Chapter 1
Forceful Kidnapping
Three girls lived in a world where the four physical elements; fire, water, earth and wind, lived in harmony. Fire Lily had the ability to control the very element she was named after and was born of it as well. Water Lily, second sister, controlled the element water born of its very essence. Last of the three, Wood Earth, able to control the trees, persuade the animals and shift between the creatures of her land. Each sister was more beautiful than the last and a gem among the forest that they lived keeping it alive and thriving as the elementals of the forest.
One day the girls were putting on a show for many animals and creatures. They all transformed into birds to dance along with the wind as it sang along with their beautiful twittering song. In the shadows of the forest, a King and his two sons along with a few soldiers stood watching the girls. The King was a powerful earth magician greedy with the want for power, as even though Earth was his element, he had no control over it like an Elemental. His first son a dark haired, red-eyed boy was not as greedy as his father, but in his own way cruel. The second boy was a sandy blond haired boy, with sea blue eyes. He could control water as easily as he could think and honestly was the kindest of this small group. Each one had their eyes on a certain bird; the King, on the small brown bird whose feathers were tipped with green. The red-eyed boy kept his eyes on the fire red bird that darted back and fourth along with the wind and the blue-eyed boy kept his eyes on a beautiful blue bird. When the song ended each bird lighted down among the rocks around a pond. When they were only a few feet from the rocks the birds began to transform into the girls. All the animals and creatures slowly dispersed, the girls slipped out of their clothes and dived into the pond. The King and his sons stole up to the pond and the sandy blond hair boy froze the top to keep the girls from escaping. The King stuck his hand to the ice and had some vines grab Water Lily and wrap around her forming a cocoon.
The second son forced the water to envelope Fire Lily making a bubble around her. The only one left was Wood Earth who had to use most of her strength to keep from sucking in the water, as a plant would do when it rained. She soon almost ran out of air and went to surface. The ice subsided on purpose to allow her up out of the pond. She pulled herself out of the lake and collapsed on the ground. The plants began busily sucking the drops of water still on her body. When she was dry fire engulfed around her. The plants became scorched making her scream in pain. The other two came out of the water cocooned by the element that could harm them. The King and his sons turned to leave with the three-cocooned elemental girls behind them when a gray wolf, a red fox, and a lynx came out of the forest. They transformed into three young men. The gray wolf became a black haired man with green eyes, wolf like ears, and a gray bushy tail. The red fox became a red haired man with red eyes, fox like ears, and a red bushy tail that had brown on the end of it. The lynx became a light brown haired man with blue eyes, lynx like ears, and a bushy brown tail.
“What are you doing with them?!” asked the light brown haired man.
“We are going to take them back to the palace to live with us and sing those beautiful songs they sing.” Said the king.
“their not yours to take!” yelled the red head
“they aren’t?” snickered the king, “and are they yours?”
“it doesn’t matter hand them over.” The black haired man looked at the king approach fully
“sorry…no!” the king laughed as his dark haired red-eyed son forced fire in front of the three men. The fire burned the grass making wood earth scream out in even more pain. The king, his sons, and the few soldiers walked away from the forest and towards a kingdom many miles away in the land of the beyond where many people knew the evil king lived.
Chapter 2
A Forced Hospitality
Fire Lily, Water Lily, and Wood Earth were all thrown in a dungeon. Its floors were cold and wet. Wood earth lay in a heap on the floor soaking in the water to help her recover. Fire Lily, dried of half of the cell and warmed the ground of it. Later the next day the red-eyed prince and two guards came to the dungeon. One of the guards sitting out side the door of the dungeon cell opened it and let the prince and the two guards with him in. One of the two guards picked up Water Lily and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The other did the same with Wood Earth. They left with the girls Wood Earth looking around like a scared rabbit. After what seemed like hours, the prince looked at Fire Lily his eyes sparkling.
“I never did tell you my name.” The prince looked at Fire Lily longingly.
“I don’t care what your name is.” Spat Fire Lily “what have you done with my sisters?”
The prince looked at her and said casually as though he had not heard the first thing she said, “my name is Jonathan. Pretty normal name for a person like me right?” he looked at her expectantly. Fire Lily rolled her eyes in annoyance “would you like to see your sisters?”
Fire Lily nodded her head vigorously and waited as Jonathan produced a flame in the middle of his palm.
“Whom would you like to see first?” he asked. Fire Lily asked him to show her Water Lily first.
The flame produced an image of a guard tossing Water Lily onto a bed. The guard left the room and it seemed like no one else was in the room. Than from the shadows in the far corner of the room the sandy blond haired boy emerged completely unclothed. Ice formed around Water Lily’s feet and hands holding her against the bed. The boy moved toward Water Lily. Water Lily’s foot broke free of the ice and she kicked the boy in the gut. The boy grunted in pain and within seconds recovered. He clicked his tongue in displeasure and whistled a high pitched tune that even though Fire Lily couldn’t hear anything that was said or sounded in the image the flame produced the whistle drifted down to the dungeon and through the rest of the castle. The next thing that happened in the image was vines came out from under the bed and stuck themselves in Water Lily’s head and chest. The vines were abnormally clear. They began sucking out Water Lily’s strength. Water Lily screamed in pain as more vines dug into her body and began sucking away at her strength. Within 10 minutes Water Lily became defenseless all but very little of her strength had been sucked out. The vines let go of her body leaving no marks or proof of ever being there. The boy became pleased as he kissed Water Lily. She tried to struggle but the boy easily over powered her. He forced her out of the clothes the guards had given her. He was very rough with her, he would pull her back and hit her if she tried to get away or struggled; soon Water Lily just gave in. watching the way the boy forced her sister to make love to him brought tears to Fire Lily’s eye’s. Prince was just forcing Water Lily to sing when the image changed. From the way Water Lily looked when the boy forced her to sing Fire Lily could tell her song wouldn’t have the affect it would usually have when she sang in her human or water spirit form. The blue flame disappeared only to be replaced by a green flame with an image of Wood Earth in it. Wood Earth cowered in the corner of a bed as the guard left. By the look on the guards face, he obviously had a little bit of fun with Wood Earth on his way up. There was another person in the room. A man from what Fire Lily could tell. The shadow allowed her to know that the man was fully unclothed and by his movements, she could tell he would be rougher and less sympathetic than the boy was with Water Lily. The man threw some kind of milky liquid on Wood Earth who obviously was in pain as her skin sucked it up as a plant would with water. The man emerged into view and he was older by at least ten years. He advanced over Wood Earth who tried to slap him when her hand hit his face Wood Earth cringed. Fire Lily could see the mark left by Wood Earth’s hand. A gleam emitted in Jonathans eyes. Fire licked around Wood Earth’s arms and legs straddling her to the bed. It burned at the plants that were emitted from Wood Earth. She would try to cocoon herself in plants that had every ounce of her strength to protect her when she was afraid or over powered. The fire burned each and every plant until none was left. Wood Earth had no strength left; she was defenseless. Though Wood Earth was a little more powerful than her sisters. She never harnessed her true power. Now she lay there not able to move or to struggle. The man smiled and forced her against the bed. He was very rough with his body and touch. Fire Lily could see the pain in her sisters’ eyes as the king forced himself against her. The man forced her to kiss him and slapped her when she at first refused. The man was very abusive and aggressive with her. His body’s contact to her was even worse. He forced her to kiss him in the most ungodly ways and places. His face would light up with glee when he took her hands and slid them down his body. Wood Earth’s face showed disgust every time he forced her to do this. Once Wood Earth was able to move away slightly but the man hit her so hard that she was knocked unconscious. The green fire disappeared and Jonathan had moved behind Fire Lily while she had watched the last scene. He grabbed Fire Lily by the waist and smelled her hair. Fire Lily was to busy thinking to notice Jonathan slipping her gown off her shoulders. It wasn’t until her body felt the contact of his unclothed body did she notice. Fire Lily tried to push away but was only pulled closer. Jonathan pushed her against the cold stonewall holding her hands and arms in over her head. He kissed her and pushed against her. Fire lily tried to escape but Jonathan held her against the wall firmly. After a few minutes, he let her go.
