by S. S. Segran
“There are people here,” Jag muttered. “Good. We need to find answers.”
He took the lead again and they advanced cautiously. It wasn’t long before they heard the sound of flowing water. Jag pointed to a winding path between the trees and they padded next to it, curious and alert, letting it lead the way. A tranquil river rolled alongside the entire length of the path. Jag frowned. He knew there wasn’t much light and so the water would appear darker, but it seemed a peculiar color. Almost—green? Teal? He was mesmerized by the lively hue.
The boys half-limped along in silence. Twilight was almost gone now, and the moon emerged to cast a glow in the darkening sky. Jag gazed up at it, remembering his ride on the back of the massive bear. He recalled the mystical air around the creatures, their gleaming eyes, and the fierce yet protective nature he felt from his steed. And their size!
Wait. Was it all a dream? He stopped in his tracks, befuddled.
Aari bumped into him, and Kody bumped into Aari. They groaned as the aches from their injuries flared.
“Did you have to stop like that?” Aari snapped.
Ignoring the redhead’s comment, Jag faced his friends. “Do you remember the bears we were on?” he asked.
Kody and Aari gave him looks as if demanding to know if he’d gone mad. “What bears?”
“The bears—you know, the huge ones that brought us here.” Jag waved his arms around.
“I think the pain went to your head, dude,” Aari said. “Are we really supposed to believe that we arrived here on bears? Get a grip.”
“I saw them,” Jag insisted. “I know I saw them, and I know I wasn’t hallucinating.”
Kody cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah, you probably dreamt it.”
Jag huffed, then relented reluctantly. “Maybe. It was just so real, though.”
They ambled on for a while more until Jag halted again, amber eyes trying to pierce the darkness ahead.
“What is it this time?” Aari grumbled. “A kangaroo doing ballet?”
Jag raised a finger to his lips. “Shh. Did you hear that?”
Kody and Aari strained their ears. From the shadows, a large black shape leapt in front of them, its thick tail flying. They heard a deep growl, and froze.
The creature advanced stiff-legged, hackles raised. Jag could make out a canine shape, but it was larger than any dog he’d ever seen. The animal’s yellow eyes gleamed and he saw a flash of sharp white teeth like daggers of ice.
Wolf!
Adrenaline kicked in. Jag’s fear vanished and together with it, his aches. He stood with his feet planted apart, ready to fight the animal.
“Chayton!”
The wolf paused and looked back. A form hurried in their direction. Somewhat to the boys’ relief, it was a human shape.
The newcomer, a youth, dropped to one knee and slipped a rawhide collar around the wolf’s neck, reprimanding it in a strange language. The wolf lowered itself to the ground and whimpered roughly. The youth stopped his admonishment and stroked the animal’s head, then stood. Holding the wolf by the collar, he bowed slightly and said, “Akol.”
Kody leaned toward Jag and whispered, “What?”
“How would I know?” Jag whispered back.
“Maybe it means ‘sorry about that’ in his language,” Aari proposed carefully.
“Could be.”
The youth, overhearing, shook his head and indicated to himself, repeating, “Akol.”
Jag put two and two together, though he was startled that the youth had understood Aari since he didn’t seem to speak English. “It’s his name!”
The youth turned to him, beaming. Jag raised his eyebrows and introduced himself and his friends. “I’m Jag. This is Aari, and that’s Kody.”
Akol repeated their names, then turned around and waved for them to follow. After a moment’s hesitation, the boys quickly limped after him. The wolf looked over its shoulder at them and undecidedly wagged its tail, its dark fur shimmering in the moonlight.
It wasn’t long before the little party came upon a large wooden abode. The wolf eagerly trotted through the open door and the teenagers entered after it. Inside, the building was warm and cozy, built with the same material as the boys’ shelter, but the interior was different. It was furnished like a house, complete with a kitchen, a space akin to a living room, and a small dining area.
Jag noticed a striking girl standing by a shelf, arranging flowers in a clay vase. When she saw Chayton looking up at her with a canine smile, she laughed and went over to a counter to grab a bone. The wolf accepted the treat, then padded out of the shelter and into the night.
