by Lucia Ashta
She didn’t hesitate. She closed the short distance between her and Anak. She pulled him to her and pressed her lips to his. Tongues entwined, bodies entangled, and the fire mounted. Then there was the need to feel each other more, growing hungrily with each passing moment. They yearned to touch more, to feel more, to know more, and to be as connected as they possibly could.
So there, floating on the water of their beloved river, they forgot the world and their mission. They carved out a brief reprieve from duty and time. They joined in the perfect way Creator made for man and woman to come together, echoing, in this physical culmination, the longing of one heart to give itself fully to another.
In those blinding moments of the present, Asara and Anak found magic, and they knew the power of love. The world too would experience the power of their love. The full potential of their destinies had been awakened. It was now in motion. There was perhaps nothing that could stop it, although there would be those forces that would do everything within their power to try.
Their crossing of the river was uneventful. It didn’t take the twins long to get into a rhythm of synchronized motion. Row three times to the left, three times to the right, and then again. They alternated sides, heading straight across the water to the other shore. The canoe glided, the river relatively tranquil now. The sun glittered and skipped across the water’s surface.
When they finally reached the mainland, the sun was edging the horizon ahead of them, and Asara’s shoulders were sore. Arnaka was barely visible above the bobbing water levels of the River Haakal. The twins dragged the boat onto shore and found a partially concealed spot to leave it. They trusted that a mode of transportation would provide itself for them upon their return, but still, there was no reason to leave the boat conspicuously on the riverbank for just anyone to take it. If someone had a righteous need for the canoe, they would be led to it.
They decided to rest for the night. It had been a challenging day, beginning with the death of Master Tahn and the ceremony to honor his spirit. Seeing Master Sina awake but unsure of who she was, and leaving the temple community they cared about in potential danger, had been difficult for them.
They’d already traveled quite a distance and were emotionally and physically exhausted. They spread Anak’s blanket on the shore, right next to the water, mindful only of the rising tides. They pulled out some of their food supplies and ate while they watched the sun set. As soon as the stars came out, the twins nestled together on their makeshift bed and covered themselves with Asara’s blanket. Their swords lay within arm’s reach.
Asara lay on her side with Anak curled around her. The gentle lull of the water pulled them easily into a deep sleep. They were blessed with tranquil dreams free of the threats of darkness. But while they slept, Master Tahn’s murderer hunted Master Kaanra.
Aware now of a fragment of Dann’s final prophecy, the dark illusionist suspected that Kaanra searched for the doman—the object of power the dark sorcerer knew little about. As if an overlord’s whip pursued him, the man with a dark void in place of a heart was driven to stop Kaanra before the temple master could discover the doman. It was imperative that the sorcerer be the one to find the doman if the dark side was to have victory.
And so he left Asara and Anak alone. He didn’t know the twins played a critical part in Dann’s prophecies and that, without them, Kaanra could do nothing with the doman once he found it. The twins were allowed to sleep in peace, joined together in the dream world, their swords unused.
Chapter 12
Lena and Paolo chewed pensively on pears while they observed the sun highlight the mountains in patterns of light and shadow. The fruit was exquisitely ripe. A trickle of juice escaped Lena’s hold to slide down her forearm. Paolo wondered worriedly if there was something interfering with his ability to climb the pyramid. He’d tried to visit it many times before meeting Lena, but something had always intervened. His sudden illness of the day before was particularly troubling. An Italian sense of superstition threatened to influence Paolo, who knew better.
It was oddly coincidental, if that’s all it was. Paolo was healthy and strong, and the hike should have been easy for him.
Lena couldn’t decide what to say to allay his fears. Empty words were a distraction that often caused more harm than good, so she kept quiet. But she was certain Paolo would be able to reach the pyramid. He was pure in his heart, wanting to fulfill his divine purpose in life. His good intentions and determination would be sufficient to break through whatever obstacle stood between him and the pyramid.
Unknowingly, Lena had unearthed the problem. In the end, Paolo would discover it was only his fear that he’d fail to fulfill his divine mission on earth that kept him from reaching the pyramid the many times he tried. His subconscious mind prevented the risk of failure by avoiding the pyramid all together. But in its misguided attempts to shield him in this way, Paolo’s system of self-defense harmed him instead. Keeping a man from his divine purpose was akin to strangling his soul, dimming the spark in his eyes.
Paolo possessed the strength and depth of wisdom to shed light on the intent of his unconscious self. It was only through this understanding that he’d finally be able to climb the pyramid; only then could he approach his divine destiny.
As Lena and Paolo left their campsite that morning, and stepped through Kel’s protective bubble of light, they were pulled to another lifetime. It was only an instant, but it was enough.
Their bodies rippled, distorting like holograms, showing how illusory their human shells truly were. It was just as when they walked through the shield Area and Arien constructed around the campsite in their lifetimes as Asara and Anak. The soul essence from different incarnations touched itself in that shared experience, and the ripple of light translated into a ripple in time. It was electrifying.
