Artemis and Caspian: The Awakening

Chapter Twenty Eight

"Well he seemed like fun." Cas laughed rolling his eyes.

"And he's all yours. Griffins are creatures of the sun," Artemis teased, beaming with mischievous eyes. The two fell into an uncomfortable silence, both trying their best to avoid speaking about the events that were going to take place the next day.

Caspian awkwardly cleared his throat and crossed to his bag, grunting with some effort to lift it and heave it over his shoulder.

"We better set up for the night."

Artemis nodded in agreement and delicately spread her things out on the ground, getting ready to trudge into the surrounding woods for their next meal. The silence remained, laced with the uncertainty of the day ahead but also with the unwillingness to speak about the shared moment under the waterfall. Cas set up kindling on the ground and struck a flint, occasionally looking up in hopes of catching her attention. She only turned back once with a half smile before heading into the woods, leaving him alone with nothing but his anxious thoughts for company.

When she returned, Caspian had a fire waiting for her. She smiled and took a seat next to him, throwing the prey she caught onto the fire to cook. Cas turned to her and sheepishly ran his hands through his hair.

"Look about earlier..." he began nervously. "I'm sorry, I was caught up in..."

She surprised him by placing a gentle hand on his.

"Don't be," she finished for him placing a small kiss on his cheek. Cas closed his eyes and relaxed as Artemis curled up next to him, placing her head on his shoulder. At peace for the first time in too long.

...

All he could hear was the heartbeat in his ears. The stoic griffin stood in the pool, beckoning him to step in. Caspian stood timidly on the water's edge, willing his body to move, but it refused to listen. His breathing became shallow as his chest tightened, crumbling under the weight of his nerves. Sensing his uneasiness, Artemis gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and saw him visibly relax. He shot her a look of gratitude and let go, taking a brave step into the pool. He slowly waded his way to Wylie, each step getting heavier than the last. After what felt like an eternity, Cas reached the griffin who greeted him with a chilling glare.

"Do you remember how to slip into visions?" he asked sternly. Caspian nodded in response and Wylie lay a claw on his forehead. "Good."

Closing his eyes gently, Cas tried to remember Arwen's teachings and willed himself to slip into a vision.

"Feel your power, ask to see a vision." he thought diligently as he heard Wylie's voice bellow into the sky.

"God of the sun, I present your reincarnation. Give him your blessing to carry out his destiny as the savior of Meridan." As his words echoed in the air, Cas could feel the waters grow restless around him. His powers responded, swirling faster in his soul, the water beginning to lap anxiously at his feet. Soon, his powers escaped his very being, shooting out of his fingertips into the waters around him. The rush of small waves hitting his body drowned out the noise of everything else. Caspian's vision became blurred and he began to panic. The world spun faster and faster until finally, it stopped.

All he saw was white.

"Hello?" he tried calling out into the vast expanse. When there was no reply he tried again, but was answered by his own voice echoing back to him. Determined, he pushed forward into the vast cloud of white and was met by a distant figure. He could only make out a silhouette that was drifting ever closer to him, hidden behind the white haze that surrounded them. When the figure got close enough to see, Caspian held his breath and dropped to his knees. A man approached wearing robes of golden silk. A golden crown was placed atop his head and a gentle yellow glow radiated from his being. He wore a crest embedded with the image of a fiery phoenix. He looked at Caspian with kind eyes and offered his hand.

"Rise, son of the sun."

Keeping his nerve, Caspian rose to face the sun god.

"Do not be afraid savior," the sun god spoke gently, his clear voice echoing throughout space. "I have watched your powers grow and I know you are meant to be the savior of my world."

Caspian stood there dumbstruck and somehow managed to stutter a "Thank you." The sun god smiled brightly and placed a hand on Caspian's head.

"I give you my blessing young savior, go to Meridan and stop the coming war."

From his hand, Cas could feel his powers stirring from deep within him.

"With my farewell I give you a final gift, the spirit of a phoenix, a sun guardian, to guide you when you feel lost." When he finished, Caspian felt his powers burst from deep within him. Looking up, he saw the golden outline of a phoenix cry into the abyss, spreading its wings to fly.

"Go, my savior, go," the sun god murmured beginning to fade. Caspian squeezed his eyes shut as a great wave of dizziness swept over his body. He could feel the newly forged phoenix yearning to be free and gave in to its wishes, letting it take over his being. The world rushed back into existence and Caspian snapped his eyes open. He felt so strange, below he saw Artemis, Wylie and Badrick in awe among a tiny waterfall and the tops of trees. Gazing down, Cas spotted a pair of yellow clawed feet and whooped in joy. He was flying! Letting out a cry he swooped down over the water, dipping the tip of his wing into the pool below. Careening back up he let out a cry that shook the foundation of the forest around him, blazing a fiery trail into the sky.