“Oh! That's why it feels so different when you breathe. It's richer than the air we breathe at home,” said Zoey.
“Yes,” said Nova. “The air here has a quality that makes it seem richer. Make no mistake though, it's the same type of air you breathe at home. It's just like I said, it's untainted, plus, there’s more of it here than in your world because of the trees. Here, our forests and trees are sacred and numerous. In both our worlds, the forests are the lungs of the planet.”
Coda raised his brows in question. “Don't you miss eating?”
Nova shook her head knowingly. “Before we arrived in Ohm Totem, food was a necessity, but a nuisance. It was always on our minds, from sun up to sun down.” She thought for a moment. “To tell you the truth, this is the first time I've even thought of food for thousands and thousands of moons. It's just something we live without. We have more energy without it.”
An abrupt rap on the side of the entry way prompted Coda to spin around.
“Nova, Ke would like a word with you,” announced Isi.
Nova raised her paw. “Just a moment, Isi.” She looked at the children, “Anything else you'd like to ask?”
They both shook their heads and Nova bid them farewell with some final words of wisdom. “Empty your mind and proceed from your heart.”
∞
Nova's sweet scent hung over Coda and Zoey as they walked to the meadow. The day was getting a tad bit darker as the sun started to fall closer to the western beaches. Coda noticed dark clouds that clung to the borders of the Dim Lands, looking as if they were too frightened to wander into the land of the PureLights. How strange that was, he thought. The wind never seemed to beckon the dark clouds over to the Sihu tribe.
They followed a path that exited the meadow and wound into a clutch of small trees.
“Let's stop here,” said Zoey, as she pointed to a soft stretch of grass.
They sat down and Zoey spoke with a heavy heart. “Coda, you don't act like you miss Mom and Dad.”
The words hit his heart like a punch. It was true. He hadn't thought much about his mom and dad. He hadn’t had time. Everything was so haywire around here, but he nodded in agreement, “I know. I don't know why.” He felt like a bad son and sadness began to trickle over him.
“It's okay, Coda.” Zoey patted his front foot with her wing. “I miss mom and dad enough for the both of us and you've been so busy practicing, you're probably too tired to think.”
“Nah, I just like it here. It feels familiar to me, like I've been here before. I guess that's why I haven't thought of them much.” Coda rested his head against his forelegs. “It's like I've been here my whole life and everyone seems like family.”
Zoey's eyes widened like saucers. “You want to stay here?”
Coda shrugged, “I don't know.” He pondered for a moment, thinking of something to say to his sister that would settle her down. “I probably wouldn't want to stay. I'd miss our parents too much. I guess I could visit Ohm Totem every so often, after we go back home.”
“Yeah, I thought of that too. And,” she whispered, “it feels like I've been here forever as well. Even when I dream, it feels like I've known Lao forever!”
Lao? Coda wondered. “Who's Lao?”
“He's the wolf that helps me in my dreams. We came here because he asked us to,” she said matter-of-factly, as if he should have known this already.
“What? I thought the Snow Tree asked us.”
Zoey shook her head. “I met the Snow Tree after I met Lao. He asked for our help and the Snow Tree just showed us how to get here.”
“Oh, okay.” Lao, the Snow Tree, Nova the VioletLight, Chev the friendly elephant? This new experience here in Ohm Totem had been thrown at him without him asking for it. It landed on him like a ton of bricks. Coda sighed, watching Zoey. She had drifted off into thought, staring at the western sky.
For a while they sat in silence. It was peaceful, even though spirit animals occasionally walked by them. For the first time in a long time Coda didn't want Zoey to go away and mind her own business. He actually felt fine around her. He didn't know why, or if that was such a good thing, but he wasn't annoyed by her presence. He frowned. What's happening to me here?
The breeze was low, bringing with it the fragrance of beautiful flowers. The sun was almost gone, dipping much lower in the west, soon to awaken the moon from its slumber.
Coda took a deep breath and stood up. “How long have we been sitting here?”
“For a long while, I think,” replied Zoey, stretching her wings. “Let's go to bed.”
