The villagers awoke at the break of dawn. Preparations had to be made for the day's fishing expedition. This time of season, the black cod avoided the inland. So it was important to set out at first light in order to return in time for supper.
Henry was loading empty crates from the general store to take down to his steadfast trawler. She had survived many a hefty storm without so much as a torn sail. Only the peeling paint and splintering floorboards gave clue to the voyages she had endured. His wife was inside, grinding flour and he was anxious to return to the smell of her fresh baked garlic bread.
He lifted another crate with moderate effort. His back wasn't what it used to be. A few more years of this will wear me out completely. He thought. Perhaps it's time I take one of Margaret's boys on as an apprentice. With a thud, the empty box suddenly doubled its weight and Henry fell to a knee to support it. A little girl had come out of nowhere and landed on the crate within his arms, a little girl whose ears poked out above her head.
"Fi! Is that you? How many times must I tell you not to do that!" Henry cursed.
"Sorry Mr. Carol!" The little girl was already off, arcing up onto the wooden boards of his shop's roof, waving her hand behind her. "I needed a slight leg up! I still can't make the jump on my own."
"You shouldn't be running along the blasted rooves in the first place!" He roared, but she was gone, leaping over to the next hut.
Fi giggled as the fresh morning breeze blew back her hair. She stuck out her tongue to taste the salt whipped up from the sea. Picking up speed, she ran full out over the edge and leapt over to the tanner's hut. Mr. Edwards didn't feel the need to get up early along with the rest of the village. The pattering of her footsteps raining down on his bedroom was the least she could do to help him out.
Okay, you got this. Fi said to herself as she approached the next edge. The gap between the tanning hut and the supply shack was the longest jump in Ryoshi village. It was made worse by to the missing shingles Mr. Edwards still hadn't bothered to repair, extending the leap an extra foot. Fi had yet to clear it proper.
But today I feel it! Fi thought, brimming with confidence. She broke into an all-out sprint. Strides lengthening, breath quickening, she planted both her feet just before the hole in the roof and bounded clear over the edge. Blissful weightlessness enveloped her. The roof's edge came up fast. She thrust her arms forward, ready to grab hold. Then, it began to rise. No!
She slammed hard against the coarse wooden panels of the shack's wall. Sliding, falling, her fingers scrambled for purchase, but to no avail. She arrived on her back in the alley's gutter. A seagull poked its head out from atop the supply shack and squawked disapprovingly.
"You can fly!" She yelled back, picking herself up and wiping the dirt off her white cotton shorts.
Her palms were scraped something awful, but not so deep as to draw blood. Her loose vest did nothing to protect her arms either. She stepped gingerly, hoping nothing had broken. But soon, her steps became skips, and by the time she cleared the alley, she was back to her sprint. Fi bruised easy, but recovered easier still.
The docks were alive with bustling sailors. Men were hard at work unfurling the sails and rigging the masts. Some were lounging against the railings, beer bottles in hand, waiting for their captain to announce their departure. Ryoshi's humble fleet comprised of only four ships, none capable of carrying more than ten men. Each was manned by half that, in anticipation of a meaty haul.
As Fi scampered across the crooked boards, she heard the whistle of a ball sail over her head and land onto one of the ships. The sailor's sons accompanied their fathers on their morning routine. They would typically help load the crates until enough of their mates showed up and then drop everything to play their usual game of kickball.
"That's a point! Nine-seven."
"No way! Ben caught it!"
"No he didn't! It hit the deck!"
"Did not! You seen me dive. I caught it, even."
"Just give it to him, we're up two anyway and Pa's almost done his beer. They're going to leave soon."
"No fair! He bobbled it, clear as day!"
"Look there! Is that Fi?"
"Hey Fi!"
"Come play Fi!"
The boys were split evenly between two ships, taking turns kicking the ball back and forth over the pier. Three to a ship, they aimed for their opponent's mast; two points for a direct hit, one if they failed to catch it before it hit the deck.
"Sorry guys, I'm heading for the cliff. I don't have time to play." She told them.
"C'mon Fi, just one shot. Last goal wins let's say."
"No fair. Teams won't be balanced."
"It doesn't matter! She's only taking a kick!"
"Make Jaune kick it!"
"No way! Jaune sucks!"
"You suck!"
She listened to them argue, shifting her weight between her toes. I can take one shot.
"Okay fine!" She cut through the squabbles, all eyes on her. "One shot."
A chorus of cheers and groans rang out from the two sides. Fi took a running leap and landed squarely on the deck of the attackers' ship. She recognized it as Mr. Carol's trawler and made a mental note to disappear before he arrived.
Ben came forward handing her the ball, "It was my turn you know."
"Whatever Ben, I heard the ball hit the ground." Fi snapped back.
The boy's face went red and he stomped away in a huff. Fi squeezed the ball tight. Made from an inflated sheep's bladder wrapped tight in four layers of twine, it bounced firmly off the deck back into her hands. As she placed it down, she noticed the twine was fraying and a small warp had swelled up on one side; the ball didn't have many kicks left.
Fi took aim at the mast. Her opponents had surrounded it from every angle, arms up to block the post from view. A smirk spread across her face. Her eyes never wavering from her target, she took three steps and struck the ball hard with the top of her left foot.
Like a rocket, it soared over the rail. Arcing low, the ball carried on far to the right, a foot off its mark. The defensive formation shifted to match it, as she knew they would. With a mind of its own, the ball altered its course in kind. It careened sharply to the left, homing in on the mast. A dull echo reverberated through the floorboards as Fi's shot found its mark.
The jubilant cheers rang out from the trawler, but their triumph was short-lived. The winning shot deflected off the mast with great force. It whizzed out over the docks and smacked squarely into an inattentive Mrs. Gallow, knocking the writing board from her hands. Mrs. Gallow was in charge of the supply shack. She was a tart, haughty, old woman who prided herself on keeping a detailed leger. As Fi watched the loose leaves get carried off by the wind, her spirits sagged.
"What have you done?" Jaune cried.
Mrs. Gallow had recovered from the initial shock and bent down to inspect the ball at her feet.
"It wasn't on purpose!" Fi whispered, "How was I supposed to know that was going to happen."
"Just go get it back." Ben said.
"Like hell!" Fi hissed.
"It was your shot."
"But.."
"No buts. Quickly, before she pops it."
Fi sighed. Her ears drooping low in preparation for a scolding. "Um.. excuse me Mrs. Gallow," She called out over the rail, "but can we get our ball back please?"
"Your ball?!" Mrs. Gallow's eyes bulged out of her sockets and her frizzy ginger hair stood up on end. Fi already knew that this cause was lost. "I don't think so missy! This is MY ball now!"
"Please, Mrs. G, it was an accident. I'm really sorry." She tried in vain, afraid her friends' exasperated looks would turn on her.
