Chapter 5
Ignis studied the sleeping woman from his vantage point of the flames. She was curled up on the couch in the small living room in front of a fire Ignis had breathed new life into. The rustic cabin she and her children were hiding in was quaint, rural, with two tiny bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen an ant would have trouble maneuvering in and an old outhouse that had seen better days. A cup of ice cold coffee sat on a table next to the couch where the woman had succumbed to exhaustion. No doubt she had been keeping vigilance for days, trying to protect her family. Ignis wondered how she had come across this ratty dwelling.
The woman, Melinda, Flame had informed him was her name, slept fitfully, kicking off her one threadbare cover; her pillow fell to the dirty wood floor. Her eyes were moving rapidly behind her eyelids and Ignis knew she was dreaming. She mumbled a few frightened words, moaned, tiny hands twitched, she then settled. Her tousled light brown hair was askew and un-kempt. With no indoor plumbing, the family was forced to wash at the cold river or pump water from an old well. Needless to say, the petite female was looking a little worse for wear.
Ignis and his brothers had sealed off the woman’s escape, while seeking to stop unwanted visitors—no one in—no one out. It was easier to guard her little family this way. Normally, Ignis stayed out of mortal affairs unless it had to do with the misuse of his gift. This woman’s husband wasn’t an arsonist, but he did start the fire that ruined her home; it was malicious intent. Ignis wanted to pay him a visit, the human couldn’t hide forever. Until that time, he would bask in the fact the man must be seething at being unable to locate his ex-wife and children.
From the left of the fireplace came the creak of an un-oiled door. A small girl child wearing pajamas crept from one of the tiny bedrooms into his view and went to stand before Ignis’ flames. The entire room was in shadow. Her little human feet were bare and with a simple thought, Ignis snuffed out a small wandering spark before the girl’s foot settled over it. The child watched the dancing flickers before Ignis saw a single tear slide down her cheek followed by another. She shuddered, tiny lips trembled and Ignis knew she was afraid. After all, her house had been burnt to the ground, she was homeless—she feared him.
The idea infuriated Ignis—he was no monster, he gave a gift to humans, it was they who abused his offering. With a wave of his hand the girl jumped then held still in awe as Ignis made images come to life with his beautiful colors. Ignis loved this particular age of children, they were subject to subtle suggestion; he was determined to see this little one smile. A small pony with a long fiery mane danced across the flames making the child cock her head in disbelief. Next came a surfer who rode a high wave of bright flickering brilliance. A rolling blue flame became the ocean and fiery images of seals and dolphins swam near the surfer like an audience of admirers. The child settled onto her knees, gazing in rapt wonder, her tears no longer flowed.
Ignis grinned as the little one sat mesmerized, but when she reached toward the flames, he made a log pop, sending the child scurrying back. Once she settled a safe distance away, Ignis once more began with the images. He told her the story of a frightened little girl who was afraid of fire, but one day she was lost in a forest and needed warmth. The story went on to show her how elated the girl was when the fire befriended her and started within the enclosure of a circle of rocks. Because she was warm and she could see her surroundings—she was safe. Ignis scared away the shadows in the cabin’s small room. Fire became her friend as long as she respected the element. Ignis made her promise; though she couldn’t see him in human form, he could offer her a suggestion within his element.
“I will, I promise,” the girl mumbled making Ignis smile with her heart-gripping, solemn stare of honesty only a child can make.
“Will what, Lisa? What promise, are you sleepwalking, baby? What are you doing out of bed?” her mother said; she sat up and rubbed at weary eyes.
“Fire isn’t naughty if you are careful, Mommy,” Lisa replied.
Her mother cuddled her into her arms. “That’s true, sweetheart. This fire is keeping us all warm.”
“I wish it could keep us safe,” Lisa mumbled.
I will little one.
