Times of Change Chapter 2

Elysi had left the Elder after listening with children of the Ruby, Saphire, Topaz and Emerald. Their small clan only had a few of the colors, with her being the only with Oynx, the color of storms. The color of saving her people. This scared her with good reason, because as the Elder had explained to the whole group two nights ago, Those From Beyond were already working on turning Elysi to their dark goals. They had been brought to being after one of the Amber had learned of murder, and taught it to the people. Those of the Amber were the soldiers of her people, with any born of that color immediately sent away to the camps.

But there was only one of her born to her people every generation. Those of the Oynx, said to have the powers of the Gods that had created the worlds, the stars, and the very people. Elysi was unsure of what it is she was supposed to do, since no one knew in what clan Those of Onyx had been born in last. But it had been her very relative that had released Those From Beyond. It was thought that because of that relative, her clan had lost the ability to birth Onyx. She was their hope that the gods were once again seeing them in their favor. Looking out into the night she listened as the voices started again, attempting to bring her to the Darkness.

"Come to us Elysi, come to ME child. Let us show you what the elders are afraid of you learning," it was beginning early tonight. Elysi looked to the stars as she listened. "Do you really THINK that those of Topaz aren't lying to you?" The voice paused for a second, almost as if for effect. "How else would I know their eyes if I wasn't aware of our people? You hear me correctly Elysi, we are of YOU."

"NO!" Elysi screeched out; shutting her eyes and clamping her hands over ears. Her screams became soundless as she fell to her knees. "You're LYING!" she screeched after a few moments. "There's no way that you're one of us!"

"Why would I lie to you Elysi? What is it that makes you think that Elder Nifres isn't lying to you?" Elysi's breath caught in her throat as the name of the elder came into her head. A secret so tightly controlled that only she had been told, unless they were the other Ambers.

"Come to us Elysi, you will not regret it." The voice appeared to fade out at those final words, before the depths of her mind were once more quiet. Elysi found herself on the ground a short while later, still panting from the strain of the voices in her head. She didn't know why listening to these voices was so physically taxing, but almost every night it left her drenched in a cold sweat and unable to breathe.

"I see you had another visit," her mother Cunstri of the Garnet Eyes said reaching her daughters favorite hiding place. It didn't hide much of anything except the bugs on the ground, but Elsyi had always been drawn to this patch of woods where nothing grew. It was said that the progenetor of Diamond Eyes had been raised from this very ground. But there was no way to see if that was the truth or not.

"Yeah, they were calling to me again," Elsyi said without looking back at her mother. "Almost BEGGING me to come to them. I don't even know where that would be!"

"When they start talking to you more, they'll tell you where to go. It'll be up to you if you listen or not." Cunstri smiled and knelt down next to her daughter. "Your father will want to know about this."

"He can just read my mind like the other Topaz's," Elsyi said with scorn. "I really hate that they can do that at any time. EXCEPT to you. How did the Garnet get so lucky?"

"We don't know what the gods were thinking, but every color has a different strength and weakness. Except the Oynx, I haven't heard of one for you yet."

"Borderline insanity with Those From Beyond feeling so talkitive." Elsyi shook her head and got up, struggling slightly before standing to her full height. "And weakness when they decide to start chatting."

"Those aren't weaknesses," Cunstri said with a smile before hugging her daughter. "Those are temporary disturbances, something that everyone has to deal with. A true weakness is something like what I have. Garnet's can't be anywhere near water."

"I keep forgetting about that. Any time it rains we have to keep you from looking up with your mouth wide open." Both women giggled, before moving back towards the village. Away from the voices, and away from the night. Elsyi would worry about the voices tomorrow, when her father decided to give her mind a read and see what exactly had happened the night before. Some people complained about a lack of being alone, Elsyi lived the real thing every day.

THE NEXT MORNING

Elsyi woke with a start as the sun crested the horizon in the west, the pale blue light streaming through her window. It would be a fine day. If the light were green, then a storm was coming. Yellow, and there was going to be a severe change. Maybe severe weather or a ground quake. Today; it was going to be clear. She looked around her sparse room and began to dress. It would be a bath day, the river would be warming up soon. There wasn't much that she was allowed to do since the changing of her eyes.

Every new child was born with crystal clear eyes, no coloration. Some thought that maybe it was a call back to the fallen Diamonds, but no one knew for sure. This didn't mean they were blind, that was a condition that was unheard of in any except the old, or the frail. Where they eyes would turn the color of pearls. Most were venerated for living so long, others quietly forgotten about. After a few years the eyes would change daily. Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz, even Onyx. This would last about a year until the child woke one day, with the eyes they would have for the rest of their lives.

They would be taught their new roles in society. Topaz were the mind readers and therapists of the community. Ruby were the warriors, Emeralds took care of the crops and animals. Every eye had a daily job, except for hers. Weather manipulation. How was she supposed to learn that with no one to teach her?