It was not any better with Water Lily. The sandy blond haired boy whom she came to find out was called Matthew didn’t force her to do any of the crazy things the man had forced Wood Earth to do, but she ended up being pushed against very roughly and threatened many times. Matthew forced Water Lily to make love to him until sunrise; he let her be taken away by the guard that was standing outside waiting for him to finish. Water Lily was still unclothed when the guard took her into his arms. Obviously, the guards did not see many girls except for the old hags that cooked and cleaned in the castle. When the guard was out of site of the prince, he took her to his chambers where he made love to Water Lily. It was not until a few hours past sunrise that Water Lily was returned to the dungeon. The guards’ hair was out of place and obviously; he had gotten dressed in a hurry. The guard threw Water Lily into the pool of water the King had put in the dungeon. He eyed Fire Lily hungrily and turned and left. Fire Lily ran to the pool and heated it a little bit. Water Lily always recovered a little faster in hot water. But she recovered in seconds in clear, untouched by any human stuff, water. Jonathan was long gone by this time.
The man that had Wood Earth brought to him turned out to be the king. It did not stop touching and pushing against Wood Earth until the early after noon of the next day. The king had fallen in love with Wood Earth’s green-brown eyes, and rose sent, and her petal soft skin. That was the bad thing about being the earth elemental. The guard that took her had a very muscular body. He looked at Wood Earth who like Water Lily had no clothes on. He ran his hand along Wood Earth’s smooth petal like skin. The guard breathed in that rose like fragrance and immediately took her to his room. He made love to her making sure to be gentle afraid he might hurt her beautiful body and soft skin. It was not until late in the afternoon that he stopped and dressed himself. He took some time getting his clothes on because he had orders to take her back to the king around this time. His room was just two floors under the kings and the dungeon was ten floors under his own room. When he had felt her skin and kissed her dark rose lips one last time he took her into his arms and set off to the kings’ room. He left her with him and was instantly relieved by another guard. He told his friend that she would be naked and how he could sneak off with her. His friend laughed and said this maiden could not be that beautiful or soft. The guard just shrugged his shoulders and replied you will see.
The girls were brought to each mans room. Fire Lily to Jonathans’, Water Lily to Matthews’, and Wood Earth to the Kings room. After they were done a guard that stood outside of each of the rooms (that made three-guards. One outside the kings’ room; one outside Matthews’ room; and one outside Jonathans’ room) would take the girls who were all weak and unclothed and behind the kings and his two sons backs make love to the defenseless and eternally beautiful girls.
Wood earth became very weak from no sleep. Fire Lily and Water lily would always get a day off to rest but Wood Earth would go from having the King force her to make love to him to having a guard (it was a different one each time) forcing her to make love to him and instantly back to the king. Then back to the different guard after almost 20 hours with the king none stop then four hours with the guard and back to the 20 hours with the king. This pattern continued for about a week.
Chapter 3
Choices and Escape
One day the guards took all three girls out of the dungeon. Wood Earth had just got back and this time the guard who brought her showed signs of having touched her. He was stroking her skin; and kissed her before putting her in the dungeon. Wood Earth all ways cried after seeing her sisters again because she no longer had control over what men did to her. She had once again been hit into unconsciousness by the king. Water Lily took her to the small pool that was put in by the guards and laid Wood Earth in it. All of a sudden, Wood Earth woke up screaming in pain as she crawled out of the pool. She lay on the ground allowing the plants to grow around her and suck away the water. There on her neck was a collar made of fire. Before Fire Lily could inspect the collar three guards came in. They all had a muscular body. Two stopped dead in their tracks looking at Water Lily and Fire Lily. The third went forward and roughly forced Wood Earth on her feet. He had been around many beautiful women though none as beautiful as these three, but t he knew from experience that beautiful woman were never as sweet as they looked. He took hold of a chain that had come from his belt. He attached it to a thin little hole in the collar. Wood Earth tried to pull away but the collar engulfed her in flame that was neither hot nor cold, burned the on lookers or hurt them. The fire disappeared as suddenly as it had come. Wood Earth slumped to her knees as though someone had just forced a deep secret from her that she now regretted telling. The guard yanked on the chain and Wood Earth was forced on her feet. The guard dragged her out of the dungeon cell and barked at the other two guards to grab Water Lily and Fire Lily. The guards took the girls to a throne room where the king sat on a golden throne with his sons sitting next to him on either side in silver thrones.
“Ohhhh… our guests have arrived.” Snickered the king. He stood up as the guards forced the girls on their knees. He went over to Wood Earth who coward when he stood over her. “how did the collar work?” he asked the guard standing behind Wood Earth.
“it worked perfectly my king. When she tried to stay in the dungeon cell it instantly engulfed her in flames. It left no mark but she had a face that showed it had defiantly made her think other wise about staying in the cell or not listening to a thing I said.” The guard bowed deeply to the king.
“excellent!” The king exclaimed. He fingered Wood Earths hair, who cringed at his touch. “that will make it much easier for me to…” he faltered as sad brown-green eyes looked at him. He could see the tiredness of continual none stop touch of men. Then the king knew that he wasn’t the only one. “if I find any guard with this earth elemental I will personally slit their throats!” roared the king. Wood Earth Cringed and tried to back away but in the kings’ sudden anger the King grabbed her tightly by the arm ignoring her cries of pain.
“stop!” screamed Fire Lily. A guard grabbed her hair and shoved her to the ground.
The king turned an eyebrow raised inquiringly. “Why?” he asked Fire Lily.
“you’re hurting her.” Fire Lily whispered in a soft voice that only the king and the guard behind her heard it.
“So!? She is mine to do with as I wish.” With that, he turned and strode back to his throne dragging Wood Earth along with him. Jonathan flicked his wrist and a meek string of fire produced from the collar made of fire around wood Earths neck. It attached itself to the side of the kings’ chair. The Kings mood changed rather quickly and once again, he was rather pleasant like. “now the reason why I brought you here is so I could give you two choices.” He looked at Fire Lily and Water Lily as they tried to struggle out of the guard’s grips to go to their sisters’ side. The king seemed to find this amusing and went on, “but before I tell you those two choices I’m very bored so… Jonathan could you make her change into something and entertain us?” asked the king. He watched the looks of horror that appeared on Water Lily and Fire Lily’s face with amusement. Jonathan forced Wood Earth to change by grasping her by the neck. Wood Earth changed into a chipmunk and scurried out of Jonathan’s hand. The collar made of fire had shrunk to fit the neck of Wood Earth’s chipmunk form. Wood Earth tried to change back into a human only to be engulfed once more by flames from the collar. She ran around in circles and sometimes chocked herself trying to run more than five feet away from the king soon the king became bored once more and told Jonathan to allow her to change back into her human form. Wood Earth wasted no time changing back into her human form. She panted heavily a she was forced to sit down next to the king. “now as I was saying you have only two choices to chose from. You either give yourselves, your body and control of what you use your wonderful powers to do and on and how you use them or we force you to do exactly what I said in the first choice except for the giving yourselves over freely.” The king turned to Wood Earth and took her chin into his hand forcing her to look at him. “what do you say?” he asked Wood Earth. The king leaned in to kiss her but Wood Earth Turned her head only to once again feel so much pain that she just let him kiss her. When he let her head go Wood Earth looked at him tears forming in her eyes.
