Taran and the Crystal Leaf

By Lisa Hodges

A prophecy foretold, by the elders on planet Nutrus, brought two souls, brother and sister, from another world, Taran and Jerrid. They were chosen to help protect this peaceful planet, but often times, evil has a way of disrupting the good in life. Taran was told of a herd of unicorns that were dying off, and the only way to save them is to find a crystal leaf and return it to an Oak Tree located near the Eastern Sea. In order to accomplish her mission, she must push aside the haunting dreams of her past and rely on the Power within her. Zaydric, the demonic wolf, must destroy the leaf in order to rule and darken Nutrus forever. The race is now a foot, and the chain of events will not only test Tarans faith, but she will face the biggest challenge of her life, fear itself. With Zaydric at her heels, shell have just moments to place the leaf in the trees cradle. If all goes well, Tarans dreams from her past will finally be revealed

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465393487

Lisa Hodges

My name is Lisa Hodges, and at a young age had a gift of writing. Through the nurturing of my grandfather, I learned to write poems. In school I broadened my talent by writing short stories from pictures in magazine clippings that got my teachers attention. Later in years as my passion grew stronger, the dream of writing a book was becoming more real. In my stories I express life experiences, transforming them into a fantasy world and still bring the message that would relate to us all.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

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A LARGE CLOUD FORMATION fills an open sky with brilliant colors of reds, and yellows. The illusion of rotation hypnotizes the eyes of anyone admiring its beauty. Engulfed by the swirling tunnel, two figures emerge, but not quite visible. A flash of light explodes sending a vibration of waves through the floral pattern in the cloud. Now . . . all is black.

Taran suddenly awakens gasping for air. Her heart beats rapidly. Realizing her surroundings, she slowly begins to calm. Jerrid had just come over a cluster of rocks, when he noticed Taran had awakened. She looked frightened as she held her knees close to her chest.

Quickly running to her side Jerrid knelt down next to her.

Are you all right? He asked.

I think so, she replied.

What happened?

It’s the dream again, but more vivid this time. I can see figures. She exclaimed.

That’s great! Jerrid said excitedly. What are you seeing?

A large cloud of colors blinds two figures in front of me. I can’t seem to make them out, but I’m holding onto you. Suddenly, a bright light goes through us… She pauses, and with a sigh she says, Then everything goes dark.

Silence hovered over them like a blanket as Jerrid waited for Taran to speak again. But she said nothing.

In a soft voice of disappointment Jerrid asked, Is that all?

Yes, Taran replied. Nothing else appeared clear. I can’t even get past the two figures to see who they are. Disappointed she hung her head.

The morning air was brisk and smelled clean. Trying to erase the ghost-like images of her dream, Taran focuses on the journey ahead. Jerrid gathers their things. He turns and smiles at Taran, and motions her to walk once more. Their destination was the Whispering Forest where Jeremiah and Rosa lived. Taran promised to return for a visit, and hoped that Jeremiah could help her with her dreams.

Their journey would be long since they could not ride White Lighting. The weight of them both would wear the Pegasus out, and ever since the disappearance of Fire Eye’s Jerrid thought it best to send the winged horse away for awhile.

After several hours of walking, the Chosen Ones had come to a large valley. Forming a bowl shape, the landscape sloped gradually. Inside its perimeter, the billowing hills stop along the front of the large mountains that spanned across the horizon from north to south. These towering peaks stretched along the horizon for miles.

Since Nutrus’ transformation the seasons had come in their proper order; fall, winter, spring, and summer. On this calendar day the valley viewed the picture of the leaves turning bright colors and the valley floor of grass changed into a goldenrod shade. The faint pale flowers filled in the breaks between the laid out groups of grass.

Taran and Jerrid admired the valley’s picturesque view. Taran thought she could see a dark figure standing in the distance, however the object, was too far to know what it was, so she dismissed it as some kind of rock structure.

In the mist of the valley grew deep red berries. Taran began to gather some for later meals, as well as, roots and mushrooms. Jerrid went hunting for meat. Berries were not going to fill his stomach.

By evening they gathered all they could to replenish their food supply. Now it was time to call it a day and find shelter.

I saw some rocks not far from here. Taran said.

She pointed in the direction in which she had seen the rocks shape. Nothing was there.

Are you sure you saw this ‘rock of shelter’? questioned Jerrid.

