The Darklings 091108 Pegan

A deep echoing voice split the silence. Who are you? Who dares to enter the most sacred place. Are you Shadow or Darkling? Ebonee and Dusk embraced in fear. Woof growled , his fur bristling on his back. No woof! Ebonee commanded. Stay!
We mean no harm, said Ebonee. We are Shadow and Darkling. What is the beast? Asked the loud echoing voice. He is a laughing Jac. said Ebonee. He steals the leavings of the beast who kill. He means no harm.
Who are you? Dusk asked in a loud voice. Where are you? Why can't we see you?
I am Oldun. I sit on a ledge above you. Look up where the light-wings cluster. Dusk and Ebonee looked up. Ebonee made a gasping sound. Are you a God?
His laughter seemed to bounce around them. I am a firehead. Lowered from the nests at my birth to die. Saved by the Shadows and cared for in secret. No, not a God. And you, Darkling. Do I see fire strands in your black hair? Are you not a Firehead too?
Ebonee sighed. Dusk with her weak sight had never noticed. Ebonee then explained how Mother of two had pulled out the firestrands from her and Obsidias hair at birth and kept them out with continual grooming. After the death of Obsidia and Mother of two; the firestrands returned. The Darklings saw and cast her from the nest in the canopy. I am the Jag-cats sacrifice, she said.
Only if you choose to be. Came Olduns answer.
How do we leave this place, Asked Dusk.
Go down those stones to the pool of Sea water and swim out. He answered.
Swim out! Ebonee cried. I can't go near the Sea. Never go near the sea. Mother of two had always warned. It will pull you under and steal your breath. Then throw your body back on the sands.
Dusk put her arms around Ebonee. In a soothing voice she whispered. You told me once that fear is sharper than a Jag-cats claw. Fear is worse than death. I will teach you to stay on top of the water like flotsam. To hold your breath and swim like the fin-fish.
Can a darkling swim? Ebonee called to Oldun. Of course, he replied. a Firehead can swim also.

The Darklings 091106 Vidia

The next morning when, Dusk awoke she found that Ebonee had already gone out hunting for fresh kill. Dusk hoped that the jag-cat was not awake. Dusk sat and played with woof for a while till Ebonee came back. Ebonee had brang back enough food to last them a month. Woof snatched a bone and went to the corner to chew on it. That night they had a feast, but still had a lot of food left.
that night Ebonee told Dusk a true story. Ebonee's story was that long ago, when people first made these shelters they hid things in them, mostly rocks. these things were supposed to help you when you were in danger. '' Maybe we will find something down here''. said Dusk. then they went to bed. But dusk couldn't sleep. she kept thinking about the story Ebonee told her. Maybe there was something down here that could kill the jag-cat.
The next morning dusk and Ebonee woke with a howl, it was woo0f. He was somewhere deep in the cave. They kept walking to the noise till they thought it was the end of the cave. But as soon as Ebonee pushed on the wall it opened and there was woof. As they rushed to his side he became silent. Woof nudged a gem into each of their hands. At first the gems looked like normal gems. But when they turned them oversaw creatures on them. one had a mermaid/ fish on it and it was labeled a vaporeon. The other had a ghost/rag on it and it was labeled a raremon. they turned to take the stones back, but the door had shut and they did not know how to open it and they only had a piece of chicken to eat.

The Darklings 091103 - Pegan

I must sleep now, Ebonee sighed. dragging her woven mat against the barrier that Dusk had called Door. Didn't Dusk know that it was a tree-split that balanced on a pointed stone, opening inward only and closed from the outer cave with a slender stone wedge. Flotsam. Ebonee whispered to Dusk. The door is flotsam. The sea cannot drown it although it can pull it under as it pulls down the Sun.

Yes, said Dusk. I too have seen flotsam. But how did it come to this high place? Is this not the highest place on Earth?

If you could only climb to the canopy, Dusk. If you could see that Earth is Sea-Land and the highest place is at the top of the Bloodtree. If you could only climb, but then , added Ebonee sadly, you still could not see with your weak sky eyes.

Woof gave a small whimper and settled down on the mat between them. He hungers. Dusk said. The tiny long- tailed squeakers that he catches in the cave are not enough for a young, growing creature.

Ebonee sat up. I will go out and find a fresh kill for him.

No! Dusk cried. Not in the dark hours of the Jag-cat! Go when your Sun comes up from the Sea.

Ebonee lay back yawning. Yes..First light then.

Ebonee, Dusk whispered. I also hunger.

For flesh? Asked Ebonee. For blood and bone? Like Woof?

I hunger for knowing. Dusk said. I hunger for knowing.

I will help your hunger, Dusk. Remember the Bloodtree? It is a sacred tree blessed by the Sun.

Its long twisted roots are like pale entrails. Those roots are hanging in a small cave above us. The father of Darklings lives in its highest branch at the top of the Earth. There can be danger in knowing. There can be more danger in a knowing that is secret and guarded.

While Ebonee slept, Dusk wandered through the small cave. She crawled through a dark opening into an adjoining cave that was filled with a golden half light . Lightwings, she said aloud. She had encountered them before in the tunnels. Creatures the size of her palm clung to the cave ceiling, twinkling like stars...

We call them fires-that-fly. Ebonee said as she crawled through the opening behind Dusk.

Dusk, startled, tripped and fell against a stone barrier. It was a circular wall of stones that had been erected in the center of the cave. In its blackened middle lay piles of large broken bones. Beastie bones. said Ebonee. And these are the tools of the first ones.

These are our tools! Dusk cried with joy. These are our cutting shells! Our slicing sea glass! and this, she said, snatching up a large white shell that lay on the wall-of-stones ledge. This is our calling conch! Dusk pressed the stone to her ear. Then offered it to Ebonee. It is Mother's voice... It is Mother's singing.

Ebonee shook her head, backing away from the shell. I don't want to listen. We hear the voice in the canopy. It is never still. Never stops. The sea sings only of death and drowning...

The Darklings 091026 Vidia

Ebonee then took Dusk into the the dark cave. From then on Dusk lived in the cave. Ebonee taught her how to make clothing, masks, and blankets out of thick strong grasses. Then one day Dusk heard a sound that sounded like this "WOOF''. She was frightened. Then Ebonee returned, she told her about what she had heard. Ebonee said "Oh, don't worry he is a friend of mine and he is kind. His name is Woof ''.

Dusk had gotten to know the dark cave and she be came good friends with Woof. Dusk found writings on the walls of the cave. Dusk asked Ebonee what they all meant and she said "They are said to be able to tell you what your dreams mean''. Dusk also started to read the writing on the walls and one said ''if you see bats flying around in daylight are a symbol of reassurance and calm, but if you see one at night a problem is right around the corner. If a bat brushes against you or flies past , it's to remind you that bad luck will soon pass''.

After Dusk read some of the writings on the walls she began to pay close attention to her dreams. On summer day when Dusk woke up she heard a screeching sound, then Ebonee rushed into the cave and ushered Dusk and Wolf off to the side and said ''we need to get to somewhere safer, the Jag-cat is close''. Ebonee showed them a secret door in he cave and shoved them in it then she went in after and slammed the door tight. The place they were in had a lot of godies. Dusk could not wait to explore it.

The Darkling - 081206 Pegan

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 Darklings 081205 - Vidia

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 Darklings - 081203 Pegan

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.