Zoey spread her wings out. “I'm coming,” she said in a faint whisper.
Taregan cupped his wing near his ear. “What? You better start speaking up or you won't start speaking up! Some day you'll find yourself in a singing predicament. And you don't want that! You'll think, 'should I sing or should I not?'”
What does that mean? I think, maybe, he's a little crazy.
Zoey cleared her throat, lifted her wings, and called out with false confidence, “I'm coming!”
She jumped over the railing, and to her astonishment, glided easily to the ground, next to Taregan. San was there, waiting impatiently for her.
That was easy.
“Well,” Taregan beamed, unfolding his wings, “that was easy.”
“That's what I just said,” replied Zoey.
Taregan tapped his temple a couple of times. “No, that's what I said. You only thought it.”
Zoey was puzzled. Did I only think that?
“I'm not as crazy as I seem,” Taregan quipped, tapping his foot again.
“Let's go,” San said eagerly. She grabbed Zoey's wing, rushing her out the door.
Outside was refreshing, filling Zoey's body with energy after just a few deep breaths. She was awake, happy, and vibrantly alive again. She let out a contented sigh, then focused her attention to the east. Many animals were walking from that direction, but far off in the distance she could hear spirit animals singing the most beautiful of melodies. Is that over at the beach where Chev lives? Her wings longed to take her there. She felt she belonged in the melodies of that music. She wanted to sing with them, but decided it would be best to follow San so she didn’t get lost.
She took a couple of steps and found the ground to be a little wet, but refreshingly so. Zoey walked northward, feeling the drops of dew soaking into her feet, making her once sore feet feel good again. They walked in blissful silence behind the many spirit animals in front of them.
San broke the silence by confiding in Zoey, “I'm going to do my best to be like Nova someday.” She took a deep breath, lifted her beak, and puffed up her chest. “San the VioletLight!”
Zoey simply nodded. She had no desire to be anything in this land. She just wanted to do her mission and get home. I miss Mom and Dad.
“How come you hesitated before you flew down from the balcony?” asked San. “You acted as if you had never flown before. I acted that way when I first started using my wings, but you're older than I am.”
Zoey was a little embarrassed. “I'm not from here. I've only been here for a day.”
“Where are you from? The Dim Lands? That's okay if you are. Some of them come over here and become PureLights once again. I've seen it. But,” she peered into the crystal that was ingrained in Zoey's forehead, “you don't have Dim colors. Are you from the Zola Tribe?”
Zoey shook her head. “I'm from the Cornell Forest.”
“Huh?” San skipped over a small rock. “Is that near Zola Tribe?”
Zoey looked to the west, pointing toward the Sihu Forest. “It's through a portal, or something like that. The portal is over there.”
San flapped her wings and lifted off. She hovered high above Zoey.
“What are you doing?” asked Zoey.
“I'm looking for the portal. What does it look like? Does it look like a door?”
“It's through the blackberry bushes.” Again, Zoey pointed to the west.
San looked toward the west. “I don't—” She abruptly closed her eyes and her body went limp. She began spinning toward the ground, but then suddenly opened her eyes again and started flapping her wings. She brought herself into a hover.
Shocked, Zoey ran underneath San, just in case she needed to catch her if she fell again. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah.” San slowly floated toward the ground. “I don't know what happened. I was just—” And for the second time, San’s eyes unexpectedly shut and her body plummeted. Zoey gasped, expecting to have to catch her, but just before she landed in Zoey's outstretched wings, San regained consciousness and recovered.
Shaken, San slowly lowered herself to the ground. Her legs gave way and she fell straight on her rump, ruffling her tail feathers.
Numee, who had witnessed the whole thing, rushed over to San. Numee's raccoon eyes were worried and suspicious. She looked around wildly, as if trying to find a certain someone in the crowd. Not finding what or who she was looking for, Numee touched San's back with both paws, then closed her eyes, slowing her breathing to long, deep breaths.