The slender girl stared after him fondly before turning to Akol and the three friends. She and Akol engaged in a dialogue, again in that foreign—but strangely melodious—language. When she turned and faced the younger teenagers, they shuffled uncomfortably under her amused, intense gaze. She pointed to herself. “Huyani.”
“Hi,” Kody said, speaking in a lower register. “Your name’s Huyani, huh?”
Jag elbowed him sharply. “No flirting,” he warned under his breath. “We don’t actually know her. And I’m pretty sure she can’t understand you anyway.”
Kody snorted but wisely yielded. Huyani handed the boys and Akol drinks from the kitchen and helped herself to one as well.
“Wonder when was the last time I ate, because I’m starving.” Kody clutched his rumbling abdomen in embarrassment when his friends chortled at him, though not unkindly.
“That was loud,” Jag grinned. He paused with his cup halfway to his lips when a pang of hunger tackled him. “Okay, now I’m hungry too. Thanks a bunch for mentioning it.”
Akol went to the other side of the shelter, bringing back three strips of fresh meat. Huyani placed wooden plates in front of the famished friends and proceeded to sprinkle some kind of powdered spice onto the venison. She turned to a counter flanking the first; this one had a glowing clay plate sitting on two rows of blue flames. As she and Akol proceeded to cook the meat on the rustic hot plate, the mouth-watering aroma drifted from the sizzling strips to the friends’ noses.
Akol pulled up padded stools for them to sit on as Huyani served them. She handed the boys polished wooden cutlery. She said something, though the boys couldn’t make head or tail of it. Nor did they really care, what with the scrumptious food staring invitingly up at them. Their hosts dipped their heads at the friends and exited the shelter.
As the boys dug into the delicious, expertly seasoned meat, Aari asked, “Where in the world are we? This place seems like some sort of getaway haven, but I’m getting the feeling that we’re the only tourists here.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Jag said, chomping down into the food. “We’re definitely out of the way somewhere in northern Canada.”
“I want to know where my dad is,” Kody said. “I’d feel better having him around.”
“Don’t forget the girls,” Jag added. “We need to find them too.”
They finished their meal in silence. As they sat, leaning with their backs against the counter and drank from their cups, Akol and Huyani returned.
“Oh, joy,” Kody muttered. “I’m hurting again. Not as badly as before, but still.” He rubbed his temples.
Huyani clucked her tongue and grabbed a bowl on the far side of the counter, dipping her hand into it. When she withdrew her hand, greenish-brown goop dripped from her fingers and she waved them at the boys. The friends leaned away, disgusted.
Behind them, Akol snickered. Huyani’s lips twitched as she tried to control her own amusement. She moved around the counter to Kody and raised her messy fingers to his face. He jumped off his stool, playfully telling her to keep away, but couldn’t dodge her again when she reached out and dabbed the cuts on his face with the medicinal goop. He grimaced but stayed still as she applied the mud-like sludge, then ministered Jag and Aari.
“Ugh, lovely.” Jag poked at the fast-hardening mix on his wounds. “Alright, now that we’ve got all th
is out of the way, let’s try to find the rest of our party, huh?”
Kody turned to Akol and Huyani. “Have you seen two girls and a man?” he asked, dragging out his words.
Aari smacked his shoulder. “Dude, just because you speak slowly doesn’t mean they’ll miraculously understand English.”
“Eh, it was worth a shot.”
The boys spent the better part of the night trying—and failing—to communicate with the youths. Kody even went through the painstaking trouble of miming out the entire crash and everyone inside the plane. Akol and Huyani seemed more than a little taken aback by his attempts to mimic the girls. Jag found it strange that, though the pair didn’t appear to comprehend English, Akol seemed to have understood them earlier when they’d first met. Or was his mind still muddled from the crash?
