by: Ruby Moran
Trepidation- “a feeling of fear that causes hesitation”
Alad was only nine. The beginning of the day was a complete contrast to its end, where he started in a warm embrace, but ended alone in the cold.
It started with a fireplace. Alad sat down in front of it, admiring the small, dancing flames, like the performers who dressed up in bright reds, oranges, and yellows during their annual celebration to pray for a good winter season. Alad reached out to the baby sunshine with his small, cold fingers, feeling the waves of heat prance along his fingertips. He almost had it, but someone from behind yanked him backwards.
“Alad, you can watch, but you cannot touch!” His mother, Anahita, warned. “But mama, it’s warm.” Alad turned away from the fire and looked up at Anahita. Anahita sat down beside him and stroked his dark red hair.
“Fire is a dangerous blessing,” she began, “from afar, it can provide us warmth, comfort, and allows us to survive the winter time,” she gazed at the little fire in front of them, “but if you get too close, or allow it to get out of control, it will become a savage, heated beast, and you may get burned.” Anahita smirked, “You know what else is a beast?”
“What, mama?” Alad chirped, excitedly leaning forward.
“THE TICKLE MONSTER!” Anahita lunged forward, enveloping Alad in her warm embrace as she unleashed the mighty power of tickling.
“Alad, Alad, my love, wake up! Wake up!” Anahita shook Alad awake and got him out of bed and dressed before his grogginess disappeared.
Alad rubbed his eyes, “What happened, mama?” He muttered as Anahita rushed to get him and his baby brother into large warm coats.
“Mama, these aren’t the traditional designs I like…” Alad looked down at his coat, which was maroon red, a dark color only used for those serving the empire, not the native tribe he knew always wore bright colors, mainly light and soft shades of blue.
“I saved these coats for you and your siblings for a snowy day.” She gave his head a pat and hurried to put on her warrior gear, something she had put away years ago, only taken out for sacred celebracions.
“Mama?” Alad asked softly.
“Grab the bags from the table and take your brother and sister with you. Be careful with the fire.” Anahita put Alad’s year old brother into his arms and rushed him out of the room. She handed him a little bag and gave Alad’s sister the other. She rushed them out the back door, refusing to hear any protests.
“I love you, my children. Stay together, and stay strong.” She gave them each a kiss, and handed them each a pin with their family’s symbol: a little ice crystal with small vines encircling it.
“Mama?” Alad’s brother reached up with his tiny hands.
“Yes, I am your mama,” she gave the three of them a teary smile and stood up straight. Before she could say anything else, screams rang from the center square and the roars of the soldier’s animals shook the snowy earth beneath their feet. Anahita pushed the children to the edge of the pine tree forest and strictly instructed them not to follow. Alad and her sister, shaking in their little boots nodded and rushed off.
“Alad, I’m hungry.”
“Alad, I’m cold.”
“Where are we going?”
Alad’s sister bombarded him with questions. Inquiry after inquiry as he tried to focus on getting them past the forest into what he hoped would be the nearest tribe, the tribe of the Silver Arrow.
“Aspen, please, I’m trying to get us warm.” Alad begged her to stop, but she wouldn’t. She only got louder. Alad marched ahead, quickening his pace against the rushing wind. “Get back here!” Aspen demanded. She trudged towards Alad and harshly bumped into him. Alad and Aspen were sent tumbling to the down, down the snowy hill. Their baby brother, Axel was sent flying beyond into the storm.
“AXEL!” Alad shrieked, slipping on the ice below them.
“ALAD!” He whirled around at the sound of his name, eyes widening at Aspen. She held her arms out, shaking from cold and fear like the branches of the trees around them whipping in the wind. The ice cracked underneath her feet, threatening to plunge her into the pit of freezing water below. The siblings had rolled down onto a frozen lake, and left Axel far above them.
