To the Realm Beyond

***The following is the second installment in a series of fictional stories that is part of a collaborative effort of Vocal Creators. To read Part 1, please see Lena's story, Beyond the Boundary. More stories will follow and I will add their links to the end of this story so you can continue the adventure.***

Entering the Realm of the Iblis

I stared back at the forest that veiled my village, past the great expanse of ice I’ve just cleared. I passed the invisible boundary and survived. This journey would not be easy, and what I've already faced terrified me to no end. The wolf beckoned from the forest ahead but my feet were planted to the ground. It's pale eyes daring me to give up, and daring me to proceed. I knew it was not a wolf, but the beast that protected the boundary between my village borders and the rest of the world. It chose the shape of a wolf for my comfort I'm sure, but I questioned whether it would retain that shape for the duration of our journey together.

My pack lay beside me, next to the creek, laden with provisions and the protection charms that my people sent with me to stave off the entities who would see me fail. Some have called them demons. My people had a special name for these dark entities that challenged the borders of our secluded village. We called them the Iblis. They wandered the forests and mountains beyond our invisible boundary line that the beast of these ancient lands protected for eternity. An immortal, shape shifting being that chose life or death for my people who wandered too far. It was neither kind nor cruel, but indifferent to us most of the time, choosing to remain in the space between the worlds, revealing itself to only a select few of our people who were lucky enough to endure the encounter.

I took several deep breaths to steady myself. The land of men and monsters lay beyond, which my people, living in such an isolated place among the cold North, were fortunate enough not to have to interact with. However, we are connected to all living beings, and the mind sickness that plagued my people, transforming them into feral beasts that did unspeakable horrors before they perished, had come from the world of men and monsters. So that is where I must go now.

I placed one foot in front of the other, thinking only of my people and our survival. They depended on my success. What I searched for exactly, I was still not sure of. That part had not been made clear to me yet, even though I had been preparing for this my entire life. I slung the pack around my neck and trudged onward, glancing back a second time once I reached the tree line that lay before the mountain between us and the land of men and monsters. In the darkness, under the cover of dense trees, a full moon lit slivers through the canopy that I felt certain housed shadow creatures all around me. Flickers in the moon rays to my right made me jump. I froze instinctually, listened, and waited.

Saraya is the name I was given, a strong name. The name of a legend that I must live up to now. I stepped forward cautiously, peering from side to side in unfamiliar territory. The wolf was nowhere to be seen, but the connection it had with my thoughts remained. I knew it was close by, watching me, waiting to see if I had the courage needed for such a daunting and possibly suicidal journey. With the boundary behind me now, there was nothing keeping the dark entities from their trickery. I was in their lands, a long swath of Earth that had prevented any interaction from the outside world reaching our people and our village. I wish it were easy enough to say that we were safe within our borders. We were not. The lingering connection between all beings still affected our way of life and something terrible was plaguing the world. We know, because it was affecting us as well. The mind sickness. That’s why I am here, wandering this possessed patch of Earth with an ancient being pretending to be a wolf.

The sensation crept into my thoughts like smoke. It was subtle and slippery, but I could feel it. Snaking its way through my mind, searching for the fear I was trying desperately to bury so that I could keep moving forward. A hissing noise came to my ear, to my left, and I paused again. This time I dropped to the ground, eying the forest, watching to see if the moonbeams were disturbed, waiting for the Iblis I knew had been following me since crossing the water. Reaching into my pack, I gripped the charm necklace that had been made for me. Carved figures, beads and wrapped herbs that my people had prayed over for my safe return dangled in between my shaking fingers. It brought me peace to have them so close to me now. And then I saw it. Movement, in front of me, but far enough off that I could keep an eye on it, and I was concealed by a snow covered log. The darkness was shifting, warping the moonbeams as it passed through them, without trying to camouflage itself. I brought no weapons with me. They would be useless against the Iblis. They attacked the minds and hearts of people, creeping into their souls and taking them over. Much like the sickness, but different still. It approached in slow motion, and although I knew it couldn't see me, I could tell from the sensation in my mind that it knew exactly where I was. Instinct kicked in and I ran. I cleared logs and curved around trees with the stealth of a wild animal. I became aware of the sound of crunching snow to my right, realizing that the wolf had rejoined me, keeping pace and panting heavily.

I don’t know how long I ran, but I could see the moonbeams shift angles by the time I stopped to catch my breath. Running in the snow was something I had become quite good at, training as a child for this very moment, when I would have to run to save my life. I chose to pause up against a large spruce tree, resting against it with my pack in my lap. The wolf joined me, but kept its distance, remaining alert. I rifled through the pack and found some dried venison to chew. The Iblis was still out there, but I couldn’t be sure of where or how quickly it could traverse this forest. The charm necklace gave me strength and I breathed in deeply the prayers of my people as I chewed dried meat, sitting in the snow.