"Accident? Accident! I'll wring you up by those little ears of yours and then you can tell me about accidents."
She was in a right state, trembling with shock and rage. The sailors chuckled behind their beers, enjoying the spectacle. But she had touched a nerve and Fi bristled in kind.
"They're not little! They're still growing!" She shouted indignantly.
Her ears shot up, brushing aside her sleek black hair. They were nearly five inches now; she made sure to measure them every night. But her outburst was a mistake, Mrs. Gallow had gotten what she wanted.
"Hmph. Seven years old and still unable to control your temper I see." Her own anger had cooled, and she donned her usually snooty tone, "I'm really confiscating this now! You can have it back when you learn some manners."
"Keep it!" Fi cried as she strode off back to her shack.
"Thanks for trying Fi.." Ben rolled his eyes.
Fi got right up into his face, "I didn't hear a word from any of you. It's hard to look tough with six boys sulking behind my skirt!"
"To hell with Gallow!" Jaune piped up, "We needed a new ball anyway. We'll get Paul's mum to sew up a new one. But damn, that shot Fi! Glad we didn't let Ben have a go of it."
Fi's spirits lifted slightly as she took her leave of the arguing boys. Dropping from the docks, she flew across the beach, the sparkling sand soft against her bare feet. The tide lapped at her heels as her small footprints stamped the shore. Soon, she was scurrying up the hillside and clambering up the low cliff. Sand became stone and stone gave way to mud and clay. Frosty lilacs sprung up once she reached the fertile dirt. Pollen streaked against her ankles as she brushed through the violet bloom.
Amongst the flowers, a woman sat tall at the cliff's edge, gazing into the sea. Her flowing black hair twisted and curled down to her waist. A simple yellow dress clung tightly to her shoulders, but flowed freely down her body, concealing her slender figure. Hands resting on the lip of the cliff, she held a thin shawl around her arms to protect against the gentle breeze. Her slippers held precariously against her toes, as she dangled them a hundred feet above the sea.
Fi ran up behind her and slid along the ground. Mushing the lilacs, she hooked her legs over the edge to halt her momentum and came to a rest alongside the woman. With a cheeky smile, Fi nuzzled up against her mother and the two sat in silence taking in the glorious sunrise.
Her mother's name was Lianna. She was a spirited woman who awoke each morning at the break of dawn. Her bright smile was enough to rouse Fi, but she always let the child lie in bed and come meet her at her own pace. Soft violet eyes exuded warmth and compassion, but maintained the sharpness of wisdom that only came with age. The hint of wrinkles brimming at her temples only accentuated her grace.
Fi snuggled against her mother's shawl. The ferrous velvet scraped against her cheek until she found the spot where she could sink into its cozy softness. The smell of iron and soap was faint compared to the Lianna's overwhelming presence that time had woven into the fabric; like a juicy pear plucked from a field of daisies. Fi's eyes flitted, flirting with sleep, but her mother's gentle voice disturbed her dream of slumber.
"Picking fights again are we?" She asked, combing Fi's hair between her fingers.
"How do you know?" Fi squirmed.
Lianna laughed, "Little one. I'm sure everyone in the village must know. You've been blessed with lungs larger than anyone I've ever encountered. You must've given poor Mrs. Gallow quite the scare."
"She made fun of my ears."
"Did she?"
"She called them little."
"They are little." Lianna gently pinched one ear, rolling it between her fingers.
"Not anymore!" Fi protested, pushing away.
But her mother only smothered her tighter, "There's still plenty of time. They'll grow to be two, even three times as long."
"You really think so?"
"I know so."
Fi rolled in her mother's arms, nestling herself into her lap. Lianna rested her chin atop Fi's head, brushing up against her short, floppy ears to either side. Mother and child fixated on the horizon, as the blazing sun sent sparkles across the sea. Tiny shadows, far away, dotted the shimmering blue. The black cod were dancing in the sunrise.
"Look, they're off." Lianna whispered.
The four ships had set out. The blustering wind against their sails carried the meager fleet rapidly from the docks. Tiny figures could be seen ambling about the deck. The sailor's shanties carried high in the air, the whispers of a melody reaching their ears. Fi could make out the words, but despite her best efforts, couldn't pin which man was singing the loudest.
"How far will they go today?" She asked.
"A little farther than they did yesterday." Her mother answered.
"And if there's nothing new?"
"Then there's always tomorrow."
"Will you really go Mama?" Fi whispered, tilting her head back, "Even if they don't find anything?"
Lianna smiled, "That doesn't matter. The fun part is simply going on the adventure. The world is a vast place little one. I've travelled far and wide across our land. From Mhyr's wondrous falls to the steel city of Sigma. I've flown with the winged antelope across Maridel's plains and swam with the cloud whales of Lake Nucleo. I've attended the coronation of two kings and witnessed the greatest performance the Twilight Troupe ever put on. But despite all that, my favourite place in all the world is right here in Ryoshi, where I had you."
Fi wrinkled her nose, "But don't you miss it? The adventure?"
"Sometimes. But every journey comes with adversity and it became too much for me to bear. I'd love to take a ship and go. Explore the endless oceans and discover if there really is a place beyond the Shimmering Sea. Alas, the cost would be too great." She lowered her gaze and planted a kiss on Fi's forehead. "Maybe when you're older and you find a path of your own. But for now, you still need protection from this world. And poor Mrs. Gallow still needs protection from you."
"Can you take me with you?" Fi asked softly, "When you go."
"Oh?"
"Take me on an adventure with you." She stated boldly, "I want to see it too, the place beyond the sea."
"And your father?" Lianna asked.
"He won't want to come." Fi shook her head, "He loves it here. If he had his way, we wouldn't even venture into the forest."
"Your father's a secretive man living in a secret village. He has many things he must protect, including you."
"But we can't stay here forever!" Fi complained.
"So you'd leave him behind, all by himself?"
She sighed, "I'll force him to come. We'll kidnap him if we have to. We can all go as a family."
"As a family.." Lianna mused. Her daughter's enthusiasm was infectious. For a moment she allowed herself to pretend in a future where it was possible. For a moment, she flirted with hope. "Okay."
"Okay? Okay! Really? You promise?" Fi's spirits soared.
"When you're older," Her mother decided, "We'll all go on an adventure together across the sea. I promise."
Fi bounced out of her mother's lap unable to contain herself. "When? When? In a year? Or two? Or three?"
Lianna laughed at the little girl before her, trampling the frosty lilacs in her joy. "How about," She raised her voice to talk over Fi's squeals, "When those ears of yours are finally fully grown."
Fi picked her ears up, and at once they seemed to have sprouted an extra inch. Standing on the tips of her toes, she extended her head to its full height.
"Deal!" She beamed.
