Chapter One - Celebration

In middle of a forest clearing is a little clan. In the center of the clearing is a large pile of wood, surrounded by large stones set in the pattern of a circle. Fire erupts from the pile of wood, little flickers of spark dancing around. The homes of the clan are set around the large fire.

In the smallest home is a gorgeous krawk, the blessing of the tribe, known as Kalliniae. Kalliniae is a light red krawk, with pinkish flames along her back. She has rose tattoos above her eyes, and green vines along her face, along the mouth. Pink fins are on her back, between her giant, gorgeous wings that resemble fans. There are vines wrapped around her tail, which has a tiny fan tied to the end, and on her legs, she wears tights, with frilly bows along the top and bottom of them. A gold fire like design is printed along her arms, which are connected to her wings, so she has no visible arms. A smaller krawk, just a child, holds his scratched knee up to Kalliniae, crying his eyes out at the pain. Kalliniae carefully cleans the wound and bandages it. She gives a small kiss on the knee, and the little krawk sniffles, and mumbles his gratitude. Kalliniae smiles at him and walks out towards the fire.

Her father greets her at the entrance, with a large grin. "I'm so proud of you honey," the father suddenly says. Receiving no reply from Kalliniae, he continues, "I have a favor to ask you. Of course you do. Don't you always? Kalliniae glares at her father, while she waits for his request.

Ignoring the glower, her father requests, "Could you get some nice big fish for us? After all, it is a day of celebration, and what better way to celebrate but with the delicacy of fish?" Kalliniae rolls her eyes at the "day of celebration" for she never cared for this day. What's to celebrate? We do this every month.

However, Kalliniae never leaves a wish unfulfilled, unless the wish is absolutely ludicrous. Her tail swishes lightly on the dirt, a few leaves falling off the vine that wraps her tail. New leaves immediately bud on the vine, replacing the ones that have fallen on the dirt. The fallen leaves begin to decay within seconds, turning brown to black, and crumbling into dust. The dust seeps into the dirt, disappearing from sight. Kalliniae walks away, leaving her father behind, who has begun to dig up the dirt eagerly. She hears his triumphs of finding large, succulent fish under the ground.

Kalliniae walks into her home, the largest one, feeling exhausted from the day. Today has been extra busy for her, for everybody has been wishing more what with the big "holiday." She lies down on a fur blanket that covers the floor. She closes her eyes, thinking about what everything would be like if she was not given such a special gift – the gift of creation. Despite the loud shouts of glee coming from outside, she falls asleep with ease.

Chapter Two - Invasion

Kalliniae wakes up to shouting from outside. From the inside, she can see shadows of fire on random homes around her. She tentatively walks out to see what's happening. All around, everyone is screaming their heads off. A large group of skeiths carrying torches are laughing cruelly and setting random places on fire. She sees her father captive by one of the skeiths, and she sees many others captured too. She runs back inside her home, completely loss at what to do.

Who are they? Why are they attacking us? I thought we were the only living beings to exist. How did they find us? Oh, this isn't good. We've never thought of the possible existence of others, and now they are attacking. We have nothing to fight back. Sure we have some bows and arrows to attack prey for food, but these... new creatures... they seem to have tougher skin. I don't think our arrows would penetrate them! Oh what do I do? I must help.

Kalliniae looks at the ground, completely loss at what to do. That's when she notices a dark brown stain on the ground. She looks at her tail and sees a few little budding new leaves. She quickly bends down to dig up whatever she has just created. Underneath the dirt she finds several arrows, but tougher than the ones her clan has ever used for hunting. She quickly gathers them and her bow, but as she is about to leave her home, a skeith enters, smirking at Kalliniae.

. "Well well well... Look what we have here. Looks like you were going to try to rebel eh? Here, I'll take those off your hands." The skeith grabs the arrows and snap them in half. He takes the bow and crumbles them into wood dust and pushes Kalliniae out. "Master! Look what I've found! She was going to try to fight us." All around, all the skeiths begin to laugh. The largest skeith of all steps forward, smirking at Kalliniae. "Do you know who we are? We are the almighty skeiths. Any puny weapon you conjure up won't be able to defeat us." Kalliniae looks down at her feet, hope forgotten.

