Chapter 1 - The new generation
Hawk and Frog lead a group of children towards the Mystik Woods. A group of five…..3 boys and 2 girls follow behind them and stop just outside of the entryway.
Hawk crosses his arms as he waits for everyone to catch up. Frog leaps through the air and lands in a crouching position keeping a look out.
Hawk pulls back his goggles and looks at the children, “Alright everyone! This is the day you’ve been waiting for!”
The children look excited and bounce around. Hawk smirks and crosses his arms looking stern, “Today some of you will find your spirit animals and others….may not. If you find your spirit animal and make a connection you will be advanced in your training. For those that don’t find a spirit animal your training ends here. You can either stay on the grounds as staff or return to your villages.”
The children’s excitement becomes a bit tempered with worry and self doubt. “Don’t forget your training. Find a spot in the Mystik Forest that calls out to you and reach your mind out as you were trained. The Mystik Forest ia a special place where the barrier between the spirit realm and our world is thin. Keep your mind strong….spirit animals are not the only things walking these paths so do not be swayed by the darkness that lurks within.”
Frog rocks on the balls of his feet and points to the girl in front, “Ok Yumi…you’re up first.”
Yumi gulps and takes a couple steps forward. Hawk nods at her and motions for her to enter. Tentatively she takes a couple steps forward and steps thru the ivy archway that denotes the start of the Mystik Woods. As she steps under she feels a pop in her ears and the air suddenly feels cooler and smells one hundred times sweeter. She marvels at all the beautiful flowers and fruits growing all around. She notices a lazy river and decides to follow it for a bit to see where it leads.
Outside Hawk snaps his finger and points to another boy, “Chow….you’re up next.”
Chow nods with determination and charges forward under the ivy arch, when he crosses he gasps at the sudden change in environment. “Woooooooooow” he says as his voice echoes in his ears and his mind. “This is amazing!”
He looks up at the massive trees and is surprised how high they go. With curiosity he runs to the base of a tree and starts to climb as face as his little limbs will allow him to go.
Frog plops onto his butt and points to the second girl, “Ishi…your turn.”
Ishi tentatively takes steps forward chewing on the back of her hand. She walks under the arch and sighs as the cool air caresses her skin. She pulls back her hood and marvels at all the beauty around her. She looks around unable to decide which way to go so decides to just let the wind move her and follows the cool breeze.
Frog snaps his finger and points at the next boy, “Roh….you’re up.”
Roh adjusts the straps on his vest and heads under the ivy arch holding his head up with a haughty attitude. Hawk calls after him, “Remember to be humble …be open!”
Roh grumbles at the unwanted advice. He knows what he needs to do and does not appreciate being the only one called out for it. He pops out the other side and is suprised how warm and humid the air is. The shadows look slightly intimidating and a whisper rustles through the tall grasses. Tentatively he steps forward keeping his feet on the cobblestones laid into the grass.
Hawk looks to the remaining aspirant, “Well brother it’s your turn now. Good luck Momo.”
Momo beams up at his older brother. “I will do my best!”
Hawk smirks, “I know you will!”
Momo hops forward and passes under the ivy archway and pops into the cool air of the Mystik Forest. His eyes go wide as he takes in all the beauty before him, “Woooooooooooooooooo this is amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!” He takes a long deep breath in to admire the scents in the air.
Chapter 2 - Yumi
Yumi follows along the path while whistling one of her favorite tunes, “Be kind of heart, use your smarts and always be the one to start…..” she trips over a branch and cries in startlement, “Oh my!” She sits down and pulls off her boot to inspect her foot. Only a minor scratch she notices. “This place is so beauitful.”
She looks at the cool water and pulls off her other boot, “This seems like a good a place as any.” She places her boots next to herself and moves to sit on a branch that hovers just slightly over the trickling river. She dips her feet and enjoys the cool water that flows lazily over her feet creating ripples across the surface.
