Genre Tournament Challenge

MOON

It was my twelfth summer, I stood in the proving place, the twin full moons casting shadows over the small mountain pool, I was alone as I had been twelve years before, when I had been taken as a new born baby to await my fate.

In my tribe any child that was born weak or limbs were not formed properly were taken to the proving place and left for a night and a day, for the Spirits to take them, if they survived they were then taken back to their families.

My Father was a Chief and a well respected leader, he and my mother, who was known as Dove because of her gentle nature, had eagerly waited the birth of their first born, praying to the spirits for a son. On the night of a lunar eclipse, the birth pains began, the women gathered round and she was delivered of a fine son, who was duly presented to my Father, who showed his first born son to the assembled tribe holding him aloft his golden skin glowing in the light of the many fires.

In the birthing tents things were happening, another child was born very small, with hair the colour of the moon, and skin as pale as moonlight. My Grandmother told me it became very quiet, as they saw my left foot the toes were curled in to the sole, more like a fist than a foot.

My poor exhausted Mother wept, and held me to her breast, knowing that the spirits had sent her a moonchild, who would have to go to the proving place.

A moon child was an omen, it foretold change, sometimes for good, but the spirits could be angry.

It was with a heavy heart that my Grandmother, prepared me for my destiny, wrapping me tightly in wild linen bindings, and the pelt of a wild goat kid, before placing me into a papoose at the bottom she placed hot stones from the fire, calling to my Father who was celebrating with the men, his son in his strong brown arms, unaware that the spirits had played a cruel trick.

Men did not enter the birthing tent, so my Grandmother took me outside, at the sight of a baby wrapped up for a journey, the celebrations stopped, she took my brother from him, placing me in his arms, saying place your moonchild in the proving place, but stay so that none of the beasts of the forest may will not feast on her flesh, if the spirits want her they will take her, go my son do not return until the moons rise again. Everyone had retreated to their tent and the camp was silent as my Father made the journey that every parent dreaded, high into the mountains, almost as high as the place where the Thunder Dragon lived. It was with a heavy heart, after many hours, he reached his journeys end, by the black mountain pool, which was said to be so deep it reached the centre of the world, a flat black stone, glinted in the moonlight, and a light flurry of snow was now falling, a lone wolf howled. I was placed gently on the stone and my Father retreated to a vantage point to watch over me, he was to tell me many years later that I had not once cried, but watched him with my pale moon child eyes.

After many hours he saw a white figure moving, running, ever forward not stopping he could not see what it was, he was afraid, the spirits were coming to claim their own, as it got closer he saw it was a white wolf and he lifted up his bow, the words of his mother ringing in his ears, do not let the beasts of the forest have her.

"Wolf" a voice broke the silence, and the white wolf was gone, standing in the moonlight a very old women, wrapped in furs, her hair was white, she was very old, small and bent, her skin, was wrinkled and the colour and texture of a walnut, but her voice was strong.

" Be gone Chief, I will stay with your moon child and bring her down to you, at the next moonrise"

My father stood tall and strong but he knew when the wise one spoke you obeyed, she had saved his life many years before when he had been hunting the wild pigs, he had fallen and broken his leg, she was the one who had found him, with the help of sleeping herbs she had set his leg, which had set ,as straight and as true as it had ever been. She had appeared then just as suddenly and disappeared just as quickly, after supporting him until when they had reached the outskirts of the camp.

Some people think the wise one is a legend, a woman with no name who some say is as old as time, who wanders the land, a healer, as wise as the mountains, others say she is a figment of delirium and fever. But my Father knew the truth and she was here, and he felt joy in his heart, his Moon child would live.

She spoke again her voice, the voice of a much younger women, coming from her small frail frame.

"I will mend her foot, but you will need to keep it bound until the end of her first summer and when she walks a piece of the cork oak should be put in her boot, as her leg will be shorter than her other leg.

You will teach her the ways of the warrior, even though she is a girl child

at the beginning of her twelfth summer, you will bring her here, and she will be mine for four summers, now be gone.

My father pondered her words as he made his way down to the camp, how did she know about the crippled foot, and why teach a girl child the ways of a warrior, but the Wise One had spoken and he knew he had to do what she asked.

