And there she was fiercely fighting for her life with this creature of a woman, Lithia; trying to suck the life out of the girl while Imani watched in disbelief! Finally he snaps out of it and rushes over with a log and hits Lithia on the head with it! She flew off the girl and caught Imani by the neck and dragged him across the ground for a few meters; then at the halt she whispered to him.
“So you like to swing logs at women?” Lithia hissed, “That was probably the most foolish thing you could do!”
She moved her lips really close to his face and drew his breath. He could feel his life force flowing out of him and to this creature; his whole body was getting cold fast and he could feel unconsciousness smoothly taking over! Swiftly the girl slide her dagger across Lithia’s neck leaving streams of blood rushing towards her chest, enough distraction to save Imani. Lithia, disoriented for a moment bent over to the ground choking on her blood! A minute later she stood up straight ready to strike with fierce vengeance, her neck good as knew; like she didn’t even have a throat slit a minute ago!
“Damn her!” thought the girl, “At this rate I’ll need silver bullets to down her!”
There stood the girl posed to pounce at this reptilian creature now moving in for the kill. Just as Lithia was about to strike she was distracted by a familiar call, she looked we’ll petrified by it. On the second call Lithia flew off and disappeared into the darkness!
“Imani! Imani!” she yelled as she shook him vigorously
“Where is she?!” inquired a startled Imani
“She flew off” explained the girl, “There something looming about. Whatever it is gave Lithia a real good fright! We must go now.”
“That doesn’t sound very brilliant but I suppose it’s better than staying here waiting for death to liberate us!” mumbled Imani
So they set off avoiding thick forest areas and trying to stick onto a path whose end they could only hope would turn out to be favorable! Even in the solid darkness she could feel the eyes hidden behind the trees escorting them through the forest; watching their every move. Then finally the screams drew closer to them and they embarked on to a mad dash so safety! As they got to the clearing a dark shadow came over them.
“What the devil is that!” shrieked Imani
“I have no idea” whispered the girl in awe
This dragon like creature swiftly descended upon them and a young boy with tattoos all over his bald head reaching to his back appeared from the dragon like creature back! His eyes were luminous and his voice still.
“The oracle of the moon has sent me to fetch you!” said the boy
“I’ve had it with this enchanted forest and all its freaks!” declared Imani
“We have to go with the boy” said the girl “I need to consult this oracle”
“Have you just forgotten what a mess following the creatures of this forest has put us through?” asked Imani
“I’m going with the boy” insisted the girl, “feel free to come with me”
The mounted the dragon like creature and off into the skies they flew! Over the forest and the sea; it was beautiful! The boy didn’t talk much he just steered the dragon like creature over the sea. Then suddenly they took a tailspin towards the sea! They falling fast and hard, with each second the water drew closer to them!
“What are doing?” demanded Imani
“We’re going to see the oracle.” Responded the boy
“Is the oracle in the afterlife?” asked the girls concerned about their impending death
“You need to trust your journey” replied the boy with a conviction laced voice
Even before they could air more grievances they all took a plunge into the water and they went deeper and deeper into the depth of the sea and into a coral cave! It was a beautiful place with beautiful patterns on lining the tunnel and sparkling gems floated in the tunnel to light their way!
“How can this be?” asked the girl “Such magnificence where no one can reach!”
“I’m more interested in the fact that we are still alive at the depth of the sea! Shouldn’t we be drowning or something!” mused Imani
“The world is indeed full of wonders” thought the girl
As they went deeper into this underworld they got to a landing paved with pearls and in the distance the could see a temple like structure made of pearls and so many glowing gems floating around it that it dazzled in a manner so magical!
“This is as far as I go” said the boy “the journey is yours to conquer.
“Is that fancy place where the oracle lives?” asked the
“That’s where she consults Luna; it’s a place of thanks giving for all” replied the boy “we don’t need walls to confine us here.”
