Same Planet but Different Worlds

Chapter 4 The Climb

Kaya's POV

We leave the safe boundaries of our little community as we stroll through the rocks and forestry of the extended surrounding area. The kicking of dirt and grass is normal as the trek bears on, just trying our best not to trip with each step that is gripping to something on the ground. We live in a type of cave that has its own natural lighting that seeps in through many cracks and openings overhead, which reflects off of the clear water that also flows from above, then down and through the entirety of the area.

Even living in a caved and covered area, it doesn't protect us from all the elements as you would suspect. We get to see all the elements of weather, just not at full force because we have some covering, but it doesn't cover everything, just most. Which I'm sure everyone appreciates because we get a taste of the weather without getting the full destroying force that we have heard about, especially when it comes to the water we have flowing around and partially through the compound.

This same pure water ends up being such a great resource to build with for our entire compound and is probably the main reason the elders chose this place to build their lives here. I never knew how much it was needed for everything and everyone, until I was old enough to start my botany training, which started every sunrise by going by myself to the pond at the bottom of the waterfall. I would start by grabbing pails of water to give everything that needed it. Which ended up being literally everything. This ended up being the start of something within me that made me love plants and helping take care of everything around. It was the spark and motivation I needed to put all of my concentration into learning what I needed to just to succeed.

My eyes glance to everything around, from the plants that seem to drape off every last inch that has some type of moisture on it, even to the rocks in the water are covered with moss. Everything is thriving in it's own way and it's beautiful. This really was the perfect place for us to have our colony. We have been successful in continuing to thrive because of the guidance and ideas that we were given to start things off with, but also because of the environment, it's a great and coveted place that should be cherished by all.

I look around the surrounding environment, hearing the sounds of the splashing water getting louder the closer we get to the waterfall itself. Which is making me even more nervous than I usually am and I can't seem to figure out why. It's as if my body is warning me not to go, when I really have no reason not to go. I love going to the surface and I won't miss a chance to go if I can help it.

"Are you ok? Just nervous about the climb? Do you not want to do this?" Tallulah asks me as I looked back, just making sure no one has followed us this far, well besides Crew. "No.. um.. not at all.. I could never be nervous about climbing.. you know how much I love going to the surface and I won't miss it, unless I have to." I declare, trying to make myself sound confident about my decision to keep going, even though I am feeling incredibly nevous, which is probably with the help of my mother being nervous, like usual.

"Well then what is the reason for this look? I can tell that you are nervous, it's plastered all over your face, like the masks we have made to blend into the greenery.. So don't lie to me.. I can tell that you think you're hiding it.. or maybe.. you're thinking about turning back.. This is a different act from you, then during the rest of the climbs.. so tell me why." she demands of me as I let out a deep breath, not wanting to talk about the fact that I am getting a bad feeling within me about going up to the surface, because she will want answers as to why and the only reason I can come up with is because of what my mother has said, has got my mind running full speed and my body trying to keep up.

"Yes well, I am a little nervous.. I.. um.. I mostly.. am getting worried about my mother because she worries herself too much for me.. it seems to be an endless cycle that I assume will never come to an end.. that's all." I state leisurely trying to put a playful tone on it in hopes she will be satisfied with that. But she tilts her head as she continues to read my features as if they are the markings on our parchment. "Mostly?" she pulls that one word from my explanation, which was the one part I never wanted her to focus on.

Time to reinforce the leisure part of me faking my comfortability of this situation. "Yes.. mostly.. But no matter how much my mother's worries seem to be on my mind, it won't change my mind from the strong want to go.. because I do want to go.. I have to go and most of all you know I love to go above the surface. So stop worrying about what we cannot see.. My mind is always running rampant so why it is now, matters not.. So let's just go.. our friends should be waiting on us and I don't want them to have to wait longer than they have to this point." I declare with a stern tone at the end, letting her know I don't want her to pursue this any further.. to just let it drop and forget about it if possible.

I watch as she nods and turns to keep walking behind Orson, he slowed down for her to catch up or maybe it was to hear what we were talking about, but I won't ever know the real reason, even if I wanted to.. But I don't.. I'm sure it is just worry for his beloved and that's it.. nothing to do with me whatsoever. He has had no further reasoning in the past to deal with me at all, so I won't assume any for now. We have only been friends by association with Tallulah.

Orson likes her and she is my best friend, so we have made a small bond between us but nothing more. He is a good person, we are just complete opposites in what we like or how we feel, it's hard to converse with one another, let alone find something that we can both agree on.. and that's ok.. I wouldn't expect anything more from him.. and as long as he takes care of my friend, that's all that will matter to me when it comes to him.

