Sintara shivered with anticipation. Selected from birth for exaltation, her time had finally come to step up and prove her worthiness to serve Stormcatcher. She’d always been an early riser but today saw her up long before dawn with anxious stretching, preening, and centering exercises. Where would the trainers take her? Had she studied the Beastclans well enough to understand her potential enemies? What if she died on the field, or worse, shamed her clan?
Awaiting the trainers on the clan’s broad landing platform seemed like the longest moments of her life. Trying to dismiss her annoyance as unworthy, the young Skydancer looked out over the Shifting Expanse for what might be the last time. Dust devils frolicked across the landscape with the ever-present boom of thunder in the background. High up in the Spire, it seemed she could see the whole world before her.
A friendly voice interrupted her reverie. “You must be the new kid. You ready to go?”
Sintara did her best to change her startled jump into a smooth turn. A Pearlcatcher from Water and an Arcane Nocturne stood before her. She tried to remember which elemental trainers ran in which areas but her mind seemed clouded.
“Relax kid, we’re here to guide you. I’m Rhubarb and this is Solemn. She doesn’t say much, but she knows the Beastclan territories better than anyone. We won’t steer you wrong.” Rhubarb’s sapphire eyes had a kind sparkle. Dressed in bright copper armor that complemented his striped and mottled hide, the Pearlcatcher exuded an easy confidence that helped ease Sintara’s anxiety.
The Nocturne beside him stretched a lazy wing and yawned. Solemn was especially large for her breed, and well-known in the clan for being the Beast-tamer; she supplied most of the clan’s familiars. Blotched dark red and purple, she wore shadowy wing spikes and carried a vicious-looking scimitar, but otherwise her clothing appeared to be more fashionable than protective. A winking light caught Sintara’s eye, and she spied a Gloomwillow Guide hovering just behind the trainer.
“We’re heading into the Ghostlight Ruins, you ready?”
Oh Eleven, Ghostlight?! Sintara had been hoping for the Golem Workshop in order to bring the most glory to the clan. Conveniently it was also the territory that she felt the most comfortable with, as she had quite an aptitude with machinery. Ghostlight though...full of unnerving creatures, traps, and pitfalls. Ugh. Even the dreaded Mire would be better. She swallowed hard and pretended a confidence that she definitely didn’t feel. “Yes, honored trainer. Please lead the way.”
Rhubarb laughed and for a moment Sintara felt ashamed until the Pearlcatcher simply asked to be called by his name. “No need for formality, we’ll be fighting side by side. Let’s get moving then. Much better to be in the Ruins during the daylight hours. They get stronger after the sun sets.”
Solemn abruptly launched into the air, her Gloomwillow glowing brightly, and the other two followed. Sintara quickly realized that the little sprite-like creature was actually serving as a true guide as they followed it. The desert gradually gave way to a dark tangle of thorny trees. The dense thicket forced the party to land and carefully wend their way through. Sintara thought that if it weren’t for the Gloomwillow, they would never have discovered the entrance to the Ruins. Hidden as it was, it took them what seemed like hours of walking in circles to finally arrive.
“Ok kid, here we are,” Rhubarb announced. “I know you’ve gone over this, but just a few reminders before we go in. Firstly, remember that we’re here to protect you. We try to take the brunt of the attacks, but you’re going to get hit and you may even pass out. It’s ok, we can revive you and we won’t let you get seriously injured. Secondly, pay attention to your surroundings. It’s easy to be so focused on the enemy before you that you never see the ones at your back. Thirdly, keep your head. Remember that Shadow realms are all about illusion. Some of these creatures look ethereal but they can be hit and they go down just as hard as any other.”
Solemn hissed, startling Sintara once again.
“Ah, sorry, my partner here also wants to remind you not to get in our way. We want you to assist and learn, but let us do the real fighting. Ready?”
Neither trainer waited for an answer, plunging into the forbidding entrance without a backward glance. Not wanting to be left behind, Sintara took a deep breath and followed.
