The PureLights of Ohm Totem

by Brandon Ellis

  Coda pointed with his paw. “Zytes just turned on.”

  “San?” called Zoey.

  Silence.

  Zoey looked at Coda. Both were terrified. The worst went through Zoey's mind. Did San get hurt? Why did she fall into the hole like that?

  Coda poked his head farther into the hole. “San!”

  A crunching sound echoed in the tunnel. It sounded like someone stepping on rocky soil.

  “I'm down here.”

  “Why did you scare us like that?” Coda scowled.

  San came into view at the base of the staircase. She shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know. I wanted to get down here, I guess. I wasn't trying to scare you.”

  Zoey puffed up in indignation. “Well, don't do that again. You scared me—” she glanced at Coda, “and you scared Coda, too.”

  “Okay,” San pouted. “I won't do that again.”

  Coda slowly crept down the stairs, being careful with every step. “It seems alright down here,” he said, giving Zoey the OK to follow.

  “Okay,” replied Zoey. She flapped her wings and landed next to San. A light, chilly breeze blew against her and she shivered from the sudden change in temperature.

  “Where are we?” asked Coda.

  They were in a large tunnel that went on for what seemed to be miles. In front of them and behind them, the tunnel went as far as the eye could see. San pointed to the zytes that lined the walls. “There are zytes everywhere, so for sure spirit animals have been down here before.”

  Zoey noticed a large round boulder. It was red in color and looked too smooth to be a rock, but nonetheless, it was a rock. Coda saw it as well, walked over to it, and touched it with his paw. Peering around it, Zoey saw another one by its side.

  San leaned forward, inspecting the ground. “Over here,” she called out quietly.

  Zoey flew next to San and Coda bounded to their side. They were looking at an indentation in the ground. “So,” said Coda, “what's so neat about that?”

  San straightened, explaining, “I find it curious that there are two boulders to our left, but an empty space here with an concave shape in the ground. The shape is the size of a boulder.”

  Zoey looked at the other boulders. They seemed to be heavier than a house, but they were perfectly round, as if carved out of a mountain. You'd need a tractor to move one of those, or something even bigger. She stared back at San blankly. “What's so curious about that? There couldn't have been a boulder there. No one, except a VioletLight, could move it. Especially not someone as small as Skint.”

  “Oh yeah,” replied San. She looked away, lost in thought, and then confided, “There are stories about tunnels that were created long before the PureLights came to Ohm Totem. If I remember correctly, when the PureLights found them they learned how to use them. The tunnels were part of a system of travel that involved these boulders here!” She pointed at the closest boulder with her wing, “They're called Zolts. PureLights used to travel from tribe to tribe in them. Instead of taking ten moons to get somewhere, it'd take half a moon, or even less.”

  Coda and Zoey still didn't quite understand what she was getting at. And for some reason, San suddenly sounded much smarter than normal. Pushing this thought away, Zoey glanced at the Zolts.

  Coda was standing on his hind legs next to one, touching it again with his paws. “I bet a VioletLight could make one of these and they could probably get it down here by moving it with their minds.”

  San shook her head. “Like I said, they were here before the PureLights arrived.”

  How does San know all of this? Zoey wondered.

  Before Zoey could ask, San spread her wings, jumped and flew to the closest Zolt. She paced around it and blew on it. Instantly, the side of the boulder pressed inward, then a piece of it rolled open. To Zoey's surprise, the Zolt had a door.

  “Whoa! How did you know to do that?” asked Coda.

  “I thought it, so I did it,” replied San as she peered around the inside.

  Zoey flew over to Coda, who whispered in her ear, “She's been in that boulder before.”

  “How do you know?” Zoey whispered back.

  “Because you have to blow twice if—”

  “Check this out!” interrupted San.

  Zoey walked toward her, hopping onto the edge of the opening.

  Inside the boulder was a large empty space, surrounded and lined by a perfectly smooth and concaved rock. It could easily fit all three of them inside and, to Zoey's surprise, that's precisely what San had in mind. She beckoned them to join her, and they complied.

  The floor was nice and warm, but there wasn't much else to the Zolt. Just smooth, rounded rock above, below, and all around them.

