Kitsu and the Elder Zelfs

Kitsu and the Elder Zelfs - aka A Story about Wisdom



"Once upon a time, a long long time ago there was nothing but space. Then the sun, and the moons, the stars and planets were all created by a collision known as the 'Big-Bang'. This in turn created the lands and the seas and the mountains, the valleys and deserts...."

"But what about Zardenia?" interrupted Elfa.

"Yeah! When did our home get made?" added Garny.

"I was just getting to that," Grandfather Time sighed. He turned to look at all the little zelflings sitting in front and around him, listening to his story. Well most of them. Some of the Zelfs were interested, some had their minds elsewhere, whilst others were simply playing tricks on one another like throwing paper zaeroplanes or poking each other with sticks, some were even napping and some were enraptured, hanging on his every word.

Many years of story-telling had made Grandfather Time a good Zelf to have an audience around him. He felt happy and at his most relaxed when telling his stories. Only they weren't just stories. They were the truth. Grandfather Time was the eldest Zelf in the land, the very first Zelf to touch down in Zardenia, when the shooting star that carried him across the entire spanse of the universe, landed on Earth breaking a chunk of it off and causing it to be permanently suspended high above the clouds of Earth.

It was here, that he had first woken up and looked around at the 'Z' shaped land, they would soon come to call home. Then over the years, plants were grown, rocks were made into homes, land was farmed and cultured into zerrific hang-outs and parks, and Zardenia truly became the home of the race of beings that is the Zelfs.

Each Zelf is born inside a star, and when that star is fully ripened and perfect, at the right size and temperature, it shoots across space until it gets close to Earth, where it is pulled like a magnet, drawn to the power of Zardenia. The star burns itself through the zatmosphere and when the Zelf is ready to arrive, the shooting light of a comet sends the little Zelfling down to the planet's crust of rock and soil. The Elder Zelfs who watch out for these incoming 'stars' then go on a great journey down from Zardenia to the Earth and look for these little Zelflings, prise them out of the rocks and bring them back to the Zelf's homeland to rear them into their everyday zelfs.

Each and every Zelf is unique. Their dna is encoded when the Zelf 'senses' or is near to their assigned theme, whether it be an animal, or creature that long ago roamed the planet, insect, seaon, nature, element, or some other conspicuous subject. For instance, Spellinda landed near to a passing witch, Buttershy tingled when a butterfly hovered nearby and Pegasue was drawn to a flying horse, and so their powers are born. Each zelf becomes and gains the powers or strength or ability of whatever they have been 'attracted' to, upon their arrival.

As Grandfather Time continued on with his stories, one Zelf in particular was nowhere to be found. The mysterious and elusive Kitsu!

Now Kitsu was not your average Zelf. She wasextremely inquisitive, and always had questions about everything. Where do we come from, what are we here for, why do we do what we do? That sort of thing. Whenever the Zelfs came together for a celebration or gathering, Kitsu would be off somewhere else exploring, or looking for answers. She was most difficult to pin down, or find even. She was friends with all the Zelfs, but sometimes it was difficult to plan things with her, seeing as she was always doing her own thing. Kitsu longed for all the answers.

Grandfather Time and the other Elder Zelfs would often sit with her and try to explain why things happened and what things did, but often that lead to even more questions and Kitsu was never really completely satisfied with the answers. Every Zelf knew the Zelf way, and readily accepted this, however Kitsu questioned absolutely everything.

Now Zardenia didn't have many rules per se, but one of those put in place to protect the Zardenians was that they didn't travel down to Earth on their own. Only the Elder Zelfs; an ancient and more distinguished collection of Zardenian occupants were allowed to go down to collect the new arrivals, and the Zelfs always ensured they knew where each and every zelf was at any given time. Kitsu, being the ever questioning Zelf was one of the most difficult Zelfs to pin-point and many a time gave the Elder Zelfs a zead-ache!

