Questmyre

by HaaJar Johnson

  “Okay, okay…” She forced herself to focus as best as possible, “Um… we were arguing about your decision to be blue and about what color I thought would be best and then I started to wish that…” Before she could finish her sentence the Nommo tree began to tremble slightly. It started as a gentle rumble and the trembling soon became a violent shaking which cast them away from the huge tree and into the water surrounding them at every side.

  Robin screamed as they were instantaneously swept away by a strong current. “Ahhh! Oh God, oh God, oh God!” She cried as Roami fought to hold her as close to him as possible. The last thing either of them needed was to get separated on top of everything else they were dealing with. The water viciously twisted and swished around them with no apparent cause. But just as soon as it began, it ended.

  In an instant, the strong current died out and they were left suspended in still water. Not one ripple marred the ocean . It was as if the turmoil of the previous minutes had never even occurred. Robin and Roami’s heavy breathing and traumatized expressions were the only proof that the odd quake had ever transpired.

  “Look Roami…” Was all Robin said as she wrapped herself around the front of his body and nodded her head towards the Nommo tree. They could see the Nommo was now miles away from them in the opposite direction of the moving current.

  Roami could feel Robin’s thin body shiver sporadically against his. She made a small whimper before whispering, “So this is it… This is how we’re going to die…”

  “Stop it, Robin. We’ll be fine. I won’t let you go, I swear. I will tread water and hold you.” She ignored his words and only shook her head in dismay. He nudged her head up with his to force her to look directly at him. His chin was set determinedly.

  Robin looked up into his gentle golden eyes, “Yes, but for how long? You can’t do it forever, Roami. You know that… You will get tired at some point…”

  Staring up at the ruby red sky for strength Roami said, “I will do it for as long as my body will allow.” he promised her then clenched his jaw with sheer determination.

  They stayed that way; holding each other and drifting in their new water world for what seemed like lifetimes but which may have only been the equivalent of a few hours on earth. Robin knew the exact moment when Roami had no choice but to give in to his body’s exhaustion.

  Roami looked at Robin, his face sallow from lack of sleep, food and rest. “Robin… I’m sorry… It is time.” He said sadly while his blue tears fell down from his face to mix with the gray water around them.

  Nodding her head while she whispered her thanks softly in his ear; Robin rubbed Roami’s back to comfort him before they died.

  She did not know what words were appropriate for the occasion of imminent death and so did the first thing that came to her mind. She sang their song…

  “Twilight pours on your tear soaked face and I cry, I cry with you…” she paused to gather her breath and all along rubbed his back soothingly. She caressed him the way she had always dreamed of being held, touched and soothed those countless lonely years between infancy and adolescence.

  His face was held against hers in exhaustion but upon hearing her beautiful words, he smiled against her cheek. With his last breaths he sang with her.

  Together they began, “In a house; not a home, I watch you stand all alone and I watch; I watch you. Don’t think you’re on your own because I’ll never go. I’m near; I am near you. You have a friend…. to depend…til the end…together we will win. I’m here for you, I am here… for you…I’ll be there for you… For-ever.”

  Slowly as Roami’s legs stilled and stopped treading water, the two slowly drifted below the water’s surface.

  Robin closed her eyes and did not open them for fear that she would have to watch as gruesome sea monsters ate Roami and herself alive.

  When their feet hit the bottom of the sea and still nothing grabbed them, Robin spoke up timidly, “Roami? Why haven’t we been eaten?” she asked in bewilderment.

  “I am not sure Robin…” He paused for a long moment then continued with a slight smirk, “but perhaps you should ask yourself another more important question.” She heard his voice clearly at her ear but refused to open her eyes just yet.

  Breathing in deeply Robin asked, “What do you mean? What question?” She hated when he spoke in riddles. Especially at a time like this when their very lives were at risk and time was of the essence.

  Laughing a little, Roami smiled and gave her waist a little squeeze before saying, “How is it that you can breathe, speak to me and hear me so clearly under water? That is the question you should probably be asking yourself, my dear friend.”

  Robin opened her eyes. She could not believe what she was seeing. As she moved out of Roami’s arms she wore a comical look of shock painted across her face. Robin now realized that she could in fact breathe and hear as well as she had above water; if not better.

  Beside her, Roami had already checked out their surroundings but he waited for her to get adjusted before they began to investigate this brand new world.

  Below the water’s surface, everything looked so clear and vivid. Unlike the water on earth, it did not distort objects or make their surroundings seem wavy.

  “How is it we can breathe under water?” she asked Roami while she continued to look around in awe at all the exotic sights, colors and sounds. It was without a doubt the oddest sensation Robin had ever experienced; being under water and yet not feeling at all wet or suffocated. She looked down at her brown hands and splayed them out in front of her looking at them in wonder. Everything seemed crystal clear and the colors seemed enhanced. Robin felt as if she were watching a television show which had gone from analog to high-definition in a split second.

