The Cave of Ku - a Novel
Part ONE: GONE
Chapter 1: The Forbidden Forest
Great drafts of air filled my lungs as I paused on the grassy mound. The morning mist clung to my face and hair, soaking my skin beneath the coolness of the trees. I felt the forest’s own breath exhale slowly in the depth of its waking. Wiping my brow, I continued my journey toward the ancient grove. It pulled me towards it. The power undeniable, beckoning my presence as it had done for so many years. From the forest, I pulled its force towards me and borrowed its strength to increase my speed. It charged me and I felt my feet lift, my body, lighten, and I moved with ease and precision as I navigated the path before me. The leaves on the trees became a blur as my speed increased. My feet skimmed the ground.
The window that lie open between night and day was closing with each fleeting moment. Time pushed me.
Ahead, through the clearing was a shortcut. I broke off the path, and raced towards it. Snagged in the clutches of a briar bush, the hem of my robe tore as I yanked it free.
Birds scattered. The fog parted. The way was clear.
How was it, that I could touch and feel the elements of earth, the rush of the wind, the dampness of the ground, but the humans could not see me? The animals in the forest could feel my presence, and they too were my friends. But to my people, I was gone. To them, I had moved on to the great Spirit. This existence in The World of In-Between is a lonely place.
I gazed above to bless the stars as they moved with me. The mist clung to my face, cooling my flushed cheeks. There was a silence in the darkness, as the full moon cast shadows on the woods. The Forbidden Forest lie sleeping.
I wrapped myself in its stillness. I am part of it. A hallow screech pierced the night through an empty canopy of trees. There hid a presence. Something lurking in the shadows. I froze, as a bead of sweat dripped from my forehead onto my nose and to the ground. I watched it drop slowly. Then the drop glowed. It hit the ground and sank into the soil sparkling in the dirt.
The sky shifted as a brilliance appeared. This was a night unlike any other. The stars hung like lanterns with halos of color surrounding their brilliance. My heart raced in my chest as the energy of the rare full moon in equinox cast a spell of its own. Blues, greens, and shades of purple, danced through the sky like magic whirlers.
Amongst the wooded land, the night creatures sensed the awakening of a mysterious energy in the air. A static force. They felt it under their fur and in their spine, as did I. The birds felt it in their feathers sending an abrupt urgence to cling to the sky and take flight. A burst of ravens broke through the canopy of trees to the west. The Forbidden Forest was waking.
In the days long ago, the forest was not always forbidden. The dense rich forest got its name from the Wowalla tribe. It became known as The Forbidden Forest, upon the day that the young girl, Anapo, disappeared. Anapo was revered and loved by many. She was also known as The Seer of Life and The Keeper of Bees. I knew her well. Anapo could talk with the bees. She could also travel with them, and was fluent in their knowledge of time. She knew how to harness the medicine of honey. Upon her disappearance, Anapo’s rare magic was lost with her, which created a great void, disrupting the balance of earth.
The devolution of the Wowalla Tribe, Anapo’s tribe, is the source of my quest. The lost enchantments once bestowed upon the Wowalla, crippled our tribe’s abilities to thrive as it once did. So, year after year, I have pursued my search for Anapo. To restore what was lost.
My search began 60 winters ago, on the day that Anapo went missing while with a young boy named Kola. They were sent to find a very special swarm of bees that had fled their village. She had tracked the bees to the forest, now known as The Forbidden Forest.
The bees they tracked were ancient. Their ancestors had lived for hundreds of generations and were known as The Chun Hive. They were led by the renowned Queen Bee Pipa. During their tracking of the hive, that day long ago, Anapo was lost, never to be seen again. They never found her body, however, her friend Kola was found by his tribe, alone and confused. All his memories of the day that Anapo disappeared were gone.
Quite the opposite, I recall every moment of that day; the loss, the fear, and the confusion created when Anapo vanished.
I became lost in thought. My mind spiraled. Memories came flooding back from that day in time; memories of Anapo and Kola. I ran faster.
As my mind drifted, a piercing howl echoed through the sky, wakening my senses. My memories fled.
Alerted by the warning I sensed it. Danger approached. My ears rang, the pitch growing louder, sounding alarms throughout my body. The darkness shifted and the silence of the forest was broken by another sound. Through the corner of my eye, a movement through the brush fled. A shadow.
Like a ghost, I moved on through the trees, stirring leaves and tiny twigs. I felt as if I was part of the wind, moving through the Forbidden Forest till I reached the stones.
