“Is Emberdale like a nightclub?” Synthia’s voice took Gaia out of her memory.
“No, it’s one of the five main cities of Terra.” Donovan sat on top of the table next to Hunter. “Emberdale is the city inside the Obsidian Volcano.”
Priyam took a long thick sword from Pink’s duffle bag. “You guys live in a volcano?” She swung the sword. “Cool! How safe is that?”
“It’s not that safe,” Shui replied moving away from the blade’s reach. “Though most residents are fire wielders, therefore it’s alright.”
“What Shui’s politely trying to say, is that fire wielders are crazy insane.” Willow took the sword away from Priyam’s hands before she could accidentally kill someone. “No offense, Edan.”
“Wait… Emberdale?” Gaia turned to Edan. “I thought you were from Nádúr Noc.”
Edan lowered his eyes as if he was afraid Gaia would see something she shouldn’t, making him take longer than usual to answer. “When I was nine, I lived half a year in Emberdale.” Edan pointed at the sword Gaia was carrying. “In there, I learned how to do that.”
“Among other things,” Donovan winked, and Willow glared at him with discontent. “What?! He should be proud of that. I know I am.”
“What other things?” Gaia asked.
“No way!” Priyam screamed. She took out a crossbow from the bunch of weapons. She aimed to where Willow and Hunter where standing and the whole group ducked. Priyam shot, piercing a pear right in the middle.
“Are you crazy?” Willow yelled. “You could’ve killed us!”
“Please.” Within seconds, Priyam recharged the crossbow and shot. “I have the highest score in the Walking Dead video game.” This time the arrow hit the center of a wooden stick Hunter was holding. “I always pick Daryl.”
“Great technique,” Veter carefully inspected the pear. “I admire your master Daryl for teaching you how to shoot like that, little Prisum.”
Gaia, and the rest of the humans who understood who Priyam was talking about, laughed.
“Trained or not trained, that was stupid of her.” Willow took a bag of seeds and threw it to Gaia, who didn’t come close to catching it. “Let’s go, time for class.”
Gaia placed her sword on the table then picked up the bag of seeds from the floor. “See you later.” She grinned at Priyam then followed Willow to the training grounds.
* * *
Halfway up the hill, Gaia took a step forward, but when her foot touched the ground, she saw a small child’s foot running across the grass. “Willow!” She screamed, but no voice came out.
She recognized the feeling, the same one she had in her dreams, but that was the first time she wasn’t asleep when it happened. Is this also a memory? It was.
Six-year-old Gaia’s body ran across a shallow part of a crystalline turquoise lake. The memory was hazy, she could see the other children playing with her, but the memory was so unstable she could barely recognize them.
“Red! Don’t wander too far.” She heard a child’s voice and immediately recognized it was Edan’s.
Red… she repeated the nickname that Edan often called her in her memories.
“I won’t.” Little Gaia began to jump around. “I just want to make waves.”
“And you will, just after Shui finishes her test,” he said. For a brief moment, Gaia was able to see eight-year-old Shui bending a massive bubble of water up in the air. She had the same water tribal mark on the back of her wrist that grown-up Shui had. Wow, she’s so young and yet she has the same mark… Gaia was sure the symbols weren’t birthmarks because Nobu had an identical tattoo and just like Hans, Willow had the same symbol. If it’s not a birthmark, then what does that mark mean? Gaia wondered.
“Captain.” She heard a soldier’s voice. “We need assistance.”
A strange feeling swept over Gaia at hearing a man call someone, other than Edan, Captain. Luckily for her, little Gaia turned around and saw who the soldier was talking to.
It was Hans, the leader of the Elder Clan. He was tall, blond, with Donovan´s electric blue eyes, and had a fresh scar from a bear’s claw. Gaia knew his bear attack, and the discovery of Donovan’s gift of talking to animals must have been recent. Next to Hans was Nobu, Shui’s father and second in command of the Elder Clan.
“An eagle brought a message.” The soldier carried the bird closer to the warriors.
