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On the other side of the island, far from the ruins of the stone fountain, Keira was led by the old loon to an area she didn’t expect to find. Several large fires burned near the rocky cliffs and ledges that looked out onto this section of Moosehead Lake. The fog, ever present, was far enough away that it seemed more like a distant friend than a nuisance.
As at the place Keira and the others disembarked, granite boulders dotted the perimeter, some hidden in the fog, and others closer to the shoreline, jagged and slick. Even so, this place was warm and inviting; whether it was from the heat being given off by the fires, or the fact the lake below released a steam into the evening air.
“Charlie, what is that?” Keira pointed to the water below.
The loon looked up at the tall teenager. “Our winter watering hole.”
“Does it always steam?”
“It certainly doesn’t get cold my child. Come take a closer look.”
He waddled to the edge of one of many cliffs. Careful to not lean to far forward, Keira noticed the significant drop off to the rocks below.
She watched the steam continue to rise. A multitude of ducks and geese bathed in the fresh water.
“Is this your way of keeping the water fowl close?”
“It doesn’t deter them from coming that’s for sure.”
Keira smiled as she saw several mallards play in the warm spring.
“I’m glad you have company.” The princess was preparing to take a closer look at the nearby fires when the crystal clear water caught her eye. “It can’t be.”
Under the steam and the swimming of many birds, the water glowed.
“This is about that time.”
“For what?”
“The crystals. From now until an hour before dawn, they will light the water with the likes of a show your eyes have never seen.”
“The birds in the water they don’t mind?”
“They are birds why would they?” The Great Loon laughed. “Come on now, there’s more than just a little water.”
“I don’t get it though. How does this fall into your, um, webbed feet?”
“Fall is a good word child. We were given this as a neutral party in an old feud between neighbors.”
“Faeries?”
“Yes, you might be familiar with their work.”
Keira wanted to mention the garden and the salamanders but she knew the real reference. “Diana’s Baths.”
“The human name,” the bird squawked, “for the ongoing struggle between good and evil.”
“Sort of like my dad and Sohon I suppose.”
“Perhaps Princess. Still my fellow loon’s can call this home when they need it to be. We are an isolated bunch to begin with, but when December comes, more will arrive.”
Chirping filled the air, the farther away from the ledge the pair walked. Keira searched for the source when she noticed a nest made up mud, grass, moss, and pine needles fifteen feet from where she stood.
The nest was close enough to the fire for the necessary heat and to the ledge for a quick escape.
“May I?”
Charlie nodded to the teen. Keira crouched down and looked at the make shift nest. Two baby loons cried out.
“They are so cute. Are they yours, Charlie?”
“They’re not Birchard’s I can assure you. My mate is in the water as we speak.”
“I’m glad they weren’t all lost.”
“This pair is from after. Bilal didn’t leave any survivors.”
Turning away from the baby loons, Keira looked back at the Great Loon. “No survivors?”
“None. We had so many here, so many families all in one place. They had to act after a long, cold winter.”
Keira sniffled at the realization of what happened. “I still don’t understand why. None of you are in the war. They were children.”
“War impacts us all even the ones that don’t choose sides. Cold hearted killers don’t care as long as the message has been sent.”
“It’s not like you left the island, right?”
The Great Loon lifted his beak. “No child. But then again even if the war was on the other side of the world, violence can strike anywhere at any time. It doesn’t need a reason. You can see that for yourself as you’ve been dragged into events that until a few days ago had no bearing, no meaning on your daily living. The fence sitter is the first to be impacted and then if they are wise, a side they will choose.”
Keira let the words sink in as she cupped her hands and waited for one of the babies to leave the nest.
“They need to rest.”
She frowned, unable to hold the little birds.
“So this was the spot?”
“Closer to the trees. That’s where our brethren keep their nests, all of the birds that winter here. Even now you’ll find hatchlings and little chicks from our dear friends the ducks and the geese. As for loons, I was never one for trees.”
Resting her hands on her hips, Keira felt off. She was amazed at the beauty of this part of the island, but things didn’t feel right to her either. Even with the Great Loon’s tour, there was a sadness that lingered over this area. Whether it was Charlie’s nest or back at the tree line, there was an undertone, a reminder of what had happened months earlier.
“They’re coming,” Birchard squawked from the night sky. “They’re coming.”
