(My little girl loves Volcanos. I do not really know why. To amuse her, i have made up these stories. This is the first one.)
The ground was shaking and there was wonderfully threatening sound coming from the ground below. Athena tightened the grip on the hand of Shlava, the volcano witch, who had brought Athena to the mountain where volcano was going to explode any time. Athena could hardly hold her excitement so started to jump up and down next to Shlava. She could not believe where she was. She wondered if her mom had found out that she was missing from the house.
Athena had a completely unremarkable time on previous day. Her mom had picked her up in school and they returned to their flat in the suburbs of big city. In the evening, she had dinner with her parents, played some games in evening and then it was bed time. Athena's room was right next to her parents bedroom. She had a small pink room that was full of fluffy toys and pictures of Volcanos and stones picked from street. Her small bed was right next to the wall opposite of the window from where Athena could see the traffic on road outside. Her cupboard and play table was on one side of the wall. It was her dad's turn to tell her a bed time story. Atrhena's dad always loved to pick up story books with games and races and that day he had picked up story of race between animals in jungle. Athena had fallen asleep even before the story was halfway through.
Next thing Athena could remember was that someone was in room with her. It was still dark though the night lamp gave enough light to see. Opening her eyes, Athena saw a women, closer to her mothers age, with flaming red hair standing next to the bed. Athena was not afraid though.
"Hello Athena,"the women said.
"Hello,"Athena replied in sleepy voice. "Who are you?"
"I am Shlava, your friend. I know that you like Volcanos. Would you like to see one?"
Athena jumped up in the bed. She said, "YES! I WANT TO."
"Shhh. Do not scream,"Shlava said with a smile, "we do not want to wake up your parents."
"Ok. Shall i change my night dress?"
"No need. Just wear a jacket on top of your night shirt."
And Athena wore a jacket on top of her night shirt and looked expectantly towards Shlava.
"Hold my hand,"Shlava said. "Close your eyes."
Athena felt something change around her. When she opened her eyes, she was on top of a windy mountain. It was warm there so Athena felt ok. There were people close by to her. Athena looked at the scene curiously. She could see girls with beautiful clothes. Some were even as old as her and some were as old as her great grand mother. Seemed that lot of them knew each other as they kept on breaking and meeting other people with a smile.
"Where are we? Is there a volcano in front?" Athena asked to Shlava as soon as Shlava had parted from someone who had come over to say hello.
"Yes Athena. A volcano is going to erupt here. All the women and girls here are volcano witches or are training to be volcano witches. "
"Are you a volcano witch too?" Athena squealed loudly.
"Yes Athena. I am one too."
"Will i be one as well?"
"Yes. You will be a witch too one day." Athena started to jump up and down. She was so happy. This was super.
After she caught her breath, Athena asked, "What are we going to do here?"
"As the volcano erupts, a magic that is deep within earth also erupts. We volcano witches catch the magic and fill it in our magic bag. This is the magic that helps us to do different things. Today, i brought you here to see how it happens and maybe you can catch some magic too."
"I do not have any magic bag," Athena said with panic in her voice.
"You have one with you. You do not know it yet. "
Before Athena could ask more, there was loud noise and Shlava held Athena hand.
"Athena, when you see the first burst of lava, close your eyes and try to see if you can catch something. Its just like catching rain. I cannot explain more but try."
Athena looked around. On the mountain top, the witches had arranged themselves in semi circular shape. She felt suddenly very hot for a moment. She loved the feeling of heat. Looking towards the center of the mountain, Athena could see the first burst of golden red lava from the deep ground beneath. She closed her eyes.
After few minutes, "Were you able to feel the magic Athena?"Shlava asked.
"I think i did. When i closed my eyes, i could see something golden that was spreading in air. I tried to catch it and i think i did some. I tried to put it somewhere but i could not."
"Maybe you did. Lets see. Try to push that stone in front of you."
Athena tried. "It does not move."
"Do not worry. It takes some time. Come let us meet some of my friend."
Athena went with Shlava. She said hello to few people, one women had blue hair. She also met one other small girl, Meena, who was her same age.
Shlava soon took Athena back to her room. It was still dark outside.
"Sleep well Athena, it will be day soon. And remember, this is our little secret. "
"When will i see you again Shlava?"
"Soon enough. You have lot of time to learn things. Sweet dreams."
"Good night."
Athena's dreams were full of weird haircuts and big volcanos that night.
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