The moon wasn’t in the sky tonight as it was the new moon.
“What are you doing just laying there?”
The girl’s eyes flashed open.
“I was killed by a boy from the darkness.”
“Yes but only in human.”
“What do you mean only in human?”
“There is a reason you were born as an elf and a human.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean human and elf?”
“You are human and elven but all in one body. But you are only elven now; you will never be human again.”
“All I want to know is if I can live again. Can I?”
“Yes but only if you can master these powers.”


The other elf lady began to glow gold and a small orb appeared in her hand.
“What’s that?”
“Some of my power. For now you will go on what I will call a life trial and if you can master these powers I will let you live.”
“Is there a time limit?”
“You are on a journey, correct? You will have until journeys end to master them.”
The elf lady gave the blue orb to Kaicha and it sank into her hand, making her body glow blue. The other elf lady disappeared and as she did she spoke these words:
“Don’t not fail me….”


Purple eyes flicked open. The girl rubbed her stomach and her eyes widened.
“The wound…..it’s gone….but there’s something else. I feel more powerful.”
She paused.
“I guess that elf lady wasn’t joking. I must find Zinojutha.”
She rose up, her legs still felt like jelly and once again her body felt so weak. She was deep in the forest. She made her way back to the village.
All the lamps in the village had been put out, everyone was sleeping. She quickly raced through the village and went to her home.
“Zinojutha, Zinojutha are you here?”
She ran out of the home and continued looking. She went to the back of the village. It was dark, no lamps were lit and there was no moonlight. She continued running not knowing where she was going. She stumbled and fell to the snow, but quickly got up and continued looking.


“Zinojutha! Zinojutha! Where are you?”
She entered a place where no light existed but in the middle a wooden pole was driven into the ground, there was a figure tied to it. She summoned a light globe to her hand. A white light filled the darkness around her. When she saw who the figure was she instantly raced over to it.
“Zinojutha! What happened to you?”
She fell to her knees in front of him and touched his chest.
“Who did this to you?” she whispered.
“Ep…..Eplith did.” He whispered hoarsely.
“You’re alive. I thought you were……”
She feared saying those words. A tear fell from her eyes.
“I’m so cold….”
At that she stood up and untied his hands and he fell to the snow. He had no strength at all. She raced back over to him and lifted him from the snow. He winced in pain as he did.
“Where?” she asked worriedly.
“Lay me down on the snow……”
She did so and he told her:
“My whole body aches, he wounded me all over.”


She placed both her hands on his chest and closed her eyes. She healed him, and opened her eyes.
“How’s the pain now?”
“It’s mostly gone…….you you’re alive, but how?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Quiet for now, save your strength. We need to get you someplace warm.”
She helped him get up and took him back to her home in the village. She rested him on the bed in her home. She wrapped several blankets around him and walked off.
“Wait, don’t leave me here alone. Stay with me….”
He tried to stand but alas fell back down to the bed. Kaicha walked over to him and sat next to him.
“You’re so cold, how long have you been out there?”
In response he turned and faced her and cupped her face. He leaned forwards and kissed her. As if he was lost in the kiss she didn’t even notice that she was slowly pushing him down to the bed. They laid there, side by side, holding on to each other and life. She snuggled into him trying to keep him warm.
Why had Eplith done this to him?