This is going to be anohter of those stories I beg you not to ask me why...
The sun was high and hot on Gwame's back as he tilled the earth, furious to make it habitable for something. He and his brother worked side by side, hoping to produce a harvest later that year. their village would need the food.
suddenly, the ground beneath him rumbled. his brother looked up to him. there had never been an earthquake in their region. before either could say a word, Gwame sank into the ground as if he had fallen into a hole. his brother clawed at the land, diggin, hoping to find where Gwame had sunk to. then he looked up in shock to see the earth till itself into neat little rows.
~*~
In Brooklyn three kids where hanging out on a random street corner where they hung out day after day. the building across from them, which unbeknownst to them housed a meth lab, exploded outward. flames licked from the windows of the first story. they watched as people poured out, escaping the blaze. then they heard it... a baby was still crying inside the building.
One red head looked at his friends. they backed away. the red-head, Wheeler, let out a single curse, and charged into the blazing building. he climbed the decaying stairs. and found the baby wailing in a bassinet. he grabbed it, and charged down the stairs, just before they collapsed. He got out and delivered the child into the waiting arms of EMT's. just as they were about to look him over a fresh explosion shot a column of flame from the front door, engulfing the young hero. when the flame dissapated the boy was gone, but not only did the fire that engulfed him dissapear, but indead all fire from the building seemed to simply snuff itself out.
~*~
In Japan, the wee hours of the morning, Gi Nakamura was stretching, facing her family pool. The swim team needed a win. they needed her. She needed the scholorship it would provide. her parents had sworn that she would have to make her own way in the world once she was accepted to a college. They wouldn't pay more than a year. She was a straight A student, and an accomplished athlete. Imagining the sudden bang of a gun she plunged in swimming lap after lap after lap. she stopped to take a breather, satisfied with her time. She was suddenly mystified as a light current begant to build up in the pool. then a stronger one, and stronger one. soon the pool had a vortex in the center that was pulling her inexorably toward it's center, and then down... down... down...
~*~
Linka Krumov was drawing the different birds she watched on the branches. They were the most beautiful things the in the world, in her opinion. She hoped to someday travel the world and catalog birds, much like Darwin did. It was a strangely windy day, but it didn't seem to frighten the birds. she turned off the recorder she'd brought. she liked to record the noises of the birds, but with the wind as strong as it was she would never hear anything. It struck her as odd that with such strong winds that the birds would remain... as if they knew something she didn't. Then as the wind's speed began to truly frighten Linka, one bird locked eyes with her... and that was the last thing she saw clearly as the wind swept her up, up, up in to the sky.
~*~
Ma-Ti moved quietly. night hunting was easy for him. he was hoping to catch a Jaguar. His parents had been engineers in Brazile, but when they died he moved back with his grandfather, a shaman of a tribe that chose to live the old ways. there were times when he resented his grandfather, but he endured. Then he saw it... a monkey with a broken leg, and a little further beyond that was a jaguar. Ma-Ti would never know what made him do what he did next. He jumped from where he was hiding, and made threatening motions at the jaguar, scaring it away. he turned to the little monkey and lifted it gently. he felt a warmth flood the monkey's leg and watched, amazed, as the monkey got to her feet and began to climb his shoulder. she held on to him affectionately. then, bizzarrely, he 'heard' the monkey's voice in his head. 'thank you big brother' she said. a rustling above him caught his attention and he was in the talons of a great eagle.
~*~
The first to arive was Gwame, spat from the ground. he flew a few feet and tumbled to a stop. he was filfthy but he was alive. he brushed himself off in time to see a column of flames breach from the ground. when the flimes died back a red head was left on the floor, just like he was. Gwame swept the place with his eyes, looking for threats, men with guns, animals, anything. this was not normal. Then a girl appeared. she was wearing a one peice bathing suit, rather plain, but still more than enough to make the red head take notice. Gwame finally greeted them. both looked upon him in confusion.
Wheeler tried next saying hello, asking where each was from.
Gi asked what they had said.
a voice filled the space they were in, "Be calm, when the final appears, you shall know each other"
Gi looked around, she was in her swim suit, kneeling on a dirt floor soaking wet. the area they were in was enclosed by enormous crystals. it was a wonderful place with lush grass, tall trees, a small lake (which she herself and been flung from).
the ceiling of the cavern opened up and bright sunlight shown down as two figures descended. one was a girl borne on a whirlwind. the other was a large eagle being carrying a hispanic in it's talons. the Eagle released the boy gently onto the ground and flew a few meters away.
"What is going on?" she asked in her native Japanese.
"That's what I'd like to know," Gwame commiserated. the two of them looked at each other. "You know swahili?" he asked her.
"No... I thought you were speaking Japanese," Gi accused.
"You're both speaking english," corrected Wheeler arogantly.
"But it sounds like you're..." began Linka.
"You are each speaking your native tongue," said the same voice from before.
"Wh-who are you?" asked Ma-Ti fearfully.