The woman guided the child down beside her and wrapped her in the ratty blanket. The pillow was lifted up, dusted off and settled onto the couch and their two weary heads rested side by side. Lisa kept watching the flames. Her eyes fluttered as Ignis danced his hypnotizing colors around the wood pieces. Humans were fascinated with bright shiny objects and repetition. Soon enough both mother and child slumbered. Ignis crawled from the embers and set more logs on to burn. When finished, he asked Ventus to blow a good wind which would enable the woman and her small children to pick up kindling from the forest floor.
Ignis left the cabin and went to the backyard where he spotted a dilapidated garden. It was a pathetic mess, but lack of prints led him to believe mother and children had not ventured into this area. In fact, all Ignis detected was a trail from cabin to outhouse. The poor humans were afraid to leave the cabin’s pathetic safety. The idea infuriated him.
Without sound, Ignis called forth Terra. His somewhat more grounded brother stood by his side in seconds. Terra flashed Ignis a broad grin which animated his handsome face. Dark green eyes and earthy richly dark hair with a multitude of highlights shone in the light of the moon as the wind picked up.
“Brother,” Terra said in way of acknowledgement. “Is it my turn to babysit?”
“I would ask a favor.”
“Of course, anything for my big brother.”
“Escape and retreat are cut off for the woman and her children. It’s safer. But they will need to eat. Her reserves are gone, I heard the rumble in her child’s belly, there is only one reason her child would be hungry,” Ignis waved his hand at the empty overgrown garden filled with weeds. “I am in need of your help, or rather they are.”
“A trivial dilemma—at least for me.”
Terra planted both feet firmly on the ground. Vein-like, bright green roots shot from his heels and toes, weaving their way into the garden. His eyes closed for mere seconds before opening. The depths of his gaze churned with a rolling intensity as he focused upon the withered mess before him. The earth churned like Terra’s eyes and the soil began to roll, the weeds were turned under and were ripped to shreds. Hunter green buds unraveled within the dirt and stretched heavenwards. Long vines crept like awakening fingers up and around a small wooden fence. Buds opened and yawned life-like, called from their slumber when summoned and nurtured.
Cucumbers and tomatoes grew and ripened beside strawberry and raspberry and blackberry bushes. Squash and turnips lined up as soldiers. In another corner grew carrots and potatoes and lettuce. Celery shot up as though loathe to wait their turn. There was no space left untouched as Terra worked his magic on the earth. When finished, he took a deep breath and his finger-like veins retreated back into his feet. He strode to a tree, waved his hand and soon lush apples were in abundance, on yet another tree were pears. With the flash of a cheeky grin, Terra winked at his brother and a new tree formed with lush peaches. The vine growing on the side of the house was covered in grapes.
“That should keep them busy for a while,” Terra said with a smile.
“Just one more thing?” Ignis asked. “They need something more than just fruits and vegetables.” He was remembering Flame’s stuffed cheeks of meat and the many fires where he had roasted a fresh kill.
Terra sighed as he walked to the flowing creek. With a wave of his hands, fish began jumping until the water was bursting with them.
“There, any moron could catch these, even without a fishing pole,” Terra said.
“They could also use…”
“Eggs,” Terra finished for him. A small flock of chickens clucked their way into the small open area near the water. Ducks quietly floated on the river and waddled near the banks. “By morning they will have eggs for breakfast and, I’ve rounded up a few turtles and crayfish if they feel enthusiastic. The woman might or might not be suspicious of the mussels and clams. They can roast a chicken if they don’t mind doing the dirty work of killing and gutting, I can only provide—I can’t force feed them.”
“Thank you,” Ignis said. “Come morning, I’ll have Ventus send a teasing wind with the scent of food to encourage curious exploration. I’m certain they will all be delighted with the discovery of your hard work.”
“Sure, but you owe me.”
“Of course.”
“There is an out of control forest fire in a particular area I’ve been cultivating. Your minions have run amok.”
Ignis sighed. “They’re not
my
minions; fire has no thought, or malice, no mercy. But I will put a stop to it—I can’t be everywhere at once. You of all should know that.”
