Journey to Rainbow Island

by Christie Hsiao

  Leonidas nodded, acknowledging that he was one of the animals that had played for Jacob when he was a lad. The tune he was playing was one that Jacob had forgotten, but which had reawakened memories of a long-ago, happier time.

  “You don’t need to bring anything,” Yu-ning called out reassuringly. “Just come with us. We have everything you need.”

  Jacob gripped the crossbow in his left hand, but his hold on it was different, less certain. It was like a foreign object rather than a familiar killing tool. He slowly walked away from the cabin.

  “You can trust us. You won’t need your weapon; Leonidas won’t hurt you,” Yu-ning called out reassuringly. The hunter looked uncertain as he walked toward them. He stared again in disbelief at the peaceful, flute-playing lion, but refused to lay down his crossbow.

  Cold beads of sweat formed on his forehead and rolled down his temples. He was ten feet away from them when Leonidas smiled and produced a handful of colorful, shining beans, seemingly from thin air. He held out the beans with his large, furry paw and offered them to Yu-ning.

  “Thank you, Leonidas,” Yu-ning said as she took a handful. She instantly felt the light and magic from the beans. Leonidas smiled as he walked toward Jacob, who immediately stepped back, holding the crossbow tight in his trembling hand.

  Leonidas called out, “Hello, my friend. I can play music for you anytime you like. Don’t worry; I won’t hurt you. Here, take some magical beans and allow them to grow in your heart. You will then know how to use them.”

  Leonidas set some beans on the ground in front of Jacob, who was sweating profusely. Yu-ning slowly approached him, placed her hand on his forearm, and gently reached for his crossbow. As the hunter stared at the beans, without realizing it he released his grip on the weapon.

  Yu-ning took it and placed it by a tree. “Don’t worry,” Yu-ning whispered, “Leonidas won’t hurt you.”

  The hunter nodded slightly and leaned down to pick up seven beans. He held the shining beans in his hand, amazed. Lights danced and vibrated in his palm. Jacob looked at Yu-ning, his eyes wide. “I had forgotten that lions could play music,” he said.

  Leonidas walked up to the hunter and said, “We only roar to protect ourselves. We never want to hurt you; please don’t hurt us anymore. We only want to share this place with you.”

  The hunter stood in silence, shocked by Leonidas’s warm gesture and greeting. The lion gazed into the hunter’s eyes. “You are safe now. Walk in the light. Only choose the light.” Leonidas ambled over to Yu-ning and rubbed her face with his.

  “He’s safe now,” he said to Yu-ning. “I will see you soon. I am off to visit my cousins!”

  Yu-ning threw her arms around Leonidas’s mane before he ambled off into the forest. “Goodbye, Leonidas!” Yu-ning said, waving after him.

  Jacob stood in disbelief, and Yu-ning gently took his hand. “Let’s go to the forest. Come, but not with that,” said Yu-ning, nodding toward the crossbow.

  “Let’s just bring this,” he said, stopping. He reached for the crossbow that Yu-ning had set by the tree. As he did, Yu-ning placed herself between him and the bow, and just shook her head from side to side. Then she reached out her hand, and he reluctantly took it again. Together they walked into the forest.

  “This way,” Yu-ning said sweetly, smiling at Jacob. He looked down at her and a small smile formed on his lips.

  It was the first time he had smiled in years.

  Twelve

  Cottage

  THEY VENTURED INTO THE FOREST, back in the direction of where she had left Suparna. And as they walked, all kinds of animals materialized to greet Yu-ning. Rabbits, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, lizards, insects, and even snakes approached her joyfully. All creatures great and small were celebrating her as she ventured through the forest.

  “It’s Yu-ning, it’s Yu-ning!” the birds chirped with excitement. Yu-ning was very happy as she greeted everyone, though she wasn’t quite certain how they all knew her, since she’d never before been to Palova! She inquired about this mystery. “Leonidas and other friends from Rainbow Island have told us about you, Yu-ning!” the animals explained. “Your love and care precedes you!”

