Reflection Read online

  “Thank you,” is all I can say.

  “Feeling better?” he asks.

  “A little,” I reply. “I guess you could sense I was upset?”

  “Yes,” he sighs.

  “What’s a family without a little drama now and then?” I muse, as I nestle deeper into Takoda’s arms.

  “Actually, you haven’t met my family yet.”

  21

  AN ATTACK

  I CAN’T face anyone right now, so I decide to take a walk. Takoda left to help his father. I was on my own. I can’t stand being in the same room with Dad right now. My head and heart ache for my mother, my real mother, Rachael. I miss her so much and need her advice more than ever. I walk down the well-beaten path into the dark and damp forest.

  The air’s crisp, but not cold enough to deter me. The ferns now tower over my head. When I was last here, I could see the landscape. Now, I cannot see past the dirt path. It’s a little unnerving, but I’m not stopping. I survived the ancient city, fireballs and creepy animals, so I can survive this hike behind my cabin.

  I see the wooden stairs just a few feet ahead. I climb to the top and find the place where I was first amazed at our valley and lake. It’s all as I remember, but the colors are not as vibrant today. I round the small cliff and below me is the vast valley with huge trees whose branches spread out for miles. Our blue and white moon, the one my sister’s named after, is just above the horizon. My namesake, Journey, is nowhere in sight. I sit back against the cliff.

  Not only have I fallen in love, I was drugged, spent the afternoon with my great grandmother, who should be dead, and found out that my mother is not my mother. Feeling sorry for myself, I wonder What else could go wrong?

  The sun’s going to set soon and since I forgot a flashlight, it’s probably not a good idea to be up here after dark. I stand, brush off my jeans and head back home. But something’s hovering near the horizon. It’s a long way away, but it still looks huge from where I’m standing. It’s weird to see a craft just floating because, back home, only helicopters hover. I strain to hear anything, but all’s quiet; no insects, no animals, no wind. It’s too quiet, and my inner alarm sounds. I need to get home and fast.

  A bright light explodes along the horizon. I duck. I’m frightened, no sound, no noise, no wind. The bright light lasts only a few seconds. The shock wave speeds toward me. I panic.

  Only caring about my life, I dive away from the path and into the brushy cover, smashing my ankles on the rocky surface. Above me, everything explodes at once. The air’s pulled from my lungs as dirt, plants, rocks, and small trees are ripped from the ground and pulled up into the sky. Half running, half limping, I dash for the cabin. Just before I reach the lake, I hear my father’s yell.

  “I’m here!” I scream.

  Heavy footsteps head my way and I’m relieved to see my father, Abeytu and Makayah running toward me.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, to anyone who would answer.

  “We are not sure,” Abeytu replies.

  “Takoda! I need to get to Takoda,” I plead.

  Abeytu stares into my eyes. “You’ll know if anything happens to him. Seek inside yourself to know he is safe.” He is right. Deep inside, I know Takoda is fine.

  Takoda, his father and his little sister are on our porch waiting for us to return. Takoda runs to us as soon as he sees us by the lake.

  “She is fine, Takoda,” Abeytu says as we continue to the cabin. “I’m sure she just sprained her ankle.”

  “Do we know what happened?” my father asks Takoda.

  “Father heard from the Council. It was confirmed, a particle beam attack,” Takoda explains, with a frown.

  “Why didn’t the mirrors stop it?” Dad asks.

  Before anyone can reply I add to the conversation, “It wasn’t a beam!”

  “What do you mean?” Takoda asks.

  But my father interrupts him and addresses me. “There’s no way you could know what we’re talking about Journey.”

  “But I saw it!” I yell.

  “What did you see, Journey,” Takoda asks, with understanding showing in his eyes.

  “There was a huge craft on the horizon. It had to be big because it looked big from where I was standing. Then there was a flash of light. It lit up the whole sky and a few seconds later the shock wave came. I thought it was an atomic bomb, but there wasn’t a mushroom cloud, but I did not see a beam of light.”