Now aside from Grandfather Time, the other Elder Zelfs consisted of Madam Tarot, a wise and prophecy predicting Zelf who always seemed to know what was happening before it happened; Uncle Tinker, the gadget man who was always inventing something or another; Mamma Mia, who simply loved to bake and cook wonderful recipes for all of her 'zelf' children, Miss Viola - teacher of music, Mr Oakley - teacher of science and nature, Miss Farrah - teacher of drama and literature, and Mr Maximillion - teacher of art and history. Completing the line up were Jewely, Miss Clover and Snowphie; three relatively new Zelfs who were promoted to the Elder clan for their services to Zardenia. These 11 Zelfs were considered to be the most important in all of Zardenia and kept an eye over everything that went on around the land.

Anyway back to our story, Kitsu had taken it upon herself that next time the Elder Zelfs went on a mission to fetch back a baby Zelfling, she too would somehow travel down to the land way below and discover how and what the Elder Zelfs did. Although she knew if she did, she would be in trouble if she got caught. Kitsu believed it was for the greater good of zelf-kind to know all the answers.

Now another thing about our intrepid hero is that she was very wise beyond her years. In her quest to know absolutely everything, she was very smart and resourceful. In order to stay one step ahead, she had sown little seeds in some of her Zelf friends heads, and gotten them to organise a special Zelf party in the middle of the Day-Z Gardens that night, so that each and every Zelf in Zardenia were talking about was this great big get-together and celebration that was distracting them all day. Vampula was in charge of decorations, and with her little team of helpers were busy fixing giant bows and coloured streamers to absolutely everything, making it look sparkling and spectacular. Birchy and Dandy Lion were in charge of cleaning and tidying and sweeping the area of festivities, whilst Beetrice and Mamma Mia were busy with food prep and drinks, and had gathered some others to help make juices and smoothies, some of the more naughty Zelfs preferring to start food fights instead. Garny, for one; was responsible for turning Grandfather Time's beard purple when he threw some blackberries at his friend Flamy, who ducked and had splattered the old Zelf instead. Luckily he took it in good humour. A lot of the Zelfs were busy with making costumes and masks to wear, so that whilst they were busy Kitsu put her plan into action.

Kitsu hurried along past the Toasty Toes Campsite and past the Great Castle, where the only Zelf who noticed her was Talon, the Griffin Zelf who was perched atop the wall.

'Hey Kitsu, where you going?' he asked as she stealthily made her way up the pathway.

'Can't stop,' she called, 'Got things to do for the party' and within seconds she was gone. He went back to his duty of look-out, watching the tent poles put up a giant Gazebo in the town square, and Zelfs dashing here and there, and thought no more of Kitsu's haste.

Now on top of the hill behind the castle was the Obzervatory, where any keen astronomer could gaze up at and observe the star patterns from the big golden telescope. Sometimes the Zelfs were curious about the night sky and the millions of stars up there, but none so much as Kitsu. Very often one of the Elder Zelfs who manned the observatory watching out for falling stars, would find a knock at the door in the middle of the night, and find curious Kitsu looking for answers to the millions of questions that she asked. They didn't mind, as it often stopped them from falling asleep on the nights shift when they were supposed to be awake and alert.

Now as it happened, Kitsu knew that all the Zelfs were pre-occupied and that the observatory would be empty this time. It was still evening, before the sky turned inky black and any stars would be seen. Kitsu had often trained the telescope to look downwards at the mysterious planet beneath them, and wanted to go down there very much. She made notes in her notebook, about the land and trees, and great lake that covered much of the strange, distant and enchanting world way way below Zardenia. Sometimes if she looked hard enough she could see weird and wonderful beasts and animals, they seemed enormous and a lot of them terrified her, but being the curious Zelf she was, she desperately wanted to see them more closely. She also knew that a star was imminently due, Madame Tarot had predicted it and she wanted to secretly follow the Elder Zelfs down to see what they did down on the world below. Although Kitsu was very inquistive and had explored every inch of Zardenia, she did not know how the Elder Zelfs travelled down to Zearth, as they called it.

