The Holy Isle
Heart of the Flame

For a long while Dori stared at the large gaping Cavern. No-one hurried her, no-one would, everything must be done as the individual found himself or herself ready. She had worked long and hard to be where she stood now. Yet, she had been so comfortable once as an apprentice, which had meant a certain amount of carefree sensibilities and few true responsibilities. When had that tide turned? Oh, yes; someone had realized, someone had seen that the time had come to her at last. The time to leave friends and family and a wonderful Mentor whose love and guidance she would never forget. To travel to the Holy Isle for the final studies, to begin to understand responsibility as all Healers must. To finally come to the point where she would walk through the Cavern of Fire, wherein was contained the Healer's Flame. They said it wasn't a real fire; but rather, that crystal flame that burns through all Healers, burning away all impurities that they may be a true channel for healing without distortion. All those she had ever known who had carried the title of Healer had this wonderful crystal-like force. Could she really deign to see that force within herself? But, oh, she had come to desire so. So, the carefree apprentice began to study in earnest, to ready her heart and mind for that decisive moment. Even then, one could not be certain that one's request to walk through the Fire should be granted. Even that approval had given her great joy, though fear surely stood at its side, for the Healers who had taught her could never be totally certain she would survive the ultimate test before her. For this, prayers and fasting were in order as the Healers wrapped their energies around the Sacred Site. Her white robes felt almost heavy upon her as she realized a line of sweat dappled upon her forehead and she sensed her dark, draping curls were becoming damp. Sighing, she closed her eyes as the rest of the Healers stood with her; waiting, supporting, her somewhat tall and supple form near motionless in the cooling breezes. After several moments she opened her intense hazel/green eyes with resolve and readiness. And as she walked within the Cavern, the others would await her for when she would return. What had she actually anticipated from this Initiation of Initiations? Did she expect pain, terror; did she think every ounce of herself, her personality might burn away? She wandered deep within the darkness, carefully, slowly as she could see less and less. It had been a full moon in the night and for a while the brightness had allowed her to move gracefully away from the sight of the others.

How long should she wander, when would she really know, she thought as she began to stumble a little, fearing her clothes might catch and rip or that she could well hurt herself if she was not quite careful. Suddenly something filled her and caught her breath in midstream. A great swell of light filled the Cavern like icy fire as she realized that she stood in the very midst of It. Emotions passed through her like lightening as she found herself crying and laughing, her spirit pulled in myriad directions at once. Still, instead of finding it frightening, Dori embraced it as wonderful and exhilarating as she watched the flames feed and spiral ever upwards in brilliant colors. Her very spirit seemed to be being altered as the flames continued to feed. As if somehow, she were being rearranged into some fantastic shard of crystal; strong, healthy, able to magnify and intensify by her will alone. Her experience became so beautiful, that she didn't know if she really wanted to leave it.

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