PART 1: Shisa
Poko looked up at the snowflakes as they gently floated towards her and the ground around her. She’d had a long and exceptionally marvellous couple days, full of new and exciting experiences. She’d met Leila, leader of Silver Wolf, a kind, beautiful and wondrous woman. Leila even convinced her to join Silver Wolf herself, Poko glanced at her ankle, currently it was covered but underneath her socks lay a bright, hot pink guild mark of a wolf’s head, signifying that she was a part of this wonderful place. However, while Poko was more than grateful, something had seemed off since she joined, like she could feel an invisible presence she didn’t understand. She had shaken it off initially thinking it was just because she was currently staying in a place new to her, the guild hall. But something just wasn’t right, when she had gone down the mountain to visit the forest earlier in the morning, she could still feel it, something watching her, it creeped her out and made her skin crawl.
Poko had looked to Zephyr for guidance; the magical flying rabbit-like creature had always been very good at detecting others around them, well before Poko did. However, he was acting naturally, flying about completely carefree and even playing with some local snow creatures. If Zephyr wasn’t acting strangely then she must just be imagining it, right? She tried to shake of the feeling but just couldn’t. There had to be a reason she felt like this, maybe she should ask Leila about it, but she didn’t want to worry her new guild master, she had bigger concerns, and this was probably all in Poko’s head anyway. Last thing she wanted was to upset people in the guild over nothing. Poko let out a loud audible sigh as she gazed back up at the sky. Even though she should feel cold, she did not, the guild hall was surrounded in a protective shield of sorts, from what she had gathered, that kept the area around it at a nice temperature. Regardless, Poko lifted her hood over her head and lay down with her back and head against the snowy ground in a starfish position.
It was at that moment however, that she felt something spark inside her, it was strange, and it wasn’t her wind magic. It was something completely different. No way, she had only ever been able to control the air, what was this feeling, was this why she had felt so uncomfortable the last few days? Poko had been feeling somewhat stronger recently, she’d learnt quite an assortment of new tactical moves for her magic, but this wasn’t right, this ‘spark’ felt different, but it was definitely magic of some sorts.
"Ugh I’m being stupid." Poko mumbled to herself, closing her eyes.
"STUPID!?!" an annoyed, squeaky voice echoed. Poko’s eyes flashed open. What was that? She gazed around, there was no one? Had she’d just imagined the voice? She stood up, maybe they were hiding and spying on her, she searched carefully, but found nothing. Zephyr being as in touch with others emotions as he was, had felt her uneasiness and made his way over to her, cocking his head as he watched his human with curiosity, trying to figure out what was causing her so much distress. Poko glanced at Zephyr, giving him a quick pet before making her way into the guild base, glancing around, still searching in case she found the source of the voice.
Poko immediately felt safer inside the oriental designed guild hall, sighing with relief. Sure the feeling of being watched was still there, but at least if someone attacked her inside here they’d have to deal with all the guild’s members, not just one. Poko found a comfy armchair to sit on and rest a bit, trying to relax. Zephyr curled up on lap, the blonde haired maiden gently pet him, playing a bit with his ears and tuft of puffy, purple hair on his head. Maybe she was just going crazy, that had to be it, Poko closed her eyes, drifting into a light slumber in the armchair.
What was that? Poko’s eyes flew opened, scanning her surroundings. Huh? What? Where am I? She wondered, looking around confused, wasn’t she resting in an armchair in the library of the guild hall? The room around her certainly wasn’t a library; it had a different magical feeling to it for starters, not to mention how it appeared physically. It felt like she was floating in green space, however, there was definitely a floor. Although the floor felt squishy, like it was made from a giant sand bag. The hell is this place? Poko wondered as she moved her feet around. Suddenly Poko heard the same voice she’d heard earlier speak behind her.
"About time you got here, we’ve only been waiting forever." Poko turned around to find the source of the voice, in front of her stood a tiny plushy looking lion hovering in the air, arms folded. His face was round and yellow, with a matching yellow on his tummy; however the rest of him was white with the tips of his fur a beautiful pale green, his ears and mane around his face gave the impression of a 5 pointed star. He had a thin tail behind him, a round puff of white fur curled at the end. His emerald green eyes stared intently at Poko, he looked, angry? If anyone should be angry it was Poko, just what was she doing here? The blonde girl opened her mouth to ask, but the lion simply put one of his paws, which he seemed to use as hands, in front of her mouth.
