Roc stood and walked back through the door. Jem was sitting on one of the beds. He walked over and sat down next to her. He must have still had a confused look on his face because Jem began to tell him what had happened.
“A voice? What voice?” Roc heard himself asking Jem.
“I can’t explain it other than that Roc. At first I thought I was asleep and dreaming it.”
“Yes, a dream, that does explain it” Roc said interrupting Jem.
“No, Roc I was awake. I sat up and talked to it. It told me you were asleep and could not wake yourself. It said we were in danger. I knew it was telling me the truth about the danger, I could feel it.” Roc started to say something, but Jem put up her hand quieting him and went on with her story. “I crept over to you and shook you, I called you, and I couldn’t get you to wake up. Roc, I tried for over an hour to wake you up. It wasn’t until I found that leaf with water or whatever in it that you finally got up.” Roc dropped his jaw open when he heard how long Jem had been trying to wake him. He had always been a light sleeper. Why now did that change? Something very strange was going on and he had to get to the bottom of it.
Jem had some of the answers he was looking for. “This tree we are in is called a protected home. These trees grow naturally like this, becoming a home to those who are in need. Apparently they have these built-in security devices in them. That’s what saved you from the Moon-wraith.” Jem had been going on in a monotone recanting her tale. As she continued Roc could see goose bumps creep up her arms. “Moon-wraiths are the shadows of those evil creatures that had been exiled to the dark end of the Universe. Some thought the evil these creatures wielded had been banished for good. Somehow these creatures harnessed energy from where they had been banished and a part of them was able to escape. Of course there is a payoff to be had for any energy used. In this case it was that mortal part of the creatures. That part of the creature had to remain behind trapped forever in the dark part of the Universe. What was left was nothing more than a shadow. That shadow however had learned to gather energy from light. That energy is stored in its eyes. As you saw the eyes are as bright as a full moon, and having the power to trap its prey in its gaze. The only thing that can stop a Moon-wraith is to have someone get between the victim and the wraith. You have to cut off that gaze, however it has to be done within a certain distance. If you wait too late nothing will work.” Jem finished and looked at Roc. She could tell he had been in one of his thought trances as she called them. He had heard every word she said and was mulling it over in his mind. Finally Roc spoke, “how would you know all this?” In response Jem simply pointed to a dark area of the room.
There in the dark sat a figure Roc had not noticed until Jem had pointed. The figure rose from where it had been sitting on the floor of the branch and walked closer. He was tall, but not as tall as Roc. His build was smaller than Roc’s as well. For the Most part he looked to be Roc’s opposite. His hair was light, almost white, long, kept pulled back in the front with braids that hung down past his shoulders. He dressed all in shades of green. He wore leather pants made of a dark green, not as dark as Jem’s eyes, but dark, his tunic was of a shade of grass, it was made of a light material that seemed to flow over him, with an opening at the neck that was pulled shut with a chord of still a lighter green. Roc had to stare hard at his feet to see the shoes that were there. They blended in with his pants so much they were hard to see. Everything on him was green. Even his skin appeared to be a very light green. The one thing that stood out different was his eyes. His eyes were a deep blue. They were a shade of blue Roc once saw in a mountain lake. There were flecks of white in his eyes that resembled white caps in the water. It would be easy to get lost in those eyes.
He took another step forward extending his hand at the same time. “I am called Maus.” Roc stood taking the extended hand and shook it. “I am Rick, and I guess you already met Jocelyn” Roc was saying since no one but each other called them Roc and Jem.
Maus’ shoulders immediately dropped. There was a look of disappointment about him. “Please forgive me,” Maus was saying. “I don’t mean to look disappointed. I thought you two were the ones legends spoke of.” Roc and Jem looked at each other and then at Maus. Jem spoke up first.
“What two, that what legend spoke of.”
“According to legend two who are unknown to us will come on a day like this one. They will come and defeat that which is plaguing us. When we heard of your coming I was sent to see if you were they. The disappointment that you saw on my face was when I learned you were not they.” Roc was still taking this all in when Jem jumped into her talking mode. “What made you realize it was not us? What is plaguing you? How did you hear of us?” The words were tumbling out as fast as she could make them. Maus took a step back, looking like he had been shoved. “Is she always like this?” Maus was asking Roc. Roc just nodded yes. “You get use to it after awhile” he said looking at Maus. Maus just nodded his understanding. Jem opened her mouth to complain and was stopped by Maus.
