Episode 4 - The White Shield

Quickly, I shove my paw into an inner pocket, wrapping my claws around my Magic Scroll; stretching my arm out with a shout and pouring my will into the scroll, 

“White Staff!”

The parchment fades into white lightning that wraps around my forearm, sparking and gaining size. Crackling, the bright power morphs again into the White Sorceress Staff, fully charged for use. Three sticks intertwining to create one, the staff shimmers with a lightning carving near its top. With little time to waste, I begin casting with protection in mind while I look at the strange blue light through the window. 

“Blue Light?”

The Trollfairy bursts into manic laughter, exclaiming, “Blue Light! Silly! It’s ‘Shielding Shield!’” Uncertainty laces through my mind as I hear the unfamiliar spell name… does such a spell exist? How does it know such words? Tightly gripping the staff, I choose to trust it, the incorrect incantation of ‘blue light’ had no effect. Embarrassment, alongside the shame, pins my ears back. I am a powerful White Sorceress… to make such a silly mistake as getting a spell wrong is unspeakable. Maybe I can blame the distracting nature of the bright light for confusing me.

My ears flicker up again, listening, alert, as the house begins to tremble. My tail stands straight behind me, fur rustled. I tighten my grip on the staff, preparing for the incantation with urgency.

“Shielding Shield!” 

A white bullet shoots out of the staff, passing through the ceiling silently and disappearing from eyesight. I stare out of the window, sighing in relief as the newly learned spell takes action. The morph from blue to white light is wonderful, bathing the room in a pleasant manner despite the thick layer of dust blocking it. I begin to speak, annoyance coursing through me due to the Trollfairy’s atrocious conversational manners.

“That wa-”

“That was too close, my Meow!”

It laughs again, soft tears rolling down its cheeks as it falls back into rest on a book. “You! You shrivelled up u… ugly Trolling creature!” I raise my voice and harden my tone to leave little room for argument whilst pointing at it with my staff. I could feel my voice waiver as I corrected my use of unfunny, fearful of yet another nightmarish screaming episode. 

“Go outside and see if everything is alright?” 

My voice falls into a question, fearful that my unkindness - due mostly to embarrassment and annoyance of such messing up as I did - will bite back. I press on the window and let it grind open on rusted hinges, creating space for the Trollfairy to exit safely. After all, I would much prefer to stay right here in the safety of my house, rather than risk becoming some sort of furless.

Unfolding it’s magnificent wings, the Trollfairy hops up onto its tiny feet. With a gentle chuckle it exclaims. 

“I’ll be a good helper!” 

It is the first time I have fully viewed its wings, beautiful colours stretching out across the delicate structures. I am so intent on examining the wings that even when it has flown outside, it takes me a moment to hear it’s little song, “Trolling, trolling, trolling…” 

Or… as close to a song as it may be. I repeat the word aloud to myself, 

“Trolling… Yes, a good name my friend.”

As time passes, I am left to wonder if Trolling will be coming back. Although, the odd shout and exhilarated cry tells me it is still out and about and may perhaps return with time. Shortly after another excited shriek, I begin to pace in a circle, confused as to what it could possibly be doing out there. A small stack of books is in the path of my circle, being stepped on each time to avoid the disruption of my pondering. And, following what must be the eighth exuberant howl, I halt my pacing and let intrigue carry my thoughts. Purrhaps, I should see what it is doing - I have my Sorceress Staff for safety.

Tap! Tap! What is that? Such an irritating noise! Tap! I swivel to look out of the window and find that, at last, the Trollfairy has returned! Relieved, I swing the window wider, allowing the Trollfairy to perch on the frame. 

“My Meow, the forest has gone.” 

I use a pile of books to raise myself closer to the window, where I can express my confusion more clearly. 

“What do you mean, gone? Forests don’t just disappear! Or get up and walk away!” 

Gone? Whatever could it mean? Trolling must be joking… or mistaken! I try to peer through the window, unable to see because of the thick layer of dust. As I step down from the pile of books, the Trollfairy flutters down and flies beside me.

“Is it really gone? Gone for good?” I ask curiously, a hint of confusion making its way to my ears. Step by step, I shift down the stairs over to the door; swing it open. I hold my staff at the ready…

And watch as the Trollfairy’s ugly little face soars past mine. As my vision clears, I look up, spotting the Blue Bird still in my tree. But, as I look around, I see… 

“Are you kittyend me?” I murmur in shock. 

