I was shaken awake. The sun barely setting. The dark red of the clouds were warning of a storm on the horizon. I could tell that it was going to be a night to forget.

“Okay everyone, before we leave put in your earplugs. We can’t have anyone hearing the whispers.” Snell walked around and made sure nobody could hear a thing.

The loss of hearing threw off my balance. Thank the forgotten we would be sitting tonight. I knew the trek to the river would be treacherous. Without hearing we would be at a disadvantage. With my sense of balance off it could be even worse.

Snell lead us with a torch he had saved from the fire. We moved at a slower pace than normal. Without the moon I couldn’t tell how long it had even been. Finally we arrived at the bank of the river. Sell lead us all over to the skiff he had prepared.

Elena sat in the back. Snell strapped her feet to a loop on the bottom. It was almost like the slave ship I had seen depicted in the master scribes library. In front of her sat Lucy. Same procedure. In the very front sat Zoran. She tied herself into a ring. Tibby beside her and she tied him to his own ring. Snell sat me beside Lucy and tied me in.

Snell guided a long pole into the skiff. He slowly pushed the skiff all the way into the water. He jumped on and tied himself to his own ring.

Snell put the long pole into the water and began to push us forward. The farther he pushed us towards the center of the river the more I could feel the intents of the evil resting grounds. I could sense that many had perished in these waters in hopes to make it to the other side.

We were about a quarter way through when the first problem happened. One Snell had predicted. I felt the shock consume me as a giant wave shaped like a hand almost smashed over the ship. What was wrong with this river? Snell seemed unfazed and guided the skiff with an expertise I never knew he had. Now I finally understand why he has the title of guide.

As we continued further towards the center of the river more watery hands came after us. Snell guided the skiff to where the most damage we took was a shaking of the skiff. I felt the sky start to open and let the first of it’s storm start to fall. It wouldn’t be long before it would be only water around us.

We were finally approaching the halfway part when the hand stopped coming for us. What relief. I looked back at Snell and saw that wrinkle in his forehead again. It only showed when he worried like this. I felt the panic start to rise. What could be worse than those hands?

As I turned from Snell I saw Elena beside him. One earplug missing and her head soaked by water. She was pulling at the ropes at her feet. Lucy in front of her had also noticed and was trying to grab her arms frantically. In that split moment Elena knocked out one of Lucy’s earplugs and broke the rope at her own feet.

Snell reached for Elena as Lucy jammed his earplug back in. Lucy had turned white and seemed to battling with himself. Elena kept trying to jump over the skiff. Thanks to Snell she wasn’t successful. In this whole battle to save Elena I had missed one major thing. We weren’t moving.

A watery hand shot at us and knocked the skiff sideways. I watched as Elena fell into the water. I took the hidden blade off my back and slashed my own rope in a swift cut. As I started diving into the water I was already resheathing the blade.

The water was frigid. I knew if I didn’t get Elena and get to land quickly we wouldn’t make it. I plunged under the water. The best part of growing up in the town of scribes now seemed to be all those times I would hide from Joseph just outside of town in the little pond.

As I dived under the water I felt my earplugs both pop out. I tried to open my eyes in the freezing water. I got them open enough to see the outline of Elena sinking in slow circles almost as if something was pulling her. It was then that I heard the water. Or more of felt it.

Zen. Come to me. Come live in my palace of water.

No. It was the one thought in my head in that instant.

No? Well that’s the only way to save this girl. This foolish girl who decided to venture with you into my arms.

I could feel the water vibrating. It was almost like the river itself was laughing.

I can safely return her if you decide to switch with her. Or do you need to hear about your darkness.

I rushed up to the surface for air. As I broke I could still feel the river.

Hah. Running but that doesn’t change that you’re the cause for all you care about dyeing. First Shino. Now it will be Elena. No wonder you aren’t loved by anyone.

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“Your lying.” I was gulping in air getting ready to dive under yet again. “I will save Elena. I don’t need love if I can save everyone from you.”

The river shivered at my response.

Yet another child chose by the moon thinks they can beat me. You are not the first to amuse me nor will you be the last. I was here to begin the forest. I will be here long after it dies.

“How long you live doesn’t matter. I won’t let anyone else I care about die.” I took a huge breath and dived back under.

Elena was still in the same place. Her body was shaking. I could tell I didn’t have long at all. It was almost like the river was holding her just out of reach.

I swam as fast as I could to Elena. I knew I didn’t have enough time but I had to do this somehow. I felt my desperation growing. My head was starting to hurt. The I felt a pop as a bubble of air surrounded me. It was coming from that spot in my forehead. I willed it to take me down beside Elena.