Sometimes on a good clear day, Kitsu had stood on the precipice of Zardenia, and laying carefully down, could peek her head over the side of their floating plateau to look at the land below, far far away. It looked like a jumble of blues, greens and yellows and she wondered what made it those particular colours. She knew a lot of her fellow Zelfies had wings but they only used to them to flitter from A to B, not on great long journeys and that land seemed so distant that she wasn't sure a Zelf could make it all the way down there. Some visiting creatures such as birds and winged insects visited from time to time from different lands, and she noted their appearances in her little note book, but as she couldn't speak their language she couldn't ask them a million questions. Zardenia had its own little eco-system and animals and creatures but they seemed much smaller in comparison to the flock of white birds she once saw fly past Zardenia or the big beating winged moth-like creature that made her drop her picnic food one day, as she sat close to the edge.

At the observatory, she had a quick look through the big telescope at the pink and yellow sky, dusk was coming and in about an hour the sky would be dark and Kitsu could put her plan into action. She was certain that all the Zelfs would be at the party, and she could go unnoticed as her fellow friends had a awesome time, getting merry and having fun. In the next room, a gigantic room that had an open ceiling, sat a big silver basket with cogs and various buttons attached, probably one of Uncle Tinker's experiment contraptions. Kitsu decided she could probably hide inside it and spy on the Elder Zelfs as they talked about going down to look for the next baby Zelfling and discover how they managed to get there. So quietly she tip-toed into the big silver machine and found a corner to hide, where she could peek out of the side and see if the Elder Zelfs came by tonight, when the sky got dark and they could look out of the telescope to search for falling stars.

Unfortunately for Kistu, one of the side-effects of always being curious and asking a bazillion questions was always being a bit sleepy, occasionally forgetting to sleep as she didn't want to miss anything. Soon enough Kitsu fell asleep in the basket and dreamt of having wings herself and flying through the air.

Bump. Bumpity bump. Kitsu awoke with a start, unsure of where she was. She could hear muffled talking and after a second of realising that she had probably fallen asleep inside the basket, didn't want to move in case she was found out by the other Zelfs and in a whole load of trouble. But after a minute or two, she began to feel green and a bit sick. The basket was slowly rocking and making her dizzy.

'Oh no, she thought, what if I climbed inside a washing machine or something?' she thought. Kitsu tried to keep calm, and focussed on the voices she could hear nearby, and silently she popped her head up from behind the coil of rope she was hiding inside of.

It took her a minute to readjust to her surroundings and confusion inched its way across her face. Standing inside the rocking basket were Grandfather Time, Mamma Mia, Uncle Tinker, Miss Viola, Mr Oakley, Miss Clover and Snowphie.

'Score!' she said to herself. Now she could listen to their secret meeting.

As they were talking, quite freely and not in secret at all, Kitsu saw that each Zelf was busy, either holding ropes and pulling or in the case of Uncle Tinker, spinning a big wooden wheel.

'What on Zardenia are they doing?' she thought, puzzled.

'A little to the left please' Grandfather Time called out, and Miss Viola and Snowphie would tug on the ropes.

'A westerly breeze coming in, more on the right please.' he said and instantly Mr Oakley and Miss Clover pulled the ropes on their side. Kitsu looked around at her surroundings. Then she looked up and saw a giant silver balloon above them all. A hundred questions began forming in her mind, and she slowly turned around and looked through a peep-hole in the side of the basket.

The basket, balloon and the Zelfs were flying! Through the air. Kitsu had stowed away on a flying balloon!

'That's how they got down to the land below'. she thought. 'Ooops, and here I am with them all! Oh Kitsu, what have you got yourzelf into?'

As Grandfather Time guided the air ship, and Uncle Tinker steered, the other Elder Zelfs carried out their duties. It must have taken them a long time to perfect the art of flying, and they each did their role expertly, keeping the balloon from tipping and upright. Kitsu, who had a curious eye, decided to look over the side of the basket, wondering how far away from Zardenia they were.

