Illuminating the Vine ://: JHS

Nix the Wise and Hobi the Kind

The vision she was shone was a dark sight to behold.

For as young as Nix was, she was not scared, but saddened. She saw flashes of gold and blue, two celestial bodies spherical and beautiful in natural shape.

Moon and Sun.

Then, shifted to another place was a beautiful mansion. Floating in the expanse of space, but held to place. She was inside a parlor, her pads of her feet curling and shifting on the fluffed carpet. The sensation new and friendly, but strange compared to the soft grass.

There was a boy dressed in suit of gold in the center of the room, his back turned to her. His shoulders shaking as he cried. Nix heard the sounds of despair without seeing them herself. Another young man of with hair of white and a billowing robe of silver came into the room. His eyes locked onto the gold boy in the center of the room. His skin pale under the blue light of the room.

"Nothing's the same. The council calls for your immediate removal. Everyone has voted in that favor. Everyone, except me," and the pale boy's hand appeared out of his sleeves and took the golden boys hand in his own.

But the golden boy ripped his hand out of the other, and turned around. He looked right through Nix, because she wasn't even there. But to her, she felt like he could see her. It was just a suspicion that wasn't real. But she had it in her mind always.

"The Gate, Hobi! That Gate is the reason. You know that we can't let beings of that kind into our home. Who knows what she could have done," silver robe shook head head. "I know your heart was in the right place, I could see the pity you took in that poor creature. She was benevolent, but the council doesn't see it that way. They calling for banishment."

Golden boy said nothing, just clenching his hands.

Then a word.

"Fine. Cast me out. I never wanted anything to do with this anyway. The sun I am, but apparently benevolent I cannot be," he spat out and pushed past the silver boy.

Nix followed the golden boy, looking back at the solemn boy in white and silver. Like a melting snowflake he slowly disappeared from the vision.

Nix awoke.

A deep breath, and the sting of sunlight into her eyes. The irony of the situation made her want to laugh, but there were more important tasks ahead. She sat up and looked around at her garden. Peaceful and quiet emotions passed through the glenn. She knew what she had to do.

Running back to her cottage, Nix found the Sun laying on her couch, his eyes closed and a single tear falling from his eye. One drop, one name.

Nix ran a hand over his face then wiped the tear away with her thumb, and the Sun awoke. His eyes peering into hers.

"Your name is Hobi. You are the sun. You were banished, but you are here with me. I'll keep you safe. Stand up." She spoke in clipped sentences. Her hands held his arms and lifted him up to stand above her.

"Hobi?," His eyes widened.

"You will re-learn your past in time, Hobi. For now, you will learn from the plants as I did. You will find a truth about yourself, and I promise that you will grow," Nix's small voice became deeper in seriousness. Her brown eyes narrowing in a shrouded way, concern and stability emanating from her words.

~

Nine years came and passed, Nix growing older and stronger with each coming year. Each year, gathering more wisdom with every passing season. Hobi learned and grew as well. Not only was his past given back to him, but he learned something completely new while learning from child of the earth.