One night after another few days of travel I gathered the boys over a dinner House Gothle and I
prepared. Without holding anything back I told them my plans. "There is a pond. Legend says
that when one looks into its waters it reflect your true nature: good or evil. First thing in the
morning I'm setting out to find it." When I told them what I was going to do, all of their mouths
dropped open. "Skylar, we don't have time for this!", protested Jonathan. "It's important for us
to get to the sea!", added Henry. "That's why you all are going to continue on your way while I
go look for the pond. I'll meet back up with you later." "Skylar", said Hunter gently. "You said it
yourself the pond is a legend, it might not even exist." "I have to take that chance. After all we've
seen so far it must exist." "At least let me come with you", said Hunter. "No Hunter, I'll travel
quicker on my own. You need to stay with your brothers, we can't lose any more time. This is
about me and who I truly am inside. It has nothing to do with the rest of you." Puss came up and
rubbed against my leg. "No Puss, you have to stay here too. With me gone it will be up to you
and House Gothle to protect the boys with your magic." Puss let out a sad purr, but meowed his
understanding. "How will you even find this legendary pond?", asked Henry. I took out my
wand. "This wand was created by The Stag of Primavera. In the book I read about the pond,
apparently the goddess created it. The Stag created this wand, so therefore my connection to it
should help me find the pond. I cast an enchantment on it to glow brighter the closer I get.
Mitah said that I would be tested, perhaps this is what he meant." "It looks like we can't change
your mind on this?", said Jonathan. I shook my head and smiled. "Well then I see this is
important to you, do what you have to do", said Hunter.
The next morning I got up and put on my traveling clothes. House Gothle made me some food
to take on the road. "Take care of yourself and hurry back to us", she said gently. I gave her a hug
for the first time ever. She wasn't my Grandmother, not really, but right now that didn't matter
to me. The others got up to see me off as well. I knelt down and gave Puss a gentle scratch
behind the ear. "Take care of them while I'm gone", I ordered. He blinked and nodded his head.
Reaching up he gave a light scratch on my arm. It left a glowing claw mark of magic on my arm.
"When you want to come back, touch the mark, it should bring you back here", he said through
our connection. Henry gave me a hug and Jonathan gave me a pat on the shoulder. When I got
to Hunter he wouldn't even look at me in the eyes. My decision to abandon him to go look for
this pond, must have really upset him. To my surprise as I past him he gently grabbed my wrist.
"Take care of yourself out there." I nodded and stepped out into the foggy Moorlands.
I closed my eyes, reached into my connection with nature, and waved my hand over the wand.
YOU ARE READING
Cloak as Red as Blood
FantasySkylar Chesshire is an ordinary village girl, at least that's what she thinks she is. On her seventeenth birthday, she is attacked by a dark force and unleashes a power she never knew she had. Now she and her friends are on a quest to save her frien...