The walk back went faster than it ever had before. Fi couldn't help but skip circles around her mother, chattering excitedly the whole way home. Lianna laughed along with the stories, floating along on her daughter's bubble.
"I almost made the jump. I was so close! I definitely could've if Mr. Edwards fixed his stupid roof. Look at my hands! But my shot! My best curl yet. Jaune though I had air balled it. You should have seen all their faces. Shame Mrs. G had to go and get in the way after, but still.."
The women of the village were hard at work as they passed. The smell of breakfast frying on the grill wafted through an open window. A mother and daughter were hanging laundry on fishing lines to dry in the sun. Old lady Tabitha was banging out a warped plank on her roof. She lurched perilously atop her ladder, so Lianna stopped to steady her and have a chat.
Fi herself dashed straight home. Their house was built closer to the valley, slightly apart from the rest of the village. She steamrolled down the gravel path, letting her momentum carry her. Slowing only as the ground levelled out, she wrenched her feet to a stop just before the front door of their humble abode.
The glass pane inlaid into the redwood door was fixated just above her head. She wouldn't have been able to see through the opaque window regardless; the glass was stained with a mosaic of colour. Theirs was the largest house in the village. More of a modest cabin than an elaborate hut, the thick redwood planks that made up the roof and walls were fit seamlessly together. While all their neighbours had simple flues installed in their rooves, theirs had a complete granite chimney rising from its conical centre. The cherry smoke emanating from the stack told Fi her father had finally risen.
She barged through the front door. A merry fire burned unattended in the stone pit, blanketing the room with a stuffy warmth. The two beds at either end of the room were still unmade, the down comforters balled up by the bedposts. Along the ceiling, all manner of tarps, sheets, and clothing were draped over taught ropes. If it could be hung, there was a place for it.
The kitchen stores were piled with tomatoes, peppers, and carrots from the garden round back. Two loaves of bread from Mrs. Carver's ovens sat beside a constantly simmering stew pot. The pewter basin was still filled to the brim with dishes from the night before. The dinner table itself was unexpectedly clean, but only because it was currently in use. There, her father stood, packing his satchel.
Any jealousy the villagers held towards the large house was abated by their sense of reason. Fi's father was a colossal man. Nearly seven feet tall with a seven foot waist, the floorboards sunk beneath his weight. His meaty fingers fumbled with the clasps on his pack. His tree trunk legs were squished into heavy brown work boots. The patchy red shirt he wore with the sleeves rolled up was fashioned out of a canvas tent. His forearms exposed, the beefy, sinewy muscles bulged under the thick layer of fat and forest of hair. Oiled and neatly combed, his beard overran his neck and chin in stark contrast to the sheen off his shaved head.
Fi pounced on the table and tackled her father with a fierce battle cry. Arms wide to grasp round his chest, she instead got a face full of belly before rebounding back. Ass on the table, wincing in pain, she looked up into his twinkling blue eyes; the only trait she shared with her father.
"Better Fiara!" His deep voice rumbled, "But if you're going to roar, you must commit your whole body." He pounded his diaphragm, "You feel it here, and let it fill your lungs. Really put your soul into it and thrust it forth in one strong burst."
He roared across the table. Fi was blown back, her hair whipping round from the sheer force of his voice. She clasped her hands hard over her ears, but the bellow broke through to her core. Specks of spittle battered her face as she was caught in the deluge. When her father ceased his cry, the entire house still shuddered, as if unsure whether he had stopped.
"You cheated!" Fi pouted, "How can you expect me to sound like that? You're the size of a house!"
"It's not the size of the beast, but the size of the heart." His finger prodded her chest. It was as big as her whole hand, but the pressure was soft.
Fi snorted. Her father had a handful of adages and this was his most prolific one. He didn't take kindly to her insolence. Grabbing her round the waist, he hoisted Fi into the air and tossed her effortlessly above his head.
"Apologize for laughing at your old man." His voice boomed.
Fi giggled profusely, unable to contain her enjoyment. With each toss, her lungs were filled anew, sustaining her mirth. Hard and calloused though they were, it felt like the softest of cushions each time she returned to his hands. It was to this sight that Lianna entered.
"Honestly, after the incident at the docks I thought we'd work on our quiet voices." She stood in the doorway, arms folded, a bemused expression on her face. "But I guess even that is too much to ask."
Fi's father tossed her up one last time, and within two strides embraced his wife. She too, was lifted effortlessly into the air as they twirled on the spot and shared a long kiss. Fi all of a sudden found herself falling with nothing beneath her. Twisting in midair, she managed to right herself and land firmly on one knee.
"Gross." Fi averted her gaze.
"Good morning to you too." Lianna smiled, as she was let down gracefully.
"What happened at the docks?" Her father wondered.
"Only the best shot in kickball history." Fi announced.
"And the relevant version?" He pressed.
"I ended up hitting Mrs. Gallow and then yelled at her for making fun of me." She conceded.
He looked from Fi to Lianna, holding back a growing grin.
Lianna merely shrugged, "Don't look at me, she's your daughter."
She inspected the simmering stew on the coal laid stove top. Fishing a wooden spoon from the basin, she dipped it in the pot for a taste test. The thin broth was depleted of actual substance, but the spicy sting of the garden peppers still remained.
"Be a dear and fetch those carrots, Fi. So what have you got planned for today, love?" She asked, strapping an apron round her waist.
"Hardin came by last night after his ranging, says the poor beast has gotten worse. Didn't figure it'd be safe to approach it at night. I told him I'd give it a look this morning."
Fi handed the carrots to her mother, ears perked, trying to decipher her father's meaning.
"I don't think so. Start chopping." Lianna gestured to the cutting board with her spoon, "Will you be alright by yourself? You should really wait for Hardin and the rest to return and head out together."
"It'll be fine Lianna." He answered, returning to his pack, "They've got enough on their plate what with trying to feed the entire village on those meager hauls. How they plan to last out the winter is beyond me. I'll manage somehow."
"I can come with you!" Fi cut in, brandishing the cutting knife in one hand and half a carrot in the other, "You're going into the forest right? Let me help."
"Not a chance, little lady. You haven't even eaten breakfast yet and you need to help your mother."
"Aw c'mon Papa." She pleaded, scarfing down the carrot. "Mama can handle lunch by herself, but venturing into the woods.." Her eyes lit up in anticipation, "You need me. My eyes, my ears, I'll be a big help! Please? Please Mama?"
Her mother took one look at the sporadically diced carrot bits and sighed, "You'll make sure to stay close to your father and listen to everything he tells you?"
"Yes! Thank you! Thank you!" She scrambled to grab a worn out grey shirt to throw over her vest.
"You sure?" Her father asked Lianna, as the two watched their daughter pop her ears out.
