Prophecy (Part One)

Islana felt herself being lifted as if floating on an invisible cloud. Lightly, gracefully she moved through the air. A small turn to see her body below. A sickly, burnt shell of herself. Flaming red hair, now matted into a braided mess. Fair skin burnt, red, blistered. Looking weakened, defeated. It seemed like a waste, it felt like she was leaving too much unfinished.

Kaithak stood as a guard to her body, screeching at anything that dared come near her. The falcon settled near Islana's body with his head pressed beside her arm. That was too much and the tears her dehydrated body couldn't form, found their way to her current form.

Not able to watch any longer, the young witch turned expecting to float to whatever was next but instead she found herself suddenly in - nothing or it seemed like nothing. It was dark and nothing seemed quite solid but very real at the same time.

The dark became illuminated by a glow as if a candle had suddenly been ignited. Swirls of blues, greens, reds, silver all played in the air gently swirling past her. It seemed impossible not to watch them go by and then disappear.

The sense of not being alone overcame the young woman and she lifted her gaze towards the far end where a woman stood. A woman older than Islana was now, but what she could easily look like in a few years.

It didn't take even a moment for the redhead to know who it was. She was finally face to face with her mother.

Safiya Annora moved closer to her daughter, the two just took a moment to let their green eyes meet. Islana's eyes were brimming with tears. Her mother pulled her gently in, comforting her.

A warmth filled the young woman. She had so much she wanted to say to her mother, so much she wanted to ask but was unable to do anything in this moment but be embraced by the other woman.

Safiya Annora kissed her daughter on the forehead. Holding her hand for just another moment and then letting go. Then she just vanished as if she had never been there at all.

Islana watched her mother leave, she thought the woman was there to take her but apparently her mother had been more of a small stop along the way.

The redhead suddenly found herself being lifted in the air, almost as if she was a part of it. Floating gently on an invisible wave.

Moving over the desert, away from her body, and to a small village that seemed to be on the edge of the sandy landscape. People were conversing, though not a word could be heard by the witch. Some, two in particular, seemed worried about something. She continued floating towards a small hut, a fire, and three people eating what was likely dinner.

Islana would, of course, know the woman from Garrah anywhere. Alexis, her piuthar mhòr. Despite feeling like she wanted to be sitting there talking with the older woman, just seeing her, knowing she was alright brought a small smile to the redhead's face.

Though the question did arise, why was Alexis here, near the desert and a quick look around made it clear that Tarmen was with her but where was everyone else?

Then there was the boy, oh no - not exactly a boy. Definitely one with a magical gift, even this state Islana could sense it in the air around the dark haired boy. The boy looked up and directly at her. He put the tips of his fingers on his forehead and then on his chest over his heart .

The young witch gave him a respectful nod and a warm smile and suddenly found herself in Fang. All there was to do was watch as what happened next unfolded before her eyes.

Alexis was trekking through deep snows and a fierce blizzard, along a deep valley, walled by high sharp cliffs. She looked older. A deep scar ran through her left cheek, red and angry. Once in a while she seemed to clutch at her left shoulder as if in pain. A wound perhaps? She mumbles to herself as if talking to some unseen presence. She could be praying or maybe, Islana feared, her mind had become broken…

Unable to process that disturbing piece of information before being sent another vision and this time finding herself looking at some sort of swamp land as her gaze landed on Tarmen.

The man from Kru'll is running. Running desperately through eerie swamp lands, he is being stalked. He sought refuge in these dark forbidding lands, to escape, to protect a secret that will turn the world upside down. Running away from an implacable foe that will stop at nothing to wrestle his knowledge from the warrior.

But this land does not offer the sanctuary he thought he would find. It is nothing like his homeland. It is thirsty for his blood. Something ancient is coming for him. He who comes in the Dark.

Once again, the vision came and went quickly, before she knew it Islana was being swept to some other destination.