The Sacred Moon Stones stood before me; four large standing stones forming a square. Brushing my hands across the smooth surface of the first stone, I entered the space and stood precisely in the center. The light from the moon shifted through the moving branches of the trees, as if they waved and welcomed me towards them. My heart pounded. Hand on my chest, I slowed my breath and my pulse steadied. I felt an energy approach. An energy different than before. An energy not of danger but of safety. It was the forest itself, here to protect me. Here, we connected as I allowed my legs to take root, finding grounded support. I drew in cool drafts of air filled with the flowing scent of lilac that tingled in my nose. Holding my breath, I felt the air mingle with my blood, elevating my senses that started at the tips of my fingers and toes and circulated through my entire body. The base of my spine warmed and I felt the sensation climb up my back towards my neck to the top of my head and then back down again. Exhaling, I could see my breath exit my body in a fine mist, spinning, twisting, and disappearing, as it rose up into the sky merging with the swirling clouds that churned and swelled above my head.
In my connected state, I welcomed peace upon the beings of the forest as I lifted my arms and held them out wide. In their unspoken response, the limbs of the trees swayed, brushing the air through their leaves. They acknowledged me, favoring my presence, they welcomed my spirit. A promise to keep me safe.
When I looked down, I saw the earth release its own mist. It clung to my feet. The hazy air smelled of flowers and sage, and it wrapped my numb body in warmth, welcoming me as one. The soft mist then rippled out from beneath my toes, glowing across the mossy beds as it traveled through the roots of the trees. It rose from the ground, covering my feet, ankles, knees and legs, until it completely surrounded me in tiny particles of light, announcing its joy in my presence. Time stood still.
The Forbidden Forest had completely awakened. Life shifted. The darkness lay in wait for the sun to make its presence known. The forest and I were one. I was ready. Protected. Prepared for what lie ahead.
Chapter 2: The Quest
I stood in the heart of The Forbidden Forest. Its gentle pulse felt like a large beating drum. As part of the forest, I could feel its steady pace through the souls of my feet.
As I bent down, I glanced towards the small still pond of water within the stone circle and approached it. I lowered and rested on bended knee while peering down into the water. I could see my reflection. My vision was amplified by the power of the forest. The sight captured upon its surface caught me off guard. My gold eyes peered back at me, glowing like sparks of light. The water lay placid; so still that I could see small fine wrinkles on my tan weathered face. My hair glittered with light from the moon above, like fine spider silk after a rain. Spirits of elders surrounded me. I was not alone.
I still could not get used to my own reflection. I have lived past 100 winters yet I look no more than 30. Timeless, and my body just as strong.
Over the span of time in The World of In-Between, there have been those who have somehow caught sight of me. Tales have been told and they have named me Sorcerous of the Sky, or White Witch of the Trees. I am known by many only as legend, but my true identity is hidden. I am Elder Talon. There are few who know my truth, Kola being one of them. Kola, the boy who is now a man. Kola, Anapo’s friend. The one who returned from the search for The Chun Hive. Kola knows me because we are kindred spirits, connected through the cord of life. The cord was created by The Old Cedar Tree, that day long ago when Anapo was lost. There is more to be revealed.
For now, I touched the cool water and brought it to my parched lips. I dried my hands on my torn white robe and tightened the light blue sash which carried a scarlet red satchel. It was a gift. Hand stitched with the protection of silver thread and given to me when I was a young girl by my close friend, Elder Clear Wing. The memory of her made me smile. Her light and love ever present.
The magnificent forest surrounded me as I drew my fingers together and intertwined them. Holding them close to my heart I shut my eyes. Still standing amongst the Moon Stones, I bowed low to the Earth in gratitude and then opened my eyes and looked up to the Moon. Why hadn’t I thought of this before? Perhaps this time, the Moon could help me. Together, the Moon and The Forbidden Forest may be the answer. Their energies, tricky, and the Moon so very strong could cause a shift. This was the Autumn Equinox. All words would be heard on this day. All words would manifest if spoken from a true heart.
I spoke out loud with conviction, “Oh Great Mother Moon, please aid me in my quest. Help me find Anapo. The winters have come and gone and still I have not found the way. I call out to you. My heart is open and my intentions are true. Please send me your blessings and assistance.”
The Moon glowed as marching clouds passed over its silhouette. The wind shifted. The clouds did too, dancing around the Moon, causing the light to ebb and dim. The remnants of my words stirred in the twisting breeze.
As I stood and lifted my right foot, a force catapulted me forward into a sprint. A warm gush of air caught my gown, filling it like the sail of a ship. I was flying.