“I say no! I hate you! You, your sons and your guards treat us as though we’re nothing but dogs that do as you say and you can beat or toys that you can force to do whatever you want them to. I hate the way you drain my strength and beat me and move my arms, legs, head, and body as though I were nothing but a doll that you pose or move any way you want to. And I hate it!!!!” Wood Earth looked at the king with hate in her eyes.
“you!” bellowed the King his face red with furry “you have no right to talk to me that way!” he brought back his fist and hit Wood Earth so hard that she was knocked to the ground. “You have till tonight to decide! Take them away!” Guards hurried out. A guard went to get Wood Earth but the king shook his head. “Leave her here. We have some business to attend to.” The guard looked at Wood Earth with sympathy, bowed and left. Wood Earth wished he didn’t have to leave this guard (it’s not the same one that brought her into the throne room) had become her most trustworthy friend in this place. He would always search all the guards’ rooms. Sometimes he got there before anything happened, sometimes in the middle of a guard forcing her to make love to him, or just as a guard finished. Now she knew she was alone and with almost all of her strength back from just a few days away from the king (which didn’t stop three different guards every day from coming to get her and her sisters and taking them all to a room) she looked at the king as boldly as she dared.
“After that comment a little while ago.” The king said as he approached Wood Earth, “I don’t think you’ll want to speak to me again. Right?” the king looked at Wood Earth inquisitively. Wood Earth thought about this, and then nodded her head. The king smiled “well we can fix that.” He nodded at Jonathan. Strands of fire shot from out of the ground. They lunged into Wood Earths throat. When the strands came out, they had a rose and a small butterfly wrapped in them. No sign was left of the strands of fire having entered her throat except a little mark in the shape of a butterfly perched on a rose. The king looked at the rose and the butterfly. “Although,” he said, “we would like her to be able to sing. Even though she would not be able to use the power of her voice when she is in her spirit or human form to force the animals and earth creatures to obey us, right?” the king turned to his two sons who snickered and nodded their heads. With that the strand of fire that held the butterfly whipped back into Wood Earths’ throat and when it came back out the butterfly was gone from the rose on Wood Earths’ throat. Wood Earth began to silently weep as the king called her guard friend in to take her to the dungeon. The guard gently picked her up and left knowing that to the king Wood Earth was his most precious jewel though he did not treat her as one. When he was well away from the throne room, he set her down gently and held her head against his breast as she wept. When Wood Earth finished that silent crying, he gently dried the last of her tears.
“What is it he has done to you this time?” he asked his friend.
Wood Earth opened her mouth to reply but no sound came out. Once again, she wept.
“He did this to you didn’t he? He does that to many people who say the wrong things in front of him. I’m so sorry I wish I could have helped you.” He took her to the dungeon cell where her sisters waited for her.
Fire Lily and Water Lily ran to Wood Earth and hugged her. “Did he hurt you?” they asked. Wood Earth shook her head. “Did he touch you?” once again Wood Earth shook her head to this question. The guard was still in the room. He watched Fire Lily and Water Lily’s face become worried. “Why won’t you talk to us?” They asked worry written all over their faces.
At this cue, the guard stepped forward and placed his hands on Wood Earth’s shoulders comfortingly. “The king had his son Jonathan take away her voice. He sometimes gives the punishment to the young maids when they refuse him. In this case, she said something that she felt and he thinks she may use her voice against him. Luckily, he let her keep her songs.”
Water Lily and Fire Lily looked at their sister sadly. No longer would she be able to talk to them. The guard nodded his head.
“She said she’s got a plan.” He informed him. Fire Lily and Water Lily looked at him in surprise. “She says she has other ways of communication than songs and talking. She says she could talk to animals with her mind so she decided she would try it on me to see if it works. However, she cannot do it to you. Any way her plan is that she sings one of her songs to ask the plants around the castle to help get you out. She said she will sing the song in the voice of the silent butterfly and if you could help carry it over the castle.” When he finished, he looked at the girls with hopeful eyes, “she also asks if I could come along to help her talk to people.”
Fire Lily looked at Wood Earth questioningly. Wood Earth nodded her head to show she had asked this question.
When they all agreed upon letting him come along the three girls sat and closed their eyes, Water Lily and Fire Lily turned into enormous birds and began to flap their wings, soon the room was windy and among that wind a voice soft and sweet came flowing into the guards’ ears. Then the wind blew out through the glassless window and in the distance, the voice could be heard singing a song. Soon the girls stood up smiling. A hole appeared in the floor of the cell. Roots came out and wrapped around Wood Earth hugging her. A faint whispering drifted to the ears of the guard. It sounded like leaves when the wind blew through them. Wood Earth smiled and beckoned him over along with her sisters. The roots wrapped themselves around Water Lily, Fire Lily, and Wood Earth’s friend. Then the next thing they knew they were being pulled through the hole by the roots.
Chapter 4
Nothing left
When solid ground was once again felt under their feet the three girls and the guard ran into the woods all to ready to get away from the castle. When they felt they were safe they stopped to rest.
“I’ve something to tell you…” the guard said. He looked around and whistled a sound that sounded like a nightingale. A red fox and a lynx came out from behind a tree and where the guard had been there was a gray wolf. Wood Earth smiled and gestured the three animals over to her. They trotted over their ears down looking at the distrustful glances that came from Fire Lily and Water Lily. Wood Earth patted the three animals heads and nodded to her sisters. The animals whined a protest but Wood Earth shook her head. The animals turned and within seconds, they transformed into three young men. The gray wolf became a black haired man with green eyes, wolf like ears, and a gray bushy tail (he is the guard. He hid his ears and tail. To hide his ears he had a helmet on and he kept his tail tucked in his pants). The red fox became a red haired man with red eyes, fox like ears, and a red bushy tail that had brown on the end of it. The lynx became a light brown haired man with blue eyes, lynx like ears, and a bushy brown tail.
“They are animal shape shifters or as we call them the animal spirits!” cried Water Lily. Wood Earth nodded her head and gestured that she knew all along about the guard being an animal shape shifter; that is the reason why she could talk to him through her mind. The wolf (or guard) went over to Wood Earth and with a smile he kissed her. Fire lily and Water Lily were about to tackle him when he stopped. They saw a smile creep across Wood Earth’s face. It had been a long time since they had seen her actually smile. Wood Earth had forced herself to smile many times, since the king and his sons captured them, to act as though she was okay. When Fire Lily turned back towards the other two she was surprised to see Water Lily talking to the Lynx and giggling as he said something. The fox was sitting against the tree eyeing Fire Lily with curiosity. Fire Lily smiled and walked over to him.
“So what is y’ alls names?” she asked. The fox smiled.
“My names Fire Fox. The lynx is Water Lynx. And the wolf is Earth Wolf.” Replied the fox. “We can only transform into these animals but we can control a little of the element in our names.”
Fire Lily smiled at this remark. Fire Fox saw the doubt in Fire Lily’s eyes. He smiled and blew a little flame into his hand. It shaped into a rose made of fire. At first everything was right, but then a scream broke the moment. It was Wood Earth; though she can no longer speak she can make sounds such as a scream (this does not include sounds such as a fake dog bark). The collar was still around Wood Earth’s neck and it covered her in flames. The flames circled Wood Earths body and went into her mouth dying away her screams. Wood Earths eyes widened as the flames continued to go into her mouth. The fire kept flowing into her mouth and came out a white mist flowing out among it.
“Oh no! What is it doing to her?!” cried Water Lily.
Fire Fox looked closely at the flames with the white mist.
“It’s taking away her strength and closing her mind. This must be what the king planned on doing. Your sister must have tried to get away from him many times for him to do this.” Fire Fox said.