I glance in front of me as I watched Orson balance on the large rocks that are protruding from the thinnest part of the deep river. We use these as our safe stepping stones to get across the water and to the other side without getting soaked. It's either that or treading across and I don't feel like jumping in, let alone getting wet at the moment. I watched as he reached out and takes Tallulah's hand into his without hesitation, helping her across the creek as she hopped across the rocks, one at a time.

I stay on her heels, hopping and balancing while lightly putting my feet on the tops of the intricately placed rocks that are throughout the water to not only help us pass by, but to also not stop the water flow, which is taking the water down to pond by our compound. I glanced up to see her smiling over at him as he takes her hand and pulls it to his lips, kissing the back of it gently before letting it go and reaching out to take my hand. He doesn't even look at me. He just keeps his eyes on my friend as she seems to smile up at him as if she is in some sort of trance.

I don't plan on taking his hand. That is until I felt my foot slip across the smooth top of the rock, before swiping his hand into mine, startling the both of us with that action. This gets his attention for a moment, before he helps me across as well, especially since many have been known to slip on the moss that is created over each part of the rock that lies underwater or the parts that stay constantly wet by the splashing of the fast movement from the water.

"Thanks," I say to him as he nods but walks straight to Tallula's side. They are the perfect couple, they really are. So sweet and tender with one another while being each other's strength as well. Their affections nor eyes trail from one another and to a certain point it seems to be.. well, inspiring.. making me hope and pray to find someone who will treat me the same. But with men few and far between, that will most likely, be quite unlikely.

I can see our companions in the distance waving at us from the side of the waterfall. "Soya! Atlas!" I declare as I pick up the pace, passing the two accompanying me, with Crew right on my heels. "Hello friends." Atlas declares as I ask. "Were you both waiting long?" they shake their heads in response. "Not at all." that makes me feel better as I state. "Glad to hear it.. Let's go." before pointing at the waterfall blocking our way out of this place.

We walked around and then behind the thick water that is splashing all over, making a steamy-looking cover for our pathway. That if you weren't looking for it, I guarantee you wouldn't see it. I watch as Crew gets a drink before following behind us as we get to the slightly wet but large wall being hidden behind this waterfall. "Well let's get this started shall we?" They nod as I pat my lap, getting Crew to put his two front paws on my lap as he balances on the one.

I reached down, picking him up as I wrapped my straps around him until he was strapped to my chest. I got this idea when I saw the new mothers with their babies strapped to their chests. I just had to make something bigger to hold my dog, but I hate leaving him behind here, and he hates being left, so it all works out.. Just harder work to get up the cliff side for myself, but nothing I cannot handle. So not a big deal. I make it work for us.

My friends wait for me as I make sure he is secure to my chest with his legs around me and his head lying on my shoulder. I turn to them, nodding before taking a protruding rock from the wall of many into my hand as I wait for them to start this climb. I always make sure I am the last to start, since we know I will be one of the slowest ones, because of the extra weight I carry, but they don't mind and neither do I since I am good at keeping up with them.

They get started, as do I, taking each tip of a rock that is sticking out and into my hand, making sure my grip is secure before inching up with each move I make. This is a long and exhausting trip but nothing I can't handle since I have done this many times before. It takes us a very long time to get up this rock face, as we continue to take our time, taking breaks when needed and keeping going while we can. We have to listen to our bodies to make sure we are paying as much attention as we can to ensure all of our safety.

We start moving to the side, feeling the excessive amount of water splashing over my back as I take my time over the rocks to get out from under the waterfall, making sure we get out enough from the water to not have to hold onto the wet rocks for too long, or we might slip and fall down. Let's just say that if that happened we wouldn't survive the fall. So we, of course, have to be extra careful in this area, but as we make it out we see a small ledge that we can stop on for a moment to take a break. But it is only big enough to hold one person at a time. So we each take a moment on the ledge to catch our breath before we start the climb that is headed straight up once again.

This is the spot that always makes me feel better because I know the long trip that is right above me is almost done. Once I am standing on this small spot and able to let the rocks go to give my flexed muscles a moment of relief to feel better, I find myself instinctively petting Crew's head as I stare up. I watch as each of my friends get closer to the top, while I am taking an extra second to catch my breath before I grip the rocks once again. I start pulling myself up, not staying here too long no matter how much I might want to, or I will be too tired to get the rest of the way up. So staying too long could jeopardize the rest of the climb.