The Forbidden Dance

Kavio

War is a dance. To dance is to fight the world and change it.

With strong punches and fast kicks, with cries and strikes from his flint spear, Kavio danced the strange and dangerous tama. It was a forbidden dance-spell, taught to him in secret. If his tribe ever caught him doing it, they would kill him.

And still, he danced.

He danced to fight the war the world had started against him. He fought the storm. He fought every fae inside the storm.

Weather did not just happen. Sometimes humans used magic to change it. But most of the time, the rain, the sunshine, the frost, and the flowers came from the will of the fae.

Most fae didn’t care about humans. Some fae were kind. Some ate human flesh. All were unpredictable.

But now… the fae had gone mad.

For three days, the storm had not stopped. Every Chroma of fae had joined in, as if all of Faerykind had declared war on humans. As if they wanted to drown every person in Rainbow Valley—maybe every human in Faearth.

Yes, it was mostly Blue watery fae who drove the freezing rain and floods. But Purple fae also danced in thunderclouds. Orange fae rode the hurricane winds. Even Yellow and Green fae, who were usually gentle, tore down trees and forced animals into deadly mudslides. Red fae, who hated rain, danced where lightning strikes hit and started fires.

Kavio had only heard stories of fae frenzy like this happening during the ancient War Between Humans and the Aelfae.

But that war is over. We won, you faery freaks, he thought. And no storm is going to take that victory from us!

The wind hit him like a scream. It howled in his ears: ALL OF YOU MUST DIE!

Kavio stumbled back in shock.

As the son of the Last Aelfae, Kavio was used to other humans being suspicious of him. They thought he might turn against them. They were jealous of his powers—his Six Chromas of magic.

But the fae usually loved him. Too much, really. They swarmed around him like friendly pests.

Not tonight.

Not these fae.

For three days, it had rained ice and hail. The water had risen so high it buried the Markers in the river. Winter storms were not strange—but not like this. Not this hard. Not this long.

Tomorrow would be the day of balance, when day and night were equal. The Spring Equinox. It was also supposed to be the day of new planting.

Still, the storm had not stopped.

Kavio had checked the secret markers. He was alarmed.

He wanted to tell the War Chief, or one of the elders. But they never believed him. They always said he was just bragging.

Maybe that’s my fault, he admitted. Stupid people annoy me. He had no patience for small minds. Everyone said he was proud. Maybe he was. But now, when he really needed their help, they wouldn’t listen.

Fine, he thought. Then I’ll stop the Hex myself.

If I don’t…

The truth was, Kavio didn’t know how far the Hex might go. But he felt a hatred buried deep in the heart of the storm. A hate that wanted to kill. An ancient hate.

It feels like a Hex meant to drown every human!

All he knew for sure was the warning his Teacher had given him: Whatever happens, you must stop the rain.

Ironic, Kavio thought. I earned my Shining Name as Rain Dancer for summoning rain!

He stood at the edge of a cliff, near a waterfall that pounded like a giant’s stomping feet. The waterfall boiled with glowing Blue yacuruna—fish-headed fae who normally lived deep under cold mountain lakes.

They were fighting. That was typical. Yacuruna loved to brawl. But today, they were out of control. They ripped up trees and threw boulders, smashing each other with full strength.

But then they saw Kavio.

When they saw what he was doing, the magic of his dance, they screamed in outrage. They could tell he was trying to tame the storm.

Why? Why would they care if he stopped the storm?

He didn’t understand.

Their hate for humans burned like fire. What insanity!

They charged at him.

Kavio laughed.

Good! Better they attack me than the valley!

He hadn’t stopped the storm—not yet. But he had changed its path.

Now, the angry fae didn’t attack the valley.

They came for Kavio.

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