Violet began running towards the town when she saw the familiar dark clouds.
But an unknown force kept her from getting through the forest. She knew Luna would protect people whose lives were threatened. When arriving at the end of the forest she watched her friend fall to the ground.
"LUNA!" She shouted dashing to the fallen body. The villagers had begun to come out of their shelters to see a worried Violet holding their savior.
Many of them began muttering and wondering what to do. Others called for someone to take her to the healer.
Violet put her head on Luna's chest hoping to hear anything. She heard the soft beating of Luna's heart and felt her shallow breathing. Violet sighed in relief hugging her unconscious friend.
Imani emerged from the tree line and saw a crowd in the middle of the town. Trying his best to see over them, he gave up.
"Excuse me, what's going on?" Imani asked a man in the back of the crowd.
"The shadows took over again. She fought him off with a light beast and vanquished him away, " He told. A woman next to him joined in. "Yes, but it must have drained her energy. She fainted after he was gone."
Curious, Imani rushed through the crowd and saw a man picking up a familiar figure. He then spotted Violet.
"Violet!" he exclaimed Turning her head she watches Imani jog up to them with Sheila on his heels
"Imani! Oh, thank Ceres you're here. Come on, they're going to take her to the best healer they have," Violet says pulling Imani by his arm.
They followed the broad man to a hut filled with different herbs, and medicinal plants. A woman with wild red hair appeared and looked calmly at the man. She was beautiful, only a few lines by her eyes showed her age.
"Haggis, what have your brought me now?" She asked in an annoyed tone.
"I have brung you the savior of the town to our best healer," He explained, trying to butter her up a bit. Rolling her eyes, she placed her hands on Luna's head. Her hands began to glow only for a moment before letting go.
"Set her there, I shall have my niece help this one, thankfully it's not too severe." The woman said, pointing to a small cot in the corner. "Andorra!" She shouted as a clumsy girl with matching curly red hair appeared.
She looked flushed and accessed her surroundings. Andorra noticed a new patient on her cot. "Yes, Auntie?" the girl stammered.
"Please take care of your new patient. I must leave to gather more herbs for the shop" She stated grabbing a basket and a shawl by the door.
"Yes. Auntie Delphi" Andorra responded as Haggis followed Delphi out the door leaving Andorra with Violet and Imani.
"H-hello, I'm An-Andorra, and I'll be a-assisting you today." She stuttered at the pair.
"Are you ok?" Violet asked the nervous girl.
"Y-Yes I'm just nervous, this will be my first time working with new peop-patients!" She corrected herself before continuing. "I usually help the mothers and elders, so I'm very excited to meet new people but also very nervous."
Violet gave an encouraging smile at Andorra.
"It's okay, how about if we leave? Will that help? I just want my friend to have the best treatment," she suggested. Thinking about it Andorra nodded. "If you would please I could focus better too" she added "Okay, will be outside let us know when you're finished," Imani said, patting her shoulder.
When the door closed Andorra took a deep breath. Her hand began to glow a light green color as she started to circle her hands above Luna's exhausted form. Slowly a dimming Everything internally was fine but her spirit was nothing like she had felt before.
It gave fuzzy feelings in Andorra's chest. She then heard a voice calling to her. Closing her eyes she focused on the voice
It was one she heard in her dreams. Her mother was a witch of old and had visions of the future. She had died not long after Andorra was born. Maybe this was her mothers voice. Her aunt told her she inherited her gift of foresight, along with healing magic. The voice began to call out to her. "Warriors of 5 with strong spirits will rise and defeat a dark evil. But from dark evil spirits can break. Watch over these pure souls. Protect their spirits young one."
Opening her eyes Andorra looked down at the Princess and nodded her head. Taking a deep breath, Andorra began to heal her weakened spirit.
The green light surrounded both girls and Andorra pulled out a dimming golden light from Lunas soul and mind. Andorra assed what the spirit needed and went to get the key ingredient. Walking up to the sun-catcher in the window, Andorra grabbed a ray of pure golden sunlight. Walking back to the girl Andorra carefully infused both lights together.
Quickly the spirit was once again bright. Andorra guided the green light around the spirit and returned it to Lunas body. After all the lights were gone, Andorra quickly got up and staggered out the doors. Imani watched the young healer stumble out of the hut.
"How's Luna? Is she ok?" He asked. Andorra fixed her hair and nodded.
"Yes, she only needs rest but please come inside I must tell you something important. " Andorra urged. Quietly walking by Luna's sleeping form, they entered the back of the shop.
All that you could see covering the room were light-colored tapestries draped all over the place. Candles were lit around tables and window each one with flames of different colors.
Andorra sat the two at the table and began to make tea.
"What do you wish to tell us?" Violet questioned. Andorra went ridged. Taking a deep breath she relaxed and began telling them about the voices.
