The Epic

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!!" screeched the rooster as the first rays of golden light peeked over the lush green hills. The grass was covered in frost, and the fog was thick. It was a usual winter morning for Stardust Acres.

The farmhands' dorms were soon bright with light, and men came shuffling out of the cabins into the fog, wearing wax cotton Henleys and overalls. The mist soon dissipated, and the farm was alive with activity.

Inside the ranch owner's warm house lay two sleeping children, snuggled warmly in fluffy down blankets.

••••••

Sixteen-year-old Sienna Elein Andrews woke up early, her long, curly, strawberry-blond hair tousled from the night's sleep and her emerald-green eyes adjusting to the light seeping through the window. She lived on the outskirts of the Kharthas Village, a busy town bustling with activity.

It was cold that day, but it was sure to warm up in the afternoon. Changing out of her nightclothes and slipping on a pair of overalls, Sienna started getting ready for the day. After combing her hair, making her bed, and splashing some chilly water onto her face from the pump outside, she started preparing a meal for her strong, intelligent father, Dallas, and her energetic, funny nine-year-old brother, Aiden.

Measuring, pouring, and stirring, Sienna began cooking up pancakes.

"Morning, darlin'," greeted Dallas as he walked through the door. "You're up a bit late."

Sienna nodded and continued mixing.

"Aiden's still asleep?"

Sienna nodded her head again.

This conversation was how it went almost every morning. Sienna hadn't been the talkative type ever since her mother died. She had become impassive and didn't connect anymore.

Dallas sadly nodded his head and asked her to ring the bell when breakfast was ready. He went upstairs, woke up Aiden, then walked out the back door to feed the animals. Nine-year-old Aiden sleepily walked down the stained oak stairs a little while later. "I smelled the pancakes," he murmured.

"When you finish getting ready for school, breakfast will be ready," informed Sienna.

Sienna sent Aiden off to back his schoolbooks and comb his hair while she finished flipping the pancakes. Aiden ran down the stairs and slid into his chair right as Sienna put a plate on the table. She went outside and rang the bell, and Dallas came jogging in. He took his plate from the table and apologized for not being able to eat with them, but Sierra, one of the prize racing mares, was giving birth. He ran back outside and into the barn. Aiden gobbled up his syrup-drenched pancakes, and after Sienna ate, asked her, "Can you ride me to school on Pikachu?" Pikachu, a Palomino stallion, was another of the many horses that the Andrews owned.

"Pikachu is out on a cattle drive," reminded Sienna. "We'll take Summer." Summer, Sienna's honey-chestnut-colored Thoroughbred horse, was strong, brave, tough, and clever, much like her owner.

Once Sienna had quickly groomed her horse and tacked her up, she boosted Aiden up and then climbed up. As they rode off, Aiden yelled out for all the ranch hands to hear, "Bye!! I'm leaving!! Bye! See you later everyone!! Byeeee!"

••••••

Once Sienna dropped Aiden off at the school in the village, she galloped out into the countryside, the cold frigid air making her hair fly behind her. After galloping for a while, Summer became tired, so Sienna slowed her down to a walk until they came to a small grove of willow trees overhanging a pond. This was one of Sienna's favorite places to be. Nobody except for her and the animals. It took her mind off things, off the past.

Her mother, Alessia, died of Diphtheria when she was nine, leaving a heavy burden on Sienna's shoulders. She never fully recovered from the loss and now preferred to be alone instead of interacting with others, as she used to. Sienna jumped off Summer and quietly walked over to a swan nest. The mother swan was lying on her eggs, keeping them warm, as their father garnered food.

"Hey, Snowdrop," whispered Sienna as she stroked the female swan's long, feathery neck. The animals here were used to Sienna. Her calm, quiet disposition appeased them, and some might call her an animal whisperer. Snowdrop rose from her nest and revealed seven creamy-white-grey eggs. Most of them were cracked open, and Sienna saw small swanlings peering out at her through them. They began moving and working their way slowly out of their eggs.

