A Different Sky

       The wind screamed as it tore through along the earth, laughing at the frail mortals who tried in vain to escape it. The sky was a sick yellow color, ready to vomit at the destruction laid out before it, and still the wind laughed.

                “Get inside child!” cried an old man, his voice barely audible as the screaming of the wind grew louder.

                “No!” the child cried back, shoving the old man into the safety of the tree hollow, with only room for one. “I’ll be fine! You stay here!”

                “Wait!” the old man cried again, reaching for the smaller being, but it slipped from his grasp and walked out to stand before the tree that hid him, staring down the swirling, bellowing winds that thundered nearer. “Don’t do it!” the man screamed, but the child ignored him.

                The wind seemed to stop and stare back at the child who dared to stand before it, and for a moment the old man thought his child had been spared. It was not be. With sharp wail the wind struck out and the child was lifted up into its screaming bowels.

                “Elaine!” screamed the man, but it was to late. The wind, finally satisfied, pushed off from the ground and rose into the sky, leaving the old man to cry alone.

*~o0o~*

                The shadows were filled with glowing eyes, peering out into the sun blessed clearing. There, silent and still among the grass, was something they had not seen in a long time – a human. None dared approach, even if the being was sleeping, for they could feel a presence around it, and the flowers face outwards, towards them, as if guarding the mound of flesh within the clearing.

                Slowly, from above, a hawk circled, golden eyes peering down. To it, a creature well versed in the ways of humans, the body seemed that of a woman, and what a mortal man might rank pretty at that. Hair darker then the raven’s wings spread out from behind an elegant head, like the fox. The lifeless body wore the clothes of a human, but unlike those that the hawk had ever seen. The raptor, however, disregarded these. It was far more interested in the human’s eyes. Would those eyes shine like the gems it had seen set in some other humans’ head? Or would they be dull and lifeless, like those the buzzards ate?

                Sucking in breath, the hawk screeched. The raptor had learned this got the attention of many humans, so why not now? No response. Perhaps this one was hard of hearing, like the fish in the streams. Descending a little ways, it screeched again. It waited and chuckled as only a hawk could chuckle when the body groaned, but the otherwise lifeless lump of flesh eyes did not open. Frustrated, the hawk banked even lower, hovering not twenty feet above the creature’s head, and screamed. It had to smirk as it saw rabbits duck for cover from where they had been observing the mortal.

                The hawk turned back to the human in time to see the mortal’s eyes flare open and watch it lunge forward like a deer launching an attack on a rival for a mate. The hawk was not disappointed. This one’s eyes were unlike those of the kind it had seen. They were glittering icicles, like new fallen snow tinged blue at night by the moon’s light. The eyes glittered and shone, the human’s lips set in a line betraying no emotion. With a shriek, the hawk banked up and vanished among the clouds, satisfied.

                The human looked around, pulling back its raven’s wing hair as its moon bleached snow eyes took in the scene. The animals departed, not willing to stay around to see if it was a hunter or not. The human stood alone.

                Or so the beasts thought.

                “Excuse me, but, um, could you help me down?” a voice whimpered from above the human’s head.  The person looked up into the boughs of a tree, where a girl sat, mouth twisted into a shaky smile. “I’m stuck.”

                “I can tell,” the human below commented. “And you certainly aren’t dressed for tree climbing.”

                “So what?” the girl huffed. “It’s not like I wanted to be in this tree anyway! I mean, you’re a girl, surely you don’t want to wake up in a tree dressed like this!”

                Indeed, the human below was a girl, but she hardly dressed like it. A white and blue muscle-t with a twisted blue dragon on it covered her upper body, and loose jeans dragged along the ground over black and white tennis shoes. She wore no jewelry, but that was the least she could say of the female in the tree.

                The girl in the tree had rich, sunshine blonde hair and eyes the color of Spanish brown, or at least, they looked that way from what the black haired girl could make out. She had on a school uniform jacket and shirt, navy blue, a golden pin over her right jacket pocket. She had on a navy and gray plaid skirt with high socks and black buckle shoes. Her left had sported at least seven rings and her left wrist at least fifteen bracelets. Around her neck hung a silver necklace and her ears were graced with shining silver hoops. Yes, she definitely was not someone who would climb a tree.

