They are still special to each other. Humanscall such a connection “married." If my father had it his way, hewould never don the attire and occupation of a man and walk theEarth again. He would remain home with his Ce’lah’ime and choose tospend eternity here.
“Be oh,” I say, beaming because now I knowwhy she’s behaving in such a manner. She’s going to spend specialtime with my father and will miss the celebration of The Tilt!
“Goodbye,” she whispers and there it isagain—the sorrow.
But she is gone before I can question herabout it.
I’m alone in The Forest of Naught. Otherthan Ce’lah’ime, the Enuians do not venture here, even to gatherthe ci’ke, ton’rek, and ci’cha. I decide to gather a few moreton’rek and then rush off to join Tryst in the Forest ofWhispers.
“Ad’ru.” I suddenly hear my fatherwhisper.
Caught off guard, I curiously call,“Father…”
“Ad’ru, come,” he says aloud this time. Isearch ahead, toward the high regions where the ci’cha grow. Thereshines a light to one of the doorways that is fashioned by myfather’s power.
At first my feet turn heavy. My intuitionforbids me to go. This visit is unexpected. Father has alreadycalled for Ce’lah’ime. What does he want with me?
“Ad’ru,” my father calls again.
Hearing his voice a second time makes mehurry forward to stand at the door. “Father…” I say cautiously.
I go stiff because something foreign gripsme. It’s as if a hand has reached inside of my chest, taken hold ofmy heart and is squeezing the life out of it. In my entireexistence I have not sensed such terror. Is my father in distress?He has human parts. He once returned from the Earth injured.However, he is able to heal himself.
“Run!” my instinct scream.
“Ad’ru, come now!” he demands.
The tone of his voice triggers movement inmy feet. Although I’m gripped by fear and dread, I charge throughthe doorway and am instantly swept up by a strange force. I can’tsee it, but I can feel its presence. It’s twisting my legs and mytorso; it’s bending my body forward and backward. It’s sounrelenting that it takes no mercy on me when hard particles ofsome sort slam into my face, back, chest, and legs. This ischaos!
Finally, I choose to struggle to regaincontrol of my limbs; but there’s no winning. All I can do is giveinto my aggressor’s will. I squeeze my eyes shut to endure theattack and wait for it all to stop.
A small number of seconds feel like forever,but finally the experience is over.
The noise. It’s like zenet’tuk’ra, a millionvoices. And what’s this sensation that’s smothering me? Where’s thewarmth? What’s squeezing the life out of me is bitter and prickly,scratching deep into my skin. I think - and I’m sure - that for thefirst time in my existence, I am cold.
By body is shivering. This is all too muchto bear. My eyes are still shut tightly because I’m too afraid toopen them and see what’s around me, but I must. Slowly I open oneeye and then the other. What I see causes a gasp to escape from mythroat.
Where is my sapphire sky that cuddles theperpetual sun that’s tilted dut west? I’m trapped beneath a domedsky that’s a swirl of white and gray. And are these human beingsgazing down upon me?
“Are you alright ma’am?” They shout.
“Is she breathing!”
“Her eyes are open!”
“Is she alone?”
“Anyone with her?”
Their bodies range in sizes from husky tonarrow and their skins are the hues of the earth, like my sisters’and mine. Their brown and blue eyes are ablaze. I sense their fearand concern in equal parts. Only now do I realized that I’mgagging, choked by this rank air.
“Somebody call 911!”
My eyes want to close. But I refuse to letthem. My throat doesn’t want to let this foul air into my body. Ihave to get home, back to Enu. It’s hazy but far off I see a whitestone temple with a steepled rooftop. All I have to do is liftmyself off the cold, hard ground and fly toward it. There I willwait until my father comes to save me. The edifices around me aretall and imposing. I try to reach toward them, intending to fly tothem, and will hold on until my father comes to save me. But then Ihesitate to consider the crowd’s collective gasp. Through the haze,I’m able to see that one-by-one the humans are gazing up at thenewly blackened sky. The atmosphere grows colder. I’m no longer theonly one who’s deathly afraid.
Now more than before, I have to get far awayfrom them. They’re only able to pay me scant attention as I gag andchoke while attempting to lift myself off the concrete; but I’m tooweak to move my heavy limbs. The tears well up in my eyes and athick lump forms in my throat. This debilitating feeling makes mewant to cry. Never in my life have I been so hindered.
“Cl’auta,” I whimper. If this is Earth, thenshe’s here. She has to come and save me.
To my relief, as my eyelids grow heavier, Isee beauty again. But it’s not Cl’auta. He’s delicate. Hiseyes are onyx and his lips are ruby and his white mane glistens inthe sudden nighttime.
“She’s with me,” he shouts, but not loudly.His voice glides over me like the tepid dew that lays over theMeadow of Showers.
I use all my unspent energy to reach up andgive him my hand. I’m waiting for him to latch on to it. When hefinally does, I quickly pull away from him. It’s my worst fearsrealized. He is a Selell. He’s going to kill me.
“Help,” I whimper, but it’s too late.
Chapter2
The Bond
I’m conscious, although my eyes are stillclosed. I’m lying down on a fluffy bed. Was I asleep? Had Ifainted? I’m not sure. I’ve never been unconscious or asleep, ever.And my head feels like it may soon explode and my life centercraves the lu’kek and pin’kek fruits.
I open my eyes slowly. I’m surrounded byfour walls and there’s a huge, colorful stained glass window to myleft. The dark night sits behind it
