Chapter 1: Rebirth
It was still early in the morning and she was enjoying the scenery covered in a light layer of fog when she heard laughter. She turned to the direction from which the laughter came. It came from somewhere off the path down the slope. As far as she knew there weren't any tracks in that direction. She wondered if it hadn't just been her imagination when she heard the laugh again. It sounded like a young girl who had not yet reached puberty. This was when she became worried. Down the slope was the river. It was a seemingly peaceful river with a slow stream, but appearances can be deceiving. It had a strong undercurrent and if you weren't careful it could make you fall and pull you downstream. It would be easy and hit your head on a rock, lose consciousness and drown.
Hurriedly and slightly panicked she moved off the path and down the slope. In her haste she did not notice the GPS-tracker falling. She hoped the girl was with adult supervision, but if that wasn't the case it could become dangerous. The slope mostly had younger trees so she grabbed hold of their trunks so she wouldn't fall. She heard laughter again, this time closer. She increased her speed. In a few long minutes she was at the bottom of the slope, but she could not see the girl anywhere. She was only a few meters from the river. Down here the fog was thicker and she couldn't see very far. She stopped to listen. There. Voices. Only slightly distinguishable above the sound of flowing water. It came a bit further from the river. She walked briskly towards the voices. The earlier panic mostly replaced with lots of relief and slight anger. This was not a place to bring a child.
She passed the turn behind which she was sure they'd be. The small clearance was devoid of people. She looked around, listened, but nothing was there. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air. She walked to the center of the clearance. She turned a full circle. The clearance was oddly circular. Laughter reverberated in the clearance. She turned a full circle again – no one was there. This was getting slightly spooky. The fog was still thick. She tried to move but found she couldn't. She was stuck. The fog thickened. Just as she really began panicking small lights began swarming around her. Oddly enough it calmed her. Perhaps it was because of the beauty of the scene. She had once or twice encountered a bear and the same clear-headedness from those situations befell her now. Her eyes darted back and forth. She still couldn't move.
Suddenly the fog dissipated. She stood frozen – she could move again but did not seem to notice it. She was no longer in the small clearance but rather in a small cave formed of what appeared to be wood. All lighting came from the large opening five to ten meters before her. Slowly she moved forward. What emerged before her was a sea of clouds. Once again she stood frozen. This time with fear and awe and not just pure panic and incomprehension (though both of these elements were still present). Where was she? Nowhere on earth – that was for certain.
She hurried into the cave once again searching for a way back. This was not her world. Even though her fingers were itching to draw her first priority would be her own security. She found nothing. The cave was completely empty. For a moment she sat down trying to collect her thoughts. What should she do? She took a few calming breaths. She decided to go outside the cave. Sitting and waiting when it had no meaning had never her style. No one would come and rescue her if she stayed put.
Outside the cave was bright. A huge sun shone in red hues to her left on the horizon. An enchanting sight. She turned towards the cave and found herself to be standing at the foot of a gigantic tree none like any other she had ever seen before. She took a deep breath and nodded to herself. Her decision made. Slowly she made her way across the large roots that covered everything all the way till the edge of the sea of clouds to explore the area further.
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She looked at her watch. It had been roughly an hour since she began to walk and she was once again back by the cave. The sun was now much higher in the sky. Seems it was also morning here. The roots of the tree defined the borders of what she could now see was something akin to an island. She sighed. She had met no other humans. Not even animals. The island was devoid of life.
She took her sketch book out and began to draw to calm her nerves. "It'll be all right" she told herself. Deep calming breaths. A few more strokes of her pencil. "It's going to be okay."
The sun was now high in the sky so she sat in complete shadow because of the large crown of leaves from the island tree. She had put down her open sketch book and was now just staring out towards the sea. Only the faint rustling of leaves was heard when there was wind. She closed her eyes for a minute. Once again she took a deep breath. She couldn't detect any scents whatsoever. This was nothing like her beloved forest.
Suddenly a faint male chuckle could be heard. Quickly She opened her eyes and stood up. An old man came into view. He was dressed in a moss green tunic, brown pants, leather boots, had his white hair in a ponytail and his beard was well kept. On his back she could barely make out the shape of a bow and quiver. He sat on his heels staring down at her from the bigger root. He seemed to be in good shape she noted absentmindedly.
He grinned lopsidedly and his brown eyes were sparkling in a playful manner which made him seem much younger than what his appearance suggested. "Ye're an odd one ain't ya. Did ye get lost or somethin', young un?" She stayed silent. He tilted his head slightly to the right. "Ye can't talk? Ah well, can't be helped. Most spirits who stray in 'ere can't hold a conversation much less keep up their appearance. Ye even conjured ye possessions." He chuckled loudly. She stared warily up at him. "I can speak." His grin grew wider. "And I'm not a spirit. By the way, who are you?"
He jumped down from above and landed about two meters from where she was standing. "Oooh, this is the most excitin' thing that's come around 'ere for centuries. Tell me; do ye remember anythin' from before ye came 'ere, lass?" She moved a bit further away keeping her eyes attentively locked on him should he make any sudden moves. "Of course I do, why wouldn't I? And you still haven't answered my question." She picked up her sketch book intending to put it in her back but the old man – quick on his feet and with nimble fingers – snatched it right out of her hands. "what's this? Ye're an artist?" She tried to snatch it back before he could look further. "Hey, That's private! Give it back!" He quickly moved out of her way all the while leafing through the sketch book. His eyes still with that playful light in them. She stopped chasing him while being filled with anger and a great deal of annoyance.
