THE PROPHECY

Silvaren, the elder prophet of the Breezlings, was dreaming. Shadows danced and weaved, always avoiding the light, unidentifiable. suddenly, as if she had always been there, from the depth of the shadows, Gerida appeared. The goddess of wind and nature wore a dress the color of the sky on a clear spring day and her silvery white hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. then, in a voice that did not belong to this world, she spoke

Prophecy of the earth
Fate of the elements,
A shadow long forgotten will rise,
Its name forgotten,
Battles fought within,
Must be disregarded,
One from frost,
To lead the way,
One from shadow,
To aid from within,
One from wind,
To keep them centered,
One from the wood,
To protect them,
And one from the ocean,
To guide them
Five petals of the same flower,
Must unite to save them all,
For separated stay they,
All of Ryella,
will fall.

And with that, as sudden as she appeared, Gerida disappeared. Silvaren opened her eyes.

"My Lady Athelis, my Lord Aymer, Silvaren to see you" Silvaren called into the silver lighted cave the lord and lady were currently inhabiting, sticking to formality, even with the pressing urgency of the news.

"Enter Silvaren" Lady Athelis called in reply, as Silvaren swept into the cave, the robes of her rank swishing behind her, the lord and lady of the Breezlings could see the worry on the old prophet's face.

"What's the matter? "Lord Aymer asked "it is rare you will come see us, and the hour is late"

"Gerida appeared to me" Silvaren replied, "we must call in the Wind-runners."

"You received a prophecy from the goddess?" Lady Athelis queried and Silvaren nodded, repeating the prophecy as if she had known it her whole life. When she finished, Lord Aymer stood and walked over to a curling silver horn, taking a deep breath he blew into it and a long, clear note rang out through the mountains. "The wind-runners have been summoned," Lady Athelis said, "the prophecy shall be spread throughout the land." Silvaren bowed her head and left, flying up to the mountain ranges peak, where she would meet the ones who would spread her goddesses warning.

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Four armies were advancing, each had been completely unaware of the presence of the other, until now. Scouts moved quickly back to their hosts, arriving, they called out the news and each armies pace quickened, grips tightened on weapons, shamans delved into their supply of magic and the cavalry soared or swam ahead. Soon the dark cloud of the Shadowlings host and the blizzard of the Frostings host was visible to all. Forest, ocean, and mountain opened out into a field of immense size. War chants started up soon the sound of swords on shields and screeches joined the din. Orders were called throughout the hosts and just when it seemed the four species of Fryshote would join in battle there was a sudden silence, endless and deafening. A white skinned, grey-eyed Breezeling had landed in the center of the four armies. She looked nervous, her grey eyes flitting back and forth as she shuffled from foot to foot. She was small and her cream-colored hair was up to her shoulders.

"I am Cyip" her voice, quiet but heard by everyone sounded through the clearing, "Wind-runner of the Breezlings, and I have come with a message" all four armies were silent, most staring in wonder at the shy female. Breezlings were a rare sight "I would have the leaders of the four nations meet me by the great lake, to hear it" and with that she took off, her cream wings carrying her quickly out of sight.

After discussing the issue briefly with their advisers, six Fryshotes gathered by the great lake as Cyip had requested, two Woodlings, a Frostling, a Shadowling and two Aqualings. Silent glares were thrown, each daring the other to try something, then Cyip appeared, flying down from a tree.

"What is the message Breezeling? "King Hoyts spoke looking slightly down at the smaller Fryshote with tired green eyes that spoke of battles and conquered lands. Cyip, who glancing nervously at the leaders standing around her repeated what had been dubbed as Silvaren's prophecy, in honor of the elder prophet, to them.

"it is quite clear" Queen Eve of the Aqualings began, waving her pale blue hand in a gesture that encompassed the small group of Fryshotes "that one representative of each nation is needed,"

"indeed, but to do what?" Queen Atheena of the Frostlings asked, her silver-streaked hair shifting slightly in the breeze " what is this long-forgotten evil the prophecy speaks of?"

"No one knows" Cyip replied, "I was thinking one of the Aqualing scholars might figure it out"

Aqualings queen looked contemptuous, her lips twitching into a slight smirk "our scholars will decipher the meaning but what makes you think we will share the information?" she asked

"because if you don't we will all die! "Cyip exclaimed, "since when has the words of a goddess meant so little?"

"since this war began" King Malcolum of the Shadowlings replied turning his cold gaze to Cyip, his midnight black hair was streaked with grey but that did not make him any less intimidating. "If they truly cared for us why not aid us in this war?"

"Why would the rulers of Ilithiel, all of whom are kin, help fight their brothers and sisters kin?" Queen Eudiline of the Woodlings asked, looking thoughtfully at the other rulers with her keen green eyes. She saw the reason behind the Wind-Runners words. "I say we listen to our Ilithiel brethren, let us call a truce, if only until this darkness is defeated"

Cyip looked gratefully at the Woodlings queen as the other rulers pondered over the idea. "I say we call a vote, settle the matter here and now," Queen Eudiline said after a while "All in favor of the truce say I"

"I," King Hotys said, immediately supporting his mate, taking her hand in his and smiling at her, which the Woodlings queen returned

"I" the rulers of the Frostling and Aqualing nations chorused, much to the distaste of each other, and they exchanged loathing glares before all eyes turned to King Malcolum, who scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest

"You've all gone insane" he paused and it seemed the thousands of Fryshotes waiting beyond the small gathering held their breath. "I" he finally said, if begrudgingly and uncrossed his arms again, looking like he was elsewhere, and not in the middle of a world-changing agreement. Everyone relaxed, including Cyip, who released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"Then my job here is done," she said softly, taking off into the sky as the rulers watched her go.

The six Fryshotes met with their delegations, each beyond the range of even the best of hearing, and traveled back to their hosts, the four armies trudging back to their own lands.

The Uneasy Peace had begun.

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Yay for the prolog!! The cover for this novel is being made and im exited to see it when its finished. Hope you enjoyed the Prolog, once again feedback would be appreciated.

-Lolly