“Ok….time to get to work. First I close my eyes” and she does, “Next I open my mind.” she takes a few breaths and lets her thoughts go silent in her head. “Then I call out to my bestest of bestest friends who is waiting for me here!”
She chuckles to herself and refocuses with soft gentle thoughts as she has practiced for many months she thinkcalls, **Hullo? Are you out there? I am ready and I am worthy if you will have me.
Yumi breaths and continues to thinkcall out into the Mystik Forest. She waits for quite some time and soon a great while has passed. She begins to think to herself that something should have happened by now. Why hasn’t her spirit animal called out to her. She opens her eyes with a sigh and is surprised to see a crowd of spirit animals all around her.
Chapter 3 - Chow
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Chow begins to regret his decision to climb the trees as his arms and legs start to burn with exhaustion. He looks up unable to see how much further he has to go and then looks down to notice he cannot tell how far he has climbed either. Deciding that he is equally as far up as he is down he may as well continue upwards. The journey to the top will be just as rewarding as any. After many minutes pass Chow finally breaks thru the treetop and looks over the canopy of the Mystik Forest. Mist lazily flows over the treetops as the sun shines it’s intense warmth. Chow lays back into a branch nook and gets himself comfortable. His skin covered in sweat from his exertion up the tree.
He looks over the treetops at the glowing sun which is starting it’s hours long journey towards sleep. Warm tones of colors across the sky fill his heart with contentment and he folds his arms. With a practiced ease he clears his minds and thinkspeaks into the aether. ** I am here and I am worthy. Will you choose me as your own?
The words barely leave his mind when he hears a rustle from above and behind him. Chow leans forward and looks back to see what made the noise but cannot find a source. He stares intently at the foliage and waits….several moments later he spies the foliage shake and creak again.
He kneels on the branch with a big smile, ** Hullo? Are you my spirit animal?
Chapter 4 - Ishi
Ishi walks thru the field of flowers enjoying their sweet scents. The wind blows thru her braided hair and she lets her fingers float over the tops of the flowers. She looks around and seems to notice the trees have become more sporadice and the flowers more plentiful. When did she leave the tree line? She doesn’t seem to remember or have even noticed, “Well that’s odd…..” she pulls at her skirts and decides to take a seat.
“They did say strange things could happen here so this must have some meaning.” she pulls her backpack off and places it beside her careful not to crush any flowers. She clears her throat and her mind and thinkspeaks, ** I am here and I am worthy.
Ishi wrings her hands together in nervousness as she waits. She tries to stay calm but the worry starts to creep in. After a short while she opens her eyes and looks around. She chews on her lip as she glances about and sees nothing except the flowers around her. “Hullo?” she calls out but hears nothing in return. “Gosh….I was afraid this was going to happen.” she sniffles.
Chapter 5 - Roh
Roh is dripping with sweat as he reaches the top of the hill. He wipes his brow with the back of his sleeve to clear the sweat from his eyes. Nobody ever said that the Mystik Forest would be this hot or humid. He looks around again as the hairs on his arms stand on edge as if being watched. He squints as he stares in the dark shadows trying to make out any hiding forms but is unable to discern anything. Every time he thinks he sees something he comes to realize it is nothing.
He cracks his neck and looks out at the valley before him and sees some caves in the distance. He arches a brow unsure as to why he feels he should go in that direction. Simultaneously terrified and intrigued at the same time. With a quick adjustment of the shoulder straps he heads forward. The journey takes him the better part of an hour before he reaches the base of the hill by the cave mouth. He peers inside the cave and feels again the tugging on his mind to move forward so with a gulp he climbs inside and continues forward.
The cave is dark and damp but is thankfully much cooler than the air outside in the Forest. He walks for a while, cautiously feeling along the walls until his eyes get used to the dark. After a while soft lights begin to illuminate the path before him as the phosphorescent algae start to glow. The cave opens before him and a small alcove seems to have been carved in the wall. Thinking this as good a place as any he sits and gets comfortable as he clears his mind before thinkspeaking. ** I am here and I….I am worthy ** he sends into the aether.