“I will answer you in the opposite order you asked. The shepherd told of your being in the woods. It was startled by you and ran off. Silly creatures, they jump at their own shadow, still they are good for some things. That is how I was able to warn you. As to what is plaguing us, it is hard to put into words, but I will try. Centuries ago when the Evils were still on Earth things became very dangerous. These Evils did many horrible things. The Mortals had all they could do to battle them. Slowly the Mortals became aware of one certain Evil that was bringing the others together to combine their strengths and powers. At first this was a dismal failure, so the Mortals let it be, this turned out to be their undoing. In letting this Evil alone to do, as he will, he was able to finally bring certain other Evils together. These Evils took on a new identity. They were now one. A being that called itself Harvester. The Mortals could not believe the horrific thing Harvester had the ability to do. No one thought it possible, for its name was chosen with good reason. Harvester stole or harvested the very soul of any mortal it came in contact with. In seeing what they had done by turning their backs on the Evils the Mortals gathered to do what they could.”
“The new Mortal gathering was called the Reath Lords. One representative from each of the 6 Mortals was chosen to join the newly formed Reath Lords. Nus was chosen from the race of Elves, Rai was chosen from the Fairies, Nira was chosen for the Giants, Rife came from the Dwarfs, Nam was to come from the race of Men and Elania was to represent the Animals. The Reath Lords gathered all the remaining Evils and banished them to the dark end of the Universe before Harvester could do any more harm. With the rest of the Evils banished it was believed Harvester had left for the dark side himself, as he was not heard from in such a long time. Over the centuries many believed Harvester was just a story told to the young to keep them in line. The Evils remained banished until recently. Very few still believed, then the Moon-wraiths started coming. Those who did still believe began pouring over ancient history. Some of us believe not all of the Reath Lords had just turned their backs on Harvester. It is written that the Reath Lords knowing they would not be needed for a long while made provisions should Harvester make itself known again. It is said that they hid two of the strongest from all eyes. No one would ever be able to find them until the need came. Many believe that need is here now. We were hoping you were that two, so you can understand my disappointment in finding out you were not those two.”
“Well” Jem started saying. It was hard for her to stay quiet for that long and now she was taking her chance. “This is all very interesting. I am kind of glad we are not the two you were looking for. Although you clearly are in need of them, it sounds like they have a hard road ahead of them. You never did say how you know we are not them.”
“Yes, you are quite right Jocelyn. It is very simple, the two we search for will have names of the Earth” was Maus’ simple explanation.
“Um, what exactly is a name of the Earth?” She knew the answer to the question as soon as she had asked it.
“They will be names such as mine, Maus. The exact names are written in ancient history.” As Maus finished his sentence the other two looked at each other, each knowing in their heart what the true answer was. “We have other names Roc said in answer to Maus’ quizzical stare. They are nicknames. We are the only ones to use them. I am Roc and this is Jem.”
Maus dropped to one knee clasped his left fist over his heart and let out a gasp. The color appeared to drain out of Maus’ face all expression left him, as he stared at the two. Roc and Jem glanced at each other then looked at Maus waiting for him to say something. “You did say Jem and Roc did you not” was all he managed to utter at first. Roc silently nodded his head. “You are the ones we have waited for, the Lords are with us again.” Maus was almost breathless. Roc extended his hand to steady Maus. Maus stared at his elbow where Roc steadied him looking like he expected it to break off. “Maus, are you all right?” He heard Jem asking him, but stood perfectly still almost afraid to move. “Maus”, Jem said again trying to get him just to breath. Slowly Maus regained composure over himself, apologizing for his lapse. “Please forgive me, we have waited for so long. It was feared all hope was lost. You are here now and there is much to do to prepare for the upcoming battle.” “Battle, what battle? There is still much we don’t know. You are going to have to tell us more, much more if we are going to be able to help” Jem was saying. There she goes again Roc thought, and then he smiled inwardly to himself. There is no one he would rather be with under these circumstances than Jem. Yes, he was very grateful she was there by his side for this.