  Jacob couldn’t believe his eyes and ears and had difficulty shifting his customary reaction toward animals. As they continued walking into the forest, they noticed blood and animal footprints on a dirt path, leading away from the meadow where she’d landed earlier that day. She hesitated, but decided they needed to follow the footprints and blood drippings, which led them deeper into the woods. Jacob stopped. “I don’t think we should go any further. Who knows what the blood is from, and I don’t have my weapons with me. It’s dangerous; we should head back,” he said.

  Yu-ning shook her head. “Maybe someone is hurt and needs our help. Come on, let’s go,” she said firmly. Jacob nodded as they continued to follow the footprints and blood, which led them down a steep ravine. At the bottom, a rushing stream tumbled through, most likely the same stream where she had refreshed herself that morning. They forded the stream across a thick mossy log and climbed up the far side of the ravine. Once they exited the dell, the path weaved along the edge of a cliff, and eventually led through a dense thicket to a large stone cave. As they quietly approached the entrance of the cave, they heard talking.

  They crept closer to the entrance and saw two bears inside, one black and one brown, talking to each other. They looked like Yu-ning’s Rainbow Island friends Stout and Madrigal, but they were different bears. Yu-ning wondered if they were related to her bear friends. The black bear was hurt; his leg was bleeding, and the brown bear was helping him with the wound. It became clear that the brown bear was a female and the black bear was her mate.

  She was licking his wounds and spoke softly to him. “Oh, darling. Are you in pain? Why do they want to hurt us? We are just trying to take care of our family.” Just beyond them was a soft bed of leaves where three cubs were sound asleep.

  “I wish they would stop hurting us,” the black bear replied, cringing in pain. “Our clan is dwindling; the death is senseless.”

  Jacob hung his head as he listened to their conversation. He whispered to Yu-ning, “I’ve killed many bears. I’m probably responsible for the suffering in this family.”

  Yu-ning looked at him with eyes full with tears. She reached for his hand and said, “It’s never too late, Jacob. You can help protect the animals from this moment forward.” Jacob was quiet as they backed away from the cave. He saw Yu-ning pull out several fruits and nuts from her pack to leave at the entrance. She continued to pull more and more food out of her backpack, smiling at Jacob, who looked at her in fascination.

  “Bears eat a lot.” She smiled. “This is food from the Tower of Light, where I’ve just come from. It will help the black bear heal, and there will be plenty for the cubs.”

  Yu-ning and Jacob backed away from the cave, leaving a full harvest of fruits and nuts behind them. Jacob paused and turned. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the magical beans that Leonidas had given to him. He carefully placed them next to the fruits and nuts. They continued down the path.

  In front of them as they headed back down the path, they saw a deer—a large brown buck—standing on the right side of the hill, looking at them. Yu-ning had never seen this deer before. His body was beige with brown spots, and he had a huge rack of antlers, from which yellow rays of light were shining. It was clear he was not a normal deer.

  Wherever he stood, the path lit up. He looked very alert and wise. A small fawn walked out of the trees, and a doe walked out from behind a large bush. They snuggled and frolicked as the buck above kept watch. The fawn began to nurse as the doe ate grass and looked up at the buck, smiling.

  “Look at that beautiful family,” Yu-ning said. Jacob nodded reflectively. He was filled with regret and remorse. “It’s all right, Jacob. You will see many things that will leave you questioning the life you’ve lived. This is what is supposed to happen. Surrender the
guilt, and commit to your transformation. There is so much you can do to make up for the suffering you caused. Let that be your inspiration.”

  The beautiful buck spotted Yu-ning and bounded down the hill. “Hi, deer!” Yu-ning cried out happily, placing her cheek on his large nose.

  “Jacob, you don’t need to fear him,” Yu-ning said.

  The buck looked at Jacob with an all-knowing gaze. “I’ve known you for my entire lifetime,” said the buck. “I lost my parents, a brother, two sisters, and many friends to your killing. A lot of joy and freedom have been robbed from us as you have hunted our forest. You have caused tremendous suffering.”

  The deer paused and looked to the horizon. “I can also feel all the regret and shame within you now. We have Yu-ning to thank for that. Listen to her. Make the change now. Make your life matter now. Pray for all the souls you have taken, and ask for forgiveness. Let your path be sacred now, and remember to respect everyone; all life, large and small,” he said solemnly. “There will be others, and you will need to reach them. Help awaken them as you are awakening,” the beautiful buck continued.