A cold chill takes over his skin as his hair stands on end once again. He opens his eyes and stares into the darkness in front of him. He squints as he sees a faint red light that slowly grows brighter and brighter until an eery pair of eyes glare at him a wicked grin appearing in the air before him. ** YOU ARE NOT!** It speaks back to him in a hiss filled with anger and venom.
Chapter 6 - What was that??
Hawk and Frog sit in the grass by the ivy arch chatting about idle things waiting for the aspirants to either succeed or fail as they must do. The air is warm and sweet and they enjoy their idle down time together. Suddenly the air shifts and the ivy on the arch begins to blow savagely in the opposite direction. A dark chill seems to spread from the arch and blows over them.
Instantly the pair turn towards the arch with worry and alarm. Their spirit shells crackling around their body. Ethereal energy crackles and swirlds around their bodies at the ready. Hawk looks to Frog, “Did you feel that?”
Frog nods as he crouches forward moving slowly to the arch, “I’ve never felt anything like it?”
Hawk frowns, “We’re not supposed to go in unless the aspirants are in danger…”
Frog looks back at Hawk, “Something tells me that’s exactly what’s going on.”
Hawk nods as the energy crackles and surges around his arms forming wings of energy. Frog allows his energy to form around his legs and arms ready to leap forward. The two surge forward towards the arch and race into the Mystik Forest.
Chapter 7 - Momo
Momo wanders through the Mystik Forest and easily gets lost in its beauty. It is some while before he remembers why he has come and begins to look for a suitable place to sit. Spotting a patch of moss on a log Momo takes a comfortable seat and crosses his legs.
He takes a deep breath as he clears his mind. The cool breeze blows over his skin and puts him back into the moment. He opens his eyes and looks around once again appreciating all the beauty around him, “Gosh I wish I could live here forever.” he presses the soft moss under his hands, “Ok Momo…focus…Hawk is waiting on us.” he closes his eyes again and clears his mind and thinkspeaks, ** I am here and I am worthy **.
The wind begins to pick up and swirls around him. His clothes flap in the breeze, hair tossed as the energy of the aether builds around him. He thinkspeaks again, ** I cannot wait to meet you my new friend!
Some rustling catches his attention and he opens his eyes and looks around. “Who’s there? Anyone here….oh??”
Chapter 8 - Spoiled for choices
Yumi stands cautiously while looking at the gathered array of spirit animals in front of her, “Oh my! I never expected to see so many…” Before her is an assortment of Spirit Animals. Rodents, Birds, Felines, Canine…..all staring at her with large eager eyes. She makes her way into the middle of the group and takes turns petting and greeting each as they come for a chance to snuggle. “How ever will i decide???” Her hurt bursts with happiness.
A voice comes from behind her and she turns to see a glowing woman floating over the grasses, “The choice is not yours young Yumi……the choice is theirs.” Yumi gasps at the beauty of the woman.
Yumi clears her throat, “Their choice?”
The floating ethereal woman comes closer as the spirit animals part ways. “Yes Yumi…they will choose. The spirit animals live a life of peace and happiness here. To choose to go back to your realm is a danger to them and they will only do so for their perfect match.”
Yumi continues hugging and greeting the creatures around her. “I never heard of so many coming to greet someone.”
The floating woman chuckles, “It is not often that one with a spirit as pure as yours come to the Mystik Forest.” The creatures climb up the floating woman and she pets them absently.
Yumi looks around at those around her and smiles, “How will I know which one has chosen me?”
The woman smiles as she floats around, “They have already chosen. It is now up to you to figure out which it is.”
Yumi blinkblinks, “How do I do that?”
The woman begins to slowly fade away into the air, “When you see them you will know.”
Yumi crosses her arms and looks at the menagerie in front of her. “Well this isn’t going to be easy. No, not at all!”