Chapter 1

The two girls moved through the town excited, anxious, and ready. Howler’s Cove was abuzz with anticipation. The island city sat in and upon the cliffs overlooking the island. The namesake below was a series of caves pocking the rocky base of the island, where wind blew through loudly, creating the howling moniker. Rope bridges connected various parts of the town, built on land structures that jutted up out of the ocean. Other routes led in and out of the island itself, making use of natural caverns, which had long since been carved into steps, vertically connecting the sections of town through caves. It was a place of many levels, and home to two teenagers preparing to embark on their individual Heartsong Trials after their recently held seventeenth name day celebrations.

Anya was currently bouncing excitedly, dragging Kivara with her as they passed tables of food set out for the enjoyment of all. This parade was tradition, and a town wide celebration. All the townsfolk gathered in the streets, wishing well and offering blessings or advice to the girls before they departed. The two girls could not be more opposite, but they were close friends nonetheless. Anya was known for her high energy and enthusiastic nature. An impatient girl who never lacked confidence. Her golden blonde hair was loose, spilling down her back. A dark blue long-sleeved dress with matching pants was her attire for the day. “Come on Kiva! How are you not more excited? This is our celebration day, and we only get to do it once! Enjoy it with me!”

The two had been friends since childhood. They grew up playing together, until the time came when they began preparing for their own individual trials by spending more time with family and those mentors that could offer similar experiences. Anya was following in her mother’s footsteps, chasing a lightning affinity. The Heartsong Trials were designed to find optimal conditions to resonate. Anya would return as a lightning harmonic, carrying on the family legacy.

Kivara followed a different path. She would be pursuing a bioconvergence. Even with much prodding, Anya could never pry out of her which animal she would seek out. It was apparently a very personal thing, and she would find out after all was said and done. Kivara did not share Anya’s temperament. Where Anya was tall and nimble, Kivara was short and strong. Anya was excitable, fiery, and impulsive. Kivara was calm, patient, and diligent. Somehow the two had remained friends through the years, always finding time to sneak away and go on little adventures together. Today, they would celebrate. Tomorrow, they would each set out across the island, to the place most likely to help them succeed in their Heartsong Trial, the process of finding their individual resonance.

“I am enjoying this, Anya. I’m just not as enthusiastic as you want me to be.” Kiva unwound herself from the tug of her friend’s arm, and ushered her towards the food. “Eat, enjoy. Don’t mind me. I don’t like all this attention anyway.”

“I’ve never understood you, Kiva. But your loss, I’m enjoying this food!” Anya ran over to the nearest table, pulling a kebab of meats and vegetables off a tray. She offered one to Kiva, but the girl just waved it away.

The two had spent the afternoon winding through the various sections of town. Ahead of them lay a rope bridge, leading to the very last section they would tour. After that they would head home, to prepare for their quest ahead. They would return forever changed. A convergent and a harmonic. Many of the townsfolk sought this path, but neither was easy, and it didn’t always go as planned. Some returned victorious, while others were unable to resonate. It was always possible to resonate later, but Anya saw it as a failure. She would be a lightning harmonic by weeks end. The storm clouds were forming far off on the horizon, out in the ocean. When they arrived, she intended to be out amongst them, to claim the lightning and bend it to her call. Her mother and her grandmother had both returned as lightning harmonics, able to manipulate the wild force to their will, and help serve the town. Anya would be no different.

As the two friends crossed the final rope bridge Kivara pulled Anya aside. “Anya, promise me you’ll be careful, alright? I can’t wait to come back and share stories, but don’t do anything stupid, like try and catch a lightning bolt by climbing the highest tree.”

“That would be amazing! I’d be sure to resonate if it actually conducted through me! Great idea Kiva!” Anya started exploring the possibilities.

“I’m serious. Be safe, so we can compare notes when we’re back, ok?”Kiva gave her a stern look, holding her by both shoulders.

“I will be fine Kiva. You’re in more danger than me. You have to live amongst animals that may or may not want you around. You be safe too, ok?”

“You know I’m cautious. I will be fine.”

“Besides, I refuse to fail, because as soon as I’m back, I want to know what animal you converged with. I’ve wanted to know since we were nine!”

“Yeah, you’ll finally find out.”

The girls finished their parade route, and embraced one last time before returning home to spend their final evening with family and loved ones. The townsfolk offered them final blessings and well wishes as they left. It was near suppertime, and the second sun was almost dipping behind the small island mountains. A massive green moon was seen rising in the east, ready to occupy the night sky.