I pushed forward past the standing stones and ran. Faster and faster, I moved, nimble and quick as I leapt with long strides like a young girl. Youth is my disguise. Youth hides my truth, for I am old. My age kept secret like a buried treasure. Hidden to protect me from the shadows that lurk; protecting me from The Others. The dark ones. Secretly veiled in waiting. They must not find me here, especially in The Forbidden Forest, for if they do, all will be lost. Only disaster follows in the wake of The Others. They are danger in its purest form. But I will not fear them.
I am Elder Talon, once a great medicine woman to the Wowalla Tribe. I served them in the years before Anapo’s disappearance. In my present form, I can still practice as a healer. However now, life is different and I can only protect my people from a distance. I am unable to go back to the Wowalla in physical form that they can recognize. Also unable to live amongst them. I am trapped in this space, as an exchange for saving the life of the young boy known as Kola.
To save my people, my task has been quite complex. I must find a way to break out of this space, of The World of In-Between, and find my way to another place called The Other Side. I sense that it is there that I will find Anapo and restore her magic to This Side. The Other Side exists far away from Anapos beloved Wowalla. In my world of The In-Between I can see both worlds that existed in parallel. I must find a key to enter both. I must find Anapo. Anapo is the key!
I sensed that the danger present earlier had faded. Continuing through the forest I came upon a river bed. A fallen tree provided passage across the narrow river. Balancing with as much grace as I could muster, I slid one foot in front of the other while holding my arms out to my side, extending their reach with sureness. As I neared the end of the log, I leapt and landed softly on the sandy bank. A sentimental grin spread across my face and I felt gratitude for the agility bestowed upon me, yet melancholy for the sacrifice made long ago.
Once again, a brief memory popped into my head interrupting my journey as I trekked through the wood. It flashed through my mind. I could viscerally recall how it felt to have an old and aging body. The aches, the pains, the softness of my muscles. The dimness of my sight and the loss of keen hearing. Back in time, old age made me slow and cautious. That is, until the day that changed me. The day that I received a gift from The Old Cedar Tree. The tree gave me new life in exchange for the life I gave to the young boy Kola, whom I found barely breathing, motionless at the roots of the tree. The Old Cedar Tree had joined its spirit to mine, as I gave my life energy to Kola. It bestowed its gift of resilience and longevity. But, the transformation had also taken something from me. It took the ability to wholly remain in my world. It cast me into this invisible space. The World of In-Between. I often wonder, how long will I remain here; unseen, unheard, untouched?
An owl hooted from a hollow hemlock tree, it woke me from thoughts, shaking away memories. I looked up. The color in the sky changed. No longer black, but that of dark blue ink, like a deep clear sapphire. Time was racing. “My humble thanks old owl,” I said as I bowed to the large winged creature. “I was lost in thought just then, was I not?”
I gave the old owl a quick nod with a grin and prepared to move on.
Before I set off, the branch above my head, cracked. Leaves fell to the ground followed by a whimper that broke the silence in the air. A disturbance scrambled through the canopy of the trees. Something fell from the branches and crashed to the ground dragging leaves and broken twigs along the way. A creature bounced and flipped, quickly tumbling past my feet, and awkwardly rolled down the rocky riverbank into the water. It quickly disappeared below the surface.
Cautiously, I watched and stood squarely facing the water, prepared to capture the creature with an incantation. Once the thing rose up for air I would paralyze its energy. The creature broke through the surface. It squiggled and squirmed, splashing towards the dry land as fast as a water bug, scooting across the river. I did not wait for the creature to recover. After all, it may have been sent by The Others. I could not risk being followed. Without hesitation, I jumped aside and held the palms of my hands towards the dark creature.
It wiggled and slid, grabbing a tree root at the river’s edge and scrambled up the sandy bank.
I drew in a long deep breath and began to chant in a low precise voice, “Father Sky and Mother Earth, I call upon you …..”
“OH!!!” the wet muddy creature cried. “NO, NO, NO! Please! STOP, STOP, STOP!”
The high pitched voice held me from releasing the force I was about to lose on the creature. “It’s me. Look see?”
The small ball of fur shook the water off its body and opened its wings, flapping them several times to dry them off. The creature was no bigger than a rabbit and grey like one too, once rid of the mud and water. It had the agile body of a squirrel, except for the fact that it had no tail, but rather a stump on its rear end. On its back were a pair of transparent wings, extended and fluttering. They were similar, yet much larger, to those of a bee. The creature flapped its wings repeatedly casting drops of water into the air. Once done, it retracted its wings and hid them beneath its furry coat. Its head was larger than a squirrel’s; shaped more like that of raccoon, without the mask. Its ears were half as long as a rabbit’s ears, and wider, giving it the ability to hear things from far away. It had webbed paws that were almost like fingers. Wide flat feet allowed it to balance and to stand on its hind legs. The creature also had very large eyes with long, fluttery lashes. It had eyes the color of silver which I knew, gave it the keen ability to see in the dark.
