Chapter Fourteen, The First

    Dagney shot me a questioning look as Atrix ran up my back and whispered in my ear, “I thought Sentinels couldn’t come this far?” I shrugged my shoulders and we heard the same voice call out, “We’re here!” 

    We filed into a large chamber illuminated by a small sapling in the center of the chamber, an intense but pale blue light emanated from it filling the entire chamber. Stairs were carved into the sides of the chamber leading up the ice and into different rooms and halls. As we came in I saw all sorts of dogs come from these rooms. They stood at the edge of the light so we couldn’t make out how many or who they were, “Wow” Bailey said as her voice echoed. 

    Harriet carefully stepped towards the sapling and as she grew closer I noticed there the sapling was not planted in dir but it’s roots went into the ice I cocked my head before Harriet began to speak, “We are the dogs of the First Sentinel. Those taken from the Elm before it’s destruction by the hand of the Darkness. The First brought us here with a seed and in his final days created this place for us to and planted the seed. Giving his life so the Elm may live once again.” Howls erupted from the surrounding dogs and the chamber boomed and shook as if it was going to shatter. The small sapling reached towards Harriet and waved though I could not tell if this was due to the shaking of the ice or because the sapling was one of the Great Trees. 

Harriet turned her sightless gaze towards me and continued monologuing, “There was a time when the dogs of the Oak and the dogs of the Elm considered each other friends, though you are not sent from the Oak are you Storm?”

I felt every eye turn towards me and I felt my hackles begin to raise as I felt the light fading from the room. The black dog who guided me to the ice and shielded me from the creature stepped forward, interjecting herself in between Harriet and myself. She bowed her head as Harriet pulled her top lip back showing teeth as white as snow but before Harriet could speak the black dog whispered, “Should we not show these outsiders the warmth and generosity of the First and of the Elm? They are assuredly tired after traveling through the Darkness, are you not?” She turned to face us and we all nodded emphatically. With a huff Harriet dropped her upper lip and flicked her tail. The black dog bowed before her and the Elm then turned to us and said, “Please, follow me.” 

We followed her up the spiraling staircase. I noticed art etched into the side of the Ice, much like the art that is etched into the wood of the Oak. Telling dog’s stories their tales and the accomplishments of this group. 

The story up the first several flights seemed to be the story of the first dogs. How the first came and took the dogs of the Elm, leaving behind a tree quickly fading. The First led them through the darkness with a flame she held in her hand. She drove back the darkness and the wolves who could cloud themselves in the mist. She allowed neither to harm any of the dogs she had sworn to protect. It portrayed the first summoning the rocks from the ocean to make the bridge we walked across and using fire to carve the ice we were currently in. Finally it portrayed the First’s final sacrifice, as they laid the seed on the ice the Sentinel put a ward over all she had created and then collapsed. Upon hitting the ice a spark flew from her and danced around the seed before entering into it. Then the seed began to grow and the spark within it grew as well. 

“So she’s not here?” Bailey asked as we got to the last panel of the story. The black dog who was guiding us looked back for a moment before turning into an empty chamber, “This way, please.” Bailey stayed  a moment to stare at the sapling in the center of the chamber it’s light softly waning then brightening as if it was being softly pushed by a breeze. 

We entered the chamber which was dark except for the light being cast by the sapling below, “You can rest here.” The black dog said, “I’m sure Harriet will want to speak to you soon.” 

“Thank you.” Bailey whispered, “I’m Bailey.” she said with a hopeful smile.  

The black dog smiled back, “I’m Nari of New Elm, It’s a pleasure to meet you Bailey of the Land of the Oak.” 

“New Elm?” Dagney asked, “Why do you call it that?” 

Nari laughed, “Well we can’t call it the Old Elm now can we?” Nari showed us where the drinking water was in the chamber as well as the hole we were to use if we needed to relieve ourselves and then left. 

Dagney and Atrix immediately went to the water to drink, complaining it was too cold for them but they drank anyway. After which they fell to sleep, a deep sleep where both were snoring so loud it echoed into the main chamber. Bailey sat at the edge of the darkness staring at the many panels depicting all of the other dog’s stories. “Do you think Bonnie has one like that at the Oak?” I gazed around the intricately carved ice depicting courage, bravery, love, loyalty  and all the traits we were made to display.

“I think she does” I said while turning my gaze to the small corgi pup. She had lost weight, even in this land where we are supposed to be sustained by the strength of the Oak. “Why did you run off Bailey?” 

She turned her eyes towards the light of the sapling, “I saw it. Not the darkness but I saw it. I didn’t think I didn’t try to run. I just did. One minute I’m listening for it to come again and the next moment my eyes are open and there it is before me. A giant gaping mouth, six legs, little tufts of hair sparsely covering it. I didn’t see any eyes, although I was desperately trying not to see it at all. I saw it anyway and I ran and it followed. But it was like it was playing with me. It was so massive it could easily have overtaken me but it didn’t, why didn’t it?”

