Chapter 1: Long Shadows, Longer Night 2 of 2

The evening meal was subdued, Elara had gone straight to bed and the tension from the failed search hung over the house like a storm cloud. Granny Ersa bustled about, Bolrick tended the fire, and Rylan played with little wood figures. Ari had played with those same toys with Zorren not so many years ago. The fire’s warm glow made shadows dance across the wooden walls. How faint and friendly they seemed compared to those outside. It had been easy to find a guardian for their house tonight. She wondered if it was one of the same ones she asked in the past. They had no names, and their voices would change as they talked. But it had passed the tests, and now no whispers could be heard at the windows or doors. Even the porch was silent with no sounds beyond the breeze and creaking of the trees.

“I’m done,” Ari said as granny put the last dishes on the table. Rylan bounced into his seat and they each prayed to a different god. Ari chose the god of light summer rains. She hadn’t been praying to that one very much lately and didn’t want it to feel left out. Especially with Faren missing, someone had to remember the minor deities.

Rylan poked at his stew, his usual chatter replaced by an uncharacteristic quiet. Her own appetite was fleeting. Ari dipped her head and looked through the fireplace at Elara in their room resting, her breathing shallow.

Granny’s voice broke the silence. “Eat up, all of you. Worry doesn’t fill bellies.”

Rylan perked up, “I’ll eat extra for everyone!” he announced, scooping a too-big spoonful into his mouth.

Ari managed a smile but felt a pang of guilt. If she had been on the search, maybe things would have gone differently. Elara could have watched Rylan just as well as she could.

“You’re not helping anyone by thinking like that,” Granny Ersa said gently, as if reading her thoughts. “We all have our work to do. Elara did a good job today. If she hadn’t been with them, who knows what would have happened. Faren is a clever old loon, you can be sure he will turn back up. I am just thankful we are all back together.”

“Of course, grandmother,” Ari said. “Speaking of jobs, my hand is really much better, Rylan and I ought to go help with the lofar tomorrow even if its a half day.” “That sounds wonderful. How are they doing with the harvest? I’ll bake some extra bread tomorrow and send along some stew. That should save them some time with lunch.”

Bolrick laughed, “Oh you know Perdita, if it wasn’t for the mountains and the forest, she would be bored out of her mind. But they have gone with a smaller harvest this year, so they will need a lot more help next. Zorren and Bert have finished the wetwork already, and Kaelan his mother have started drying skins and meats. I actually need to deliver the last batch of stretch frames so they can finish. They should have a week or so to tend the skins and clean up before they get busy with the furs.” “That’s fast for as much as it has rained. So they got enough salt after all?” Granny asked.

“Yep, the trader was only willing to make the route if they hired a moonfallen to travel with him.” Bolrick smiled at Ari. “Having one in the family is quite a blessing, and we are twice blessed.”

***

That night, sleep eluded her. The house was quiet, save for the rhythmic crackling of the fire and Rylan’s soft snores. Elara stirred a few times and eventually got up and tended the fire. As Ari dimly watched her sister’s outline, her worry lessened and, finally, exhaustion pulled her under, and dreams took hold.

She was in the Sussur Forest. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and damp rotting earth. Shadows shifted around her, their movements almost playful at first. But as she ventured deeper, the whispers grew darker, more insistent.

“Ari,” they called, her name twisting in myriad unfamiliar voices.

She turned, searching for the source, but the shadows closed in, swirling and writhing like living smoke. She called for a guardian, but nothing came. A chill ran down her spine as a distorted shape emerged from the darkness—its form a flickering mass of limbs with two glowing eyes.

It lunged, and she stumbled back, her breath hitching.

“Help me!” she cried, her voice trembling.

Another shadowed form appeared. This one was different, its form more defined, almost humanoid. A guardian.

It stood between her and the other spirit, its movements deliberate and protective. The hostile shadow tried to lunge past, but the guardian spread its arms ready to intercept. The other spirit narrowed its glowing eyes and made larger circles around them before it disappeared into the trees.

The guardian turned to her, its voice a low rumble, “You do not belong here.”

Before she could respond, the dream dissolved, and she awoke with a start.

***

Morning light streamed through the window, pale and cold. Ari sat up, her heart still racing. The dream had felt so real.

“Bad dreams?” Granny Ersa asked, setting a steaming cup of tea on the small table by the cot.

Ari nodded, her throat dry. She could hear Rylan’s boisterous voice from outside and was surprised she slept so long.

“Dreams are funny things,” Granny said, her tone casual, but her eyes sharp. “Sometimes they’re just dreams. Other times, they’re something more.”

Ari hesitated. “Have you ever… seen a guardian spirit?”