"I am known by many names... most familiar, Gaia, spirit of your world, mother of all life," Informed the disembodied voice. in the center of the arena sized area a bright light flashed and two figures no appeared one a pedastle made from alabaster. the other a woman who seemed to radiate light from every part of her. her flowing black hair billowed in the windless space.
"Where are we?" asked Gwame.
"It too has known many names over the years," Gaia told them. "Mu, Eden, and more recently... Hope."
"How did we get here in the first place... WHY are we here?!" demanded Wheeler.
"You were transported here by my will, and you were brought here because you hold special powers in your heart." she turned to face the American. "Wheeler... never in your life have you been burned, nor did you fear fire. Gwame, tender of the earth, it has always shaped to your wish. Gi, able to hold your breath longer than others, swim faster. Linka the wind has always cooled you win you are too warm, ceased when you were too cold, and born your feathered friends to you when you were lonely. Ma-Ti, you have always had a special relationship with animals, able to understand them better than even your grandfather."
she took them in as a whole. "I am calling you because I, your world, am being hurt. what you humans call 'pollution' is building up too quickly... choking me. I need you to aide me, treate my wounds. I will give you the powers you need to do so... these rings" she gestured to five rings sitting upon the pedastle, "will increase your control over the elements you already have an affinity for."
Gwame stepped forward and took a ring with an emerald, "Earth," he said quietly.
Wheeler picked up a ruby ring as he spoke, "Fire,"
Linka lifted a ring with a large diamond, "Wind."
Gi took a sapphire ring she recognized alloud as "Water."
Ma-Ti looked at the remaining Amethyst ring. "What of mine?" he asked. "There are not elements of nature left."
"Yours is the most potent of all," Gaia corrected. "yours is the power of the Soul. but all five powers are required. to summon... Him."
"Who?" asked Linka curiously.
"Long ago I was attacked and split into two facets... mother, and father... creator, defender... guide, and warrior. the other facet is unable to take corpreal form with out the energy provided by the five elements, projected through the rings worn by worthy avatars. He will learn from you as he is a part of the rings,and those who wear them. His power is vast, but his time in corpreal form is limited and he must returnto the rings to rest."
"But why all of us?" asked Gi.
"Because, it requires you all to form him. Earth to give him strength, Wind to give him speed, Water to give him movement, Soul to give him kindness, and Fire to give him feriocity and flare."
one by one they understood they had been called to something much larger than themselves... they were part of something new and greater.
The sun was high and hot on Gwame's back as he tilled the earth, furious to make it habitable for something. He and his brother worked side by side, hoping to produce a harvest later that year. their village would need the food.
suddenly, the ground beneath him rumbled. his brother looked up to him. there had never been an earthquake in their region. before either could say a word, Gwame sank into the ground as if he had fallen into a hole. his brother clawed at the land, diggin, hoping to find where Gwame had sunk to. then he looked up in shock to see the earth till itself into neat little rows.
~*~
In Brooklyn three kids where hanging out on a random street corner where they hung out day after day. the building across from them, which unbeknownst to them housed a meth lab, exploded outward. flames licked from the windows of the first story. they watched as people poured out, escaping the blaze. then they heard it... a baby was still crying inside the building.
One red head looked at his friends. they backed away. the red-head, Wheeler, let out a single curse, and charged into the blazing building. he climbed the decaying stairs. and found the baby wailing in a bassinet. he grabbed it, and charged down the stairs, just before they collapsed. He got out and delivered the child into the waiting arms of EMT's. just as they were about to look him over a fresh explosion shot a column of flame from the front door, engulfing the young hero. when the flame dissapated the boy was gone, but not only did the fire that engulfed him dissapear, but indead all fire from the building seemed to simply snuff itself out.
~*~
In Japan, the wee hours of the morning, Gi Nakamura was stretching, facing her family pool. The swim team needed a win. they needed her. She needed the scholorship it would provide. her parents had sworn that she would have to make her own way in the world once she was accepted to a college. They wouldn't pay more than a year. She was a straight A student, and an accomplished athlete. Imagining the sudden bang of a gun she plunged in swimming lap after lap after lap. she stopped to take a breather, satisfied with her time. She was suddenly mystified as a light current begant to build up in the pool. then a stronger one, and stronger one. soon the pool had a vortex in the center that was pulling her inexorably toward it's center, and then down... down... down...
~*~
Linka Krumov was drawing the different birds she watched on the branches. They were the most beautiful things the in the world, in her opinion. She hoped to someday travel the world and catalog birds, much like Darwin did. It was a strangely windy day, but it didn't seem to frighten the birds. she turned off the recorder she'd brought. she liked to record the noises of the birds, but with the wind as strong as it was she would never hear anything. It struck her as odd that with such strong winds that the birds would remain... as if they knew something she didn't. Then as the wind's speed began to truly frighten Linka, one bird locked eyes with her... and that was the last thing she saw clearly as the wind swept her up, up, up in to the sky.