Coda nodded as Zoey lifted her wings and flew , in the air. They were only a short distance from the Spruce Hollow, but Coda raised his tail gesturing for Zoey to wait. “Get on my back and I'll walk you there.”
“It's only right there, Coda,” she protested, pointing with her beak. “I can make it just fine.”
“No!” Coda stamped his foot. “I'm your guardian from now on and I'm making sure you're safe. Yesterday I wasn't around to help you when a spirit animal almost hurt you, but now I'm with you. I'm not letting anything bad happen to you again!” His face was stern, much like his father’s when he'd discipline them.
Zoey smiled. She felt comforted by his words. She flew over to Coda, hovered above him, and gently landed on his back. “Okay, let's go then!” she shouted.
The journey was short, but Coda liked the feeling of his sister on his back. He didn't want to let her go, but when she jumped off and landed next to him, he softened. She was grinning with gratitude. She waved a goodbye, saying, “I love you, brother.”
Coda about fell down. That was the first time she had ever told him that. They always knew they loved each other, like brothers and sisters usually do, but they'd never voiced it. Coda looked down, a little embarrassed and muttering, “I love you, too.”
He watched her walk to the door and knock the secret knock that let her in. The door opened with the clang of the bells and the high-pitched voice of Taregan.
“Well, it's nice to see the lady of the day!”
As the door shut, Coda strolled to the Marble Burrow, hoping to catch an uninterrupted sleep, which he highly doubted would occur if Skint had anything to do with it.
Chapter 21
The zytes were nearly drowned by the dark when the pitter-patter of small feet awakened Coda again. For an instant he was irritated with his sister. She had a habit of getting up at night, waking him while on her tiptoes, thinking that she was silent on the carpet. He was about to tell her to go back to bed when he realized he wasn't at home. He was at the Marble Burrow.
He heard the door roll open. Glancing toward it, he saw Skint scampering out into the hallway. Curiosity poked at Coda. He'd had enough of Skint's sneaking around. He wanted to find out where the squirrel was going.
He sat up, shaking himself awake. His heavy eyelids responded well, but his body felt stiff. He jumped up and down a couple times to loosen everything up, but that didn't seem to do the trick. He walked to the door anyway. It was closed.
He blew on it and, just as it should, it opened, revealing a bluish-white glowing hallway. The zytes were in full glory as he headed down the hallway, hoping to catch a glimpse of Skint.
Past the hallway and entering the large hall of Marble Burrow, he noticed Skint's bushy tail slinking passed the main door. It shut silently behind him. Coda gazed at the massive crystal that stood to his right. He took in the magic of it for a moment, then headed toward the main door.
“Hey,” came a voice behind him.
The tiger, the one who said a friendly hello to him on the first night he had entered the Marble Burrow hall, walked toward him.
Coda smiled and bowed. “Hi.”
“What are you doing?” the tiger snarled.
Coda stepped back, a little stunned at the tiger's disposition. “I-I'm going outside.”
The tiger eyed him suspiciously. “And, why?”
Coda shrugged. He wanted to hide. He felt h
e had done something terribly wrong, but what? Was he not supposed to go out at night? If not, wouldn't Honani have told him so? He looked at the tiger's eyes. They were fierce and unmoving. He didn't want to rat out Skint, saying that he left, nor did he want to tell the tiger that he wanted to follow the squirrel to see where he was going, so he made up something. “I just wanted some fresh air.”
The tiger slowly shook his head. Coda could see that he had blue crystals on his chest and forehead. He knew this tiger could rip him apart with one bite and for some reason, Coda couldn't stop himself from imagining him doing so. He prepared himself for an attack. The tiger, instead, took a few steps toward the door, then sat in front of it, blocking Coda's exit. “Why are you lying to me, young one?” asked the tiger.
“Because you've frightened him, Sigun!”
Coda turned to see Honani approaching them. “I've not ever seen you act like this, Sigun. Why are you blocking our friend from leaving the Marble Burrow?”
Sigun relaxed and blinked his eyes a couple of times. “I'm merely doing as Nova asked.”
