(It isn’t in the best format, and I’m sure there are some grammar/spelling errors and some possibly typos, its late and I was just writing to write. Sometimes I get an idea and the words just flow onto paper. I hope you enjoy! Comments are welcome and very much appreciated!)

Apparition…

The wind calmly blows through the trees forcing leaf-filled branches to sway as they embrace the cool night spring air. He gazes up at the stars as the wind gently tosses about strands of his dark brown hair.

“Such a clear night”, he thinks to himself as he closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath savoring the sweet smelling aroma of fully blossomed flowers.

He exhales slowly and opens his eyes, the wind gently brushes across his lips like light kisses from the spring breeze. He’s tall and of a moderate build with short dark brown hair yet long enough you could still run your fingers through it. He wore a simple black long sleeved t-shirt and his jeans were stained with dirt and scratches from the brier bushes that plagued the woods, but he didn’t care, it was a small price to pay to enjoy such peacefulness. He leaned back against an old oak tree and kicked some of the mud from his boots. The full moon illuminated the entire grove and sparkled along the surface of the pond that rested not 50 paces from the tree.

“This place just feels Supernatural, it is hard to believe such beauty exists in seclusion like this”, he said aloud knowing nobody was there to hear his words.

He spoke as if trying to strike up a conversation with the stars, or inquire to the old oak to bequeath some of its ancient wisdom upon him. He laughed slightly as he shook away such thoughts from his mind.

“I’ll never understand some things in this world, but places like this always bring me comfort and solitude.” he said as he brushed some of the wind tossed hair from in front of his eyes.He pats the tree almost as you would and old friend on the back to show support after a major accomplishment, “I’ll bet you would have lots of interesting stories to tell Mr. Oak. I bet you have seen many things over the years, it is a shame you cannot spread such tales to the wanting ear.”

The wind began to pick up, it was very cool but not cold, it was the perfect spring night. The breeze kept bringing smells of wild flowers into his nostrils almost to the point it made his nose tingle.

“If you could talk oh mighty oak, what would you say, what wisdom would you share with me? I would be oh so eager to listen and perhaps one day I may find myself lucky to chat with you and hear the Tale of the Mighty Oak of the Grove”  He laughed again feeling kind of ridiculous that he was even talking aloud and pondering such things. He pushed himself away from the tree and stood straight up and took one more deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“It is a shame such wisdom will go unheard” he said aloud.

He began to take a step forward and as he did the wind picked up at a rapid pace and grew to that of almost storm-like winds. He kept batting hair away from his eyes that the wind kept tossing about. A few leaves on the ground began to swirl in a mini cyclone-like pattern. He looked across at the lake and found it rather odd that with such strong winds blowing the water managed to stay perfectly still resembling a black mirror. The wind died down some but only in certain areas, it was almost if it was a concentrated gust of wind that was moving about like a sentient being. As the wind grew calmer he could feel a cold chill cross his legs and circle around him from his knees up to his waste and then up and over his shoulders. He could swear he felt the faint touch of a woman’s hand on his shoulder. As the chill went across his right shoulder it was as if he could hear the faint laughter of what sounded like a young woman. He could feel the wind as it circled around him and stopped directly in front of him. He could almost see a faint mist but resembled that of a watery surface. It moved around him again and he could hear whispers as it passed around him but couldn’t make out any form of understandable language. He shrugged it off as and tried to take another step forward when the faint mist he quickly became more distinguishable. It was much thicker now and he could see the outline of what looked to be a woman’s face. Startled he stepped back and almost tripped over the tree roots, as he did the apparition lunged forward and morphed into a cloudy white figure. It was much clearer now, definitely that of a young woman with long flowing hair that whipped about behind her. Her face changed into a much more distinguishable form and a smile can be seen as the apparition lets out what appears to be a quick burst of laughter. The apparition circles around him a few more times like an excited child playing with a new toy. Her lips moved as what sounded to be like an ancient language was spoken, it had an echo to it that reminded him of his childhood when he would speak into fan to make his voice echo. She stops speaking and lets out another laugh as a white cloud forms beside her and manifests into what looks like a transparent arm and hand and presses it to his forehead. It’s cold, but gentle, softer than anything he has ever felt before. He feels a slight warmth from her hand and his mind begins to race through memories of his child hood and other past memories like he was fast forwarding through a very long home movie. His mind calms as she pulls her hand away and begins to speak again, this time fumbling a few words.

“I- I- am Sef- Sefarina.”, she says with a calm and soothing voice.

He stands unable to move, but not from fear, instead out of sheer astonishment and shock. He opens his mouth to try to speak but cannot find the words almost as if they were stolen from him when she placed her hand on his forehead.

“I know who you are Zack”, she says with a smile, “You come here and visit my grove often, I have seen you many times”

She smiles again as he stares into her eyes trying to get a clear image of what her face looks like. He cannot make out detailed eye characteristics as you would a human he could also see right through her if he looked hard enough.

“Wh..what are you?”, he asked “and why have you decided to show yourself to me now?”