Anya headed home, slipping into the aroma of her mother’s cooking. Their house was nothing special, but it was home. It contained a small kitchen and living area, with a few bedrooms, completely built out of stone. A pan of fish was being pulled off the hearth, ready for serving. Her mother turned at her entrance.

“Anya, darling, welcome back. Everything went well?” She gave her a warm hug.

“Yep, it was fun, and uneventful, in the good way. I’m so excited to start my life!” Anya replied, getting her hand swatted as she tried to sneak a bite of the food ahead of her family.

“You know we have a lot to discuss tonight. You don’t leave until morning, so give us our time. This is family time, and it’s important.”

“I know mom! And we’ve already been over everything a thousand times since I was thirteen! What more can I learn from one conversation?”

“Maybe nothing, but also maybe something, little one. Don’t be so impatient. Although, that’s the lightning in you. I can’t wait for your return.”

They sat with family, her father, and brothers wishing her well. Her dad lingered a little longer than normal, just watching his daughter, hiding bittersweet tears in his eyes, under the guise of spicy cooking. Her brothers just gave her loving punches and told her not to mess it up and become an air harmonic or something stupid. Like they had room to talk, one was a water harmonic, and the other wasn’t even old enough for his Heartsong Trial yet! She would show them, and rub their faces in it when she returned.

Then she was alone with her mother. They sat quietly in chairs by the fire, just content to be still for a while. Her mother finally broke the silence. “Anya, do you feel ready? You have everything you need?”

“Yes mother. I packed this morning. All my supplies are ready. I should only be out there for a week at most. By then the storm will have blown over anyway. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Yes yes, but what about mentally, and spiritually? You feel prepared?”

“I’m as prepared as I can be. I’ve spent my whole life readying for this. I know that lightning is baked in my personality, my very being. I’m honestly surprised I haven’t resonated with it already.”

“Yes, it definitely fits you as an element. Just remember, it’s not a straightforward path. Most people don’t resonate as easily or effortlessly as they had expected. You have to find your own harmony. I’ve shared with you my path, but it won’t work for you. It’s an individual experience. Unique.”

“I understand mother. I’m close. I can already feel hints, prickles of my skin when I contemplate it all. I know I’m on the right track.”

“Yes, that is a good sign.” Her mother ran her hand through a similarly golden hair, but it was starting to fade with signs of gray. It was frazzled, coming out of her bun, as lightning resonance tended to have a static shock effect when used. It was the way Anya always remembered her mother. Powerful, indomitable, electric. A force. “But remember, not everyone succeeds, and this isn’t a guaranteed safe journey. You’ll be alone, out in the wilderness for as long as it takes.”

“Mother, I’ve been out there plenty of times, and nothing bad has ever happened. I’ll be fine! And if I have lightning at my disposal, nothing will pose a threat to me.”

“It takes time and effort to learn harmonics my girl. It will tire you out at first, but you are somewhat correct. Throwing a single bolt should drive off any enemy you encounter. Besides, I made you this…”

Anya accepted a rolled parchment, unfurling it and laying it on the table. It was a hand drawn map of the island. It was more detailed than any she had seen before. A dotted red line marked the path of her mother’s own journey to summit the highest mountain, getting her closest to the storm. It showed their town on the southern edge of the landmass, built amongst the cliffs, where predators, and blight, had a hard time getting any foothold. Predators could be fended off, but the blight was a very real danger, twisting the land and any living thing it infected. It was a death sentence if contracted.

Above the town lay the fields and valleys sitting between mountain ranges, where the rain run-off fed mountain streams reaching all the way down to town, providing a fresh supply of water. Their island was somewhat tropical, and a healthy jungle surrounded the bases of the mountains.

“You should avoid the jungle if you can, just because it’s incredibly thick and hard to get through. Follow the stream to its source, and cross there. Go around the western side of the middle mountain. You’ll be able to work your way around the edges of the jungle and have a straight shot up the northwestern slope. You should summit the peak in three to four days.”

“Thank you, mother. This must have cost a fortune to have made.”

“Nothing is too good for our newest harmonic. Just promise me one thing Anya. You must retreat at any sign of the blight. Report it to town at once, and they will clear it. Trials can wait. The blight will twist you and can’t be cured. It’s a danger to our whole population, and it’s not worth the risk.”

“I know, I know. We’ve been through this so many times! I’ve got it!” Her mother just stared at her, until her daughter calmed down and acknowledged her seriously. “I will mom, I promise. I’m no good as a dead harmonic. I won’t let the blight turn me into a ravager. I’ll be back soon. I love you all.”

“Well then, good. Now let’s go over my resonance one more time. Maybe it will give you some hint about how to pursue your own.”

Anya groaned at another history lesson, that she had heard on repeat for years.