The War Of Faith

“We make this sacrifice for the planet obliterated during the War of Faith.”

The woman in the black robe stood, watching the others, her hood pulled up to hide her face. Within the shadows, only her glowing yellow eyes could be seen.

“It is time, my children.”

The collection of gods stepped forward, holding hands as they formed a ring around the black-robed woman. Each was wearing a robe of their skill, from lightning-laced blue cloth to the deep brown of horses. They were all nervous, but they were determined. Earth had been their home too, not just the home of the humans who had imagined them.

The black-robed, yellow-eyed Keridwen knelt in the centre of the circle, pressing her hands to the ground. Her searing-white magic struck out, spreading around the circle like tendrils of a fast-growing plant. Within seconds, the earth beneath the gods’ feet was covered in magic, the white light pulsing steadily around Keridwen. She remained on her knees, her eyes closed, her long, sharp nails driven into the dirt.

The tendrils of magic began to climb the gods, wrapping around their ankles, knees, chests. A few squirmed, wanting to rid themselves of the oily-textured magic, but none dared break the circle.

The light grew brighter, and Keridwen stood, her battle-scarred face illuminated beneath her hood by the white light of her magic.

“To destiny!”

The magic released, the spell working its way through time. When the white light cleared, the gods were gone, leaving only one small apple tree to sprout in the centre of their former circle. The circle of dirt had sunk almost an inch where the light had transported it and the people standing on it through time to the beginning of the end.