I find the beginning rather boring but I couldn't think of a way to change it. Also, please tell me if any of it sounds confusing. I don't know what time period or world this is in. I suppose it's a mixture of both :) Enjoy!
I was on my back in the field, watching the northern lights above me. I loved how they shimmered, weaving through the stars. They were the dancers of the night. The stars were the spectators, the moon the spotlight and they were dancing. The purple streaks were always my favourite. Most likely because they were less common then the green.
Although I usually see them during the winter, it was a blessing to see them in the summer. So I could lie in my father’s alfalfa field, watching them. Of course the mosquitoes didn’t help, but the dancer’s beauty was worth all the itchy bites I would receive.
The wind gently began to pick up speed, blowing the alfalfa around. One plant slapped me in the face and I took that as a sign. With a groan, I sat up and stretched my arms above my head.
My gaze involuntarily strayed to the dark area to my left. It stretched high into the sky and wide across the edge of the field. A shiver ran down my spine and I tore my eyes from the sight of the old forest.
I hated that forest. I’ve hated it for a year now. I planned never to step foot in it again. The reason was simple enough. My brother disappeared into the old forest one day. He was doing his favourite thing; horseback riding. His horse Ozark returned, but he did not. My father and I scoured the trees. We went down every single path, even the small ones made by deer. We never found him. Even the police couldn’t find him, with their talented dogs. My brother had disappeared off the face of the earth.
Of course, we didn’t blame Ozark. He’s just a horse and whatever had befallen my brother on that fateful day, it was not the horse’s fault. My small sister jokingly said the fairies stole him for they loved his pretty face. Or even the small goblins who sometimes stole from mother’s vegetable garden. But I didn’t believe in her ramblings. She was only a child and had a vivid imagination. Fairies and goblins don’t exist.
I stood up and stretched again. It was high time I got back to the house. The moon was already high in the sky. I was just about to take a step forwards when I spotted something out of the corner of my eye.
Turning my head, I saw a strange sight. On the border of the trees was a floating blue thing. I was so completely amazed at the sight of it, that I started walking towards it. The nearer I got to it, the more entranced I was. I couldn’t even take my eyes off it, or even think.
I paused in front of it and it rose to my eye level. It was like a whiff of blue cloud. This creepy, floating cloud thing. A shiver ran down my spine as I continued to stare at it. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, no matter how hard I tried.
“Follow,” a voice said. I blinked and the spell was broken. My eyes searched through the darkness, trying to find the speaker but the only thing around was the cloud.
“Who are you?” I called out, my voice ringing into the trees.
“Follow.” The blue cloud began to move off-into the trees. “Follow.”
I frowned and watched it. It paused halfway into the trees, as if beckoning me to follow. Against my vow to never set foot into the forest again, I walked forwards and entered.
The trees swallowed me up. They blocked out the moon and stars above and soon I couldn’t even see the field behind me. Their gnarly bark, outstretched branches and the spine-chilling creaks were enough to scare any sensible person.
I was shaking uncontrollably and I kept rubbing my fingers together, a nervous habit of mine. I kept my eyes on the floating thing ahead of me. I didn’t want to get lost in this forest. Although I explored it so many times when I was younger, it was still possible for anyone to get lost.
I didn’t believe wolves attacked people. That’s just a load of rubbish and anyone who believed it was completely stupid. I wasn’t scared of any animals (they wouldn‘t hurt me without reason), but my imagination ran away with me. Then I saw it.
A creature, large and hulky, standing in the shadows of the trees. It was wolfish looking and stood on two hind legs. It had scraggly black fur and a long wolf tail that dragged in the grass. It eyes were a mix of red and yellow, but not quite orange. Its large muzzle was open and I could see a long tongue handing out, salvia dripping off of it. Even from where I stood, I could see its pointed fangs and hear its heavy pants. The front legs hung there, long claws unsheathed.
Fear rooted me to the spot. Things like this did not exist. They were not real. Its fiery gaze was fixed on me and it licked its lips. The blue cloud stopped ahead of me and waited. My hair all stood up on end and I was shaking even worse. I didn’t even dare to blink, in fear of it pouncing on me in that split second.
The cloud began to move violently around. I couldn’t help it. I blinked and turned my gaze to the cloud. The panting sound vanished and when I looked back to where the thing had stood, it was gone. It had been my imagination. My fear. I couldn’t believe I had done that to myself and now I felt like a fool.
“Follow.”
“Ya, ya.” I cast one more glance around me and hurried after the cloud.
It led me deeper and deeper into the trees. The forest did not look this big from the outside. Or this dark. I didn’t take my eyes off the weird cloud thing. I didn’t want to, just in case I saw another creature like the one before. But then it stopped. That was the only thing that kept me from walking face first into the tall brick wall in front of me. Well, it probably would have been the iron gate.
I studied the wall. It had vines growing all over it, but the creamy coloured stone could still be seen beneath all the green. The iron gate was shorter than the wall and it had beautiful designs on the top. There were four vertical bars and one horizontal. It appeared very old, but there were no plants growing on it. Not one.
The cloud floated through the bars and waited on the other side. I held a hand out to push the gate open, but drew it back. I do not remember there being a wall or a gate in this forest. I had ridden and walked through it so many times. There was no wall! I was confused. So confused that I was just about ready to turn around and leave.
“You cannot leave the Forest of Fate. Follow.”
“The Forest of what?” I turned and glowered at the wispy little cloud. I put a hand on the gate and shoved it open. Plants were growing everywhere. Above and along the side the small wooden steps that rose upwards. But even through the veil of green, I could see a light. A bright, heavenly light.