Zoey then witnessed something strange. Something she'd never seen before. A slight haze of white light came down from the sky, entering the top of Numee's head. The light surrounded both Numee and San. It wasn't bright, but yet she could still see it. Numee's green crystals started to glow brighter and brighter, creating a green halo effect around Numee's chest and head.
Numee took one last breath before the white light receded back up into the sky. “There,” exclaimed Numee.
San opened her eyes. She looked refreshed. “What happened to me up there? It felt like all my strength was sucked out of me, and then a few moments later, my strength would come back.”
Numee scanned the passers-by warily. “We have a traitor in our midst.” She walked around Zoey and San, surveying more, then stopped. “I've seen it before. It's a tactic the Dims use. They steal your energy, taking it as their own. However, it's very rare when someone can take your energy to the point that you pass out and then regain your composure a few moments later. That means someone is stealing and giving back. Very odd.” She glanced around again. “Whoever it is, he or she is very, very powerful.”
Numee turned toward Zoey. “You're Zoey, right?”
Zoey suddenly felt a pang of insecurity, being put on the spot like that. She wondered if Numee thought she caused this. Was she in trouble? Zoey looked to the ground and murmured, “Yeah, I'm Zoey.”
Zoey felt a paw underneath her beak. It gently lifted Zoey's head. She saw Numee's motherly gaze. “Zoey, here in the Sihu Tribe we enjoy being spoken to.” She nodded once to Zoey with reassurance, asking, “Do you understand?”
Zoey nodded as Numee continued. “You are one of us. There's no need to feel shy or insecure around here. Your voice is beautiful—speak up. So, in every moment from this point forward, you have our permission to feel secure, compassionate, and strong. Practice that every day.” Numee gazed into Zoey's eyes. “I want you to tell yourself, 'I'm secure, compassionate, and strong'.”
Zoey mimicked her, saying, “I'm secure, compassionate, and strong.” She felt a little weird and hoped no one else was listening.
“Wonderful,” replied Numee. Her eyes were proud, like a mother watching her child successfully perform something new. Zoey felt drawn to her, just like she did with her own mother.
“Okay you two,” Numee pointed to San and Zoey. “Follow me. I don't want you flying right now. Not until we can get you to the Wing's and Paw's training meadow.”
They followed Numee to Deer Meadow. On the way, Zoey noticed a large zebra standing next to a small maple tree. The grass was lush all around him. She saw the zebra's feet shift slightly when he glanced at them. A squirrel stood next to him. The zebra leaned down to the squirrel and whispered something. Zoey sensed, and she could tell Numee did as well, that these two were holding a secret.
The zebra realized that Zoey, San, and Numee were staring with interest and quickly hushed the squirrel just as it was about to speak. They looked at Zoey with sullen eyes and fake smiles.
Numee laughed, “Don't mind them. They spend their time trying to recruit other spirit animals. It's silly.”
“For what?” asked Zoey.
“They want to create a government. They think it will be the best way to stop the Dims.” As they walked past them, Zoey sensed another feeling. She didn't know what it was, but it didn't feel right. She looked back at them with innocent eyes. The Zebra smiled even wider, but the squirrel, for some reason, looked baffled.
“Who knows?” replied Numee.
San flapped her wings wildly, but kept her feet on the ground. “We're about there!” She nudged Zoey, “Are you ready?”
Zoey didn't reply. She felt apprehension run through her body. What am I getting myself into?
Up ahead was Deer Meadow and they were heading straight for the Snow Tree. Sitting near the Snow Tree were what looked to be forty or so animals of all types and sizes. They must be some of the students, waiting for something. And there, right next to the tree, stood a tall elephant. Was it Chev? When she saw her brother next to him, she knew it was Chev.
“Coda!” screamed Zoey. Her excitement startled both San and Numee. She flew ahead of them, forgetting Numee's orders not to fly, landing happily next to her brother.
Coda grinned, “Hey Zoey.” He dug his claws back and forth into the soft earth. “What do you think of all this?”
Before Zoey could answer, Chev patted her back with his trunk. “Hey little lady! How are you this fine sunny morning?”
She looked up into Chev's friendly eyes, “I'm good.” And, it was true. It felt good to be with her brother again.
