squeezed my figure just right; they were stashed away in a box of
old clothes. I slid on the old pair of boots that I had found a few
days earlier and continued to look around investigating everything
that was in the tent. I walked over to the pile of animal fur's, where
I had hid the golden canister, I gently ran my hands over the plush
and dusty fur's.
I slowly pulled out the golden canister; holding it in my hands;
I let my fingers run over the beautiful designs and inlaid jewels
that covered it; memorizing every detail that covered the entire
canister. I slowly sat down on the bed carefully placing the
canister next to me. I moved my foot and kicked something hard
and cold. I looked down and noticed my grandmothers small
mirror that sat on the floor next to the bed. I slowly picked it up;
taking note of the beautiful intricate designs that covered the
entire mirror; it had the same inlaid jewels as the canister.
I placed it on the soft fluffy bed next to the canister and stared
at it; feeling my face flush with warmth as my eyes filled with tears;
catching my heart for just a moment thinking about my
grandparents.
I leaned over and allowed the warm, salty tears to
flow down my face.
As I sat there, crying my tears dropped
quickly, but then I realized that a few of my tears left a small
puddle on the mirrors glass, and the mirror began to glow.
"Mia." I heard my grandmothers soft voice. "My Mia, don't
cry." She said. I slowly sat upright and wiped the tears away from
my eyes. The soft muffled voice seems to have come from in front
of me. I looked down at the bed and picked up the glowing mirror;
I slowly began to wipe the small puddle of tears away; but realized
that the reflection I saw in the mirror was not my own instead, it
was my grandmother.
"Grandma." I said with tears falling from my eyes. "I told you
that I would always be with you in spirit." She said with a smile.
"But; but how?" I said wiping more tears away from my face,
holding the mirror tightly. "You found the magic of the mirror, Mia."
She smiled at me again. "I need you grandma." I said trying my
best to hold back the tears that wanted to fall.
"No, my Mia, you don't. You already know that you face a
decision, a very important decision. Should you go on the quest to
find the diamonds and finally rid the world of this growing
darkness or do you leave the world to suffer it's fate as you watch
it crumble to pieces." She said, looking at me through the mirror. "I
don't know what I should do." I replied, desperate for answers.
"Oh I think you do know exactly what you will do." She said as
the glow of the mirror slowly began to fade; and as it's glow
dimmed the reflection of my grandmother began to dim as well.
"Grandma." I said allowing the warm tears to fall freely down my
face. "Only you can find a way, my Mia, trust yourself, trust your
instincts." She said, as she slowly disappeared; once again I
found my own reflection in the mirror. She was gone.
I placed the mirror back on the bed and sat there wallowing in
sorrow and confusion, looking around the tent again. I walked over
to the table and picked up my grandmothers old brush. I brushed
my long red hair and twisted my feather back into place behind of
my ear.
I'm almost sure that I know what I need to do and how to
do it. I thought to myself as I pulled the small bowl of water toward
me and splashing my face, with hopes that no one would see that
I was crying.
I dipped my finger into the bowl of berries that my
grandmother had made and ran it over my lips staining it red
again. I stood there for a while; with my head hung down and my
hands pressed hard onto the table. I tried hard to clear my mind
and not think about anything, but unsurprisingly I couldn't shake
anything from my mind. I did know one thing for sure though, I
wasn't gonna let anything happen to my family, my friends or to
Jon. Even if that meant that I would die trying to protect them.
I went back to the soft fluffy bed and slowly sat down. I
opened the golden canister and took out the scrolls that were
tucked neatly inside. I grabbed the bowl of water and put two
fingers in it; then as the water dripped off my fingers, I placed it
onto one of the the scrolls, as the water seeped into the paper
words once again began to appear, and as my grandmother did
before; I stood the mirror up against the small old pillow and
placed the scroll in front of it, as the words became clear:
You will follow the path laid in front of you by the light of the red
moon. You will be tested to ensure that you are worthy to hold
such power. You will be faced with many trials as you pass
through the mountain. If you remain true to your quest you will
find the diamonds.
You are the only one who can send this evil
back to where it came from.
I sat there for a bit, thinking about what the scroll said. I
wasn't sure what to make of it. I knew in my heart that those words
would eventually bring me and anyone else that chose to follow
me home. I pondered the thought that what if no one wanted to
come with me.
As I thought about it after what happened last
night I wasn't so sure I'd be going on this quest alone.
I knew that I had to go and find the blood diamonds. I needed
to finally rid the world of this darkness that has returned
generation after generation. I knew that I needed to tell everyone
what I had in mind.
I slowly pulled back the door of the tent and
peeked out and noticed everyone sitting around the fire; they were
just staring at the flickering flames, the cool fresh air felt nice on
my skin as I stepped out.
"Mia." Tucker said scurrying quickly to his feet. Jon stood up
too and walked over toward me. He put his hands on the side of
my face and pulled it close for a kiss. I pushed closer and kissed
him back; as he savored the taste of fresh fruit juice from my lips;
and I the feeling of his soft none chapped lips on mine. "Mia." The
elders all said at once. I looked around and noticed that dad
wasn't there.
