Chapter 5 February, 13,

Chapter 5 –


Later that evening the others awoke to find Graven barely conscious on the ground. Removing the darts from each other's backs the four immediately turn to help him.

"By the heavens, Graven..Graven are you ok? What happened? Said Gaia rushing to his side and stemming the stream of his free flowing blue-violet ether. Her voice was melodic and telling of her natural grace.

"I'm..I'm alright. It's just a minor wound."

Veyn was the next to speak in a very soft-spoken manner, "Graven surely you will be ok, you are too strong to perish."

"What...what are these Graven?" Spoke Syrka in a raspy voice, seemingly distracted by the 4 darts on the ground.

"I...I'm not sure. Some kind of weapon."


"Everyone just be quiet, give him some space. Let him breathe," spoke Adahn. Everyone backed up except Gaia who cradled his head in her arms, still pressuring the wound. "Syrka go get some leaves, Veyn get some water in a bowl from the lake. Who did this Graven? Have they left? Is it safe?"

"The threat is gone but she will be back. I must be better prepared against lowering my guard in the future. I have something she wants."

Gaia inquired, "She?"

"Yes, a woman. She is different from us however. Her skin is pale and she possesses no Etherial veins. Her talons are gone and she is taller then us by a foot's length with short dark hair, and...she carried weapons of some type I have never seen or even heard about."

"We must get you inside Graven, we must protect you in case she comes back," insisted Adahn.

"I don't think she will be coming back any time soon, but you are right. Let's adjourn to the shelter for the night, but first there is something I must do." Graven takes the eye and grabs it at the four points he held to remove the eye and it begins to burn searing hot. He slams the eye into place and his screams fade into the night.

With that they all helped carry Graven into the home. The next week consisted of nursing him back to health. Now that they could all communicate friendship evolved even more naturally then it had before. Despite the differences in temperament and behavior the five seemed to feed off each other, the next day bringing them closer together then the previous. Over the next few months the group would spend their days improving their home or playing in the lake. Gaia always finding some new artistic endeavor for those interested to participate in. Before long the clearing was a small utopia of scattered projects and flora. Even Graven participated, once he had healed, while improving his art. He created stone sculptures of amazing accuracy and style, and crystalline prisms alit by rune reverberations so they could function at night. The Sphere tree haven was a paradise.

While friendships prospered so too did the relationship between Graven and Gaia. Often they would sneak off just to be alone, exploring isolated parts of the forest together and just enjoying each other's company. They almost always spent the night in each other's arms or went for late night swims in secret, away from the prying eyes of the others. It wasn't long before Gaia began to show the signs of child.

"May I have everyone's attention please. I have an announcement to make." The others gathered around Graven who was now holding hands with Gaia. "It appears we are to have an addition to our small community. Gaia is with child."

They all seemed overjoyed except Syrka who calmly snuck off to be alone. It had become apparent over the months that he was jealous of their union but he never spoke such. Despite the awkwardness of the situation Gaia always managed to cheer him up with some quirky song or clever gift. Syrka's absense did not deter the celebration and that night they ate and drank for the want of it's intoxicating effect upon Etherians, not for need of sustenance. Quietly Gaia snuck off to find Syrka. She found him on the other side of the lake perched upon a large root of the sphere tree.
She moved over to his location and sat below him. Reaching her hand to touch his face she turned him toward her and kissed him gently upon the lips.

"Syrka I realize this has been hard for you, that you care for me and that I have chosen another but do not let this diminish the bond we share as friends. She placed her hand then upon the star hanging from his neck. Us four are the light that shines upon the sphere, the light that finds you in the dark. Never forget that."

With that the weight upon Syrka lifted, if only temperarily. "I will always love you Gaia, the ease of this situation upon me will never lighten though I will care for you, Graven, and the child as part of my own ether and flesh."

"I can ask no more of your heart Syrka."

There they sat hand and hand for many moments before returning to the party where Graven and Gaia celebrated their union, making it official in the eyes of all present.