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Short Story
(Be sure to read Inner Sanctum - Mind of the Wulf before reading this one or you won't really understand it.)

As you dose off an image appears in your mind. One vaguely familiar as if it was located in the back of your memories. You are standing on an island that is floating amongst the stars in an empty void. The moon that hangs overhead gives the area a mythical glow. It is a small island with many features. Rocks representing a small hill are far to the right while dark, ancient woods are located on the left. Just ahead of you a waterfall roars triumphantly over a pool of water whose river eventually runs over the edge and into the night. The water faintly glows from what little light the moon gives to the surroundings. The grass is soft as you take a few steps. A silver box sparkles as you move closer to the falls. As your eyes gaze at the box the last visit becomes as clear as the crystal water. 'These are my deepest, darkest secrets. They are not for you to know...not yet,' rung truly in your mind as if the voice had been spoken right next to you. Your feet stop as you survey the scene. What you did not notice before were the multiple figures spread across the island. One was looking deep into the pool of water. Another sat in the trees, his nose deep into a fresh rose. A third sat on top of the mountain, his eyes piercing, but seemingly deep in thought. A fourth sat on the ledge, his feet hanging in the darkness. They went along with what they were doing, appearing to have no sense of your presence. They all looked familiar and similar though each had its unique aura and sported a different appearance. You wait for a view moments, watching, waiting to see if something would happen. Just as you grew comfortable that they were not interesting, you turn to look at them. A loud crack is heard as the island begins to shake. A booming voice echoes around the island.

'Why do you not tell her?' the spirit of the mountain spoke with a voice like that of thunder.

'Do you know little of me to think that I have not tried?' the spirit of the plane whispered softly.

'Know little of you? Ha! I am the strength you have yet to show, weakling,' roared the spirit of the mountain. 'Why do you not just tell her? It is a simple as opening your mouth and speaking one word at a time!'

'Ah, but words can be difficult to say, if they are spoken from the heart, my earthen friend,' spoke the smoothe voiced spirit of the forest as he smelt, dreamily, of the rose he had recently plucked. 'A young lover, is all he is.'

'I do not believe I spoke to the firewood I wish to burn,' the spirit of the mountain turns his gaze to the forests.

'Ah, but I should give my word when it is due, my earthen friend,' the spirit of the forest chuckles. 'After all, I am our young lover's voice when he is in need.'

The spirit of the mountain mumbled some obscenities under his breath as things quieted down on the island.

'This one fears rejection and the pain it brings,' spoke the smooth, dreamlike voice of the forest spirit. 'He fears it more than the pain of not knowing.'

The earth shook as the spirit of the mountain rolled with laughter. 'You cannot mean to tell me that we lack in courage? Ha! You are more pathetic than I originally thought. If you cannot tell her, you are obviously unworthy of her love!'

The spirits look towards the mountains as the island continues to tremble. The spirit of the forest gets to his feet, tossing his rose back into the bushes below. 'You are a fool to think such. It is not 'pathetic' to be in the state he is in.'

'What? A state of weakness? Pathetic! Pathetic!' bellowed the spirit of the mountains.

'It is not pathetic to love,' the fourth voice finally joined in with the rest. You look over in the direction from which it came. There, sitting alone, was the spirit of water, staring emptily into the pool.

The other two spirits look over at their quiet counterpart. The mountain grunts and sits back down in false meditation. The forest smiled in approval as he takes his seat, the rose returning once more to his hand. The water grew silent once more as the void sighs.

'If I could tell her, do you think it would be better? She could feel the same way....couldn't she?' the spirit of the void sat back on his hands, looking out into the night. 'She could love me back.....she could....'

As he finished, it grew silent once more. Only the gurggle of the waterfall keeps the island alive. One by one the spirits take their respected places. The air around you grows to a small chill as breeze sweeps over the area.

'We do not know, brother. Nor will we for the time being,' spoke a fifth voice, this one fluidly, almost like it would come and go at any moment. A ghost appears before you, standing in open grass. It has no true shape that can be seen, but you can tell he looks just like the rest of the spirits. 'I do believe you have heard enough of my thoughts on this visit. You must leave at once for it is not yet your time....'

Once again, the strange force takes hold of your midsection and sends you soaring off the island and into complete darkness. A loud click startles you awake. If you are the one they spoke of, the image of a rose appears before you. If you are just a visitor like so many others, a chilling breeze fils the air around you.

'In time she know....if she doesn't already,' spoke the quiet voice of the spirit of the void. 'In time...'

As you sit there, reading an open blog, again you wonder.....

'Was that all a dream?'