At the moonrise of the next day, I was placed outside the camp and my hungry cries soon bought, people ,my Father picked me up and took me out of the papoose and marvelled at my tiny foot bound tightly but straight and flat, a vial of oil was also there with fresh linen bindings, it was a time to celebrate, the Chief had two children, one a fine son the other a moonchild.

Childhood

My Father Running Wolf made good his promise, and as soon as I could walk my training began in the ways of a warrior, along side my brother, who always helped his sister, never questioning why a girl should be trained as a warrior especially one who found running difficult, he always waited for me encouraged me and made sure I was not discouraged, the strength in my left leg gradually increased the cork inside my boot was altered until it fitted exactly the contours of my foot and I could run as fast as most of the other children.

My brother was known as Wolf cub, I called him Cub he called me Moon he had hair as black as a raven wings , the strong features of his father, but he shared with my Mother a gentle and thoughtful nature. We were as different as a brother and a sister could be, his skin turned golden brown in the sun, whilst mine had to be covered as I burned and blistered, on exposure to the sun. Although we looked so different we were as close as twins could be, we enjoyed being together.

Life was good in my early years, I learned to shoot a bow as accurately as my brother, we learned to track, and what food we could eat from the forest , we also learned that we needed to keep a balance with the animals only taking what we needed, never killing for any other reason than need, we relied on the forest for our food and our clothing, and we needed to make sure that there would always be enough for future generations.

My favourite time was sitting with elders in the evening learning the stories of times long ago, about battles fought with the tribe who lived by the sea shore and most of all the story of the first Moon child and why we were always prepared to move or stay and fight.

Many years before another girl, moonchild had been born who was beautiful and wise , the people of the sea and the mountains had been united then, under a Great chief who had twin sons, when they were grown the Great chief could not choose between them so spilt the tribe giving the mountains to one son and the land by the sea shore to the other.

They both fell in love with the moonchild, and went to their father to make a judgement. He set tasks for them to do, running shooting the bow but could no choose between them. So came up with a solution she would marry both of them living 2 years with 1 brother then 2 years with the other brother, the brother who had been born first, would have his bride first.

They accepted their fathers judgement, after 2 years, she prepared to go to her other husband leaving her child with his father, and women of the tribe and made her way with an escort to her other husband, when 2 years had passed, they waited for her to return when she did not they went to collect her.

By that time the Great Chief had died and the younger brother could not bear to part with his Moonchild bride.

So a war council was called, the Moonchild appeared and pleaded for this to stop and she would do anything to stop the blood shed, she had slipped away without the younger brother knowing, but he followed her. As she went to go with the older brother the younger brother lifted up his bow to shoot his brother, she ran in front of the arrow and died instantly from that day to this the 2 tribes had fought, each blaming the other.

So much time had passed that no one now knew who was in the right, but raiding parties from both sides still fought as the warrior of the Sea People necklaces of shells and pearls which hang in the tents will testify.

There had not been a raid for a long time, but everyone knew this may not last, we mountain people move our camps to follow the animals, only in the summer do we stay and plant corn to make our flat bread but we also plant in other places in case we need to move fast.

At the end of my 10^th summer, it was in those warm and sunny days, that happen sometimes before the trees turn brown and gold, and the first snows start to fall. The tribe was gathering the last of the corn which would be milled under the round stones then packed away to be moved to the winter camps, my brother and I decided we would steal away and collect the wild bee honey, for our Grandmother who was getting old and seemed to be getting thinner by the day. So while everyone was busy we took a earthenware pot, and pairs of gloves with fine linen to cover our faces as the wild bees did not give up their sweetness easily. I knew where the tree was so ran ahead, Cub and I lit a smoky fire, underneath the tree , the way my father had showed us plenty of damp moss made sure it smoked well so it would do it's work making the bees sleepy so we could climb the tree and collect our prize. I took off my boots and undid the cork insert and I was up the tree leaving my brother at as I climbed the tree ever upwards to the Bees nest, I looked down from my vantage point, and gasped, it was a raiding party on ponies heading this way. I knew it was a raiding party because their faces were painted and they wore the shell necklaces of the Sea people , the leader even on his pony was taller then the rest with a flash of white, standing out from the inky blackness of his hair ,as they got closer I saw a vivid white scar down the centre of his face .

"Run my brother warn the tribe, the Sea people are here, warn them go now don't wait for me, we have no time run run."