"Just keep an eye on her." Lianna pulled him down to kiss his cheek farewell, "Our little one wants to be an adventurer."
The valley dipped below the forest's treeline. The lush grass, wet with dew, crunched beneath Fi's feet. Her eyes were fixed on the mighty sequoia trees towering over their heads, protecting their little village from the outside world. Fi frolicked through the grass, tumbling and rolling. She did a quick series of cartwheels before looking back to see if her father was watching, but as usual, he was more concerned with the sheep.
A simple wooden enclosure held the village's bumper sheep. The fluffy balls of wool would nudge each other in the night, setting off their spring puff defence, and sending the herd ricocheting off one another and bowling around the pen until morning. Luckily for them, their bodies were kept safe by their own woolen enclosure, so they managed a good night's sleep despite rolling about indefinitely. Unluckily for farmer Torg, it was his job to pick them back up.
"Heading inter the forest, are yeh Poe?" He asked, as he righted a sheep.
"Aye, Hardin informed you of the situation I take it?" Fi's father replied.
"Like I need a report from him, the damn things been crying through the night. I heard it from my hut. Put the sheep in a right frenzy, that it did. If you can't patch it up at least put the poor thing out of its misery."
"Not to worry Torg, I'll sort it out."
"So bringin' the young'un with you eh?" He asked, leaning against the fence. He twiddled the ox horn on his belt between his fingers.
"She wanted to tag along. Don't worry about her either. Fiara can take care of herself."
"Well, I'll be sure to send someone if y'all ain't back by sundown."
"Appreciate it as always Torg."
"You take care of yerself Poe." And he ran off, chasing after a sheep rolling lazily by.
The rope bridge at the valley's end was all that separated Ryoshi from the Backtrack Woods. A narrow crossing over a deep crack in the land, the slick boards chattered in the updraft coming from the depths below. Hurrying ahead, Fi skipped past the planks, two at a time. Assure her as he might, she had little faith in the bridge's ability to ferry her father.
"Hurry up, Poe!" Fi waved back as he tentatively tested each plank.
Poe was what the villagers called her father. It was apparently the name of a pet tree bear they used to keep in the village. The bear had died shortly before his arrival and Torg declared that this unholy behemoth of a man embodied its spirit. Having no name of his own, he was content to wear the moniker, though he never used it himself.
But why doesn't Papa have a real name? She asked one night, whilst being tucked in to bed.
He was never given one. Her mother had said.
But don't you want one? Everyone needs a name. She protested.
Is it so important? Papa is enough for me. He had said, before kissing her goodnight.
The forest quickly consumed both father and daughter, along with the morning sun. The fluoroflora glowed dimly, the petals already burrowing themselves back beneath the earth. Only the stray shafts of light, breaking through intermittently, guided their way forward. The forest teemed with the shifting slither of the woodland. The relentless sounds of creeping vines, snapping petals, and the tremoring brush berated Fi from every side. She dipped her ears back, taking hold of her father's shirt.
"Do not shun your senses, Fiara." He bristled, "Ignorance is not your ally."
"Yes, Papa."
"Tell me, what do you hear?"
She closed her eyes and reopened her ears, "The trees are.. moving. Very slowly, they're pulling themselves through the ground. The roots are wrapping around each other.. there's so many."
"Go on." He urged.
"The plants are humming.. no, singing. There's a soothing tune to it. But.. there's something else, something disturbing the song." She opened her eyes and looked up to her father, "It's crying."
"Take me to it." He commanded.
Fi uncertainly led the way. The flowers picked their heads up as they passed; an array of scarlet and gold petals dancing in the breeze. She paid them no heed, focusing on the moaning wails leading her forward. This is hopeless, she thought, the forest will reach whatever it is long before we do.
For agonizing minutes, they walked on. The cries came fewer and far between until suddenly an echoing lament thundered through the trees. Flowers wilted in fear, leaves rained down from the treetops, the earth quaked with the rumble of retreating root. Fi felt a massive hand descend upon her shoulder.
"I'll take it from here." Her father said.
They entered a large glade, the trees themselves seemingly fleeing from the cry. At its centre grew an ancient yew, its roots long since cemented into the earth. Its limbs sprawled out, defying gravity itself to reach into the air. Magnificent tendrils wove around its trunk and dug back into the earth. The gnarled tree was unlike any Fi had ever seen in her few trips to the forest. But what drew her eye, was the tree keeper, sprawled across the ground, its head weakly resting in the crook of a branch.
It filled the clearing. Massive pairs of legs lay motionless on each side of the yew. Its body rose and fell with each pained lungful of air. Pale as birch, its tough hide cracked and flaked, as if the sun itself had dried it out. The death white skin only accentuated the hideous gash across its abdomen. A crimson tide dyed its belly, bubbling and inflamed at the wound's seam. The creature's eyes, up above, were pleading for release.
"Keep back Fiara." Her father cautioned.
He stepped forward, unslinging the satchel from over his shoulder. Taking care to tread lightly, he approached the tree keeper's gut, stepping through the pool of gore. He ran a hand against the wound, outlining the tear. The cut was jagged and uneven as if it had been hooked in several places, then torn straight through. Dark welts appeared along the gash, marking deep burns in the soft tissue.
"What could have possibly done this to you?" He whispered to the forest's protector.
A long, low note came forth in response. Fi watched as the tree keeper's neck twisted and turned. Aggravated by the contact, it was trying to fend them off, but had not the strength to even lift its head. A cold hand grabbed tight her heart. It was the most pitiable sight she had ever seen.
"Fiara!" Her father's call snapped her from her reverie.
"Yes?"
"This will take time. I cannot work with the creature trembling so. I need you up there keeping it calm."
"Into the tree?" She paused, "You want me beside its head?"
"The closer the better."
"O-okay."
She approached the ancient yew, sidestepping the bloody pool. Hoisting herself up the twisted trunk, her small fingers grabbed hold of the tree's knots and thick tendrils. Amongst the branches, she followed the groove of the creature's folded neck and pulled herself up to a hollow, only a foot from where its head lay.
The tree keeper's heavy breathing had created a moist pocket devoid of leaves. Fi extended a hand and its nostrils flared, covering it with phlegm. She wiped it to her shirt and gently rapt the creature's snout.
"We're trying to help you, you big lug." She said softly. It was cold to the touch. "What happened to it?" She called down.
"Something's attacked it. The flesh is mangled and won't close." Her father grunted back.
"But the tree keepers protect the forest. Nothing here would attack them."
"I know." He said.
"And where's the rest of the herd? How could they abandon it?"
"They know more than I, it might already be too late. That, or they were forced to escape."
"From what?" The question hung in the air.