“It's your first day of school. Are you nervous?” asked Chev.
Zoey shrank back a little. She disliked the sound of “school.” “I don't know. What do we do?”
“Well, you walk over there where the other animals and birds are. You know, the Wings and the Paws. You take a place among them and viola! You learn.”
“Learn what?” asked Coda.
A woman's voice made Zoey twirl around. “The Art of Defense. I'll be leading the Paws today.” It was Nova. The sparkle of lights glistened around her as she bowed. “Are you two ready to start?”
“I am!” came a voice behind Nova. It was San. She was walking with Numee.
Numee looked serious. “Nova? Can I talk to you after the training?”
“What's the matter, Numee?”
Numee nodded, “Nothing we can't handle.”
“Shall we talk now?”
“It can wait.”
Nova brushed her tail against Numee’s fur. “Keep calm, Numee. The children are safe because of you.” Nova gestured her tail toward the Snow Tree. “San! Coda! Zoey! This way, please.”
∞
“The Art of Defense has nothing to do with fighting,” began Nova. She sat on a small mound in front of the Snow Tree. “It's a non-violent technique to keep you from being harmed, and to guide your opponent away from you.”
Zoey watched from the back row of animals as Nova gave the lesson and her thoughts began to wander. Coda sat to Zoey's left and San sat to her right. Chev was nowhere to be seen. She had no idea where he'd disappeared to. Still, he's a bard and no doubt had different things to do. But really, what's a bard again?
Nova made eye contact with each of the students as she spoke. “The Art of Defense is a form of calm, self-control. It allows you to control your opponent, or several opponents, at once. It allows you to control a situation before a severe or deadly incident may occur. If your opponent does perish, even after you've mastered this Art, know that it came only as a last resort in the defense of your own life. That's your right as a living Being according to the PureLight Order—the right to protect yourself.”
Nova paused. She closed her eyes, turning her head toward the sky, as if receiving information from an unknown source. Then, opening her eyes, she continued by saying, “I'm here to teach you how to master this art. You all have it within you, having been placed in your heart the moment you were born. It's a form of love, and even the Dims are born with this, but they have forgotten how to use it. I'm here to give you the directions to find it within yourselves, and instructions of what to do once it's found.”
Zoey could feel the hearts of many spirit animals around her tighten when Nova mentioned the Dims. She sensed that none of the students had ever faced a Dim. To them, the Dims were unknown—something to be scared of. Zoey’s heart clutched when she remembered the lion and the two coyotes. They were scary. She realized that she also feared the Dims.
“The Dims never develop this art,” continued Nova. “Instead, they learn fear and become fighters. The love inside of them gets lost. Forgotten.”
Zoey looked around at the many animals and birds in the gathering. They were all attentive, looking pleased to be receiving this knowledge from Nova. Some even looked grateful. Then, a sudden urge rose in Zoey’s heart, pulling her in the direction of Nova, who was staring benevolently at her, as if waiting for her mind to wander back to her direction. Nova nodded at Zoey when she made eye contact, and continued the lesson.
“If a severe incident develops, then you've momentarily lost control. We'll teach you how to gain it back.
“Your opponent,” continued Nova as she gazed off into the distance, toward the northern Fog, “deserves neither punishment nor death, no matter what the situation.” She looked intently at her students. Everyone was quiet, and all ears were pointed in her direction.
Zoey shook her head. That didn't sound right.
No injuries? Then what were all those dead and knocked out birds lying on the ground doing if they weren't injured? They fell from the sky and hit the ground. That had to hurt. Zoey, again, wondered what she had gotten herself into.
“Sometimes injuries, and even death, can occur.” Explained Nova, as if reading Zoey's thoughts. “But if it can be avoided, then do so. Never, and I repeat, never do we end the life of a Dim unless it's absolutely unavoidable. Remember, war is unpredictable. Death occurs on both sides, even if the intent is otherwise.”