Granny didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she sipped her tea, her expression thoughtful. “They were different then, she said finally. “We didn’t call them guardians. I think what you kids call guardians are the avatars of the gods that lent us their powers. Only the strongest avatars ever showed themselves. Mine appeared as a chipmunk. Rime was the god of restraint before winter. Through your pendant, I could draw on its patience, foresight, and intuition. Not as showy as shooting fire from my fingers, but those powers kept your mother and grandfather alive some years and saved us a lot of money!” Granny Ersa laughed, “No one knows for sure what happened to those avatars, but if my Rime is out there at all, he would help you. No doubt about it.”

“But do the gods still exist?”

“They are gods, they must.”

Granny’s gaze was steady. “The shadows in the forest are not so different from people. Few are kind and fewer still will protect you. If you truly meet a guardian, you’d best listen to it.”

***

The whispers of the forest didn’t fade with the morning light. If anything, they seemed louder to Ari. She tried to call out to another guardian, but only heard the incessant buzz of overlapping voices from the forest. So she kept her focus on her chores, watching Rylan, helping Bolrick stack firewood, and fetching water from the well, but her mind kept drifting back to the dream. Bolrick was taking the cart into town to deliver the last stretch frames to the Calverts, so Ari and Rylan loaded Granny’s stew and bread onto the back and helped push. Ari spotted a fairly straight stick slid between the frames- no doubt Rylan’s “sword.” Elara had gone ahead to meet with Garen to convince him to try searching again. She was filled with determination today. Faren was a strange old man, but he had always been kind to the moonfallen, especially her and Elara. Ari felt guilty for not being there for the Calverts and for not helping with the search party. I’ll help Perdita today, and if they are doing well, I can lead the search party tomorrow. Every day Faren didn’t turn up made it all the more certain the forest had “claimed” him. Before going to Calverts, she would find Elara and help her convince Garen to look for his father on the morrow. Besides, Bolrick would need someone to help him push the cart back and she and Rylan wouldn’t head home till dusk.

It was still before midday, but the town square was abuzz with activity. The search for Faren was the main topic of conversation, and tensions were high. Garen was refusing to organize another expedition, despite a handful of volunteers.

“I can’t treat him special just because he is my father.” Garen repeated. “Especially if there really was something out there yesterday.”

“There was,” Elana argued back, “But I have already been to the forest’s edge today, and it’s gone.”

“We can’t just leave him,” another villager argued.

Ari stayed on the fringes of the crowd, listening. Elara pale but determined, did not falter.

“Tomorrow.” Ari called. “We will both go.”

“It’s already too late.” Garen turned toward her. “I can’t- in good conscience, send anyone back into the forest- especially after yesterday. Faren knew the risks. He could have gone north and set his traps in the mountains like a normal person. But instead, he spends his time in the forest- with no moonfallen, probably hoping to find a big piece of moonstone and make it rich- a risk he expects us to compensate for.”

He isnt like that, Ari thought. She wasn’t sure why Faren spent so much time in the forest, but he was generous and kind- not an opportunist. Remembering her conversation with Granny and her fondness for her avatar Rime, cast Faren’s obsession with the Sussur Forest in a new light. If anything, he missed his avatar more than anyone. Could he have been looking for it? Ari kept those thoughts to herself. If Garen thought his father trying to get rich from finding a large moonstone was unacceptable, she didn’t want to know what he would do if he thought Faren was looking for his old magic companion.

Elara seized the opportunity. “With two moonfallen, we wont have any issues. In fact, we normally send a group in with two moonfallen this time of year for the winter backlog. We can search for Faren while we pick out a good dead standing tree

Relief mingled with guilt. She could have taken Elara’s place today. But she wasn’t ready to face the forest, not after the dream.

That evening, Ari found herself at the edge of the village, staring into the darkness beyond the light of the torches that was the Sussur Forest. The shadows seemed to shift and pulse, their whispers just loud enough to make her shiver.

She clutched her moonstone pendant, the cool surface grounding her.

“Ari.”

She turned to see Elara approaching, her steps slow but steady.

“You’ve been quiet today,” Elara said, her voice soft.

“Just thinking,” Ari replied.

Elara nodded, her expression knowing. “The forest has a way of getting under your skin. Don’t let it.” “We will find Faren tomorrow.” Ari said.

“We will.” Elara answered, gently taking Ari’s bruised hand.

For a moment, Ari could just barely see beyond the darkness and down the mossy slope to the trees, as if some faraway light was shining. There was motion on the slope far closer than the tree line. The twisting figure from her dreams was reaching toward them, but shrank suddenly in the dim light. In that moment of hesitation, a ball of shadow exploded into it’s back. Ari turned to pull Elara back towards the house, but her half-sister was frozen to the spot. Not looking at the forest below, but at the sky above where hundreds of streaking lights filled the sky. Elara buckled, convulsing uncontrollably. Ari fought through the pain and gripped her sister’s hand tighter, managing to get a shoulder under Elara’s arm.

“Guga give me strength, Ari whispered as she turned her back to the Forrest and began to struggle back towards the house. She had to let everyone inside know. “Help! Moonfall!”