Suddenly an updrift of air, dislodged the balloon, knocking it like a bouncing ball, sending the Elder Zelfs scuttling across the basket. In a second they returned to their designated posts and were back to steering, guiding and pulling and failing to notice that one of their own had not reappeared.

'Heellllllllllppppppppp!' squeaked Kitsu, holding on for dear life to a rope that now fluttered in the night sky, trailing behind the balloon.

Kitsu had never been so frightened. In her quest for knowledge, she had unwittingly put herself in danger.

'Silly Kitsu', she scolded herself. 'Look at what a mess you've got yourself into. How can they hear you out here?'

As she desperately clung onto the whipping rope, she felt sorry for herself but more so for her friends and family, some of whom might have wondered why she hadn't been at the party or if she would ever return.

'What if you never get back to Zardenia again?' Kitsu grew terribly sad.

It was her own curiousity that had gotten her into this mess. She has so wanted to see this mysterious land, that she had lost sight that her beloved home-world had everything that she needed and wanted, and more.

'Hellllllppppppp me.'

A voice, carried on the wind. The Elder Zelfs were busy with the air balloon, but Miss Clover heard the quiet little yelp. As one of the most shyest of the Zelfs, she recognised the quiet little voice that sounded almost like her own, and turned to look around the balloon.

'Did anybody hear that?' she piped up. 'Did anyone hear that voice?'

One by one they tuned their ears and heard the pleading voice seemingly from the sky. Grandfather Time, shuffled over to the side of the basket to look for the source of the noise.

Kitsu was tired and exhausted, could only look on in hope and amazement as the Elder Zelfs one by one appeared at the top of the basket. First, Grandpappy Time himself, his white hair and beard blowing in the wind, his kind sparkly eyes looking at her but holding no annoyance. Then Miss Clover, Miss Viola, Mr Oakley and Snowphie himself looked over at their fellow Zelfling hanging on for life. They pulled on the rope slowly and carefully, bringing Kitsu closer and closer to the basket and helped her back inside.

'Ah Kitsu, glad you could join us.' said Grandfather Time.

'I'm sooooo sorry', Kitsu stammered.

'Nonsense. You're a curious Zelf that's all, there's nothing wrong with that.' he responded kindly, taking Kitsu into his arms for a hug. Immediately she felt the warmth and comfort from his beard and love, that she felt better instantly.

Mamma Mia gave her a cup of steaming tea from her flask, and Snowphie kindly wrapped a scarf around her neck. Kitsu appreciated the kindness from her fellow Zelfs, especially from Snowphie; whom she had a little crush on. The tea, the scarf and the hug all helped Kitsu get back to normal, and even the gentle rocking of the balloon basket failed to make her feel queasy now.

'I am sorry though'. she said to them. 'I didn't mean to come with you, I just wanted to know how you travelled'.

Grandfather Time chuckled. Kitsu was very surprised none of the Elder Zelfs were not mad at her, and her infuriating inquistiveness.

'Well my dear, you're in for a real treat tonight', he said gruffly but in his own kindly old way. 'We are in search of a Zelfling that has just arrived, and you will be the first Zelf, aside from us to see it being born. Now that's a rare sight to behold.'

'But how do you find it?' she asked.

'We follow the trail'. Mr Oakley replied, pointing up to the trail of space dust and ice in the sky. The trail of the falling star, of course!

'But how do you land?' she asked, after a minute of following the trail.

'A mixture of gravity and control'. said Uncle Tinker landing the balloon.

'But then how do you find the Zelfling?' she asked as she followed them through the grass.

'Follow the clues dear. The tell-tale signs of a crash-landing, leaf patterns and grass marks.' said Mamma Mia, as Snowphie tracked down the fallen star.

'What happens if you can't get to it?' Kitsu asked as they trudged through mud.

'Sometimes it is difficult, like retrieving ones underwater or near to dangerous wild animals' said Miss Viola as they cimbed rocks, helping one another to reach summits.