  “My God, the transport!” my father yells. “Takoda, quickly.”

  Takoda must have understood. He runs to his father and after a few words his father darts into the cabin.

  “Transport?” I ask.

  “Abeytu, explain. I’ve got to hurry,” my father says.

  “We have a monthly transport that is arriving about now. You can see it from the mountain tops,” Abeytu explains.

  “Transport? Transport from where?” I ask, believing I already know.

  “Earth and Ymir.”

  Well, I know half the answer anyway. “Ymir?”

  “It is a planet from the Eridanus galaxy.”

  “It wasn’t a beam attack,” Takoda confirms as we enter the cabin.

  Abeytu places me on the couch and examines my ankles. Takoda kneels at my side.

  His little sister peeks around him then ducks back.

  “Who is this beautiful little angel?” I ask, with a wink.

  “Freya, come meet Journey,” he says, not taking his eyes off mine. But his face lights up with pride as he says her name.

  “Hello,” a soft voice sings out from behind Takoda.

  “I don’t bite,” I say.

  She’s about four feet tall and her wavy reddish-brown hair almost touches the floor. As with Abeytu, her hair reminds me of corn silk. Her eyes are large and almond shaped. Her skin’s the same as her brother’s, a bluish-green with a slight pattern, rosy cheeks and pink full lips. She reminds me of a China doll that would break if dropped. She’s the most precious little thing I ever laid eyes on. Even Makayah can’t stop staring at her.

  “What a beautiful name, Freya. But it fits because you are a little angel. I have an angel too, her name is Makayah.”

  Makayah stands behind the couch smiling at the little girl. “Hi,” Makayah says so meekly it was hard to hear her.

  “Wow, I’ve never seen you two so quiet before,” Takoda laughs.

  Freya smiles and tilts her head to one side. Her large eyes are staring intensely into mine.

  “You hurt your ankles,” she says. She reaches out and touches each one. Instantly, the pain’s gone. It’s the same as when the Nomadda touched me. I study the little girl and realize everyone is connected in some manner. They are all one people.

  “Thank you,” I say, sitting up.

  “All better?” Takoda’s father asks.

  “Dad, this is Journey…Journey, this is my father, Fretoda,” he says.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you, sir,” I say.

  Fretoda takes my hands and smiles. He’s the spitting image of Takoda, a little older, but very handsome. I instantly like him. His braided hair is long like Takoda’s, and he also wears the drapings. But his are a little different with more feathers and less beading. He wears many more leather strips, and they’re more colorful.

  “No, my lady, it is my pleasure. I’ve heard many great things about you. Welcome to our world and to our family.”

  I smile at his father, “Thank you.”

  “We’ll talk later,” I whisper to Takoda as his father continues to hold my hands and smile. All this attention is starting to feel a little awkward. I glare at Takoda who quickly grabs my cue and takes his father aside.

  I sit back on the couch and try to hear what the men are talking about.

  “I just received a call from the Council. We have a meeting tomorrow morning, first thing,” my father’s saying to Abeytu and Takoda’s father. “Thank goodness there’s no major damage or causalities.”

  “The new magnetic field see
ms to be working for the transport,” Fretoda adds.

  “The attack did no damage to the transporter. When it hit, the wave scattered in all directions. That is what Journey experienced from the cliffs. What was she doing up there anyway?” Abeytu asks, turning to look at me.

  Not wanting them to know I’m snooping, I glance away. Takoda’s entertaining Makayah and Freya, so I give up and join the men in their discussion.

  “We were attacked?” I ask, interjecting myself into their conversation. “Was it the Tarkadians or the Draconians?”

  “How do you know about the Draconians?” Abeytu asks. It’s obvious by his tone I’m not supposed to know about this particular race of warriors.

  “What difference does it make? I know, okay?” Now that I know I’m related to him, he’s no longer a threat to me. “Do we know where this attack came from?”

  “No,” Fretoda states. “Unfortunately, we do not.”