  “What exactly is this thing?” asked Coda.

  San ignored him, then blew again. The door to the Zolt closed, and everything became pitch black.

  “Hey,” said Zoey, “what's going on?”

  A loud clunk startled them. The boulder started to move, or at least it felt as if it did. An instant later, a screen blinked on in front of them, flooding the darkness with new light. The screen was like a window, allowing them to see right through the rock. And, they were indeed moving!

  “Destination?” asked an indistinct male voice coming from the Zolt.

  “We're moving!” exclaimed Zoey.

  “That's not a destination I recognize,” replied the Zolt.

  Coda shrugged at Zoey, trying not to grin too widely. He was rather enjoying this. If he was alone, Zoey pictured him putting his paws up in the air, joyfully screaming, “Yeehaw!”

  “Zolt, please respond,” said San. “Where was the last Zolt's destination?”

  “Yes,” retorted the boulder. “Please be more specific. Do you want this Zolt's last destination or the Zolt that left prior?”

  “The Zolt that left prior,” responded San.

  “Yes,” replied the boulder. There was a brief pause and a thousand thoughts went through Zoey's mind. One of her thoughts was the summary of them all—how does San know what to do?

  “It traveled course one-one-seven. Would you like the same route?” asked the Zolt.

  San gazed ahead, narrowing her eyes. She was determined. “Yes, I would like the same route. Thank you.”

  The Zolt shuttered for a moment, and rolled forward at a slightly faster pace. Zoey realized that although it rolled, the cabin of the Zolt remained stationary. How it did that, Zoey didn't know.

  They passed well-lit zytes reminding Zoey of the lights on the freeway that flashed passed their car at night. Though, in Ohm Totem, the zytes gave off a soft white-bluish, pleasant glow, while the freeway lights seemed glaring.

  Coming to a fork in the tunnel, the boulder veered to another tunnel on the left.

  San leaned back, pressing her feet against the floor, bracing herself for something. She warned Zoey and Coda, “You better get ready. We're about to change speeds.”

  Zoey and Coda copied San, and an instant later the Zolt shuttered again, zipping off at an alarming pace. The force slightly pushed them backward for a second, then let up a moment later. Zoey saw that the zytes weren't glowing anymore. The boulder was going so fast that the zytes were now a thick, hazy white-blueish line against the rock tunnel wall.

  Coda’s tail lashed back and forth with nervous energy. “Wow! This is crazy!”

  Zoey, on the other hand, wanted to know how it was that San knew how to work one of these things. San acted as if she'd never been down to the tunnel before, then somehow was able to control and command a Zolt? Her actions told Zoey that San wasn't telling them the whole truth. But why?

  Zoey eyed San, watching her confidence as she kept her eyes on what was ahead.

  Up ahead stood a Zolt on the left next to the tunnel wall. They were coming up to it at break neck speed.

  “That's got to be Skint's Zolt,” announced San.

  “Destination reached,” said the Zolt as it slowed quickly then came to a halt.

  “Op
en,” said San.

  The door opened and Coda jumped out. Zoey didn't move, blocking San from leaving. Zoey asked suspiciously, “How did you know how to do all of that?”

  San put her wing to her beak. “Shhh. Quiet.”

  Zoey scrunched her face up with annoyance, then turned and hopped out. San followed her.

  “This way,” whispered San. This portion of the tunnel was dark. The zytes came to an end a few yards back and unlit torches took their place.

  Why would someone take the zytes away? thought Zoey.

  San nudged Zoey, gesturing for her to get against the tunnel wall. Coda was by San's side and crept low, being as silent as he could.

  A hiss shot against the dark and one by one, the torches flamed on. Zoey about jumped out of her feathers with fright, then ducked lower and tightly hugged the wall. Coda merely flinched, but ducked down as well. For some reason, San didn't budge at all.

  They crept forward until they came to a change in the tunnel. It forked again and San tilted her head to the right, indicating they'd go that way. A sound picked up and San put her wing up signaling for them to stop. Being as quiet as they could, they listened intently. A conversation was taking place around the corner and pinged against the walls. It wasn't loud, but they could make out words here and there. San poked her head around the corner, doing her best not to be seen. She looked back and whispered, “Skint's talking to someone.”