Five grey-white swanlings were out of their eggs one hour later, and Sienna had begun drying them off, and Snowdrop had started whistling and honking to them. After making sure the cygnets were safe, Sienna said goodbye, jumped onto her Summer and galloped off. As soon as she arrived back at the ranch, she un-tacked her horse, put her in the stall, and put a turnout blanket onto her back to keep her warm. "Sienna, is that you?" Dallas whispered.

Sienna ran over to Sierra's stall and saw her dad sitting next to Sierra and her foal. "Are they both okay?"

Dallas nodded and motioned for her to sit next to him on the straw. Sienna sat close to him, and he slowly put his arm around her. She stiffened and then froze but then scooted a little away.

••••••

Two weeks later, Aiden was upstairs later than usual. He hadn't been eating much the days before; he often got out of breath and slept late. "Aiden! You're going to be late for school!" Sienna yelled up the stairs. Aiden didn't answer. After calling for him again, she exasperatedly went up the stairs and saw Aiden still lying in his bed. "Aiden! What are you..." Sienna felt Aiden's forehead and gasped. He was burning up, and his face was deathly pale. She ran down the stairs yelling for Dallas, her eyes burnishing with tears. "Dad, Dad!! Aiden's burning up!! He's really sick!"

Sienna swung open the door and ran outside, still yelling. She saw one of the farmhands and asked where Dallas was. The man answered that he was in the barn where Sierra and her foal were. She ran to the barn without thanking the man and found her father carefully administering CPR to the foal with two ranch hands standing nearby. Dallas briefly looked up. "The colt isn't doing too well, Sienna."

Sienna was out of breath, but she wheezed out, "It's Aiden –– He's super sick."

Dallas looked alarmed and slightly afraid. First his wife, and now his son. Losing Aiden would be too much. "Reece, Quinn, take care of the colt." The ranch hands stepped in to take Dallas's place. Sienna and Dallas rushed into their house and into Aiden's room. "I don't feel good," groaned Aiden as Dallas seated himself next to his son. "My tummy really hurts."

"I bet it does," sympathized Dallas as he felt Aiden's forehead. "Sienna, please get me one of the housemaids and then ride Secretariat to the village doctor. Sienna nodded and ran off. Secretariat was the fastest horse they owned and had won every horse race he had entered in Kharthas Village. After sending a housemaid to Aiden and Dallas, Sienna dashed into the stall and decided not to tack the horse up. It would take too long, even for an experienced horse rider like her. Jumping onto Secretariat, Sienna raced away.

Sienna reached Kharthas Village in seven minutes, and when she raced past the shops, everyone stared. Finally, she arrived at the doctor's house. She banged on the door and impatiently waited. After two minutes of knocking, the door finally opened. It wasn't the doctor, though. It was his wife, the village schoolteacher. "Where is Dr. Mateo Escarra?" Sienna demanded.

"He's out on house calls," replied Mrs. Escarra. "He may be at the Sunreicks. Is something wrong?"

Sienna was breathing heavily. "It's my brother; he's very sick."

Mrs. Escarra gasped. "Aiden? I'll get my husband's spare medical bag. I'll ride over to your house, but you find my husband."

Sienna nodded and jumped back onto her horse. The Sunreicks were an older couple who lived near the village square. After reaching Sunreicks house, she didn't see a horse tied up anywhere. She decided to knock anyway. The door opened, and to her relief, Dr. Escarra answered. Sienna again explained what happened, and once the doctor packed up his medical supplies, Sienna rode him to their house.

Handing Secretariat over to a farmhand, the two rushed inside. "You're back," exclaimed Dallas with a sigh of relief.

"Will he be okay, doctor?" asked Sienna as she put her hand on her sleeping young brother's shoulder.

Dr. Escarra put his stethoscope on, put his finger up, listened to Aiden's heartbeat, and then his lungs. After he had used a few of his other instruments and tested his blood using a portable machine, Dr. Escarra explained that he had never seen a disease like it before and didn't know how to treat it. "The best thing for the boy is lots of rest and care," advised the doctor. "That's the best I know. If he is in any pain, give him these pills." Dr. Escarra handed a bottle to Dallas. "I'm sorry, I can't do anymore. From the looks of it, he may only have a few weeks left."