Fire Lily and Water Lily nodded. It was true that Wood Earth had tried to escape from the king a lot more than expected. Even with very little strength, Wood Earth would try to crawl away and she never got far before the king grabbed her and took her back to his bed.
Wood Earth fell to her knees, her pupils no longer visible as the flames flickered into her mouth. Wood earth collapsed on the ground and that’s when the flames stopped going into her mouth. The last silvery wisp came out from her mouth in the flames. The flames disappeared flowing towards the castle. Fire Lily and Water Lily ran to Wood Earth.
“We must take her to a tree in the forest.” Water Lily exclaimed.
“There are plenty of trees’ I think we can find at least one.” Water Lynx replied. Water Lily glared at him.
“It’s not just any tree. This tree must have a hallow like the tree she came from had. It must also have pond that is near it just like the one where I came from. It won’t need a fire like the one Fire Lily came from but it would be good to have one.”
“So you were alive then?” asked Earth Wolf
Water Lily shook her head. “No we were the spirits of those things; the only ones that lived inside something. It was our prison and our home.”
Earth Wolf picked up Wood Earth and held her against his chest as though he would lose her if he set her down. “Well then we must go and find a place like that you hve described. We must help her.” He ran off into the woods Fire Fox and Water Lynx not far behind with Fire Lily and Water Lily in their arms. By the afternoon, they reached a place with a tree, a pond, and a fire that Fire Lily made.
“Place her in the hollow of the tree. That is where she came from in the actual tree. The tree should help heal her back to her full strength. Then we must leave and come back in two and a half days to bath her in the water so her body can regain the water the fire burned away.” Ordered Fire Lily. Earth Wolf kissed Wood Earth one last final time before he placed her into the tree. Once she was placed in, (she was laid in there curled into a ball) they left to look for another place to stay.
Chapter 5
A Discovery
It had been two and a half days and Fire Lily, Water Lily, Earth Wolf, Fire Fox, and Water Lynx came back. They took her out of the tree only to find that she had cocooned herself in vines, leaves, and flowers. As gently as possible they placed the cocooned Wood Earth into the water. The cocoon disappeared and Wood Earth came into to view. The tree obviously decided she becomes dressed. Wood Earth was wearing a dress made of rose petals. Water Lily explained that the tree would make clothes for Wood Earth. Most of the time, it would take petals from flowers and enlarge them to fit into a dress.
The five people left Wood Earth. They would come back in four and a half days to see how she is doing.
Three days went by and Wood Earth had recovered somewhat; though she still did not awaken, she had lived so far. On the third day, a man who was in his fifties came by. He had black eyes and light brown skin. He went over to the pond and drank from it. That is when he noticed a figure in the middle of the pond. It was below surface but ripples were produced showing that the thing was breathing. At first, the man turned to run but thought otherwise. ‘What if it was a person?’ he wondered ‘what if someone had banished a beautiful maiden into the pond? In addition, if I saved her would she be forever in debt to me?’ he undid his boots, took off his shirt sword and belt. The man dove into the water careful not to bring any thing that could contaminate it. When he reached the middle of the pond he hesitated. ‘What if it is a beast?’ he asked himself. He shook the thought out of his head. The man dove under the water. The pond was deeper than he expected. In addition, the water near the body was warmer than the rest. He risked opening his eyes and was surprised that it felt as though no water were coming into his eyes. He looked at the person and marveled at the site of a beautiful woman either sixteen or seventeen. He reached out and took her into his arms her skin was as soft as petals. Around her neck was a collar. When he swam back to the land and placed her on the ground the collar burst into flames. At first, he was afraid she might burn but when he noticed the flames stayed round, her neck he figured that whoever put her in the water must have been a sorcerer. He laid her on her back then when she was perfectly straight, he took his hands and pushed against her chest until she coughed. Surprisingly she had swallowed no water. When she moaned and shifted to her side the man noticed a mark on her neck. It was he shape of a rose. The girls’ eyes’ fluttered open and before he could take a closer look at the mark on her throat the girl backed away at a swift speed.
“Wait!” cried the man. The girl stopped and looked at him. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He told her, “my names Fredrick. I saw you in the water so took you out of it afraid that you might be hurt or something.”
The girl nodded her head. She pointed at her throat and shook her head. At first, Fredrick was confused but then he noticed that she had not spoken a word. “You can’t speak can you?” he asked. The girl shook her head. She looked around and took a stick that had fallen from a tree into her hands. She knelt on the ground and began to write with it in the dirt. Her dress had begun to welt, which he thought was odd until he remembered the smell of flowers that came from the dress. That is when he knew it was made of flower petals. He went over to where the girl was writing in the dirt. He waited patiently until she was done. She got to her feet only to wobble and have her knees buckle under her. Fredrick caught her and sat her gently on the ground. The girl pointed at what she had written and made a gesture as if she were reading. Fredrick went over to the writing in the dirt and began to read. It was written in beautiful cursive handwriting.
My name is Wood Earth. I am 17 years old. Where are my sisters Fire Lily and Water Lily?
Fredrick shook his head sadly. He turned to her.
“I have not seen any other people nearby or any maidens such as yourself.” He told her. Wood Earth pointed at the sky and then her wrist “the day?” he asked. She nodded her head. ‘Damn! I am getting very good at this.’ He thought. He turned to her. “What day and month do you last remember and year.”
Wood Earth once again bent down on the ground and wrote:
Fredrick; the year was 1772 and it was June 3 that I remember last.
Fredrick read what she wrote. He turned to her smiling.
"That was only five and a half days ago.” He told her. Wood Earth smiled. Fredrick helped her to her feet. “ Come with me. You can live with my wife and kids. I have three little girls and two boys. My two oldest are about your age one is sixteen the other is seventeen.”
Wood Earth nodded her head. What other choice did she have? Her sisters were not here and she definitely did not want to go back to the king. She allowed Fredrick to pick her up for she could barely walk. Fredrick carried her to his house, which took until nightfall to get to. Wood Earth still had plenty of bruises on her arms and legs from when the fire from the collar had entered her mouth. Her eye was still black from when the king had hit her the day she escaped from the castle. Wood Earth was fast asleep in Fredrick’s arms when he reached his house. His wife was standing at the doorway when he came into the light of her lamp.
“What have you done this time?” she asked him. Fredrick shook his head.
“I found her in that pond we get our water from and stuff. Someone must have stuck her there.” He told her “ and Julian look at this!” he pushed Wood Earth’s hair out of the way and showed his wife the collar of fire “ someone placed that on her neck. The poor girl can’t take it off.”
His wife, Julian, looked at Wood Earth. “What is her name?” she asked Fredrick as she let him into the house with Wood Earth.
“Her name is Wood Earth. She is seventeen just like our oldest daughter Faith is.” He laid Wood Earth on the bed in the guest room of their house. Julian lighted a lamp on the desk next to the bed. That is when she noticed the bruises on Wood Earth’s body.
“What happened to give her these bruises?” Julian asked her husband as she examined the one that had once again begun to bleed.
“ She wouldn’t say. She cannot speak, has no voice the poor girl. The only thing she did was point at her bruises then at the collar. I couldn’t understand what she was trying to say.” Fredrick explained to his wife. Julian nodded her head and hurried out of the room. In a few minutes, she came back. She had bandages in her arms and a bottle of something along with it. She took the bottle and poured some onto a cloth she took out of a pouch she was carrying. Julian dabbed the stuff on the bleeding wounds. Then she took the bandages and wrapped the wounds she just dabbed the medicine upon. The next day Julian came into the room to check on Wood Earth. She was surprised to find Wood Earth awake and the bruises that had not bled gone even the one around Wood Earths’ eye was gone. When Wood Earth saw the woman, she moved to the other part of the room farthest away from her. Wood Earth still had a hard time trusting people. Julian shook her head.