I grabbed Elena as soon as I got close enough. She was cold. Way to cold. I willed the air to warm up. I truly didn’t actually know what I was doing. All I knew is it’s what I knew I needed.

Ah child. Maybe you were worth meeting. I have a better proposition.

“What could a river want from me? I’m just a boy.” I willed the air yet warmer. Elena started to cough up the water in her lungs.

I need someone to gain a certainty power and release me from my prison.

“Why would I want to release an evil river?” I pulled Elena close to me as she passed out completely. If it wasn’t for her ragged breaths I would have though she was dead.

I want to destroy the two that cursed me. I have spent centuries here using my fury on unfortunate passerby’s.

“If you killed them what would you do after?” I could feel the river settling.

I would return to the happy life I once had. I was once the best of all tamers. The immortal and the rebirther chained me here. It was I the only one to continue a bloodline that could destroy them.

“What do you mean destroy them?” I felt something familiar in the water that I felt in myself.

I boy was once like you. Chosen by the moon. Long before your golden king. I was the first chosen. A moon child is what they called us. All of us have the power to unite all the races. We are in a sense a turning of the times.

“A moon child? I like that a lot better.” I felt the water pulse with pride.

Child the prophets stone once told me I would be released by the deamons moon. Blessed by the forgotten but claimed by the deamons. You my child are blessed by the forgotten. Last one blessed like you was the enchantress.

“You knew the enchantress? I’m looking for her tomb to talk to her!” Suddenly I felt a watery hand on my shoulder.

The friend of times long past. All I need from you young one is to do what my old friend could not. Devour the curse of our lands. Give us back our seventh year.

“What do you mean? How do you know all of this?” I now had a feeling that my fate was connected with the river.

Find the prophets stone boy. Hidden just like the blade on your back was once. The blood moon will begin the change of times. The Lord of trackers will lead the way into new times. The forgotten names will be reunited. The blessings of light will lend a daemon the power of kindness. Now go child. You have to do this for me so I may one day repay you.

“Can I at least get your name? I might not understand what you have said but I can at least thank you for not killing us.” I placed my hand to edge of the sphere. The waters vibration now seemed to have changed.

I child am Padma. The first child of the moon. The tamer that time has forgotten. Now be off. The moon chose you but so has another power. The unchosen has decide you are worthy.

We washed up on the opposite shore. I saw Snell had gotten the skiff to this side of the shore no problem. He was standing with Lucy and Zoran. They all had tears in their eyes and shock across their faces.

“What a refreshing splash.” I chuckled.

I motioned for everyone to take out their earplugs. I went over to Elena who now seemed to be in a restless sleep.

“How did you two survive?” Lucy was more now than he was when Elena had knocked out his earplug.

“It was Padma. We should be safe now. My main worry is finding the tomb of the enchantress not the prison of the first moon child.” I picked up Elena. “We have a trip that is going to be quite splashing indeed.”

“You need to stop stealing my lines Zen. But he’s let us head to the tamers forest.” Zoran had the largest smile I had seen since she had been in Stoneroot with Heather.

“Come we need to continue on to the forest. Once there we can find the tomb of the enchantress.” Snell started leading the way.

We walked in a single file after Snell. The clouds disappeared and the sun started to rise. We walked north for a little while. The we started west down a narrow trail. It was clear that it was used before. The river slowly disappeared behind us. But no matter how far behind I couldn’t help but think about Padma.

Padma said the immortal and the rebirther. What could she mean? Better yet what could she mean by being blessed by the forgotten yet claimed by the deamons? It was all to much. Could she really mean me? Why had she let Elena and I go? I looked down at Elena. She had also told me that we had to find the prophets stone. Shino had said the same thing back at the testing grounds all that time ago. Something told me that after I met the enchantress the world that I know now would change.

“Here we are!” Snell’s cry of joy startled me.

“Zen if you gain a familiar here what would you name them?” Elena looked up from my arms.

“Elena is awake!” I got them all around me. “Elena are you okay”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I just feel like I’ve slept for a whole day.” Elena looked at me. “Now Zen what would you name your familiar?”

“I would honor Shino’s memory and name them Silvey. The same name as the artifact Shino carried.” I let a small smile appear on my lips.

“What do you mean we’re hear Snell? All that’s here is a giant wall.” Elena stared in front of us. Snell let out his chuckle.

“Don’t worry Elena this wall is the marker into the forest. If the forest permits our entry then we will continue on. Hey Zoran maybe you will give Baby here a new friend.” Snell pulled baby out from under his beard and gave her a loving stroke.