Every member of the coven has an animal 'sidekick'. They aren't actually animals, but rather elemental spirits, who take on animal forms to avoid suspicion from non-witches. And there are plenty of elemental spirits for us to protect-every tree, every body of water, every rock has one. They are all either a wolf or a raven, as the symbols are sacred to the coven.
Mine is a little special though. You see, some elemental spirits are much harder to come upon. Like weather related ones. Rain, for example. It takes an entire twenty four hours for an elemental spirit to be fully born, so unless it rains for twenty four straight hours, a rain spirit can't exist.
My 'sidekick' is a little white wolf named Snowflight-and she is the rare embodiment of snow.
"Snowflight," I whisper, looking out from the window. I'm perched on the edge, ready to jump-but not until I see my companion appear. The land is painted blue with winter, and snow lines the streets-but not a light, fun, fluffy snow. Icy, slushy snow-the kind that's easy to fall on.
A flurry of snow whips past me, sending a chill down my spine and sending a wave of cold onto my exposed face. Just below me, a shape forms from the crystallized water-Snowflight.
Whats wrong? Snowflight asks-well, not so much asks. Elemental spirits, just like animals, can't communicate through human language. But they can communicate through a telepathic connection, a bond between all witches in the Diamond coven and their companions.
"Nothing," I reply, verbally, because while Snowflight can infiltrate my mind, I can't hers. "But...tonight is the blue moon festival." I jump down from the windowsill, and see excitement flash across her icy blue eyes-almost blue as the moon will be tonight.
Well then! Snowflight exclaims, suddenly light and giddy on her paws. I've completely forgotten! Shall we go? I offer the pretty wolf a smile, and nod.
"Of course we shall!" I exclaim, and with a shared look of determination in our eyes we start to run down the streets. The gravely, icy floor stings and scratches my bare feet, but I don't really care. It's been six winters in poverty, without shoes to protect my feet, and I've run to the pond every year.
You see, six years ago, when I was only ten, I lived a normal life here in Esvell. Then I found myself at the gates of Diamond Pond during the blue moon festival, the one night the gates are open, and was interested. But once I joined, my life outside the coven went downhill. The king took away my shelter, saying no soulless creature such as a witch deserved it. He threw me on the streets, said what was mine would be returned once I repented and stripped myself of the evil coven I had joined.
But I didn't care, still don't. I won't leave the coven for anything. Even though I have to live without a home on the streets, without even shoes to cover my feet, I have learned to much at the coven. On cold nights, I can cast a spell for warmth. I've collected gems and herbs to help make potions and charms. And that one night a year when I visit Diamond pond...is absolute magic.
Did you hear? Snowflight queries as we run. This years element, shall someone be blessed this year, is the element of light-a fluid element.
"Really?" I ask, and Snowflight nods. Fluid elements are elements that don't exactly have a particular shape-most of them are a mix of several or so elements. But, of course, with fluid elements, the elemental powers are weaker. The element of light, on the other hand, is a very rare and useful fluid element.
While the element itself, light, doesn't do much, using it you can pull elemental energy from sources around you, giving you control over any element within your vicinity with 100% concentration.
I hear rumors. Apparently, the coven leaders fear for this next blessing ceremony. Snowflight whispers in my head. Her visual tone seems worrisome.
"Why?" I ask, squinting my eyes.
I guess there has been some...other rumors recently.
We soon arrive at the gates, that now cower before us. They are tall, three times my height at least, and made of thick concrete. Apparently, there are intricate engravings of the moon cycles and other symbols important to the coven, but the icy is so thick nothing is visible. The gates are open, as they always are during the festival of the blue moon, and I run right through. I catch a glimpse of blue stone under the ivy as we walk past-the watching stone.
Before us lies the Diamond woods, thick and dense and covered in fog. The piney trees look more blue than green in the thick, palpable light, as the moon shines overhead, a complete shade of blue.
Past the woods, I can hear the sounds of chattering, of people tending to their market stands, people buying rare goods only available on this day every year.
"Hello dear!" A voice cries out to me, and I and Snowflight turn to see an old woman standing, not far from us. Her skin is wrinkled and a light shade of brown, like a crumbled paper bag. I immediately recognize her as Azalea, one of the eldest coven leaders.
"Hello," I reply, and Snowflight dips her head in a formal greeting, as she can't say a verbal one.
"Gosh, look at you!" Azalea gushes, grabbing my hand and pressing it to her chest, near her heart. "I remember six years ago, you stumbling in on this event! You've grown so much since then; to be honest, when I first saw little ten year old you staring so frightened at the wolves and the pond, I never once imagines you'd be one of the most powerful witches in the coven. Yet here we are!"
She sighs, looking sentimental, and then turns behind her to gaze up at the moon. "I assume you've heard, do?" She asks, releasing my hand and grabbing my arm instead, to make me stand beside her. "The element of light."
"Snowflight says the leaders aren't pleased about it," I blurt without really meaning to. "But then again, a lot of what Snowflight say sis just untrue gossip."
"Actually, no, for once." Azalea says, sighing, looking down at Snowflight with a disappointed look on her face. "We are quite concerned. I really shouldn't speak of it, but Phero received an omen yesterday. It was mid day, and there were two ravens-one living, but one dead. An unnatural shaft of light fell upon the live bird, and an unnatural shadow fell upon the dead one."