“It’s okay sweetie. I will not harm you just come here so I can check those bandages.” Julian told her. Wood Earth looked at the bloody bandages on her arms and legs. She smiled, if this person were here to harm her than they would not of put bandages over her wounds. Wood Earth sat on the bed and allowed the woman to undo the bandages. Julian was surprised to find the bruises all gone no sign of there ever even being a bloody wound except for the bloody bandages. Wood Earth smiled at Julian, she took Julian's hand into her own and moved the other over Julian's hand as if writing something. Julian caught on and left the room. She came back with some scrolls, an ink pen, and some ink. Wood Earth took the scrolls and began to write. She handed Julian the first scroll with her perfect cursive writing.
When Julian finished reading what Wood Earth had written.she looked at Wood Earth sadly, “I had heard that the king had taken three maidens into his castle and locked them up against their will. If I had known the girls were as young as you, I would have tried to help. As far as you staying here, I would not care less what the king will do if he finds out. You have no way of surviving if you cannot speak.” Julian told Wood Earth. Wood Earth smiled. She nodded to indicate that she would stay.
Four and a half days went by and Fire Lily, Water Lily, Earth Wolf, Fire Fox, and Water Lynx came back. Water Lily dove into the pond with Water Lynx. When they resurfaced, Water Lily was worried.
“She’s gone!” Water Lily cried. Fire Lily had begun circling the pond. She stopped on the opposite side of where they came.
“There has been writing in the sand.” Fire Lily informed them. She closed her eyes and laid her hands on the two sets of writing. The sand with the writing hardened Water Lily made water spred over the writig so Fire Lily began to read, “My name is Wood Earth. I am 16 years old. Where are my sisters Fire Lily and Water Lily? Wood Earth must have been talking to someone. 'Fredrick; the year was 1772 and it was June 3 that I remember last.' I‘m guessing this Fredrick has taken her.” Fire Lily looked at her sister with worry.
“I know a man named Fredrick.” Wolf Earth informed them. They all looked at him in surprise. “This man is a friend, he lives in a farm house about half a days walk from here. However, we cannot go now. The Kings soldiers are nearby. They usually stop by his house to get provisions but that is during winter. I have no idea why they would be heading that way now.” Fire Lily and Water Lily began to protest but they have learned that whatever the boys say is always for the best well at least sometimes.
<<font;center>Chapter 6
Taken back
Wood Earth was happy for the two days she was there. The children had lots of fun playing with her and were always amazed when the wild animals allowed her to pet them. Then by pure accident she changed right in front of the children’s eyes. She changed into a brown Wolf With a green tipped tail. The children screamed in surprise. The kings’ soldiers were nearby. When they saw Wood Earth change back into her human form, they watched as she entered the farmhouse.
“Go tell the king we found the earth one and possibly the others. Oh! In addition, tell him she is able to control animals. That wild Rabbit should be enough proof.” One of the guards ordered. He was the same guard who took her to the king the day she escaped.
Wood Earth went back into the house to find the complete family waiting.
“Why didn’t you tell us about your ability to change your shape?” asked Julian. Wood Earth took some paper, ink, and an ink pen and began to write. She wrote as smoothly as ever on the paper. She handed the paper to Julian. “I couldn’t tell you for fear the king would find out. I am so sorry I have probably put your family in danger by staying here. If you wish me to I will leave.” Julian read. She shook her head, “no… I could never ask you to leave. You have helped us so much by keeping the animals and bugs away from our crops. We have more harvest than usual and they are worth more because of theirplumpness. It is a blessing Fredrick found you.”
Wood Earth smiled. Before Julian or any one else could say anymore, a loud knocking came from behind Wood Earth.
“Open up!” cried a voice from behind the door. “We are here on the orders of the king! You are sheltering a woman who escaped from the castle prison. We have come for her so open up!”
Julian quickly told Wood Earth to change. Wood Earth changed into a spider and crawled on to the wall. The collar around her neck looked as if it were only part of her coat. Julian opened the door only to be shoved to the side by three soldiers followed by the king and his two sons. The king looked at the family and his eyes fell upon sixteen-year-old Stacy. He smiled and said, “If the girl is here boys than you can take this pretty gem as a reward.” The king grabbed Stacy and pulled her away from the others. Wood Earth jumped from the wall at the king and started to change into a tiger. The king turned and called to Jonathan who immediately made fire engulf Wood Earth. Wood Earth fell to the ground in her human from. She tried to get up but fell as the fire burned at her more. Julian, Fredrick and their kids stared at Wood Earth. Julian and the little ones began to cry as the fire entered Wood Earth’s mouth. Wood Earth watched as a rabbit was stabbed to death by the guards who laughed as it died. Then the fire was forced back out, and Wood Earths’ eyes began to glow. The Fire disappeared and Jonathan was forced back. The dead rabbit was engulfed in green light and within seconds, it hopped out of the house and away from the astonished eyes of the soldiers, the king and his sons, and Julian and her family. Wood Earth fell to the ground in a heap. They could see her chest slightly move up and down as she slept through her unconsciousness. Stacy was thrown into the guards’ arms who laughed as they messed with her. The king stepped towards Wood Earth. Julian jumped in his way.
“Leave her be!” Julian cried, “She is way to special to be with you!”
The king shoved Julian aside and picked Wood Earth up. He looked at her as loving as possible for him.
“She is a wonderful woman. When we find her sisters than we will have control of all four elements” he laughed and added “and wives who can make us live for eternity.” The king kissed Wood Earth. He turned and walked out of the house his sons following and then the guards with Stacey.
Fire Lily, Water Lily, Earth Wolf, Fire Fox, and Water Lynx were hiding in the nearby trees when the king and his sons showed up with three guards. They waited silently as the guards banged on the door. They could not hear what the guards were saying. When the door opened, the six people went into the house. Water Lily and the others waited patiently when a green glow emitted from the house. Fire Lily, and Water Lily grew impatient. They each turned into a pigeon and flew towards the farmhouse before Water Lynx, Fire Fox, or Wolf Earth could stop them. Then the king came out of the house with wood Earth in his hands and another girl who the guards were teasing. The kings two sons looked up and saw the birds. They acted as though they Fire Lily and Water Lily were just any other bird though they knew it was not true. They quickened their pace to stand on both sides of their dad they drew their swords to act as though they were guarding him. Then they told the king about the two birds. The King looked up and he could see them.
The next thing Water Lily and Fire Lily knew they were on the ground held there by water and vines. Matthew approached Fire Lily and placed a collar formed from water around her neck. The King approached Water Lily and placed a vine around her neck.
“Did you think you could get away from us that easily?” Matthew asked, “now that we have you we can use you to finish a little something we were going to do with you.” He and the king snapped their fingers and the girls were covered in the same element their collars were made from. Vines went into Water Lily’s Mouth and sucked away her strength and a little something extra went with it that Matthew grabbed and slid into a pouch. He picked up Water Lily and turned waited as water went into fire lily’s mouth in a small stream. It took away her strength that she had right then and the same little something that was taken from Water Lily. Jonathan took the little something and placed it in a pouch on his side. He then scooped up Fire Lily and stepped into a cart when his dad and brother were in it. The cart moved away with the guards following close behind on horses Stacey was placed in the cart with the king and his sons.
Water Lily, Fire Lily, and Wood Earth awoke later that day to find themselves in a room with Stacey. Stacey looked up tears in her eyes.
“ The guards scared me. I b-blew them out of the room. The-the king said I could control the element wind. He said I am now his. I do not think he was talking about his as in him and his sons. What do I do?” Stacy began to cry.
Wood Earth looked at her sisters. “We must tell her her true name, so that her powers can truly awaken.” Wood Earth told them. Water Lily and Fire Lily nodded in agreement. Water lily turned to Stacy.