'Its like the we are in tune with the Zelfling, once we are in close proximity' claimed Miss Clover. 'Like a buzzing that fills our heads, it leads us to the meteorite.

'Hmmmmm....' though Kitsu, taking it all in.

Snowphie stopped, puzzled and frowning, One by one they all stopped. Last of all Grandfather Time with his walking stick, huffing and puffing.

'What is it?' he panted.

'The trail, stops here. I can sense it around here, only I can't see or hear or feel where it is on the land. he said stumped.

They all looked around for the fallen rock. They too could also sense the buzzing nearby but couldn't find the new Zelfling. Nearby a storm was heading their way, a little crackle of electricity filling the purple-pink cloud with bioluminous light.

'Oooooooh' though Kitsu, watching the static filled clouds. The Elder Zelfs had spread out and were looking for the baby in the nearby surroundings.

Ever curious Kitsu thought she saw something in the air above where Uncle Tinker and Miss Viola were looking under rocks and bushes, she only saw it for a fraction as the cloud crackled and fizzed directly above them now.

'I hope it doesn't rain', she heard Gradfather Time grumble. 'My beard will get all fuzzy'.

Kitsu peered directly at the sky. There was definitely something up there amongst the stars and sky. Hopping across the plain, she went for a closer look. Now directly beneath it, it was just out of reach, like a spinning lump, rotating slowly.

'Errr Miss Clover, Mr Oakley could I borrow you for a sec?' she asked her fellow Zelfs.

They moved towards her, and then saw her line of sight.

'Oh.' Miss Clover exclaimed. 'Its still in the air.'

'Perhaps you two could lift me up?' she asked.

Miss Clover and Mr Oakley who both had wings looked at Grandfather Time, who had now stopped and was watching the spinning rock a couple of feet above them. The Elder Zelfs moved in around them. He nodded at them, and they took Kitsu by the arms and flittered up towards the rock.

Kitsu could see the rock in detail, the pock marked space lump, slowly rotating.

'Am I allowed to touch it? she asked curiously.

Mr Oakley nodded and Kitsu reached out for the fallen star. As she did so, it split in half, spilling light from inside it. Kitsu found herself holding two pieces of rock in either hand. The storm cloud helping illuminate it, she peered inside, not sure what to expect.

In one half, a little blue zelf was twisting around. Its hair was changing colour directly in front of her, little yellow wings forming, a silver streak across one eye, hair turning black and yellow. It looked at her and started crying.

'Oh!' Kitsu exclaimed. She looked at the other half. A baby pink zelf looked back at her blinking. Pink hair turned a bit blue, as did her feet and hands. Tiny wings also appeared on her back. She didnt cry, but giggled.

'Ohhhhhh.' was all Kitsu could say.

The three Zelfs hovered back down, and the Elder Zelfs crowded around. The two tiny Zelfs looked at them all.

'What happens now?' asked Kitsu.

'Welcome little Zelflings', said Grandfather Time. The little blue Zelf reached out and tugged on his beard.

'Haha.' the old Zelf chuckled.

'Two Zelflings. Born of Storm and Cloud.' Mamma Mia cooed.

'Time passes differently in Zardenia. In a few days they will be full sized, like us and have their own distinct personalities and powers. We just merely collect.' Grandfather said.

'And teach.' Miss Viola added.

'And nuture.' Mr Oakely admitted.

'And love.' Miss Clover said.

'That is the way of the Zelf. That is our way.' Snowphie told Kitsu.

Kitsu smiled. 'Lets get them home.' she said.

And so, the little group of Zelfs went back to their basket, back to their world, and back to their lives. In Zardenia. Where Kitsu wanted to be more than anywhere else. She knew all she needed to know now.

Even now, as she watched Grandfather Time telling his stories. Some of the Zelfs listening, some playing tricks, some sleeping, some with their minds elsewhere. She looked at her friends Ty Foon and Float sat either side of Grandpappy and smiled.