The badger padded up to Coda's side. “I'm not aware that Nova had asked you to do anything. What was it that she asked?”
Sigun dipped his head, his eyes narrowed. “She asked me to protect this young panther friend of ours.” He looked over his shoulder at the closed door, and then back at Honani. “If I let him out, then he will have no protection.”
“Oh, I see.” Honani eyed Sigun for several moments. “However, I ask that you let Coda leave at his own will. His protection is the night. He is a master in that realm. He'll be safe.”
Sigun shook his head again. He let out a low growl. “I can't do that.”
Honani turned to Coda and put out his paw, showing Coda his way to the door. “Proceed,” he said.
Coda looked at the tiger’s hostile eyes, then back at Honani. “I'm okay, Honani. I can just go back to bed and get some air in the morning.”
The tiger grinned. “That's a good little boy. Now turn around and go back into your room.”
That angered Coda, stirring up an aggressive energy in his belly. He didn't know where it came from, but it made him feel like fire was flaming off his black fur. He lowered his eyes and body as he slowly crept toward the tiger.
Honani stepped between them, calming the situation. “It's not your place to impede the comings and goings of any Being.” He took a step toward Sigun. “I've explained that Coda needs no security. He'll be safe. You have my word, Sigun. Now, let Coda proceed!”
Sigun stood his ground, letting out a throaty growl, which practically shook the hall. Coda crouched, waiting to pounce if Sigun attacked Honani. Honani simply held his paw up, indicating for Coda to stand back.
The tiger leaned downed, glaring into Honani's eyes. He sniffed the badger in contempt, letting out a frustrated grunt. “At sun up, I'll let Nova know about this.” He walked cautiously around Honani and padded off down a hallway on the other side of the big crystal.
Honani watched Sigun leave. Coda was puzzled.
“It seems there's more to Sigun than I thought,” said Honani. He smiled at Coda, then turned and blew on the round door. It rolled open. He gestured for Coda to walk through.
Coda bowed his head in thanks, then thought for a moment. “Will Nova get mad if I go? Sigun said she wanted me to stay.”
Honani shook his head no. “Nova would never control another being. Your will is your own, not hers. Plus, I haven't heard the screech of an owl warning us that the Dims are coming, so you'll be safe. You have the freedom here to do as you please, so long as it doesn't harm another.” His indigo crystals glowed and he nodded. “And so long as it doesn't go against the PureLight Order.”
“The PureLight Order?” asked Coda. His whiskers twitched and every cell in his body vibrated when he said those words. He'd heard about the PureLight Order before, but where?
“Yes, the PureLight Order. You'll learn about it soon.” Honani beckoned Coda to go through the main entrance. “You may get some air, if you wish.”
Coda walked into the long tunnel that led in and out of the Marble Burrow. He looked behind to see the badger staring back at him. Honani exuded a calm confidence. Coda didn't. It felt like he was doing something wrong. It was the first time he had felt guilty here in Ohm Totem.
He walked on, noticing the hazy glow of the zytes. They weren't bright so late in the evening; good thing for those of us who are sneaking out, thought Coda. The farther he walked, the deeper his thoughts went. He remembered feeling fine when he first decided to see where Skint was going. It felt good even when he was almost to the main door of the Marble Burrow. It was only when the tiger told him that he couldn't leave the burrow that these feelings of wrong started creeping in. Was he trying to slow Coda down in order to give Skint a longer lead?
Skint! Coda halted, crouching down, trying to disappear within the shadows of the tunnel.
Up ahead, Skint sat at the top of the dirt tunnel. He glanced nervously from side to side. He was low to the ground as well, as if doing his best not to be noticed. Staying low, he scurried forward, until he was out of Coda's sight. Coda inched forward as quietly as he could, until he reached the lip of the dirt tunnel. He peeked out, but only saw the forest trees, the grass, and foliage. Coda narrowed his vision and surveyed the land. Coda remembered what Honani taught him about being able to see the whole picture.
The moonlight lit up the forest, casting shadows of trees across the land. Movement, thought Coda. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Skint scuttling quickly toward the Large Boulder. What's he doing?