  “Do you know who?” whispered Coda.

  San shook her head.

  They stood there for many moments. Then Zoey looked to the left in thought. She whispered to Coda, “Doesn't Skint have a stutter?”

  Coda nodded a yes.

  They listened a bit longer and Coda whispered back, “Apparently he doesn't.”

  Coda silently trod forward, nicely nudging San out of the way. He gave San a look that asked if he could look as well. San looked alarmed and frantically shook her head no. “I shouldn't have taken you guys here.” Appealing to Zoey she declared, “Let's leave.”

  Coda peered around the corner, then abruptly hid back behind the wall.

  “Show yourselves!” ordered a voice.

  Frightened beyond fright, Zoey slowly retreated backward toward the Zolt. Coda hadn’t moved an inch. Why isn't he coming?

  Zoey saw San pull Coda's tail with her beak, trying to get him to move. Coda wiggled his tail free, then realized himself that he needed to get going. The realization was a moment too late.

  Around the corner came a loud hiss.

  Crepus!

  Zoey felt pure panic run up her spine. They had to get out of there and they had to get out now! She knew how dangerous Crepus was and didn't want to see her brother or San get hurt. She ran toward Coda, pulling on his fur with her beak. “Let's go!”

  Up ahead, Crepus poked his head around the corner, glaring at them. Zoey froze. His eyes burned with rage. He growled as he stepped around the corner, exposing his entire body. Zoey looked back at the Zolt. They were about fifty yards away. “Come on!” she yelled to San and her brother.

  As Zoey fell back, she continued to look at the Zolt and then back at Crepus. He was walking at an arrogantly slow pace. Finally, checking where she was again, she saw that she was mere steps from the Zolt.

  She intended to enter the Zolt, ready to roll away, but the Zolt's door was closed. She gasped and looked over her shoulder. She saw that Crepus was still taking his time walking toward them. With each step he pounded his tail against the dirt.

  Zoey turned and blew on the Zolt. Nothing happened. She blew again. Nothing moved. “Coda!” she screamed, “I can't get it open.”

  Coda stood like a sentinel, about ten yards from her. He was ready to block any attempt that Crepus might make at getting her, though Crepus was still a distance away from them.

  San? Where is she? Zoey spun around, but couldn’t spot her. Then she realized that San was in front of Coda, pushing him with all her might. Coda wasn't budging.

  San ordered, “Help me get him to the Zolt.”

  Zoey flew over to her brother. Coda's eyes were narrowed at the oncoming dragon. He had Crepus locked in his sights. Coda was clearly ready for action.

  Crepus's tongue zig-zagged out of his mouth like a snake, hissing, “Welcome, children.”

  Zoey twisted back around, eyeing her brother. Yes, he was in another realm or something, and she had to snap him out of it. She pushed and pushed with everything that she had, but he wouldn't move. He didn't even take a single step backward. She finally let up.

  “San!” screamed Zoey. “He isn't moving. Maybe if you get the Zolt open, we—”

  Too late.

  San screamed. Her wings flailed backwards as Crepus grabbed her, then threw her hard against the tunnel wall. Zoey jumped back as Coda lashed forward, jumping on Crepus. For a moment, Coda had Crepus pinned on the ground until an invisible force pushed Coda upward, slamming him against the ceiling. He bounced off the wall, landing back on his feet, seemingly not fazed. He looked at Zoey, making sure she was okay.

  “I wasn't expecting you so soon, San,” said Crepus as he stood on all fours, staring at the spot where she laid. She was limp.

  Is she dead?

  “Oh, poor, poor San,” said Crepus without any emotion, as he nudged San’s limp body a couple of times with his claws. “I guess it's over for that one.” He glanced at Coda, who stood between Crepus and Zoey. “Are you next?”

  Coda responded with a defensive crouch, but was suddenly lifted off his feet again by another invisible force. He smacked against the wall a second time. This time, however, he wasn't so sure-footed on the fall. He hit the dirt floor at an awkward angle, making a loud grunting sound behind clenched teeth. He lay there motionless, just like San.

