“How do I do that?”
Let your bond with the trees swell inside you, then say what you want them to know. The key is to believe wholeheartedly in your message, and to trust that it is being delivered.
Juniper shook her head in disbelief. Another seemingly impossible task. Many sarcastic comments popped to mind, but she held her tongue. She did not want to come off as cynical.
“I’ll try.”
You’ll be fine. I’m here if you need me.
“How do I contact you?”
Fresh water and compelling conviction. Believe you’ll reach me and you will.
Juniper felt her chest contract with anxiety. It was a lot of uncertainty, a lot of pressure.
Until next time, Juniper of the Trees.
A brief tingling sensation trickled down her skin from where the water’s surface touched her calf muscle to the tips of her toes. She hadn’t felt the presence arrive, but she certainly noticed its departure. She yanked her feet out of the water with haste and stood. The storm tore through the sky and cascaded down with ruthless strength. The rain created a distorted view of her surroundings and she found it hard to see. Arms wrapped around herself, she inched her way back to the tent. She shivered beneath the second tarp covering the tent. She could no longer ignore the cold water that soaked her body. In an attempt to avoid contaminating the inside of her tent with this awful chill, she unzipped the door wide enough for her arm to fit, grabbed a towel she left near the entrance, and wrapped herself in its dry fabric. The wind was harsh and it wouldn’t stay dry long, so she wiped as much water off her skin as possible and dove inside.
After swathing herself in dry clothes and blankets she took a moment to breathe. She replayed the conversation with Marisabel in her head repeatedly, hoping to make better sense of it. It felt ridiculous every time. There was no denying the truth anymore, she just struggled with it feeling natural. The voices, the connections, the power; it still felt bizarre. It was so much simpler when her bond with the trees remained undefined. Back when her connection to the forest was uncomplicated and effortless. She would not back down from her unforeseen responsibility, but she hoped it would start to feel better soon. She wanted to feel like a good person again; like the woman she worked so hard to dig up after escaping her past in New York. She believed in herself, believed in the trees, but having so many people she grew to care for display extreme doubt in her made her ashamed and confused. And when she tried to ignore their skepticism she found herself feeling more alone than ever. The trees used to keep her company but now they only caused her grief. She hoped that when the truth revealed itself to her friends their faith would be restored. Maybe then they’d realize she was trying to protect them. All she could do in the meantime was stay confident. When the time came, they’d need her, and if she believed she could save them, so would they.
Chapter 18
Trapped in a tent for three days was not how she liked to enjoy nature. Come Thursday, Juniper was ready to head home. The rain dwindled to a drizzle and she was able to pack up her belongings without getting drenched. Before leaving, she decided to try to send a message out to other like-minded people across the globe. She placed a hand on the nearest silver fir, closed her eyes, and let her bond with the trees consume her. Once she felt the connection coursing through every inch of her body, she spoke.
“My name is Juniper Tiernan. I live in Port Angeles, Washington. If you can hear me, please listen. I am real. My voice is not a dream or hallucination. I know I would think it was if I were you, but I promise it’s not. You’re not going crazy, you’ve been chosen. If you can hear me, you’ve been given a second chance. The world as we know it is about to end and you need to abandon your homes and head toward Washington State. If you join me in Olympic National Park, you’ll be safe. I can help you survive.” She felt silly talking to no one, but carried on. “I hope this works. I hope you can hear me. I don’t want to face the end alone.”
She opened her eyes to the sight of endless forest. She was already facing this catastrophe alone and her message felt empty. She could not feel anyone on the other side. The attempt was futile.
She pushed the failure to the back of her thoughts and mounted her bike. She refused to give up; she’d save Roscoe and the others, even if they fought her along the way.
The slope up to the main trail was muddy and she had to be careful not to slip down the steep mountainside. She drove slow and moved through the path with deliberate care, exhausted by the time she reached the main trail.
Hurricane Ridge was vacant as she sped toward Lake Dawn Road. Her house was in sight when the first sneeze arrived. She parked her bike and ran into her dry sanctuary. The house was chilly so she cranked up the heat before stripping off her wet outfit and replacing it with dry clothes. The fleece lining of her sweatpants warmed her body as she curled into a ball beneath the comforter on her couch. She watched the rain through the French doors leading to her backyard and was grateful to be inside. It fell loudly on her roof, making her tired. It was only 5 p.m., but she fell asleep and slept through till Friday. She awoke when the sound of loud banging came from the front door. She got up with the blanket still wrapped around her body to find Roscoe standing on her porch.
“You’re soaking wet,” she said after letting him in.
“Yeah, well it’s raining.”
She grabbed him a towel and he dried off the best he could.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I can’t stop dreaming about you, and while I’m awake, my thoughts spin around images of you. Sometimes, I swear I hear you speak to me. There is something between us that I can’t deny. I’ve been trying to put space between us and what I feel for you but can’t, and I’m realizing that I really don’t want to. I thought distancing myself from you would protect me from the downfall of all this craziness, that maybe it wouldn’t end with my heart being broken if I got over you, but I see now how foolish that is. I am drawn to you, I am meant to be with you. I cannot fight it anymore.”