Hans flashed a big proud smile. Even if little Gaia couldn’t understand his reason for smiling, teenage Gaia did. His son was one of the few people who had the gift of talking to animals. Donovan was special.
“Son!” Hans extended his hand in Donovan’s direction. “This soldier needs your help.”
Six-year-old Donovan ran towards his father. “What is it, father?”
Hans squatted to see his son eye to eye. “We need you to translate this eagle’s message for us,” he explained. “Can you do that?”
Donovan nodded his head. He was beyond happy that his father, one of the greatest earth wielders and Captain, needed his help. Donovan faced the eagle. “Hello, great eagle. What message do you have?”
The eagle spoke to little Donovan. “Eagle says he was flying on top of the Wilds trying to look for something to eat,” Donovan translated. The eagle squawked. “Then, the eagle saw a Draak.”
“Impossible!” the soldier barked.
“Let him speak,” Hans commanded, and the soldier took a step back obeying his Captain’s orders.
“At first the eagle was scared,” Donovan continued his translation. “Then the eagle saw the Draak flying towards his babies’ nest. Forgetting his fear, the eagle followed the Draak until he saw it… an army.”
“An army?” Hans turned to face Nobu. “Has Emberdale finished their army?”
“No, Captain,” Nobu took out a rolled cream-colored paper from his leather belt. He gave the names and statistics a quick check. “According to our last communication with Emberdale, they are still gathering soldiers.”
The eagle gave a mighty squawk at this information. “No. The army was not from Emberdale…” Afraid to say the word, Donovan pursed his lips in a thin line.
“What is it, my son?”
“Father, the eagle said… Ifreann.”
Hans, Nobu, and the soldier’s eyes opened wide. Even after the war in her dreams, and some other terrible memories, this was the first time Gaia had seen Hans this scared.
“Are you certain of this, Donovan?” Hans asked.
“Yes, father,” Donovan answered without hesitation.
For a brief moment, Hans stared at his son. He paid attention to his smile and his blue eyes as if he was memorizing him before saying goodbye. “Nobu, call Mor and prepare the kids. We are sending them across the barrier at dawn.”
Nobu looked at Shui while she wielded multiple water bubbles over little Gaia’s head. “What about the princess?” he asked.
“We ride tomorrow to Nádúr Noc.”
Gaia’s stomach clenched, and bile rose in her throat. She knew The Six were going to make it, but she also knew this was Hans’ and Nobu’s last day. Soon they’ll save her life, and no matter how much she tried or begged for it, there was no way she could protect them now. The sickening feeling of not being able to help, or at least warn them, gave Gaia the sensation of breathing underwater, unable to gasp for air.
“Earth to Gaia.” Gaia heard her name echo in her head. “Gaia!” She heard the voice for the second time; only this time was so close she was able to recognize it.
“Willow?” the name came out of Gaia’s lips. She then noticed she was back from her memory.
“Yes. Are you done spacing out?”
“Sorry,” Gaia said, hoping Willow wouldn’t notice she’d been lost in her thoughts.
Willow shook her head, then turned on her heels and pointed at a bag of seeds. “Now that you can wield earth, take out a seed and bury it in the dirt. Next, place your hands in the dirt right on top of where you buried the seed.”
“I thought Mother Nature doesn’t need seeds to create trees.”
“Mother Nature doesn’t… but you do,” Willow corrected her with a grin. “Creating a tree is insanely difficult. You need to imagine the tree. Every single part of it, the roots, the trunk, the way it would feel against your palm, the way it would smell, then you would have to name it, to recognize it… and then blow your soul into the tree. Just like you needed a lot of training… and luck, to create the supernova, you will need to learn how to grow from seeds first.”
“Got it.” Gaia followed the orders; she took a seed from the pouch, placed it on the dirt, and covered the dirt with her palm. “Like this?”
“Yes,” replied Willow. “Now close your eyes and concentrate on nothing else but the plant’s soul.”