  “Coda!” came a petrified screech from Zoey. He was the one person in Ohm Totem she loved the most. He can't be dead! She went to fly over to him, but her feet felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. She flapped, but didn't lift. She tried harder, but her feet remained planted on the ground.

  Then she saw Skint. He stood next to Crepus. They both were glaring at her. Were they holding her down?

  Zoey checked for her brother again. Her heart jumped for joy when she saw that he had started to get up. He was dazed and Zoey could tell he didn't know where he was. She was about to yell his name, but her mouth was pinned shut by the invisible force. Suddenly, she felt an even heavier weight pressing on her, and looked back at the squirrel and dragon. Their eyes were malevolent slits as they approached menacingly in her direction.

  Her heart pounded as she frantically looked around. She desperately wanted to move, but her feet were suctioned to the cold earth. Her eyes widened when three apes suddenly walked around the corner. They stood behind Crepus and Skint. Two of them looked amused, but one of them, standing slightly a ways off from the others, silently mouthed, proceed from your heart.

  The instant she read his lips, her body started to tingle and her eyes abruptly closed against her wishes. She saw a large violet ray of light shine in the darkness behind her eyelids. It calmed her, filling her with color. She felt as if she were expanding, floating. She felt wonderful.

  She opened her eyes.

  Directly in front of her, not more than two paces away, stood the two apes. They were both leaning over, swiping their large arms toward her in an attempt to grab her, but just before they did, she commanded, “Get out of my space!”

  And like the sun itself, Zoey beamed a flash of energy at them. It seemed to come from every atom of her body. The apes flew upward and against the ceiling. An instant later, Skint tumbled head over tail across the tunnel as if a ferocious, heavy wind blew him. Crepus, though, remained stationary.

  “Good,” Crepus looked around at his fallen comrades. “I like your spirit, child.” He tipped his head to the side. “Guards!”

  The two apes rose to their feet and lunged at her. Zoey leaped backwards as their outstretched fingers barely missed her. A terrifying growl filled the air.
It was Coda.

  He leaped in front of Zoey, clamping hard on an ape's arm. He ducked his head, somersaulting, flipping the ape head over heels. Letting go of his arm, Coda twisted around to see the other ape take a heavy swipe at him. The ape was too slow, allowing Coda to easily dodge the blow. Coda rolled to his right. The ape jumped at him with both hands clenched in a fist. However, Coda jumped higher. He was a step ahead.

  He placed both paws on top of the ape’s head, pressing down. The ape plunged to the ground and Coda landed on top of him. With a hasty counterclockwise swirl against the ape’s forehead crystal, the ape went limp. Coda had stunned him. That ape was going to be out for a while.

  Zoey watched from a safe distance. She had unknowingly backed up against the side of one of the Zolts. She saw that Coda was just as surprised by his actions as she was. Did he learn how to stun in the Art of Defense classes?

  Zoey gasped and yelled, “Watch out!”

  Coda leaped to the side as an ape pounded a double-handed punch against the ground a whisker length away, just missing Coda. Coda was suddenly lifted off the ground by that same unknown force. It hurled him to another wall. Zoey could see that Coda was flying through the air at a speed that would surely kill him.

  Coda closed his eyes tight, expecting the worst. Zoey screamed. She was about to lift off when Coda suddenly stopped two head lengths away from the wall. Then he floated gently to the ground.

  “Enough!”

  Zoey, startled by the familiar voice, turned around.

  Nova stood a few bird lengths from Zoey. Next to her were Numee, Taregan, and that badger fellow that sat at the entrance of Marble Burrow.

  Nova bowed formally to Zoey, and then walked toward Crepus. He let out a disgusted snort, and then gave a mocking bow. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

  Coda eased over to Zoey, rubbing his cheek against her feathers. “Are you okay?”

  Zoey simply nodded, not taking her eyes from Nova, who was followed by her three companions. Zoey suddenly felt safe, but then remembered her fallen friend, San. Safe wasn't the right word. A deep sadness plucked at her. She hadn't known San for very long, but she was a good friend and tried to keep them out of harm's way. A tear welled up in her eye. Her gut felt empty.