Many moons ago, in a place long forgotten, there was a young boy. He was a lonely boy.  He had just about escaped from his home with his life, as his father was swallowed whole by a Griffin.

He was running in the moon light, his friends, his family, his home behind him. He collapsed. He was so tiered from the night before because he had feared his farther would be hurt. He was right.   That night he slept well. The wind blew leaves over him, covering him like a blanket.

Demeter felt sorry for the boy, so she grew four trees around him and wrapped vines around that to make a hut.

Demeter raised him as her son and named him Xylo. Xylo grew up to be a loving and caring person who looked after animals and helped plants grow.

Years past and Xylo was an adult, so he decided to look or his old friends, when he came across a girl, more beautiful than the stars in the night sky. She started to approach him.

 

“It’s a fine morning isn’t it?” The woman was holding basket full of fresh berries and bread her delicate hands clutching it as if it was a gift.

“Not as fine as you. Who gave you those berries?” Xylo questioned.

“I bought them. I was just about to I watch the sun set. It’s supposed to be amazing this time of year. Do you want to come?” The woman said politely.

“Sure.” Xylo walked down the aged path with the woman.

“So what’s your name?” Xylo inquired

“Gem.” Came the simple reply.

“Something that is equally as beautiful as you.” She sniggered as her cheeks changed into a soft pink. She new that Xylo liked her.

 

The two walked off together. Over time the two fell in love and Xylo decided to propose to his beautiful gem.

 

“My love, will you marry me?” Xylo asked.

 “Yes” came a scream.

Demeter was delighted that Xylo and Gem were getting married she flooded the land with flowers.

The next summers morning,  Xylo woke up and decide to make a house for Gem and himself. In the process he cut down all the trees that were surrounding his hut Demeter had made for him and then covered the land so no more plants could grow. “Why are you covering the land?” Gem questioned.

“Because none of these putrid plants could compare to your beauty.” Gem was flattered by this and questioned no further.

 

That night Xylo had a dream that he and Gem were on two trees connected by a branch in the middle. The ground seemed to be rising like bread on a fire, and the sky shrinking like a boat sailing towards the horizon.

The dream ended.

Xylo woke up panting.

“Are you ok my love?”Gems head pooped in from the kitchen.

“I’m fine Gem,” Xylo replied. He wondered into to the garden with his porridge in his hands. It crashed on the floor.

“Why are there more plants here?” He questioned, but waited for no answer.

 

Down fell all the trees hitting the floor spreading leaves everywhere. Then came the fire with a roar, the grass around it burning to a crisp.

 

Demeter was enraged! He could not contain her anger.

That night Demeter went to were Xylo and gem were to wed and planted a seed were they were going to stand.

Their wedding day came. Xylo and gem stood were the seeds were.

They flew up into the sky, shaking from fear.

 

“What have we done to deserve this?” Gem screamed. “Who would want to get in true loves way?” There was silence. A deafening silence. Xylo remembered. The Trees! Demeter was upset with him.

“ I’m sorry!” he wailed. “Please don’t let my fait be like my father’s!”

The ground started to rise like bread on a fire, and the sky shrunk like a boat sailing towards the horizon.

 

                                                                BLACK.