  “Could the Draconians have found us?” My internal warning is signaling me.

  “We have not seen or heard from the Draconians for many generations,” Abeytu adds. “We do not know if they still exist.”

  I take a deep breath. “They destroyed your world, I understand how painful that was, but they could very well still be alive. They could have found us by now.”

  Abeytu studies me before he says, “If it had been a Draconian attack we would not be having this conversation.”

  Abeytu’s seriousness frightens me. What he’s trying to say is the Draconians would have destroyed this world if they knew we were alive. There would be no warning, it would just happen.

  “Why do they hate us so much?”

  “That goes back further than our recorded history,” Fretoda replies. “Unfortunately, all we have are the stories. No real information.”

  Takoda’s standing next to me with his hands on my shoulders. He’s warning me not to say too much. I take his advice. “You have two worlds and two moons. You’re friends with Earth, and that other place, Ymir. And you claim to have no written record of the race that destroyed your home world? That’s very hard to believe.”

  “It’s the truth,” Abeytu states. “We believe there’s a hall of records somewhere, or used to be. We know the ancients kept very accurate accounts. But they were all lost or destroyed during the Tarkadian war.”

  “This is our home world now,” my father adds. “Traveler and Journey are our worlds.”

  “What was the original home world called? The planet the Draconians destroyed?” I ask.

  No one answers right away, they all just stare. But Abeytu finally sighs and says. “We do not speak her name. The pain is too deep.”

  “How can you have pain for something you never had? None of you were even born yet.” I glance at my father. “Now, please, the name?”

  “Qapadhue,” Abeytu whispers. “Our home world was called Qapadhue.”

  22

  INTRODUCTIONS

  EVERYTHING I’VE been through over the last several weeks has made school seem trivial. What is important is changing the world I’m living in—and taking care of Takoda.

  The train ride this morning feels longer than before. Perhaps it’s because I don’t feel like being here. Takoda keeps asking what’s wrong, but I just smile and say nothing. I’m sure he feels my uncertainty, and he’s worried, as usual.

  Everyone seems happy to be at school and eager to share their experiences. Takoda and I have discussed what we will share and what we will not. We will not share the Kupatanna thing or the meetings with the Nomaddas. The 3-D guy is also out of the equation and so is my lineage. Our final report is boring. We discuss the ancient city and how beautiful it must have been. Our report covers the thermo-electric power and the plumbing.

  I’m lost in my thoughts when three girls approach and block our way to the main building. Takoda tenses when he sees them.

  “Anneeta,” he says, without feeling or emotion. His grip on my hand tightens.

  The glare on her face tells the whole story. Obviously, she’s not gotten over her desire to be with Takoda.

  “You two are becoming quite the couple,” she alleges, as she stands in our way.

  “You are again blocking our path,” Takoda states, glaring at her. “Please excuse us.”

  “Not so fast!” she scowls. “I demand to know what is going on between you two. Have you committed to nubere alicui? I need to know.” Takoda ignores her.

  “You are making a big mistake…both of you!” Anneeta’s face is darkening.

  “Please excuse us,” Takoda repeats, but his words only add to her fury and the situation intensifies.

  Several things happen at once. First, Anneeta’s books hit me on the side of the head, knocking me off balance. The next thing I remember is the expression on Takoda’s face. It’s a combination of fear and hate. The two girls standing behind Anneeta jump onto Takoda together and bring him crashing down on his back. They are slapping, hitting and biting him.

  Anneeta starts for me, but after everything I’ve been through, my reflexes are too quick for her. I’m not sure what made me do it, but I jump as high as I can and kick. My feet make direct contact with her chest and stomach, and she hurls back as I fall to the ground. I’m up within seconds. I turn my attention to the two girls attacking Takoda. I grab a handful of hair from both girls. With all my strength, I pull. They’re caught off guard and lose their balance, which is to my advantage. Their heads crash together and they fall to the ground, out cold.