Her father produced two large glass jars from his pack along with several strips of thick cloth. Unscrewing the lids of the two bottles he poured the first one out over his hands. A gooey, purple substance oozed from the jar, drizzling over his fingers. Kneeling down, beside the open wound, he inserted his hand into the creature and began applying the viscous ointment.
The tree keeper wailed in pain. Fi was bombarded with spittle and the pungent smell of bile. Yet she pushed herself closer still, wrapping the creature's head in her arms. She scratched it soothingly, below the chin, until its ragged breaths quieted.
For hours, the three remained this way; Fi, sitting in the yew, with the tree keeper's snout resting in her lap, and her father, kneeling by its stomach, treating its wound. After the ointment, he dipped the strips of cloth in the second jar, before using them to cover the wound. The bottle contained an oily, yellow paste made up of various herbs, corn meal, and saltwater. He worked steadily, making sure the gash was coated securely. When he finished, he stood, wiping his brow, satisfied with his work.
"Come Fiara, let's go home."
Fi waited a moment. The entire time she had sat quietly, stroking the tree keeper's head. The creature's eyes were closed. Whether it had passed out or simply fallen asleep, she did not know.
"We'll come back soon. You'll be better in no time." She whispered, before pulling herself away.
"Will it survive?" She asked solemnly at the base of the yew.
"That's up to it. There's nothing left for us to do." Her father answered.
He unfurled his hand to reveal a crumbled piece of charcoal. "This was lodged in the poor thing's wound."
"Coal? Where did it come from?"
"From someone who's not supposed to be here. One who's heart has closed. We need to head back, as quick as we-"
A hollow note rang through the forest. Low, high, then low again, the sound resonated through the trees. Again. And again. Her father's face went white. He bolted from the glade, Fi charging after him, leaving the tree keeper to its fate.
"Stay here!" He roared, not bothering to look behind.
"You're not leaving me behind!"
"Fiara!"
"I'm coming!"
Fi ran as fast as she could, barely keeping pace with her father's gigantic strides. Again the note rang, stronger than the last. The breadth of Torg's ox horn stretched from the forest to the sea; a clear signal to every member of Ryoshi. Enemies. Danger. Help.
They took a direct line back to the village, the trees parting way before them. The forest respects him. It takes him where he wants to go. Fi panted, desperately trying to keep up. He was just testing me. They descended on the valley and bolted across the rickety bridge.
Fi jumped as a bumper sheep whizzed by. The enclosure was smashed to bits. Fractured posts littered the ground as the herd tumbled through the valley, colliding with anything in their path. Torg was nowhere to be seen. The horn had stopped sounding.
The sun slowly fell upon plumes of smoke rising up from the village. It didn't take Fi's ears to make out the terrified screams. She instinctively made for the fork that led down to their home, but her father blew right past it.
"Fiara, find your mother! Then head for the docks! I'll meet you there." He roared.
"But.. where are you-" Fi stumbled, confused.
"Do as I say!" He yelled and was gone.
Fi was alone. She sprinted down the slope, the wind whipping her face with hot air. The crackle in her ears confirmed her fears before the blaze met her eyes. The redwood walls of her family's home hissed and spat as they were devoured by a raging inferno. The front door stood ajar, a window to the dancing flames within the furnace. She took a few steps back, the heat too much against her face; the tears evaporating, before they could even form. She could not see her mother.
Then, a figure moved. For a fleeting moment, Fi feared she was trapped within, but it was not her mother who stepped out. It was a metal man. Hidden from head to toe in a suit of iron, he emerged from the flames. The cherry glow of the metal burned red as the fire licked his chest plate. He took three steps, spluttering and coughing, before collapsing to the ground. What is going on? Fi thought.
She approached the man, a hand held up to shield her face from the heat. In his arms, he held her father's ornate hunting knife along with what little jewellery her mother had left. The man had been looting her home. A look of disgust spread across her face as the acrid smell told her the man had been cooked alive in his greed. Idiot. Fi crouched down, careful not to touch the sizzling suit and grabbed hold of the silver chain in his hands. Her mother's locket easily came free; the last remnant of their home. Squeezing the warm silver in her palm, she turned her back on the house where she had spent her entire life and made for the village.
Chaos. The flames danced from hut to hut, increasing in tempo with each leap. Metal men brandishing torches stormed through the village, indiscriminately setting everything alight. Their raucous bellows were the only source of life found in the hellblaze. Fi remained crouched in an alley, a million thoughts surfacing at once. Who the hell are these men? Where are the villagers? Where is Mama?
"Oi! Valabar's got im' cornered by the docks!"
"Bout time! The maniac nearly took my head off swinging that club around!"
"Hurry it up. We're going to beat them into the sea."
Fi followed the metal men towards the pier. The orange sky was blinding against the open water, but the scene set before her could not have been outlined more clearly. Hiding behind the supply shack, peeking past a wooden barrel, she saw her father standing centre stage in a crowd of two colours. On one side, the metal men amassed, torches exchanged for blackened pikes. There must have been nearly thirty of them, their faces hidden behind iron grates. The other side held the terrified people of Ryoshi. Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Carol stood protectively before the crying children as their husbands stood protectively before them. Fi was relieved to see the sailors had returned in time to defend the village, but the pitchforks, pocket knives, and bare knuckles they wielded inspired little hope.
Her heart fell further at the sight of their ships. Four balls of fire sat in the pier; the sails crashing down to the ashen decks where the metal men had deposited their torches. Their only means of escape denied, the villagers felt the heat at their backs as their eyes gave way to despair. Only her father, redwood club in hand, wheezing hard with a deep gash across his chest, returned eyes of defiance. The leader of the invaders met his gaze with placid resignation, as if bored by the whole ordeal.
"Come now. You must realize it's over." He spoke with an air of grace laced with venom, "Almost eight years of freedom seems more than fair. So just hand over the girl and we'll leave you to pick up the pieces of whatever life you have left."
The man stood apart from his soldiers. He wore a robe of darkest silk that tapered around his neck, yet lay suspended in the air all around him as if hanging over an invisible bannister. His grey, pallid face looked almost sickly behind a wicked smile and sanguine eyes. He greased back his jet black hair, heightening his already diminishing hairline. And in his long delicate fingers, he held a thick chain whip with snared metal points. Heat bristled off the red steel from the glowing orange coals embedded in each link.
"My dear people!" The man raised his arms, addressing the village at large, "Surely it is not your desire to be slain here today. I see in your eyes the fear of death, a death you no longer have any say in. I see also your resilience, your defiance, and I ask myself why? Do they truly know what it is they fight for? Do they understand what it is they are trying to protect? The girl is an enemy to mankind; a danger to your humble village as well as the rest of the world.
"Even here, at the edge of the earth, they must know of the Heimlock and the calamity it wrought. They must know how it nearly brought the human race to extinction. And yet, they harbour another treacherous beast, daring it to reach its full potential, daring it to steal their lives in the night.
