by Ivory Autumn
Chapter Twenty-One
Rash Decisions
As soon as the sun peered over the Dandelion Den, Gogindy awoke everyone in his little house, and dragged them from their beds over to his small table, forcing them to eat.
Gogindy sang, and chirruped, hopping about the room, as if he were excited for the coming day. He heaped Andrew’s plate with clear blue fruits, until you could barely see Andrew’s face. “Eat away,” he said. “It’ll take the tired away, is what I always say. I remember, once, I ate so much of this blue fruit, I was able to stay awake for seven months without sleeping. But, afterwards I did happen to have a bit of a crash. Slept nearly half a year straight.”
“Huh...” Andrew touched the squishy fruit with his forefinger, not sure what to think of it. "Stayed awake for seven months? How many of these did you eat?"
“Five hundred.”
Andrew raised his brows, and grinned. “That many? It doesn’t look like you could fit five in you, much less…”
“No more questions. Just eat!” Gogindy paused, and then chuckled to himself. “They’re called Spoegrum fruit---one of the Twisker’s favorite things to eat. Spoegrum fruit gives lots of energy and tastes exceedingly yummy.”
“Figures why you’re so fidgety.”
Gogindy took a big bite out of one of the Spoegrum fruits. It instantly made his whole face light up, like he'd swallowed lightning. He let out a happy laugh as it slipped down his throat. “See, nothing to it! Come on, take a bite.”
Andrew nodded and took a bite of the transparent fruit. The feeling he got when he bit into it was that of pain and delight. It tasted sweet, sour, salty, cold, hot, fruity, and very satisfying. When he swallowed, a strange feeling of electricity passed through him, and his face lit up.
“Feels kind of neat doesn’t it?” Talic said, taking a bite for himself. “I’ve eaten four already. I feel so full of energy I could wrestle a lion.”
Andrew also took another bite. This time, the fruit tasted even better. It lit up his face again, and he laughed aloud.
The others at the table did the same and soon all were laughing and giggling, as their faces lit up as they swallowed the fruit. Gradually, Andrew began to feel amazingly awake and energized.
“I told you that it would make you strong," Gogindy said, darting about the room in giddy delight. "Told you it would make..." Gogindy paused mid sentence.
Boom, boom, whack, boom, a loud pounding was heard on Gogindy's door. Then, a gruff sounding Twisker shouted, “Open in the name of King Dandywheel.”
“Oh dear!” Gogindy cried. “They've come for me, and so soon too!” His whole body quivered in fright. He ran his fingers through his whiskers, as if bidding them farewell.
“Don't worry, Gogindy,” Monday said, standing protectively in front of Gogindy. “I won't let them harm you.”
“Really?” Gogindy asked. “You won’t?”
“I promise!"
Gogindy nodded, and walked bravely to the door and poked his head outside. “What do you want?” he asked, cautiously eyeing the heavily armed Twiskers in front of him.
“We have reason to suspect that you are housing escaped criminals and dangerous spies,” a gruff Twisker shouted, pushing through the doorway.
“Why would I do such a foolish thing?” Gogindy asked, trying to hold them back.
“Because,” the big Twisker said, “you are always doing foolish things. Now let us pass, or I'll tie you and your three tails to a post and roast you and your whiskers with fire!”
“How dare you...” Gogindy said, "I aught to...to..."
"Move!" The Twisker guards shouted, shoving Gogindy aside, and pushing into the room where the others stood. “You are all under arrest!”
Monday stood protectively in front of Gogindy. Andrew two, rose up, and stood, drawing his sword. The light from its blade lit the room in a brilliant glow.
All the Twiskers froze, and cowered back in fear.
Rhapsody put a firm hand on Andrew's shoulder. "Calm yourself, Andrew."
Andrew gave Rhapsody a hard stare, then lowered his sword.
The Twisker guards took courage at Andrew's lowered sword, and held tightly to their own weapons. “You are trespassing in our country, and that is punishable by death!”
"So it is, so it is,” Rhapsody retorted, laughing nervously. “But …”
“Then comply with us, and meet your doom!” the Twisker shouted, growing bolder.
“Oh, really,” Rhapsody sighed, “must you be so hostile, so dramatic? All we seek is an audience with king Dandywheel, and safe passage out of your Dandelion Den, as you call it. Is that so much to ask?”
“It is!” the Twiskers shouted. “However, you will all see our king. But as for safe passage out of our land, I highly doubt you will be so lucky as to receive such a boon.”
