[wednesday]: 106.Finding Home

As the leaves of the summer trees whisper in the wind, a great longing came over Chay. By now he was used to this feeling, as it came too often. He is only a young lad of 13 and should still have the boyish erg to go out and have fun with his peers, but somehow he found himself alone with only the trees to comfort him. Giving a sigh, he made his way down the tree from where he sat on one of the highest branches. He has finally made the decision to find the truth, no matter what the consequences. As he stared walking the small foot path that leads to the only home he knows, someone appeared in the far distance. Chay could immediately recognise his one and only friend Ferris, walking fast but lightly on his elven feet. For a moment Chay paused to look at his own feet, noticing again on how big they looked and how clumsy they were on the ground compared to Ferris’s feet. Why was he so different from everyone? He knew his name Chay meant from the oak forest, so why is he so different from all the elves he knew so well. Ferris met up with him, looking a bit grim.

“Your mother is looking for you Chay, she sent me to find you. What are you doing out here again?” 

Chay gave another sigh, and walked pass Ferris. He had no spirit to argue with his friend. The only thing on his mind now, is to go to his mother and ask her why he is so different. For the rest of the walk home, neither boy said a word.



As they reached the elven town, Chay turned to Ferris. 

“Im going to see my mother, you should head home.” And with that said, he turned and walked off towards the elven palace. Ferris didn’t argue, but left his friend to sort out what ever troubled him so. Chay made his way to the palace hardly greeting the elves he passed. When he reached the big courtyard that surrounded the palace he was surprised to see his mother waiting there for him. Her long copper hair glowed in the sun, as only an elven princes can, showing her beauty even more.

“Chay, where have you been?” She scolded him.

“It does not matter, I have come to ask you mother, once again, why am I different? I’m not an elf, that I know, so why am I here?”

“Hush dear one, we cannot discus this here in the courtyard!”

“Then where mother? Not in the castle, as you say that too often! I don’t care if someone hears us, I want the answer no matter what!” Chay demanded.

His mother shook her head and took his hand.

“All right, I can see you’re not going to leave it this time. Follow me then.” She said leading him back out of the castle courtyard, still holding his hand. They made their way out of the small elven town, and not before long, they were on the path that lead them into the deeper forest. After a while of walking in silence, Chay couldn’t keep his eagerness in anymore.

“Where are you talking me mother?”

“Hush dear child, and follow me.” Is all she answered back to him.

Chay gave a sigh, but decided not to push it. He followed his elven mother in silence the rest of the way, trying to concentrate on the path they were upon.

After quite a while, she suddenly stopped and turned to him.

“Where are we mother?” He asked looking around, knowing he has never been this far away from the elven home he lived in.

“We are at the borders of our forest. This is where our world ends my child.”

Chay had heard of the borders of the forest, but never dared come here. No elf was allowed to come here.

“But what-?”

“You are right Chay, you’re not one of us, and I only regret it now as I can see it is causing you so much pain. If I but have knew you would suffer so, I would never have dared take you from your rightful home.”

“Mother, your not making any sense!”

“You’re a human, not an elf. When you were but just a babe, I stole you from your mothers cradle, and took you with me to my palace. I never thought it would trouble you so, especially if you didn’t know about the other humans. But it seems that I was wrong. And my child, you must believe me if I say that I’m truly sorry.”

“Why? Why did you do it?”

“I cannot conceive myself. I am barren, therefore I cannot get a child. Chay, I know you don’t understand my reason right now, but one day, when your older, you will.”

For a moment, Chay only stood staring at the elf he always knew as his mother.

“Where is…where are all the humans then? Where is my real home?”

“Beyond this border lays the country of the humans, the place where you were born.”

“And….is Chay even my real name?”

“Yes, its your elven name, you need no other!”

“But what did the humans call me then?”

His mother gave a heavy sigh, and turned around. She couldn’t face him anymore. She knew she was loosing him.

“They called you David.” 

Chay turned to look into the darker part of forest. He knew now that he needed to go back to the country he was born too. He will go search for his real parents, and return home. He had no life here with the elfs.

“Take me there.” He said turning back to her.

“Chay please!”

“This is not my home, I don’t belong here! Take me to the country of the humans.”

Reluctantly she gave in, and walked into the darker forest. Chay followed, feeling the excitement building up inside him. As she reached, what looked like ivy growing so thickly together they formed a curtain, she stopped.

“Are you sure this is what you want my child?” She asked looking not at him, but at the ivy curtain in front of her.

“Yes.”

With out replying, she gently laid her two hands on the ivy curtain. A shimmer went through the ivy leaves, and slowly but certainly, they shifted to form a small hole, big enough for Chay to walk through.

“There is the human land. But Chay, if you go through, you would never be able to find me again.”

Without a word, he stepped through the hole, and she let go of the ivy. They fell back in place, leaving her alone, and her heart cold with grieve.