Joseph and Amala

In a time long ago, there was a beautiful girl named Amala. Amala had black hair that fell past her waist and green eyes that seemed to glow. She lived in the village of Raspa with her mother and father.

In the same village, there lived a boy named Joseph. Joseph was tall and strong with blues eyes that could pierce into one’s soul. Joseph was an orphan; he had a very hard life and struggled to survive.

One day while at the market, Amala met Joseph. Their eyes met and they instantly fell in love. Amala and Joseph spent every second they could together. Amala’s mother and father did not approve of Amala’s feelings for Joseph, but that didn’t matter to Amala and Joseph. They knew that as long as they were together, everything would be fine. Amala and Joseph began to make plans to run away and marry.

Amala’s parents learned of their daughter’s plans to leave with Joseph and they were furious. First they sent Amala far away to her aunt’s house in the village of Setca. Next they had Joseph arrested. He was imprisoned on the island of Hiba were he was to spend his life in shackles being guarded by the evil wizard Lycan.

Amala tried to leave Setca so she could be with Joseph, but each time she was found and brought back. Amala was heartbroken. Without Joseph, her life had little meaning. She began to cry. Amala cried and cried. Her tears fell for a year. Nothing could mend her broken heart.

Finally, the good-hearted witch, Isha, took pity on Amala. She told Amala that she would help her escape Setca and rescue Joseph. Isha told Amala that she should come to Isha’s home in the Deep Forest. Amala was afraid to go into the Deep Forest, but she was more afraid to live without Joseph. Isha told Amala to wait three nights when the light of the full moon could guide her way. Before Isha left, she gave Amala an amulet to protect her in the Deep Forest.

Amala waited for three nights, like Isha had told her. On the third night, as soon as the moon began to climb in the sky, Amala snuck out her bedroom window. She ran silently through the village streets and to the edge of the Deep Forest. Standing at the edge of the forest, Amala peered into the blackness. She knew that she must brave the forest to save Joseph. Amala gathered every ounce of courage she had by picturing Joseph’s loving face, clutching tight to the amulet, she walked into the forest. The smell of dampness and rotting vegetation made Amala’s head spin but, she continued in the direction Isha had told her.

Amala had heard stories of the evil creatures that dwelled in the forest and fed on any human careless enough to wander into their domain. All around her she could hear screams of agony. Occasionally, she would catch a glimpse of something moving in the trees next to her. Amala held tighter to the amulet and quickened her pace.

Finally, Amala came to a clearing, and there in front of her was Isha’s home. Isha opened her door and welcomed Amala in. As Amala looked at the walls lined with shelves, Isha busied herself going from shelf to shelf, pulling down a glass jar here, grabbing a small bag there and then taking it all to her one empty shelf and mixing the ingredients into a small black vial. When she was done, she handed the small vial to Amala and told her that it held a very powerful potion, which would burn through anything. She warned Amala to be very careful and only use a few drops at a time or she may burn through the ground and release the creatures of the underworld. She also gave to Amala a golden-framed mirror and told Amala that it was a magical. Whenever Amala found herself in danger, she was to hold the mirror so that the threat would be reflected back upon itself. She told Amala that she had one more thing to help her on her journey. She led Amala outside and clapped her hands three times. Amala heard a whooshing sound followed by a great gust of wind; she had to turn her head to keep the dust from her eyes. When she turned back to Isha, Amala was astonished to see a large dragon standing next to Isha. The dragon towered over Isha’s home. Isha told Amala that the dragon was her pet, Lang. The sight of the dragon mesmerized Amala. She had never seen one before, and this one, Lang, must have been the most beautiful dragon to ever exist. Under the full moon his body shimmered like pearls and his eyes glowed like rubies.

Slowly Amala approached Lang. As she neared him she held her hand out and Lang nuzzled it with his face. Amala realized that Lang’s body was not at all scaly like she had expected, but was soft, as if his body were covered with layers of silk. Isha told Amala that she must hurry. She and Lang needed to rescue Joseph and reach safety before the sun began to rise, as dragons like Lang are only able to fly at night. She told Amala that when she and Joseph were safe, she should send Lang back. He would know his way back home.

