Sarei of Sahmoon
Sarei with her big, almond, slanted eyes walked through the Ancient Wood cautiously and froze solid still at the slightest snapping of a twig fifty feet away. Then she heard voices, deep and angry. Men were tearing through the ground ivy and giant fern, examining every redwood tree with a quick, sharp glare as they plowed on. They would know who she was when they saw her in her camel skins with broken beads. They would make her go back and she knew what would happen then. Torture. She held very still, like she used to do when her father was looking for her. If she held still enough, he would rush right past her without noticing her at all, and then she could get away. She ran faster than her brothers, faster than grown men. Mama said it was the lightness of her spirit that pushed her speed. Sarei looked down at the sparkling, polished rock in her hand. She loved the way the sunlight struck its surface and came back out at her, drawing her in. She waited silently for the men to rush past her, then she ran. The stone was cold and heavy in the small palm of her right hand. It slowed her down, but she dared not look behind her for fear that the guards were running right behind her. She swirled around the mountain up a winding path, feeling drawn to its peak. Legends and stories of the Leedak Fire Opal's power seemed so real to her now and she whole-heartedly believed them. Breathing in the sweet-smelling air, she exhaled anxiously as the mists of the mountain grew thick around her as she continued her ascent. She tried in vain not to be distracted by the strange plants and flowers that now covered the large stones surrounding the path. Their colors were so strange and bright, not at all like the bland daisies that graced Mama's poor table. These flowers looked as though they had been planted by someone who cared meticulously about their fates. The sky darkened above her and her legs and arms ached in the oncoming drizzle, but she pushed onward, her dread of the village below chasing her upward. An angry clap of thunder accompanied a line of fire shooting across the sky. The lightning and thunder startled her and she stumbled to the ground forcefully, the Leedak Fire Opal bouncing from her grasp onto a patch of flowers, whose bright colors were diminished slightly by the overcast sky. She reached almost instinctively for the Opal and held it close to her chest, sitting still for a moment on the path to listen and catch her breath. She noted how strangely the flowers grew over the stones as though a seed had been planted within each stone. Even in the dull, pale grey of early evening, these flowers sang with brightness compared to the drab mustard-colored daisies she had seen only this morning in her family's cold, damp cavern. The cavern was part of a small mountain range that encircled the village. It was filled with caverns facing inward to the village and each cavern was crowded with those who were outcast from the inner circle of the village. Sarei's cavern home was also home to another family with four children, not a single one of which was her own age. They, too, were outcast from the inner circle and lived as slaves to the society that dwelt within. Sarei rung her thick, damp hair, drinking the raindrops as they ran down her tightened fists. Her stomach growled greedily and she presently regretted rejecting her one chance for breakfast. Tunik had been monstrous when he'd offered it to her after dipping the stale ash cake in dirty ground water on purpose. Sarei's face hardened as she recalled his cruel smile, dressed up in royal cloaks and lotioned hair. Son of a Council Elder, he was unusually mischeivous and remarkably wild. In another life, she thought, I will boss him around and take his bread away. This revenge she found mildly comforting, but her stomach did not cease its grumbling.
At length, her legs became stiff from sitting on stones, and she stood up to continue her trek up the mountain. Her extraordinary eyes gleamed with excitement when she thought of reaching the top and placing the Opal in its rightful place at the peak of Mount Leedak. Legend told that the Holy One would smile on the whole land when a young girl reached the peak alone and returned the Opal to the place of birth. Sarei hurried upward, staying on the path for fear of becoming lost on the notorious cliffs of Leedak. Her advantage over the guards of the inner circle was increased by the falling rain and powerful lightning. The rain made the path slippery even for her, but the guards with their metal clothes would struggle still more than she would. The lightning frightened them all. It was thought to mean bad luck and doom. But Sarei had been taught that the lightning was a sign, a reminder that rain is a gift from the Holy One. Sarei loved the rain, and she found her bare feet capable tools on the slippery stone path. Though the rain slowed her down considerably, she moved forward quickly, her mind single to her cause. Each turn found the next turn closer to the last until she could no longer see in front of her for the thick mists of fog. Here, she stumbled and tripped, but moved forward, feet light and hands outstretched in earnest. The blinding fog lasted two spirals of the path and then cleared up just before the path reached the peak. Sarei stepped beyond the fog and gasped, holding her breath at the sight she saw.
At length, her legs became stiff from sitting on stones, and she stood up to continue her trek up the mountain. Her extraordinary eyes gleamed with excitement when she thought of reaching the top and placing the Opal in its rightful place at the peak of Mount Leedak. Legend told that the Holy One would smile on the whole land when a young girl reached the peak alone and returned the Opal to the place of birth. Sarei hurried upward, staying on the path for fear of becoming lost on the notorious cliffs of Leedak. Her advantage over the guards of the inner circle was increased by the falling rain and powerful lightning. The rain made the path slippery even for her, but the guards with their metal clothes would struggle still more than she would. The lightning frightened them all. It was thought to mean bad luck and doom. But Sarei had been taught that the lightning was a sign, a reminder that rain is a gift from the Holy One. Sarei loved the rain, and she found her bare feet capable tools on the slippery stone path. Though the rain slowed her down considerably, she moved forward quickly, her mind single to her cause. Each turn found the next turn closer to the last until she could no longer see in front of her for the thick mists of fog. Here, she stumbled and tripped, but moved forward, feet light and hands outstretched in earnest. The blinding fog lasted two spirals of the path and then cleared up just before the path reached the peak. Sarei stepped beyond the fog and gasped, holding her breath at the sight she saw.