The lack of progress frustrated the friends immensely and, along with their growing despair, produced throbbing headaches and overwhelming weariness. Akol and Huyani glanced at each other before serving hot drinks to the boys. They drank halfheartedly but by the time they’d reached the bottom of their mugs, drowsiness had seeped in.
Akol led them back to their shelter. Thanking him, the trio ducked inside and, though it hurt, flopped down on their sleeping bags, weary in both body and mind. Too exhausted to remain awake any longer, they fell asleep within moments.
7
A soft blanket of mist lifted from the valley as dawn crept in to announce a new day. The glow of daylight gently rolled down the slopes of the mountains that bordered the snugly-nestled village. Birds began their early morning choir as they spread their wings and flew from branch to branch. Somewhere in the trees, a young fox barked excitedly as it spotted a shrew.
The sun climbed over the snow-capped peaks that guarded the hidden valley, its rays shimmering on the surface of the slender river that meandered through the entire length of the village, neatly dividing it in two. Dotting the northern bank were an assortment of neyra, cabin-like structures that were mostly five-sided and housed just over seven hundred inhabitants of the valley.
Nageau rolled out of his bed and stretched easily. Entering the kitchen, he found his mate already catering their morning meal. Tikina gave him a big smile and greeted him warmly. “Good morning, beloved. First-light meal is almost ready.”
“Many thanks,” Nageau replied, giving her a quick hug. “I will join you in a moment. Do not wait for me.”
He threw on his cloak and strode out of their neyra. Outside, his people were already roused from their sleep. As he passed them, they acknowledged him in equal measures of respect and friendliness.
A sheep trotted by, bleating, and nudged Nageau’s leg. The Elder looked down with a smile and patted its head fondly. Some of the barn animals often roamed freely around the southern side of the valley during the day, then instinctively returned to the barn at night.
As he scratched the sheep’s fleece, his only offspring—a woman of thirty-eight summers—spotted him and walked swiftly over. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek as the sheep trotted off.
“Father, may I assist you in something?” she asked.
Nageau beamed at her and ruffled her dark hair as he’d always done since she was a child. “Actually, I heard that Huyani has done a wonderful job tending the injured ones,” he said. “And I need to remind her that the Elders are expecting to hear from her about our five guests today.”
“I will take care of that. When are you holding the meeting?”
“At quarter-morn.”
“Then I must get to her right away.” She embraced him, then turned and walked briskly to Huyani’s neyra. As Nageau watched her poke her head in, a warm voice entered his mind.
Beloved, we should eat now if we wish to make it to the meeting on time.
Ah, the wonders of telepathy, he teased. Some would use it to hatch nefarious plans, others use it to call upon their dallying mate. I am returning now, Tikina. Please, do not wait for me.
You know I will always wait.
The Elder quickly retraced his steps. Back inside his home, he and Tikina had a filling meal of poached eggs, flax seed bread, and goat’s milk.
“Will Huyani come to the meeting to enlighten us on the five?” Tikina inquired.
Nageau nodded.
“Good.” Tikina gave him a playful look, then said, “Don’t forget, you’re making tomorrow’s meals.”
Grinning, Nageau finished his breakfast and, together with his mate, left their home at the western end of the valley and followed the winding path adjacent to the river. It led them to the Elders’ assembly neyra where they found Saiyu and Ashack already waiting. The couple looked up and Ashack’s usually guarded features broke into the very slightest of smiles. “It looks like Tayoka is the last to arrive . . . again.”
“I am here, I am here!”
The four of them turned to the source of the voice. A slim figure with a headful of bright red hair was running towards them, so fast he was almost a blur.
“Tayoka, how nice of you to join us,” Nageau teased the approaching Elder.
Tayoka darted through the open door and pulled up beside Tikina, not at all out of breath. “Good morning, everyone!” He gave the other Elders a sheepish look. “I apologize for being a little late. I am not as quick as I used to be.”
Tikina warmly squeezed his shoulder. “Good morning to you, too.” She smiled. “You may have the speed of lightning, but age does eventually catch up with us. Or perhaps you are simply becoming lazy.”