"Now is not the time to speak, human." The strange lion creature then turned to Zephyr, "What the hell took you so long to bring her here? We sent off to the human realm nearly ten years ago and to fetch her and you only bring her back NOW!?" Just what was this creature on about, Zephyr brought her here? Why would he do that? Why was he sent to get her? So many questions filled the young maiden’s mind. Zephyr had helped her learn wind magic, yes, but he was her friend, he wouldn’t take her somewhere without a good reason. Poko glanced at Zephyr, if this lion creature could talk, did that mean Zephyr could too? The purple and white rabbit simply tilted his head, without saying a single word. Instead it was the lion creature that spoke again.
"Oh quit making excuses you big eared idiot, me and the others have been waiting for centuries for the chosen one to be born, we finally find her, send you to get her for us and the best you can come with for not bringing her back sooner was because you wanted to make sure she was the one? OF COURSE SHE’S THE ONE!?! You really think the first star would be wrong about this? IMBECILE!" He roared furiously in his cute little voice, it was sort of hard to take him seriously because of it, however, no one insults Zephyr, not while Poko is around.
"HEY!" Poko yelled at the furry lion creature, "Don’t yell at my friend, who do you think you are!?!" She glared at him, eyes turning a bright red; this only seemed to make the lion laugh at her.
"HA! Guess I forgot to introduce myself, I am Shisa, one of the guardians of the stars." He glanced at Zephyr, "As is your so called friend, Zephyr." The lion turned back to Poko, "He was SUPPOSED to being you back a lot earlier than this, but now we’ll have to teach you of the ways of starlight a little later than we wished for. Anyway I don’t have the time right now to explain it all, you’re going to wake up soon as we only have one dream together each with you before you summon us. You’re going to have to talk to Yuuto if you have further questions, although he’s probably just as silent as Zephyr, completely useless." The creature who called himself Shisa rambled on. "Well, bye for now, tiny human."
"Hey wait!" Poko tried to each out to Shisa but before she could the world around her span and swirled, causing her to lose consciousness. When she opened her eyes next she was back in the library, had it all just been a weird dream? That had to be it. Poko’s over active imagination was finally getting the best of her. Poko stretched as she stood up, only realising that Zephyr wasn’t on her lap anymore as she did. Where’d he go? She looked around, searching for her friend but couldn’t find him in the library, perhaps he’d gone outside again. Poko made her way outside, to search for her companion.
Poko had looked to Zephyr for guidance; the magical flying rabbit-like creature had always been very good at detecting others around them, well before Poko did. However, he was acting naturally, flying about completely carefree and even playing with some local snow creatures. If Zephyr wasn’t acting strangely then she must just be imagining it, right? She tried to shake of the feeling but just couldn’t. There had to be a reason she felt like this, maybe she should ask Leila about it, but she didn’t want to worry her new guild master, she had bigger concerns, and this was probably all in Poko’s head anyway. Last thing she wanted was to upset people in the guild over nothing. Poko let out a loud audible sigh as she gazed back up at the sky. Even though she should feel cold, she did not, the guild hall was surrounded in a protective shield of sorts, from what she had gathered, that kept the area around it at a nice temperature. Regardless, Poko lifted her hood over her head and lay down with her back and head against the snowy ground in a starfish position.
It was at that moment however, that she felt something spark inside her, it was strange, and it wasn’t her wind magic. It was something completely different. No way, she had only ever been able to control the air, what was this feeling, was this why she had felt so uncomfortable the last few days? Poko had been feeling somewhat stronger recently, she’d learnt quite an assortment of new tactical moves for her magic, but this wasn’t right, this ‘spark’ felt different, but it was definitely magic of some sorts.
"Ugh I’m being stupid." Poko mumbled to herself, closing her eyes.
"STUPID!?!" an annoyed, squeaky voice echoed. Poko’s eyes flashed open. What was that? She gazed around, there was no one? Had she’d just imagined the voice? She stood up, maybe they were hiding and spying on her, she searched carefully, but found nothing. Zephyr being as in touch with others emotions as he was, had felt her uneasiness and made his way over to her, cocking his head as he watched his human with curiosity, trying to figure out what was causing her so much distress. Poko glanced at Zephyr, giving him a quick pet before making her way into the guild base, glancing around, still searching in case she found the source of the voice.