“Oh, please...” Gogindy cried, groveling before the Twisker guards, “have mercy. Please don't hurt us!”
“Mercy?” A Twisker guard thundered, shoving Gogindy away from him. “We show no mercy to traitors. Now will you or will you not come and meet your fate?”
“We will," Rhapsody said. "But as for meeting our fate, it may not be the fate you are thinking of. Come Andrew, let us all meet fate together.”
They slowly followed behind the Twisker guards, through the towering Dandelion forest up to the biggest dandelion of all, there to meet the great king Dandywheel himself.
“Oh save us,” Gogindy cried, as they approached the king, sprawling on the ground and howling. “Merciful benefactor. Save us please. Have mercy. If there is any morsel of goodness inside you, pl...”
“Silence!” the guards commanded, backing away as a loud pounding of small drums sounded---ta, ta, ta ra, ra, ra, ta, ta, ra, ra, ra.
A multitude of Twiskers gathering around them stared at them from every angle, whispering exclamations of fright. Twisker servants of king Dandywheel spread smooth green leaves like a carpet on the ground, as king Dandywheel approached them. The great Twisker looked formidable with his dandelion-seed headdress swaying back and forth as he walked. His large angry eyes peered out at them through it, like two glowing moons in a misty cloud of fluff.
King Dandywheel stared at the prisoners, his face stern, his eyes hard. “Which one of you is guilty of killing and utterly destroying one of our sacred dandelions? Which one of you claims such a terrible deed, and holds such a deadly power over plants?”
"I...do," Gogindy chimed, bravely stepping forward, trembling like the ground beneath him was about to give way. He looked afraid, proud, and about as surprised, as his friends did at his declaration.
"You what?" King Dandywheel roared, far more furious than before.
"I..."
Andrew quickly stepped in front of Gogindy. "I'm the one. I did it. Gogindy, is innocent."
"Innocent?" King Dandywheel huffed, glaring at Gogindy in disdain. "I knew Gogindy was incapable of completing any task great or small, good or evil."
"Incapable?" Gogindy repeated, his whiskers drooping. "What did you say?"
"Yes. You are unworthy of the whiskers you bear! King Dandywheel looked at Gogindy with angry eyes. “You know nothing, you worthless dust bunny. You are a shame to all Twiskerhood! You have housed prisoners and trespassers, and because you have done this, you have endangered all our lives. From this day forward, your name will be spoken of in shame, and all your descendents will be shunned as outcasts. ”
“Please!” Gogindy wept. “Have mercy!”
“The day for mercy is past,” King Dandywheel shouted, turning to face the crowd of angry Twiskers. “Know this, O' Twisker's, that from this day forward, I banish Gogindy, the Twisker, from the Dandelion Den, forever!”
“No,” Gogindy wept, falling to the ground and whimpering. “Please just give me another chance! Please, I promise I'll do better! I'll make you proud. I will!”
“Even if you had ten thousand more chances,” King Dandywheel replied. “I
t wouldn’t be enough. You're no longer a Twisker of the Dandelion Den! Guards. Take him away, and shave him, so that all may see and know his shame!”
“No, no, no!” Gogindy howled. “Anything but that. Kill me first, please!”
Monday's eyes flashed with anger. He drew his sword and stood in front of Gogindy protectively. “Oh, great king Dandywheel, if I were you I wouldn’t be so hasty. Gogindy has spoken truth. He has saved not only us, but, perhaps in saving us, he has saved your small den.”
"He's right!" Andrew shouted, drawing his sword. "Leave him be."
King Dandywheel stared at the brilliant light gleaming from Andrew's sword, terrified by the light he saw---in the light of it he saw the truth, and in an instant he knew who Andrew was, and who he was to be. He could feel the light of his own angry heart gleam from its blade emanating outward.
Dumbfounded, King Dandywheel stood for a long moment, one moment in terror, the other in anger, then in embarrassment.
Andrew bowed grandly to King Dandywheel. “Your great highness, if it pleases you, let us fix the damage we have done to your dandelion, for no power of darkness is able to bring life back into that which it has withered. And we are not of darkness, but of light. Light can restore life, no matter how small. If we do this, you must give back my friend's staff, which your people stole from us, and promise us safe passage through your land. If you dare hinder us further, I and my companions will have no choice but to fight.”
King Dandywheel stood there several moments more, still looking confused. Then he finally nodded. “So be it! Let us see if you can heal the hurt you have caused.”
