Into the Keep of the Star

A young woman bound and leapt through the dense underbrush as quietly as possible. Two cozy looking bundles were tied carefully to her back and the woman took care not to do any unnecessary jostling of them. The night was cold and dark and hardly any sound emitted from the forest around her.  The woman’s chest felt as though it were about to burst as she ran steadily faster. She ran like this for over and hour before she finally emerged into a small clearing that was far away from any known city or town.

          Before she had time to stop to breath, she issued a strong, rhythmic whistle. She listened carefully, her delicate ears aware of every noise around her, and when she did not hear anything in return, she sank to her knees and nearly cried. Suddenly, she heard branches shuffling and a steady beat of something approaching. Fear gripped her and she silently pulled a 10 inch, bronze colored blade from her leather boots and sat, prepared for anything. She watched the edge of the woods and listened as the noise grew closer, then, sighed in relief as two familiar figures revealed their faces from the cover of the shadows.  She stood and bowed her head gracefully to them and began to speak but was interrupted by one of the two figures.
          “Hush, we know why you are here. Give us the burdens you bear.” The voice was rich and feminine. The women who had come stepped forward and revealed long, lean bodies, which, to the surprise of the woman before them, were that of horses, for they were centaurs of the ancient days.
          “My Ladies,” she gasped, “I had heard, but I did not believe it. You have changed back…”
          “Peace, Youngling. I am still Oceana, as she is still Seanna. But, I am positive that is not why you are here. The stars say much. Give us the children. We will see to it that they are safe from evils.” The girl nodded and, with some help from the Centaurs, removed the bundles from her back.

          The three sat and talked in hushed voices for a little while, the centaurs asking questions and receiving hurried answers. They tied the children to the backs of the centaurs and were just about to say goodbye when arrows sang past them and hit their target. The woman fell dead at the centaurs’ hooves, struck squarely through the head with a strong arrow. The centaurs reared and spun back from whence they came, carrying the two sleeping babes far from danger.

          Oceana slowed to a stop once they were sure they had not been followed and looked at Seanna, who pranced nervously in place.
          “What do we do, sister? The stars move quickly. If we do not make haste we shall miss our chance! Where are the others?” Seanna’s voice, though strong and gentle, wavered as she spoke her worries.
          “Tuscan will be here. Calm yourself, Seanna; he has never failed us before…” She lifted her gaze to the heavens and noted that Seanna was correct. She shuffled her hooves and spooked slightly as she heard the merry voice of Tuscan.
          “You weren’t worried, were you, dear girls?” His bright red-brown eyes laughed as he stepped forward carrying two bundles of his own. Seanna hissed and moved toward him.
          “What took you so long? We could have…”
          “Peace!” Oceana broke in and took the bundles from his back. “We haven’t time for childish bickering. If we are to save them, and in turn, ourselves, we must make haste!” The other two nodded and held the children in their arms, slightly ashamed of themselves. Each closed their eyes and sang a sad, quiet song in a language quite unknown to mortals. While they sang, the stars in the east came into alignment and glowed brightly. The children in their arms whimpered as there was a flash of light and a Creature stood before them that was neither man nor animal. He shone with a great light and smiled to them.
          “I am here. Give me that which is to be taken from you into the safe keeping of this Star.” His voice was like that of thunder, but as smooth and gentle as a rippling brook.
          Each centaur stepped forward, heads lowered, and handed him their precious bundles. The Star looked at them in surprise, then with a loving smile said, “Four? Very well…I will take them into my keep, and, when the time is right, you shall see the jewels of your land once again.”

The centaurs nodded and murmured their thanks, and as the alignment of the stars faded, the creature before them disappeared into an unknown world. 

Reviews

[Vanessa Rico]

First off, I love the font of this story. It adds a certain richness to it that makes me feel that I am reading someone's journal from way back when. I love fantasy (and centaurs) so I really enjoyed this. You did not give too much away in this chapter, which is good. You made me want to read on and why this being needed the children...and what they are being saved from. I felt the danger that these poor kids are in, but I am highly curious as to why. Are they special? I will most certainly keep reading! I hope you add more chapters to this too!