He was gone running quietly and silently the raiders had been attracted by the smoke and were heading my way, I climbed down the tree and in my hurry putting out the fire I did not tie the cork properly to my foot which was shorter, slipping on my soft boots I too tried to run, but fell and the raiders were upon me. The man with the white flash in his hair picked me, with one hand lifting me a loft, I looked into the cruellest pale green ice like eyes I have ever seen.

"What prize have I here a little mountain lion," he roaring with laughter the linen cover fell back revealing my long white hair and pale skin.

"A moon child a fine trophy you will make "

I managed to wriggled round using all my strength, and sunk my teeth into his arm, he flung me roughly down to the ground. I had the opportunity I needed and I ran upwards, the terror I felt meant even my short leg did not slow me up going as far away from camp as I could knowing they would follow me, stopping for a moment to pick up a stick which I threw as hard and as straight as I could into the now angry and wide awake wild bees, they flooded out in a thick and angry black cloud descending stinging everything in front of them, whether man or pony, the ponies stampeded in panic down the mountain followed by the men and the vengeful bees. I had pulled the covers over my head but I was also stung, unconsciousness claimed me, it was many hours later I awoke, my mother gently tending my stings.

The camp was in turmoil as everything was being packed away we were moving early, as the Sea people would be back, the summer warmth had been replaced by a chill not just in the air, but in the hearts of the tribe.

"Your did well my daughter, they have gone to the sea shore to tend their wounds, but the time of peace is now over and we must always be alert now, tell me of the raiders" My Father spoke his eye were grave.

I told my Father of the leader with the strange green eyes and the scar on his face with the white flashes to his hair , he drew in a long breath and spoke again.

"That was Sea Eagle we met many years ago at the wedding feast of your Mother and I, we had made corn spirit to toast our marriage, we had grown complacent and had forgotten about the dangers, after a long period of peace, the feast was drawing to a close when they struck, suddenly they were there, grabbing your Mother, taunting me because we were surrounded, I reached down and grabbed an axe we use to chop the wood for the fire, and threw it, it glanced off his forehead, blood pored down his face and he let go of your Mother, who ran to me like a wild deer. The Sea warriors were in a state of confusion now their leader was injured, it was enough to galvanise our people into action, we fought hard injuring Sea Eagle again a blow to his head which should have killed him, they went and quickly as they came, leaving us to tend our dead and dying.

We learnt a lesson that day to never be complacent, Corn spirit will never be drunk again as it dulls the mind.

Now we need to move, the Mountain spirits are sending the snows early, they will protect us until spring comes again. The Sea people will not venture in to the mountains when the snows fall as their ponies can not climb when the snow is thick on the ground, and we go on paths no pony can follow.

Now make ready my daughter we have to move, help your Grandmother she is not as strong as she once was.

So it was that we moved that very day, and travelled for 3 days and nights, going higher than we usually went, sleeping when we could wrapped in animals skins on the ground with only a fire for warmth, my Grandmother did not complain, but you could see that her strength was ebbing. My brother and I rigged up a deer skin on two sticks, the young men carried her, as a sign of respect to the Mother of the Chief.

We reached a high plateau, and built a winter camp, the snow then began to fall, the trees had not even shed there leaves it was to be a long hard winter the worst I could ever remember. Food was scarce , but we always found enough to keep starvation at bay, but never enough to feel full. Grandmother now never ventured out and was too weak to cook, but my Mother tended her like a child, feeding her broth and tea made from herbs, sometimes the old Grandmother returned and she spoke of when she had been young, and about my Grandfather, stories of past glories even before the tribes spilt ,stories her Grandmother had told her. She would stroke my long white hair. You will unite the tribes, my moonchild, but never forget your brother, he has great wisdom. My time is near I will join you Grandfather, and I want you and your brother to be my escort to the proving place.

Changes

That winter was very hard, the snows were early and late leaving, when the thaw came it bought with it rain and grey skies.

Two women were heavy with child, the spring would bring the joy of new life. My mother had not had any more babies since my brother and I had been born, I had seen the sorrow in her eyes whenever she cuddled a new infant, but she was philosophical and never railed against her fate. Taking over my Grandmothers duties in the birthing tent, the first women gave birth the tiny infant was still born Clearwater this was her name descended into madness her grief was so great, her eyes were wild, her black hair became wild and unkempt, she began to see visions of fire, her screams ripped through the camp. She was bound in case she hurt herself, madness was feared in our society but the mad see, sometimes what the sane do not, my Mother fed her and washed her trying to bring her mind back to where it belonged.