Andrew turned way from his friends, ignoring the look on Rhapsody's face, and followed a huge procession of curiously frightened Twiskers up to the huge, blackened stump of the dandelion he had curled and withered. Yellow smoke rose up from its center, like a smoldering pile of dung that swirled high into the sky.
The great crowd of Twiskers gawked at Andrew as he approached the stem, nervously snickering. They knew there was no way Andrew could restore life back into the huge pile of ash now before them.
Andrew paused before the dead dandelion, unsure. His heart beat faster and his hands trembled. He didn’t know if he could bring the massive dandelion back to its original state. He’d never done something like this before. What would happen? In the ashes he saw no hint of life.
“Hah,” The Twiskers laughed, noting Andrew’s uneasiness. “It is afraid! He cannot do it. He is an imposter!”
"Silence!" King Dandywheel shouted, glaring at the crowd of Twiskers. "What he has promised, he will do."
"But what if he doesn't?" One of the Twiskers asked.
"If he doesn't..." King Dandywheel said, "then they will all be fed to the Dandelions of the deep!"
The great crowd of Twiskers murmured in agreement, glaring at Andrew as if he was a horrible being.
Andrew clenched his fists as he stared at the crowd of hateful Twiskers. Their shouts were deafening. He could feel his concentration and confidence dwindle. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps Rhapsody was right. Maybe he shouldn't have said he would do this. He didn't know if he could.
“Don't listen to them, Andrew,” Ivory whispered, placing her hand on his shoulder. “I know you can do it.”
Andrew smiled and nodded. Then taking courage, he dug his hands into the pile of warm ash until his fingers reached deep inside its center where he could sense the ebbing life force of the roots. He closed his eyes, concentrating with all his might, and willed the dead plant back to life. He cried out as heat and energy shot from his fingertips, in both directions, down into the ground, and up into the sky in twisting veins of silvery green, slowly growing up and outwards until the dead dandelion slowly revived, like a wilted flower given water, unfolding tuft, by tuft, leaf by leaf, into its former glory. As soon as the deed was done, Andrew staggered back from the dandelion, and fell, utterly exhausted.
A hush fell over the Twiskers as they gathered around Andrew in fear and awe. Andrew gradually became aware of a strange tickling on his face. He opened his eyes, fully surrounded by whiskers, and Twiskers, their big Twisker eyes blinking back at him.
“The elf lives!” they all shouted, excitedly. “He has brought forth life out of the ashes like he said he would!”
The Twiskers placed Andrew on a leaf-covered litter and carried him along, singing joyfully as they went, while Andrew's friends followed at a safe distance behind him.
King Dandywheel's countenance was radiant. All the fear, and trepidation he felt had vanished. He graciously led the group back to his dandelion, where the rejoicing Twiskers insisted on feeding them a rich meal of Spoegrum fruit, berries, and bitter dandelion leaf salad.
After Andrew had eaten the reviving Spoegrum fruit, all the tiredness that he felt after giving life to the dead plant was gone. He sat in the chair of honor, gazing on in fascination as the energized Twiskers moved, sang, and danced before him, darting around so quickly that he couldn’t tell what was going on.
“The blessing of the elves has visited this small den, again,” King Dandywheel said, raising his arms to quiet the Twiskers. “Our ancestors recorded the history of this place and told us that in the beginning, our beloved dandelions were no bigger than small flowers. But after the elves came here, and after they sang and danced among the small dandelions, the dandelions grew to what we now call our homes. And we were also blessed with the strange fruit that grows here, blessed fruit that gives us long life and energy. Long has it been said that some day we would give a great gift to the elves, in payment for their kindness.”
“Yes,” the Twiskers murmured in agreement.
“Hear me when I say, I have learned a great truth, I have had a vision, with my eyes wide open,” King Dandywheel cried above their cheers, "I now know that these strangers are not here by chance. But by fate. Theirs is a mission so great in magnitude that we small Twiskers cannot comprehend it. I only know, that they were meant to come here, just as Gogindy was meant to find them. I hereby revoke my harsh words to Gogindy. He has saved us from ourselves, and our shame. He gave kindness to these strangers, when we did not. He is to be greatly commended.”
“Gogindy! Gogindy!” the Twiskers shouted in approval. “Hurray for Gogindy!”
Gogindy stood in front of the crowd of Twiskers, waving his hands and smiling, sopping up all the praise he could. Then King Dandywheel raised his arms, and quieted the crowd once more. He turned to Andrew and nodded. “I cannot afford to send any warriors with you. But from our land take, Gogindy, he is small, but who knows, maybe one Twisker's, whisker may be all you need in the end. Perhaps a single thread of hair may tip the balance, and bring steadiness to a world askew.
