell them that their son is gone, stuck on Earth because of my carelesness. I dodged her question.

"where are the others? Is my father alright?" I asked her. She took my hand without another word and led me to the others.

They were not far from where I had found Mrs. Taflin. They were not living well. Many were Ill and the makeshift houses they had created were falling apart. It pained me to see them like this. They all seemed to be together in the middle of the area, Markara and Marx were floating around and working with the more ill or ingured families.

I could not help but scan the clearing for the face that mattered most to me at that moment, My father. I could not find him. A few eyes shifted to me. I turned to Mrs. Taflin.

"Where is ... my mother? shouldn't she be here... with the others?" I asked.

"She is with your father" Mrs. Taflin informed me. Oh ya that is right, whithout me around my mother actully loves my father.

"Oh, wait... it he ok?!"

"Not for long..." Mrs. Taflin said in a sollem voice her usually harsh grey eyes soft and appologetic.

My heart dropped to my shomach, and my stomach dropped to my feet. My father could not die, I loved him. He was the only one I had left that had remained with me. Even Kicha my best friend had not. Then it hit me and I felt like the worlds stupidest person. I HAD THE MOONSTONES! duh!

I did not even say a word to Mrs. Taflin as I ran to my fathers tent. do not ask me how I knew which tent was his because not even I am sure how.

I ignored Mrs.Taflins shouts for me to stop. I ignored the sneers and glares I recieved from the villagers that did not know what I contained in the earth bag. I ignored the world as I ran to the tent. I would not loose another person. Not now and hopefully not ever.

"Anya!" cried out the harsh, surprised Feminin voice. it was not my mother being harsh to me, it was simply the type of person she was, everyone knew it. She commanded power everywhere she went evern from the natural sharpness of her voice.

I had to be honest, I did not like the sound of my name on her tongue. I knew she was the one who gave me the name, but I felt as if she had no right to use it. I ignored her as I kneeled down next to my fragil father.

His cheeks were hollowed and his breathing haggared. his eyes seemed hollow as they watched my not seeming to actually see anything. His skin was very very pale and almost translucent. It was frightening in every way, like my worst nightmare.

"Papa...." I said gently not sure what to say. I quickly pulled out the smallest stone from the bag. It began to glow instantly. I did not know what needed to be done with the stone I just pressed it into his hand.

He slowly closed his hand around the stone and brought his hand to his heart. He looked so frail I feared his arm would snap from the weight of the stone.

Soon the stone glew lighter and lighter and as started to glow more it shrank in size as if being absorbed into his skin. He let out a startled gasps as his once glazed over eyes cleared up and he truley looked at me.

"Anya...my Anya..." he said as he sat up hugging me, his hands now empty and void of the stone. he was crying as I hugged him back.

"My beautiful girl! I was afraid I had lost you forever in that fire! I am glad to know you were only saving the whole tribe!!" He chuckles through his tears.

"I love you Papa." I told him though tears of my own.

"I love you more Meme." He told me as I pulled away.

My mother was watching us akwardly as if she was stunned by the scene before her.

"A...An..." she began before I stopped her.  I simply shook my head. I did not want to hear what she had to say, not now. I would at some point but I could not deal with it now.

At the moment I had something more important to to. I stood and nodded to my father with a warm smile as I left the tent. I started at Yelix and healed him of his illness. I tracked down Markara and gave her the bag. She looked the least affected by the illness and fire, though oddly she was the oldest in the tribe.

"I knew you would do it" She said with a smile when she opened the glowing bag.

"Thank you for believing  me." I smiled back warmly at the woman who was a best friend and almost like a mother to me.

"Of course Anya, after all my Prophesies always come true, Meme Magick" She smiled at me.

"Daughter Magic? " I asked for clarification on her calling me Meme Magick. Her only responce was her pointing to my necklace, the one the valley keeper gave me.

"Yes dear one, you are the daughter of magic, blessed by the keeper and by the gods that watch over us.  You will save the tribe."

"Have I not done so already?" I asked her.

"Not yet dear one, not yet, there is still much to come" Markara told me with a sad smile before setting out to had out stones.

                                                                                       END BOOK ONE.