Ebonee stopped in a circle of tall trees. Look up, she said. See the dark hanging nests high in the canopy? Those are the homes of my people. They are woven of small green vines and strong grasses. Much like the nests of the great winged creatures. High in the trees we gather food in plenty and when the evil winds weaken the nests we come down to the forest floor to gather more vines for the mending.
In the young season we dig roots, sweet plants and worms.
Are your people gone from the nests this night? Dusk asked. No, said Ebonee. They are sleeping. We sleep through the night until the Sun God awakens us. Our God is the Sun. We worship his light.
Then why are you roaming the Jungle this night?
Ebonee sighed. I am sorry for I have deceived you. I cannot take you to my people for I am cast out. I am a lost one.. The one chosen to lure the De-mon.
Dusk shivered. I fear for you, she cried.
Do not fear, came the soft reply. Fear is sharper than the Jag-cats claws. Fear is worse than death. Now come and I will lead you to your tunnels before the Moon is eaten by the clouds.
Will you tell me..what is De-mon? What is a Jag-cat?
I will tell you my story on the way.
I entered the world, one of two. I, Ebonee was first come. Second come was called Obsidia. Obsidia was smaller, weaker. She could not run as swiftly or climb the Nest trees as quickly as I. One day we lingered on the forest floor too long. Too late we heard the De-mon come. I quickly climbed the Nest tree but the De-mon had caught Obsidia in his claws. He took her in the thickets and she is now a Shade.
What is this De-mon?
It is a long black-haired creature with four legs and golden, glowing eyes. He is also called Jag-cat. He fears only Fire. Many of our people have been taken by Jag-cat. The Mother of two fell from the Nest tree during the last great wind. The Jag-cat was waiting below. Mother of two and Obsidia are now Shades.
What are, Shades? Dusk asked as they hurried through the Jungle.
They are the mist of what they once were in life. They come to me only in sleep time. They warn of danger and sometimes they weep and sometimes I wake to find their tears on my face.
Suddenly the sounds of breaking branches, thrashing and squeals echoed around them. They stood still while Ebonee waved the fire branch around them. It is the De-mon, she whispered. He has found his meal for the night.
The Moon has fled, Dusk cried. I am too late! The tunnel has been sealed against me!
Make noise, said Ebonee and they will open it.
No, Dusk cried. You do not know the Shadow ways. I am lost to them forever. The firey eye will burn and char me. Dusk fell on the earthen mound weeping.
Come! said Ebonee. I will take you to a place of safety. It is a small stone cave that was created by the First Ones on Earth. It is in the high rock wall that looks out at your Sea and where can be seen the Norr Star.
The Darkling slowly stood up. Her smile was jolly. Dusk stopped screaming and slowly started to speak. The first thing she said was, "You're a darkling." The darkling nodded yes. Dusk asked the darkling her name. But the darkling was already pulling her to a more bushy area.
Then she answered, "My name is Ebonee. What is your name?" Dusk told Ebonee her name then said, "I thought Darklings were mean." "Oh no, we're not all mean," replied Ebonee. Most of us are nice. Do you like worms?" "Yes," Dusk answered. So Ebonee put her hand in the ground and dug up some worms for them to eat.
Dusk thought that was pretty cool, but did not speak. Ebonee said she learned it from the other Darklings. "There are other darklings here?" said Dusk. "Many, many more," said Ebonee. "Would you like to meet them?" "All right," said Dusk with fear in her voice. "I'm right behind you."
The moment that Dusk re-entered the Jungle long, dark slivers of shadows crossed the moons golden eye. It was a bad omen. The Jungle floor trembled beneath her feet and what began as a loud whispering in the trees soon became a fearsome roaring high above the sheltering canopy. Dusk knew that the sky gods were fighting once more. Soon there would fall huge tears and terrible wailing and bushes and branches would thrash and twist against the angry breath of the gods.
Still she moved on filling the vine basket her shadow mother had given her. She quickly gathered the strange colorful fruits that the trees had thrown down. Suddenly there was a terrible crashing and a light so bright she covered her eyes and crouched down before it. Her small body trembled with fear. Was it the fiery eye of the sun opening so soon? But no. She remembered a tale told by the old ones. She knew what it was.
FIRE, she cried out in wonderment. The jewel of all earthly gifts. A jewel so rare and precious. The Shadows had found it only once in the long ago times and had taken it to Mother. Mother had been so pleased that she had blessed them for many moons.
Dusk stood in the now silent Jungle and watched FIRE devour the tall tree. How to gather it? How to carry it to Mother? A small branch of the burning tree fell to the Jungle floor spraying stars at her feet. Only one end of the branch was being devoured. She reached down for the uneaten part only to see the hand of another being reach down beside hers. The small hand and skin of this female being was black. Dusk looked into night black eyes and screamed. A Darkling ... a Darkling! The small Darkling smiled and handed Dusk the burning branch.
While Dusk was in the jungle she heard the cries of a cat. It started to come closer and the noise got louder. Suddenly she ran off, and when she was sure she was safe, she started walking very slowly and looking for gifts.
Then she saw a poor injured creature on the ground. But she knew better--it was a trick. It was probably a Darkling shape shifted into a creature. But before she had time to kill it, it pounced on her. She threw it off and ran as fast as she could.
She went through one of the tunnels and ended up back home. The Shadows were happy that she survived. But a little disappointed when all she had brought back was a small bowl of raspberries. Then they sent her back to the forest.
Once there lived in the great long ago, a small race of people that dwelled deep inside the earth near the sea. They crawled through long and winding tunnels that their ancestors had hollowed out and walked on the face of the earth only after the fiery eye of the sun had gone to sleep and only when the soft golden eye of the moon could light their pathways.
They called the fiery eye, bad. They called the gentle eye, good. They called themselves, Shadows, for they were the color of shade. Their skins were a soft dark brown along with their eyes, hair and nails. They worshiped one god. Their god was the sea and they called her, Mother.
Mother fed and cleaned them. She left small clear pools to quench their thirst and deposited nutrient rich greens that they learned to dry and store for when the cold times came. She brought clams and shells and strange and beautiful creatures for them to eat. They loved her so much that on every full moon they would risk the dangers of the forest behind them in search of gifts to lay on the sands of her feet. They called the forest, jungle. A terrible place from which some had not returned. These they called Darklings.
And so it happened on this full moon night, the tribe chose a young female shadow whom they had named, Dusk to enter the jungle and gather the gifts. Dusk had seen only five full moons but she was strong and quick and could move with awesome speed. It was a great honor to be chosen. The females stroked and combed her long brown hair with the polished bone comb the Mother had given them. And the males patted her arms chanting, take care--be quick. The female that had given her life pressed her face against Dusk's cheek. Do not become a Darkling, she told her. Listen, hear danger and flee!
The tribe stood by their tunnels in silent watching as Dusk entered the jungle.