“Stacey. You need to know what your real name is. Would you like to know?” Water Lily asked Stacy who nodded, “your name is Wind Angel.”
Stacey looked at Water Lily in surprised as she changed. Her figure became perfect and her skin fair. Her hair took on a yellow color and her eyes became a misty gray. When the light dimmed, Wind Angle stood in front of them. Before they could say something, the door burst open and the king and his two sons came in. The king grabbed Wood Earth and threw her into the arms of a guard who had just come in. the guard held Wood Earth by the arms but he did other stuff, which the king hardly noticed, to her. The king took Wind Angle by the arms and pushed her against a wall holding her by the neck so that if she tried to blow him away she would go with. Jonathan grabbed Fire Lily and held her hair and twisted her arm behind her back and shoved her towards the door where he waited impatiently for the others. Matthew actually did not have to force Water Lily to follow. She followed to stick with her sisters. The king, his two sons and the guard took the girls out to the garden. The King tied Wind Angle up and set her aside for now. He then took Wood Earth and tied her hands behind her back. Matthew and Jonathan did the same to Fire Lily and Water Lily. They gave Wood Earth, Fire Lily, and Water Lily to some guards who forced them to watch as the King picked Wind Angle up. He took a knife from in his robe and stabbed Wind Angel in the chest. Though Wind Angle is a wind elemental, her human body is solid which makes her very easy to kill. Water Lily, Fire Lily, and Wood Earth cried out as blood began to trickle out of Wind Angles mouth. Wind Angle smiled and said “I’ll come back someday.” Then she died her last breath drawn. Wood Earth was bent over sobbing and hugging her chest as a wave of pain overcame her. She cried out and twisted around the ground. Many animals came to try to comfort her but they only left in a hurry when Wood Earth cried out. Water Lily was not any better she dragged her self to a nearby pond and slipped into its cool waters. Fire Lily had burst into flames and was engulfed in a circle of fire as she tried to relax herself. Wood Earth's screaming startled many of the guards. They have never heard such a mournful cry filled with pain. Even the king for a few seconds regretted doing this. Then he remembered if he was going to get complete control over Wood Earth, he must make sacrifices. Wood Earth stopped screaming but the king, his sons, and the guards felt as though they could still hear it.
Chapter 7
No Memory Left
The king took Wood Earth into his arms and trudged off to the castle where the final step to gaining control of the girls lied. Matthew fished Water Lily out of the pond and followed his father. Fire Lily’s fire had finally died down so now she was being scooped up into Jonathan’s arms. He cradled her as if she were a newborn baby. He hurried after the others. The king and his sons went into a big room. The room had three chairs each a certain element. One chair was made of fire for Fire Lily. A second chair was made of water for Water Lily. The third was a chair of vines for Wood Earth. The king and his sons had forced the girls to make these chairs the first day at the castle. They set each girl in their chairs. The chairs wrapped themselves around each girl; the only part of the body that is visible would be their heads. Vines separated from the chairs these were abnormally clear (these were the kings own magic vines) they stuck themselves into Wood Earth’s head and the clear vines became filled with a shiny bluish-silver liquid. The king just allowed the liquid to disappear into the air. The same thing was happening to Fire Lily and Water Lily. Some clear strands of fire have embedded themselves into Fire Lily’s head and were sucking out the same bluish-silver liquid as the vines. Strands of clear water were embedded in Water Lily’s head and they extracted the same liquid as the others. Each girls face was screwed up in pain. The clear strands of water, fire, and vines came out of Water Lily, Fire Lily, and Wood Earth’s heads all tangled around the chiars. The chairs in which the girls were wrapped in subsided and each girl slumped to the ground. For a few minutes, nothing happened. Then Fire Lily began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around. She looked at Water Lily and Wood Earth with a curious gaze. The king smiled, Erasing the girls memories until the only thing left is when they lived in the element they controlled was easier than he had expected. Fire Lily got up and staggered Jonathan caught her elbow to make sure she didn't fall. Fire Lily jumped in surprise and looked at Johnathan.
“Who are you?” she asked turning to Jonathan. She looked up at him expectantly. “Where am I? How did I get here?”
Jonathan looked at her with a deep compassion and replied, “my name is Jonathan. You are in my fathers’ castle. In addition, I found you when I was walking past a small fire. I could not leave you there because some bandits were nearby. So I gathered you up in my arms and brought you here.”
Instantly Fire Lily decided, she could trust him. Something stirred in her heart but Fire Lily just ignored it.
Water Lily by now had also begun to stir along with Wood Earth. They sat up and looked about very confused. Fire Lily turned to them and looked each up and down.
Wood Earth made a few attempts to speak but when no sound came out she made some gestures. The king looked at Wood Earth in confusion. Then after some thought he understood what she was trying to say. The king stepped forward.
“I am the King. You are in my kingdom,” he looked at her as she listened to him, “I found you in the forest unconscious. I couldn’t leave you there so I brought you her.”
Matthew just got done telling Water Lily the same thing. Wood Earth decided to trust the king. She even thought she might be falling in love. Water Lily felt the same way. The girls looked at each other and instantly knew they were sisters. The king took Wood Earth by the hand and led her out of the room. Water Lily allowed Matthew to lead her out of the room. Jonathan took Fire Lily’s hand and they left the room and followed Mathew and the king. The boys led the three elementals to a room already for them. The room was huge! It had three beds. Each girl looked at the beds with curiosity. They had never seen such a thing. Water lily crept up to a bed that had sea blue blankets. She stuck out her hand and touched the surface then jumped back ready to fight. When nothing happened she sagged into the bed with a sigh. It was the softest thing she had ever felt. Wood Earth stabbed a bed with green and brown blankets. When no sound was made she layed down in it and fell asleep. Fire Lily jumped onto a bed that had blankets on it that made it look like fire. Within minutes, they were asleep. Jonathan left the room as quietly as he could, making sure not to wake them. Matthew lightly brushed Water Lily’s cheek with the back of his hand. The king went up to Wood Earth who was lying asleep on her back. He kissed her lips and then left.
The next day the girls awoke. They stretched and looked around. They felt like going for a swim. Therefore, they left the room and went outside to the three clear ponds in the back of the garden. Wood Earth stripped off her clothes and dove into the lake it was very cold. Fire Lily put her hands to the surface of the water and heated it. Wood Earth sighed at the heat. Water Lily and Fire Lily turned away and went to the other one. Wood Earth lay on her back and allowed the water to keep her afloat. She then dove under the water and swam along the bottom for a few minutes. When she popped back up to the surface, she cried out in surprise to see the king in front of her. He looked surprisingly younger than he did the other day. The King smiled and swam towards her.
“I am so sorry I didn’t know you were in here.” He told her when he was close enough to not yell.
Wood Earth shrugged. The king was now inches from her face. Wood Earth looked up into his gentle brown eyes. For a moment, she saw a flash of want and greed but it was gone when his lips touched hers. At first Wood Earth drew back in surprise but then she smiled. She leaned forward and kissed him back. The next thing she knew she was making love to him. She smiled as they did this. To her it felt like the first time she ever touched a man. However, even before the king had erased her memory or took her from the forest; men had touched her many times and Water Lily and Fire Lily would always force them to stop either that or kill them. Now with all those memories gone the sensation felt new to her.
Water Lily and Fire Lily stripped off their clothes and slipped into the cold water. Water Lily swam around the water, as it got warmer. Fire Lily hated cold water. They played with each other splashing at each other. Than they dove under the water and raced to the other end of the pond. When they surfaced, they were laughing. When Water Lily looked at the end of the pond that they had just came from she stopped laughing. Jonathan and Matthew had just dived into the water naked. Fire Lily’s Eye’s gave a slight gleam when she saw Jonathan resurface. He swam to her and looked as surprised as he could.