“That answers my question,” Keira laughed.
“Set the teens up near the watering hole. I don’t want the boy anywhere near this spot even if he didn’t use the knife.”
“Very well,” Birchard answered. He tilted his wings and disappeared into the trees.
“Go join them child. We will speak again in the morning. Then I will take you to the gates.”
The Great Loon looked to the stars when Keira spoke, “Why the morning? Wouldn’t it be easier to be done with us now, well Riley at least?”
“I share your desire for haste, but I can only facilitate the using of the gates, when they are open.”
Charlie didn’t say another word. He flapped his wings and dove into the warm water below. Keira watched him nuzzle up next to another loon.
“His mate,” she said.
Part of her wished she could stay here with the birds but she relegated herself to spending the rest of the evening with Luza and Riley. Even though it was still early, she felt a tiredness growing over her body.
The area the Great Loon had directed Birchard to lead the other two was only a short walk away. Keira meandered past the fires and the view of the steam induced, light show worthy water. She was in no hurry, especially not now, knowing this island was as safe as any other location they had been.
Perhaps she should have stayed at Corky’s. At least there, she had more hope and faith that everything would be okay. Aside from the Tearel cabin on Manning Lake where she didn’t fully embrace everything happening around her, every set of eyes seemed to be enamored with where she went and what she had done.
Curses to Bilal, she spat on the ground, remembering his name. There was no justifiable reason for him to act in the manner he chose. Keira saw first-hand his destructive nature. Even though the bullets were gone from her body and the slash marks of his curved blade healed; she saw his work and hated him for what he done to her and to others.
Hate is a strong word, but there was nothing better to describe what Bilal had sought to bring onto others. There was only a thirst for blood and death. From Keira’s perspective, rightfully so, there was no place for that in this world. Those that yearned to live such a life were to be shunned and dealt with accordingly.
She hoped her father felt the same. His presence knowing he was still here on this planet kept her going. He was off to see Waliyah to get news of his loving wife and Keira’s mother, Roohi. For them, she fought onward. She continued with this plight that made her more irritable, scared, and aware that she had so few friends in this world.
Even now, as she heard the familiar voices of Luza and Riley, the teen felt more like an outcast than a friend. It reminded her of school, of the names she had been called, the bullying she faced; until she was temporarily released from that burden. Still, here it was years later. Bobby was a perfect example.
Contrary to Riley’s desire, Keira didn’t regret striking the ignorant teen from Barnstead. He got what was coming. Years of torment, some in person, and others when she was reminiscing, was enough for Keira to act. She didn’t regret what she did. Nor did she feel like it had to be justified.
She believed that she had set things right and perhaps saved others from Bobby’s hurtful comments and deeds. The teen half wondered had she stood up to him earlier, how life might have been different. These trying days could have been so much simpler.
Riley’s brown mop of hair told her as much. She never would have run into the boy for a second time because Bilal never would have seen or caught her with the Whistleberries. Poor Luza might have had time to recover and Lane would have taken them to Diana’s Baths to perform the ceremony.
Keira got lost in the what-ifs. One person, one word, one step, could change everything. Instead, she was here on Valo, waiting for the morning to come, to go through a gate that would whisk her to another side of the world. There was no telling what that future would bring.
Quietly, she arrived at her destination, a small apple grove, several turns and slopes away from the sanctuary the birds called home. She could hear the water crashing against the rocks below and wondered how warm it would be on this early November night. There were two wooden platforms placed between several trees. Blankets had been laid out and pillows as well. A small fire roared.
Now as she saw her traveling companions, she wondered where she stood with the two of them. The last few days had been a roller coaster of emotions, events, and trials. Keira felt awkward and alone despite the fact Riley and Keira looked up and smiled upon her arrival.
“I wondered when we would see you again,” Riley said. The light flickered off his doe colored eyes in an almost frightening manner.
Keira looked away from the boy. She couldn’t decide whether it was the fire or just the dim lighting, but she could see an anger resting underneath the surface of Riley’s face. She didn’t know if she was up for another battle of words or wills.
“I see you both sent out a search party.”
“We figured you would find your way. Birchard passed along you were getting the tour,” Luza motioned for Keira to join them.
“It’s okay. I’m tired. I think I’m going to lie down.”
