My Protectors

Our home was once filled with laughter. There were great skies filled with clouds, butterflies and happinesses. The children played in the grass and washed their hands in the flowing river. The dogs barked and the birds chirped all in perfect harmony. Our houses where consumed with the smell of freshly baked cookies. The jacaranda trees blew in the breeze, the flowers dispersing like purple rain falling from the heavens.

But then everything changed. Over the period of a week, our once magnificent world was overrun with unimaginable terror. Our new reality made out of the nightmares of children.The nights came early and clouds like smoke, suffocating any hope we had left. The birds and the dogs had vanished, their songs replaced with deafening screams. We were trapped there, lost and forgotten. No one knew exactly what happened. They said that the fires came first, then those born out of the Ashes. Next where the Shrieks - the bird-like creatures whose cry was the most sorrowful sound in the world, causing heartbreak to all those who heard it. But they spoke of one thing that could restore our beautiful home, one thing that could bring hope and happiness and laughter back into our lives. A heart shaped locket which held the memories now swallowed in darkness. And it was my mission to find it.

When the fires stopped burning, the ash laid dormant for about a day, when all of a sudden it was drawn together like magnets. From the ash came the humanoid creatures whose howl summoned the Shrieks. There was a special connection between the Ashes and the Shrieks. The Ashes were born blind and were guided by the Shrieks’ telepathic abilities .

“The journey outside the shelter is a dangerous one. The Ashes patrol the grounds and capture anyone who tries to escape. Please be careful my darling one”. These were the last words my mother said to me before I left. I had done a lot of research and I knew just how to avoid the creatures. But still I was terrified. I kept to the shadows, hoping the the shrieks couldn’t see me from the skies. I looked beyond the trees, now covered in darkness and planed my route. I knelt down, getting as close to the ground as I could and made my way across town as quietly as silently as possible.

I found refuge in a dark cave. Cold, lonely and frightened, I laid my head down on my bag and listened to the sound of the destruction being caused around me. I could feel the locket calling me, it’s essence singing to my soul. It started to rain. I fell asleep to the sweet sound of raindrops hitting the river. I woke up to the feeling of a presence standing over me, I kept my eyes shut tight. The creature knelt down and laid beside me, keeping me warm. I fell back asleep.

When I woke up the next day, with blurry eyes, I looked around the cave. The creature was gone and in its place was a small pile of raspberries. After having breakfast I planed my next move. I noticed something strange outside, a single ray of sunlight. There hadn’t been this amount of sun since it had all started. I left the cave and continued on my journey.

I ran through the forest, tripping over the roots of the tress. I could hear footsteps chasing me, my heart was racing. I didn’t notice the low hanging branch in my path. Bang. Everything went dark. I could feel the blood dripping down my face. I tried to stand but my legs were too weak. I crawled along the forest floor, trying to find a safe place to rest. Bugs were crawling up my arms. I looked up when I saw the creatures feet, I looked like ash. I tried to scream but no sound would come out. He knelt down, and stoked to blood away from my eyes. He seemed almost kind. Not like the others. He reached out his hand and I realised that he was the creature that visited my cave the previous night.

We walked together, hand in hand, for what seemed like an hour. We stopped when we came the the edge of the river. He looked at me, looking almost sad. I stood there confused. He looked back at me and pointed to the water. He dipped a single finger in the water and watched as it dispersed and floated away with the river. I understood what he was trying to tell me. I noticed his Shriek on the other side of the river. I was frightened but I new some how that they weren’t going to hurt me. The Shriek looked injured. I gestured to the creature to climb on my back so I could help him across the river.

Once on the other side, the creature embraced the Shriek. The bird-like animal let out a sound I had never heard before. I sounded like a screech, cry and laugh all rolled into one. I was terrifyingly beautiful. By this time it was getting dark. I knew I needed to find shelter. I stood up and started to leave when the creature grabbed my hand. The shriek stretched out its wing, I climbed under it and felt the Shrieks power as it encapsulated me, protecting me from the elements. I had never felt more safe.

I had no idea why the creature and I were friends. All of the stories that I had heard of the creatures and their Shrieks were those of nightmares. I had been told that the ashes would capture those who encountered them and after hearing the horrible sound of the Shriek, they were never seen again. But that wasn’t the case here. We protected each other. I helped mend the injured Shriek, the creature brought me food, and the Shriek guided us through the forest.

The next few days were all the same, I would wake up to a pile of berries. I would share them with the creature and its Shriek and they accompanied me on my quest to find the locket. At night we would all huddle together to keep warm and rest. I would dream about the locket and hear it calling me. It was always the same dream, I would see a neckless falling into a pond, surrounded by the ash creatures and their Shrieks. I could see a path through the forest leading to the locket. I knew exactly where we needed to go. Each day we got a little closer and the essence grew stronger, filling me with hope.

I had been away from home for about a month. I missed my family terribly but I knew I had to keep going. We were getting close to the locket. I was preparing myself for what was to come next. I knew retrieving the necklace would not be easy. It was submerged in icy water and I had no way of knowing how deep the pond was. To prepare myself I would lay in any water I could find for as long as I could. When I got to cold the Shriek would wrap me in its wings to warm me up. I was ready, and tomorrow would be the day that when the peaceful world we once knew would return.

I woke up ready for this misery to end. As we got close to the pond I could see the ashes and their Shrieks. I could feel the lockets’ core beating in tune with my own heart, it’s power surging through my veins. We were hiding behind the trees we I felt an ache in my chest. It was in this moment I realised that once the locket was opened and the world restored, that my new friends would cease to exist. Tears streamed down my face and I thought about the whole that would be left in my life. I wondered if they realised it to. The creature looked over and wiped the tears away, I smiled as I held his hand for what could be the last time.

We started to sneak towards the group protecting the pond where the locket laid. The Shrieks were circulating the air like vultures looking for food. The Ashes just stood there, not moving, completely focused on guarding the pond. A cold chill ran over my entire body as I noticed one of the creatures looking at me. The creature let out a howl and its Shriek swooped down, letting out a horrific cry. When it landed, the ground shook. The Shriek extended its wings and thrusted them forward, the wind generated knocked me to the ground. The Ashes all ran towards us.

Ducking and dodging the ashes and their Shrieks I fond my way to the pond, and without giving it a second thought I dived in. The locket was glowing and the water felt like it did in summer, warm and inviting. I reached for the locket and opened it. A magnificent light was released and the water turned cold. I made my way to the surface and climbed out of the pond. The sky turned blue and the grass green. One by one the Shrieks flew down and embraced the Ashes, and like the dust in the breeze they disappeared. I ran over to my friends and hugged them tight, wishing I could hold on to them forever. But like all the others, they to vanished. I fell to the ground. Crying with my head in my hands. I looked up when I heard a bark, followed by paws running impressively fast. The dog tackled me, licking the tears away. A majestic crow landed on my shoulder and I know my friends had returned to me.

The journey back home went by so fast, we no longer had to hide in the shadows. Each town we went to we were welcomed with open arms. I laughed and played with the children and told the adults about my travels. When we finally reached my town I called out to my family. With my arms outstretched I ran to my mother who held me tightly. Butterflies flew around us and the birds and dogs were in harmony once again.We both rejoiced and shed tears of happiness. I placed the locket around her neck and thanked her for giving me the strength to complete the quest. My siblings named my crow Raphael and my dog Remiel and dubbed them my protectors.