“Hi…sorry we didn’t know.” Jonathan told Fire Lily when he was a few feet away from her.
Fire Lily smiled and just shrugged “it’s okay…” by now Jonathan was right in front of her. He kissed her and Fire Lily smiled. She allowed him to pull her close and she made love to him. Water Lily backed away from Matthew in surprise after he kissed her. Matthew tried to look innocent but did not quite succeed. Water Lily laughed and kissed him. She wrapped her arms around him and they made love.
When evening came the girls stopped and got out of the ponds and got dressed. They looked at the guys and raced them to the house. Wood Earth changed into a cheetah and ran in head. Water Lily turned into a bird and flew into the castle. Fire Lily ran next to Jonathan laughing as they ran. When the three couples got into the castle, the girls were surprised to find a meal already for them. They all sat down to eat. In the middle of the meal, a guard came in.
“My King,” he said, “I am so sorry to interrupt but some men have tried to breach the castle.”
The king growled in displeasure. “I‘ll be right there.”
The guard nodded his head and left. Water Lily turned to the king and asked, “Please can we help you get rid of them?”
The king thought for a second. It would be a great chance to see how powerful they are. He nodded and the six of them got up. They went out of the castle to see Earth Wolf, Fire Fox, and Water Lynx standing in front of them. To Wolf Earth, Fire Fox and Water Lynx’s surprise the girls all had collars around their necks but these collars had a special aura around them. Water Lily, Fire Lily, and Wood Earth looked at the three men who stood in front of them.
“Leave this castle.” Fire Lily ordered
Fire Fox looked at her in surprise. “Fire Lily it’s me what are you doing protecting him?”
“ I do not know you I have only been in this weird world for a day!” Fire Lily replied.
“ No! He erased your memory! Their the enemy’s!” Fire Fox looked at her with pleading eyes. However, Fire Lily took no notice.
“I give you one last warning. Leave this castle!” Fire Lily warned. Fire Fox took a step forward and was only captured in a bubble of water. Water Lily stepped forward her body now water like. She had changed into a water spirit to use all of her power. Earth Wolf tried to strike out at Water Lily. He fell to the ground as flame engulfed him. Water Lynx tried to attack Fire Lily who had now turned into a Fire Spirit but vines wrapped around his arms and feet. They pulled him to his knees. Water Lily’s memory of him came back as he cried out in pain as the thorns dug into his skin.
“Water Lynx!” Water Lily cried. The king looked at her in displeasure. Vines wrapped around Water Lily’s body and she ignored them. She attacked Wood Earth not with magic but with her fist. Wood Earth fell to the ground with a cry of surprise, the collar that Water Lily was wearing in her hand. Water Lily turned to Water Lynx. Fire Lily had left her duty of dealing with Earth Wolf and she had run to Wood Earths’ side. Earth Wolf, Fire Fox, and Water Lynx sat up and looked at Water Lily. Water Lynx grabbed Water Lily’s hand and they ran off with Earth Wolf, and Fire Fox following.
The king growled and quickly went to Wood Earth’s side.
“They have taken control of your sister.” He lied to Wood Earth, and Fire Lily. They looked after Water Lily and then followed the king and his two sons into the castle.
Chapter 8
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Water Lily sat on a log to catch her breath.
“What happened?” she asked.
Water Lynx turned to her. “I don’t know you tell us!”
Water scrunched up her eyes and began to think. “The last thing I remember I was being forced to…”
“He touched you again didn’t he!” Water Lynx interrupted in sudden furry.
“No!” Water Lily cried out “I was being forced to watch the king kill Wind Angle! Then I was in so much pain that I crawled to a nearby pond and submerged my self in water. That where I cannot remember except waking for just on second. However, that was long enough because I felt my memory drain and there were things in my head.”
“This is horrible!” said a devastated Earth Wolf.
“Maybe not.” Replied Fire Fox thoughtfully. “There is no way Water Lily could have gotten her memory back without the king having done something wrong. He must have let the memories free in the air around us. They could be floating around us now.”
“So is there away to get my sisters back?” asked Water Lily.
“There is a way but Wood Earth will most likely never be able to speak again.” Fire Fox informed Water Lily.
At the castle, Wood Earth was sitting in her and Fire Lily’s room. She looked sadly at Fire Lily. Wood Earth sighed and shook her head.
“I know,” said Fire Lily, “ I felt like I knew them to.”
Wood Earth made a motion with her hand as if to say, I miss Water Lily. Fire Lily nodded her head. “I do to.”
Just as Wood Earth began to silently weep, the king came into the room. He looked around with an angry look on his face. When he saw that Wood Earth was weeping his face softened. The king gathered her in his arms and talked softly to her calming her tears. Matthew and Jonathan came into the room and looked at their father with surprise, it had been a long time since the king had done this. Fire Lily looked at Jonathan with a smile. She got up from the bed and walked over to him. She slipped her hand into his and they walked out. Matthew followed them softly closing the door behind him. All alone the king lifted Wood Earths head from his chest and wiped a tear form her cheek. He took a hand, placed it in his robe, and pulled out a rose. He gave the rose to Wood Earth. Wood Earth smiled and took his hand. She led him out of the room and out to the garden. When she found a spot that was clear of any trees, she held onto his hand tightly and lifted into the air. The King cried out in surprise. Then he looked at Wood Earth who was smiling. His eyes gleamed and he looked at the ground below him. They were by now a few hundred feet from the ground. The view was wonderful! Under them were fields upon fields of crops. Then they were over the ocean, Wood Earth lowered to the ocean and they skimmed across the surface. Dolphins came to join them jumping along with them. When the king looked behind him he was surprised to see Jonathan smiling as Fire Lily helped him stay a flight. The king turned his attention back to the dolphins. They chattered with Wood Earth who was imitating the noise. (Though having lost her voice she can still talk to the animals by imitating their sounds). The king stared at Wood Earth admiring the way she spoke to the dolphins. All at once thoughts of using her powers to control the world vanished. Wood Earth saw that he was staring and blushed. The dolphins gave on last cry and then they swam off into the depths of the ocean. Wood Earth turned back towards the castle.
When the king felt solid ground, he looked at Wood Earth. Her smile was dazzling; to him she looked like a flawless angle. Wood Earth took his hand and he led her to his room. Wood Earth kissed the king as he slipped off her dress. He unbuckled his pants and took off his shirt. The king laid Wood Earth on his bed and they made love. Then afterwards Wood Earth lay on the kings’ arm and fell asleep.
Fire Lily stepped onto the ground. By now, Wood Earth had gone inside. It was begging to become sunset. Jonathan lightly tugged on Fire Lilys’ arm. She allowed him to take her outside of the castle. Jonathan took her too a steep hill where they sat and watched the sunset. Fire Lily looked at Jonathan and kissed him. The next moment she was on top of Jonathan making love to him. When they stopped, they sat and watched the last rays of the sun disappear behind the distant mountains. Her head laid on Jonathans shoulder, and soon she fell asleep. The next morning she awoke to voices. When she opened her eyes Water Lily was looking down at her. She saw Fire Fox, Water Lynx and Earth Wolf standing in front of a quivering Jonathan. Water Lynx started to attack Jonathan.
“Stop!” cried Fire Lily.
She jumped to her feet, and before Water Lily could stop her, Fire Lily was crouched next to Jonathan. Jonathan smiled and they began to kiss. Fire Fox grabbed Fire Lily and pulled her away from Jonathan.
“You don’t touch her!” Fire Fox thundered. He gave her to Earth Wolf and Water Lynx. Fire Fox took a knife from his waist and sliced at Jonathans’ throat. Jonathan gave a small cry and fell dead. Fire Lily slumped to the ground tears streaming from her eyes.