Dallas nodded, and the doctor and his wife left. "He's going to d..." Sienna couldn't get the words out. She looked up at her dad. "He's going to be okay, right?"

Dallas looked at his son strangely and murmured, "Eating less, fever, cold feet and hands, stomach hurting, tiredness, and sometimes fainting, the other symptoms... Does he also have a rash?" Dallas took the blanket off Aiden and looked at his arms and legs. There were numerous red marks on his legs and a few rapidly appearing on his arms. "It must be Porlanzia."

Sienna was confused and scared. "Dad, what is Porlanzia?"

"It's a disease that is very rare and only has one cure," answered Dallas. "A rare magical plant called the Solar Tulsi. It only grows in Arithdraid, a nation across the sea."

"How can we get to it?" asked Sienna determinedly.

Dallas looked into his daughter's alluring green eyes. "I'm afraid I can't go. I need to stay with Aiden."

"I'll go," Sienna quickly declared.

"It will be too..." Dallas was worried about also losing his daughter, but he knew that Sienna was tough and strong. "Sienna, start packing a few garments to bring with you on the ship. I'll arrange for your departure."

Sienna glanced at her wan, ill brother, and then ran to her room.

••••••

While Dallas had a nursemaid watch over Aiden, he traveled to the nearest harbor, half a day's ride without stopping, and asked how soon a ship would sail to Arithdraid. After asking about at many wharves, no vessel within miles would depart for the country for months. Dallas was very discouraged until the handsome son of an old friend of his walked up to him and said that he'd overheard his dilemma. He and his crew were sailing the next day and would be passing near Arithdraid on their way to Idacrosco, and they could make a stop for supplies there and drop off Sienna. Dallas was overjoyed. He rode home as quickly as he could, checked on Aiden, and then rushed into Sienna's room.

Sienna folded a few pairs of clothes and set them neatly in a carpetbag. Sienna looked up and then walked over to her dresser, picking up a long white fox fur hooded cape. Digging through the drawers, she found her mother's necklace with a small Aquamarine jewel hanging from the end.

"Ah, your mother loved that necklace," murmured Dallas. "I gave it to her on her birthday. Do you want help putting it on?"

Sienna put it around her neck and clipped it on. "No." She looked at the ground and stared at her shoes. "No, thank you."

Dallas nodded and explained everything that happened on his search for a ship. Sienna finished packing, and the two said goodbye to Aiden, and they left for the docks. They arrived at daybreak, and the young man from the day before met them when they were tying their horses up to a post.

Dallas introduced the two; Gio was the good-looking boy's name, and his platinum black hair blew in the strong wind. "This wind is perfect for sailing," commented Gio to Sienna. "We'll make good time."

After Dallas convinced Sienna to have Gio as her escort, Sienna and Gio boarded the ship and soon disembarked on their journey into the open sea.

••••••

Nine days into the eighteen-day journey, a fierce storm came upon them.

The sailors tried to keep the ship from sinking, but the storm overtook them. The boat rocked violently, and tremendous waves crashed onto the boat, soaking everything in sight. The water drenched Sienna, but she still stood on the boat's deck, helping bail water to keep the boat from sinking.

Sienna saw a large black scaley mass closing in on them, and so did a few of the sailors! They shouted in alarm that it was the terror of the ocean, the fiercest sea dragon, Aquarius!

"Yaw starboard!" yelled Gio to the helmsman. "Aquarius at port!"

The battle only lasted a few minutes. Aquarius split the vessel in half, and While Sienna was thrown overboard, her head hit a jagged piece of wood torn from the ship, and everything blacked out.

Aquarius smashed the ship into ragged splinters and feasted on the sailors. Aquarius smelled the life of a living being and searched around the ruined ship. He spotted Sienna far from the boat and skimmed the top of the water, his lips rolled back and his sharp teeth dripping with saliva.