  Jacob’s shoulders caved in as he began to shake and sob uncontrollably, the floodgates finally breaking. “I’m so sorry. What have I done? I am so very sorry.” His huge body was broken and woebegone. Yu-ning hugged him as the deer family looked on quietly.

  After several minutes of silence, the buck said, “I want to take both of you to a special place.”

  Yu-ning nodded with excitement in her eyes. Jacob nodded as well and said, “But it is getting dark, and I don’t know the route to get back home.”

  The buck replied, “Maybe after you see and experience this place, you won’t want to go back.”

  Yu-ning’s eyes opened wide as she nodded at the majestic animal. She pulled on Jacob’s arm. “Yes, come on, let’s go with him,” she said convincingly.

  The buck smiled. “We must go now if you want to see this special place.” He waited a moment for Yu-ning and Jacob to follow and galloped down the path.

  “Yes, we want to see. Let’s go now!” Yu-ning pulled on Jacob’s sleeve as she skipped after the buck. They moved down the path briskly and continued on for quite a while. Jacob and Yu-ning watched the deer descend to a small stream for a drink of water, and they both sat down for a minute to rest in a thick grove of trees. Beyond the trees she saw that the dense forest gave way to a wide-open, grassy space.

  They were near a seaside cliff. The air was fresh, and baby blue sky unfolded for miles above them as the sun sank toward the western horizon, a huge ball of orange bathing the cliff in soft light. Below them was a white sand beach onto which the pristine waters were cresting and breaking.

  The ocean was sublime. “The sand is so white, clean, and soft,” Yu-ning said dreamily.

  Jacob walked over and peered through the trees out into the vast expanse of sea. He was overwhelmed by the beauty and shook his head. “I knew this was here, but I’ve never cared to really see the ocean like this. I lived in the darkness of my cabin and only came out at night to hunt. I never thought about how beautiful it is,” he said remorsefully.

  The buck reminded them that they had to get going before it got darker. Yu-ning and Jacob nodded and walked back on the path through the forest. Green leafy poplar trees jutted above them, mixing in with tall stands of pine. It would be dark soon, and there was a gentle chill in the air. As the sun began to sink, Yu-ning produced the Light of Balthazar, which illuminated the path and made it easier to negotiate.

  They once again met up with the stream, which flowed over small rocks and stones down the path next to them; the crystal clear water reflected the last of the day’s light. They followed the buck across the stream as the path reappeared on the other side. Beautiful purple flowers bloomed atop squat, waxy green bushes under a ceiling of vibrant green poplar and birch trees on each side of the path. It was a colorful display, and Jacob could hardly believe this was the same forest he hunted in night after night.

  As they continued walking, the sunset and night came quickly. Even with the Light of Balthazar now in her hand, Yu-ning remarked that it was getting harder to see beyond the path. All of a sudden bright white lights sliced through the green leafy trees, so bright that it was hard for them to open their eyes. Jacob and Yu-ning had to stop and let their eyes adjust. The buck waited patiently to guide them further.

  The forest path was lit up in bright, shining lights, and before them was a quaint cobblestone and wood house. The house was small, with three short steps leading up to a wide porch and bright white door. A simple love-seat swing sat on one side, and potted pink jasmine grew abundantly up a trellis on the other side. In front of the jasmine were two rocking chairs.

  The windows were sparkling clean, refracting the light from the house. The steep roof was made of thick thatch with a sparkling white chimney. In front of the house was a beautiful garden of wildflowers, twice the size of the actual house. The home was lovely and absolutely eccentric. The buck smiled. “This is your destination; go on now. I must leave you. Remember your lessons, Jacob, and stay in the light.” The deer bounded into the forest, leaving Yu-ning and Jacob on the edge of a dozen questions.

  “Thank you! Goodbye!” Yu-ning waved happily.

  “Wait!” Jacob called. “How do we get back?”

