Alecia+Weis

There once was a land far, far away, where extraordinary things took place. This place was called Merrend. It wasn’t your usual town full of people and houses. This is a story of wonderful, small creatures of all shapes and colors, called Elves. They lived in huts, small huts but the whole town connected through these homes. Every elf was merry and happy, and liked to believe that there were no worries in the world. Except one. There is, indeed, one hut that the elves aren’t welcome in. His name was Reeth. He was a young elf, not quite an adult but not anymore a teen. He had troubled soul, and was very odd for an elf. He didn’t like being happy and he lived alone, since as long as they could all remember. No one knew where his parents were or for that matter, where he came from. He was just Reeth to them, a quiet unhappy elf that kept to himself and didn’t like the things normal elves liked. It had been a few months since anyone had seen Reeth, and no one bothered to look for him. They knew where he was, in his hut, alone and unhappy. Little did they know, Reeth had a lot more to him. Reeth was a wizard.  Reeth at a young age, lived in a large city called Wizarend. He spent his days with his brothers and sisters learning new spells with their friends at Bostorf, the School of Magic. He was top of his class, and took great pride in his work. His father was the Wizhead of Bostorf. He rarely saw his father, he was always on some trip fighting off Treckles. Treckles were the only thing in this world that Reeth was afraid of. They were large, and dark skinned, and crow like. A single look in a Treckles eye and you drop dead, cold. They only come out at night and they haven’t caused any problems since the death of Hocken, their leader. Reeth’s father killed Hocken many years ago in a battle that lasted many decades. Since then, no problems with the Treckles have occured... yet. But a while after his fathers defeat, Reeth’s mother and father were unexpectedly murdered. No one knew how or who did it, and they never found out. Things changed after that, people started to fear what was next. Wizarend was different. The elves stopped learning spells, they became quiet and afraid. Elves started disappearing, and most were found dead. Something evil was in the air, and no one had any idea what it might be. Reeth’s sisters and brothers were all gone when he came home one day. The city looked everywhere for them, no body was found. Reeth’s hopes and dreams and pride was lost with the disappearance of his brothers and sisters. Reeth was alone, and afraid. He decided to go as far away as possible, and wait for what might happen, but he knew that running away wouldn’t help him escape. He was the last Timberlin left, and he was left for a reason.  After Reeth left, things got worse, a lot worse. No great wizard was left alive, and only few escaped. The cause of the dissapearances and murders was still a mystery, and Reeth knew that the happenings in Wizardend wouldn’t stop there. So one quiet, Spring day, Reeth got a knock on his door. He ignored it ofcourse, and continued doing what he was doing. A lot of the young elves like to mess with him, he was used to it. But along, came another knock. This time it was loud, and seemed hurried. He, once again, did not bother to answer the door. A few moments passed when the door suddenly flew open. A large elf stood in the doorway. He set his eyes on Reeth as if he found his prey. Reeth trembled in his seat. Florence slowly walked up and stood right in front of him.

 “I’m assuming you’re going to apologize for not welcoming an old friend right into your home now?” the large elf said in a rather familiar tone. At once, Reeth knew who it was. There stood Florence. Florence was his best friend at Bostorf. He was rather tall for an elf, and was always smiling. He wasn’t a wizard but he had an amazing talent. He could see the future. He was also top of the class, and very smart. Reeth jumped up in excitement and they hugged. Reeth hadn’t hugged a familiar soul in so long he had forgotten the feeling it gave him. Florence and Reeth sat down, and Reeth decided it would be best to avoid talking about the happenings that occurred long ago. “So how have you been my friend?” Reeth asked in a friendly tone. “It’s been so long since i have seen a familiar face, since all that had happ...,” he stopped himself, “So what have you been doing?” he asked. Florence paused for a few minutes, and then he came to me and asked then slowly, he asked the question Reeth never wanted to answer, “Reeth, in no judgement do i ask this question, but why did you leave us?” Reeth felt like his heart fell into the pit of his stomach, his mind was going blank. The feeling of guilt and embarrassment he had pushed away for so long rushed through his veins once again. He thought for awhile before he answered, and then he exclaimed, “I felt as if my world was over. I had no business living in the place that betrayed me. I know I’m not the only one who lost loved ones, but I was the only one left. I was alone, and I couldn’t help anyone. I felt powerless for the first time in my young life.” “I understand but whatever it was Reeth, it’s still here. Everything stopped in Wizarend. Some people even came back. We asked them where they were and what happened, but none of them remember. They all came back with a loss of memory, none of them even know who they are. It’s a terrible thing Reeth, but it left,” said Florence. “That is good to hear,” said Reeth, avoiding to ask if any of his brothers or sisters had, knowing Florence would have told them. “I hope Wizarend can return to the home i once loved so much.” “Reeth, i didn’t just come here to tell you all is well back home. And i think you already knew that, am i correct?” Florence asked. Reeth nodded. Reeth knew why he was there, he didn’t want to, but he knew. “This “thing” is going to come back Reeth, and this time, it’s coming for you. Whatever this creature, disease, thing, may be, you are the only Timberland left for a reason. Yes it killed many people, but we all have our families, and unlike us, you don’t. This thing, we can feel is approaching again. Nothing has happened yet, but something is among us. The town keeps asking themselves why this thing hasn’t left. We only have one explanation. It wants something, something it didn’t get the first time. And well, it got mostly everything, it did not get you. That is why i am here Reeth.” Florence stopped, eager to see Reeth’s response. Reeth, on the other hand, already knew all of this. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m not ready to go back, and I am not going to sacrafice myself. But here is what I do know. This “thing” wants me for a reason i’m not sure about. He’s killed out people, and he’s ruined our town. I do know that it left, and it is coming back. And the reason it left, well, it’s preparing to come back. Whatever this thing may be, it isn’t strong. No real mass murderer or great evil wizard would leave a town without wiping it out, completely. When this thing comes back, we need to be ready. I’ll come back on one condition, we fight together. I’ve thought long and hard about what this thing is and why i was left, and I still am not sure on why. But i want this to end. I want my home back.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Florence listened in a son-like manner. Reeth continued on, talking about what he wanted to do and how they were going to do it. Florence didn’t say much, he just sat and listened. And at this moment right here, Reeth realized was the only one left. His father commanded his army in time of need, and Reeth was left to do the same. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The conversation was over and Reeth decided he would go back. They packed up his very few things, and headed back to Wizarend. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When they arrived, Reeth was astonished at how everything had changed. The town was muggy and dreary, there were small huts and no houses, no people around, and the air smelt like swamp. It was a ghost town. Reeth fell to his knees at the sight of his beautiful home land in such terrible conditions. It was as if had the life completely sucked out of it. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Reeth knew what he needed to do at that point. He started to assemble his army. He found every grown man strong enough to fight. He had an army of twelve.