Twelve years ago ashes and snow blew out toward the farthest shores

  And then, as the goddess of Fate would have it, a blessing, as told about in folktales,

  was placed on a young and fearful girl.

  "I don't want to!" the young girl screamed, tears running down her face.

  The older man holding her hand crouched down quickly, shushing her as best as possible. He glanced around at the various onlookers and dragged her into his arms. "Ayanna, sweetie please," he took a deep breath, petting the top of her head to try and calm her. "Listen, I know you're scared, but you need to trust me, our home isn't safe anymore."

  The freezing winds whistled past them both. The heavy clothes, fur cloaks, and scarves that almost everyone waiting to board wore kept them, at least for now, a little bit warm.

  She sobbed harder as he lifted her up so they could keep pace with the moving line "I need you to be strong for your sisters, alright?"

  Ayanna opened her eyes looking around to see if she could spot her sisters. A few lines away in the crowd getting ready to board a different ship were Ayanna's grandparents, both carrying the two younger girls. "Alright," she whispered. Her hands were up by her face, catching all her little tears, and she mumbled into his shoulder, “Want Mama.”

  “I know you do, sweetie,” he rocked them both side to side “You’ll see her again, I promise”

  Shrieks erupted from the crowd, and yells to board quickly were ordered by the people loading the ships. Ayanna's tail wrapped around herself as she covered her ears, and large booms in the distance shook the ground beneath them, making the freezing water splash up on the dock.

  Cold air whipped through the mass of people and the smell of smoke got stronger, Ayanna looked at the adults around her, but they seemed just as scared. She squeezed her eyes shut, pressing down on her ears even harder to drown out the noise.

  She peeked her one eye open and she was sitting in a field of bright orange and pink flowers. The blanket beneath her was soft and her skin felt warm, where was she? What was she doing here?

  Laughter made her ears perk up, in the field there was a woman twirling around in circles “Ayanna, come on! Give that pretty head of yours a rest for a bit”

  A soft breeze carried the smell of something sweet through the air, and Ayanna stood looking down at the long blue dress that swayed with the wind. She twirled around with a laugh, feeling light on her feet.

  She looked up towards the suns, the spirits in the sky danced with her, and the woman in the field called out again “It's been a long time since I had friends like this. We should do this more often” taking Ayanna’s ring-clad hand in hers. Pulling her farther into the field.

  Ayanna felt like she needed to say something important but before she could cracks in the sky began to form. The wind picked up and the petals from the flowers started to float into the air. a manta ray spirit blocked out both the suns as it crossed and pieces of the glass sky began to pelt down, becoming sharp and jagged.

  “Let's put your hood up, your cheeks are turning purple.” Her dad said, pulling the cloak around her tighter. She blinked rapidly. “You awake, little fairy?”

  She giggled at the name and reached her hands out to touch his face, the ship rocked slowly, and the snow was still coming down. He took her hands giving them a small squeeze before kissing her forehead. “I think you need to get some sleep,” he said softly. “You've been up all day and have been crying a lot, so you need lots of rest if we wanna have a good day tomorrow” his voice was quiet in comparison to the noise of all the other people on the deck.

  Ayanna nodded a bit, feeling the weight of her eyes already. He pulled her close, wrapping his cloak around them both so she would stay warm. A night outside on a ship in this weather was nothing if not cold.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Sickness plagued the endless journey, and the smell of rotting food got stronger with each passing day. Storms came and went, but the prayers stayed consistent “May we make it to Nuru without death. We beg of you to protect us and all others at sea who we have left in the hope of safety on this voyage”

  The harsh snow did not let up during their passage till they reached the outer lands of the west, the boat creaked with each angry sway of the ocean. The sound of coughing drowned it out on foggy mornings, keeping Ayanna from falling back asleep most days.

  As things got brighter it felt like the people were suffocating due to the hot air. Slowly more and more people threw their extra clothing over the edge, and a deep purple-like rash spread through the ship within days. Ayanna's father contracted it quickly, while Ayanna was left on the deck by herself, made to stay away.

  A medic from the mainland did his best to treat everyone, but there wasn't anything he could do to stop the rapid decay of some of the elderly. Ayanna's father got better, but others did not. The ship didn't stop, though. Four more months would pass with no signs to prove they were getting closer.

  The boat was docked in the quay after what felt like eons on the small crowded ship. The second her feet hit the ground, Ayanna took off running across the peirage towards the large city connected to it. The streets were full, merchant stalls and shops busy and bustling. With the smell of campfires and sugar wafting through the air, Ayanna was enchanted by it all.

  She stared at the colorful flowers that spilled across the roofs of the white concrete houses and brightly painted signs that hung off them as she walked. Ayanna bumped into a large man, who looked scary, but he helped her up with a smile and she watched him walk away confused for a moment.

  He didn't raise his voice when speaking like the people back home, and he touched her head as well. She reached up to mimic his action, patting the top of her head, her ears flopping down weirdly as she did. The feeling made her giggle.

  “Ayanna!” Her father said, not far behind her “Don't run off like that, you know better,” He scolded.

  She looked at him before looking at her surroundings, her eyes glimmering as she spotted a sign with a jumping rabbit on it. She rushed forward, no care for the words escaping her father's lips as she slid through the propped-open door of the building.

  A lady wearing a short, light-looking, lavender dress adorned with shiny pearls and long braids was wiping down a glass prism. “What are you doing, little one?” She asked without looking up.

  Ayanna blinked, looking down at herself, and then back at the lady “What are you doing?” Ayanna asked her, not answering the question. The room was bright with yellow and pink crystals hanging from the ceiling, catching and scattering the light from all the windows.

  “I'm working,” she said amused, a small laugh leaving her at the girl's wide eyes. The gorgeous lady crouched down to her height before continuing “I'm an oracle.” She reached out to grab Ayanna's hand.

  The room around them shifted and it was now raining outside, and the little shop was all organized “Rhea, where do you want me to put this?” Ayanna said then looked down at the prism in her hand, what just happened? It glimmered as she shifted it, spirits floating around her hands, small koi and guppies. A magenta fog swirled up her arm with small twinkles that looked like stars. The lady from before, who must have been Rhea, spoke up from behind her “On the top shelf so no-'' a knock at the door cut her off. “We're open,” Rhea answered, as she walked past Ayanna to get it.

  Before the door could open, Ayanna was back in her previous spot, confused as the woman looked at her with wide eyes.

  The bell jingled making them both look at the door, Ayanna's father pointed a disappointed look at her as he came in. “I'm so sorry, she's normally not like this.” He said feigning a smile.

  Ayanna got away from the lady and ran to her father who scooped her up as soon as she was within reach, “I think your child may have a blessing” Rhea said arms wrapping around her lower torso protectively.

  “Pardon?”

  The lady sighed “I'm an Oracle and I think this child may be one too. You should take her to the temple, The Goddess of Fate only gives blessings once in a great while,” she walked behind her counter getting something.

  Ayanna's father looked down at the young girl with a bit of shock. “I want to believe you, but I'm certain there's been a misunderstanding.”

  Rhea shook her head “I know what I saw,” she seemed almost angry as she pushed some herbs into his arms, “her blessing is powerful. She needs to learn how to use it.”