As the gloom closed around them, the shift in the overall mood of the group was palpable. Rhubarb and Solemn flanked Sintara, sharply alert for potential threats. With the looming thorns and eerily glowing mushrooms casting weird shadows on the crumbling walls, every dark hole seemed monster-shaped, and Sintara could barely contain her anxiety.
A sudden eruption of activity made her shout with fear; only to feel absolutely foolish as she realized it was only a Marbled Jester they’d flushed out of hiding. Rhubarb laid a paw on her shoulder.
“Easy kid, we’ve got you.”
Sintara opened her mouth to say thanks just as the floor opened up underneath her. She froze in stunned horror until Solemn heartily shoved her out of the way. An enormous skeletal claw whistled through the air where she’d been standing.
“Malevolent Spirit! Sintara, get to cover!”
Nope nope nope nope ran on a loop in Sintara’ mind as she scrambled to shove herself under some fallen pillars and avoid the horrific monster’s eyeless gaze. Seriously, how is this my very first encounter?! The roar of battle brought her to her senses, and she began to feel cowardly as she watched Rhubarb and Solemn swoop around the beast in tandem, landing blow after blow and dodging the creature’s poisonous breath. She winced when the Spirit lashed out and landed a solid hit, knocking Solemn to the ground in a crumple of wings. Dazed, Solemn shook her head drunkenly while Rhubarb and the Gloomwillow tried to draw the Spirit’s attention away from their fallen comrade.
Wait, I thought I saw...There! Creeping out of the shadows, an Infestation Hound approached the downed Nocturne, completely unnoticed by either trainer. Before she could think better of it, Sintara charged out of her hiding place and slammed bodily into the hound. They rolled together in a tangle of snapping jaws and raking talons. By sheer luck, Sintara came out on top and finished the Hound with a sharp bite to the throat. The hound’s rotten flesh burst open in her mouth and Sintara gagged and spit, desperately trying to rake it off of her tongue.
Panting, she hauled herself away from the rapidly decomposing corpse. A couple of heartbeats passed before Sintara registered the silence. Gulping and fearing the worst, she turned to see both trainers staring in bemusement. Once more steady on her feet, Solemn shook out her wings and bobbed her head in acknowledgment. Her Gloomwillow Guide briefly flitted around Sintara’s face before returning to its keeper.
“Solemn says thank you, that insane attack of yours probably saved her life,” Rhubarb said. His demeanor was grave. “I’ve never seen a trainee charge into the fray like that, especially not a little chickadee like you! Considering that your very first battle was with the toughest creature in the Ruins, I’m prepared to declare you fit and ready. What about you, partner?”
Solemn grinned with too many teeth. It had rather the opposite effect that she was going for, but the intention was clear enough. Sintara felt lightheaded. She’d done it, she’d done her deity proud!
“Let’s go home, kid. Stormcatcher is waiting for you.”
They arrived at the clan’s landing platform to a joyful crowd. Sintara’ parents and siblings, all of her friends, and even the Matriarch had come to congratulate and support her. Everyone wanted to tap the gem on her forehead for blessings. Buoyed by the merrymaking, Sintara felt the moment arrive deep in her soul. She stepped away and spoke the traditional words to the gathering.
“No is problem too great that He may not solve it. No invention goes untested or idea exists outside the grasp of His genius. Ever we strive toward the greatness of the mighty Stormcatcher. Today I present myself into His faithful service for all eternity.”
The crowd roared in unison, and she began her ascent to the top of the Spire. Wind shears nearly ripped her from the surface, and more than once a massive surge of electricity burned her paws, but she persevered. Aware that she was leaving a trail of singed feathers in her wake, she assured herself with the thought that Stormcatcher would prefer willpower to presentability. Reaching the apex, she carefully anchored herself with her tail and raised her forepaws to the storm.
“Oh great Stormcatcher, your servant awaits your blessing,” she cried.
The thunder boomed so loud in response that every bone in her body rattled, and then the lightning hit. Instead of the expected searing pain, Sintara felt a transcendent joy. As her body dissipated, she looked down on the gathered host below and knew that her job was only beginning.