Alad glanced from Aspen to the general area where a baby’s wails echoed throughout the forest. Alad took a deep breath and took tiny steps towards Aspen. He held out his shaky hand, stretching his arm to try and take hold of Aspen. With every step she took, the cracks only spread and threatened to cave in. Aspen whimpered and froze in her spot. Alad looked down at her feet, he searched everywhere for something, anything. A large nearby branch, an easily accessible littoral zone, anything. He found nothing and knew nothing about what to do next. Alad looked back at Aspen, who had tears streaming down her cheeks. The crying grew louder, and there was only one thing Alad could think of.
“RUN!”
Aspen and Alad made a break for the shore, where they could climb and reach Axel. The cracks rapidly grew underneath their feet, and under the pressure of their boots, the lake yanked them into its unforgiving waters.
The chilling water pierced through Alad’s body. Both children went limp from the cold shock and floated towards the depths of the deep lake. Through his unconsciousness, Alad heard whispers reverberating through the cavern of his mind drawn out in bits and pieces. “so young...”
“Children…”
“. . .dying…”
“Oh dear..soul! One…children…prophecy!”
The three voices gasped and touched his chest. Warmth and light enveloped the unconscious children and slowly rose them up out of the lake. Though his eyes were closed, he saw small balls of light pop up all around him in tints of light blue, deep blue, cyan, and hints of pastel green. They all began to whisper at once, until one of them came forward.
Alad’s eyes fluttered open. He was seated on the ground beside his sister, who was still unconscious, and noticed her chest rising and falling. They live. He touched the ground. Grass. Where was the ice and snow? He stared at the figure that had gotten close to him before. The figure glowed white, a soft white, and was clad in similar garments to the women archers of their tribe. Her curly white hair swirled around in the wind, which had calmed down and allowed the snowflakes to drift onto the powdered ground. The figure moved her cloak to reveal what she held close to her armoured chest. Axel still shivered, but his wailing had ceased. She floated towards Alad and kissed his forehead. When she floated away, Alad recognized the face. His mother. Why was his mother a spirit? Why was his mother clad in white? And here, of all places? Was this even his mom? The magical figure chuckled and waved her hand, sending them into a little flurry of snow that whisked the children away.
Aspen woke up and began to scream. The flury had begun to swirl around them, a mini tornado of snow. Alad tightly held onto Axel and tried to block out Aspen’s screaming. The snow was closing in on them, making tiny rips on their clothing. Aspen screamed even louder, making Alad’s ears ring and his blood boil. Axel sniffled and began to sob, only adding onto the orchestra of chaos. The heated feelings made his pot burst and spill all over the ground.
“ENOUGH!” The three children floated down onto the ground, the snow ceasing. It was still, too still.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Alad questioned Aspen, whose eyes became saucers. He followed her glance and looked down at his feet, where snow parted where he stepped. “You can control snow?” Aspen asked, slowly looking back up at him.
“THERE! THE CHILDREN ARE THERE!”
Alad whipped around, frozen in place as a small group of soldiers sprinted towards them. Alad raised his arm to shield Axel and icy spikes shot out from the ground. A dart weaved its way through two of the large spikes and hit Alad’s arm. Alad collapsed, and everything darkened.
Tacenda- “things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence”
“Alad? ALAD! Hello?” Aerich motioned to smack Alad, but he caught his wrist as it swung.
“I zoned out...sorry.” Alad sighed and released Aerich’s hand. Aerich huffed and crossed his arms, leaning back into his chair.
“Boys, you shouldn’t fight before you’re sent to the Empire’s mainland.” Saber chastised them, waving his fork at them.
Aerich rose from his chair, getting ready to advance. Alad grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him backwards. “Stop, you’re giving our tribes a bad name.”
Saber laughed, “You can’t touch me, kid. I’m a soldier, you’re in my house, you’re already in trouble, and you’re old enough to just get drafted instead of headin’ to the Trials.” Aerich grit his teeth and slumped back onto his seat. Alad shook his head and walked off, away from the smirking soldier, and away from the maroon red coat he so despised.
Alad looked out of the window and observed the snowflakes drifting down onto the ground like softly powdered sugar. Aerich sat down next to him, gazing in the same direction. “Happy birthday.”
“What?”
“Happy birthday, Alad.” Aerich repeated, giving Alad a side glare.