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He stopped around midway through the sketch book where the newer drawings should be – his eyes turning serious. With his hand on the page he closed his eyes as If trying to sense something. His facial expression grew even graver. Her wariness of him increased. "Lass," he barked and she almost jumped right out of her skin "Did ye make these?" She stared at him for a little while, then nodded jerkily "Y-Yes. Yes I did. Why do you ask?" She began backing away. "Stay where ye are, lass" Lifting his right hand with his palm towards her. She could no longer move an inch. Then he looked up and yelled deafeningly loud; "Moria! Moria, come down 'ere this instance!"
A beautiful woman suddenly appeared beside the old man looking slightly displeased. She had dark blue hair and a long light blue dress that matched her deep light blue eyes perfectly. "What do you want, Baltimore? The Crow and I had just started a game of chess. I've been bugging him for almost three decades for a rematch and you have to call me now of all times. For your sake I hope he hasn't left by the time I get back." Moria didn't spare her a glance. "ye're done complainin'?" Baltimore looked at her in slight annoyance. "Take a look at this." He handed her the sketch book. "Oh my. Oh my. Where did you get this? These are wonderful! They even have slight traces of the mana signature!" Moria's earlier attitude was nowhere to be seen. Baltimore gestured towards the girl and Moria's eyes followed suit. "The spirit? She did this?" She looked back at the old man. "You can't possibly be serious – the girl isn't even a spirit from a mana endowed dimension." Moria spoke as if the girl wasn't even there. He looked Moria straight in the eye. "Ye see my problem? This could only mean she was misplaced – which in the end is your responsibility as the governor of managin' the rulin's made by Fate. Aye, this un's on you, Moria." Baltimore looked angry. "If a spirit of a mana dimension where Fate 'as strong influence doesn't go where it's supposed to go we all know what could 'appen, aye Moria?" His tone was low and intense – almost growling. He took a deep breath and added in a calmer tone; "fix this Moria. Now." By now the woman was looking flustered and slightly shameful. "I'll report to Fate and see if we can limit the consequences." She glanced shortly at the girl – then disappeared the same way she came.
The girl stood like a deer in headlights – once again completely panicked. "Everythin' will fall into place soon enough so don't ye worry, lass. Now. As ye 'ave probably noticed, me name is Baltimore and though I know ye think otherwise; ye're already dead and ye're current body is only un yere spirit 'as conjured from ye memories. I'm un of the governin' sprites and as ye might be able to guess I hold authority over the hunt an' forests in general. I'm what ye might call a god." She didn't say a word. She had no idea of how to answer that. She was dead? The old man in front of her was a god? "Lass, do ye remember ye name? Any names?" Finally something concrete to focus on. Yes, this was something she should be able to answer. "Of course I remem-" I don't remember my name? I don't remember any names. I remember lots of faces and what each person meant to me. Family. Friends. Classmates. Acquaintances. But no names. Confusion was etched into her features "I don't remember. I remember lots of faces but their names..." She looked sad though Baltimore actually looked kind of relieved by her response.
The girl sat down heavily with her head in her hands. "Oh my god. I actually don't remember the names of my parents. My best friend. My brothers. Anyone!" She began rocking back and forth. A hand was put on her shoulder. Startled, she looked up into the face of Baltimore – sympathy eminent on his face. "Lass, it's for the best. Since ye ended up the wrong place an' therefore didn't live the life ye were supposed to, ye can't stay in the spirit realm. Ye'll 'ave to be reincarnated, an' names will be too much of a burden to take with ye into ye new life." Her eyes were big and round. "reincarnated? New life? Why would I want that? I just want my old one back!" She began hitting his chest. "I want to go home!" Slowly she stopped hitting and began crying hysterically which again slowly turned into quiet tears. By the time she had gained her footing slightly Baltimore was hugging her and stroking her back in a calming manner.
After she had stopped crying and moderately calmed down, Baltimore took her to the of the top of the island tree where she – among other sprites – met the aforementioned Crow. He was a quick-witted young man who appeared to be in his early twenties. Since she was quite the commodity all the sprites present were very nice. Some were very understanding while others were so curious that they didn't notice their insensitivity. As it turned out it was a few of the minor wind sprites who had unintentionally lured her to the portal. Since only spirits could gain access to the spirit world her real body had simply disintegrated – for the lack of a better term. She spend the next couple of days in the spirit realm and while she was greatly saddened by the fact that her none of her loved ones would ever know the truth of her death she enjoyed meeting the many eccentric sprites. Even the minor ones.
On the day of her departure Moria herself took the girl down to the Edge where a small plain boat just big enough for two awaited them. They took off and floated in the clouds for what may have been days or merely an hour or two. All of a sudden the boat stopped. The girl looked towards Moria. Moria smiled warmly at her. "This is it. I don't go any further from here on out". The girl could feel her body beginning to float "Thank you, Moria." The girl was gone.
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Her first thought was one of pain. It hurt. Something was pressuring her entire body, pushing her forward. She couldn't breath. Everything was very chaotic and as soon as the pressure on her chest was gone she began to franticly cry – clearing her lungs and struggling to breathe. Suddenly she was in a warm embrace. She could faintly hear crying, but it soon grew unclear as her world became dark and she fell into a deep sleep.
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Thank you very much for reading my fiction! Sorry I'm later than I said I would be, but it took longer to write than I had first anticipated. Oh well. It's out now. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this new chapter, though I must admit I'm not really sure why it turned out like this even though I had 'planned' (as in not-thought-through delusions) something vastly different for this chapter...