Isha blessed Amala with luck and happiness for both she and Joseph. Amala thanked her again and waved good-bye as Lang lowered himself so she could climb onto his back. She held tight to him as Lang took three large leaps and then soared into the sky, flying effortlessly over the tops of the trees.

It seemed to take no time to reach the island prison. Lang landed silently near the wooded area by the prison. He lowered himself so Amala could slide down his side. She patted him on the side of the face and ran toward the prison. She had walked around two sided before she found an open window high above her head. She tried and tried to climb up the stone covered side, but each time she would slip back down to the ground. Amala was about to look for another way in when she felt a nudge against her back. She turned and was surprised to see Lang standing behind her. He lowered himself and Amala climbed onto his back. Lang stood and Amala was able to walk in the open window.

Amala found herself at one end of a long corridor with doors staggered on either side. Each door had a small opening covered with bars. She went to the nearest door and peered in, but didn’t see Joseph. She went to each door and looked in, finally she reached the last door. Amala looked in but was heartbroken to see a tiny old man sitting in the corner.

The old man was surprised to see Amala standing at his door and asked what it was she was doing. Amala told him that she was searching for Joseph. He told Amala that he and Joseph had been in the cell together but Lycan had taken him up to the tower yesterday. Joseph was to be executed this morning at sunrise. He told her how to get to the tower and said she must hurry before it was to late. She thanked him for his help and offered to free him but he said no, he was afraid he would only slow them down and cause them all to be captured.

Amala rushed down the corridor and found the stone stairs leading up to the tower. She ran up the stairs as fast as her legs would carry her. At the top of the stairs, Amala found a single door. The door had no opening but it didn’t matter, she knew Joseph was on the other side of the door. She could feel his presence.

The locked door was made of wood and iron. Amala pulled the small black vial from her pocket and poured a few drops on the door. Instantly, the area began to smoke as if it were on fire. The potion burned a hole big enough for Amala to fit through.

Joseph looked up and saw Amala standing there in his cell. At first he thought she was a dream. The same dream he had dreamt every night since they were separated but this time the dream was real. Amala ran to his side and held him tightly, afraid that if she let go he might vanish before her eyes. He began to say something but she pressed her finger to his lips and opened the vial. She poured a drop on each shackle and watched as the iron began to smoke. The potion burned through the iron, but never touched Joseph’s skin. Amala helped Joseph up and the left the cell.

Amala and Joseph slowly climbed down the stairs. Amala kept her arm around Joseph’s waist to support him. They entered the corridor and turned to the left back toward the window Amala had entered, but there standing just a few feet away was Lycan.

Amala and Joseph ran as fast as they could in the opposite direction but Joseph was so weak that Amala knew they would not be able to escape Lycan. She found a small opening in the wall and they both slipped into it. Amala listened as Lycan’s footsteps neared. Just as he was to reach the opening, Amala stepped out and held up the mirror Isha had given to her.

Lycan saw the mirror but it was to late to look away. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground.

Amala and Joseph ran down the hall never looking back. They found an open window and Amala clapped three times. Seconds later, Lang appeared. Amala helped Joseph out the window and onto Lang’s back. Lang took three large leaps and once again soared into the sky and over the trees.

The three flew east all night. They flew over the vast oceans and grass covered lands. Just before the sky began to glow from the first hints of sunrise, Lang landed.

Not knowing where they were, they hid in the forest by a stream. Amala was able to find fruit trees and picked fruit for them to eat. Once they had all eaten their full, they rested.

Sometime later, Joseph awoke. He left Amala and Lang in the forest sleeping. Joseph made his was to a tiny village not to far from the forest. The village was full of kind people and many jobs that he could do. He went back to the forest and told Amala all about the village. They decided to stay in the village.

The next day, the village priest married Amala and Joseph in the forest by the stream. Two days later Amala sent Lang back to Isha with a note telling her where they were and thanking her again. When Isha read the note she smiled knowing that they would have a long happy life together.

As for Lycan, when Amala held the mirror up, he saw his reflection. When this happened, all of Lycan’s wickedness was forced back upon himself. He fell to the ground and screamed in pain. His body began to slowly change, the pain was unbearable. When the transformation was complete, Lycan had changed into a wolf.

To this day all of Lycan’s descendants, when under the full moon, transform into wolves. In this form, his descendents stalk star-crossed lovers in an attempt to avenge the curse they must bear for all of eternity.