"I'm to come with them?" Gogindy gulped.
"Yes. Go. Gogindy. And bring honor to our Den! Today, let it be written that Gogindy the warrior has made his way out into the wide world, in defense of our Den. May he come back, clothed in Twiskerly nobility, bringing great respect and glory to his heritage and clan.”
The Twiskers all cheered. Gogindy was given a new sword, and all the smaller Twiskers braided the top part of his hair, and fluffed his three tails. The travelers’ things were returned to them, including Rhapsody’s staff. Then, in the dim light of evening, Gogindy led them back to his dandelion house, where he gathered a few of his belongings. Monday retrieved the horse he’d hidden a safe distance behind Gogindy’s house. The horse’s name was Follymane. It was a beautiful horse, entirely black, except for a small, white, half-moon mark on its rump.
“Let’s be going,” Gogindy said, locking the door to his home. He gave his dandelion home one last sorrowful look. “I'm going to miss this place.” He sniffed and wiped his eyes. “I don’t know if I can leave it.”
“You don’t have to come with us, if you don't want to.” Andrew said. “If you come with us, you may never come back.”
Gogindy ran his fingers through his quivering whiskers, and nodded. “T
hat’s, why I’m going. I want to return. If I do, I will be all the more courageous. I will prove to them, and to myself that I can finish something, and finish it well. No more half starts, half finished books, meals, and half finished journeys for me.”
“You are wiser than you look,” Rhapsody replied. “lead on, Gogindy, the brave. Take us from this den.”
“Yes,” Gogindy murmured, gently patting his dandelion home. “Goodbye old Dandelion Den.” He wiped a tear, then quietly led them out of the Dandelion Den, up through a secret passage, guarded by several Twiskers, then out through the vast forest of tall dandelions and up a steep mountain. When they reached the top, they could see the great dandelions spread out over the land beneath them, like glowing bubbles lit by moonshine.
Gogindy paused at the sight, and sighed sadly. Then he hefted his pack back onto his shoulders and led them down the other side of the hill until they found themselves on a rising mound of dirt, over which they could see the field of burnt flowers Andrew had touched.
Ivory let out a gasp when she saw the parched meadow. “What…happened?
“What do you think?” Talic said, giving Andrew a sideways glance.
Andrew turned away from Ivory’s horrified stare, and pursed his lips, thoughtfully.
“He did it for you, Ivory.” Freddie offered, placing a kind hand on her shoulder. “So he could find you.”
Ivory nodded. Her eyes filling with understanding. “Oh…”
Andrew felt a sudden feeling of guilt rush over him. He was embarrassed, and irritated that he felt so embarrassed. He couldn’t quite understand why, but he couldn’t stand the thought of Ivory thinking ill of him. He reached down to touch a few of the dead flowers, to revive them, but Rhapsody put out his hand to stop him. “No! You’ve already done too much for the day. No more. Let this field go. It's not worth the risk. The scent of your gifts reaches further than you know. They have a smell, a heavy odor.”
"Yeah," Andrew agreed, "and so does Talic's breath. And we're still alive."
"HA!" Freddie blurted, only to be quickly silenced, by a stern look from Rhapsody.
"You have to understand," he said, "the Barnacles could catch wind of you."
“But I can do it.”
“I know you can. Your skill is not in what is in question. You judgment, however, is."
Andrew’s face filled with anger. “It's just a field of flowers."
"Andrew," Ivory tried. "It's okay, you don't have to prove anything."
Andrew stepped away from Ivory. "Yes, Ivory, I do."
"Andrew..." Rhapsody cautioned him, a loud voice. "Listen to me!" His voice caused the ground to rumble and the wind to moan and toss up the dead ashes.
Andrew was taken back by Rhapsody’s outburst. He went instantly silent, feeling resentment flow over him. Who was Rhapsody to tell him what to do, or what not to do? So what if his gifts had a smell? Rhapsody had seemed eager for him to demonstrate his gifts in the Den. But now was a different story.
"Fine!" he shouted. "I won't do it." He trudged angrily on ahead, over to their horses they had left grazing on the other side of the meadow. Once there, they made up camp, and Andrew sat by the fire staring at the dead field, feeling angrier and angrier.
“Andrew,” Rhapsody murmured, noting Andrew’s dark expression. “Do not be so angry. You must understand that I wouldn’t ask you to do something without a reason. From now on, you must promise me to come to me first before using your gifts.”