“Yes I know, neither can I,” Terra said. “It would be nice if more humans took a more active role in the planet they live on. How would they like it if I went into their homes and dumped garbage into their living rooms?”
“I bet some humans have a sneaky suspicion you are the one who tracks dirt into their home—especially the women.”
“It’s not nearly as amusing as it sounds. Although, I do laugh when a tree root pokes its way into a septic tank. Shit’s not so funny when it’s in your own backyard.”
“I had better go stop the fire,” Ignis said. “Ventus is watching the humans for now. I also need to check on Flame.”
“Not to worry, Nimbus is with her. I was in the rain forest before you called, catching my own peek; your Flame is a real beauty.”
“Joining with a human is new to me,” Ignis mused. “Have you ever been drawn to one?”
“Many times, but none have turned my head as your Flame turns yours. I am keeping my eye on a certain little female who wants to save the Earth single-handedly. A real firecracker, she keeps me busy. I’ve saved her cute ass on more than one occasion.”
“Sounds amusing.”
“It is at times; others, the vixen gets caught in not only natural disasters but corporate ones. There are evil humans who would kill just to dump poison in rivers. This little human female is her own natural disaster, she gets under my skin like black dirt under nails—hard to ignore.”
Ignis stood shaking his head as Terra slipped back into the Earth. The ground welcomed Terra into its midst like a lover and Ignis wondered if his brother had made love to a human underground. It would be hard for a female to get used to that—after all, bodies were buried under the ground. Most often, humans walked on the Earth blind to the life beneath their feet.
Ignis went back into the cabin and walked into the fireplace, it still burned brightly. It was time to gain control of his wayward fire.
* * * *
Flame stretched as the warm sun beat down on her from a ripple in the high foliage. A slight breeze ruffled her hair, sending strands across her bared breasts to tease her nipples. The sounds of nature were in abundance and she rose and gave a cautious glance to her left, then right. The ground was soft beneath her feet, cool, damp. A few nosey insects fluttered near her face before flying off as though they had a great secret.
The feel of liquid lazily making its way down her inner thigh distracted her. Curiously, Flame watched as her lava blood steamed and hissed its way over her unmarred skin. She scooped up a small amount onto her fingertip and studied the substance as she rolled it. It was thicker than blood, the smell wasn’t metallic, more sulphur; it wasn’t unpleasant, just different. As she studied the strange occurrence, the small bit on her finger darkened and solidified and dropped to the ground between her feet. She shuddered, wondering if the lava would congeal and dry up inside of her.
“Ignis?” she called.
“It won’t last much longer,” was heard to her right.
Flame spun and was soon facing Ignis as he appeared through a massive wall of flames searing the ground beneath his feet. The red and orange hues rolled impressively before a sudden downpour of rain sizzled the foliage to quiet embers.
“You may leave now,” Ignis said into the wind and Flame knew his brother, Nimbus, had been watching over her. Flame had other worries.
“I can’t dress with this crap flowing, I’d burn the material.”
“There’s a small pond not far from here. I’ll take you to it, once washed the lava should stop flowing.”
“I hope you’re right—it’s kinda freaking me out.”
“Lava is the earth bleeding, it’s no wonder it has sought out your woman’s time. Your womb is your center, you can forge new life. Lava gives birth to hard earth, rock; it creates new stepping stones on the breast of Mother Nature. Lava was a gift our mother gave to Terra when he was but a small child. He found it greatly amusing, as did I. Like human children, he could take the one toy and using the cold rock he could make things from building blocks—like pyramids.”
“Will it dry inside me?”
“Yes, but it’s not like anything you will feel, you won’t be weighted down, you won’t even notice it. Once finished your blood time will not reoccur for some time. It’s coating your womb and your birth canal. If we are ever blessed with a child, you need to be protected or you would burn inside—or out, a new child would have no control over new fire. If a child of mine is born to you, the lava will flow and harden as you give birth to cover your woman’s petals, to keep them from wilting. At present I control all fire, a new baby would bring a special adaption.”