The Garden of Lost Souls

Chapter 1

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."   - Leonardo da Vinci

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The rhythmic thump of wood on wood echoed throughout the forest clearing like a wardrum, scattering creatures in every direction. Two figures moved back and forth, so gracefully and fluid that someone might have mistook them for dancing.

A spark of color flashed against the dull brown of the oak trees as a braid of scarlet hair swirled around the head of a young woman. She was dressed in black pants and a matching long sleeve shirt, tucked in at the waist and belted. Her bare feet moved swiftly across the leaves barely pausing as she whirled her way from one spot to the next, eyes never leaving her opponent as they met blow after blow.

The other was a man wearing a similar outfit, although his was older and more worn. His greying hair was tied back with a strip of leather. Despite his age, he moved with a practiced grace that only emphasized his experience. He blocked the girl again and again, the wooden practice swords a blur of movement in their steady hands.

Neither gained ground as they moved swiftly around the clearing, lips pressed and eyes narrowed. The girl darted forward to strike the man's side, but was blocked and knocked off balance. She teetered for a second, and the man sliced at her exposed ribcage, landing a solid hit that knocked the wind out of her and sent her tumbling onto the rich forest soil, still damp from the early morning dew.

"That was sloppy, Ellen," the man said calmly, still breathing heavily. "You've done much better in the past. Tell me what happened." He didn't appear angry, just curious and mildly disappointed.

Ellen looked away unable to bear the disappointment along with her wounded pride. "I'm just tired is all." Slowly, she got to her feet, swaying slightly.

The man gripped her arm to steady her, concerned. "Should we forgo flying today? You look pale."

Ellen shoved the man away, annoyed at the overprotection. "You just knocked me around with a practice sword for half an hour. How am I supposed to feel?" she snapped irritably, not expecting an answer. "I'll be fine when the sun comes up." Aaron made to say something, but Ellen had already disappeared into the trees.

Ellen wove her way through the forest, stepping over the roots threatening to trip her and pushing aside low-hanging branches until she reached a large field, spreading out in all directions, its tall grasses illuminated by the colorful sunrise peeking out above the tops of the distant trees. Ellen squinted toward the bright sky, toward the rising sun. She was well aware of Aaron, taking his time to gather the training swords and make his way to the field so Ellen could have some time to think. She was grateful he did, because she didn't think she could manage conversation right now. Ellen was feeling tired today, but she couldn't keep putting off flying. It was her only defense, and she needed to be able to use it.

She looked toward the field. Its many grasses danced in the gentle summer breeze. The greens and golds glinted in the light of the sun, which had risen above the tall forest oaks and taken its rightful place in the heavens, illuminating the earth below. Ellen bowed once toward the sun in respect and reverence as she felt a sudden rush of energy. Because of the legendary blood flowing in her veins, Ellen was able to draw energy from the sun. Although Aaron never had explained the reasoning behind it, she was greatful for the source of strength she could turn to.

As the light rose to fill the sky, Ellen began to feel the thrum of life within the field. Every tiny creature had its own individual thread that they clung to in their constant yet unseen struggle to stay alive. Aaron silently stepped to Ellen's side, the practice swords gathered in his muscular arms. He looked towards the rising sun and bowed to it, his shoulder length hair shifting in the gentle wind.

"Are you ready now?" he asked quietly.

Ellen took a deep breath. She wanted so badly to say no, to go home, but she couldn't bring herself to disappoint the one person who had shown her kindness in her life, who had taken her in as a daughter and a student despite barely being able to make a living, despite what she was. Still, the mere thought of the transformation terrified her. It didn't matter how often Ellen told herself that it was a ridiculous fear, the terror welled up within her. Ellen swallowed that fear, smothering it. 

Then she delved deep inside her mind, closing her eyes as she felt for the fibers that held her spirit intact. She focused closer until she could make out the individual threads, intertwined to create those fibers. There were two colors, unlike the single color she'd found in Aaron or in any other fully human spirit. Ellen had two colors. A light grey mixed with a hint of purple, like any other human spirit, and a dark, wild blue with hints of red and silver. The color of a dragon.

Mentally focusing, Ellen pounced on the blue thread, trapping it and holding it in place even as it struggled beneath her iron grip. Slowly, almost too slowly, she separated it from the grey, pushing the human thread back and weaving the blue thread until it formed a pure blue fiber, and so blue overpowered grey. Dragon overpowered human. The other navy threads detached and joined with the pure blue fiber, creating a large piece of rope that spread throughout Ellen's entire body, shifting her spirit from human to dragon.

When Ellen was satisfied her work was done, she mentally retreated back into her human body and waited. It took no more than thirty seconds before Ellen felt the physical changes. It was her vision that shifted first, the green of the field suddenly faded, and replaced by vibrant shades of red and gold, although the green remained as a sort of undercurrent. Next, the smell of rain and honeysuckle filled her nose. She became immediately aware of the wind brushing her face and the grasses brushing against her bare feet and ankles.

The part Ellen hated the most was the physical transformation. Her arms lengthened and her fingernails elongated into razor-sharp claws. Her nose morphed, connecting with her mouth as horns sprouted just above her ears and her teeth pierced her lip, drawing blood as they turned to fangs. Her spine curved and shifted, forcing her to drop onto all fours as it rearranged itself to make room for wings and a tail. Her skin became leathery and coated in a solid armor of teardrop scales.

Ellen shook her head like a dog and snorted, disliking the feel of her claws sinking into the sodden Earth. She picked them up one by one in a futile attempt to shake the clumps of mud from them. Aaron chuckled quietly and Ellen snarled in idnignation. When he failed to stop smiling, Ellen sent a spurt of flame at him that dissolved into smoke moments before hitting his face and making his head disappear in a haze of smoky darkness.

Coughing, Aaron waved the black cloud away from his face and frowned at Ellen. She snorted again, smoke rising from her nostrils in amusement rather than annoyance, as if to say What? It was funny.

"Ellen, enough," Aaron commanded gently.

In her dragon spirit, Ellen's dragon instincts fought for control. She had more pride and more arrogance, which made it nearly impossible for her to obey commands because she became so independent. Ellen lowered her head toward Aaron, eyes narrowing in a silent challenge. He held the piercing gaze, neither moving as they waited to see who would break first. Ellen did, snorting once again in defiance before her whole body went rigid.

Aaron knew that Ellen's human energy was fighting for control, and Ellen herself was fighting to stifle the stronger dragon instincts that warned her that he was a threat, that she should run away. As Ellen's body relaxed, her eyes softened, as if remembering who he was. She had won. Aaron smiled at her, still letting her know he wasn't a threat. Anything violent, and her dragon instincts would seize control in an instant. He dropped the training swords on the grass.

"Are you alright, Ellen?" he asked her.

The dragon's ruby scales shifted in the light, casting red across the field as she nodded her head slowly, then breathed hot air in his face, as if to say, I'm fine, Aaron. Stop worrying.

"It's time," Aaron told her gently. She knew what he meant.