Keira made it a point to not sit next to the fire. She noticed Luza’s backpack on the edge of one of the platforms. Wanting space, Keira sat down on the other one.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Luza asked. “I can get you something from my bag. There are apples too.”
Riley bit into a juicy Macintosh.
“No, I haven’t had much of an appetite since we left Corky’s,” she said softly. “It’s probably better if I just rest.”
She wondered if they would call her out on her anti-social behavior, but neither one did. Riley looked at Luza and shrugged.
“If you’re hungry let us know,” Luza said with an up-beat tone.
Keira yearned for the return to an awkward silence, but of course Luza had to engage her once again.
“Did you see anything worth noting?”
“I don’t know, did you?”
With her head resting on a rather comfortable pillow, Keira rolled onto her side.
Luza whispered to Riley, “Does she know?”
“I don’t think so,” he put his hands up, in a helpless gesture. Then he placed a finger over his lips.
“No we just got caught up in those fire plants. Riley also wanted to show me where —”
“I don’t really care what you two love birds are or were doing. Can I just get some sleep?”
“We’re not love birds!” Luza said.
“Yeah what’s up with that?” Riley tossed his half-eaten apple into the woods.
“You two could have fooled me. Don’t worry though I’ll look the other way. I don’t want you two to feel like there’s a third wheel.”
“I’m going to go over there and slap her,” Luza mouthed to Riley.
“You know I can hear you right?”
“Darn you Princess. Can’t you just be nice?”
Clutching onto her pillow, Keira sat up and glared at the two teens. “Leave me alone and I will be nice. Clearly we have some friction going on between all three of us, and I want a break from it.”
“You don’t want to talk about it? We can just put it out there and get this over with.” Riley stammered.
“No I don’t, especially not to you. How many times have we already gone over it?”
“She’s got a point there,” Luza commented.
“Shut up for a second.”
“Don’t tell me to shut up,” Luza jabbed Riley in the ribs.
He pushed her fingers away.
“Both of you, can we just leave it? We can agree to disagree.”
“No I don’t think that’s good enough,” Riley stood up from his seat near the fire. “I want you to work with us and trust us. Tell me one way or another that we can trust you.”
Luza reached for Riley’s hand wanting to bring him back to his seat. He batted it away, waiting for an answer from Keira.
“Unless you want me to totally beat the crap out of you, I strongly suggest you sit down.” Keira felt herself losing control.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Riley egged the teen on. He nodded to her and patted his chest with his right hand.
“You’re not going to bully me Bucky.”
“I want an answer Keira.”
Done with the banter and with the deer-shifting teen, Keira transformed. Gone was her curly black hair and her thin frame, replaced with whiskers, paws, and a two-foot-long tail.
Her long teeth were front and center for Riley and Luza to see.
She didn’t move from the platform.
“See, she’s proving my point,” he said to Luza. “I can do that too Princess.”
“Go ahead deer boy. We’ll see how well you can handle these.”
Keira flexed her front paws, revealing the razor sharp nails that would easily ruin Riley’s day.
“Stand down Riley. It’s not worth it,” Luza pleaded. “Please. Save it for another day.”
He nodded to the former Arctic fox and then walked away from the fire and the apple grove. Keira didn’t care. She simply closed her eyes and decided to sleep in her current form.
Luza laid back on her blanket and pillow. She didn’t know how to respond. For several minutes she laid there in silence. The teen from the Northern Wood peered up in the sky and couldn’t fathom how her quest, her mission, had led her to this spot and these moments. It was far different than she had pictured.
Now as she saw the mountain lion stretched out on the platform meters away, she wondered if it was worth the effort. Was this what the Great Mother wanted? Did she really want these divisions? Was this part of the plan? What did it mean for not only Keira and herself, but for everyone?
No one ever said she had to stay with Keira after the ceremony was complete. She searched her conversations with Waliyah and not once was that piece of information shared. So it was, on that night as Riley roamed the island, looking for answers; Luza simply spoke up and asked, “Keira are you better off alone?”
There was silence, save the sounds of the smoldering fire.
“Keira?” Luza asked for a second time.
The mountain lion didn’t stir from her slumber. She might have responded to the teen had she not drifted into a very deep sleep.
It had been a long day and Luza felt herself waning. She closed her eyes shortly thereafter, knowing that things wouldn’t get any easier in the days ahead.