Just seven yards before Sienna was crunched to pieces and sliding down the throat of the monster, a pod of friendly orcas swiftly swam over and slid her onto one of their backs and dashed away, cutting through the large waves, and racing through sea stacks. Aquarius was fuming after pursuing the pod for miles and finally got it into his bulky scaley head that the orcas were too swift, and a small meal wasn't sufficient for all the work. The rain and wind finally calmed, and the orcas continued swimming.

••••••

Sienna woke up on a white, calm, sandy beach five hours later. "Where am I?" groaned Sienna as she felt her head and winced. Sienna's head was throbbing, and she didn't know where she was. After a few moments, Sienna remembered that she had been in a shipwreck and vaguely remembered Aquarius.

The warm sun and the quietness of the morning made Sienna feel tired. She fell into a deep sleep and was taken captive by a troop of hungry monkeys.

They carried her outside their jungle cave and started hooting and clawing at her skin. Sienna was so tired that she couldn't feel them.

The monkeys started biting her, and in cannibalistic ways, started fighting other monkeys who came near their catch. They screeched and clawed at each other and started biting. A few monkeys grabbed Sienna's hands and legs and started pulling her and yanking her towards a cliff edge.

A few started biting her, and Sienna woke up and screamed, punching a monkey in the jaw, causing it to move back.

Suddenly, the monkeys heard a loud war-like whoop, and a teenage boy swung towards them, hanging onto a vine! He brushed his golden bronze hair out of his tan face while jumping lightly to the ground like a cat. The monkeys surrounded Sienna, ready to defend their catch, but the boy swiftly grabbed a stick from the ground and fought the monkeys away. He lifted Sienna from the ground and dashed into the forest, leaving the angry monkeys fuming far behind.

Once they were far enough away from the monkeys, Sienna squirmed away from the boy and punched his cheek, stunning him for a moment, and then did a quick kick at his stomach. "Don't move." She picked up a long straight stick and pointed it at the boy. "Who are you?"

The boy smiled with white and unusually straight teeth for someone who lived on a deserted island.

Sienna glared at him but then rolled her eyes, turned around, and started walking. The jungle boy started chuckling, which caused Sienna to turn around. The boy looked at her and started circling her. After sizing her up, he sat on the mossy jungle floor. "Creepy boy," muttered Sienna.

She stepped forward and then was swung upside-down into the air. A rope intertwined onto her foot and hung her from a tree above. Sienna regained her senses and lifted herself to the vine, so she wasn't upside-down. Hanging on with one hand, she pulled out a knife and cut the vines.

The boy laughed but stopped when he saw Sienna jump down from the trap. "It's Tiago," said the island boy with a slight accent. "Sorry, I was just surprised that a human was here. I saw the storm and the orcas."

Sienna was suspicious. "There weren't any orcas."

"I saw orcas carry you to the shore," claimed Tiago. "It's true. I won't argue about it. What is your name?"

Sienna shuddered and started to walk away carefully, ensuring that she didn't get caught in any traps. "Sienna," she muttered. The boy began following her, and Sienna breathed in sharply. "And leave me alone."

"Aye, I could tell you were tough with your first punch. I never knew a girl with quite a strong arm."

Sienna turned around. "What do you want?"

"Eh, nothing, but this is my home, so what do you want?"

Sienna clenched her fists and explained that she needed to find the Solar Tulsi plant; that way, her brother wouldn't die.

Tiago shifted his shoulders uneasily. "The only place where that grows now is in a cave near volcanoes, and in it lives an evil, selfish, greedy troll. The only time you would be able to get the Tulsi is on a full moon night in three weeks. The troll sleeps extra long and isn't very attentive."

"I can't wait that long," replied Sienna coldly. "My brother could die in that time."

Tiago shrugged and ran into the cave. "Don't go." The sunset and Sienna lay on a bed of leaves, staring up at the stars. Once she was sure Tiago was fast asleep, Sienna hurried quietly, in the direction that Tiago had pointed. An hour later, Sienna was at a small cave opening at the foot of a volcano. She squeezed through and wandered through the tunnels. Overconfident, since the troll hadn't found her, she followed a small light until she came to the troll's lair. There was a large crackling fire, and next to it was an ugly, snoring, smelly troll. The cave was full of bones, and it was very musty.