"Where's dad?" I asked looking at Tucker. "He went to pick up
Lily, she was supposed to be here last night but unfortunately she
wasn't able to make it." He said, with a slight smile. "Oh; ok." I
replied.
"Mia, come and sit. After last night we have quite a bit to
talk about today." Elder Wolf said, with a concerned look on his
wrinkled face.
"I know. I have something I need to talk to all of you about
too; but I need to wait for my father first." I replied, as I stepped
closer to the circle of men surrounding the fire. "You look nice."
Jon said, standing beside me. It was just like him to make the right
comments at the right time. "Thanks." I whispered back with a
smile. "I like your lipstick." He said softly, slightly turning his head
to look at my face.
"My grandma's very own." I chuckled, looking
back at him.
Dad and Lily got back to the camp late in the evening. I think
the elders were growing tired of waiting; but there was no way that
I would let them tell me anything, nor would I say anything without
my dad right there to hear it too. The air was thick with worried
thoughts and tightly bundled nerves.
The eventful few days have
took it's toll on my family and my friends.
It took it's toll on me
more than anything else.
Tucker and I went over to Lily and hugged her with all our
might. "I'm so glad that you're here." I said with a smile. "So am I,
Mia. I'm just happy to know that you are all ok." She smiled,
looking around at some familiar faces and others that were not so
familiar.
She sat down with dad near the fire and put her hands
out over it.
The air started to get cold again, as it began to chip at
all of us.
"Dad; now that you're both here; there's something that I
needed to say, but I wanted to wait for you first." I said standing
there in front of everyone. Jon, Tucker, Steve, and Jim stood up
as they waited on what I was about to say. I think they already
knew exactly what was going on, but was afraid to say anything.
As the nerves continued to build in my stomach, I heard the words
of my grandmother. I already knew what I had to do and I knew
that I would do it.
"Dad, Lily, Elder's, Uncle Tom; I'm going after the diamonds
and I'm going to rid this world once and for all of this demon, and
she will never return to harm any one of you or us. The
generations to follow, will never be plagued with this darkness,
and they will never have to fight her or any of her descendants or
followers ever again. What happened last night will never take
place again." I said with authority, as I meant every single word
that I said.
"Mia baby, I knew this time would eventually come. I knew
that you were going to go on this quest." Dad said, with a
saddened look on his face. "I think your ready for anything at this
point Mia; but remember self control and control your emotions."
Elder Wing said, with a stern look on his face. "You be safe, and
you guys keep her safe; if not you'll all have to deal with me."
Uncle Tom said, as he hurried off toward the creek, without saying
anything more. "Mia, I might not know or even understand what is
going on, but you come home to me; ok." Lily said as she started
to cry. "I will." I said; looking back at her, then stepping closer to
hug her again.
"My quest will begin in the morning; I don't know how long it
will take, nor can I tell you exactly where I am headed. I cannot
promise that nothing bad will happen; and I can't promise that
none of us will return unharmed. I will say this; if you do decide to
come with me, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe;
and I would hope that you would do the same for me." I said,
looking at the Elemental's that were now standing in front of me.
"Will you join me, on my quest to rid this world of the darkness
once and for all?" I asked. "Yes, we all will." All four of the
Elemental's answered.
For the rest of the evening our camp was very quiet; there
were no loud noises, no laughing, nothing. Everyone seemed
to
be in deep thought about our quest. Each person with their own
set of fears and worries.
Each one struggling with the thought's of
what if?
Sadly these were things that I could not do anything
about.
I spent most of the night
in my tent, looking over the scrolls
from my grandmother.
I stayed there, sitting on the bed studying
the drawings that were on it. I also spent a long while thinking in
my solitude.
I wanted to have all the answers, I wished there was
a book that I could read to tell me exactly what to do and what
would happen.
My own fears and worries troubled my mind; but
the thought of it affecting my quest quickly settled my mind.
Just a few weeks ago I graduated from high school, afraid of
entering the world of adult hood and all that came with it, finding a
job, going to college, my cheer squad, my friends. Yet here I am;
tomorrow we set off on a quest to find the legendary blood
diamonds, so that we can fight this darkness and protect
everything and everyone that we loved.
We were just kids; well
I'm just a kid who never left my father's side.
There was no
pretending that I was afraid but there was no other way.
As I sat there thinking I couldn't help but wonder, what this
quest would bring. What would transpire during our quest. I was
happy though, that the Elemental's would accompany me; but
then I worried about how I would keep them safe.
When dinner
was ready I sat with everyone to eat.
Still they were all quite.
I
could feel the fear that weighed heavy on everyone's energy.
As
the night grew closer to an end and everyone was filled with an
early dinner we all retired to our tents before the stars took their
rightful place in the night sky.
I slowly put my grandmothers mirror and brush into a small
bag that fit me perfect across my chest. I then placed the golden
canister into a fur pouch then into the bag. I packed a few extra