Yes! I’m sure. It was too far to really see what it was, but I assumed the shadows were upon them making it look dark.

Jerrid began to chuckle and in a humorous tone said, The rock must have moved.

Very funny, Taran replied, as her brow narrowed at being mocked.

She turned to look again to see if she really did see a dark formation. There was nothing but the open valley. A small group of trees stood just north of them, and Jerrid suggested they stay there for the night.

While the Great Sun settled in the west, the Chosen One’s built a fire and relaxed under a large canopy like oak tree. The trees branches gave shelter from the evening dew, and from the top it stretched out high into the night sky. After their meal they found a comfortable spot between the large protruding roots. While keeping close to the fire, the two leaned back to admire the star canvassed sky and a view of the twin moons.

I know I saw something out there, Jerrid. Taran began. And now that I think about it I felt as though I was being watched.

Jerrid listened carefully as Taran stared into the fire, and then asked, You don’t think it was one of those evil spirits flying around do you?

No. she replied. It seemed to be peaceful.

Well, whatever it was it may show up again. Don’t be too quick to find out.

The two remained silent for a while, and said only a few words as the fire crackled every now and then, and slowly began to die out. The sister planet Utras appeared close to Nutrus as it rose slowly in the northern horizon. The evening shadows crept their way over the valleys wavy landscape.

In a distant field, tall grass camouflaged a dark figure that stood watching the Chosen One’s as they settled in for the night.

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CHAPTER TWO

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SOUTHWEST OF NUTRUS, the Great Sun was unveiling the mountains night shadows. As the darkened curtain rises, the mountains tower high to the heavens and the snow-capped peak disappears into a misty cloud cover. In front of this great statue of earth, smaller mountains protrude from east to west, giving a shadow of cover to the hills below.

To the far north, another mountain stands tall. Its elevation stretches high, showing no life in its barren land. Large rocks are disguised by the crevasses’ of the land, fooling a traveler that may seek shelter. Their shapes are twisted looking like trees and hidden caves.

The brown and desolate view of the mountain does hold some life within the rocks. Just two years ago, a mother coyote had given birth to two pups, Yotie and Sotie. Their life on the mountain had been a classroom, full of adventure and learning about survival in the wild beyond the forest line. The families’ relationship was close, yet they had their share of squabbles. As Yotie and Sotie matured, their internal spirits began to emerge. Sotie has a gentle spirit, and is ready to protect the ones she loves. Until such time, the family would move to better hunting grounds where Sotie could meet other coyotes. Yotie, on the other hand, has a restless spirit. His desire is strong, ready to take on adventures that await him beyond the mountain horizon. Unlike the strong medium build of his father, Yotie is small in size, and looks weak in his appearance. His hair is shorter than most coyotes and coarse. Being small makes him quick to catch prey, but confronted by another creature bigger than himself, would be a humiliation to the family.

The night quickly came over the timberline mountain, and the western sky began to paint brilliant colors of orange and red.

Not far from the coyotes den, Yotie sat near the edge of a rocky cliff, admiring the sun-lit colored clouds. The evening sky leisurely disappears behind the horizon, and colors of orange and red began growing dim. Mesmerized by the slow movements of the changing clouds, Yotie looked beyond the hills in front of him.

‘What was it like past the vast hills and forests,’ He wondered.

The visionary adventures started to waken his spirit, and like a dream Yotie slipped into a fantasy world.

The sun sank deeper into the horizon, and a faint light flashed to his right. Set in his translucent world, Yotie blinked and moved his hindquarters back a bit. While still sitting on the clefts edge, the light appeared again, this time larger, and adding more colors to its glow. Yotie was fascinated by this strange event. Without warning, the light moved swiftly down toward the mountain forest, ascending and descending, finally disappearing behind the evening horizon. Yotie sat still, gazing at the place where the light had disappeared. Within seconds of the lights’ departure, a shadow covered Yotie’s body, blanketing him in darkness.

A short time later, Sotie came out of the den to join her brother. Every night they would sit together and watch the Great Sun go down on another day, and reminisce on the adventures they’d had together. But as she came out to join him, she noticed he wasn’t there.

‘That was odd.’ She thought.

Sotie looked around the area of the cave, but saw no sign of Yotie.

‘Maybe he took off to hunt before nightfall.’