Kalliniae's hands are tied up behind her, and she is forced into a line up with the rest of the captives. She looks around, seeing the ruins of her beloved home. All around are black, smoky remains of the fire. The air is filled with smoke, choking the air. She looks down at the line up. It appears everyone of her clan is there. Everyone has been captured. There's no one to save them, no hope at all. She feels tears well up as the skeiths continue to destroy everything, stealing anything of value.

Chapter Three - Betrayal

Once the entire area has been marauded, the commander skeith walks along in front of the line up, leering at everyone, while the rest of the skeiths stand around, making sure no one attempts to escape. The commander skeith begins to speak, "You guys are pitiful, absolutely pitiful. You are so poor. After collecting everything in this run down home of yours, we barely have enough to support even one of us skeiths. I demand you give me more, or there will be severe consequences."

Kalliniae looks around at her clan family, noticing they are looking around too, afraid of what will happen. There is no more. They have no secret stash hidden anymore. They burned their home. What more can they offer?

Kalliniae stares at her father, who is at the other end of the line. He stares back at her, with a look of grief. Suddenly, he steps forward. Kalliniae looks at him, wide eyed. What in the world are you doing father? He glances at her before speaking, mouthing the word, "Sorry."

Totally clueless of what her father is going to do, she watches, afraid to move forward to stop him. Her father begins to speak, voice trembling with each word, "I know how to give you what you wish for. I will give you my daughter, Kalliniae, if you promise to leave us all alone." Kalliniae feels her heart break at that moment. So that's why you're sorry? She feels her entire clan family looking at her. The commander skeith noticing the sudden attention on her, walks up to her and asks, "Are you Kalliniae?" She slowly nods her head. "What can I possibly want with you," he demands. Her heart breaks more as her father begins to reply, trembling with fear and guilt, "She can give you anything you want. Anything at all! She has a gift."

The commander skeith glares at Kalliniae's father, determining whether to believe it or not. Suddenly, he begins to laugh, and the other skeiths begin to laugh with him. He looks at Kalliniae's crown. "Hm, that crown or yours may be worth something. I will take that," the skeith suddenly said. As he reaches for the crown, Kalliniae moves away from the hand, not wishing to give up her crown. The skeith blinks at her courage. He chuckles and says, "You're feisty. So, you can give me anything I want?" Kalliniae looks at her father, who receives to look back her. She looks at her clan family, who also refuse to look at her. They all want to give me up. After all I've done for them, and they want me to leave? How could they? Her heart completely shatters at the thought, deciding that she still loves them, and slowly nods her head.

Chapter Four - Kalliniae's Wish

The skeith's eyebrow raises at her response. "How?" he demanded. Kalliniae looks at him, unable to respond. How do I explain magic? The skeith's patience runs out while waiting for the answer. He grabs her shoulders, shaking her and demanding once again, "HOW?! Answer me NOW!" Fear appears in Kalliniae's eyes as she tries to repond. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. The skeith continues screaming, "Answer me!" Suddenly, her father runs up to him and shouts, "Let her go! She's unable to talk! She's mute." The skeith suddenly lets go of Kalliniae and looks at her father. Kalliniae can feel the bruises forming where the skeith had kept a tight grip.

There is stunned silence at the scene that had just happened. Finally, the skeith responds slowly, "Really?" Kalliniae slowly nods her head, completely terrified at this choleric being.

The skeith chuckles suddenly, "Ha ha, alright. Fine. Prove it to me then. I don't know. Give me... luxurious ripe fruit." Kalliniae looks once again at everyone, who all has their eyes on her. Feeling quite nervous and self-conscious, she begins to swish her tail. A few leaves fall, immediately being replaced on her vine. Everyone watches as the fallen leaves immediately decomposes and seeps down into the dirt. The skeith stares, confused. "Where's the food? I asked for food! All you did was have some leaves disappear. I want food!"

Kalliniae looks at her father once again, feeling a sudden disappointment in him. Her father speaks once more, "It's underground. You have to dig it up." The skeith laughs at this comment, "Me? Dig it up? How about YOU dig it up?" The father nervously bends down and begins digging. Underneath the dirt, he uncovers fresh, ripe fruit. All the skeiths stare in awe at it. The commander grabs the fruit, and shouts, "Someone grab the girl and follow me. The rest, keep watch over the prisoners." The father looks at all the skeiths that have begun to surround them, dragging him back to the line up. With a shocked face, he shouts, "You promised to let us go if I gave you Kalliniae!" The commander skeith merely chuckles as he replies, "I never promised such a thing."