After a moment, she continued by saying, “There is no winner and there is no loser in the Art of Defense. If you think you've won or lost, then you've entered into the minefield of your own thoughts—the minefield where doubt, judgment, and competition live. Once entered, the Art of Defense disappears from your heart, and fighting enters. Our goal is to avoid fighting. Fighting only brings more fighting, creating a never-ending circle of pain and fear. Our goal is peace. And peace may never be attained by being the aggressor.”
Nova paused again, scanning the students. “Fighting cannot eliminate fighting, period, and never has. Only peace can. Just like darkness cannot give light to darkness. Only one thing can give light to darkness—light. Fear cannot eliminate fear. Only love, the most powerful force in the universe, can. Don't expect to heal a spiteful person by returning spite. It doesn't work that way. Peace, love, and forgiveness are the most powerful weapons you possess. If you don't continually use these powerful weapons, then you’ll have an angry attitude with a short lifespan.
“We use these weapons like a dance. Your opponent is your dance partner. You simply lead the dance, not because you're a better spirit animal, but because you know the dance steps and they do not.”
Zoey was bored and nudged Coda's shoulder. “What is she talking about? This is dumb.”
“Shush. I'm listening.”
Zoey shuffled her feet back and forth, giving her something to do.
“Zoey?” called Nova's voice, arching over the crowd in front of her.
Zoey's head jolted up and pang of anxiety hit her chest. Did she do something wrong?
“Do you have a question?”
Zoey held her breath, quickly shaking her head “no”.
San raised a wing.
Nova grinned, “Yes, San?”
San stepped forward and puffed her chest feathers. Zoey could tell she wanted to feel powerful and confident in front of Nova. She wanted to impress her. San cleared her voice with a couple of 'ahems'.
“Zoey's a little shy, so it's hard for her to speak her thoughts in front of other people.” San then pursed her beak, “No, no, no. That's not right. I think she doesn't speak her mind to older people. I think she's fine with her friends—those who are the same age as her.”
San nudged Zoey, whispering, “Come on. Tell her.”
Zoey, feeling singled out as all eyes in the audience were now on her, nudged San back. “What did you do that for?”
San seemed puzzled, as if suddenly realizing that Zoey didn't want San or anybody else talking about her. “Didn't you just ask the black panther kid over there, 'what’s she talking about?'”
Zoey nodded, “Yes, but you don't need to tell everyone.”
“Okay, sorry,” San whispered back, then gestured with her wing to Nova. Then she said to Zoey, “Anyway, ask Nova your question and she'll explain it to you in a way you'll understand.”
Zoey, embarrassed, looked down at the ground. Her cheeks flushed red, but her feathers hid the fact. “I...um...I don't understand what you're saying.”
Her voice was quiet and, like usual, she mumbled.
Nova leaped off the mound. “Everyone, speak amongst yourselves. I'll be but a moment.”
Nova approached Coda, San, and Zoey with a determined look. She padded around the crowd, glancing over her left shoulder. “Chev!” Chev came bounding around the Snow Tree, tripping over a large root, falling hard onto his chin. He skidded to a halt a couple of yards away from Nova.
The crowd paused and silence filled the meadow, then laughter erupted and cheering ensued. Chev's brows rose, surprised by the sudden cheer. He gathered himself and stood up, shaking off the dirt, simultaneously bowing for his audience. “Thank you all. Thank you all. The entertainer has arrived, but must keep it short. I have other duties to attend. Mingle amongst yourselves.” With that, he dipped his head and held it there for a long applause. Once the cheering dissipated, he walked over to Nova.
“Was that a nice entrance?” he asked her.
“As clumsy as ever,” Nova replied. “It changed the energy of the students and for that, I thank you, even if it wasn't your intent. Now we need to help the energy of one of our friends here. She's comfortable around you, so I thought your presence would help her.”
Zoey almost gasped out loud when Nova pointed a paw at her. Zoey blinked a couple times. What did I do?
“Zoey?” Nova tilted her head like most spirit animals did in Ohm Totem. “San made a wonderful point. She noticed that you talk liberally and confidently amongst friends, but not in front of elders.”
The PureLights of Ohm Totem Page 15