The second women Fawn went into labour, and gave birth to a fine baby boy, but she fell victim to the birthing fever and died. The child cried loud hungry cries which tore into the peoples very souls, as there was not another women, who had the milk to feed this tiny infant, goats milk was tried but the child needed the milk that only a mother could give, or it would certainly die. The child was growing weak, his cries were becoming weak, with tears in her eyes, my Mother picked up the baby and entered the tent of the woman driven mad by grief, she was rocking in a corner moaning, the baby cried softly, she suddenly became alert. My Mother undid the bindings on her hands, she made a grab for the baby, pressing it too her breast, the baby fed and the first time for days Clearwater was calm, the madness left her slowly, but she would always have the gift or curse of Prophecy as I would soon find out.

The grey wet days gave way, to sunshine, the season of rebirth was upon us, green shoots were appearing everywhere, as we prepared to move further down the mountains, to our Summer camps.

My Grandmother was now racked by fever, droplets of sweat were on her brow but she would still shiver and pull the wolf skin covers around her tightly. She called to her family to come to her bedside, my Father and Mother stood next to her, my brother and I next to them, we waited, dreading the words she would say, her face was weary and her eyes had sunk into her head they sparkled with fever, she gathered her strength together and spoke.

"It is my time, I want Moon and Wolf Cub to accompany me to the proving place, like you did my son for our Moon Child. I knew then that she would survive, but it is now my time to be with my husband and the children ,I lost when fever walked the land"

For the first time ever, I saw tears in my Fathers brown eyes, he brushed them away turning his head. We knew we could not argue and we made the preparations for her last journey. As the mother and the wife of a chief, her word was to be followed, so she was wrapped warmly in a fine wolf skin and put on a halter, which was dragged as close to the proving place as it could go, all of the tribe took a turn. When it became to steep we rested, she was suddenly calm and reaching down into the wolf skin bought out two identical warrior necklaces, so fine with white eagle feathers, turquoise so blue like the sky and pieces of Amber which glowed in the spring sunshine.

" I made these for you both when you were babies, and now is the time wear them with pride and remember me"

Grandmother spoke calmly and for the first time in days, stood up her body emaciated by illness, leaned on my brother and I as we walked slowly upwards to the black stone next to the mountain pool, which some say reaches to the centre of the earth, the twin moons were reflected in it's calm black waters, she lay on the smooth black stone, we kissed her cheek and she gestured for us to leave so we climbed high to a vantage point to guard her, from the beasts of the forest.

That night we did not speak, but stood together, we did not need words, and waited, when the Sun rose on a glorious morning turning everything gold we went down. Grandmother lay as if asleep but we knew that she was with her husband and children young and happy for her, suffering at an end. We carried her body down to the waiting tribe, as she weighed no more than a child, they had built a funeral pyre as befitted her rank, my Mother cried as she prepared her for the final journey.

My father lit the fire, and the age old chants were sung, as the flames licked higher, something happened a white dove appeared, as if out of the flames, everyone went silent except for the crackling of the fire. The Dove flew upwards, when suddenly an eagle appeared the men drew their bows.

"Stop wait" I cried, I had noticed the Eagles talons were furled, when an Eagles takes a bird he uses his talons, but this one seemed to be waiting, they flew together the Eagle and the Dove upwards until we could no longer see them.

The pyre was now just a pile of ashes, nobody spoke but we felt the we had witnessed, a special moment the spirits had shown us that death is not the end. When ever I felt sad I touched my necklace I felt my Grandmother was near, when I had to leave I also knew that my brother had only to touch his identical necklace and we were together in our minds.

Life went on that spring the baby that Clearwater had Fostered grew strong, his chubby little cheeks glowed with health, he would often smile and seemed to bring joy to who ever came in contact with him, Clearwater loved him as if he was her own, he had two Fathers now, what could have been a difficult situation, never arose because of his sweet nature, he was called Sunshine, because of the joy he bought. But most of all he loved my Brother, and would lift up his chubby arms, when ever he saw him, smile that special baby smile, to be rewarded by being lifted into the air, the laughter of this little soul would make everyone smile.

Clearwater sometimes had dark times, they did not last long and she would go to a quiet place to be alone, the visions she had seen worried her, leaving Sunshine with my Mother, who understood she needed to make sense of what she had seen.

