Tranquility

Tulasi and Malak sat on the cool grass in the northern forest, discussing life.

“I’ve lived long enough to see bad turn to good and back again. The cycle never ends, but we forget that those who came before still haunt our homes and forests to remind us of who we are,” remarked the old forester.

“With Mörken in the void, I thought peace would flood the land, but the old fears have been replaced with new ones as if we just changed our shoes,” the watcher bemoaned.

“Perhaps we have lost the ability to be at peace within the ancient forest, and now we grasp at tranquility any chance we get, hoping that once we hold it, our fears will vanish like shadows in the sunlight,” offered Malak.

“Tranquility, I haven’t thought of that word since I was a child on Baba Jaga’s farm. There was a tranquil spot,” mused the girl.

A messenger crow flew in from patrol to report no unusual activity along the northern perimeter and then returned to her patrol.

“Huh, funny how we hold on to these activities, which comforted us. What use does the bird’s patrol serve now that we have no more enemy to defeat?” questioned the old man.

“I can’t rightly say. I believe that if we are to stay free, we must always be on alert so we may react before a new threat is upon us,” replied the watcher.

“New chains for old,” quipped the old man.

“It does appear that we shall never have the serenity all of us desire. It reminds me of the ancient tale of a woman who opened a box and released all the troubles upon the world,” said Tulasi.

“Yes, I know that story. If I am not mistaken, hope was among the items, and hope has served us well during the fight against the Dark One,” declared the forester.

“No truer words were ever spoken,” the girl replied with a wry smile.

The afternoon sun hung heavy in the sky, casting long shadows across the land. Both Waldvolker stood, stretched their limbs, and then turned to say their goodbyes.

“Thank you, Malak, your words have given me peace during this time of unease. Fare thee well, old forester,” said the watcher.

“And you, as well, keep hope in your heart, and perhaps you shall witness a time when tranquility returns to Ãlskad,” remarked Malak.

As Tulasi returned to her observation post, she thought, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, you might get what you need. Perhaps I shall see the return of tranquility.”