To give Paolo time to recover his strength, Lena and Paolo decided to explore the area around the pyramid instead of attempting to climb it again. While Paolo drove toward it, Lena looked out the window. A soft wind blew, rustling the stalks of different crops, making everything shimmer in the dancing sunlight. The sky was clear and bright blue, the day already hot.
Once they passed the last of the small towns, Paolo turned down a different dirt road than the one they’d taken the day before. They drove with the windows down to breathe in the scent of the sage bushes that lined the car on both sides. Lena had never seen so much sage growing in one place before. The fragrance wafted pleasantly into the car while a trail of dirt billowed behind it.
They drove until the road narrowed and grew rougher, covered in overgrown weeds. It was clear that few ever ventured further, but Lena and Paolo were the sort to take the road less traveled. They parked the car on the side of the road, and they continued by foot. Before long, the road turned into a winding path.
Eventually the trail dissipated into an expanse of flat rock with sparse ground cover. It reminded Lena of the mountains in Sedona with its red color and barrenness. They climbed the incline until they reached the top of the hill where trees reappeared. Paolo extended his hand to help Lena up the last steep step, and then they both smiled broadly. Without planning, they’d hiked to the ideal vantage point to view the pyramid!
They took off their packs, fanned their sweaty shirts away from their backs, and discovered what looked very much like a seat nature scooped out of the rock right behind them. Mother Nature provided beautifully; the seat looked out on a panoramic vista of the pyramid and the surrounding mountains.
They lowered themselves into the seat. They nestled against each other, their backs and necks supported by the rock, their feet elevated comfortably as if on a footstool. It was a happy moment. An expanse of juniper trees, sage bushes, and brown and terracotta-colored desert spanned before them. The pyramid crowned the scenery.
“It’s a breathtaking view,” said Paolo.
“Aho.”
Were she not already sitting, Lena would have faltered and stumbled in surprise at th
e voice that rose up from below. It was a deep yet melodic voice, and Lena had heard it before.
“This is incredible,” Lena said. She and Paolo stood on a ledge just below where they’d been sitting, at the mouth of a shallow cave. It had the same amazing view, and it was shaded from the heat of the sun—a very important attribute for this climate. A stone fire pit had blackened the cave’s ceiling with its many fires. Some provisions and blankets lined the walls of the cave. The man’s makeshift home was orderly and clean.
Lena noticed a sliver of smoke rising and encircling the man. It created the effect of other-worldliness. An abalone shell with sage burning slowly in it was responsible. He was a man of measured words. He spoke only when he had something of value to contribute. His father taught him it was preferable to speak thoughtfully, taking time to deliberate, than to fill space out of a sense of politeness.
The man nodded in response to Lena’s admiration. He’d chosen this spot because of its view of the pyramid. He liked to be reminded of the way of the ancients; he mostly thought them wiser than his contemporaries.
“Thank you for helping me yesterday morning. I appreciate that.” Barely back in her body when the man left, Lena hadn’t expressed her gratitude for his help in disconnecting from Coyote’s consciousness.
The man nodded his acknowledgment again. It had taken him all of one day to traverse the distance between where he sat now and where Paolo had made camp the previous night, crossing crop fields and desert on foot. He’d slept in the open the night before to be able to aid Lena the next morning at dawn. After helping her, it had taken all of yesterday to walk back, but he returned in time to sleep the night in his cave dwelling.
The man knew the couple had no idea how much effort he’d invested to help Lena, but he preferred it that way. His father had taught him to act honorably because it was the right thing to do, not for praise or reward. The man foresaw her need in a dream. The dream was vivid and its message clear: he was to help this woman who was still learning about merging with another’s consciousness. Although the man didn’t know why Lena was valuable to humanity at large, he understood it was important to answer his messages and callings. Upon waking, he set off.
Afterwards, while resting near Lena and Paolo’s campsite, the man heard Coyote’s lonely call. He realized then that Coyote was the one that would merge with the woman. His last thoughts before sleep were of wonderment. What lesson would Coyote present to this woman? In the legends his father taught him, coyote was a mischievous trickster. Would Coyote teach the woman through illusion, presenting one thing as a way to teach another, or was Coyote too solitary and wise in the ways of the world to share anything but truth?
Now, the man understood there was likely a reason this man and woman were at his home; he knew better than to believe their showing up like this was a coincidence. They could learn from his ways—traditions from a long line of generations—but perhaps they were there to teach him something as well. He ruminated.
In the long silence while the man stared off toward the pyramid, Lena began to worry they were intruding on him. Perhaps it would be better if they left him alone. “Well, thanks again. We won’t disturb you any longer,” Lena said politely and with a smile.
The man muttered to himself while shaking his head—people and their assumptions. The woman chose to interpret his silence, and she did so incorrectly.
He surprised Lena by saying, “Sit.” And when they had, “I’m Sitting Bear.”
And so Lena and Paolo completed their second introduction with a mysterious man appearing out of nowhere.
Chapter 13
Bird songs nudged Asara and Anak awake in the predawn. They lay on their blanket enjoying nature’s early sounds until the sun peaked above the horizon. Anak sat while Asara didn’t and, together, they gazed into the sun until it grew too bright for their eyes.