Coda lowered his hind legs, silently pushing forward into a slow run, matching the speed of the small squirrel. His vision again narrowed, and the confidence of a skilled and stealthy panther took over. He moved with careful steps, allowing each paw to cushion itself quietly, but quickly, on the ground. He didn't know how he could be so quiet, it just happened. As Coda followed, Skint ran up a large fir tree, and out of view.
Coda stopped, searching the many trees in front of him. He wondered if he should climb a tree, but then noticed movement on a fir tree next to the one Skint had climbed. Taking a closer look, Coda realized that Skint had jumped from one tree to the other.
As the trees moved and shuddered, Coda knew that trailing Skint would be easy. Skint jumped from tree to tree, clumsily clinging to branches with his front claws, spinning his back legs, as if he was on a bicycle, to grab hold with his entire body. His movements were noisy and disruptive. Coda wondered how all of Ohm Totem didn't hear him.
Coda suddenly froze. The movement in the trees had ceased. He could see Skint looking right at him from the base of a tree. It was about ten yards from the Large Boulder. Even though the moonlight lit the ground brightly, the ground still held shadows from the trees. Coda was lucky to be in one of the shadows. His black fur masked his body well and Skint merely gazed over him. Not seeing anything that might be troublesome, Skint turned and ran up the tree again, clumsily jumping from one tree to the next.
Coda almost gasped out loud and his heart clutched when he saw Skint attempting a long jump. It was too long. A jump that Coda knew the small squirrel couldn't make, but flexing his back leg muscles, Skint attempted the leap anyway. Skint hit the branch of the tree with his outstretched paws, but lost his footing a second later. He careened down the tree, hitting one branch after another. Coda ran toward him, hoping to catch Skint before he could get hurt, but Skint was too far away. He landed with a loud clunk, stopping Coda in his tracks.
Skint lay motionless and Coda crouched low, watching.
For many long moments, Skint didn’t move. Is he okay? A panic came over Coda. Is he dead? Just then, Skint sat up. He was alert. He wiggled his legs and body, then stood up and ran toward the Large Boulder.
Coda followed.
When Skint reached the boulder, his eyes darted around, checking to see if anyone had followed him. Coda shrank into the shadows. What is he doing?
; Skint extended his front squirrel paw to something that Coda couldn't quite make out and a portion of the rock opened. Skint tiptoed inside the opening and the rock shut behind him.
Stunned, Coda wondered how Skint knew about the boulder. Do all of the spirit animals here know about the boulder? Why didn't Nova tell me that it opened?
Coda looked around to see if anyone was watching. He saw and heard nothing, other than trees moving in the wind. He ran as fast as he could to the Large Boulder, hoping that the door was still partially open. When he got there, it was closed. He stared at the rock face, searching for the way in. He didn't see a button of any kind anywhere.
He placed both front paws on the boulder, feeling for something that Skint may have touched to open it. He found nothing. Maybe, it's right—
“Coda!” said a voice from among the shadowed trees.
Startled, Coda whipped around, his whole body tensed for a fight.
Chapter 22
Why can't I sleep? Zoey wondered with agitation. So far in Ohm Totem, she'd been able to go to sleep every night just after she'd close her eyes. I'm too wound up, she thought.
The day had been a long one and she'd spent half of it singing in front of all those spirit animals on the beach. It must have stirred her up, making her antsy, because her skin crawled with goosebumps as her mind raced with thoughts of singing. She had enjoyed it so much. It's so different here in Ohm Totem.
Maybe it's that Prana stuff making me feel like this?
She sighed and closed her eyes again, listening to the sound of San snoring triumphantly across the room. A moment later Zoey opened her eyes and shook her wings. I can't sleep. She stood up and walked over to the open window. Maybe I'll just stare at the stars.
Looking out of the window, she noticed that everything was perfectly still. She gazed out into the twinkling night sky and saw the glow of the moon. Its light was bright, spreading across the forest floor below. She took a big sniff. The sweet fragrance of the flowers that grew everywhere filled her senses.
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