  Roami glance at her and could not help but laugh at her silly antics. Robin looked up at him to see what was so funny. When she realized she was the source of his amusement; she glared, rolled her eyes and returned to focusing on their surroundings.

  The soft sand beneath them was a deep red color, similar to the shade of bricks back on earth. Robin noticed it was very dusty and her shoes were quickly turning a reddish color where the sand residue had settled on them. There was not much to see beyond acres of red sand. Just a few colorful sprouts of small plants and gray coral looking rocks and boulders were scattered haphazardly.

  Recalling her question Roami replied, “I don’t know how we are able to breathe under water. From what I have heard, most times when someone is sent to another world they are given the capacity to survive in it. This ensures they have a fair chance to discover its riddle. I had assumed the world above water was the true world we had been sent to. However, it seems this is where our riddle may be hidden.” He said. As he spoke Roami began to walk in the direction of the Nommo tree whose trunk was some distance away. The purple obtrusion could be seen descending as far as the sea bottom.

  “Where are you going? Are you crazy Roami? We don’t know where we are, what lives here or if it is even safe? We should stay right here and find a place to hide for a while.” Robin said as she trailed behind him haltingly. She bit her lip and looked around nervously.

  “No. We will never figure out the riddle and get back to Source One if we are too scared to move about and-” Roami looked annoyed for the first time since she had met him. Sighing in exasperation he turned to look at her then said, “Please just come on, we don’t have time to argue about this.” He said as he motioned for her to follow him.

  Whereas back on earth Robin would normally have argued until she was blue in the face, she realized she was completely out of her element. At the moment, Roami was her only foundation on which to stand. She sighed inwardly and let him win this particular battle. However, secretly she waited for the moment she was better equipped to survive and could once more be the independent Robin she had always been.

  Robin followed Roami while looking around apprehensively ready to defend them if they were attacked. Looking up, she saw that
the surface of the water, like that on earth, rippled with waves that distorted images. The perpetual movement of the surface water made the reddish brown sky above look choppy.

  Kicking at the sand below her feet, Robin noticed it seemed to be softer than any sand she had ever felt. There were quite a few plants and trees sprinkled about the area and they were all made in painfully vibrant colors.

  As they passed one such young tree, that had a blue trunk complete with red and pink leaves, Robin noticed it bore the most exotic looking fruits and flowers she had ever seen.

  The flowers were bright green and seemed to glow from their centers while the odd yellow fruits looked like large plump closed eyes. As she drew nearer to get a better look and reached her hand out to pluck one such fruit, she nearly screamed in terror as the fruit indeed opened like an eye and shined a bright green light on her. “Ahhh!!!” She instantly had a flashback of the golden glow of the Sad Sally Flower. Robin screamed and ran to hide behind Roami.

  “Robin! What did I tell you? Stay close to me and don’t touch anything! You’d think after the Sad Sally incident you would have learned your lesson!” Roami fumed angrily. Robin had never seen him so emotional. It truly looked as if he had been scared for her safety. Feeling slightly chastised, Robin nodded took a deep breath and continued to walk at his side without venturing too far off to explore. Despite the dramatic moment, she could not help but look around her in awe. Robin felt as if she were in an underwater wonderland.

  “Do you see that?” Robin squinted her eyes to better make out what she thought she saw near the horizon.

  “There are little people waiting there in the center of what looks like a city Roami!” She pointed to a cluster of brightly colored coral houses and an ever growing crowd of green skinned people standing at its center. They were all staring at them in awe. Robin immediately felt uncomfortable by the acute attention. She stopped walking and started searching the ground with a determined expression on her face.

  “Why are you stopping? What are you looking for Robin?” Roami asked in confusion and with a hint of frustration.

  “I’d think it was kind of obvious. We need some sort of protection in case they try to kill us or eat us or something.” She found a large sharp red rock and stood up with a smile on her face as she gingerly placed it in her green jacket pocket. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go.” She said nonchalantly.

  Roami shook his head, rolled his eyes in exasperation and continued walking towards the growing crowd. They stood a few feet in front of a bright green wooden sign on an archway. It was apparently the city’s entryway as the red path began there. The sign read in bright yellow letters: The City of Fitz.

  Robin and Roami stopped once they were about ten feet away from the odd looking people who all had dark green skin, fuchsia colored hair in various styles and large piercing eyes. It seemed like a silent standoff until a small jolly looking man waddled to the forefront. Robin noticed he had an exorbitant amount of jewelry covering his clothes and body.

  Roami decided it best for them to preemptively make their declaration of peace in order to avoid being mistaken as a threat. He stepped protectively in front of Robin and beamed out, “Peace and Greetings! We are visitors in need of food and shelter. Are you willing to take us in?” Roami asked with an open smile on his face to show that they meant no harm.

