Kelanda of Hydor

Millenia before the formation of Hydor, There lay a plain as infinite as stars, The rain filled the sky, As mud caked the land.

The raven Dranium flew about his shores and plains as a lonely silhouette for thousands of years. Then, he created Fernanda from the mud. Fair Fernanda though newly formed, Became the lover of her creator.

Dranium solely wanted Fernanda on his land, For he preferred the vast expanse. For immortals, Desires stay without change.

Dranium banished Fernanda to the East Shore, Where she lay in solitude as Kelanda grew in her womb. Until Kelanda burst through Fernanda.

Fernanda- Year 0000.

In the midst of mist, mud swallowed my skin. I birthed Kelanda through tears and tears. The raven came onto the shore and my blood soaked his feathers that reflected the light as sapphires do.

“Fernanda, I warned you that it would only be the two of us,” Dranium whispered.

The raven plucked at my eyes until I was a blind collection of sinews. Blinded, I sank deeper into the sand, dragging my child down with me. The satisfied raven flew away carrying the mist on his wings, allowing the sun to shine through. There were ancient shadows on this ashen plain, so I drew Kelanda into the canyon she opened in my abdomen. I pulled my flesh tight, like a cloak in the cold. My organs stung with the mud seeping in, but she was protected.

A running creek split the shore. Stones rubbed against the water, the currents cracked their form. The creek surrounded my limp body, the liquid ice bent around my ankles, and eventually the peak of my scalp. My daughter fought for air, rupturing my abdomen as she did before. I thought her arms turned to wings and she flew away, but the distance was me sinking towards the stones while she floated above.

The water stopped spreading when I lifted my hands.

“You’ve grown enough, you will not expand.”

The water infuriated at my command, inhaled me down to muddy sand.

Thus I began my life in a state of infancy.

“I created you from mud Fernanda, and I can wash you away just as easily,” the raven screeched.

The tides washed me away, taking fat and flesh. The pain dissolved into murky water. I was no more than a spirit clinging to an evaporating skeleton when a wave wrapped against my back. I was hurled towards the sun, a scalding embrace supported me beside the clouds. A scream for release built in my throat. It was only a thought. I knew I mustn’t disobey. The sun boiled my heart into tar until I absorbed into its burning sphere.

“Where is she?” Dranium boomed.

“She escaped through the river, but if you allow me power over the waters, I can find her and bring her to you.”

Dranium started to turn away, but I couldn’t let him go.

“Have I ever betrayed you Dranium?”

The sun pulsed from ruby to gold when Dranium lent me the power of water and light.

Fernanda mother of all, Burned Dranium using the star he gifted her,

And delivered her daughter Kelanda

To the tribe of the first people.

It has been told that Kelanda still lives among the Hydorian people, Transforming her body, Each century.

Isabella Bonifacio-Sudnik