~*~
Ma-Ti moved quietly. night hunting was easy for him. he was hoping to catch a Jaguar. His parents had been engineers in Brazile, but when they died he moved back with his grandfather, a shaman of a tribe that chose to live the old ways. there were times when he resented his grandfather, but he endured. Then he saw it... a monkey with a broken leg, and a little further beyond that was a jaguar. Ma-Ti would never know what made him do what he did next. He jumped from where he was hiding, and made threatening motions at the jaguar, scaring it away. he turned to the little monkey and lifted it gently. he felt a warmth flood the monkey's leg and watched, amazed, as the monkey got to her feet and began to climb his shoulder. she held on to him affectionately. then, bizzarrely, he 'heard' the monkey's voice in his head. 'thank you big brother' she said. a rustling above him caught his attention and he was in the talons of a great eagle.
~*~
The first to arive was Gwame, spat from the ground. he flew a few feet and tumbled to a stop. he was filfthy but he was alive. he brushed himself off in time to see a column of flames breach from the ground. when the flimes died back a red head was left on the floor, just like he was. Gwame swept the place with his eyes, looking for threats, men with guns, animals, anything. this was not normal. Then a girl appeared. she was wearing a one peice bathing suit, rather plain, but still more than enough to make the red head take notice. Gwame finally greeted them. both looked upon him in confusion.
Wheeler tried next saying hello, asking where each was from.
Gi asked what they had said.
a voice filled the space they were in, "Be calm, when the final appears, you shall know each other"
Gi looked around, she was in her swim suit, kneeling on a dirt floor soaking wet. the area they were in was enclosed by enormous crystals. it was a wonderful place with lush grass, tall trees, a small lake (which she herself and been flung from).
the ceiling of the cavern opened up and bright sunlight shown down as two figures descended. one was a girl borne on a whirlwind. the other was a large eagle being carrying a hispanic in it's talons. the Eagle released the boy gently onto the ground and flew a few meters away.
"What is going on?" she asked in her native Japanese.
"That's what I'd like to know," Gwame commiserated. the two of them looked at each other. "You know swahili?" he asked her.
"No... I thought you were speaking Japanese," Gi accused.
"You're both speaking english," corrected Wheeler arogantly.
"But it sounds like you're..." began Linka.
"You are each speaking your native tongue," said the same voice from before.
"Wh-who are you?" asked Ma-Ti fearfully.
"I am known by many names... most familiar, Gaia, spirit of your world, mother of all life," Informed the disembodied voice. in the center of the arena sized area a bright light flashed and two figures no appeared one a pedastle made from alabaster. the other a woman who seemed to radiate light from every part of her. her flowing black hair billowed in the windless space.
"Where are we?" asked Gwame.
"It too has known many names over the years," Gaia told them. "Mu, Eden, and more recently... Hope."
"How did we get here in the first place... WHY are we here?!" demanded Wheeler.
"You were transported here by my will, and you were brought here because you hold special powers in your heart." she turned to face the American. "Wheeler... never in your life have you been burned, nor did you fear fire. Gwame, tender of the earth, it has always shaped to your wish. Gi, able to hold your breath longer than others, swim faster. Linka the wind has always cooled you win you are too warm, ceased when you were too cold, and born your feathered friends to you when you were lonely. Ma-Ti, you have always had a special relationship with animals, able to understand them better than even your grandfather."
she took them in as a whole. "I am calling you because I, your world, am being hurt. what you humans call 'pollution' is building up too quickly... choking me. I need you to aide me, treate my wounds. I will give you the powers you need to do so... these rings" she gestured to five rings sitting upon the pedastle, "will increase your control over the elements you already have an affinity for."
Gwame stepped forward and took a ring with an emerald, "Earth," he said quietly.
Wheeler picked up a ruby ring as he spoke, "Fire,"
Linka lifted a ring with a large diamond, "Wind."
Gi took a sapphire ring she recognized alloud as "Water."
Ma-Ti looked at the remaining Amethyst ring. "What of mine?" he asked. "There are not elements of nature left."
"Yours is the most potent of all," Gaia corrected. "yours is the power of the Soul. but all five powers are required. to summon... Him."
"Who?" asked Linka curiously.
"Long ago I was attacked and split into two facets... mother, and father... creator, defender... guide, and warrior. the other facet is unable to take corpreal form with out the energy provided by the five elements, projected through the rings worn by worthy avatars. He will learn from you as he is a part of the rings,and those who wear them. His power is vast, but his time in corpreal form is limited and he must returnto the rings to rest."
"But why all of us?" asked Gi.
"Because, it requires you all to form him. Earth to give him strength, Wind to give him speed, Water to give him movement, Soul to give him kindness, and Fire to give him feriocity and flare."
one by one they understood they had been called to something much larger than themselves... they were part of something new and greater.
Good stuff man. I could totally see myself picking a book like that up. One of those cool little indie books I add to my pull list from time to time. Good job.