Gaia closed her eyes and pictured the seed. She took a deep breath and tried to empty her thoughts as Edan taught her. Accept the moment, take control…she heard his voice.
Gaia released the air through her mouth and concentrated. She could feel the warmth of her hands passing all the way towards the seed, and the seed began to beat like a heart. Gaia could see the beats in her mind; colorful waves that ran from the center to the corners of the grain, one after the other. She felt how the seed cracked. A small strand of leaf came out.
Slowly pushing up until it pierced through the dirt. Gaia opened her eyes the moment she felt the vibration of the roots growing, taking their place on the earth. The plant spun and spun until it reached Gaia’s chest. The leaves became fuller, and the trunk hardened, turning into a gorgeous bush. Tiny flowers bloomed from the bulbs, and green berries grew until they matured to black. Gaia’s face beamed with excitement as she looked towards Willow. “Did you see that!? I did it.”
“Good.” Willow took out a green seed bag and threw it to Gaia’s hands. “Now, grow all of these.”
Gaia opened the bag. There must have been over a hundred seeds inside. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
“It will take me ages.”
“You are Mother Nature.” Willow smiled, her freckled straight nose wrinkled. “You should be able to grow a forest within minutes.”
“But…”
“Great.” Willow turned around and walked away. “If you need me I’ll be with the group, you know, relaxing.”
Gaia sat down next to the bush. She let herself fall backwards on the soft grass. “You think you can help me? You do half I’ll do half?” Gaia talked to the blackberry bush she had wielded. “No? What if, you help me and… I’ll make your berries bigger?”
Willow walked next to Shui, who was drinking her tea while watching Gaia talking to the plant. “Do you have to be so hard on her?”
Willow sat down next to Shui. “Yes.” She smiled and fixed her pale-blonde ponytail.
Shui wielded some tea into an empty wooden cup next to Willow. “You should try to get to know her. You might find her quite likable.”
“I already do,” she admitted in a low voice. Shui lifted her thin eyebrows in surprise. “Besides,” Willow added, “to be able to wield the growth of a plant after a few weeks of getting her earth element… I think she’s magnificent.” Willow took a sip of her tea.
“Then why did you teach her how to grow plants that soon?”
“I like to see her struggle,” Willow chuckled. “Also, I knew she could do it.” Her face became crestfallen, evidence of the sadness she felt inside. “Which makes it harder, and easier, to see why he always picks her over me.”
“He didn’t pick her over you.” Shui set her tea on the table and placed her hand on Willow’s back. “He picked her over everyone. You’re not flawed; it’s just Nature’s will.”
“I know, still hurts though.” Willow and Shui stared at Gaia as she wielded the seeds into plants while babbling away to the blackberry bush. “She’s so weird.”
* * *
That night Gaia could barely sleep, she kept trying to remember the vision she had and why did she have it without sleeping? Was that something common? Or was that a bad sign? Edan… No, he’s always opposed to telling me any single detail, why would that time be any different… She thought about it for a brief moment as she rolled between her fingers the small rock with the Algiz rune that Pratt gave her the day of their deal. Pratt can… Gaia opened her eyes.
Light as a feather, Gaia tiptoed out of her bungalow then ran to the forest. There she knelt down and planted a seed in the ground. Useful little power. She put her hands full of tiny cuts on top of it. A beautiful bush of white irises grew from it.
Gaia took one of the flowers, checked to see that no one was in sight, then stuck the flower on one of the branches of the trees, hoping that Pratt was close enough to know that she wanted to meet.
Chapter 2
Babysitting
THE NEXT MORNING GAIA jumped out of bed earlier than usual. Peering out the window of her bungalow, she saw it. The orange marigold flower stuck on a faraway tree branch. Yes!
She put on some yoga pants and a light olive-green jacket and ran out of her bungalow.
“Stop. Turn. Where do you think you are going?”
Damn it… Gaia turned around to find Edan drinking a morning tea while staring at her with amusement, one side of his mouth turned up with a half smile.