Saiyu, Nageau and Ashack chuckled at the youngest Elder’s indignant expression. Saiyu had already started a small fire in the pit at the center of the room. They sat around it, and Nageau cleared his throat. “Have we come up with anything since our meeting yesterday?”
“On my part, I am afraid not,” Tayoka said. “However, I am in full agreement with Tikina’s proposal to meet with our guests as soon as possible.”
Saiyu lightly touched Ashack’s arm. “As are we.”
Her mate grunted, keeping his gaze on the fire. “By meeting face-to-face with them, we may be able to unlock some of the mysteries of the prophecy.”
Nageau nodded slowly. “Agreed. Huyani is coming to brief us on the progress the five are making health-wise. We can ask her about her encounters with them as we prepare to meet them.”
Just as he spoke, the door opened and a beam of light flashed into the neyra. A second later, Huyani stepped in. She bowed to the Elders.
“Elder Nageau,” she said formally. “Am I disrupting?”
Nageau smiled broadly. “No, not at all, Granddaughter.” He patted the space between him and Tikina on the low wooden bench. “In fact, we are just about ready to hear what you have observed.”
“There is a lot to share,” Huyani said, taking her place between her grandparents.
Saiyu folded her arms on her lap. “We are most interested.”
“Well, if you are all comfortable, then I shall begin.”
8
“Mariah.”
“Mmh . . .”
“Get up.”
“Mmph. No.”
Tegan rolled her eyes. “Wake up or I’ll put this worm in your hair.”
Mariah bolted upright, arms up in defense. “Don’t you dare!” She looked around, her eyes settling lastly on Tegan. She was not amused. “You don’t have a worm, do you?”
“Nope,” Tegan said with a tired smile. She pushed her hair back, letting the ash-brown waves cascade over her shoulders, then winced when she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. “I guess we survived the crash, huh?”
“Seems like it. But I can barely remember a thing.”
“Do you . . . do you think the guys made it, too?”
“I really hope so.” Mariah stared at the ground for a long moment. “I think I met the people who saved us. Well, kind of met. I was pretty out of it. But they seemed nice.”
“We crash in the middle of nowhere and get rescued? Talk about luck.” Tegan peered into her s
leeping bag and her face grew hot. “And I guess they’re the ones who changed me out of my sweatpants and into a dress?”
Mariah yanked back her own sleeping bag. “What the—I’m wearing one too! Looks more like a robe, though . . .”
“Yay, strangers undressing us.” Tegan tugged down the bottom of her new knee-length garment, then stiffly got to her feet and headed for the door.
“Uh, where are you going?”
“To see if we can find the guys and thank the people who saved us. But mostly to find the guys.”
Mariah scrambled after her. “Wait for me!”
Tegan cautiously opened the door and the girls instantly shrank from the harsh light. She shut her eyes firmly. Flashes of orange, yellow and black danced within her closed eyelids.
Mariah was no better. “That was awful,” she muttered.
“Quite.” Tegan turned back to the door and squinted. “Come on.”
They took a few steps out and stared, open-mouthed. Majestic mountains adorned with snowcapped tips surrounded them. As the sun bounced off the icy peaks, the light created a dazzling halo. Midway down the mountains, pine trees filled the landscape, growing denser as they approached a river at the base. Woven between the tree line and dotting the banks of the river were many other structures of various sizes.
As the girls scanned the structures, they spied one in between the trees not far from where they stood. It looked identical to theirs. Exchanging inquisitive glances, they headed that way in anticipation. As the dense grass bent under her soles, Tegan noticed for the first time that she was barefoot. Her surprise gave way to delight at the softness of it. When was the last time she’d gone outside without shoes or sandals?
As they brushed past some ferns, her keen ears picked up a rustling. She stopped abruptly and swept a restraining hand in front of Mariah, then spun around.
Before she could hiss a warning, a golden-brown creature three times the size of a house cat sprang over them. It landed silently on huge, padded paws and turned to face the girls. Taken aback, it took the friends a few moments to register that they were looking at a lynx.