"But I tell you this, you may cast your fears aside. For I am a messenger of God, come to save you from your treacherous ways. Bring me the girl and all will be forgiven. Bring me the girl and I will allow you to draw breath upon this earth for as long as your feeble bodies will allow."
The people of Ryoshi stood resolute. Throughout the man's speech, not one for a moment considered wavering. Not one was ready to betray their own.
Her father laughed in his face, "Ha! You're wasting your breath Valabar! She fled the village the moment the horn rang."
"You lie!" The man hissed.
"She must be halfway to Orkut by now. If you leave at once, you can wave goodbye as the gondolas take her away."
Valabar brought his whip up and curving through the air as it slashed her father across the face. A spurt of blood soared across the dock as he dropped to one knee.
"Poe! I got you big guy." Henry ran forward to support him.
Revulsion seeped from Valabar's eyes, "They named you? Defiant to the last."
With a cry of fury, her father lunged at the man, hurling himself across the dock. Valabar had no time to raise his arms, no time to swing. The full force of her father's incredible mass descended upon him. It was over, before it began.
The wry smile disfigured Valabar's face into a manic craze. He stood unperturbed, glaring at the pathetic giant that hung before him. The twisted barbs of the chain whip dug into her father's flesh as it wrapped around his torso holding him in place. He howled in pain as the burning coals seared his skin. Valabar's robe had fallen, and the full length of the whip had struck forth, stopping her father in his tracks of its own accord.
"Tsk. Tsk. You cannot cross the gap in our power with a simple lunge." The whip tensed, digging deep. Her father's bellow shook the air. His blood spattered to the floor, drenching through the wooden boards and tainting the sea. "I'll say it one last time. Bring me the girl. Bring me Lianna."
Without thought, without reason, without a plan, Fi found herself screaming in tears and running towards her father. Pushing past the iron knees without notice, she broke through to the centre and threw herself at Valabar's back.
The slender man swayed, his chain propping him up at a ridiculous angle as Fi sailed past. But the whip was not done. It kinked back immediately, rebounding him so that he could grasp the scruff of her neck in his outstretched hand.
"It's Fi!"
"Why is she here?"
"I thought she was with..."
The villagers' terrified murmurs broke through her shock. How is he so fast? She thought in disbelief. Her father dropped like a brick as the whip rose up to coil several times around her. She could feel the heat radiating off the coals as the wreath of barbs stood poised, an inch from her chest.
"Do my eyes deceive me?" Valabar chuckled, his eyes alight with wonder, "You sired a chimera? Oh my, quite the naughty handler you turned out to be. It wasn't enough to run off with the forbidden fruit, you had to taste its pleasures for yourself."
"Fiara..." Her father groaned.
His shirt was soaked through with blood. He clasped his chest as he struggled to rise.
"But I find myself grateful for this unlawful union." Valabar went on, "Thanks to you, the perfect bait has run straight into my arms." He turned to Fi, the bloodlust plain in his eyes took a firm hold of her heart. "You're going to scream for me missy, and bring that mother of yours scampering out of her burrow."
I won't scream. Fi thought defiantly. No matter what, I won't scream.
She screamed. A shrill shriek of pain broke through her jaws as the barbs dug into her flesh and the coals sent her insides writhing. The pain was more than she knew was possible, compounded all the more by the shame of failing her father.
The earth quaked beneath their feet as an ear-splitting roar pierced the heavens. As one, villagers and metal men alike witnessed a monstrous, feral beast emerge from the hellish flames of the ship behind them. Fangs bared, tearing through its own jawline, the creature bounded forward, barging through the wreckage and sailing clear over the villagers. Coarse brown fur stood on end, magnifying the beast's size to epic proportions as its claws raked the wooden panels. Its long, pointed ears shot straight back. With eyes burning like fiery amethysts, it unleashed a second thunderous cry in the face of Valabar. Lianna had entered the fray.
"I thought you'd be larger than this by now." Valabar commented, "Shame, you could have probably had a few more years of peace."
The soldiers raised their pikes, the spear tips wavering in the air. The beast looked down on their upward thrusts, each fang as long as the pointed sticks and twice as thick. The powerful muscles of her hind legs thumped the ground reflexively as she assessed her enemies.
Valabar waited patiently, hungrily; his mouth slavering at the sight of the prey he had sought for all these years. His chain whip unwound itself from the little girl, tossing her aside, her purpose spent. Hovering poised by his side, it wove left to right as his eyes searched for an opening in the beast's guard.
There! He struck first; the pointed head swiftly piercing through the air. But Lianna swung her paw like lightning, batting the chain to the ground. A snarl broke through her clenched teeth as she closed the distance between them. The soldiers warily took a step to meet her, their pikes now rattling in their hands.
"Leave her be! She is mine!" Valabar shouted, "You may dispose of the rest. They've let their opportunity to survive pass them by."
The soldiers gratefully backed off and began circling the beast instead to get at the frightened villagers. Lianna weaved her neck left and right, giving the metal men pause. But Valabar's chain had picked itself up and she was forced to focus on the pointed tip rearing to strike.
Fi's father had managed to crawl over to his fallen daughter in the uproar. She had cuts and burns along her stomach, but otherwise seemed to be in much better shape than he was. With fear in her eyes, she watched as her mother circled Valabar, weaving in and out of his chain whip's range.
"Papa? Will she win?" Her voice was soft.
"Of course. He's dead." Her father huffed, placing a hand on her shoulder; the other clasped around his own chest, doing its best to keep whatever blood remained inside his body. She'll be fine. He thought. The villagers are the ones who need me. But as he tried to rise, the gash in his stomach tore anew. Falling back to the floor, his eyes screwed up in pain; his daughter's were fixed on the fight.
Valabar stood his ground. The wild animal had her hackles raised. She spread low, ready to pounce. Only her long, slender ears stood in the air. With a howl, she shot forward with the speed of an arrow. His whip bent to form a twisted star shield before him. Lianna's paws collided against it and she sprung up and over the barrier to land at his back. He marvelled how the beast's pads could withstand his hooked barbs, but only for a second as she lunged again.
This time, Lianna was smarter. She dug in her heels, braking before the chain barrier and knocked it away. In a mangled heap, Valabar's whip flew to the side, leaving him exposed. A mighty claw came down, nails ready to rip him to shreds, but the slender man was yanked away. The whip pulled him towards it, out of Lianna's reach. She only managed to tear apart his trailing silk robe.
Fi watched anxiously, her breath catching with every missed strike. Whenever her mother transformed, it had always been to play amongst the lilacs or ride with her through the valley. This vicious, ferocious beast was not one she had ever met.
