I. The Chosen One

‘Why am I here again?’ she thought as she nervously crossed her arms over her chest. A shiver was sent down her spine as her light blue eyes peered into the consuming darkness. Analita couldn’t see anything besides a small dirt path illuminated by the moon’s faint light, but she knew she was there; it was the place that she had always visited alone in the middle of the night. It seemed to call to her, inviting her to come. She had not refused the beckon for months.

A cool breeze blew her hair back and brought goose bumps to her pale skin. Her white nightgown blew out behind her as she started on her way.

Her bare feet left small imprints and brush marks on the trail, but she didn’t look down or back at them. It wanted her to keep going.

Ten steps… Twenty steps… It was still dark and the trees moved slowly in the chilling, rattling wind. The moon was so far away and it was still far from the daytime. Fifty steps… Sixty steps… Whatever it was, she was going to find it soon.

The path curved out to the right and she quickened her pace. Her head peaked around the corner and Analita was immediately unable to see due to the blinding light that spread across the sky and her field of vision.

‘Did I just see…?’ she thought.

*****

“Analita! It’s already four hours to noon; get up! Didn’t I tell you not to stay up so late last night?” her mother scolded. “I made you breakfast, but it’s already cold. I’ll try to reheat it, but you have to get up!”

“Yes, mother,” her voice sang. She slid over to the side of her bed and put her feet down into her slippers. Putting a hand to her head, she tried to remember if she had visited that place in her dream again. She shook it off and headed down the stairs for breakfast.

*****

Her mother had said, “Get on with you! Go outside; it’s a lovely day. Spend some time in the sunshine. You must get bored sitting around here all day. Get some exercise.” And that explains why Analita was outside wandering through a field.

The sun beat down on the grass and it was so warm and comfortable. It would have been a nice day for a nap except for the fact that she had slept so late. The place she was now was almost exactly the opposite of the place she went in her dream.

‘I know I saw what was beyond that curve. It was only an instant before I could see no more, but I saw something…’ She wracked her brain trying to remember what was calling to her, but it was pointless. Shrugging, she thought it would come back to her.

Just as she finished trying to remember, a single blue and pink butterfly landed on a light rose colored flower next to her. It’s wings fluttered for a moment, and then it took off, soaring into the endless blue sky.

Something stirred in the back of her mind and then it clicked… Wings, flowers, flying…

The creatures that were calling her needed her help.

Analita was the indeed the one who the fairies had trusted, but for what reason? And why had it been months before the fairies finally let her see them? All she knew was that she was the one chosen to help them and that she had to return to that place in the dark where she alone could make a difference.