She giggles similar to that of a young child, “I am a Wind Elemental and you fascinate me. I do not get many visitors but you always come here.” She points towards the old oak tree, “He thought it was a bad idea because we are not supposed to reveal ourselves to your kind. Humans have caused nothing but pain for us but you are different. There is something special about you human.”

He looks over his shoulder almost expecting to hear the tree speak but it doesn’t. “The tree told you? Wait, he speaks too?”

Sefarina laughs again, “Of course he does, you just cannot hear him.” She stops speaking and turns her head as if she is listening for something.  “He wants me to tell you that he does have many stories he would love to tell you and that he has stories that would take you the rest of your days just to listen to a small portion of them.”

She steps back a bit although it was more like a glide than a step giving him some space to stand upright again. He turns and looks toward the oak tree and thinks he can almost make out the image of a face but shakes it off to be his imagination. He turns his attention back to Sefarina and walks around her looking her up and down trying to figure out if this is really happening. He reaches out to touch her and his hand passes right through her. To the touch it it feels like silk and cotton combined, he’ quick;y draws his hand back and she giggles.

“I think you might find this more comfortable”, she says while raising her arms up beside her.

Wind starts to stir until it forms into a violent cyclone around her and creating a barrier so thick he cannot see through it. It only lasts for a moment and hardly makes a sound as the cyclone comes to an abrupt halt sending leaves and debris scattering across the ground near his feet. She lowers her arms and standing before him is the most beautiful sight he has ever seen. The moonlight shines down upon her radiating sheer beauty. She is dressed in a long, flowing white gown with long blond hair flows down past the middle of her back. He finds his gaze caught in her sky-blue eyes mesmerized by the sheer beauty before him.

“I thought you might find this form more suiting, and much more pleasant”, she smiles.

“I-I-Uhm..well what can I say? You’re beautiful no matter which form you’re in. However this does make it seem more real”, he says as he slides his fingers down a few strands of her hair. “You still haven’t answered me though, why now?”

Her smile slowly dissipates and she turns her head again as if listening to the Oak again. “You’re right, I should probably tell him.”

“Tell me what?”, he says turning and looking back towards the tree with a confused look on his face.

“Well, I really don’t know how to say this, but….I ne- we need your help.” she moves closer and rests her arms on his shoulders. “Please. I risk so much by revealing myself to you I hope it was not in vain, you are the only one who can help us.”

Baffled by her request he thinks for a moment, he’s just an ordinary guy how can he help?. He feels her hands on his shoulders, much warmer than before almost that of a human touch. He look into her eyes, this time they are filled with desperation and sincerity. Just moments ago he was dreaming of the chance for something like this and long has he daydreamed of adventures and here he stands before a Wind Elemental and Ancient Oak tree asking for his help. “Could this be real? Is this why I’ve always felt a connection to this place?”, he thinks to himself.

“I don’t know what I can do to help, I am just an ordinary guy?”, he says to her.

“No Zack, that is where you are wrong, you are not ordinary.” she says, “You come here a lot and I know this place is sacred to you just as it is for me and I would not risk revealing myself to just anybody”

“Bu- but I don’t understand!”

“You have always had a strong connection to this place, it is why you always come here, but you could never figure out what it is”, she says as her face takes a more serious form, “There is a great power deep inside you and it yearns to be awakened, I know you can feel it..and I can help put you on the path to discover this power.”

He shakes his head, “I don’t know how, but I know you are telling the truth. I have always felt different, as if I was meant for something greater, as if I have a special purpose in life.”

She looks into his eyes, “It is your destiny….come with me and I will help you find that missing piece to the puzzle.”

He looks back at the tree, which to his eyes still looks like an ordinary tree, but he can feel a sort of energy emanating from within it.

“He says to tell you that its time to start your own story, so your deeds can be marked upon the pages of history, and so one day your story can be told to all wanting to listen”, she says smiling at him.

He thinks for a moment as images flash through his mind of adventures he remembers from books and movies. Realizing that he has been presented with a once in a life time opportunity and that he would be stupid to pass it up, he nods toward the tree and turns back to Sefarina.

“Ok, I will go with you. I mean, I’ve always felt like I was going to be important to somebody someday and It’s not everyday when an Ancient Oak and stunningly beautiful Wind Elemental asks for my help”, he says smirking at her.

“Excellent! Come, we must make haste, we have a long road ahead of us!”, She smiles as she grabs his hand.

She leads him away from the tree and towards the pond which still resembles a smooth glassy surface. She closes her eyes and raises her arms wide as a gust of wind appears and creates a path in the middle of the pond revealing what looks like a small wooden door at the bottom in the center. A cushion of air forms beneath their feet and carries them towards the door and she reaches down and opens it and jumps down motioning for him to follow. He steps down into the hole and takes one last look as the winds holding the water back begin to die down. He quickly disappears into the hole as the door shuts and the water crashes down concealing any evidence of its existence. The water calms and returns to a smooth glass-like surface reflecting the moons glow. Nothing can be heard but the faint rustle of leaves from the ancient oak’s branches as the winds fade into non-existence.