- Chapter 6 -
A New Dawn
©1999 Kilnamar
The bright light of a cloudless morning sky shone through tangled branches, sparkling and dancing on the scattered
pools of water below. In the distance was the soft hum and buzz of life.
Killy awoke, swimming slowly from his deep slumber. For a moment he lay peacefully, staring at the pattern of
visible blue above. Stretching, he rolled to his side and prepared to rise. His eyes met the large hoary tree from his
dream and he instantly jumped to his feet, looking around wildly. It had been a dream, hadn't it?
He started to call out to his friends, and realized that he was alone. It was as if they had never been here. With his
mind whirling in confusion, Killy began a quick search of the surrounding area. No traces. No sounds. Nothing.
Bewildered, the young Toad sank to the ground, thinking. It had to have something to do with the dream. He
remembered his companions being gone in his dream. "What is happening?" he whispered to himself.
"The answer to that should be clear, Killy," came a soft, high-pitched voice from behind him.
Startled, Killy whirled and stood, reaching for his sword hilt. Nothing there.
"Down here, silly Killy," the voice giggled.
Killy looked down and beheld a tiny, beautiful...what WAS she?
"I'm a Wood Sprite, of course" she said, as if reading his mind. "You may call me Lldy." The Sprite stood, fists on
hips, looking Killy up and down, calculating. "Tsk tsk. The things the Elders give me to work with," she muttered
under her breath.
"Ummm...Miss...ummm...Lldy..." Killy stammered, at a loss for words.
The Sprite giggled again and nimbly leapt up on a nearby tree stump. "Sit. We have a lot to talk about, my young
Toad friend. The Hamadryad could not tell you all you must know, and our time is short."
Killy listened as the magical creature expounded on the tasks they desired of him, clarifying the Dryad's words and
adding her own. Through the morning and into the afternoon they talked, and as night approached, finally there was
silence.
Killy sat, breathless, steeling himself for what he must do. The Land needed him, but would he and the others they
had chosen be enough? Together, the frightened Toad and the wise Sprite began their journey.