She could also hear the metal men engaging the villagers; Mr. Carol's pained grunts, Mrs. Gallow's frenzied threats, Jaune's whimpers. The commotion at the end of the dock invaded her ears and pained her heart with every outburst, but she refused to tear her eyes away from her mother's battle.
Valabar cracked his neck as he detached the cuff of his robe, letting the tatters fly away with the wind. He had not anticipated needing to resort to evasive maneuvers. Pulling himself away by his own spine was always an unpleasant experience.
The chain whip untangled itself, writhing on the floor. It flopped and flailed as it unwound all the way back to its base at his tailbone. An extension of his own spinal cord, the bone tail flicked and twirled at his slightest whim, hard sinew connecting each link. The red steel casing and burning coals he affixed himself, transformed it into a deadly weapon. He let the chain whip tail hover in a grand loop around him, striking the earth with its end, embedding it deep into the dock. It was time to wrap things up. He had grown tired of playing with his food.
The beast pounced high, bringing her full mass upon him. Again, Valabar was yanked aside to avoid the strike. This time however, the chain did not stop there. Its tip firmly planted into the boards, it extended its full length skyward, taking Valabar with it.
High in the air, he had a commanding view of the battlefield; his soldiers stabbing forth indiscriminately, the little girl cradled by her father on the verge of death, and the crazed beast anxious to join her lover. He wrenched his tail out of the wood below, rising up to meet him as he began to fall. He was encircled by the coil, curling tighter and tighter around his descending body.
Lianna raised her head skyward. Falling fast, the cocoon of burning, metal spikes descended upon her. She would not give it the chance. Hind legs tense, eyes fixed on her target, she jumped into the sky, baring her fangs, prepared to bring her maw crashing down upon Valabar, chain and all.
The glint in his eyes couldn't be seen through the steel shell. As her maw closed shut around him, the cocoon unravelled with the force of a cannon. The tightly wound spring released in a vicious cycle, letting the chain whip wreak havoc. Lianna stood no chance. First snout, then neck, then chest and limbs were eviscerated by the steel tornado. Her left ear was torn clean off. Her chest opened as the whip slashed through her sternum in its fury. Her right hind leg was severed through, left hanging only by a stubborn tendon.
The whip's pointed tip struck clean into the ground, bracing Valabar's fall, and lowering him gently to his feet. The slain beast crashed down after him, a spray of flesh and gore rising back up into the air.
"MAMA!" Fi screamed.
Her father held her back, his own senses numb, unable to comprehend what had happened. His daughter scratched and clawed at the fist holding her shoulder. Without realizing it, he had let go and could only watch in a daze as she sprinted towards his fallen love.
"MAMA! MAMA!" Fi screamed and screamed.
She collapsed to the ground beside the fading husk of her mother's warm corpse. Pressing her face into her blood-matted fur, she sobbed uncontrollably. Bit by bit, the hair, bone, and muscle of the vanquished beast faded away to dust in the wind. All that remained was Lianna's pale flesh. Fi pushed herself beneath her arms, begging and pleading for her mother to move.
Around her, the world continued. The men of the village collapsed to the ground, their bodies kicked into the sea. In desperation, women flung their children into the burning ships. Some were cut down before they had a chance, others were forced into the sea by the mass of soldiers. Mrs. Gallow's gurgling cries were smothered by the waves as the soldiers' pikes chased after her, dying the waters red.
Those children who found the brief respite of the sweltering vessels faced a far worse fate. With nowhere to go, the metal men sat back and watched as they were consumed by the smoke and flame. Their anguished cries were terrible to hear as the acrid smell of burning flesh permeated the air.
"I suppose I should put you out of your misery as well." Valabar looked down upon the crying child, "To orphan a lamb like you would be a terrible transgression."
Fi's face contorted in pain and rage. Tears streaming down her cheeks, pure hatred emanated from her very core. Kill me, she thought, Let me be with mama. And as she saw the metal point rise before her, she felt her mother's bright smile calling her to come.
"Stop this." Her father stood before her. Anger and rage were gone from his voice. The hulking man stood over Valabar in submission. His chest bled freely, but it bothered him no longer. "You got what you came for. Now leave."
"I'm afraid I cannot do that." Valabar smiled, "How would it look if I slayed the beast, only to allow its chimera offspring to live."
"She's not a threat to anyone. She has no magic. She can't transform. Don't pretend you're not just murdering a helpless little girl."
"All the same, the world offers no graces to those who live in sin."
Her father's clenched fists fell to his sides. His body quivered with an overwhelming sadness. He couldn't bring himself to scream, to roar, to cry. The rattling of the soldiers, the sizzling of flames taking their last breath, the echoes of his murdered neighbours; all were drowned out by the daughter who's wails and sobs were enough for them both.
With a heaving sigh, he made his final plea. "Take me instead."
"You're already dead. I wouldn't have to lift another finger."
"No, take me with you."
"Oh? And what use could a nameless man provide me. What could you possibly have to offer?" Valabar sneered.
"I learned where it's kept. The relic sought by all the world."
Valabar rose into the air. His tail propped him off the ground to bring him eye level with the towering man. His frail fingers came forth, cupping the man's head. His long nails pressed against his skin.
"And how pray tell did you manage that?"
"Lianna.." The name caught in his throat, "and I discovered the place on our travels. I swear it on my soul. Let my daughter live and I will lead you to it."
Valabar's tail wound round to rest its metal point against her father's temple. The man made no attempt to avoid it. Where has his passion gone? He thought, staring into his eyes. No hatred. No contempt. This shell is empty. Perhaps I can fill it.
"You will be mine. You will act on my whims. You will follow every order to the letter. I care not for your pathetic soul," His whip retracted and pointed past his shoulder, "You will swear this on your daughter's life."
"I swear it." Her father whispered, the last light in his eyes fading away.
"So be it." Valabar sank back down, "I'll leave you time to say your farewell."
Her father broke his gaze with the vile man and turned to Fi, still howling beneath her mother's arms. She had heard nothing of what her father had said.
"Fiara.." He whispered, taking a knee and brushing the hair away from her face with his giant fingers.
"Papa?" Her chest heaved between sobs, "She won't wake up. I can't bring her back. She won't wake up."
"I know little one. I know." He stroked her back, holding his little girl in his arms.
She had run out of tears. The dry moans beat against his chest as her whole body shuddered. He could not bring himself to say what he needed to, to tear away from his daughter the last thing she had left. He noticed a sliver of silver and recognized Lianna's locket, still clutched in Fi's hand. It gave him strength.
"I'm going away with them." He said. Her head shot up to meet him. Her eyes, red and puffy, were lost in confusion. "It's the only way I have to protect you. I don't know what else I can do. I'm so sorry I failed you, Fiara. I'm so, so sorry."