Charged and energized by the sun, the twins packed up their blankets and filled their canteens in the river. Ready to move on, they sat on the riverbank, legs crossed in front of them, and faced the sun once more. This time, their eyes remained closed.
As they did every morning, they connected with Mother Earth who supported life, with the sun and the air that fueled existence, and with the waters that nourished. They spoke with Creator and with their spirit guides and angels, and then they grew quiet and still. They listened, because they couldn’t hear guidance if they prayed without listening.
This beginning was the most important part of their day. When the twins felt complete, they rose and turned away from the river. They didn’t have to speak. Their guidance had directed them to find Thom, and Thom was somewhere ahead of them.
They strapped satchels to their backs, belted swords to their hips, and resumed their journey. In the distance, the gentle Thom was doing a similar thing. He continued on his quest, now intent on finding the twins of prophecy. He was excited at the upcoming reunion.
Asara and Anak crossed the expanse of desert that stretched out before them seemingly without end. But from their previous travels, they remembered water lay beyond their line of sight. They walked at a rapid pace, hoping to traverse the desert before the sun climbed directly overhead. The blood pumped through their bodies as they went from resting to active. Asara loved the sensation. Her legs and arms tingled with new energy as the blood moved to the surface of her skin.
She smiled. The day was a gift from Creator. Everywhere around them were the sights and sounds of vibrant life. Today she was also excited by something else. Even though the threat of darkness lurked in the uncharted, she was eager to see what this quest would bring. Much of what they’d set off to accomplish was shrouded in the unknown.
What dimension had Baldub and Carn traveled to, and what would it be like to help them wherever they were? Would she and Anak also have to travel through a portal to another world? What was Dann’s final prophecy, and why had Kaanra dreaded fulfilling his role in it? What was the doman? And what did Thom have to do with all of this?
Since she didn’t find answers to her many questions, she admired her surroundings instead. They walked upon parched dirt, hardened and baked by the sun. Hard, jagged lines slashed through the earth, reminding Asara of the way lightning struck down from the sky. Her eyes fixed on the patterns and scars. They provided a microcosm of endless fascination, until she pulled her eyes up, when her visual world expanded instantly, the microcosm temporarily forgotten.
I look forward to seeing Thom. I miss his gentle spirit, even though we left him a short time ago. Asara spoke to Anak the way they usually spoke to each other. In the recesses of their minds, they understood each other perfectly; there was a purity and simplicity of expression that was guileless.
He’s a beautiful brother, Anak responded. I’ll be happy to see him as well. And I believe we’ll find him soon. He’s probably looking for us, as we search for him.
Asara nodded. What he said was true. Thom was connected to the All of Everything, as they were. If the twins’ guidance was leading them to Thom, then Thom’s guides were likely leading him to them. They were heading toward each other.
They’d parted ways with Thom immediately after the deaths of Veena, Mohan, and Osarus. He transformed the wooden shovels they’d used to bury the three cousins back into the branches they’d been, and then the remaining light warriors embraced and walked off in different directions. Emotions were raw and shock prevalent. But whereas Area and Arien had each other for support, as did Asara and Anak, and even Baldub and Carn, who’d leapt together through the closing portal, Thom walked off alone into the forest.
Thom was strong. He chose the solitary life because he didn’t feel alone. The forest was his companion. He carried its essence within him, so wild animals were drawn to him, and he often walked with those creatures humans rarely saw.
Asara’s musings and observations carried her through the desert swiftly. Time warped for her as they emerged from the desert earlier than she anticipated. The ground began to sh
ow signs of nearby water. Grasses dotted the land, until they finally grew thicker and more abundant, building a desire to feel them against her bare feet. She slowed and Anak, profoundly connected to her and her ways, wordlessly bent over to untie his moccasins alongside her.
Anak’s feet touched the grass first. He held his moccasins in one hand, smiled at his twin with a twinkle in his eye, and took off at a run with Asara close behind him. They both knew where they were going, and they enjoyed the cool, padded sensation of grass beneath their feet as they ran there, satchels and swords bouncing in their wake.
As always the water beckoned them. All waters on the planet are connected, and this flowing water called to them in a way similar to the River Haakal—it was as if they felt the River Haakal’s particular melody also vibrating through this water.
The twins’ energy turned playful as they ran. They edged toward each other teasingly, and then rushed ahead, tauntingly. Laughter trailed behind them, nudging flowers into bloom with its vibration. The joy of light warriors illuminated a path of brightness and life. The plants they passed became more luminous, and the flowers stretched further open. Curious animals looked up, trying to discover what had caused the change they sensed in the air.
The twins of prophecy finally arrived at the water. The sound of its rushing flow was loud. As was their way, they didn’t slow. Instead, they intensified their pace to reach the bright green reeds that edged the calling water. They dropped their satchels and moccasins to the ground. Their swords followed.
Their clothes were still airborne when their feet connected with the cool dampness of the river shore. In two more breaths, they dove. Their fingertips touched the water at precisely the same instant. The water spread out in undulating ripples that lapped upon the riverbank as their bodies went under. In that crisp, wet world, the twins found each other, and they came up out of the water together, embracing, mouths connected in a kiss that transcended awareness.