                “What’s your name?” the ice eyed girl asked.

                “Is this the time for that?” the one in the tree spat.

                “I can just leave you there,” the raven-haired girl said coldly.

                “Oh, all right!” the tree bound blonde mumbled. “My name is Chelsea Croft, daughter of Lord Daniel Croft.” She stared down haughtily at the girl below her, “And what’s your name, since you know mine.”

                “Elaine. Elaine Thorndale,” the girl called up. She looked around and sighed. She studied Chelsea for a moment and walked so she was a few feet out from under the branch she was sitting on. She held up her arms. “Well, come on, jump,” Elaine told her when she just looked down quizzically.

                “What?” Chelsea spouted. “You’re joking!”

                “Well, it’s either that or I leave you there,” Elaine informed her, annoyance tingeing her words.

                Chelsea gulped, “Fine.” Closing her eyes, she pushed herself off the branch and stifled a scream as she fell. She heard Elaine grunt and felt a shock as her body fell not onto the ground, but into strong arms. She peeked through her blonde lashes tentatively.  “Ow!” Chelsea howled as Elaine dropped her onto her bottom. 

                Elaine rose from her knees and dusted her hands, “Well, that’s my good act for the week.” She looked around and finally started across the clearing, deciding it as good a direction as any.

                “Hey! Elaine! Wait!” Chelsea called. Elaine groaned and turned to see the shorthaired blonde jogging to keep up at Elaine’s heels. “Now that you got me out, I think it’d be best if we stay together. Who knows what kinds of things are in these woods?”

                Who knows how many things you’ll drive away with your endless chatter? Elaine snarled mentally. She was not a social person. She had been raised by her grandfather, hadn’t tried to make friends, and kept it that way. She could take care of herself, and didn’t enjoy babysitting, which was what this girl following her would turn into.

                “I’d prefer if we went our separate ways,” Elaine said emotionlessly.

                She heard Chelsea gasp softly and couldn’t hear her walking anymore, so assumed she had stopped. Good riddance. With a wave behind her, Elaine kept walking and Chelsea watched as the black haired girl faded into the shadows of the woods.

                “Elaine!” she called, stretching her hand out. Her mouth turned down in a frown and her eyes blazed. “Elaine!” she bellowed and picked up a swift trot, intending to follow the girl all the way to hell if she had too. She was not getting away with snubbing her like that! No way, no how!

*~o0o~*

                Chelsea walked silently behind Elaine, who had ignored her ever since she had caught up with her and harshly told her to be quiet. Chelsea wondered just how this girl could ignore the oppressive feeling the woods gave off. The trees were huge and she was sure eyes were following them. The shadows shifted and there were so many noises in the silence that surrounded them as they walked. It was driving her mad.

                Chelsea opened her mouth to say something, when a hand clapped over her lips, and Elaine’s cold eyes meant hers. She raised a finger to her lips and nodded to their left. Chelsea looked over and her eyes widened. The edge of the woods! There they were! She lunged towards the sunlight she could see of the other side of the barrier of trees, but a hand caught her arm and she was roughly hauled back.

                “Hey! Let go,” Chelsea hissed.

                Elaine frowned and dug into her arm, “Be quiet. We don’t know what’s out there, but if you want to die so badly then be my guest.” Chelsea’s eyes widened in fright and she stopped struggling. Elaine let her go and made a motion for her to follow as she picked her way through the shadows to the edge of the woods.

                Elaine turned to Chelsea and pointed to the tree they were under and mouthed ‘stay’. With that done, she crouched in the long grass growing not five feet away and slunk through it, like some cat on the prowl. She ignored the bite of the stalks and crawled, listening for every sound, very aware how her hair made her stand out, as well as her clothes.

                She froze not thirty feet from her starting point, every muscle tense like a cat ready to strike at a mouse, ears straining to catch the low murmur of voices. Hunkering down, she crawled on hands and knees closer to the source and peered through the blades of grass. She could make out four bodies, seemingly human enough, with one female sounding voice and three male. Hesitantly, she crawled a few inches nearer and listened.

                “Well, where should we go?” a male voice asked.

                “Who knows? This is so weird,” the female voice piped. “I mean, the sun is black!” Elaine had to look up at this and was startled to find the voice was right. The sun was black. She turned her attention back as the conversation progressed.