Fi took in her surroundings for the first time since her mother fell. The village had crumbled to a smoldering pile of ash, the villagers lay in a heap of bodies at the end of the dock, and the metal men had them surrounded, with Valabar impatiently waiting a few feet away. She wanted to yell at her father. Yell at him for allowing this to happen. Yell at him for getting captured so easily. Yell at him for letting her mother die.
Instead, she simply said, "Take me with you."
"That, I cannot do." He breathed, "Here is where you'll be safe. I don't know how long it will take; could be weeks, maybe months. So I need you to survive for me, okay? I need you to be the strong, fierce little girl I raised you to be."
Fi nodded slowly, then broke down in his arms. "I don't want to be alone." She cried.
Her father held her tight and gently removed the silver locket clutched in her palm. He unravelled the chain and placed it around her neck. The weight of the locket felt warm against her chest.
"You will never be alone," He whispered in her ear, "She will always be with you."
"Promise me you won't die." She muttered.
"Fiara.."
"If I wait, promise me you'll come back. Promise me you won't be gone forever."
"Of course I'll come back for you, Fiara. I promise. I promise. I promise." He swore.
Fi didn't know how long they sat there together. Neither one said a word more or made any move to break their embrace. Tears came back to her, as she wept into her father's shoulder. He let her cry, clinging to a warm embrace that he knew may never come again. He soothed her gently, savouring every last moment he had left until the little girl fell asleep in his arms. Dried tears streaked her face as her breaths came evenly. He pressed a final kiss to her forehead, before laying her down beside her mother.
When Fi awoke, her father was gone.
The sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs below was the only interruption to the silent conversation. Peter maintained a respectful distance as his companion sat by the grave amongst the frosty lilacs. They bloomed freely before the headstone of slate. The rock was worn down by the wind, but the words etched into its face remained sharp: My mother, Lianna.
Peter admired the handiwork. It was repeated at every grave they passed along the beach on their way up. Each headstone faced out towards the sea, bearing the name of a man, woman, or child Fi had known. I can't believe she dug them all herself. He thought.
Fi stood up, her dark hair blowing in the breeze. Her silhouette shone against the backdrop of the rising sun. She turned to Peter and beckoned for him to join her.
"Mama, this is Peter. He's my friend."
"Hi there." Peter's voice was low, so as not to disturb the moment of peace.
"You can say more than that," Fi urged.
"Ah..um.." He stammered, searching for the words, "Your daughter is one of the most courageous, loyal, determined people I've ever met. My mum would always say that everything she did, she did out of love for me. And I always wondered how that could be true. Didn't she have her own interests, her own desires, her own goals? But the way Fi speaks of you, I know that doubt has not once entered her mind." He placed a hand on the chiseled slate. "Rest easy. I'll take good care of your daughter from here. You can count on me. "
Fi smiled and went to sit at the edge of the cliff. She swung her legs idly, staring out over the Shimmering Sea. Peter joined her tentatively, preferring to cross his legs over the solid ground.
"So he wasn't here, hunh?" He asked.
"I didn't expect him to be. He didn't return after six years. Why would he be here now?" She answered without turning away from the horizon.
"So we carry on." He reassured her, "There's still so many places we've yet to look."
Fi nodded, "He'll turn up. Big man like him can't hide forever." Peter noticed she was trying to hide the glistening wetness in her eyes. "I'm going to sail these waters, you know? Once we find my dad. We'll build a boat together, here on the shore, and set out to find what lies beyond the Shimmering Sea."
"Hate to break it to you, but there's nothing out there." Peter said.
"You're probably right," She conceded, "But I've already decided, and I'd like to find that out for myself. Besides," She smiled, turning her head to her companion, her blue eyes shining brighter than the sun, "The fun part is simply going on the adventure."
End of Volume I
Thanks for Reading!
Hey, this is Kelvyn, I'd just like to say thank you for taking the time to read through my book. I really hope you enjoyed what is hopefully only the start of a long and exciting adventure. The Many Adventures of Peter and Fi is the very first book I've ever written. I've previously dabbled in short stories and am constantly batting around ideas in my head, but this is the first novel-type work I've committed to writing, and I'm very happy with how it turned out.
Peter and Fi started as a proof of concept model to practice my writing. It was supposed to be a prototype before I started work on a different idea entirely, but the characters took hold of me and it soon snowballed into something much, much more. Over the course of a year, I relegated my previous idea to the back of my head and just found myself thinking about Peter and Fi and all the adventures they could get themselves into. I soon grew too attached to the characters to make them a one-off side story and began developing a world for them to explore and as the days became weeks became months, I found I had volumes and volumes of content just waiting to be written.
That being said, I'd love to hear what you thought of Volume I. Things you liked, things you didn't like, things that resonated with you personally, things you didn't understand. Reddit, discord, goodreads, twitter, facebook, whatever your platform of choice is. You could even shoot me an email if you're so inclined. As of writing this, the communities are small and just starting out, so there's a good chance that I'll be able to personally respond to your comments and start a dialogue. Hopefully, I can get a gauge of what you the reader responds to as well as the feelings of the audience as a whole, and put that towards how I frame the future of this series.
I'm already hard at work writing Volume II and I'm very eager to share it with everyone. The Many Adventures of Peter and Fi is a self-published work that I also release for free on a short time delay. And while I'm committed to this format so that everyone can enjoy and experience it, it just cannot exist indefinitely without financial support. If you enjoyed Peter and Fi and want to see it continue and grow into what it is capable of, I'd truly appreciate your participation.
To you specifically, I am more than happy to provide you with this copy for free. Whether you came across it by chance, sought it out yourself, or had a friend share it with you, I sincerely thank you for picking it up and taking a chance on me. If you liked it and want to read more, I'd greatly appreciate if you could show your support by either purchasing the book post-facto in some form (Amazon, Kobo, Audible, etc.) or sending a donation through Paypal (paypal.me/peterandfi) of whatever amount you desire so that your full contribution goes towards supporting me.
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With a myriad of options, I hope you decide to support my work in whichever way is most beneficial to you. If not, no worries, please continue to enjoy The Many Adventures of Peter and Fi completely for free. I am happy enough sharing my creation for others to experience. Hopefully, I do receive enough support so that I am able to spend my time pursuing this career and provide many more volumes for you as well.
I encourage you to share Peter and Fi with anyone and everyone who you feel might enjoy it. The ebook version of each volume I release will be available for free merely a few months after the initial release. Also, the audio version (which I recorded myself) is available on audible as well as your favourite podcast services and Youtube. So there's no barrier to entry for those who show interest.
I'm not sure if this business model will be effective, but as long as I receive enough support, I will strive to make it so. I won't truly know until I can look back fondly. All I can do, is take that first step. And now, you've taken that first step with me, and for that, I must say thank you, and thank you again!
Until next time,
Kelvyn Fernandes
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