SIENNA and the Pendant of Power

With only hours away from midnight the excitement ran rapid among the citizens of Dove, especially with eleven year old Sienna. Imagine living in a world that had been peaceful for one thousand years. She leaned through the opened window of her garden home, her round face greeting the sun with a grin. Her bronze skin glowed from the sun’s rays. Inside the window sat a birdcage housing two very large exotic birds. In bold lettering, their names, Ami and Amour, are tagged to the cage door. Sienna flung open the bird cage door.
“Let’s go my pets! Time to stretch your wings,” she entreated. The birds vied to go first through the cage door and out the window. Once outside they took to the sky circling above fields of blossoming shrubs that ran for miles around the province. This metropolis was an immense lush-green paradise that sat prominently on the highest elevation of the island. It was a beacon of Peace, a model for all the islands. Beyond the outskirts of the city and throughout the terrain stretched massive forests, mountains and canyons, streams and waterfalls. Rolling hills backdropped clutters of houses and a stream bubbled from an underground spring trickling through the forest.
Near the city’s center the birds flew passed cottages and multi-level residences lining the cobblestone streets. A water fountain spurted at the front of a public square where the birds stopped to refresh themselves. The citizens were busy painting signs, assembling vendor booths, hanging streamers, and placing flowers along the sidewalks and around street lamps.
Above the platform where musicians were gathering, a bouquet of balloons floated attached to a sign in bold letters that read: “PEACE FOR THE NEXT 1000 YEARS.” People of every possible blend of humanity mingled in the square. The mood was joyous, but everything was about to drastically change.
The birds returned to their home in the garden complex where Sienna danced around the yard listening to her mother’s stories. Amber, storyteller, and Nudan, a preoccupied chemist, were the dotting parents of this special girl. Sienna tumbled with her pet birds who were as large and as playful as puppies. She chased one while the other chased her, then quickly switched directions. Pretending to fly she leaped and rolled giggling in the grass. The birds fluttered around her hopping, pecking, and chirping with glee.
Amber spread a blanket under a nearby tree and opened her book to read.
“One more of your stories, mother!” Sienna insisted. Little did Sienna know that the stories her mother told her were a true creations, a part of her history and her future. Amber used these mysterious stories to disguise their family’s secret and plant them into Sienna’s memory. She recited all of them to inspire Sienna’s imagination and courage.
“Alright. But let’s get your father out here,” Amber said. She called out to Nudan who spent most of his time in his home-laboratory, always toiling over or perfecting one formula or another. “The day is beautiful, and you’re missing it, dear!”
Nudan stuck his head through the doorway, still in his smock and goggles, and held up a vial of his latest concoction. Amber smiled with approval at the smart, handsome man she married.
“Success,” Nudan declared. “One sample I believe is ready. One more to perfect.” He retreated back into the lab.
Sienna peeked through the lab’s opened door. She heard scuffling sounds coming from the corner of the lab and saw a monstrous shadow rising two feet on the wall. Sienna yelped at the shadow but it only revealed a scrawny lab rat peering from behind a cabinet, just sniffing around for something to eat. Nudan took a stale cracker from his pocket and thought maybe he shouldn’t feed it, but he fed it anyway. He removed his smock and goggles then left the lab to join his family outdoors.
“Can’t wait for the celebration. And I don’t want to miss a single thing!” Sienna hailed.
“We’ll get an early start tomorrow,” Nudan agreed. As Nudan spoke the sky above them suddenly darkened and clouds began to form circles. With eyes glued on the changing cloud formations the birds reacted. “That’s odd,” said Nudan.
“We can finish our story later. Quickly, inside,” Amber said. Concern shadowed her face as she scooped up her book and blanket and headed for the house. Ami and Amour took off in random directions squawking fretfully at the wind. Sienna gently called to the birds while Nudan stood still and gazed intently at the sky.