"For some back story, my family has a gift of foresight. I've had many visions over the years. Simple events that would take place. No matter what they were, they would happen in front of my eyes." Andorra began. Violet and Imani leaned in.
"So you know what we'll do next? You can see the future?" Violet asked. Andorra shook her head.
"Sort of. Yours is different. While all my previous visions showed me what was going to happen. Your future was more of a calling for me" she explained "So, what did it say?" Imani asked, "in short, it told me 5 spirits will face a dark evil and evil like that can break one's spirit. It told me to watch over these souls as I have the ability to heal weakened spirits." she stopped as the tea kettle whistled. Getting up she grabbed the kettle and headed back to the table.
"I believe in my soul that I am meant to aid you in your quest," Andorra stated pouring them tea and sitting down with them
Just as she said this, a voice called out.
"Oh really?" The groggy voice belonged to a half-awake Luna. The three looked at her disheveled hair and Violet smiled.
"You're awake!" Violet exclaimed, getting up to hug her friend. Luna winced a bit.
"Yes, yes I'm alright I just drained too much energy," Luna said, hugging her back. "So, who may you be?" Luna asked, pulling away from the embrace.
"I'm Andorra Green, I h-healed your spirit, that's why you're up s-s-so fast." She explained.
Nodding, Luna took the empty seat next to Imani.
"Well, if you are coming with us, you'll need supplies correct? What do you need?" Luna asked unbothered by the girls stuttering mess.
"First I'll have to inform my Auntie, leave instructions for my more frequent patients." She listed
Just as she finished her sentence, Delphi had walked into the shop to see it empty. She could hear muffled voices in the back and frowned. Peeking behind the tapestry she saw all them all talking at the table.
Delphi frowned.
It was a rule that no patients was allowed behind the curtain.
"Andorra, why are they back here? You know the rules." She spoke sternly. Andorra jumped out of her seat.
"Oh! Auntie! I-I w-was j-just telling t-them about a vi-vision I-I had ab-about them." She stammered out. Delphi sighed and rubbed her temples.
"You're leaving aren't you?" Delphi blurted out.
Putting her head down, Andorra gripped her apron and nodded. Mumbling under her breathe, Delphi headed to her room and came back out with a large worn-out book and satchel.
"If you're leaving, you are going to need this," She said, dropping the book on the table, dust rolled off the bookmaking everyone cough.
"W-what is this?" Andorra asked waving her hand to settle the dust.
"It's our family spellbook. It has everything you will need for your journey, and more" Delphi bluntly said, turning to pack the satchel of various herbs, vials, potions, and bandages.
"Auntie I-" Andorra started but was cut off. Delphi turned to her niece and gave her a rare smile while placing her hands on Andorra's freckled cheeks.
"Andorra, this is what you were born to do, it was foretold by your grandmother you would help aid Great warriors to defeat a great evil that could destroy this land. I was only here to prepare you when your mother couldn't" Delphi revealed, giving Andorra her satchel.
"Also take Wagner, you know how he gets when you leave," Delphi added. Going into her room.
"Wagner? who or what is that?" Imani asked,
"Oh, you'll see" Andorra stated with gleaming eyes. After packing the rest of her belongings, Andorra led them behind the shop, to see a small barn.
There were some chickens, a few ducks, a cow, and a hippogriff.
"This is Wagner" Andorra introduced. His feathers were white and a dark greyish blue. His yellow beak and golden eyes seemingly glaring at the approaching group.
"Whoa, so you have a tamed Hippogriff?" Imani asks. Andorra shook her head.
"Not really, Wagner is still wild like any creature. He just chooses to stay here. After I healed him he just stuck around and would follow me anywhere" She told as the beast spotted the red haired girl. He ran up and began to rub his head against her face.
The red-haired girl laughed at her hippogriffs enthusiasm. "Haha, ok, ok, Wanger, ready to go on an adventure?" Andorra asked as he softly chirped.
"He's beautiful," Imani said looking at the shining of his feathers and the swish of his tail. Hearing the compliment, Wagner began to stand taller, puffing out his chest.
"Oh, don't get his ego bigger than it already is," Andorra laughed. putting her bags on Wagner's back, Delphi made her appearance once more.
"I came to wish you well, you have a rough journey ahead and you'll need more need these," She said giving each of them a small crystal necklace. Violet got Amethyst, Imani had Tigers Eye, Luna was given Black Moonstone, and Andorra wore Aquamarine.
Delphi gave Andorra 3 more Black Obsidian, Pietersite, and Clear Quartz.
"These will be for the others, these crystals will protect you" Delphi explained. Hugging her niece goodbye, the band made their way to the valley of bones.
With Luna leading the way, Delphi and the other villagers watched and prayed for the band as they disappeared within the greenery of the forest....