“Thanks.” Alad glanced at Aerich before looking back at the snow. He waved his hand a little, creating a tiny snowman outdoors.
“You’re not going to ask me how I know?” When Alad shrugged, Aerich continued, “They have files with our information on them, and Saber left one open.”
“Thanks for the information, I appreciate you.”
Aerich exploded, “WHY ARE YOU SO NICE?! PEOPLE LIKE SABER KILLED YOUR PARENTS AND MINE! DON’T YOU WANT TO FIGHT? DON’T YOU WANT TO-ACK!” A dart hit his shoulder. Aerich’s eyes rolled back as he hit the floor with a loud thud. Alad looked up, wide-eyed, at Saber. The images flicked. Was he nine again, or was he sixteen and watching from a different point of view?
“It’s against the rules to talk about wanting to fight against the empire. Especially in a house like mine.” Saber grinned and gestured towards Alad’s bed.
“You should go to sleep, or do I need to give you a complimentary dart, too?” Alad only nodded and closed the curtains. He crawled onto the mattress set on the floor for them and closed his eyes. The door was shut and the room slipped into a darkness that cradled the boys until dawn.
Alad was the first to get ready and stand at the door. Aerich joined him soon afterward, looking a lot more alert and ready than Alad could ever dream of looking like. Saber shoved them out of the house, called them a couple of slurs, and slammed the door. “GOOD RIDDANCE!”
The boys were escorted to the only train station that existed in all the land, and were lead to the car they’ll be traveling in. It was a cattle car. Alad and Aerich glanced at each other and walked forward. Two soldiers stood at each side of the car’s opening, ready to shove them in.
Alad was tempted to use his powers, and clearly, Aerich was already feeling riled up. He sized up the soldiers, but immediately looked away once Alad pinched his arm. They obediently held their arms out and allowed the soldiers to chain their wrists with a metal that was enchanted to block their powers, if any.
Alad and Aerich were pushed into the cattle car. The train set into motion and Alad slumped onto the ground. He looked around and made out some figures in the terrible lighting. There were others like them, forced to attend a competition that would put all of their lives in danger, just to see who is best fit to be employed right next to the ruler they all hated. Alad closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
Little Alad frantically looked around. Calling out for his brother and sister in the dark room. A little light came on above him and a soldier leaned forward.
“We found some of your records.” They said.
“Your little pin has the same design as an esteemed archer of the Tribe of the Frozen Oracle. She was on the ground, dead.”
Alad sat up with a sharp gasp. The other kids in the car stared at him. They all quickly looked over at the cattle car’s door as it slid open, letting in the only sliver of light they’ve seen in what could’ve been hours.
“Time to go, kids.”
All of the contestants were filed out of the cattle car and put into a line, waiting to enter a grand forest that would serve as their little arena for various tasks. A soldier grabbed Alad’s shoulder and forcefully pulled him away from the crowd. Aerich stepped forward, opening his mouth to protest, but was hit across the face by another soldier, forcing him to stay in line.
Alad recognized that they were getting out of sight of the entire group. ‘I’m going to die,’ he thought. Though he was not stuck in a little snowy tornado or drowning in an icy lake, Alad still felt the chills run down his spine and he held his breath, expecting the worst. The soldier took off their helmet, “Hello Alad.”
Alad looked up in shock, “Aspen.” He released his breath and began to sob.
Aspen scoffed, “Stop crying, they’ll think you’re weak.”
“You need to be weak to survive in our world, kid.”
Alad shook his head to remove his thoughts from his nightmarish flashbacks and looked back at Aspen. “I need to properly display my emotions at some point, right?” He chuckled through the tears and sniffled.
Aspen smiled, then punched his arm with all her strength, making Alad wince, “Now go beat those suckers and join the team. We’ll overthrow our dearest emperor, together!” She looked around and put her helmet back on, “Now go before my coworkers suspect anything.”
Alad nodded and trudged back onto the line in front of Aspen. Aerich was gone, and it was now his turn to be admitted.
“Let the games begin.” He mumbled.
“Let the games begin.”
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