A Storm Awakens: The Red Tree Saga Book I

Prologue Part 1

The figure of a man appeared in the waist high grass of Moon Reach Valley. Immediately, he raised his hand shielding his eyes against the harsh glare of bright sunlight. Almost in defiance, crisp air rushed down from the cloud ringed mountain peaks. The mountain air, warmed by the sun, caused the overgrown grass to slowly sway back and forth brushing against the man's vivid blue robe. Suddenly, another figure and yet another appeared until several silhouettes of both men and women dotted the valley.

Tsunami looked over the Isiirs standing in a loose group in front of him. Only two were closer than arm's length. Most made short, tight lipped greetings then looked relieved when they were over. Meetings such as these were unheard of and Tsunami understood why. Collectively, they were all responsible for the general well-being and proliferation of life. Separately, each deity possessed the spiritual energy to nurture only one life giving feature. They were proud of their accomplishments and extremely intolerant of those with the ability to damage or undo their hard work.

Tsunami looked at Rokku. They hadn't spoken to one another in sol'cycles. Even now, her sparkling green eyes glared at him. In her opinion, he purposefully didn't send enough rain to satiate her plants. In his defense, he sent what was necessary (sometimes a little more) but he'd never been able to change her mind. She simply wouldn't listen. Tsunami smiled in greeting. Rokku scoffed and tossed her thick brown locks as she rolled her eyes. Yes, Tsunami understood why these meeting were rare, but this was an emergency. Every living thing needed their undivided attention or they were all doomed.

Tsunami raised his hands and called for their attention. He was rewarded when all eyes turned to him. "It's nice to see all of you again." No one spoke. Tsunami pressed on. "I've asked you all to here to help figure out what happened and how to stop it before it gets any worse."

Tsunami looked out over the small crowd. Chesé cast down her eyes while Rubic rubbed her shoulder. Solaris' golden eyebrows knitted together in concern. Even Rokku's green sleeves shimmered in the breeze as she rubbed her forehead. Tsunami felt hope.

"Was anyone not able to visit planets Paux, Lenra or Gallist and see the barrenness firsthand?"

"It was terrible." Chesé whispered. "Dirt just blew around in circles of noxious air. I felt no one. Everything was dead. I never want to see that again."

"Neither does anyone else." Dominic growled. His head was low as he crouched in the grass.

Tsunami was surprised at Dominic's argumentative words and wondered briefly why he said them. To his knowledge, Chesé and Dominic weren't in a fight, not like Obsidian and Solaris.

"Was there enough rain?" Rokku quipped, crossing her arms.

Tsunami ignored the jab and silently thanked her for keeping them on track. "Yes, but everything was dry and brittle."

"Are you sure there wasn't too much sol?" Rubic asked.

"I'm certain." Solaris answered slightly offended. "I take my duty very seriously."

"Maybe an animal?" Chesé offered.

Dominic bared his sharp teeth. "An animal that bled an entire planet dry? I don't think so."

The moments that followed consisted of one Isiir veiling jabs at another in the form of suggestions. Achais attacked Rokku. Rokku then turned her anger towards her ex, Solaris. Dominic continued to growl at everything Chesé or Rubic said. Tsunami felt the meeting spiraling out of control and as badly as it was going, the next discussion would be catastrophic.