  Anneeta is back on her feet. I grab my bag and sling it at her head. It clips the side of her face and she falls over. Before she can react, I’m on top of her, pinning her to the ground. My hands hold her arms above her head and my weight has her trapped. She’s at my mercy and she knows it.

  I bend over and lick the side of her cheek. “I could rip your face off if I wanted to,” I whisper into her ear so no one else can hear. “You come anywhere near my man or me again, and the next time I will not be so kind.”

  Two strong hands pull me off Anneeta. I don’t fight, I know it’s Takoda. He’s using his sleeve to wipe the blood from my face where a book cut a gash several inches long and about a half inch deep. I never felt it, I was too angry.

  The girls are still out. I must have knocked them together harder than I thought. My muscles must have strengthened more than I realized, and I refused to be bullied anymore.

  Others come to help. They hand us our packs. Strange as it may seem, no one is trying to help Anneeta or her two friends. She just stays on the ground too afraid to move, and she never once takes her eyes off me. Men in uniform finally show up. Several of the other students explain to them we were attacked for no reason. Takoda gives me a kiss on the cheek and hugs me with one arm, apparently to show off in front of Anneeta.

  He stares at her and speaks softly but firmly. “Anneeta, I wish never to have any words with you again.” He gives her a look. “And I spit on the ancient writings. They mean nothing. In my eyes, you are dead.”

  With those last words, Anneeta cries. She starts to say something but his voice is louder.

  “We are not and never will be friends. To union with a person such as you would be a curse from the Most Holy.” Takoda spits on the ground next to her feet. “You are death walking and I curse you.”

  “Well, now that our first day back has been established, let’s go to class,” he says, taking my hand.

  We walk together with our heads high. I wonder how much more damage my body can take.

  We stop by the medical center so they can tend to the cut on my face. They use something like superglue to hold my cut together. They spray something into my nose and I’m told it’s to prevent infection. Takoda has a few bites and bruises, and he’s given the same nose spray. We’re released with a note explaining if we feel worse by evening we’re to go to our own medical centers.

  “Funny,” I snicker. “We were banged up worse than this during our trials, and we survived. It’s strange we can�
��t seem to make it through a simple day of classes without trouble visiting us.”

  Takoda sighs. “Well, since we were not attacked by Anneeta at the ruins, the chance of acquiring a nasty germ was a lot less.”

  “It’s sad,” I add. “She must really care for you.”

  “She has a nasty way of showing it,” he muses, as we head for our class.

  The remainder of the day is less eventful, which is fine with me. Takoda meets me just before Ancient History and walks me to class. I’m never left alone after that. If Takoda’s not escorting me, one of his friends is. It’s almost embarrassing, but also nice to know I will not accidentally walk into an ambush. Professor Graysonian is all smiles at the front of the class. “Okay then. I cannot wait to read your reports. Tell me, how was it?” He claps his hands together, and I jump in my seat. “Ah, Journey and Takoda,” he says, eagerly heading to our table. “Ruins of the Wicked Lady wasn’t it? I heard you were detained, and didn’t return on schedule. So tell me, what terrible things happened to you?”

  “It wasn’t too bad, Professor,” Takoda explains, speaking for us both. “The ruins are beautiful.”

  “Yeah, huge,” I add, just knowing I’m turning red.

  “Journey slipped by a pool of water and almost broke her hip,” he says, which makes the class laugh. Now I know I’m red.

  “Really? She looks fine to me,” he states. “Any Nomaddas?”

  “Nope,” I answer. “It was pretty quiet there, actually.”

  “I see, well then,” he says, looking disappointed. “What did you learn about yourselves?”

  It’s my turn now. I want to tackle this question. “Well, sir, I can only speak for myself, but I learned our destiny is out there—pre-planned. It’s not how you approach your future, but what you know about your future that’s important. We need to know where we come from to determine who we are going to be.”

  Everyone’s staring at me. I didn’t mean to ramble, it just came out.

  “Finding out who I am defines who I will become. To me it’s important,” I add finishing off my speech of self-realization.