Worlds Apart

So Many Questions

Deirdre had been on her third tea fill chalice as she and Navina were still talking. Deirdre asking every question she could to make sense of her situation. So far what she’s gathered is that the shroud that came for her is one of many guardians of Suleria. Shrouds for the most part were harmless, but like any of the other guardians, they were very powerful and were forces to be reckoned with.

Deirdre was up and moving around the room now as Navina left the room to get food. She could see from everything in the room and the way it was set up, that Navina is a witch. The various sigils and runes illustrated on the walls. The crystals and stones spread out along different surfaces. All the way down to the altar so neatly put together in a wardrobe where clothes should be hanging. The tonic/tea made more sense now. “I still don’t understand why or what any of this has to do with me. How the f**k am I supposed to save a goddamn planet?” She asked aloud as she stumbled upon a shelf full of a collection of shells. Each one a different size, shape, and color. She found herself for a moment wishing she could go to the beach.

“It is very rare that the guardians come out of their dwellings.” Navina had just returned to the room with a tray full of nuts, fruits, and sweet breads. Deirdre hadn’t even noticed until Navina spoke. “But with planets’ energy source at stake, it makes sense that they get involved to some degree. As for why the shroud traveled so far for the solution is quite curious.” Navina sat the tray on the bed, motioning for Deirdre to come sit and eat. To which Deirdre obliged. She was famished considering she had been in a sleep coma for “six suns” as Navina had put it. She assumed she was sleep for six days.

“Then how do you even know for sure it’s me, then? How do you I’m not the problem?” Deirdre asked as she picked up what looked like a blueberry and began to eat. To her surprise it didn’t taste like a blueberry and the texture was different, she was famished though so she didn’t care to ask. “I seen you in a vision.” Navina answered as she took a few nuts for herself. Deirdre giving Navina her full and undivided attention. “It started with our planet being in the state that it is now. Vegetation dying, barren lands, dried waters, even the animals are suffering and then I seen you. Walking through a dead forest with life following behind you.”

Deirdre’s mind was still reeling, but with the help of the tea and the snacks, at least she could process all of this with food on her stomach. As much as she wanted to be in denial and play the “this is crazy” card, she couldn’t. Not when her cat has literally become a predator of the wild; he was a prime example of evidence. Speaking of, he was still roaming around outside somewhere. She had been worried when Navina opened the room’s window to let him out, as he wasn’t an outside cat, but her worry wavered after finding out that this was his routine while she was still sleeping. Too, he’s not exactly her average house cat anymore.

“How can Zuki talk?” Deirdre remembered when she had first woken up. A question that was momentarily lost to her with everything else going on in her mind. Navina smiled, “He is your intimate. On Suleria, once we pass a threshold with our companions we can communicate with them and them with us.”

“That’s definitely going to take some getting used to.” Deirdre said, more to herself than Navina. Deirdre quickly caught on to Navina’s explanation of a familiar. A concept that was intriguing to her, but never imagined that it’d actually happen. Navina giggled at Deirdre’s response. “But, you will get used to it.” She smiled. “The sun will be up soon. You should get some rest. We have quite a way to travel and we can talk more on the way.”

Deirdre nodded as Navina took the tray. Right on cue Zuki came climbing through the open window with a small, furry creature in his mouth and found his way under the tea table to eat. ‘That’s also going to take some getting used to.’ Deirdre thought to herself as she watched Zuki begin to tear into the tiny carcass, but then looking away before she had seen too much. “Where exactly are we going, Navina?” Deirdre asked as Navina made her way to the door. There was still so many questions and she didn’t know what to expect from all of this. She wasn’t even sure that even after “six days” why she would need anymore sleep than she’s already gotten.

“I’m taking you to your home, where we can figure out how you fit into all of this.” Navina smiled genuinely the same way she did when deirdre had woken up. “I’ll see you when the sun rises Deirdre. Sleep well.” Navina continued out of the room to let Deirdre rest.

Navina had a handful of questions of her own. She hadn’t even realized herself who Deirdre was until the shroud appeared in the room to lay her body on the bed. Navina had gotten the vision exactly twelve suns ago to date. That’s almost a week in earth’s time. She hadn’t understood the meaning of her vision until a few suns ago before Deirdre’s arrival; the plants around her own little piece of land had begun to dry and wither. Even with the rainy days that came and gone, life was less and becoming absent. The sun before Deirdre’s arrival, the remaining plants in her garden had died right before her eyes. Luckily, she had an ample amount of resources already on hand that would last her for some time. The planet, however, is still endangered, and there’s no telling how long it will take to get it back to its lively self.

Navina made her way to the kitchen to wash the tray. Deirdre’s healthy appetite relieved Navina. She did her best to take care of her while she was out, and hoped with everything in her that Deirdre would wake up. Granted, this wasn’t her first rodeo in caring for someone, but it never stopped her empathetic efforts.

Just as Navina turned from the sink to put away the tray, she stopped in her tracks. The shroud that had delivered Deirdre to her home was directly in front of her. It’s pitch black and silver fog dancing around in midair. She wasn’t afraid, but she was on high alert. The guardians didn’t have to abide by the laws of the people of Suleria. If it wanted to kill her, it would. “What do you want?” Navina asked it. Not sure if that was a question she wanted the answer to. Yet, she asked. The shroud then encircled her in its tornado of fog, swift smoke of black and silver going around and around her. She stood still, doing well not to panic or frantically react.

Then, just behind the wall of whipping smoke appeared the same pair of glowing eyes that greeted Deirdre. Navina held their stare, when a small shroud puff came floating towards her. Instinctively, she put her hand out, without a second thought or hint of hesitation; still holding the gaze of those eyes. The small, thin cloud settled itself in the palm of her hand, and just as soon as it did, the shroud had dissipated and was gone.

She looked down to see what had been placed in her hand.

“A key?” Navina asked out loud. “To what?” The shroud may not have answered her question directly, but she was sure in the hell going to find out what it wanted her to find. She knew whatever it was, she was willing to bet it had something to do with Deirdre.