“Jonathan!” she cried. Earth Wolf and Water Lynx let her go. Fire Lily crawled to Jonathans’ side and placed his head on her lap where she began to stroke his hair. Jonathan was just barely alive. He lifted his hand to her cheek.
“I’ll always love you.” He whispered as his hand slumped to the ground. He was now really and completely dead. Fire Lily let her tears splatter Jonathans face.
“Don’t leave me.” She moaned. Fire Fox took her into his arms as her memory began to return. She wrapped her arms around Fire Fox as fresh tears slid down her cheeks. “I actually began to fall in love with him Fire Fox.” She whispered hoarsely Fire Fox placed his chin on her head. “He was so sweet to me. He was different when he talked to me. When I had actually kissed him his face would soften. He treated me totally different from what he did at first.” Fire Lily wept.
“I’m sorry.” Fire Fox told her when she had finished crying. “I never meant to make you cry.”
Fire Lily smiled at him. “But I love you more than him…” she said as she placed her head back against his breast. Fire Fox smiled.
“Sir!” cried a guard from outside the door of the kings’ room. The king got up out of the bed and put on a red velvet robe. He opened the door and looked at the guard grumpily.
“What?” he grunted.
The guard looked at Wood Earth as she shifted in her sleep. When the king saw this, he shuffled out of the room silently closing the door behind him.
“What?” the king demanded for the second time.
“Your son Jonathan is dead.” Reported the guard. The king slumped to the ground.
“Who killed him?” the king asked.
“The fox person that came last time. They took Fire Lily.”
The king waved off the guard and went back into the room. Wood Earth was wide-awake now. She looked at him and made some motions to ask what was wrong.
“Jonathan has been killed.” The king informed her. Wood Earth gave a face of sympathy. She patted her belly and rocked her arms back and forth. “You want to have a baby?” the king asked. Wood Earth shook her head. She repeated the movement. “You’re going to have a baby?” the king asked.
Wood Earth nodded her head. The king smiled in delight. A baby! Chills ran through the kings back as he thought of the idea. He hugged Wood Earth and they kissed.
Months later Water Lily and the others had attempted many times to get to Wood Earth. But the king kept her heavily guarded since the baby was on its’ way. Soon it was time for the baby to be born. The king sat at Wood Earths side and held her hand as she gave birth to the baby. When the doctor turned to show him the baby the king stared blankly at a baby girl whose ears were shaped as a wolfs and had a gray tail. The doctor laid the baby in Wood Earths arms. Wood Earth smiled with pleasure as she lightly poked the baby’s nose. She looked exactly as she did before she was pregnant. The king tried his best to smile but he could not look at the little one. When Wood Earth touched him lightly on the arm the king turned and saw as the baby’s chest raised and fell as it slept. Though he did not like the idea of the baby not being his he could not help but fall in love with it.
The baby grew to a child and soon was able to change into a wolf. The king played with the little one happy that there was at least one thing about her that was like him. She had his eyes and his stubborness. But she also had Wood Earths beautiful face and soft skin. She could control the elements as well as her mother could. For three years, Wood Earth lived with the king not knowing that her real lover was waiting for her to come back. Wood Earth one day decided to take Earthling (the little girl) out on a picnic. The king and Matthew came with them along with six guards.
Earth Wolf watched from a distance as they set up the blanket. He noticed Earthling and admired how much she looked like him. Water Lily came up next to him and looked at the little one.
“Beautiful ain’t she.” Water Lily said. Wolf Earth nodded. “You know…” Water Lily slowly said, “The king is treating her and Wood Earth very nicely. Why should we bother her happy life right now?”
“Because she needs to remember… she can’t live in his world all her life.” Earth Wolf answered
Water Lily looked at him. She could tell Wolf Earth missed Wood Earth more than anything.
The king sat down and happily enjoyed helping set up the picnic. When the guards came back informing him that the area had been scoured and no one was around the king told them to return to the castle so the guards left.
“Now’s our chance.” Whispered Earth Wolf to Fire Fox, Fire Lily, Water Lynx, and Water Lily as the guards left. Silently Earth Wolf turned into a gray wolf, Water Lynx turned into a lynx, Fire Fox turned into a red fox, and Fire Lily and Water Lily turned into birds. They came out of the forest and the king and Matthew did not pay attention to them.
Wood Earths eyes gleamed as she noticed the five animals approach. She motioned them over. Cautiously they came over to her. The king eyed them with interest. The fox crawled on its belly toWood Earth with his tail tucked and his ears back. The lynx approached Matthew who showed no signs of fear. After so many years with Wood Earth, he learned to get wild animals to come to him. He slowly stuck out his hand and the lynx sniffed it then rubbed its head against Matthews’ hand. The wolf approached Earthling slowly then it pounced at her. The king made a move to attack but Wood Earth placed her hand on his shoulder. When the king looked again, Earthling had changed into a wolf (cub ) and was playing with the wolf. The next thing the king knew all the animals had changed into people.
<<font;center>Chapter 9
A New Begining
The lynx had a dagger to Matthews’ neck; the wolf held a squirming Earthling in his arms; and Fire Fox had Wood Earth by the arms. The king looked around startled as one of the birds changed into Fire Lily. She grabbed him and held a dagger to his neck. Wood Earth did her best to struggle but Fire Fox held on tightly. Matthew elbowed Water Lynx in the gut forcing him to let go of the dagger. Matthew ran full force at Fire Fox. When Fire fox saw that Matthew was not planning on stopping he let go of Wood Earth. Fire Lily blasted fire from the ground at Matthew but the king broke free of Water Lily and knocked Matthew out of the way. The king jumped to his feet as another blast of fire came from Fire Lily. Wood Earth cried out to the king and ran in front of him. The fire hit Wood Earth in the chest sending her flying across the grass. Fire Lily stared at her sister in horror. The king was at Wood Earths side in seconds, gently holding her head in his lap. Wood Earth looked up at him and smiled.
Wood Earth made small hand movements that meant, “Now I remember…but I thank you for being so kind to me and my Earthling. I fear I will have to go… but tell my sisters to look for me. I will not be completely dead in spirit nor heart.”
The king began to cry. “Don’t go,” he begged, “I never meant for you to die!”
The next second Earth Wolf shoved the king away and wrapped his arms around Wood Earth. Wood Earth looked at him and smiled. She spoke to him through her mind, “I love you Earth Wolf,” she whispered, “take care of our little Earthling, and search for me… I will be reborn as something other than a plant…please…(cough)…I won’t remember you but…” Wood Earth did not finish for she drew her last breath. Earth Wolf huddled over her as tears poured from his eyes. Earthling came over to Wood Earth not a tear stained her cheek.
“Papa lets go…” she tugged on Earth Wolfs sleeve. Wolf Earth gently placed Wood Earth on the ground and turned away as he scooped up Earthling. Everyone followed and turned only when they herd the sound of a long mournful howl. They saw vines wrap around Wood Earth and form a kind of coffin that drew her into the ground. When they were gone a transparent brown wolf with green tipped tail and green and brown eyes stood where Wood Earth had layed. It gave one last mournful cry before slowly disappearing into the sky. Fire Lily, Water Lily, Earth Wolf, Water Lynx, Fire Fox, and Earthling watched in wonder until the wolf was gone and a new story began.
Impressum
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 24.01.2010
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Widmung:
This book was written by me and a few friends back when we were 13. Around the 3rd chapter they stopped writing and I trashed it to rewrite it my own way. Thank you girls for helping me to get the idea for this wonderful story.
On a side note... This book is unedited. It is still written as it was when I wrote it when I was 13. I am currently working on editing and fixing it.