Andrew stared at Rhapsody with smoldering eyes. “Come to you? What? Do have any idea what it was like for me to live for months, afraid to touch anything living, for fear of killing it. Now that I know I can change things, and make them live, you say I cannot use that power. You just want to control me. Just like everybody else. ”
“No. Andrew, it’s not like that. You don't understand.”
“No, you don't understand. It’s the first time in my life that I’ve actually really, fully felt like I could use my gifts in the way they were meant for. Now you want me to stop? You might as well ask me to stop breathing.”
“I don’t want you to stop anything. I just want you to be careful.”
Andrew let out a sigh of disgust, and turned his back on Rhapsody.
"Just remember, Andrew," Rhapsody cautioned, "that there is a big difference between doing something because it makes you feel important, and actually doing good because it’s the right thing to do”
“And sometimes,” Andrew retorted, “you must do what you can, when you can, or you’ll never get another chance.” He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the look of anger on Rhapsody’s face. Andrew lay there for a long time, thinking, long after everyone else had fallen asleep. He hated the way he felt. He hated the anger he felt. He tried to tell himself that what he felt was not a big deal. That it was silly, juvenile. But the more he told himself that it didn't matter, the more it seemed to matter. He felt trapped by an invisible force. Ever since Orion had told him who he was, ever since he had touched the sword he felt like a fledgling bird wanting to test his freedom. He wanted to break away and fly high above the mountains where he could see what he had not seen before. After waking the dead dandelion, after watching it magically come back to life, Andrew could not shake the desire to try the same thing again. To bring back to life something that had been destroyed. Seeing the giant dandelion rise from the ashes, unfolding one leaf at a time was unlike anything he had seen or felt before. He longed to do it again. He could not shake the strong desire no matter how hard he tried.
He could not think of anything else. He could not sleep. It was like a wrinkle in his mind, like a thorn in his being that would not go away. The dead field of flowers called up to him. Their ashes spoke to him, like dead souls whose lives had been cut short too soon. Their voices haunted his mind, riddled him with guilt. He had been the cause of their demise. And to hold back the life he could give, was like watching someone drown, without reaching out to help save them.
Delirious from the turmoil inside him, he sat up, unable to ignore their voices. He slowly stood, and stared at his sleeping friends, feeling guilt, knowing that he could not keep his promise to Rhapsody. There was no way he could make any of them understand what he felt, or why he felt it. He crept away from them, out in the middle of the wasted field. He knelt down, glancing nervously over his shoulder, then ran his fingers through the ashes. He closed his eyes, feeling their life force call out to him from the dust. Goosebumps appeared on his arm. A tingle of pleasure pricked his skin. It was as if his gifts were a powerful, additive drug, and only by using them could he sooth the craving inside his soul that yearned for fulfillment and expansion, that yearned to give life where he had taken it.
He glanced behind him, then dug his fingers into the ground, like he himself was a tree. The instant fingers touched the earth, a great wind came up and tossed the ashes into the air, swirled around him. The ground whispered and laughed as thousands of wonderful green stems shot up from the ground, unfolding one after another into hundreds of purple flowers---the field coming back to life.
Andrew sat back, amid his handiwork, fully satisfied. The terrible craving itch inside his soul was gone. He could hear and feel the life of the flowers surging around him, like clouds, like wisps of spirits that had no one but he to speak for them. He felt light headed, tired, but very satisfied. He was fulfilling his calling even now. The life he had taken away was given back. The inner turmoil inside his soul had quieted. He stifled a yawn, finally feeling very sleepy.
“You really shouldn’t have done that,” Rhapsody said behind him. "I warned you but you just wouldn't listen."
Andrew turned and faced Rhapsody, looking tall, and stern, and every inch the elf he knew he was.
"You are proud, Andrew," Rhapsody said. "Too proud. Your gifts, your power and strength are addictive, like water to a fish, like wind to a sparrow. I know. But why did you not listen to me just this once?"
Rhapsody raised hi
s staff as if to strike Andrew with it, but Andrew ducked, and quickly drew his sword. The light from it flashed over the field of purple flowers, lighting in Rhapsody's eyes. He looked just, and fierce, like a judge ready to strike down his wrath upon the guilty.
Andrew instantly lowered the sword, struck by its power, by its light, and the truth gleaming in its blade. In it, he felt Rhapsody's own heart, and the truth of what Rhapsody had said cut Andrew far deeper than any spear could have. In an instant he knew that Rhapsody was right. He knew the truth. He knew that he had done something terrible. He knew the truth Rhapsody knew.