                “I vote we wait here,” another male voice said. “Someone has to find us.”

                “Sure, in the middle of nowhere,” the third voice growled. They continued, but Elaine wasn’t listening any more. She backed away and made her way towards Chelsea.

                “Well?” Chelsea hissed when she rose and came to hide in the shadows with her. “What’s out there?”

                “Three boys and a girl,” Elaine informed her, “from what I could hear, that is.”

                “So? Let’s go meet them!” Chelsea said with an encouraging smile.

                Elaine nodded, “I think they’re in the same boat as us.”

                “Well, good,” Chelsea said and jumped up, pushing her way through the tall grass. “Come on, Elaine! Where are they?” Elaine sighed and stepped out of the shadows and came to take the lead, Chelsea bouncing along behind, questions spouting from her lips Elaine made a point to ignore. 

                “Look! See! I told you! Someone did come to find us!” Elaine heard one of the male voices cry.

                “Hey! Over here!” the female called, waving her arm.

                Chelsea squealed and ran right over, leaving Elaine behind. “Hey! I’m Chelsea Croft! And, we’re lost to,” she added lamely after her overenthusiastic greeting.

                “Well, some help that is,” snorted one of the three boys.

                “Well, you certainly don’t seem to be trying to get us out of this predicament!” retorted the girl. She turned to face Elaine, who had finally reached them and towered above them, looking down with cold, ice blue eyes. The girl smiled and extended her hand, “Anne Berkley, at you’re service.”

                She had a round face, sprinkled with freckles, and hair the color of rich soil. Her eyes were dark navy blue, sparkling in the high noon sunshine. Her lips were spread in a weak, tired smile and Elaine could see her hand had done its share of work, as calloused as it was. She was dressed simply – shorts, a tank top, and tennis shoes – a working girl, with lightly tanned skin. Her rich hair was pulled back in a short ponytail, several strands leaking out over her eyes. And yet, in those eyes, Elaine picked out the traces of helplessness that often came with being lost and homesick.

                “Elaine Thorndale,” she informed her, refusing the extended hand, turning her cold stare on the other three in the group.

                The first was a boy perhaps a year older then the others, with softly curly red locks and amusing amber eyes. His mouth was twisted in a crooked smile, though it lacked the humor that should have been portrayed in it. He didn’t extend his hand and looked up at Elaine with little, to possibly no, interest other then that she was another being to add to their small group. The wind rusted his loose black shirt and pants, his tennis shoes showing he had been walking for some distance in the grass, the bottoms stained green. He paid no heed to the breeze, just stared at her in an alarmingly calm way for someone who was stranded in the middle of nowhere.

                She turned to examine the second of the bunch. This one immediately gave Elaine the impression of a more sarcastic version of Chelsea. He ran a hand through hair that was sun bleached blonde, eyes nearing the color violet looking up at her in a challenging manner. He had twisted his mouth into a pouting frown, and Elaine had to take note of the silver, sword shape earring adorning his right ear. She looked the rest of him over and she decided he might be worth it if he picked a fight. He wore a muscle-t colored black with a spade encased in flame, a jacket around his waist and black jeans, which covered a good deal of his foot, adorned by a black, yellow, and blue flame designed flip-flop. Around his neck were several necklaces, one bearing an elaborate sword, surrounded by a crescent moon. She knew she had seen the design before and knew it meant something, but she shook it off, the answer eluding her at the moment. 

                The third gave of a cool, relaxed air, lips set in a genuine smile. His hair was brown, sliced with blonde highlights, and his eyes were a glittering topaz color, blinking innocently up at her, though Elaine had doubts that was really what he was. A few bruises marred his pretty complexion, and like the second boy, his right ear was adorned with an earring, though his of a gothic cross rather then a sword. He wore a turtleneck, of all things, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, accompanied by leather pants that clung to his calves, probably from sweating in the heat. His feet were encased in tennis shoes and she wasn’t surprised to see a necklace around his neck – a sword surrounded by three interlinked rings, much like the symbol for King Author.

                The red head was first to offer anything other then a look, “Jordan Carson’s the name.” Elaine nodded, but said nothing, turning her gaze to whoever would speak up next.