It was one of these times I saw her all alone, her eyes open but not seeing, she called for me to go to her, then she spoke.

" The great fires are coming Moonchild, you will lead us, but you must learn your lessons well, go with the Wise one do not be afraid another waits for you, but be aware there is evil by the sea which will try and stop you, but if you learn quickly you can defeat the evil"

Her eyes bored into me ,I was not afraid as I sat with her, the darkness in her eyes lifted, and we walked together to the Camp we never spoke of what she had said again, but I pondered her words and wondered.

That year passed quickly and our training grew more intense, I learned to track and read the signs of the forest. The Sea people did indeed come back but we always managed to outwit them, apart from some minor skirmishes. That winter was easier than the last one and suddenly it was spring again and I knew that I would have to leave.

Twelfth Summer.

So here I stand, by the black pool, with food for my journey, my brother had made me cork inserts for my boots, made with love and in different sizes as my feet would grow as I would be a Woman when I returned. I had food and clothes for my journey, but I am afraid. My Father had bought me here, I knew he was not far away, he would guard me until she came. What was in store for me I could only imagine, I looked at the moons reflected, in that dark pool, I felt for the first time alone, and fear clawed at my heart.

The trees rustled, an old woman appeared, with a white wolf, she beckoned for me to follow, without a word, I followed, glancing backwards at the land I knew so well, I said my farewells, in my mind. We started to climb upwards, beyond the place where the trees stop growing, ever upwards, for many hours we climbed, the ancient one was as sure footed as a mountain goat scarcely pausing for breath, beckoning me upwards, the white wolf just ahead, looking round and waiting. When I thought I could go no further, my lungs were bursting and my legs ached, she stopped and spoke.

"We are here Moonchild" The moon light shone on her face, and the stars seemed brighter than I had ever seen them before , but this was a place of tall rocks, come she gestured and we entered a cave. I heard a clicking noise, as my eyes grew used to the dark, I looked around and saw a figure taller than me but with the long white hair of a Moon child, coming towards us another wolf, on a cord, was at his side, he wore the warrior necklace of the sea people. I stood as tall as I could and my hand covered the knife at my side. A boy maybe 2 years older than me a good head taller ,stood in front of me, his hair and skin like mine as pale as moonlight.

"The Wise one tells me you are a Moon Child"

"Anyone with eyes to see, can see that Moon boy" I regretted my words as soon as I had said them, I had seen his eyes they were white, he was blind I had involuntarily gasped .

"Yes I am blind and you have a damaged leg, but together we can save our people, if you are willing to learn, come and eat, you need to rest"

I had so many questions how did he know that I had a damaged leg, what was he doing here, but the smell of food made me realise how hungry I was, questions could wait. I ate hungrily out of the bowl it was some kind of stew it was delicious, after eating I could not stop my eyelids from drooping, as exhaustion claimed me. I awoke hours later, it was already morning.

" Good morning sleepy head"

It was the Moon boy , his wolf which had blue eyes bared it's teeth at me I instinctively reached for my knife.

"No Lyn this is a friend"

his hand, turned the wolfs face towards him" the wolf relaxed, but watched me with quizzical eyes.

He showed me to a small waterfall, the wolf guiding him as he made that strange clicking noise I had heard in the cave, I washed in that flowing cold clear water, washing the dust of my journey from my body, taking away the aching in my limbs. We talked as he waited for me, I felt easy in his company, even though he was from the Sea people, in this place it did not matter.

"How did you know I had a damaged leg" I asked him, when you are blind he explain that other senses like hearing and smell become better, as if to compensate, he had heard my foot steps and he could tell I trod heavier on one foot than the other, he made that clicking noise because the sound bounced back using sound as a bat would , they also have very poor eyesight does. He went on to explain that, he had not always been blind but it had come on slowly.

Do you have brothers and sisters he asked and I told him of my twin brother and my parents who I missed already. He told me his name was Sky he was also the son of a chief and had three sisters, his sister closes to him in age was about the same age as me her name was Lynx, they were close like Wolf cub and I, she had been the first person to notice that his eyesight was fading and was always there for him, guiding and devising ways to keep his condition secret. As the son of the Chief he should be the next leader, but his Uncle Sea Eagle was the next inline if anything happened to him.

I told him of my meeting with Sea Eagle, but he already knew, unknown to me the Wise one had been watching, he told me he had laughed when she told him about the bees, he had no love for his Uncle.