“It feeds off fear young one.” Harriet turned a corner with Hannah at her side, “I think it’s time we talk now.” Harriet nodded her head to me, “The others will be taken care of, do not worry Storm.” 

I glanced towards Bailey who shrugged her shoulders and began to walk with Harriet up more sets of stairs. “There is a war coming Storm. A war you cannot win. A war he cannot win. What Hojan dares to do will tear the Land of the Oak apart. Your tree will die, sand will run over the grass your rivers will turn to dust, and no one from the tree will be able to stop the Lion. Hojan thinks the Lion is weak but he is not week. He has been waiting for the opportunity to break free of his prison and take back what he believes to be his. He has allies in the Land of the Oak, the hogs and the cats. I’ve even seen the birds sing songs of his return. They feel it in the air. The Oak is preparing to march against Hojan and stop him before he can release the Lion, but they will be too late.” 

I was breathing heavily as we came to an opening in the top of the Ice, “How do you know all of this? What do you mean you’ve seen it?” She motioned towards the ledge and I saw, from a distance, the Oak. Standing tall and washing the land in its light. I stammered, “Still you are blind.” 

Harriet laughed, “Power comes at a price. I was not always blind. In fact, Hannah and I aren’t even from the Elm. No we were at Sanctuary when it fell. Before you and Rad arrived, obviously, but we were there. I remember seeing the Shadow step through the shed. I remember the council and the dogs and the Sentinels all trying to stop him. I remember his hand grasping my throat as he crushed Hannah beneath his foot. Then I remember waking up in the Land of the Oak.” 

“How then did you lose your sight then?” I asked dreading the answer.

Harriet took a deep breath, “It came in a dream. We had been wandering the Land of the Oak for a while. We couldn’t find the Great Tree even though it stood tall amongst the sea of other trees. While sleeping I saw the Elm and it beckoned me towards it and it showed me the way. When we awoke we left the Land of the Oak and ventured to the Land of the Elm. We saw the blackened tree, desecrated by that shadow. Carefully we went into the Elm and flickering in the main hall was a fire. A voice told me.” 

I interrupted Harriet to whisper, “Give me your eyes and I will let you see things only dreamt of. Give me your hand and I will give you the power of the wind. Give me your tongue and fire will take its place. Give me your life and you will never die.”

Harriet nodded, “So you know the ritual then?” 

I shook my head, “Parts of it and from what I’ve heard I don’t want to know all of it.” 

A smile crept across Harriet’s face, “Wise.” she said sternly, “Storm.” She continued, “You aren’t going to like what I have to say.” 

“You want us to leave?” I asked loud enough so the others could hear me. I saw them groggily wake up, yawn, and stretch before feeling the tension that had begun to fill the room. 

Harriet dropped her smile and pulled her lips tight, “No, just you. The others are free to stay if they wish.” 

I took a step back and Atrix ran up to me, “If Storm leaves then we all do!” 

Bailey came up on my other side, “We don’t leave anyone behind.” She then looked up at me with a smile, as if she was trying to lend me her strength.”

Harriet nodded, “I know you came a long way so I will let you rest for a while and we will escort you to the Veil but Storm, you cannot return. You are not the chosen one of the Oak we need and your land will need you soon. I wish I could tell you more and once this is all over you will be accepted back here with wagging tails.” Harriet moved her head towards Bailey as if her blind eyes were gazing into her soul, “I know you all will find your own home soon enough.” 

Atrix climbed up my back, “This dog is weird.” He whispered, attempting to say it quietly enough so Harriet didn’t hear but I saw her ear twitch and a brief smile flash on her face. 

“How will I know it’s over?” I asked. 

Harriet straightened her posture, opened then closed her mouth like she was about to say something then decided against it, “The Lights eye will change.” She finally said after a moment of silent contemplation. 

    I nodded, “Thank you Harriet.” 

Harriet bowed and went back down to the main hall, to sit by the sapling. 

   

    Once she had left Nari slipped back in, “I’m sorry Storm.” She said to me while avoiding my inspecting eye, “The rest of you should really stay though. It’s good here. Albeit quite and some of the dogs take some time to warm up too. But it can be made into a home of sorts.”

    Atrix shook his head violently raising his voice, “WE ALREADY SAID NO!” 

Nari, surprised, took a step back, “I meant no insult master fox. I only meant that not all of you need to continue this journey. It’s ok to stay and make a new life.” 

    Atrix settled down and straightened up whispering in my ear, “Did you hear that? She called me a master fox. You could learn a thing or two from her you know.” 

