Elements

Elements

D. A. Ratliff

Aeris stood upon the hilltop overlooking the carnage occurring in the valley. She watched the village burn, and the peasants’ screams drew her breath away as she tried to give them life.

Anger filled her. She had warned the others the village needed protection, but they assumed she was overreacting.

The villagers refused her breath one by one until no one was left.

Outstretching her arms, a stream of glowing, white light flowed from Aeris’s fingertips into the sky. Leaning against the Tree of Ages, she waited for the others.

Terra arrived first, her green and brown gown swirling within the vortex, flowers dropping onto the ground beneath her feet. Before she could ask why Aeris summoned her, Aqua arrived. Waves of foam flew from the vortex before she appeared, smoothing the skirt of her shimmering sea-green gown.

“What do you want, Aeris? I was mediating a dispute between those silly sea lions and the Orcas.”

“Why did you call us?” Before Aeris could answer, Terra’s usually tanned skin turned pale. She pointed toward the village. “What happened to them?”

“Exactly what I warned would happen. The Warriors from the mountains attacked the village. Everyone is dead. They’re looting the village and setting fires as they move from house to house.”

Aqua spoke, her melodious voice low. “I didn’t think the Warriors would do this.”

“I told you the breezes whispered their plans to me. We could have stopped this. The villagers didn’t have to ...”

Aeris stopped as two vortexes opened side by side. Flames escaped from one vortex as wind spiraled from the other. Ignis, her bright red hair askew, snarled. “Ventus, can’t you control that power of yours?”

Flashing gray eyes, Ventus snapped. “You don’t seem to mind my power when you need to spread your flames.”

“Stop it, both of you.” Aeris threw up her hands. “Stop squabbling. Earthlings are dead because you didn’t listen.”

The Five Elements stood on the crest of the hill under the Tree of Ages, its sturdy branches reaching for the sky. The village below unknowingly kept their precious tree alive. It symbolized the village’s prosperity, and the villagers tended to it with loving care.

Tears streamed down the Elements’ cheeks as the enormity of what had befallen the tree’s caretakers sank in.

Aqua voiced what they all thought. “We should have listened to you, Aeris. I suppose we were caught up in our responsibilities, not paying attention.”

Ventus, her gossamer-gray gown blowing about her, turned to Ignis. “Didn’t you realize what was happening when the request for fire came to you?”

Flames appeared around Ignis as she shook her head. “I thought the Warriors were planning a feast. I didn’t…”

Aeris’s voice simmered with anger. “It’s too late for apologies. Now, we must deal with this.”

Terra nodded. “I will prepare the earth for the villagers’ arrival.”

Water droplets flowed from Aqua’s fingertips. “I will put out the fires.”

“No.” Aeris shook her head. “First, we deal with the monsters who did this.”

“I’ll take care of them.” Ventus turned toward Aeris. “I was the one who thought you were exaggerating. I will need help to vanquish them.”

With Ventus in the middle, the Elements—air, water, wind, fire, and earth—linked hands, concentrating their powers.

Ventus unleashed the wind, and an enormous cyclone, growing as it descended upon the village, struck the Warriors, tossing them into the air and then throwing them toward the mountain and into oblivion. Ventus generated such power that the Tree of Ages bent toward the ground in response.

As the wind ceased, the Elements walked down the hill to attend to the dead as the Tree of Life slowly extended its branches toward the heavens.

"Elements" was first published in the Writers Unite! Anthology Dimensions of Fantasy Vol 1 and 2.

Please note: Cover image digitally edited by D. A. Ratliff.