He walks into the forest followed by one of his minions dragging Kalliniae. Terrified, Kalliniae looks at all her surroundings. The forest suddenly looks so eerie at night. She can hear shouts from her clan family. We have truly failed.

The commander skeith suddenly stops and turns to Kalliniae. "Oh, this will be so much fun. For you? I'm not so sure. You'll be fed and have minimum care. You are to listen to me and only me. You are only allowed to grant my wishes and no one elses. Do you understand?"

Kalliniae slowly nods her head, feeling absolutely defeated. My life is ruined. How will I survive like this? Kalliniae continues to hear screaming back from the forest clearing. What is going to happen to them?

Tears well up in her eyes, but they refuse to fall down, and Kalliniae's eyesight blurs as the tears build up. Her tail swishes in anxiousness, lightly sweeping the ground, which created a small cloud of dust. The skeith barks orders at his minions that are there, as he listens with delight from the nearby screams. Small leaves fall from her tail, as she stands there, unable to keep still. Kalliniae is unable to focus on anything that is happening, except the terror in her heart. What is going to happen? Why is this happening? How could they just abandon me like that? Have I meant so little to them? Well, now I'll be worth even less to this maniac. I do not understand why this is happening. All my life, I have tried helping everyone, and this is what I get? Where is the justice in that? There is none. Everyone just takes advantage of me. I wish I could leave. I wish I could be anywhere but here. I wish I was not surrounded by anyone. I don't want to be with these creatures who want me for such horrid reasons. For wealth and luxory? Please, no. I don't want to be surrounded by anyone of the sort. I want to live... in my own world...

Kalliniae closes her eyes tightly, sick and tired of everything that has happened and is happening. The tears finally fall quickly down along her cheeks. All around her, she can feel the wind pick up, making her feel quite chilly. The wind seems to do a swirling effect, wrapping around her. The screams and shouts are drowned out as the gusts of wind intensifies in sound. Then quite suddenly, it stops. The wind, the shouting, everything stopped.

Kalliniae keeps her eyes out of fright. Why is it all the sudden quiet? Have I gone deaf? Have I died? I didn't feel anything though. What could possibly have happened now? She opens her eyes slowly, one by one by squinting. From squinting, she sees swirls of red and pink, and immediately thinks of blood. Her eyes shoot open at that thought, but then gasp at the sight. Rather than a gruesome blood fight she was expecting, she finds herself at the top of a hill, staring out into the seas. The red and pink she saw was from the beautiful sunset that reflected in the ocean. My... own... world?

The Epilogue - The Perfect World

Staring into the skies of pink and red clouds is a lone krawk, Kalliniae.

So many years ago, when I created this place, I thought it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. There's nothing wrong with it! So why do I feel like I'm missing something now? I've felt content here for so many years, and now, I feel lost. Something is missing. What is it?

Kalliniae glances down at the village she created, the quiet little village. Viewed from above, the village is in a shape of a square, with four entrances, one entrance for each side, with each side constructed the exact same way. In the center of the village is a building that disrupts the uniformity. In the center is a large, pale gold building, with large ivory columns, and a grandiose staircase to a door framed with lovely wooden carvings. It too appeared to be a square when viewed from above, and it too had four entrances, one on each side. The center is Kalliniae's home.

A golden stoned paved road, neatly constructed, every rock fitting together perfectly like a puzzle guides the path into and through the village. The road is completely clean, not a speck of trash or unplaced dirt. The buildings of the village were all neatly spaced out, exact same length apart, and looking identical to one another with same placement of golden framed windows and doorways, along with the same height. All the buildings appear vacant, but the emptiness does not startle Kalliniae as she continues along the path. Everything about the village was uniform and perfect, just like its surroundings.

Something is missing in that village. Oh, why can't I figure out what is missing? This feeling agonizes me. I hate this feeling. I want to go back to feeling content with what I've created.