The forest is gone! Black, dry; dead. Old and dark as if forgotten following a fire long past. Aside from my tree; my home… as well as its contents and the little bird perching upon it… the world has burnt before me. I have to squint to see even a trace of foliage far in the distance. Although, even with the grass blowing around like sand, the clear blue of the sky is incredible…

Was it the blue light that did this? Surely it shouldn’t have burnt the forest like this? Fresh grass crunches beneath my paws as I near my shield. The barrier has made a huge circle fifty feet around my home, preserving the life within it.

“Holy Miaw!” I shout, a wave of unintended power pulsing from me in my shock. Wind magic born from surprise blows Trolling away, laughter falls from it’s little mouth. 

“I… I have grass! And… Trolling… I have my two trees and a garden, or well half a garden and, oh Trolling, I still have the Blue Bird! and half of a big tree, and my milk-fungus is still here.” 

I stare around me in wonder eyes skimming the edge of the shield where it cut through my garden.

Everything in the barrier is… just the same as it was. What lay beyond the shield is barren; dead. Different. I shift my sight back to the Trollfairy. 

“Little Trolling… why did it take so long?”

“Come my Meow! Follow! Follow!” It chuckles as it flies around the house.

“What is it you’ve found?”

I have to raise my voice for it to be heard and begin a light jog as Trolling has sped behind the house. I am quick to discover the cause as I stumble around the corner of the house. Shimmering beyond the shield is a bright blue light, almost like a glimmering gap in space. Trolling moves to the hole, passing through the protective shield right where the remains of my berry bushes end. I stay back, cautious and fearful, though curiosity tingles through my paws as I watch it pass the shield, a strange transformation overtaking the Trollfairy’s body. It almost appears to be older as it reaches the outside, time passing over its small form. I take a step up to the protective wall, weaved with my magic, pressing my paw against it, then through it. Grey ripples through my fur, a light ache becoming present. Am I living in my own little dome of time, like the fairytales of the forests?

Though fear and concern runs through my veins like fire, I drop down onto all fours and creep forwards. I feel my body begin to ache, fur thinning and spine compressing. I feel as if I might die just as the soul is used up, elderly groans taking over my bones. From the edge of the glowing hole I peer through to see a strange looking creature. And the even stranger actions of the Trollfairy. 

“What is it? My Meow?” Trolling asks as it jumps around the creature. Stomach, head and back like a little game of parkour. 

“Your little helper has tried to wake it up of course!”

I smile at Trolling - clearly, he hasn’t lost his sense of humour. I step closer to the creature, ignoring the bouncing Trollfairy. All my senses are on guard, my Sorceress Reflex in particular working overtime in caution of the strange being. It is so similar; so close to our race of Catmen. Same size, with arms and legs but no tail.  The hair is long and it only resides on the head. The rest of its body is bald, with only tiny bits of fur along its arms and legs. It’s face is still similar to ours, but the eyes are more gentle. Taking a peek under the lids shows large black circles much like my own, but smaller than mine to make space for a stunning ring of colour. Breasts, not dissimilar to my own, mark it as a female. 

“Holy Miaw!” I exclaim. 

“Trolling, do you know what she is?” 

I shoot glances at the Trollfairy between long, curious stares at the creature, expecting an answer. Although, instead, the Trollfairy jumps higher than before and begins to grin wickedly while it answers my question. 

“A springboard, my Meow!” 

It sighs as it jumps one last time before unfolding its wings. Or, rather the second to last time. Trolling plummets back onto its stomach with a giggle. This causes the stomach to fall under its weight, compressing as it speaks… 

“One...Two...” 

And it is gone, the stomach catapulting Trolling into the air with only a loud shriek of laughter and excitement following behind. Silly little Trolling. It flies onto the roof of the house with a cheeky laugh, inducing a little laugh from myself at the fun it’s having. Forcing myself to focus, I take one of the creature’s hands in mine and inspect it, turning back to the Trollfairy with a serious expression. I speak firmly, not shouting, but in the silence it is enough for the Trollfairy to hear me. 

“Trolling, this is a Furless…”