The temple of wind was carefully guarded. The red summon
materia sat in a crevice of rock that was surrounded by a picture
of the goddess of wind. This temple had not been walked in for
thousands of years. The interior was covered by a thick layer of
dust, and a large boulder blocked the entrance. No one was
allowed to enter, and would continue to be so.
The ways of the ancients were shrouded by mystery and are still
left undiscovered. The city of ancients was busy with
preparations for the upcoming festival. This was the one time of
year where the wind goddess takes on a human form and is given a
feast in appreciation. The people thanked her for a good year in
which the wind carries the harvesting seeds. In spring the city
of ancients received a storm of wind, like a tornado but very
gentle, and did not destroy anything. These winds carried the
seeds for all of the farmers. Supposedly this only happened if
the goddess was given the proper feast, and the chosen one was
delivered. According to scientific research every year the
goddess would choose a young woman to be her host, so that she
can walk among the mortal realm.
The chosen one comes from inheritance and is considered to be a
great honor. If in an event the inherited daughter cannot be
found the goddess takes on the host of her choosing, in which has
a pure heart and a kind soul. Though to knowledge this has not
yet happened. Another factor remains, it is said every thousand
years the goddess chooses an apprentice to take her place, if she
is to die.
It is said,
::::slap::: Rufus slapped the book closed and grinned in interest.
"So I could become immortal huh? A god, and I could have the
world at my feet, I could retake the land of the Shang Hai that I
lost!"
Rufus sneered. Who needs mako energy for power now? he
thought to himself.
"Not quite, sir" a voice said from the corner.
Rufus turned and recognized Hojo's voice. "What do you mean
not quite!!??" Rufus snapped.
Hojo smiled "The goddess chooses her apprentice, and besides
the temple is sealed and the city unreachable in this winter
weather."
Rufus nodded his head cursing his stupidity and came up with an
idea. "Yes, that is true but not impossible if we find the
latest inherited daughter." said Rufus.
"If there is one" Hojo challenged in a low growling
voice. Both sighed and returned to their research, they were in
for a long night of reading.
Diary of Karen Botch -Archeologist.
Rufus smiled at this discovery and turned the dusty old pages to
the parts he was looking for.
----Day 5 I was inspecting the city for artifacts when I found a
small plaque near the buried temple that said "Iris goddess
of wind" and also nearby that I found an old scripture
explaining the apprentice-host relationships and rules of coming.
The host will be drawn to the temple by strong means, and will
stop at nothing. The goddess or "Iris" will begin her
teaching and transformation at exactly midnight the night of the
harvest. The goddess by the end of the teaching releases her
power to the apprentice and becomes the new goddess and 1 week
later is taken to the goddesses realm. In the time before this if
the host is unwilling, she may pass the power on, as long as it
is before the transformation is complete. All she has to say is
"What belongs to Iris and now to me I pass on to this that
be. What hers be mine and mine be hers I pass on this blessing to
thee for better or worse."
Then the power is passed to the hosts chosen. May thou be warned
there is one thing to....
Rufus turned the book over, but the last page of the diary was
missing. But alas he knew how to conquer the goddesses power-make
the host give it up. It was the easiest thing to do, but the hard
part was finding this host....Who was she??
Lacey had traveled almost 100 miles, with still no sign of Rufus,
or any relief from the hot sun that beat down on her shoulders.
She was tired of walking, and Anya was too worn to carry a rider.
No towns stood near the mountains, but the forest before them
would be a suitable place to rest Lacey thought. So she whispered
to Anya and they both walked toward the forest their pack
following behind.
When they entered the forest their footing became easier, for the
ground was soft and covered in moss. "Anya if moss grows
here there must be a water pool nearby, lets go." Lacey
shouted.
So with as much energy as they had they all ran until they
literally fell into a small lake below the cliff they just
stumbled off of. They all made a large splash into the lake and
drank large gulps of water on their way up. They all swam toward
land to find shelter for the night. Anya figured they should stay
a while to refresh their hard travel worn bodies, and stock up on
game and water, but Lacey said they could only stay 2 nights tops.
She tried to explain so that she could make sense, but this urge
that she had to keep going could not be explained. Did she really
want Rufus and Hojo that bad?
Lacey shook her head to clear the thought and decided to swim
some more with her pack. It was beginning to get dark, the sunset
spilling out into the sky like a pitcher of water when spilled on
the floor. Lacey and Anya went looking for a suitable place when
they found a small cave that was unoccupied and big enough for
them all. Lacey then built a small fire and waited for the pack
to fall asleep. When she was satisfied she sat up and began to
sneak out when Anya pricked up her large ears and turned her head.
"Where are you going? I know you don't want to leave us now
do you?"
Lacey tried to hide the pack that was on her shoulder but knew
she could not so she gave in. "Anya, I can't stress the pack
anymore. This is really not your fight so I figured the pack
should stay here where there is food and water and plenty of
large game for you."
Anya shook her head and gave the best grin a wolf could. "We
have been together for countless years, I can not leave you now.
I agree the pack should stay, but I as your friend can not. We
can leave tomorrow you and I."
Lacey smiled she still felt guilty, but she knew Anya would not
argue, and that she would come anyway. "Anya we need to
choose a leader for when we are gone. Who shall we choose?"
Anya turned and cocked her head. No one was as experienced and
her, but who was the next best? "Anya, please stay. The pack
will not survive without you, and you are expecting are you not?"
Lacey finished speaking and pointed to Anya's full belly, the
litter would come soon, no doubt. Anya stood up to walk closer to
Lacey. "I suppose you are right Saber Wolf, you will leave
tonight then I suspect, but after my children are borne, I will
find you and we will win this together. Goodnight Saber."
Anya walked away to a small corner of the cave where the father
of the pups lay.
The large cream colored alpha lay soundly asleep. Lacey walked up
to him, and woke him up. "Psst Black Star, take care of Anya
for me, and raise those pups" Lacey said barely above a
whisper.
The large alpha rose and opened his violet eyes. He bowed his
head and agreed that he would. Then he stood defensively in front
of Anya baring his teeth to show his worthiness. Then both Black
Star and Anya lay down and slept. Lacey slowly snuck out of the
cave and filled up her water flasks, then set off in the
direction her urges pointed her: North, beyond the mountains.