Folksburywoods Story Blog

“Apollonia, you mustn’t talk like that. The Gods will hear you,” said her mother.

“Why? We of the Shadow Clan have remained docile far too long. Let us call the ancient ones and let havoc rain upon their homes,” cried the girl.

The two could not agree on how to stop the outlanders from destroying the sacred groves.

“I will go see Draconious in the morning; he’ll know what we should do,” said Apollonia.

The night was filled with fitful dreams of ghostly figures calling out for help. Morning found the girls’ bed empty and the Staff of Calling gone from its resting place.

“The child will bring ruin upon us, I can feel it in the wind,” said the wise woman.

“Ho Draconious. How goes your morning?” asked the girl.

“Well, if it isn’t the walking whirlwind herself. Greetings to you, Apollonia, daughter of Thea, the wise woman,” answered the seer.

Apollonia explained her wish to call the ancient ones. She wanted them to drive the outlanders from the land before the outlanders destroyed more sacred groves.

“I see you have the Staff of Calling, you only lack the Mask of Silence,” said the old man.

“Where might one find such a holy item?” asked Apollonia.

“Under my pillow,” answered Draconious with a wry smile.

The sorcerer instructed Apollonia in the ritual to summon the ancients. He warned her she was not to stop until it was finished. “Failing to finish would forfeit your life,” warned Draconious.

“I will do as you have instructed,” said Apollonia, then left.

Arriving at the grove, Apollonia slipped into the cavern. She retrieved the flint and striker, along with kindling, to light the fire.

With a blaze in the fire pit and the torches lit, Apollonia began the ceremony to summon the ancient ones.

“Bring your wrath and save the groves which you made sacred so long ago. Show no mercy. The outlander has shown none to us,” said the girl as she danced around the fire pit.

Apollonia finished the ritual, making sure to pour water over the seeing stones. Then the girl waited.

As the dawn crept across the land, Apollonia could hear distant screams. “It has begun,” the girl said.

The next day, Apollonia and Draconious walked through the outlander’s village and were shocked to witness such carnage.

“Draconious, I did not know we had so many lions?” remarked Apollonia.

“We don’t. The Gods must have lent them to the ancient ones as they sometimes do,” replied the sorcerer.

The two returned to their village with news of the tragedy. They asked the villagers to help bury the dead, as was their custom.

“Strange how they all died from lion attacks,” said the wise woman.

“Yes, it is, isn’t it?” replied Draconious.

“The Gods have delivered their judgment today. Let that be a lesson to all who forsake the ancient ones and their ways,” said Apollonia.

“So it goes,” replied her mother.

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