Keeper (continued)

Two

Nyma felt knowledge and powerful energies swarm through her. She began sobbing, for she knew what that meant. Her mother burst into the room.
"Nyma, what's wrong?" she cried.
"He's dead." Nyma exclaimed, choked with tears, "I'm the Keeper."
Her mother stared at her, both in astonishment and in grief.
"You felt it?" she asked, worried as ever.
"Yes," Nyma replied. She gulped. "And I know what happened. I had a vision. The orks, they tore off his limbs."
She resumed crying. She had always known that her father would die one day. She had imagined it. Though the thought made her sad, she learned to accept it. But not like this. Never like this.
"Nala, what am I to do?" Nyma couldn't bear the thought of saving Somaile in only two days.
"I wouldn't know," her mother replied, hoping that her daughter would understand. "But you will, when the time comes to act. Your heart will tell you."
"But what if I fail?" Nyma exclaimed.
"You won't. The universe would not let that happen," Nala told her.
"Well, will you help me then?" Nyma asked, hopeful.
"No, I am much too old. A woman of fifty-five cannot save the Dark Lands. But you , a strong, brave young woman, can."
They looked into each other's eyes for a moment before Nyma embraced her mother, breaking into tears once again. She knew that she would have to journey away from home, and that she may never see Nala again.
"Nyma," Nala began, sniffling, "At dawn, you must travel to Piksy's Knothole. The piksies may have the answers to your questions."
Nyma nodded, squeezing her mother tighter.
"I'll miss you, mum."
"I'll miss you, too."

~

Nyma awoke from her nightmares and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was dawn, meaning she would have to leave now. She gathered her things in a large bag, all of the necessities: food, water, clothes, and a sleeping mat.

She was about to walk out the door when she turned around and went to her mother's bedroom. Nyma bent over the bed and kissed Nala's forehead, then rushed out the front door before she could start crying.

Nyma was attaching her bag to Capricorn's saddle when she saw some-thing move in the shadows. Deciding it was nothing, she hopped on the horse and began her journey, unaware of the eyes peering at her through the bushes.

The stars continued to shine as the edges of the sun began to creep over the horizon, and Nyma rode on. She had never been out at this time of day, and her heart warmed at the sounds echoing all around. Crickets chirped, birds sang, and the leaves of the bushes and trees rustled in the gentle breeze.

After some hours of moving due south and occasionally glancing east to look for any sign of the Hollow, Nyma saw lights in the distance. She began to move toward them, and as they drew nearer, she heard noises. They were almost like shrill laughter. The sounds rang in her ears, louder and louder, until Nyma came upon an immense tree with the lights buzzing all around.

She didn't even have to wonder. She had arrived at Piksy's Knothole. At the sight of her, the piksies froze and their lights went out. All was pitch-dark until a greater light emerged form the hole in the tree.