I recalled the day it was gifted to me, on my sixteenth birthday. We gathered around a large bonfire, I wore white and the moon had been full then as well. My people gathered around me while my mother went to each one, accepting their charm and fastening it to the sinew cord she held. Once each charm had been secured, she approached me, held it over my head and chanted ancient words to the moon above us. She did not place it around my neck that night, I was not to wear it until this moment. I unwrapped it from my palm and tied it around my neck, under the wool scarf. The tickling sensation of the Iblis faded from my mind. The distinct sound of my people came to me from above the canopy. I could hear them calling my name.

“Saraya, Saraya, Saraya. We are with you.”

The wind picked up. Snow fell from laden branches, dotting the slivers of light with glittering dust. The wolf rose to its feet, faced skyward and howled. Shivers crept over my entire body. I quickly closed up my pack, knowing that my moment of rest had passed. In an instant, the wind overhead came to a startling halt. The wolf’s eerie howl died down and I secured my pack, adjusted my tunic and prepared myself for what I could feel creeping around the wolf and I in every direction.

Not only had the Iblis returned, but was joined by a throng of ominous shadow figures. Some with crooked limbs, others raking tree trunks with elongated claws. The wolf let out a low growl. I could run again, but my path was blocked. I needed a clearing, just wide enough to slide through and I could make it. I knew I would make it. I could still hear my people calling my name in the space between my ears and I felt supernatural, energized within my soul. The Iblis closed in, knitting a tight circle around us. I called out to my people. Screamed into the heavens for them to hear me and be by my side, to aid me in this dire moment. When my voice faded, all that was left was the silence of the Iblis and the growling wolf at my side. The wolf turned to face me and I felt once again it’s voice slide into my thoughts, silky and soft. The images it sent were clear to me, what I had to do now was bolster all the courage I could and run. Run in the direction the wolf indicated to my thoughts. I faced the closing shadows, fear rising, but holding steady against my resolve. Now. Right now! I would have no other chance if I missed this opportunity. I could see a single moonbeam shining between the ethereal bodies of the Iblis and took my chance. My feet sunk deep into the snow, my knees were hot from the earlier jaunt, but my heart held steady. The wolf took action as soon as I was in motion. As I passed, I could just barely see it’s shape begin to transform. I ducked low to avoid shadowy claws reaching out for me and cleared the circle of Iblis to the forest beyond. The protector beast behind me, in the horde of Iblis could be heard tearing through the entities that had tried to bar my way. Some fled, but none followed me.

I let trees whizz past at a dizzying speed. With the grace of a gazelle, I pressed on. I couldn’t concern myself with what the beast was doing. It knew itself better than I. All I could do now was to focus only on reaching the base of the mountain. I would be temporarily safe there. I could rest again. Just keep going, Saraya. My lungs burned. Sight blurred as darkness crept closer, the moon slowly reaching the horizon. Stars blazed brighter as moonbeams died, saturating the landscape a dreary and dull gloom. The mountain was drawing nearer and I could see a clearing up ahead. I was nearly out the other side of this cursed forest.

“Saraya!”

The voice of my Grandmother came so clearly and loud that I turned around too quickly while still in step, colliding with a low branch.

I don’t know how long I remained unconscious but when I woke, the sky was lightening with deep hues of indigo, bronze and gold. I was moving, but not walking. I could feel my body cradled in large arms. When I looked up, I saw the same moon white eyes staring ahead on a face so startling, I nearly screamed. The beast was carrying me. It was covered in fur and I could tell that it was tall. Completely covered in white fur, like the wolf form it had taken before, but now it walked on two strong legs, like a person. The tree line thinned and we stepped out into a grassy meadow. The mountains looming ahead of us. The beast set me down gently on the grass and backed away without speaking. Then it transformed once again into its wolf shape and ran ahead in the daylight towards the mountains. I knew the Iblis would not follow us, but what the mountain pass held for me, I could not predict. One challenge down, and more to surmount. The land of man one step closer and I could hear it’s deafening cry in my mind as the sky brightened into a new day.

I had survived the night, the forest and the Iblis. But my journey was far from over.

Part 3 by Lilli Knight, From the Realm Beyond the Boundary is now available!

***Although this story is a part in a whole, as the author of this individual piece, I retain all rights to the part I have created using the prompt "winter". I have carried over names and concepts from Lena's first part to carry the story forward. Stay with us until completion! And be sure to leave a heart and share with all who you believe will enjoy it! Thank you.***

I enjoy writing about landscapes, and thought you might like this piece below.

THE RIVER

(DISCLAIMER) I Still need to learn how to post full links to my stories. I have seen other people do it and I think it looks amazing. For now, I have the above description you can click on.