Chapter 1
'In which we meet four rather important characters.'
It was a hot summer’s afternoon and the sun continued to glare down at the world.
Indrik stretched and sat upright, yawning. He was an odd creature and his fur was a blend of purple and black. His body was very much like a lion, though slightly larger and not as lithe, and his snout was longer. His yellow eyes watched the world lazily as he began to scratch himself with his hind foot, feeling slightly uncomfortable in the heat. It did not help that his fur was thick and he now found himself wishing he was back living in the mountains. Despite the harsh weather and fierce competition it had it was, at the very least, cooler.
From the corner of his eye, Indrik noticed a rat and swiftly pinned it down beneath his black claws. He bent down and crushed its head in his teeth, silencing its shrieks.
Of course, the food in the mountains was not as plentiful. And stringy he might add.
“Indrik.”
Indrik lifted his head up, a half-eaten carcass dangled from his jaws. He turned and looked at the young woman who stood behind him, a young woman that looked no more than twenty gazing at the farmers as they retreated from their corn fields and into the shade until the heat of midday died down.
She was small, somewhat thin but not gawky and dressed in a long, white kirtle with a blue sash. Her hair was a rich golden colour, like the ripe corn she watched as they rippled in the winds. Her eyes were blue yet it did not resemble the calm seas or skies but a fiery and intense blue, stronger than the weak, flickering flame of a candle. Unlike Indrik or the famers she showed no sign of discomfort.
This was Midday.
“Do you think we ought to move the cottage elsewhere? It might be troublesome if that boy intends to keep coming back.”
“He likes Lady Midday.”
“I’ve noticed. But I’m not keen on having a great, smelly oaf come to my house and constantly bicker on about all sorts of useless things. I’m surprised we managed to escape him.”
“You should not save people from goblins then.”
“I know.” She pressed her lips together, her eyebrows creased in annoyance, “Do you think it was foolish of me to interfere then?”
He laid the corpse gently on the ground and tilted his head, “interfere, my lady?”
“Yes. Threatening the goblins like that.”
He chewed the rat thoughtfully, “Gods always interfere.”
“But my brother would be displeased if he learnt of this incident.”
“Eros went unpunished.”
“Mm? Eros? But that was because he is well loved; pitied, possessed a tongue fit for flattering and does not have to deal with Dawn.”
Indrik coughed, or chuckled, she couldn’t tell.
“If your brother does not find out then it is okay. He will not send Rarog then.”
A gust of wind appeared, as if irked by the comment, Indrik winced as he noticed the ragged sparrow flapping towards them. The sparrow landed on the ground in a rather ungraceful manner, hobbling and flapping wildly as it did so. It shook its feathers huffily.
“Lady Midday.”
Midday looked down, where the sparrow once stood was now a stout dwarf with an enormous brown beard peppered with grey hairs. Indrik scowled.
“Lady Midday.” The dwarf said huffily, “I am displeased with you. Do you realize how much difficulty you are causing for Lord Dawn? What were you thinking saving the prince-“
“It was a prince?” asked Indrik in mock astonishment.
“-from the Faerie Folk? Do you know how we must not get involved in the affairs of the mortals?”
“Yes.”
Rarog began to pace around, “the Faerie folk were not pleased. And you know how they’re like when they’re not pleased. Audacious little brutes that have the nerve to simply march up to Lord Dawn and rant constantly until even Cronos himself might find his patience wearing thin.”
“Like you?”
“Yes like-” Rarog paused and glared at the beast, who innocently continued to chew on the rat’s skull.
Rarog, in an even fouler mood than before, sighed and continued to pace up and down the grass, “I honestly don’t know what to do with you, Midday. Why can’t you be more like your siblings and keep yourself out of trouble? I have taught you for so many years and your brother has made it very clear that you must take care of yourself. It is dangerous for you; you are not an Immortal like the others.”
Indrik noted the wince of Midday and perked his ears; he looked up and swallowed the rest of the rat.
“A falcon appears.”
Rarog squeaked and panicked, ducking and trying to do his best to hide himself in the grass as his eyes scanned the skies. Taking this momentary panic, Indrik nudged Midday who in turn climbed onto his back and rode off on him. By that time, Rarog realized it was a hoax and stood up. Flustered and angry, he brushed his coat down and muttered, “Now where was I, ah yes. I hope you understand the seriousness of this situation, Lady Midday. Oh and I must tell you that Midnight has a message for you…” he paused and turned around.
“Lady Midday?”
*****
Indrik and Midday slipped into the murky darkness of the Changing Forest, Indrik slowing his pace down to a walk knowing that he was never a graceful animal running at full speed. Midday’s lips twitched into a smile as her fingers gripped onto his thick, black fur.
“Thank you.”
“If you allowed me to eat him I would not have to run.” He grumbled.
“You know he gives you indigestion and besides you are terribly unfit, Indrik.”
Indrik grunted, offended.
She buried her head into his fur, “Why did I interfere? I know I mustn’t and yet I continued to do so. I continue to watch the humans and I continue to intervene in their lives.”
“Lady Midday carries human blood.”
She groaned, “Why?”
“Because Mother of Midday has human blood.” He tilts his head and his yellow eyes lit in amusement, “Does Midday hate her mother?”
