Sanctuary
Dance With Ghosts

Eons ago, the island that now bears the name 'Deadlands' was a verdant island, filled with trees bearing hundreds of varieties of fruit, the ocean waves were calm and the crops of the island grew well.

Aran Luna had just turned 17, and had been chosen to visit the mainland, where the wars raged between the many nations over the 'Crystals' which had been gifted to them by the gods. Today was her final day at home. The island bore the name 'Lifa' or, Life, in modern tongue.

There was a giant temple on the isle, where the islanders paid tribute to the pantheon of Gods. The gods always smiled down on Lifa. For they were the only island that stayed their hands from violence.

Aran walked toward the shore and took in her last breath of sea air, and took a bite out of a recently picked apple. She had a sad feeling in the pit of her stomach, she would miss home. Others who had been chosen to spread the word of peace never returned, and Aran feared that her fate would be the same.

"Hello there, young Aran" A friendly old man waved.

"Greetings, Monk Adim" Aran smiled.

"You look troubled, young one. I imagine the journey that lies ahead of you is very daunting, yes?" Adim asked.

"Daunting is too light of a word for it, must we bother ourselves with the savages on the mainland, why can't we live out our days here?" Aran asked.

"Why does the mother fox always go back for the blind cub?" Adim smiled.

"Because it is its mother?" Aran replied.

"Well, yes, but it goes deeper than that, child" Adim smiled gently. "The mother fox takes care of the blind cub, because, it's her duty and because, it's inability to see doesn't make it any less of a fox" He continued.

"I don't get it" Aran shrugged. Adim erupted into laughter, and patted Aran on the shoulder.

"What I am trying to tell you is, just because the mainland is warring, it doesn't make them any less human. We have been blessed with this haven of an island, and to keep it to ourselves would be selfish. We must spread the word across the continent that there is another way" Adim explained.

"I guess, but will they listen?" Aran asked.

"Maybe, maybe not, but we have to try. If you can convince just one person, it could make all the difference in the world" Adim nodded.

"I'll try to remember that" Aran sighed deeply, Adim stood in front of Aran and looked her in the eyes.

"Aran Luna, you are a child of Lifa and kindness runs in your veins. If you ever replace yourself in doubt, remember us. Remember our words, our motto, our ethos: Be kind, be gentle, but true and be brave" Adim smiled, as he rubbed Aran's arm. Aran smiled and nodded, at Adim as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Come, child, I shall walk you to the boat" Adim smiled as he took Aran's hand, they walked slowly down the beach as the sunset made the sky turn a rosy red.

Modern Day...

Aran looked at the beach where she had seen Monk Adim for the very last time, the docks where the ship had left from had long since vanished. The island was far from the verdant paradise it had once been, now the ground was cracked and lifeless.

The ruins of the Lifa Temple still stood, but slowly crumbled, the village houses had long since been lost to the winds of time.

"This was your home, wasn't it?" Abyssia asked, softly.

"Yeah" Aran nodded. Abyssia gently held her hand, like Adim had done so very long ago. Aran walked ahead into the centre of town. The cobbled ground was still around, but worn away. Aran remembered the many festivals that had been celebrated in this very place. She recalled how she once loved to dance, she would dance the whole night away, around the giant bonfire.

Abyssia watched on as Aran danced slowly away, on the cold cobbled stones, dancing with ghosts of a long dead town. Ghosts that were only remembered by one person. The thought tore a hole in Abyssia's heart. The sorrow that Aran had dealt with all these years felt like too much, she couldn't fight back the tears.

Abyssia slowly stepped forward and took Aran's hands, the two danced around an imaginary bonfire, as the music that the village chiefs had played, echoed in Aran's mind. Aran pulled Abyssia closer as they both fought back the tears.

They danced, with ghosts.