So they set off towards the pearly temple taking in every amazing detail of this paradise. The universe is just but awesome; how beautiful it is to have kingdom under the sea! A place where people were not confined by walls, where everybody had nothing to hide! And the only walls were the pearly arches that adorned the thanks giving shrine. As they drew closer to the pearly shrine there was a coral tunnel; a really dark tunnel. The girl walked on and as she was about to get in to the tunnel she realized Imani wasn’t beside her. She turned back and there he was rooted to the ground.
“What’s the matter?” she asked
“I don’t want to go in there” replied Imani
“It’s just a tunnel and you saw where it leads” said the girl “It looks quick and painless!”
“All we’ve been through is just too overwhelming for me! Replied Imani in distress
“We’ll we can’t stay out here forever, the only way out of this is by getting to the other side” assured the girl, “besides, I’ll take care of you, like you took care of me”
She smiles and holds out her hand; he takes it and the walk into the tunnel. So dark was it that they had to feel their way around. The walked on for a while when suddenly it got really cold, they walked on for a bit and it felt as if they were walking in circles.
“This is not right” thought the girl “this didn’t look that long a tunnel”
“Darn it your hands are cold!” said Imani
“How can you tell?” asked the girl
“Because they’re on my neck and freezing me to death” retorted Imani
“Imani I’m only holding your hand and my other hand is groping the wall!” said the girl her voice betrayed her deep concern.
Suddenly she too felt a cold caress on her face and instinctively she ejected volts of energy from the sun stone embedded on her palm causing a flare of dazzling light and excruciating scream from this creature as it received volts of energy. In the entire glow it was impossible to miss all the ghouls creeping about the walls!
“We’re surrounded!” whispered Imani
“I noticed” whispered the girl back
The ghouls were closing in fast and she knew they were definitely out numbered! One by one they fought them off but they were just too many and there are only so many surges of energy the girl could emit in such short span of time! Then one of them grabbed her! So cold was its touch and she could feel it draining her power! And it occurred to her that there comes a time when physical strength is just not enough to help you out of a fix; so she chanted a prayer invoking protection from the creator. As she chanted she could feel water trickling in, it was rising fast and the ghouls were retreating into holes in the walls! But the water kept rising and the both had to tread in it just to breath!
“What was that you said about drowning earlier!” the girl mocked
“So this is how it ends!” shrieked Imani
“I think we’ll get out of here if we find the source of the stream before it’s too late!”
So the swum around the cave till they finally got to the source of the stream and as sure as death the found they found their way out of the treacherous tunnels! They were too busy catching their breaths and celebrating life to notice that they’d made it to the pearly temple!
“I can’t believe we’re still alive!” said Imani
“What do say we go into this fancy place and give thanks!” teased the girl
So they walked into the magnificent temple; it had such beautiful arches that let the breezes in and out freely and the finishing was just so enchanting. The walked on to the altar and she went on her knees, closed her eyes and spoke to the creator. When she was done, her eyes were graced by the most beautiful woman she’d ever laid eyes on! She blushed and broke the gaze.
“I’ve been expecting you for a while now”, Said the oracle “you’ve done well; conquered you journey with such passion”
“Thank you but I couldn’t have done alone!” explained the girl “my dear friend Imani and the creator walked with me on the journey not to mention you came to our rescue in the enchanted forest- thank you kindly”
“Your modesty amuses me” smiled the oracle “I have a gift for you; Luna thought it would be fit for a passionate seeker like yourself”
“I’m flattered” said the girl.
So the oracle asked the girl to lie down, she placed the Moonrock on the girls navel and asked Imani to join them the all held hand and the oracle chanted a prayer which as if by magic caused a luminous tattoo to grow about the girl’s body! From the right side of her navel the tattoo grew down to past he hip and right cheek and around her thigh; from the left side of her navel it grew upward past her ribs round her back up her right shoulder and neck behind her right ear to her temple into her eye. When the chanting was done the rock ceased to exist; when the girl opened her eyes, her pupils had changed colour, they were silver like the moon! It was clear that she was one with the moon; a Moonrock to unlock our minds and illuminate our thoughts.
CHAPTER 3: I Am the wind; watch me dance…