    I shook the mischievous fox off and he landed plumply in front of me, rubbing his head with my paw. I bent down and whispered to him, “When you start acting like a master fox I’ll be the first to let you know.” Atrix grew red from embarrassment while the rest of us erupted in laughter, everyone except for Bailey who was staring intently at Nari. 

“Nari?” Bailey asked the dog who at this point was trying to stifle a laugh. Nari quickly turned her attention to the Corgi pup, “Yes, my dear?” 

“You said this place can be made into a home, what did you mean by that?” Bailey’s eyes glistened against the light of the sapling. 

Nari cocked her head, “Well you can make just about any place into a home can’t you? If that’s the place you make safe and it has others who you enjoy being around? Home is whatever you decide it to be. The monster out there has made the Darkness it’s home hasn’t it?” 

Bailey nodded, “Anywhere?” She asked.

Nari nodded, “Well I suppose so.” 

“Would you consider coming with us then? We can all make a new home after this is all over?” Bailey asked. 

    Nari shook her head, “This is the place I made my home, I don’t want to pick up and make another one.” 

    Bailey looked down at her paws and whispered, “I suppose it’s a lot of work isn’t it?” 

    Nari took a step forward to muzzle the Corgi, and whispered into her ear, “That’s why those you surround yourself with are important. Not all hard work is bad if those around you are good. Not all easy work is good if those around you are bad. My mom used to say that to me, I’ve always fancied it as clever.” The black dog stood tall with a large grin. She scanned the room, “I should probably let you all sleep though. Long journey ahead of you. I’ll see you all soon.” She nodded toward us and left down the stairs. 

    “Well what was that about?” Dagney said with a head cocked so far sideways one might think it was screwed on wrong. 

    I took a loose chunk of ice from the ground and slid it at Dagney with my paw hissing, “Sh” and giving her a “Shut up!” look. 

“Ow!” Dagney exclaimed, “What was that for?” She said rubbing one paw against her head where the ice had hit. 

    Atrix squealed in delight, “Come on Dagney let’s play!” The fox pup ran down my back and slid the chunk of ice playfully across the floor, “I bet you can’t catch me!” Atrix winked at me as he rode on top of the ice sliding into one of the walls. Dagney glared at me as she got up and stood for a moment, maybe contemplating what she should do. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the fox pup pushing the ice and riding it across the room again, giggling in excitement. She smiled and tried to pounce on the ice, just missing it and sliding against the floor herself as she was unable to grip the slick floor she jumped onto. 

Chuckling I walked over to Bailey and sat next to her. She laid rested her head against my shoulder, “Storm?” She asked quietly. 

“Yes?” I said with a glance towards her. 

“Do you still think I’ll see my mom again?” She gazed up at me with her big brown eyes searching my face for an answer before the sound could even reach my ears.

I took a deep breath, “Yes. I do.” 

Bailey looked back down at the ice and nodded, “Would I be a bad dog if I didn’t want to see her again?” she said in a voice so low it was barely audible    

Taken aback I was speechless just long enough for Bailey to look back up at me, wondering if I had heard her. “Why wouldn’t you want to see her again?” 

I saw a few tears leave the Corgi’s face and hit the ground, pooling for a moment then freezing, “Because she died because of me.” She said with a voice that sounded as if there was something much larger trying to climb out of her throat but she wasn’t allowing it, “She’s going to be upset with me Storm!” With that Bailey began to weep. 

    I hushed the pup and wrapped my tail around her. The sounds of Atrix and Dagney playing went quiet as they came up beside us. Dagney sat quietly next to Bailey and Atrix placed himself underneath her, “I think your mom would be awfully proud of you Bailey. I mean we’ve crossed the darkness and soon we’ll be back to the Land of the Oak to stop Hojan and save the land from destruction. How can anyone not be proud of that!” Atrix said with a smile so lame I felt the only appropriate response was to roll my eyes and try not to wretch. Bailey smiled, a small smile, and rubbed her cheek against Atrix’. 

I swallowed, “Bailey your mother would be so proud of you. You are taking a difficult path to do something you believe in, to help a friend, and to save the Oak. A noble undertaking if I ever saw one.” 

Bailey smiled a little, curled up in a ball, and quickly fell asleep with Atrix softly snoring in between her front paws.

Dagney looked at me, “What are we going to do now Storm? The First isn’t here.” 

I sighed, “We’ll have to try and stop Hojan ourselves” I said stifling a yawn, “Maybe some sleep will help give us an idea.” I stretched my paws out and started to circle to get comfortable. 

“Storm?” Dagney asked sheepishly.

“What?” I felt a wave of annoyance wash over me as I had finally gotten comfortable. 

    “Do you think Bailey is ok?” She whispered.