 ell? Is it dead, or what? It looks pretty dead to me. Analissa felt herself coming awake. She could hear voices, and knew she was laying on a soft bed. She didn't open her eyes; She wasn't ready to speak just yet. Another voice replied. "No, of course it's not dead, you silly thing. Humans are fairly strong. Much stronger then useless creatures like you!" The voice teased.
It dawned on her that they were talking about her. Slowly she opened one eye, then the other. However, all shyness and worry dissipated and were replaced with awe as she looked around her. No longer lost in the barren dryness, she was in a lush forest, lying on a bed of leaves and vines. The trees towered upwards all around her, and the sounds of the forest filled her ears. Even more amazing were her caretakers. The woman, who had assured the other that "it" wasn't dead, had long green hair and the pointed ears of the elves. Next to her was a small blue... Dragon. It was around 3 and a half feet long and was looking directly at her. She rubbed her eyes, not beleiving, before remembering the strange creature she'd found in the waste. Analissa had heard of elves and dragons and other magical animals only through stories. Only came to mind most quickly, though. The legend that explained the barren land, the one about the hidden forest and the girl with her unicorn. She'd been told it many times as a child. Maybe, just maybe... She said to herself. She had always been fond of such stories, and had a very open mind as to what may be true or not.
She tried to speak, but her dry throat bore too much pain. "Water..." she managed to croak. The elven woman shushed her, and drew a rough wooden cup of water from somewhere behind her. She lifted the girl's head and tipped the water into her mouth. The cool water seemed sweet, and was crystal clear. Instantly her throat felt better, well enough to speak. Her muscles aching seemed to dull as well. "I'm Analissa. Are you.. an elf?" she spoke slowly. The woman laughed. Her laugh was happy, and from the heart. "Yes," she said, still smiling, "I am. My name is Ria. We found you lying in the forest. Do you remember how you got here?" She asked the last questiong with the same uncertainty as Analissa. A sort of curiosity mixed with wonder. "Well, I'm not really sure.. I'd been running from my village, and I saw the Waste. Out pretty far was a little speck... I went out to find it, because I knew it would die. When I finally got there, I was so tired, and weak, like something had just sucked the strength out of me. I picked it up... I guess I passed out." "I knew it!" She turned to whisper to the dragon-thing. She turned back. "How old are you?" Analissa was surprised. She knew her age, of course, but it was sort of odd to be asked it at a time like this. "Oh, I'm 15. Why?" "Have you heard the legend of the secret forest? It said that it would be closed off from human interaction, permanantly hidden by a spell. The only person who could unlock the spell would be a girl who was pure of heart and mind, like the first girl who cared for the creatures in the forest." "Yes.. I was just thinking of it. The adults always said it was a legend the Ancients made to explain the Wasteland." Ria looked at her fondly, like she was seeing an old friend. "Darling, the adults were wrong, your ancestors are the ones who had it right. We've been waiting so long, for someone to come. It's very lonely here without her." "You knew her?" "Remember, we elves live much longer then humans. Much longer." Analissa suddenly got a curious thought. "You, you don't think I'm that girl, do you? I unlocked the spell?" Ria nodded. "Without a doubt. And you came just in time, as well. Even though many of the inhabitants here have a good deal of magic power, none can even come close to things like what we need. You see, Analissa, since we have been closed off totally from all contact for so long, things are being thrown out of wack. If you've noticed, it is rather, well, cold." Even as she spoke, Analissa felt a cold wind wrap around her and speed away. "For the past few years, we've been declining into a state of permanant Winter." She paused, looking sad. "Most of the forest usually remains in Spring most of the year, and if we don't heal this, everything here will die. There is only one refuge, one place Winter has yet to touch. The section nearest the village, the place the girl died all those years ago." "How can I help you? I have no magic! I could do no more than build a wooden shelter and plant a tree." "Ah, but that is where you are wrong! There is but one, small portal left here. It leads to the Silver Valley, where the Silver Valley dragons are allowed to leave the Valley and bond with someone elsewhere. The portal is too small for an elf or fae, or even a human. But humans can channel magic through bonds with other beings, and when that is coupled when the magic of a human, even though oftentimes that is weak, they can perform decent magical acts. Like make a portal large enough to go through." "But I have no bonds with the creatures here. And even if I did, I don't think I would be strong enough to hold all that magic." Analissa was tentative, even though she had a feeling she knew what Ria would say. "If you stay here, you could form those boinds. Once you are fully grown, those bonds, as well as you, will be strong enough to open the portal." She smiled, but Analissa had one last question. "How will my bonding to a dragon help save the forest?" "That is it. There is one species of dragon that could help us. They are called Spring dragons, and they alone can control magic as strong as the chaging of seasons. If you raised it where there is still Spring, once it is grown it could help protect the rest of the forest. Will you help us?" Analissa thought for a moment. "I will try."
Backgrounds and bars from Sanori Gardens
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