The wind whistled through the leaves as I climbed my tree. I sighed as I nestled in the arms of the elm and dreamed about the streets of Ban Rona, the Great Library, and Chimney Hill. I dreamed about going to Anniera with Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli.
"Dinner's in 30 minutes!" My mom called, shaking me out of my reverie.
"OK!" I called back. I heard the back door slam close and then Silas, my dog, came into view. He laid down in the shade and panted, watching me. He reminded me of Nugget and my thoughts slipped back into Aerwiar. I came back to reality with a jerk.
I looked down and saw that Silas was gone. I became aware that the wind had stopped, and that was everything was quiet. Too quiet. I started to climb back down the tree, wondering how long I had dozed. Midway down, my foot slipped and I groped with my toes, trying to find a placehold.
My toes found a little nook and I looked down, surprised to see that half of my foot was missing. I jerked my foot out of the nook and my foot reappeared. I climbed further down until I could look into the nook.
It was the size of our mailslot and I was startled to see that the inside was smooth as if some one had gone over it with sand paper. I debated whether or not to stick my hand into it to see how far back it went until I steeled my nerves to whatever spider or any other insect might lurk in the nook and stuck my hand into it.
I was surprised to feel sunlight on the back of my hand and a calm seabreeze tickled my fingertips. I jerked my hand back out and peered into the nook but couldn't see anything. I had the curious sensation at the back of my mind as if it was trying to tell me something. Then I remembered. I raced back inside and up the stairs, barely hearing my mom telling me that dinner was in 15 minutes.
"OK!" I yelled over my shoulder as I hurried to my room. I swung the door shut and collapsed on the sea foam carpet in the middle of my room. I reached up on top of my bookshelf and found the book I was looking for. I pulled it out and stared at the front cover: Wingfeather Tales.
I frowned and flipped it open to the Table of Contents. I scanned it until I found the story I was looking for: Willow Worlds. I flipped to it and one name popped out at me: Wyle. I frowned again. Wyle? He was the one who had collected Doors Between the Worlds. Doors that led you from one world to another.
I felt excitement building up in me. But it couldn't be, I told myself. That's impossibe. But it had fitted the exact description that had happened to Podo when he had stuck his hand through one! Podo? Maybe it led to Anniera!
I sprinted back down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out the back door, which I forgot to close, much to the annoyance of my mom. I arrived back at the tree, breatheless.
I stuck my hand back in the nook and this time I felt a switch. I flipped it. The nook suddenly started to expand and grow until it reached the size of a door. I glanced around to make sure that no one else had noticed. My dad and brother were at work and Mom was making dinner. No one was around.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the doorway before my mind could tell me no.
I stepped out into blaring sunlight, and my eyes instantly started watering. I raised my hand to shield them from the light and looked around. I had stepped out on to a a small fishing boat and the ocean surrounded me. A boy who looked to be around my age noticed me and looked at me curiously. He finished coiling his rope and then walked over to me. His lean tall frame was tanned and he had a sword at his side. His blue eyes were kind but I could tell by looking at them that he had seen war and hardship. But there was a certain peace in them too.
"Hello there," he said. "What's your name?"
"Christy," I said simply. I was surprised at his reaction to a random girl who had just appeared on his boat.
"That's a pretty name," he said, smiling. "I'm Janner Wingfeather, Throne Warden of Anniera."
My vision blurred for a moment and when it cleared I saw Janner looking down at me, grinning.
"What happened?" I asked, afraid to know.
"I think you passed out for a moment there," he said, his grin widening.
I groaned and closed my eyes.
Over the next few days, I got to know Janner better and learned how to navigate a boat. After 3 days at sea, we landed at Anniera. I hesitated, nervous to see the place I had dreamed about so much. Janner stepped on to the pier and offered me his hand. I took it.
"Welcome to Shining Isle," he said. I smiled.
Note: Christy is not my real name but it is for this story😁
Also, I know this wasn't exactly Artham's prompt but it still gave me this idea😁
I want a magical tree that leads me to Anniera!!!!