  “Don’t worry about that now,” Yu-ning said. “Follow your intuition and don’t plan for your future before you know your present. Remember what the deer said—you may not even want to go back.” Yu-ning yanked Jacob’s sleeve down toward the cobblestone walkway and through the gate in the white picket fence that surrounded the house. Yu-ning was beside herself with excitement. “Here we are, Jacob! Wow, it is so colorful.” Jacob was silent. He just stared at the house with wide eyes. Though he had seen this cottage from a distance, he had always hurried by, never taking the time to approach it or its occupants.

  “Your house could be like this if you choose. Come on, let’s go inside,” Yu-ning said, skipping to the door. Jacob stood motionless. “Come on, Jacob,” Yu-ning said as she pulled his sleeve again. He and Yu-ning continued up the steps and stood in front of the clean white door. Yu-ning looked at Jacob and said, “You knock. Let’s see what happens!” Jacob paused for a moment and knocked three times.

  They heard shuffling inside and sounds of someone approaching the door slowly. An old woman opened the door. She looked quite old, her silver-white hair tied in a small bun at the back of her head. She was slightly hunched, wearing a simple green long-sleeved shirt and red pants. She smiled and looked loving and kind. “Hello, my dears,” she said, filled with warmth and affection. “Welcome, welcome. Come on in, my darlings,” she added, smiling ear to ear.

  Yu-ning lunged toward her and hugged her. “Thank you, Grandma,” she said excitedly.

  Jacob whispered into her ear, “You know her? Is this your grandmother?”

  “She’s like my grandmother—everyone calls her Grandma. She and Grandpa come to visit the children on Rainbow Island, and always bring us gifts when they come! But this is the first time I’ve been to their house.” With that, Yu-ning entered the house, filled with wonderment and curiosity. The house was old-fashioned and charming. It was everything you would expect of an elderly couple’s home, but inside, the house was saturated with color. Every single thing in the house was a rainbow of colors. The table, cabinets, desk, bed, chairs, closet, sofa, shelves, and every other piece of furniture were each a different color.

  The fragrance of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air, and hot chocolate bubbled on the potbelly stove. On the counter next to the hot chocolate was a brimming bowl of white, thick cream. Jacob stood at the door, not knowing what to do. He had never seen such a spectacle and was overwhelmed by all the miraculous events he had witnessed that day. “Jacob, come inside,” Yu-ning coaxed.

  “Yes, dear, we welcome you,” Grandma said kindly. “You are welcome in our home,” she continued.

  “Thank you,” Jacob wh
ispered shyly as he took two more steps inside, shutting the door silently and waiting by it.

  Yu-ning was in a reverie. “Grandma, your home is so beautiful and colorful. It is just like my cave!” Yu-ning pulled out a chair to sit down. “Everything smells so sweet. Like candies and cookies! Ah, I’m so hungry, Grandma!” Yu-ning sighed and collapsed into an orange chair with pink legs at the kitchen table, which was bright red.

  Grandma laughed. Jacob smiled and looked around. Quietly, he said, “The house looks so simple from the outside; you would never expect such a world of color on the inside.”

  “Yes, but not everything is what it seems on the outside, is it, Jacob?” Grandma asked softly. She was filled with the wisdom of many years. Jacob just stared, standing by the door like a stiff board.

  Yu-ning was swinging her legs back and forth. “You live here, Grandma?” Yu-ning asked, as she looked around in sheer delight.

  “Yes, I live here with my husband.” She smiled and pointed into the living room at the center of the house. On a purple sofa sat an old man wearing glasses and reading a book. He had silver hair, a white moustache, and a neatly trimmed beard. He looked into the kitchen and nodded at Grandma as he rose and walked over to join them.

  Grandma pulled out a dark blue chair with light blue legs and gestured for him to sit across from Yu-ning. He was holding a big colorful mug of softly steaming tea.

  “Grandpa!” Yu-ning said happily.

  “Hello, sweetheart. Welcome.” He smiled at Yu-ning as his eyes twinkled with light. “And welcome to your friend here. Jacob, is it?” Grandpa said kindly, looking toward the entryway. Jacob nodded uncomfortably and lifted his hand to greet Grandpa. “Come here, son. Sit with us.”

  Awkwardly, Jacob walked over to a purple chair with green legs and sat down next to Yu-ning. He looked around in amazement at the beautiful, unusual house. “Your home is so nice. I’ve never seen a home like this. How long have you two lived here?”