She continues to stare at the empty village, pondering in thought, when suddenly, she hears a faint call. She listens carefully, trying to distinguish the source. She recognizes the sound of Kushii, but she is unable to make out the words. Kushii? Kalliniae blinks a few times, staring at the "perfect" village, before stretching out her long fan like wings to fly in search of Kushii. She flies silently and gracefully through the sky, before gently touching down on the ground before her home. She stares at the magnificent building, Kushii's voice significantly louder than before. She climbs up the stairs slowly, not out of cautiousness, but more of lack of interest. Despite her size, each step is as if a ghost.

The insides of her home is much more plain than the outside for all the walls were simply painted white, along with the floor being white. Once again, the room was absolutely clean, no dirt nor dust. In the center of the room, looking magnificent compared to the plain surroundings is a large golden fountain. The liquid inside is sparkling clean and clear, so it must be water, but however it produced no reflection when looked down upon. Kalliniae glances down at the fountain. While normally the liquid is clear, this time it's white mist. An unclear face is seen, as if a reflection, but the reflection did not resemble Kalliniae at all. It is Kushii, the green tasu.

Kalliniae gives a curt nod, suddenly feeling a tad gleeful, but she can't place her finger on the source of sudden joy. From the white mist, the liquid turns to silver, then to gold. While emanating bright gold light in the room, Kushii appears out of the fountain and steps out completely dry to face Kalliniae. They look at each other and smile, before embracing each other with a hug.

All feelings of sadness and confusion from moments before disappear as Kalliniae hugs her old friend. Is this it? Do I simply miss company? It makes sense. Ha, I never thought I'd need the company of others to feel happy. Kalliniae pulls away from the embrace to have a good look at her friend, for it has been years since their last meeting.

Their eyes meet, staring at one another intently, as if they never want to break the gaze. Kalliniae created Kushii long ago to keep an eye on the world for her. Having created Kushii, Kalliniae feels a such a strong connection with Kushii, that their minds are like one. A conversation between them begins, even though their mouths remain closed and not a word is spoken.

Tell me how you've been, Kushii suddenly asked. Kalliniae waves her hands in front, as if to say, "you first". Kushii sighs before replying, It's been difficult. I've been so busy, which is why I haven't had the chance to come back and report the news for so long. There was a problem with the world. Strange things were happening down at the villages everywhere. Everyone was getting sick of a disease with no cure. Oh, the sight was horrific! There were so many deaths, and it was unavoidable. It seemed like at least someone in each family got sick, and the disease appeared contagious. Anyways, I had to stay behind and help them. It was tedious work, and after so many years, there is still no cure. The disease just... disappeared. Everyone stopped getting sick, and the number of sick simply gradually declined to the point where it seemed like it no longer existed. So the world at the moment is at peace in a way, having overcome the disease, and that is what I have been doing all these years, helping them. What about you?

Kalliniae listens carefully to every word Kushii says, feeling sympathy for her dear friend. She flicks her tail nervously, and replies quietly, I have been... doing... great... You know... Just admiring the scenery and such... Kalliniae pauses for a while, smiling nervously at Kushii before grabbing Kushii suddenly and speaking rapidly, "Oh Kushii! I have missed you! I cannot bear it here alone! Please tell me you won't go back! Stay here with me and keep me company. I know I have always said I only want peace and solitude. While I still wish for peace, I need SOMEONE here with me, and let that someone be you."

Kushii watches Kalliniae with an eyebrow raised for she had never seen her act so wildly. Before responding, Kushii makes sure she did not misinterpret anything Kalliniae said. Stay here with you? What about... keeping an eye on the world? she slowly responds.

Kalliniae flicks her tail again in nervousness as she replies ever so shyly, I don't know. Maybe leave the world alone for now and stay here witih me? I know I created you for the purpose of a guardian angel of the world, but forget your duty for a few years... for me?

Kushii looks at Kalliniae warily, still unsure of Kalliniae's request. Why not come back with me if you feel lonely?

Kalliniae continues to shift uneasily under Kushii's gaze with her large green eyes. I am not ready. My family and friends betrayed me. I cannot go back yet. I simply cannot.

Kushii sighs and finally smiles a little bit. Alright, fine. I will stick around here for you, and when you are ready, you will go back with me. Do you think you will ever be ready?

Kalliniae brightens up with a large smile and responds, Yes I will. One day... May not be soon... but one of these days... I will go back with you.