Spirit Of The Centaur

A Mothers Touch

Fauna's P.O.V

*A lyre plays softly in the background* 

"What? Where am I?" I am greeted by a bright light, that slowly becomes dimmer and more centaur-like. It's a woman, a young woman, only in her late twenties at most. Her hair is dark and curly like mine, her eyes a dazzling hazel, and her skin and coat are a beautiful chestnut brown. She is very beautiful and seems so familiar almost like I've met her before. 

"You're in a dream, my dear," She says softly, a gentle smile shadowing her calming eyes.

"A dream? What is this place? I don't recall it from anywhere, everything is so bright and foggy. And who are you? Do I know you?"

"You know of me, we have met, but we have never spoken to each other. My name is Aria, but you have never heard my name. This place is where I reside. If you look you'll see it's the camp, but not as you know it. I have come to show you something. A decision. Your decision. What you decided will impact the future of this land. I cannot show you the full extent of your decision as everything has still yet to be made clear by fate herself. Just know that the fate of this land rests on your shoulders."

"Wait! Why me?  How could I possibly alter reality and choose the fate of this land?"

"You'll see". As she says this everything becomes brighter. The camp becoming clearer, all the huts and posts dolled with hydrangeas, roses, pansies and varies other flowers. Centauraki galloping around the camp, flowers in their tails and hair, wearing their best outfits. I look on into the camp and see Ash, standing there at the fire pit. Ready to throw the log into the fire. In our camp, we have a tradition of marriage. The participants each take a log which has been engraved with their ancestors' names going back 10 generations, it is also detailed with the family crests and other symbols important to the families and the camp. Not all camps do this however, some have water rituals, some with growing trees, or even hunting. He looks amazing. So happy. It then hits me. It's my wedding day. I look around my body to see I have flowers in my tail and hair and a traditional shawl (passed down from my mother). It's a beautiful pale blue with pink and white flowers sown in. 

"Fauna, there you are! Everyone's been looking for you. But you're here now so, and you do look so beautiful. Come on, get your log and throw it on the fire with Ash"  My father says. He takes my hand and leads me over to the fire pit. I grab my log. Look into my soon to be husbands eyes. Do I want to do this? I think I have to...

"Ash, son of Ixion and Nephele, do you promise to love Fauna and this land as you become a husband and Great Elder to this Tribe, and to always protect your kin?"

"Until fate takes us away and we are reborn"

"Fauna, daughter of Ixion and Nephele, do you promise to love Ash and this land as you become a wife and Great Elder to this Tribe, and to always protect your kin"

"Until fate takes us away and we are reborn" As soon as these words leave my lips, I am greeted by visions of my future with Ash. He becomes one of the great elders, we have kids, life looks easy. But then, I see something awful. There's no way for me to describe what is brought before me. I see pain and suffering incarnate. A foul beast that will reap this land and take every inch of beauty and life. I see my future centauraki, murdered before my eyes, not strong enough to protect them, Ash hung like the fruit upon a tree, ready to fall. I am horrified. Everyone is in grave danger. I see Fern trying her hardest to protect the forest from what is happening but to no avail. 

All of a sudden I am brought back to just before saying my vows. I look around everything seems so cheery and happy. I have to warn everyone, take them to a safer place. 

"Ash, son o-", my father begins.

"Wait! Something bad is going to happen. I can't quite explain, but we need to leave this place, it isn't safe, we'll all die if we stay he-" I yell before being interrupted by my father.

"What in fate's name are you talking about Fauna? This is outrages! How dare you speak out at your wedding just as we're doing the vows!" He is so upset, I think I can see tears welling up in his eyes.

"I've had a vision, and we are in grave danger, We have to leave this land, we are not safe."

"We can't just leave this land, it has a link to us, we can't leave. Our ancestors swore an oath to protect this land, there has never been such a premonition. The wise woman would have warned us."

"Would she? If she knew nothing could be done? If we are tied to this land and are unable to leave, why would she bother telling people of this fate if it truly is fate?" 

"You are out of line young lady. If you keep talking like this, then you are not welcome in this tribe. You can leave, but we can't. If you truly believe that this is real, then you will save yourself." This silences me. I never thought my father would act this way. I thought his number one priority was the safety of this tribe and the land we inhabit. But no, it's his pride. He doesn't want to believe me, but deep down he knows I'm right. If he doesn't want my help, then I shall help the others, Fern, Cliff and other creatures that live in this land. I shall save them. I then see myself trying to warn the others, but it's no use. Fern and Cliff believe me but Fern can't leave because as soon as she's far from her tree and stops protecting it she will die, so there is no hope for her, and Cliff is a merman and can't leave the lake, I offered to carry him but we both know I wouldn't be able to. Everything then fast forwards to the same infernal scene I saw previously. I don't know what to do. 

I am then taken back, but further, I am in the camp. Everything is fine again. This feels like a nightmare, and I don't know how to wake up. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see someone, someone who almost makes me forget everything. Misty. I find myself gliding over to her as if being pushed. She looks in my direction and smiles, that beautiful smile. All I can think about now is her and keeping that lovely smile on her face. 

"Oh hey, Fauna. You look beautiful, are you the betrothed?" She asks perplexed.

"Hey Misty, and no, some of the centauraki wanted to dress me up", I lied, I mean yes I am going to get married in a few minutes, but what if I choose a different path as all the others end up awful?

"Oh that's so cute, I love centauraki, I can't wait to have some someday, well not mine, I'd probably have to adopt." Her smile subsides slightly and she looks nervous.

"Why would you have to adopt?" I ponder out loud. Her expression intensifying. Wow, I am great at this.

"Oh, um, you see, I'm, um, into centauresses" Her eyes looking straight down, her hands fiddling with each other. Was that a bad thing at her old camp? I thought all centaurs were fine with homosexuality. Nephele knows I could be, I'm confused myself. 

I take on of her hands and hold it in mine. With my other hand, I hold under her chin and raise up so I can see her beautiful face. She has tears in her eyes. I'm guessing she doesn't really tell people. "Me too," I say back. Wait what am I saying? Am I? Oh, fate may judge me! I lean in and kiss her, she kisses back, her arms wrap around my neck, mine her back. Damn this feels so much better than kissing Ash. Her lips are so soft and tender. She pulls back for a second. Her eyes bright, a wide smile on her face. I've never seen her so happy, with that being said I haven't known her for very long.

"I've never done that before. That was way better than people say. I'm sorry. At my old camp, this wasn't exactly accepted. I never thought I could have something like this and not be thrown out immediately" Her eyes welling up with tears, her voice shakey. I hug her, and she hugs back.

I am then greeted with yet another premonition. But before I can see the whole picture, the familiar centauress from before comes back. I can hear the lyre again. 

"Well, have you made up your mind? I understand you saw less and less as we went through this, but this was all I could show you" She says softly 

"I think I have, but what will happen with Misty and me? I didn't get to see anything. It was if I was watching through a fog." I ask, she laughs lightly

"You'll see, eventually. I hope this helps. Before I leave you I must ask you a favor"

"Of course what is it?"

"Fauna, Fauna, FAUNA!"