The pungent smell of the troll caused Sienna to almost sneeze, but she kept it in. After thoroughly searching the room for the plant, she accidentally let out a loud sneeze. The troll woke up and sensed a human in his presence, and thanks to her father's teaching, Sienna remembered her way out of the cave. While dashing out, her mother's necklace unclasped from her neck and fell to the ground. Sienna didn't notice, but when the troll lumbered over to where it had dropped, he found it, stuffed it into his pocket, and sauntered back to his den.

When Sienna arrived back at Tiago's cave, he was sitting cross-legged on a rock and staring indignantly at her. "I told you not to go to the troll's lair. You could've died."

"My brother is going to die," retorted Sienna. "I can't just sit back and do nothing!"

"It's only three weeks. Your brother can survive that long. While we're waiting, you could be taught a few things."

••••••

Three weeks had passed, and the day Sienna had been waiting for had finally arrived. Sienna crept into the cave alone. She had made Tiago agree that he wouldn't come with her. She started looking for the plant, but soon the troll was face to face with her. He interrogated her in a very gravelly eerie voice, all the while trapping her in the dark, cold, musty cave.

When Sienna declared that she'd come for the Solar Tulsi, the troll became enraged and summoned his fire-breathing dragon companion.

Tricked into walking into a dark cell with a holographic person to lure Sienna in, she was locked inside the cell, and the fake person disappeared.

The troll mumbled to the dragon that after they ate lunch, they would throw her into a river with a strong undertow and a deadly two-hundred-foot waterfall at the end.

Leaving Sienna in the stuffy cell, she reached for her neck to grasp her mother's necklace but found it gone. After circling her cage nervously, she found a few stems of the healing plant and realized that even if it meant that she had to leave her mother's locket behind, saving her brother was the most important.

She managed to break a few of the rusty cell bars and escape, stealthily finding her way out of the cave and returning to Tiago. "Tiago!" Sienna screamed as she ran over to him and hugged him. "I have the plant!"

Tiago was astonished at the change in the usually impassive girl. After finding out that Sienna's locket was most likely with the troll and dragon and that the duo tried to kill her, he angrily rushed to the volcanic lair with Sienna close behind.

"Zunabar, Kaijin," shouted Tiago angrily. The names bounced off the cave walls, echoing and carrying through the tunnels. "I need to talk with you." Then he whispered to Sienna, "I can't believe that they were awake. They have slept every full moon for over four years."

The troll and dragon suddenly appeared in a tunnel entrance. "Tiago, I see we meet again," remarked the troll gruffly and then noticed Sienna. The dragon did too, and they began to fight with the teenagers. Tiago took on the dragon, and Sienna fought the troll. After applying a series of moves to the troll, Sienna killed the troll, and minutes later, Tiago did the same to the dragon.

Not fighting fire and iron-strong scales, Sienna wasn't hurt, except for a few cuts. Tiago, on the other hand, was injured badly. The dragon had cut into his stomach with its sharp talons, leaving a deep gash.

"Ay, Sienna, are you alright?" groaned Tiago.

"I'm fine," wheezed Sienna. "You?"

Tiago stood up weakly. "I'll be fine."

Sienna saw Tiago's gash and rushed to the cell with the Solar Tulsi. After finding the plant, Tiago ate it, and the cut slowly disappeared. "It's not the best thing I've eaten."

"We need to go back home," reminded Sienna as they rushed out of the cave. Then she stopped. With no ship to return her home, everything had turned for the worse, and her brother would die.

"Eh, Sienna," Tiago started. "I never told you, but I have a friendly pet dragon that's large enough to carry both of us to your village."

"What?!" exclaimed Sienna. "I can't believe it! My brother won't die, and I'll be able to go back home!! When can we leave?"

"Let's go now," said Tiago as he dashed off into the forest towards the ocean. A giant white and icy blue dragon was rolling around in the sand when they got there. "StarGlaze, this is Sienna," Tiago said, introducing the two. "You've seen her with me. Where's AstraDusk?" A second dragon flew in, this one black as night.