“I miss her.” She murmured and said no more as Indrik continued to walk through the forest. In the silence, Indrik decided that Immortals were difficult to understand for they thought too little and shared nothing while mortals thought too much and needed more guidance than required. However, Midday did not think like either of them and he decided it was better that way because he understood her. Indrik pulled himself free from the brambles which clung onto his fur as he crossed through the bushes, walking along the banks of the lake as he studied the trees that loomed over him, “Where are we?”
“I do not know,” admitted Midday, “It seems the forest chose to change its paths again. It may be some time before we find out was back.”
Indrik nodded, “Oh. That is alright. I like the forest.”
“Yes, I like it too.” She gazed at the ancient trees which stood tall and mighty and remembered a time when they the most ancient of trees was still a sapling and the forest was ruled by trees long gone. And she remembers a child, who still wore a smile at the time, wandering through these forests and crossing paths with a king.
“Were you planning to eat me, Indrik?”
“Mm?”
“When we first met each other, were you planning to eat me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s just like you, Indrik.”
She slipped off his back and walked alongside him, her hand clutching his mane.
“We met at this lake didn’t we? I was playing when I found you.”
“Yes.”
“You seemed very tired at the time. What were you doing back then?”
Indrik looked at her.
“I cannot tell Lady Midday now.”
“But will you tell me one day?”
“If I have to.”
“You’re impossible.”
Indrik nudged her playfully and she stroked his snout. She watched the lake, wondering which path she must take in order to return. It was not that she was afraid of it but it would have been nice to return home in less than a month.
Indrik’s ears twitched and he turned his head, “we will have help, Milady. But you might not like it.” Midday followed the direction of his gaze and noticed a large shadow emerging from the forest. One may not have expected it to be a bear for it was too large but often they run before ever finding out. Those who stay would not run from it for its eyes held no savagery. Streaks of grey stained its auburn coat and moss and other such plant life clung onto it. The bear ambled through the woods, while her pace was clumsy she took care about where she treaded.
Midday dipped her head respectfully, “Good day, Ursa.”
The bear lifted her head and, noticing them, her jaw slackened into a rather charming smile.
“Hail, Mistress Midday. Lord Dawn has been looking for thee.” She tilted her head and gestured at the approaching person behind her. He was taller than most men and perhaps twice as thin. His hair was a tangled mess of pastel colours that fell past his waist. Despite his calm demeanour his eyes, hidden beneath his fringe, were wild and may have held some demon restrained and bounded. No man would challenge him and perhaps no man ever will. He smiled; his smile false and lacking a warmth that should be there.
“Yes I have been looking for you, dear sister.”
Midday grimaced.
H held up his outstretched hand, “Shall we walk together? I’d like to talk to you.”
Midday nodded and followed him, Indrik and Ursa trailing behind, the bear was chatting happily whilst Indrik was trying his best to understand.
“Midnight had sent me a message to pass to you.”
Midday looked up at her brother, “He has?”
“Indeed. It seems that our father may be coming to visit us soon.” Dawn noticed her look and grinned, “Our brother thought you would like to know.” He reached out and patted her head, “after all you have always been his favourite.”
Midday bowed her head; she disliked being treated like the youngest. “No I am not.”
The man chuckled and continued to look ahead, “it’s a pity Midnight does not know when he will be arriving but I suppose it is better that way. Our father enjoys surprises after all.”
He stopped, “it is time I returned now.”
Midday tilted her head, “you are not angry at me?”
“Mm? For the incident last week?” he shook his head, “these things happen though I suppose Rarog had been scolding you?”
She nodded and looked down.
“Well he is worried about you, we all are.” He patted her head again, this time his smile contained a slight trace of warmth that did not seemed forced. “Just take care of yourself.”
“I’m not a child anymore, Dawn. I can take care of myself.”
“Perhaps.”
Midday looked up again but Dawn was gone and they now stood at the entrance of the forest. Ursa smiled and nodded a farewell, “visit us more often, Mistress Midday. We shall welcome you heartily.” And finally she ambled in her slow, clumsy trot back into the forest.
Indrik yawned and Midday reached out to scratch behind his ear, a ghost of a smile that hovered on her lips. She looked up at the sun and watched her continue her path across the sky.
*****
The farmers stopped their work to examine the peculiar sight. There, emerging from the forest was a handsome grey mare carrying a bedraggled youth that did not suit her at all. He was rather tall and his build might assume that he could be a boxer or a fighter if it wasn’t for his eyes, which were devoid of any bloodlust. His face was covered in filth as well and his hair was a mess of brilliant red and not-as-brilliant brown. He sat up on his saddle and blinked, unused to the light, and shook his head,
“Perhaps the fall has made me delusional, Filly. But for a moment I thought I saw the beautiful maiden of the purple beast back in the forest.” He sighed, it was a pity. He had hoped he had hoped to talk to her more as well as summon the courage to thank her before he returned to the castle. The thought of returning made him grimace and clutch onto the reins tightly. It wasn’t that he did not enjoy returning home but he enjoyed the freedom of the forest more. And reluctant as he is on returning to the castle he knew his father would be just as reluctant to have him return so soon. Especially in the state as he was now, covered in peat and mud.
“But I believe me and the beautiful maiden of the purple beast shall meet again. In the meantime let us return home, Filly again. We need more provisions for our next journey.”
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