Poko immediately felt safer inside the oriental designed guild hall, sighing with relief. Sure the feeling of being watched was still there, but at least if someone attacked her inside here they’d have to deal with all the guild’s members, not just one. Poko found a comfy armchair to sit on and rest a bit, trying to relax. Zephyr curled up on lap, the blonde haired maiden gently pet him, playing a bit with his ears and tuft of puffy, purple hair on his head. Maybe she was just going crazy, that had to be it, Poko closed her eyes, drifting into a light slumber in the armchair.
*CRASH*
What was that? Poko’s eyes flew opened, scanning her surroundings. Huh? What? Where am I? She wondered, looking around confused, wasn’t she resting in an armchair in the library of the guild hall? The room around her certainly wasn’t a library; it had a different magical feeling to it for starters, not to mention how it appeared physically. It felt like she was floating in green space, however, there was definitely a floor. Although the floor felt squishy, like it was made from a giant sand bag. The hell is this place? Poko wondered as she moved her feet around. Suddenly Poko heard the same voice she’d heard earlier speak behind her.
"About time you got here, we’ve only been waiting forever." Poko turned around to find the source of the voice, in front of her stood a tiny plushy looking lion hovering in the air, arms folded. His face was round and yellow, with a matching yellow on his tummy; however the rest of him was white with the tips of his fur a beautiful pale green, his ears and mane around his face gave the impression of a 5 pointed star. He had a thin tail behind him, a round puff of white fur curled at the end. His emerald green eyes stared intently at Poko, he looked, angry? If anyone should be angry it was Poko, just what was she doing here? The blonde girl opened her mouth to ask, but the lion simply put one of his paws, which he seemed to use as hands, in front of her mouth.
"Now is not the time to speak, human." The strange lion creature then turned to Zephyr, "What the hell took you so long to bring her here? We sent off to the human realm nearly ten years ago and to fetch her and you only bring her back NOW!?" Just what was this creature on about, Zephyr brought her here? Why would he do that? Why was he sent to get her? So many questions filled the young maiden’s mind. Zephyr had helped her learn wind magic, yes, but he was her friend, he wouldn’t take her somewhere without a good reason. Poko glanced at Zephyr, if this lion creature could talk, did that mean Zephyr could too? The purple and white rabbit simply tilted his head, without saying a single word. Instead it was the lion creature that spoke again.
"Oh quit making excuses you big eared idiot, me and the others have been waiting for centuries for the chosen one to be born, we finally find her, send you to get her for us and the best you can come with for not bringing her back sooner was because you wanted to make sure she was the one? OF COURSE SHE’S THE ONE!?! You really think the first star would be wrong about this? IMBECILE!" He roared furiously in his cute little voice, it was sort of hard to take him seriously because of it, however, no one insults Zephyr, not while Poko is around.
"HEY!" Poko yelled at the furry lion creature, "Don’t yell at my friend, who do you think you are!?!" She glared at him, eyes turning a bright red; this only seemed to make the lion laugh at her.
"HA! Guess I forgot to introduce myself, I am Shisa, one of the guardians of the stars." He glanced at Zephyr, "As is your so called friend, Zephyr." The lion turned back to Poko, "He was SUPPOSED to being you back a lot earlier than this, but now we’ll have to teach you of the ways of starlight a little later than we wished for. Anyway I don’t have the time right now to explain it all, you’re going to wake up soon as we only have one dream together each with you before you summon us. You’re going to have to talk to Yuuto if you have further questions, although he’s probably just as silent as Zephyr, completely useless." The creature who called himself Shisa rambled on. "Well, bye for now, tiny human."
"Hey wait!" Poko tried to each out to Shisa but before she could the world around her span and swirled, causing her to lose consciousness. When she opened her eyes next she was back in the library, had it all just been a weird dream? That had to be it. Poko’s over active imagination was finally getting the best of her. Poko stretched as she stood up, only realising that Zephyr wasn’t on her lap anymore as she did. Where’d he go? She looked around, searching for her friend but couldn’t find him in the library, perhaps he’d gone outside again. Poko made her way outside, to search for her companion.
[Words 1487/5000]