"What?! You have two?!" gasped Sienna excitedly. "One for each of us!"

"One second," murmured Tiago as he examined StarGlaze. "Aye, just as I thought."

"What?" asked Sienna nervously.

"StarGlaze has a sprained tailfin." Tiago patted the dragon and wrapped the fin in vines, leaves, and sticks. "She'll be fine; she needs a little rest, though. We'll take AstraDusk." They climbed onto the large dragon's back and took off into the air.

••••••

It took two hours to fly from the island to Kharthas Village, and when they were flying over the village, a person spotted the dragon and shouted out, "It's the Night Fury!!!" Every person in sight disappeared into their houses. "You'd better drop me off in the village," advised Sienna.

"Sure," replied Tiago. "From what you've told me, then I know where your house is. I'll be there."

Tiago dropped Sienna off and flew over to her house. Sienna started calling out for everyone, and one by one, villagers cautiously crept out. When they saw Sienna, they ran to her and asked how she was, but not expecting an answer. "I'm good, thank you," replied Sienna. "Is my father here?"

A surprised villager answered. "He's in the post house." Sienna ran towards the building and swung open the door. Her father's back was facing her, and the postmaster didn't notice her. She walked up to him and tapped Dallas. Dallas turned around and gasped. "It can't be you, Sienna," he murmured. His face looked older than usual and tired. He had dark bags under his usually twinkling hazel eyes. "You're dead. I got news of the shipwreck and that no one survived."

Sienna held Dallas' hand. "Dad, it's really me. I didn't die! Orcas saved me, on the island they left me on, then there was a boy, and he kept me safe, and then we flew back! I have the plant for Aiden!"

Dallas realized his daughter and lifted her into a big bear hug. Expecting to be pushed away, he was surprised when Sienna hugged him back. The postmaster smiled and walked to the back room. "We need to get to Aiden," gasped Sienna, her eyes wet with happiness.

Dallas and his daughter ran outside, jumped onto Secretariat, and raced home. When they arrived, Tiago and his dragon were nowhere to be seen, but right now, Sienna was only worried about her brother.

They rushed into Aiden's room, and next to his bed sat Tiago, telling a story to Aiden. "And then the dragon dove down and rescued the hurt lemur from the ledge before the tiger ate it."

"And then what happened?" asked Aiden weakly and hoarsely. "Did the tiger die?" He coughed loudly.

"No, the lemur, the dragon, and the tiger all lived happily for the rest of their lives," replied Tiago softly. Sienna walked over to Tiago and sat down.

"And here is your sister," announced Tiago.

"Sienna!" Aiden cheered weakly. Sienna gave her younger brother a gentle hug and pulled the Solar Tulsi out of her bag. "Eat this, Aiden." Sienna put the plant into his mouth. He chewed it and forcefully swallowed. "It tastes gross." They lifted off the covers, watched the spots go away, and felt his hands and feet warm up. "I'm hungry," announced Aiden. "No one has been feeding me."

"Aiden, you wouldn't eat..." Dallas laughed. "Oh, never mind."

••••••

A few days later, Aiden was back running around, helping on the ranch, and being his energetic old self. Tiago stayed for a while, which delighted Sienna and her family. This time of year was their village festival, and Sienna, who usually would stay home to avoid people, enjoyed going to the festival out of everyone there. She talked to people, smiled, and did every activity there was.

Sienna was still her brave, spunky, confident self, by she knows that other people have skills that can help her. She shared her feelings with Dallas and opened up about everything, not hiding anything. Sienna made sure to save some of the Solar Tulsi and now has a garden full of it. She's become quite a popular girl! Tiago came to visit often, and Sienna enjoyed it every time. Everyone has their differences and problems, but everything turned out amazing in the end.

---

Congrats on making it this far🎉! I wrote this Epic (that's what this type of arch story is called) a little while ago, but I think that it's actually pretty okay! What do you think?

Is it a good piece?

• Yes 🔥
• No 👎🏼
• It's alright 🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♀️
• Meh 😶🫤

Thanks for reading!!

~Shantel 😘