“Ah, it worked,” Rhapsody sighed, and looked up at the stars. "I knew it'd knock some sense into you. The truth always does. And it hurts too, doesn't it?" He closed his eyes and breathed in, catching an exceptionally foul smell drifting in the air. “They are near. Very near.”
“But you already know, don't you, Andrew.”
Andrew felt his throat tighten. He nodded. He felt terror shoot through his body. His mind felt fuzzy. The truth did hurt. And he knew he could not escape from it.
“The Barnacles,” Rhapsody murmured.
Andrew’s face drained of color. He let go of the sword, wanting to disconnect from the truth it had uncovered. He wanted to forget. But he knew what Rhapsody now knew.
"What can we do?" he asked, feeling himself tremble.
“Do?” Rhapsody growled. "Now he asks. What you could have done was not do what you already did!" He grabbed the hem of Andrew’s cloak, and tore off a section, wadding it up into his hands. “Nothing will fix this. Only blood can. Hurry, Andrew, hold out your hand.”
“Why?”
“Why, why? Must you always ask so many questions? Just do it!” .
Before Andrew could protest further, Rhapsody took Andrew’s arm, and sliced his skin with the sharp edge of a dagger. Blood immediately began oozing from the wound.
“Ouch,” Andrew cried, jumping back. "What are you doing?"
“I think you already know,” Rhapsody snapped, dabbing a piece of the torn cape onto Andrew’s bleeding arm. His blood sopped onto the cloth, sparkling with specks of light entwined and inseparable from Andrew's blood. “I need to get your scent on it---your blood. You know why, Andrew. You now know the truth. But it may be too late. They have already smelled you. I'm sure of it. The light of the moon mixes with the light of your gifts and carries the scent even further. Do you not see the gleaming mist on the dark horizon?"
Andrew narrowed his eyes, and watched as gleaming puffs of mist rose from the field of flowers, wafting up towards the moon, like flecks of shimmering moth dust. He had never seen the smell created from his gifts until now, but the sight of it struck him with both fear, and awe.
"Now you see," Rhapsody said. "If it only could have been sooner. Now, I must go, and quickly."
"Go?" Andrew wondered. "Where?"
"Away. For a time. I've got your scent. Perhaps this blood will be enough to draw them away from you to me."
"But what about you, won't you be in danger?"
"Everyone, every moment, everywhere, every new lie we believe, we are in danger."
"When will you come back? What do I tell the others?"
Rhapsody forced a smile. “Tell them...the truth, Andrew. Tell them I will be back soon."
"How will you know where to find us?"
"I'll know."
"But I don't know what to do. Where do we go from here?"
Rhapsody cast a distant look at the sky, then pointed to the north star. "Andrew, you know where to go. You always have. Help Monday find his identity, and maybe you will find yours. It seems you both don't know exactly who you really are."
"But..."
"Hush," Rhapsody ordered. "The Barnacles are near. They feed off elves, sucking the gifts from your body and soul. They must never find you. You must promise never to use your gifts so recklessly as you have this night!"
“Please,” Andrew pleaded, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Just don't go."
Rhapsody grasped hold of Andrew's shoulders, looking deeply into his eyes. "You know I must. Andrew, always follow the truth, and you will never be lost. Goodbye."
With those last words, he silently mounted his horse, and vanished into the misty night, with the steam of Andrew's gifts still hovering over the land.
Andrew stood there, alone and forsaken. The truth he had felt pricked him with guilt, and fear. The night seemed to vibrate with silence. It was eerie, as it was almost peaceful, as if some wise soul had died. The darkness was heavy with the silence of words he would never get to hear. The moon shown over their camp, illuminating the forms of his sleeping friends like they were lumpy rocks that rose and fell with their breathing. He gazed up into the sky, looking for the truth he sought. As he looked, he felt a sudden longing well up inside his chest, one he couldn’t quite understand. It made his heart feel sad, and his chest feel tight like he couldn’t breathe. It was as if he were looking at pictures of his family---looking to a place he longed to be apart of, of a home he had never known. They spoke to him of his celestial origin, reminding him that he was really a stranger on earth. It was almost as if he could hear something calling out to him with an urgent voice, but when he stopped to listen, all he could hear was his own breathing. He sighed and closed his eyes.
“Don’t feel so bad, Andrew,” Ivory said, placing a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “He will be back sooner than you think.”
Startled, Andrew turned to Ivory, and forced a smile, glad that he was no longer alone. "You really think so?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yes. I do."