“For my morning jog,” she replied, trying to act natural.
“Priyam!” he called.
Yawning, Priyam stuck her head out of the bungalow’s window. She was still rocking her morning messy bun. “Zup, Fireball?”
“How do you feel about escaping the camp and having to run twenty-five clicks to the nearest town?”
“The same way the Evil Queen feels about Snow White,” said Priyam between yawns. “Why you ask?”
“I will assume that’s a negative feeling.” Edan pointed towards Gaia. “You are going with Gaia.”
“What!?” Gaia turned around, walking closer towards Edan. “If you’re doing this because you think I’m going to escape to another town then don’t. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“She’s not a babysitter, she’s your best friend.” Edan took a long sip of his hot tea and smirked. “Go. Have fun.”
* * *
As they walked to the forest, Gaia glared at Priyam. “Stop smiling.”
Priyam pushed her plum lips together trying to suppress her apparent amusement. “You got to admit, Fireball is getting sassy.”
“Yeah…” Gaia sighed. “Too much hanging around with you.”
“Aww, stop it. You’re making me blush.” Priyam slapped Gaia’s shoulder and noticed the unusual path she was taking through the forest. “You aren’t going for a jog, are you?”
“Nope.”
Priyam frowned. “You aren’t going to make me run twenty-five clicks, are you?”
“I’m finding that idea more appealing as the time passes, but no, the place is pretty close.”
Lightbulb! Priyam realized why they were walking alone in the forest. “You’re meeting him, aren’t you? The creepy boy?”
“Yes.” Gaia helped Priyam climb a large rock. “And he’s not creepy.”
“If you have a sixth sense, don’t doubt it, follow it,” said Priyam in a theatrical tone.
“Where did you get that phrase from?”
“Floyd,” she said. “He thinks I have a sixth sense for recognizing weirdos. Trust me, Pratt’s a weirdo.” Priyam finished her sentence when she noticed Gaia was staring at her with a twinkle in her eye. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“Since when do you quote Floyd?”
“Since he’s right.” Priyam looked around the place. “Is this your usual time and place?”
“No. If I need to see him, I leave a white iris tied to a tree.” Gaia lifted the marigold flower. “If he wants to see me he leaves this.”
“If I didn’t think the guy was a jerk, I would actually be proud of you, you crazy little spy.”
“Thanks.”
Priyam examined the flower as they kept walking. “I still don’t like you sneaking around to see this guy.”
“I don’t like it either. I wish I could tell the guys.” Gaia whispered in case Pratt was close enough to hear them. “On the other hand, I have no choice.”
“We always have a choice.”
“Priy, you don’t understand. You know who you are, where you came from, how to help others.”
“You do too, now.”
“Knowing my name and my birthplace isn’t enough. Pratt tells me more. He explains my memories and every doubt I have, unlike Edan.” Gaia felt a stabbing sting after mentioning Edan’s name. It had been a few weeks since he’d rejected her. She wished that being Mother Nature would magically prevent her from feeling that bad, but it didn’t. Mother Nature or not, she was still an eighteen-year-old girl who got her heart broken. Crap…
“Edan’s just protecting you.”
“From what?” Gaia snapped more than she wanted to. “They’re my own memories, what’s so damn dangerous about them?”
“Oh… I don’t know. Why don’t you ask the guy from Memento?” She glared at her best friend. “All I’m saying is that I trust Edan’s judgment.” Priyam gave Gaia her orange flower back. “Yes, he’s irritating, grumpy, a perfectionist, and he’s overprotective, but that’s it, he’s just protecting you.”
“So you’re on his side?”
“Against you, never. Against this Pratt guy, yes.”
“Give Pratt a chance. He’s not a bad person, even Mor misses him.”
Priyam took a moment, thinking things through. “Fine… I hope you don’t regret this.”
Finally, Gaia and Priyam reached a circle of trees. The thick trunks made it harder to see around the place. “It must be around here.”
Seasons Within Box Set Page 30