The blue cloud flew up the steps and vanished from my sight. “Hey! Come back! Don’t leave me!” I rushed up the stairs and froze when I reached the top.
A large, cathedral looking building towered in front of me. The windows were beautiful, with so many colours. A large fountain with a winged horse spooled water into the ring below. There were apple trees, shrubs with coloured flowers and of course the flower beds. It was breathtaking. It was beautiful.
My mouth hung open and I stared. The light was there, and it seemed like day time here. Here. Where exactly was here? Where was I?
“Hello!” I called, feeling frightened. “Is there anyone here?”
“I am.” The blue cloud appeared beside the fountain and exploded. Blue cloud was everywhere and I waved a hand in front of my face. When it thinned out, a gasp escaped my lips.
My brother stood before me. He looked exactly the way he had the day he disappeared. The same shaggy, cocoa hair. The same laughing blue eyes.
“Owen!” I screeched, staring at him.
He laughed. Even his laugh was the same. He hadn’t changed one bit! “Tarian! My beautiful sister!”
I took a step towards him, but stopped. “What happened?”
The smile slipped from his face. “It was the Fairy Queen.”
“Fairies aren’t real, Owen!” I cried, throwing my arms in the air. “Alisha says they are but she’s nine years old! You’re like seventeen. You shouldn’t believe in little children stories!
“No Tar. They are real. As real as you and I. When I had gone out for that ride on Ozark, he got spooked by a snake and threw me. But even then, I knew I was lost. Then I saw it. A purple coloured cloud, just like the one that led you here. It was the Fairy Queen and she took me to her court. She took me to the Forest of Fate,” he explained.
“You aren’t making any sense! What is this Forest of Fate? What was that blue cloud? Why are you here? What. Is. Going. On?” I thought maybe if I spoke slowly, he would understand.
“The Forest of Fate is an enchanted forest ruled by the Fairy Queen. She takes in those who have lost their way. In the forest and in life. She gives them a new life. But they must remain in her court. If they choose not too, then she releases them, but in an animal form. I chose to stay here, for I knew it was for the best. But I always watched you from the border of the trees, hoping you would enter the forest one day so I could speak with you.
“I am one of the fairy folk now. I was that blue cloud that led you here. The Fairy Queen sent me to get you. So I agreed. Only because I wanted to speak with you. I wanted to explain to you what happened to me. I also wanted to tell you that you don’t have to hate the forest anymore. Do you understand?”
“Lemme think! You got lost in the forest, this Fairy Queen leads you here, wherever here is, and you get turned into a fairy. You then lead me here to speak with me. But how do I return home?”
“You cannot leave.”
A large purple cloud descended from the sky and turned into a tall, beautiful woman. She had long purple hair, misty grey eyes and she wore purple clothes. Those purple clothes weren’t much and a lot of her skin showed. Those kinds of clothes were banned where we lived.
“You cannot leave. I sent Owen here to fetch you because you have lost your way in life,” she explained.
I gasped and looked at Owen. “You knew this?”
“No! My Queen, our parents couldn’t bear to lose another child,” he cried. “You didn’t tell me!”
She looked at him. “I usually don’t. Owen, your sister is lost in the otherworld. She will flourish here. She will be returning home.” She returned her attention back to me. “You will stay here.”
“But I don’t want to! I have a little sister to take care of and I have to help father with the farm!” I turned and ran back to the stairs. The gate creaked closed and I knew I was trapped here. I whipped around. “Why?”
“I’ve watched you for a long time now Tarian Alin. You’re always watching the Night Dancers. Those are my sisters. Those are your sisters. You were always a fairy, destined to return to your old home.”
I shook my head. “No. No, I was born into a human family. I’m a human!”
She glided towards me and gently put her hand on my cheek. “Tarian Alin. You were sent to that family to help them through hard times. You do not remember, but you volunteered. Now, they’ve been led through those difficult times and you are free to return to the sky.”
“What? Difficult times?” Then it all hit me. The drought that was plaguing the land when I was born. It ended a few months later. Then the Big Freeze; a snow storm that lasted almost two years. The governor who tried to take the farm. The locust. “Those were the hard times? But…you mean…”
“Yes Tarian. You were adopted after I cast a spell on you. That’s what we fairies do. We aid the humans. The humans who deserve our help. Now, your job is finished. Look inside you and remember.” She put both hands on either side of my face and we were surrounded in pink.
I gave out a cry as everything came flying back to me. I was one of those lights. I was a Night Dancer! A fairy that lit up the sky, always watching over the humans below. The Queen let me go and I fell to the ground. I put a hand to my chest and stared up at the Queen and Owen.
I remembered everything. I was a fairy. I touched my ears; they were pointed like the Queens. Even my clothes were different. They were similar to hers, even the colour.
“Tarian?” Owen asked, hesitantly.
I climbed to my feet and stared at him. “Owen. I’m a fairy! I’m a Night Dancer and I’m returning home.”
He smiled and gave me a hug. “Good luck on your journey.”
I squeezed him tightly. “Thank-you for bringing me back. Now that I know, I did lose my way. I wasn’t meant to live as a human forever. But Owen, you’ll always be my brother.”
The Queen nodded and I stepped away from him. “Good bye.” I felt myself rising off the ground and soon the Forest of Fate looked like a green carpet. I kept rising up and up. The Night Dancers were shimmering wildly. I was home. I would be on centre stage, performing for the stars in the moon’s spot light. Weaving through the darkness forever.