He then told me how he came to be here. Sea eagle was always hot headed and wanting to go on raiding parties even though his brother forbade him on the fateful day of my parents wedding party, he had stolen away with a small party of warriors, he had been carried back days later more dead than alive an open wound on his head, which was stitched together and he lay on the edge of death, for many days, he was given up for dead many times but he got better. The hair where the wound was, grew back white, he became more hot headed than ever. It was said the spirits did not want him, but people were afraid of him, his cold green eyes grew colder. He had noticed Sky‘s eyesight was fading, he bided his time one day when Sky was alone he gave him a honeycomb which had been coated with a sleeping herb, then took him high into the Mountains and left him.

Even he would not kill a Moon child, thinking that Sky would fall or an animal would do his work for him. The Wise One had found him and bought him here, and taught him ways of making his approaching blindness easier, giving him the Wolf who he had called Lyn after his sister. Lyn was a tiny cub when the Wise One gave her to Sky a tiny bundle of fluff with bright blue eyes, she had been abandoned by her Mother because she was deaf. They had formed a bond, she was his eyes and he, her ears, they even hunted together, she was never far away no matter where he went, sleeping at his feet, always watching and waiting, anticipating and guarding, as she knew I was not a threat to her beloved Master she even allowed me to stroke her thick grey fur.

We had talked for a long time when the Wise One approached, she spoke to me as she beckoned me to follow her as Sky and the wolf went back to the cave, as we climbed higher and higher.

" I see that you and Sky get on well together, that is how it should be, you have a lot to learn, but I feel that you are up to the tasks that lie a head, today you will meet a very special person, but before you do, you need to empty your mind as she will speak without a voice, but first look around you."

I stood on a high point and looked around me and saw the sea glittering far below, the first time I had ever seen the sea, then I noticed it was all round me, I lived on an island and I never knew! The mountain I stood on was hollow and in the middle was a pool of water out of which bubbles of steam rose, with a whiff of sulphur in the air. I had so many questions but the Wise One ushered me into a cave just below the summit, her finger to her lips. I followed it was very dark, it was warm and the smell of sulphur was much stronger, it made my eyes water, I could hardly see and I heard a voice, it was coming from inside my head, my heart started to pound, I looked for an escape.

"Don't be afraid my child I will not harm you " It was the voice of a woman, a kind and gentle voice, I looked around for my saviour what I saw made me gasp. It was the biggest creature I had ever seen even bigger than three brown bear, I rubbed my eyes , to make sure I was not seeing things, green scales covered the creature it's eyes were yellow flecked with gold, a pair of wings were folded on it's back. It turned it's huge head towards me it's yellow eyes watched me. I opened my mouth to speak, but the voice in my head spoke first.

"Yes I am a dragon, the very last of my kind you can call me Numba, we once out numbered people but that was a long time ago, you can either carry on being afraid or listen to me " The voice was kind I felt the fear lift from me. "Moon you have come to this place because for this Island it is nearly time for it to return from whence it came, I will show you if you let me, breathe deeply in or out slowly I did what I was told a vision came into my mind frightening in it's intensity of fire and the mountain exploding, then I was back in the cave.

"That was when the Island will die, and with it every thing you hold dear, will be gone as the island will return to the sea, from where it came. You and Sky are the only people who can save your tribes together it is possible, but you have much work to do , to prepare for the time when you will unite the tribes. I have sent visions to those who can receive them, Clearwater is one when her mind hung on the precipice, knows what is coming, and Sky's father after a bout of fever I gave him visions of ocean going craft, he will build the boats which will take you to safety. I have tried to reach Sea Eagle but his mind is closed to me, he is in the grip of Evil Sprits a Dangerous man who will try any thing in his power to stop you. Now go child but come again soon and we will talk some more.

The Wise one led me out and the sunlight hurt my eyes and I felt so tired, too tired to talk, so walked in silence downwards where Sky was waiting

"You have met Numba, I can tell by your footsteps I felt so tired the first time we met, but it get easier after the first few times, just open your mind and don't be afraid come and rest.

I fell into a deep sleep and dreamed of Dragons, fire and Sky, waking to feel ready to start my new life, what was to come I did not know but what ever it was, Sky Numba and I would be ready.

Dear Readers this story has run away with me there is so much more but no time