As the creature smiled up at me, a deep hollow sound broke through the trees. Then a loud screech bellowed through the shady wood, sending chills up my spine. The small creature twisted its head all the way around so that it could look behind, without moving its body. Another screech followed, this time louder than before. The cry made the little creature jump high in the air, landing closer to me where it scrambled under a nearby bush and shook. Its big round eyes, peeked through the protection of the shrub.
“Sota?” I whispered, squinting my eyes to focus on the wee thing. The dark sky offered little light. “Sota. Is that you?”
I lowered my hands and bent down to the ground to get a closer look. “What are you doing here? You should be back at the village, watching over the Wowalla tribe in my absence. Isn’t that where I left you?”
Sota tilted its head and spoke so fast that I could hardly understand a word it said;
“Please don’t have anger. Not mad at me. I have been sent. Dismissed by a bee. ”
Sota crawled out from under the bush and stood before me shivering. Partly because it was cold, but I think also because its nerves were frayed.
Bending low, I faced the furry creature. “Who sent you? I left you to keep watch? The tribe is unprotected now!”
I stood and shook my hands to clear the energy that was tingling through my palms, then touched the pendant that hung from my neck. The pendant was cool and still. We were safe. The screech we heard was long gone according to my crystal.
Sota responded in its high voice, “Queen Pipa sent me. Her messenger did. He told me I must! Must do as she bid. The queen she now lives, and so does her hive. Queen Pipa sent me, from ancient Chun Hive.
Sota stopped shaking, feeling more secure in its space and scratched its ear with its rear left foot, before slowly walking closer.
“How can that be Sota? We have not seen Queen Pipa and the Chun Hive since Anapo disappeared?” I said.
“Gone yes they were, now some have come back. The Moon heard your call, and opened a crack. Few Chun Bees are here. Returned to us through, your call to the Moon. The path is now true.”
“Sota,” I slowly said, “Are you are you telling me that Queen Pipa of the Chun Hive is alive and they are here to help? The Moon heard my call? If so, there is hope. It just may be possible that we will find Anapo this time. This is amazing news. What else can you tell me?”
Sota, sat down, like a dog and looked up at the sky. “It’s time for a shift. The way now is clear. The pathway lies open, this sixtieth year.”
“Now? Now is the time?” I said. Excitement within my heart rose. “Sixty winters have come and gone since Anapo left us. And where is the Chun Hive, where have they been?”
“Taken away, or so they have said, to a part of the world, where we cannot tread. The Queen now lives there, with her Chun Hive as well. Stuck on that side, by a magical spell. The Moon found a way, through the planets and stars, to let some pass through, it’s not very far. They’ll help us they said, to get to their side. They’ve brought me this gift, that changes the tide.”
“A gift that changes the tide? You mean something that will help us find Anapo and the bees?” I bent down, so I could be face to face gain with Sota.
“Quickly Sota,” I whispered. “Time is passing. Tell me, what must we do? The Sun will soon rise. I am on my way to the Old Cedar Tree. We must be there when the magic is heavy. I think this time it might work.”
Sota, giggled in response, “This magic they gave me, will work with my wings. I’ll see through the veil, all new kinds of things. It gives me the sight, between both of our worlds. And through that we’ll find, our way to the girl.”
“The girl! You mean Anapo? She must be old now, like Kola. No longer a young girl but an old woman. We must find her,” I said, filled with joy. But then, I contemplated our situation of safety. “One last thing Sota. Who is watching over the tribe while you are gone?While you are here with me? You and I cannot both be gone away from the Wowalla. Someone must be there with them. The Others will sense our absence. Oh my. The Others, they could even be there right now. The Wowalla could be in danger, even as we speak.”
Sota replied, as it danced hopping on each foot side to side, anxious to move on.
“Queen Pipa made sure, they’d all stay secure. She’s asked the right man, to protect and ensure. Now Kola stands guard, she gave him a charm. Exposes The Others, and sounds the alarm. The Queen also gave him, the gift to foresee. To dream and connect with the world of the bees.”
“Oh my. That is amazing. I wonder how long it took Queen Pipa to create magic as strong as that. And a as for Kola, well Queen Pipa has chosen wisely. That is good. Kola is a strong and kind warrior. He is wise. Also, he is ready. Ready more now than he’s ever been before, now that Queen Pipa has sent him help.”
The air began to hum. A low sound rippled through the earth. “Do you feel that?” I said. I could feel the ground rumble. “The magic is rising. It is heavier than ever before. We must go quickly. Now Sota. Off to The Old Cedar Tree we go.”