  The short, yet hefty man spoke up, “You are from the sky so you must be sent from the great almighty one!” His green velvet clothing was of a finer grade than the others and gave him the air of royalty. His elaborate robes were made in varying shades of green with shiny flecks of what looked like light green jade encrusted throughout. He wore mounds of emerald jewelry; rings, chains and even numerous earrings. His eyes were dark green, very large and stood out against his shocking frock of fuzzy fuchsia colored hair. He had a neatly trimmed goatee in the same fuchsia color.

  Roami quickly surmised he must be the king of this particular world. He guessed this by the man’s overdone appearance along with the fact that two very large men flanked him at both sides. Both guards sported expressions that looked perpetually dour, towered at near to seven feet tall and wore gem-studded armor.

  Robin and Roami took a better look at the king and his people as they slowly moved forward and began to gather around the two kids.

  Whereas from their initial vantage point, the people had seemed tiny, Robin was now sure that had been an incorrect assumption. Most of the people were very tall and Robin deduced they were between six and seven feet in height. Even the youngsters were tall and a bit lanky; with large feet that seemed made just big enough to keep their lithe figures balanced. Robin could not help but wonder that they had picked such a short man among giants to be their leader. The king looked to be no more than five feet tall and both Robin and Roami had to look down when addressing him.

  The people’s pigmentation was a deep shade of green that appeared similar to the color of pine needles on earth. Their eyes were large and seemed to be the biggest feature on their faces. Robin quickly realized that most had either light blue or light green eyes. Their noses were tiny things and their lips puckered up as if they had eaten something sour every day of their lives. She was not sure what was most shocking; all of these attributes or the apparently identical brilliant shade of fuchsia hair they all seemed to sport in various styles, lengths and textures. Altogether Robin thought they were the strangest looking creatures she had ever seen.

  “No, we are not great or anything like that. We are just travelers. Lost travelers.” Robin said, trying to clear the matter up.

  The King chuckled boisterously and made initial contact by clasping both Robin and Roami’s hands briefly in a show of acceptance.

  Smiling he said, “You are most humble Sky-Ones. I am King Hurtz; ruler of this great city of Fitz. We shall of course, take you in as honored guests and give you the best, for you are definitely heaven sent beings. Would you be so kind as to follow our local Disposer? His name is Thister. He will take you into his home and ensure your needs are met.”

  Before Robin or Roami could reply to the King, he motioned with his hand and several more armored guards appeared deftly out of the crowd of people. “Escort them at once to Thister.” He commanded and with a unified nod the guards made their way towards Robin and Roami.

  The sentries were all about seven feet tall and wore black clothing while their chest, legs and arms were covered in armor made of smooth polished jade. They wore no helmets and apparently the only weapons they had were long green clubs dangling from their waist on jeweled belts. They positioned themselves on either side of Robin and Roami.

  “By the way… You may visit my royal palace at your convenience once you are both settled in.” With that said the king was escorted away by his two personal guards. In respect, the crowd of people knelt to their knees as the King made his way back through the crowd and towards the city. No one stood until he had reached his home which was apparently very nearby.

  The trio made their way towards the shortest coral building in sight which was just feet away from the city center. It was nearly half his size in height. Robin thought it looked similar to a ranch style house on earth except made for a tiny elf. The architects had put more attention on the design of the structure as opposed to ensuring a livable height. There were slanted parts of the roof as well as circular structures next to square shaped segments.

  The actual home took up much more horizontal space than vertical. Robin surmised it would take quite some time to walk the entire parameter of the estate. The house was surrounded by beautiful trees similar to the ones she saw littered about the land; with their dark green trunks and bright lavender colored leaves. The only exception was that the trees surrounding the royal home held fruits which looked like large pears made of pure jade.

  While the home’s exterior material was porous like coral it was painted hot pink in color. The windows were all triangular and looked like blown green glass, lightly frosted for pri
vacy. Overall the effect was both magical and comical given the ridiculously diminutive height of the structure.

  Robin and Roami watched as the short king was led into the even shorter mansion. He had to bend slightly in order to enter the gray metallic, green gem studded front door. Robin nearly laughed out loud at the sight but caught herself just in time.

  “That’s strange…” Robin began but was cut off by Roami’s warning glare. Robin sighed and grew quiet knowing he was right to censor her. They should keep their thoughts to themselves until they were alone and out of earshot of others.

  With the king gone, the people surrounding them stood up from their kneeling positions. Some members of the crowd quickly left to return to their daily tasks while others continued to stand there and stare at the sky-ones with open curiosity.

  Robin took a moment to stare back at them with just as much inquisitiveness. She noticed they all wore very similar looking clothing. All of their outfits were made of the same type of material. Not the green velvet the king had been draped in, but a rough woven thread similar to that which Roami wore, except that theirs was dark hunter green. Some wore shorts, skirts, pants, turtle-necks, tunic shirts, t-shirts; all made of the same fabric but cut into various fashions to allow for some individuality.