She blushed despite the hurt she felt that he tried so hard to leave her. Even though he made an attempt to abandon her, he didn’t, and there was great reassurance in his return. He loved her, flaws and all.
“I’m not staying long,” he continued, “but you should know there was a devastating avalanche in Mongolia. Another in Russia shortly after. Not only is the snow burying everything at the bottom of the mountains, but these avalanches are carrying with them an arctic chill. It’s freezing everything within a 50-mile radius of the run out zone. Thousands of people have died.”
“It’s begun.”
“I’ve been away from the news for a few hours but I imagine there have been more.”
“I assume so. They said every mountain range in Europe and Asia would suffer this fate. Once the towns around the mountains were buried, the toxic fog would roll through to take out everyone else. Have we received any response emails?”
“No. No one has written back.”
“I figured.”
“I’m on your side. I’m sorry it took me so long, but I needed the time. I care about you, I know you’re a good person and that you didn’t wish this on the world. I’m not okay with any of this, but we need to survive and save as many people as we can.”
Juniper flung her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered with great relief.
“Sorry I made this harder on you.”
“It’s okay.”
He kissed the side of her head and she let go.
“Have you had any success convincing others?” he asked.
“Not much. I was hoping to run into the Wolfe boys, but I haven’t seen them in a while. I have a feeling they’ll believe me.”
“What about your work friends?”
“No. I told them about the avalanches and they all thought I was demented. Not sure how they’ll react tonight when they see me. I think they are going to be scared.”
“Probably, but they’ll come ar
ound, even if it’s at the last second. Maybe that’s what we need to start planning for, how to save everyone in the last moments. You have to find out how they are attacking our area.”
“I’ll try. We have time, though. They are phasing us out last and they still have a lot of land left to cover.”
“It’s nature we are talking about. One swift move and millions are dead. We probably have less time than you realize.”
“I’ll do my best to get some intel.”
“Okay, Clark is going to be pissed if I stay too long. There were campers out in this rain and we’ve spent the last four days keeping an eye on them.”
“You mean I’m not the only crazy person who hides out in the forest during a rainstorm?”
They both laughed.
“They’re Floridians and said they are used to rain. When I suggested they vacate the forest, they refused.” He shrugged. “Hopefully they got a hike in during the drizzle this morning.”
“That’s devotion,” she said. “Bet they’re the type of people we’re meant to save.”
“I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“Offer them a trip back to the park. Once I get a date from the trees, you can send them air miles.”
“Not a bad idea. Alright, let me go.” He pulled her in for a loving kiss. His energy was back to normal and he embraced her like he had a few weeks ago, like she was the woman he’d grown to love before all this chaos unraveled.
He left and she got ready for work. Everything was falling into place. The doom she felt hours ago was washed away and replaced with uncontrollable hope. He finally believed her, finally saw reason and was willing to work as her partner for the greater good. Her relief was overflowing and she proudly wore the smile he gave her. With him, the task felt less daunting. With Roscoe on her side, she no longer felt alone.
Chapter 19
Base Camp of Mt. Everest, Nepal, Asia
The snow hadn’t ceased for two weeks. The blizzard fell relentlessly over the entirety of Europe and Asia, which made the newly blossomed spring landscape vanish and return to the harsh winter that just passed. The temperature was frigid and everything was iced over; the air and water spirits were working hard to ensure the mountain purge succeeded.
At 17,600 feet, Aria Cecildóttir, Champion of the Air, sat with Monte Bram, Sierra Dale’s Second, in their large group tent. The trek up was foreboding and they lost many along the way, but those who survived now rested. Everyone was still adjusting to the altitude change and learning to breathe minimal amounts of oxygen. Aria had a few years to study the climb up Mount Everest and even had the chance to attempt it once. She only made it to The Balcony at 27,600 feet, but learned tons of valuable information along the way. She was confident she’d succeed in helping those around her survive. The air spirits told her they’d need to climb higher to outlast and evolve properly, so she had plans to acclimatize her following once the purge in their region was complete. For now, they were at a safe altitude.
Everyone with her now was recruited by Monte except Aria’s family. Her mother, father, and twin brothers followed her from Iceland to Nepal, while the rest of her followers climbed Mont Rose in Switzerland to wait out the attack with Sierra. She wished she could have stayed there too, but it was essential for Monte to have a Champion with him. They’d be lost in the aftermath without one of nature’s correspondents.
They had numerous tents set up along the Base Camp of Mount Everest. No one spoke English except Monte, so she felt out of place. She was grateful her immediate family followed her there, otherwise she’d have been totally isolated.
“Have you talked to Sierra?” Monte asked as he approached her and her family, who sat huddled around a weak bonfire. He wore a Jinnah cap and a parka lined with Tibetan wolf fur. “She isn’t answering my thoughts.”
“Yesterday. The avalanches were supposed to start this morning.”
“Why hasn’t our mountain been affected yet?”
“I’m not sure. This isn’t my element. The air spirits aren’t in charge of this attack.”