                The brown and blonde sliced boy reached up a hand, which she saw glinted with a Celtic design ring, “Tyler Warren.” Elaine again ignored the offered gesture of greeting and turned to the last of the group.

                He sighed, “Fine, since everyone else knows me. I’m Kane Manson.” He offered no hand, just rolled his eyes and looked up at the sky, as if it had been a tiresome thing to offer something such as his name.

                “Well, now that we all know each other, anyone have any idea on how to get home?” Chelsea asked.

                “Where is home?” Anne asked. “I haven’t seen you in town before.”

                “Well, I’m from England,” Chelsea said with a smile. “Can’t you tell by my accent?”

                “England?” Elaine said, looking at her. “I’m from the U.S.A. And in case you didn’t notice, there’s a big difference in the two.”

                Anne frowned, “I’m from Brazil.” Elaine gave her credit. She could speak fine English for someone from a Portuguese speaking country.

                Kane and Tyler looked at each other with worry crossing their brows, “We’re friends from Canada. We go to the same school.”

                Jordan seemed to be thinking when he muttered, “And I’m from Ireland.”

                “This is to weird,” Chelsea said with a shaky voice. “Were…were we all kidnapped?”

                Anne shook her head, “I don’t think so. I mean, why would someone kidnap us, then leave us in the middle of nowhere?”

                “And what about that black sun?” Jordan reminded them and pointed up. “That’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

                Elaine scanned the area they were in. She thought she could hear the sound of water, or something like it, off in the distance when everyone paused after Jordan’s comment. The land was mostly grassy, good for large hairs and perhaps some wild birds, while the woods would house deer and other large game. Of course, there was the problem of how they were to catch the meat in the first place, and without water they would fall one by one as they walked.

                Thankfully, this would never have to be put into action. The moment Elaine turned back to the group to relate to them her conclusions, a portal opened. At first it was a floating symbol in the air, a five-point star held within two circles and off symbols written in the outer of the two. From there it progressed to everything from the outer circles farthest boundaries in turning to something that resembled quicksilver, pulsing in a sickening manner.

                “What is it?” Chelsea cried, stepping back, eyes wide in fear, hand clapped over her mouth.

                The other four had risen and stepped back too. Only Elaine remained where she was, studying the odd thing with a shrewd eye. Had her grandfather not spoken so often of the mystical arts, she might have been scared. However, to her this resembled the description of what was called either a summon portal or a transportation portal. She guessed transportation, since summoning symbols were drawn on the earth, not floating in midair.

                “This should be interesting,” she said sarcastically. As soon as the sentence left her mouth, she leapt back as the mush within the circle lashed out.  “Hey! What was that for?” she demanded, growling in her throat as the thing lashed out again, sending her toppling backwards.

                “Look!” Jordan called and pointed to the center of the quicksilver, where something was pushing through it, like a person trying to stick their finger through plastic.

                The six watched in breathless anticipation as slowly a form pushed through. The quicksilver like go dribbled from the body to the ground, sinking into the ground like water. Slowly, the figure raised its head.

                “Whoa,” Chelsea said from behind her hand, which was instantly removed from her mouth so she could smile at the figure. “He’s cute,” she whispered to Anne.

                Elaine rolled her eyes in annoyance. The figure, however, was a real pretty boy if she ever saw one. His face was narrow, the color of sand, with almond shaped, sea blue eyes that shimmered from under the oddest colored locks – deep sea green, like the ocean waters a little before noon, floating about his shoulders and waist like sea foam. He was dressed in a high neck shirt, emblazoned with jewels in the pattern of a cresting wave. He wore silk belts that draped around his legs, fading into his ruin stitched pants that disappeared into half metal, half leather boots that came to the middle of his calves. He raised one, slim hand to his ear, which was encased in silver trappings and stroked the shiny metal as he stared at them.

                A smile slipped onto his features and showed rather point teeth for such a dainty face. A light, bubbling chuckle rose from his lips, “Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. All the heroes from the last summons were as young.”

                “Name yourself!” Kane demanded, his eyebrows nearly touching, for his face was set in such a deep frown.

                “Oh, of course!” the man laughed. “I am Cleric Mage Sentineal, and I am the one who summoned you here.” The world stopped, and for the six children before the man, it had shattered.