Tranquil Darkness

A Message

The trees, bathed in moonlight. The bubbling of the stream. The sound of Lucera talking. Kerrin looked around. She had not been aware at all, lost in thoughts of the wonderful boy, thoughts of love. What was Lucera saying?

"Aren't you looking forward to the Tilting Festival? It will be such fun."

Kerrin's mind cleared and she was so startled that she almost jumped. She blinked once, twice. How could she have forgotten? She was so lost in a daydream about the boy that she had forgotten all about the terrible news.

"Lucy," she began. "I hate to ruin your excitement, but I have the most devastating news."

Kerrin's friends looked at her. Their eyes were wide with concern and hungry for more information. She told them everything she had heard. When she had finished, all the excitement and joy had left Adreana and Lucera's faces, replaced by a look more miserable then she had ever seen them.

"Oh, Kerrin," Adreana spoke softly. "Why didn't you tell us this when we first found you? Come on, we have to go tell the elders. Now."

Kerrin followed her friends through the forest back to their home, keeping completely silent. She could not answer Adreana's question. She could not tell them about the boy...

***

The three friends stood in front of the meeting house, where the elders of The Dark spent most of their time. The messenger stood at the door as always. He was a young boy whose eyes were the exact same colour as his shining black hair, and his silver skin glowed in the moonlight.

"Could we please speak to the elders?" Adreana, always thefirst to speak up, asked the boy."I'm sorry but they're extremely busy at the moment, making plans for the Tilting Festival," the messenger replied.

"Maybe you could give me a message, which I could deliver when they are free. Will that satisfy you?"

"No, that will not satisfy us," Adreana had flared up like a fire. "This is urgent, and if you do not let me in there right now-"

"Yes," Kerrin stepped in front of Adreana, her voice ringing out loud and clear as she cut her off mid sentence. She had an idea."We will let you take a message. The people of The Light are planning to invade on the night of the Tilting Feast."

The messenger's mouth fell open. One minute passed, then two, before he finally found his voice again.

"Um- well- of course," he stuttered. "Of course you can see the elders. Follow me." And he lead them into the meeting house.

The seven elders of The Dark were sitting in cozy armchairs next to a roaring fire, deep in discussion. They all looked up when the four young people entered the room.

"Greetings," spoke the Head Elder in a wheezy voice. He was the oldest one of all. "What brings you here?"

"These young women claim that the people of The Light are planning to invade on the night of the Tilting Feast."

The Head Elder opened his mouth to speak, but just then a woman who Kerrin didn't recognize cut across him. Kerrin quickly counted the elders: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven... eight. Eight? No, that can't be right. There should be seven elders, as it has been since the beginning of time.

"I think that this is not so," the old woman spoke. She spoke slowly and clearly, every one of her syllables deliberate. "We people of The Dark believe in everyone being seen as an equal, in no single person being valued above the rest. In coming here today, you have gone against this. We all know that this so called attack is nonexistent, and that you are merely seeking attention, and this violates the most ancient and sacred code of The Dark."

"But- " Adreana spoke up, but was cut off.

"No buts," continued the old woman. "If you do not leave us right this instant, then it is my deepest regret to say that you will have to leave The Dark forever, and be forced to somehow fend for yourself in The Light."The messenger escorted the girls outside and they all went their separate ways, each with a heavy heart. What were they going to do now?