I let there be a thinking silence between us, as I try to decide if it's really a bad omen or perhaps has another meaning. That is the thing about omens and prophecies-they are confusing.
"Well, you should get going!" Azalea said, ushering me and Snowflight forward. "The blessing ceremony won't hold up for you! Even with that omen, the element of light would be an incredible gift!"
I give her a parting wave, and me and Snowflight continue down to the market. We pass through the thick trees, and quickly I begin to see the glimpses of blue tarps and covers, housing market goods. Every year, while the festival of the blue moon is about the blessing, merchants who are members of the coven come to share their trade. I never buy much, but there is one stand I always stop by-the crystal candy.
After I've collected my candy, and split it evenly with Snowflight, we sit in the stands, awaiting the blessing ceremony to begin. I spot the leaders up at the front, standing before the pond. The pond itself is blue as the sky, reflecting the moon's light. The trees don't grow for a few feet around it, and white wolves lie around the pond lazily.
Wolves are a symbol for the coven, along with ravens. Apparently, they represent aspects like courage, bravery, loyalty, and protection, which the leaders say are how the coven is still alive. As for ravens, they are supposed to represent the connection between the waking world and the spirit world, as ancestors are a big part of our practice.
But I hear rumors that ravens hold signs of bad and ill omens, too, which I suppose would give the omen Phero saw a higher chance of being negative or evil.
Everything I have ever heard about ravens has been negative, in fact. They are always bad luck, or a symbol of death and suffering. Sometimes I wonder why the coven chose them as one of our main symbolism's.
"Attention!" A voice calls, and i look to the front of the rows of chairs. Almost every chair is full, except the chairs around me. Thats the thing about being so powerful of a witch-no one wants to cross you.
"Welcome everybody, to the annual blessing ceremony! As we begin, we would also like to remind you of our rules and customs!" The leader speaking is Phero himself, who is only eighteen, the youngest leader by far. "We want no interruptions, no speaking at all. Do not move from your seats until the ceremony is done, unless it is an absolute emergency. I-"
Phero continues, but I don't pay attention. It's only been six years, but-seven, I realize. I look outwards, as the thought hasn't occurred to me until now.
Obviously sensing something is wrong, Snowflight asks, are you alright? I nod, looking back at her.
"Yeah, sorry, I'm completely fine. But I just remembered...it's technically seven now, isn't it?" Snowflight thinks about it herself before nodding her head slowly, blue eyes thinking. Obviously, she hadn't thought about it either.
Seven may not seem like a significant number. It's just a number-it may seem I am overreacting about how I've now been in the coven for seven years. But seven, you see, is the special number. Because after seven years in the coven, seven years of training, I can finally apply to join the co-leaders board.
Leaders are chosen, of course, by the blessing ceremonies. But co-leaders, ones who help the leaders make decisions, who usually have a more neutral composure and take more into consideration what the people want rather than what they personally want, co-leaders are voted on by the coven. A co-leader is the highest position possible to get, unless given a blessing and joining the leaders.
So? Are you going to apply tonight then? Snowflight asks, and I almost scoff at the question. The fact she actually had to ask.
"Of course!" I respond enthusiastically. "This is my only chance to make an impact on the coven, despite just being powerful. Of course I'm going to apply."
You do realize the term is only a year? Snowflight asks, cocking her head. If you don't do well, no one will re-vote you. It's not like your stuck in office for awhile-you can be kicked out pretty easily.
"I'll be a great leader." I tell Snowflight confidently. When she gives me an unsure glare, I sigh. "Oh, come on! I think we all expect me to get the blessing tonight." I say, irritated.
Imagine how disappointed everyone will be when you don't get the blessing tonight. She deadpans, and I resist the urge to straight on slap her.
"That's ridiculous!" I shout, and then I hear a loud throat-clearing sound. I look over, and Phero is staring right at me. He does not look pleased.
"Just another quick reminder," He said, eyes still right on me. "Please, keep your voices off during the ceremony." I feel my cheeks flush, and shrivel back into my seat, trying to make myself look small. Normally, I feel like everyone would laugh. But, per usual, no one wants to cross me.
"Anyways," Phero says, finally peeling his eyes from me and gazing around. "I think the wolves are anxious. The ceremony shall begin." He steps down from the podium he had been standing on, the one I didn't even realize existed until just now, and now we're all just sitting there, staring at the pond.
The wolves who were gathered around it lazily now sit around it in attention, and three ravens in a circle fly overhead, three dark shapes in front of the huge glowing moon. Five wolves step forward-Five wolves, three ravens. Seven total. The ravens swoop down, flying in a line and letting their talons graze the water, sending ripples all along its surface. At this the five wolves howl, while the remaining wolves lie down, resting their heads on their front feet and closing their eyes.
As the howls fill the air, more join in, whiteish blue figures appearing along the rim of the pond-spirit wolves, the dead elemental spirits that once accompanied past leaders. A few ravens appear too, joining the three which have begun to circle again.
The ravens swoop again, startling the water once more. Instantly the howls grow, and out of the pond comes a ball of light. It swoops around the crowd, and I can feel the people trying so hard not to ooh and aww at it. The ball is the blessing, I know-and it's coming straight for me.