“Call out to her. I need to know she’s okay.”
“Maybe their mountain has fallen. Maybe she is busy taking care of the people there. She will reach out to us when it’s time. You need to worry about protecting us. There are a lot of people counting on you.”
“Yes, but I cannot help anyone if Sierra doesn’t tell me how. The mountains won’t speak to me, they only talk to her.”
“Did she tell you what to do when our avalanche begins?” she asked with a shiver. She was used to snow, just not at this elevation or in such quantity.
“Just to be at the top of the mountain when it happens. I’m not sure if there’s more I need to know.”
“Sierra won’t leave us stranded.”
The earth shook the moment she finished her thought. They felt a rumble come from the center of the mountain as a rush of cold air whipped their faces. They buried their exposed skin beneath the clothing they wore, waiting for it to pass. It tore past them for five minutes before dwindling.
“Was that it?” Aria asked, shaken but ready for action.
“An earthquake,” Monte said with a look of terror. “It has started.”
He hurried to the edge of the mountain and peered over. Nothing except powdered snow was visible. Aria stood beside him and observed the aftereffects. She couldn’t hear the screams, but she felt them. Thousands of lives in the villages along the base of the mountain were being crushed. This aftermath would wreak havoc for miles beyond the base; the icy blast of avalanche wind and continued subzero temperatures would freeze all life in the surrounding area. It hurt her heart that so many lives were now lost. She left Monte at the edge and returned to be with her family.
“Was that the avalanche?” her mother Reyna asked.
“Yes. It’s a snowy hell down there.”
“Such a shame we could not save more,” her father Cecil commented. Her twin brothers, Tístran and Ölvir, sat huddled under a blanket made of Bengal fox fur. They shook their heads in unison, knocking the snow from their bright white hair. They were disappointed by all of this and blamed Aria for not doing more to save others. They begged her to take her information to the media, to the authorities, anyone with a voice who could make a difference, but she refused. The air told her not to. They promised to save those deemed worthy that she could not reach. Though she told her brothers this, they did not care. They did not believe it possible. She hoped to prove them wrong when this was all over, she hoped to find a massive following at the bottom of the mountain that had survived. She had total faith in the air, but still found it hard to envision this occurring. It was hard to imagine an avalanche, arctic freeze, and toxic smog avoiding a few individuals among millions, still she hoped. She needed her brothers to forgive her. They were her heart, her soul, her strength; she needed them by her side in the upcoming days. Having her family nearby and supportive was the only way she’d be able to stay strong for everyone else. They were too important to lose to doubt.
The snow finally stopped and people began emerging from their tents. Cecil fanned their bonfire, enhancing the flames, and attracting the foreign followers of Monte to sit near them. They could not understand one another, but they sat in understood silence. Everyone mourned the death below and wondered what was next in their journey.
Aria, can you hear me? Sierra’s voice resonated from the rock beneath her feet and into her head.
Yes.
Are you all okay? How is Monte? I meant to speak to both of you right before your avalanche but I got caught up over here. Ours happened only an hour before yours.
It’s okay, we are all fine. Did it start with an earthquake?
Yes. The core spirits lent the mountains an assist to make sure the effects were absolute.
I see. How is everyone on your end?
Good. No injuries or casualties outside those lost on the journey up the mountain.
How’s Erion?
He’s good. Asks about you constantly. Your friends are giving him an earful, Sierra chuckled.
Great. Tell them to stick to my endearing traits.
I don’t think there’s a thing they could say that would change how he feels for you.
Aria smiled and breathed a little easier knowing she had extra support waiting for her in Switzerland.
I’m glad you’re all okay. I’m going to touch base with Monte now. Sierra concluded then broke their connection. Aria felt her presence tingle down her legs and into the mountain as it left.
The moment she entered Monte’s head, his posture perked and his face lit up. Aria watched him from afar and found herself wondering if Erion had the same reaction whenever she called out to him.
She was eager for the day she got to meet him. There was a small window of time when they could have crossed paths at Mont Rose, but the moment came and went. She had to head to Nepal to make it on time and he was still leading his crew overseas from Canada. She asked the air why he needed to leave the safety of his country that wouldn’t be affected during this cleanse and they informed her that his journey to the tops of the mountains was critical to the evolution of all air disciples. They’d be stuck at the tops of these mountains for a while and if they did not progress in similar fashions they’d be disconnected and don conflicting anatomies by the time they met. This put Aria on edge. She wasn’t sure how the structure of their anatomical makeup could change so quickly, but decided there were a lot of things that no longer made sense. It was better to oblige.
A few days passed and life at the top of Mount Everest got a little easier. The snow and wind stopped, which made their days more bearable. As for the people, Monte’s followers were in decent spirits. Sad for the loss, but happy to be alive. Her parents were supportive of her but Tístran and Ölvir had not dropped their stubborn objections. They were 25 years old, two years younger than her, and though they were adults there was still some maturing left for them to do. They would not hold their grudge forever. For her sake and theirs, they couldn’t.
Hall of Mosses Page 17