GARDEN OF THE GODS

“Luna, Wake up!”

“Luna!”

It started as a calm whisper, but it soon escalated to an alarmed shout as Luna's eyes flew open while sweat rolled down her forehead.

“Luna! Come on,” A voice yelled, giggling while the girl struggled to adjust her eyes to the sudden light that attacked her senses.

Her head throbbed as she sat up. The nightmare still plagued her mind and she could still feel the chill it caused crawl up her spine.

She knew it was a dream, but it felt so realistic, and even though she could no longer remember its content, it twisted her insides into painful knots and made her stomach flip.

She forced her eyes to stay open even though it hurt to keep them that way. The sky above had rescinded its azure color and had been set ablaze with streaks of orange and purple, indicating the setting sun on the horizon.

Luna pushed the pain away and stumbled to her feet, she looked around and breathed a sigh, she was still in the Meadow. The Meadow wasn’t home, she couldn’t remember that part of her life, but she appreciated the comfort and the protection that it offered.

The grass was a nice Eden-colored green with some stained yellow from excess sunshine. A neon blue stream ran right through the middle of the meadow branching out into many smaller streams that watered the entire landscape. The mountains at the extremes were golden colored in the setting sun with beautifully sculpted peaks. The skies above the meadow were equally beautiful and they stretched as far as her eyes could see in a dome of crystal blue skies punched by puffy clouds.

Everything in the kingdom of Arcadia was ethereal and it wasn't just the sights that pleased the mind and gave a welcoming feel, the sounds, and smells were equally soothing.

The Sprite river song was very delicate as its waters clashed against its surrounding silt beds. The creatures of the forest created a certain harmony that couldn't be found in most places. The birds chirped, the trees hummed and now and then, Luna heard Pixies tittering.

The music of the Meadow caressed her ears, offering relief from the pulsing in her head; the buzzing midges, the murmuring of the wind, and even the sounds of insects in the shrubs beneath her feet all combined to give a wonderful orchestra. She could smell the sweetness of cherry blossoms and the caramel soft scent of flowers in the air.

The scents made Luna more aware of the tightening sensation in her throat. She was exhausted and thirsty. The thought of the pool at the center of the stream became a lot more enticing. She staggered briefly as she began to run through the tall shrubs—some of them were almost as tall as her—and made her way in the direction of the river. The blades of the grasses were sharp-edged and bruised her skin as she ran. She swallowed hard and ignored the pain they caused only feeling the need to quicken her pace as her throat felt drier by the second. The water was crystal clear and glittered from the sun's radiance. She squatted to wash her face first before getting a drink to quench her raging thirst. Her reflection stared back at her, strange, unmoving. Her brunette hair matched her brown eyes and even though she was often in the sun she could never properly tan her pale skin, her small round face often made it difficult for people to determine her age.

The feel of the water on her skin was therapeutic, and the taste not only satisfied her thirst but other cravings too. It was almost like it drowned out her fears and worries, her fear and her anxiety slowly faded into the recess of her mind. She let out a sigh of relief as she slowly calmed and tried to come to terms with everything that was happening around her.

"Luna"

The voice called out again, this time an audible voice she was sure she didn't makeup in her head. An image formed on the surface of the water in front of her. The image was distorted by the sunset, but she could make out big, upright ears.

She turned around and was greeted by a rabbit with bright gray fur.

“Helios!” She breathed out with a smile on her face. Something about the little animal always felt welcoming. It felt like she knew him from some distant past life. He had been with her since she arrived in Arcadia and they have both been inseparable ever since.

He waved his little hand at her and stood on all fours. His gesture made her feel fuzzy inside and she warmed up to him almost immediately. Helios always had that effect on her, it was almost like he was the remedy for an ache that she didn’t know she had.

“You snore like a horse,” The bunny muttered while he used his hands to brush his nose. “I’ve been trying to wake you up, since forever.”

“I don’t,” Luna chuckled. “Besides, I had a nightmare.”

“Again?” The bunny asked and hopped closer to her. “How do you feel?”

Luna shrugged. “I don’t remember much. I’m just glad I’m here with you now,” She said and picked up her little companion.

Helios snuggled against the thin fabric of the gown she wore. “I’m glad you’re here as well,” He mumbled.

“Now, why were you trying to scream my ears off?” She asked and glared at him.

“Oh, yes!” He yelled and hopped down. “Come, I need to show you something.”

“I’m not going to the Sprite lake again, you know vicious the Sprites can be.”

Helios itched his back against a tree, “The creatures here are practically harmless, you just have to open up to them.”

The tree’s branches waved and moved back and forth even though there was no wind, almost as if the tree was nodding its ‘head’ in agreement with Helios. She wouldn't be surprised if it did. Dryads were especially nosy creatures.

Luna followed Helios as he led her away from the meadow into the densely populated forest. They had walked a short distance when the short grasses around them gave way to tall trees. The trees were oak-brown and primitive with crackly grasses. Luna knew she would always be in awe of the height and beauty of the trees, their knotted arms pointed upwards, as far as her head could lift.

They were hoary fortresses and stood brazenly. Sunlight poured through every opening it could find even though the trees that towered above them made it impossible to see the late afternoon sky unless they moved towards the clearing next to the lake.