by Jill Wilder
Chapter 10
The People of the Nation knew Shell by another name, Graceful Warrior. She moved with ease through the tall grasses of the valley. Prancing through foothills, she referenced to a map drawn in her mind of where the wreck should be. Without any hesitation and as if she lived in this valley from beginning of time, Shell knew which way to turn.
She approached the steady rise and fall of the foothills in a surprisingly short amount of time. As she ascended another foothill she noticed how the sun was hosting long shadows and would soon edge its way over the mountains.
Picking up her speed, she galloped over and around foothill after foothill. When the long shadows were beginning to win over the last remaining sunlight, Shell rested again upon the top of yet another foothill.
Like a hungry wolf, she scanned the area ahead with desperation slowly creeping in with the dark. Then she saw it!
A smaller valley laid nestled to one side of a big mountain. A small river, reflecting the last of the fading light, wound like a snake through the valley. Her eyes followed the river back and forth until it disappeared at either end. But as she gazed up to the mountain, it was the black scar on the mountain’s side that caused this graceful warrior to suck in a breath of excitement.
Her heart began to race as her analytical mind began to access the distance between her and that black mark. She looked back at the winding river, scanned the valley floor, then back at the scarred mountain.
Shell began to pull away her eyes from the scene, when she spotted something near the river. It gave off a reflective light that was caught by the setting sun. It only took her a moment to realize what she saw.
Breaking out into a big smile and raising her arms and hands to the sky, she shouted, “He ejected! His is alive! Thank you Great Spirit, thank you!” She held her hands high and eyes closed as a moment of pride and praise welled within her.
Suddenly Shell’s eyes open and grew wide. “I must go down to the river. If he is alive he will follow the river!
Without any hesitation she descended the foothill and steadily made her way to the valley and its ribbon of water. The sun was gone now, but still there was a purple cast of light still hanging in the air. On the Solar Star Base, the only water source was the brook that felt its was around the Natural Reservatory and whose origins come from the condensation throughout the Solar Star Base. Shell was not prepared for the captivating beauty of the river before her now.
As she reached the river, Shell followed it upstream. She was amazed at it’s depths in spots and shallowness of others. At one point she marveled at the colorful stones that lay beneath the moving waters.
It was getting darker and Shell was amazed at how her eyes were easily adjusting to the light that was left. She could see upstream a place to cross over to the other side. As she began to leap from rock to rock, Shell stopped in the middle of the stream. An urge rose inside of her to touch the water and to taste the sweetness.
Gently she cupped her hands in the water. She was surprised to find how cold it was. The water rushed around her hands as she let the spirit of the river soak inside of her.
After moments of marveling at the water, Shell raised her cupped hands to her mouth and drank. The sweetness was there, just like she imagined. The coolness could be felt as the liquid made its was down her throat. The feeling of satisfaction overwhelmed her as she closed her eyes and took in the sensation completely.
The water of the Earth was a beautiful gift for Shell to receive. Realizing this, Shell said a small prayer of thanks to the Creator for allowing her the opportunity to taste the Earth’s wine.
Shell did not want to leave the riverbank, yet she knew she must move on for the light was almost completely gone. She began walking again along the river’s edge taking in all that she could see.
As she looked further out among the path ahead of her, she spied something hanging from a tree limb, swaying in the light breeze. As she got closer to the object, she began to recognize it has a torn shirt. Then it dawned on her that it was Keith’s.
She tore out into a run. Once she reached to spot, she stopped. She wonder where Keith was and why was his torn shirt hanging from this tree. Looking around into the fast creeping darkness, Shell saw no signs of human or animal alike nearby.
Slowly she stepped towards the shirt. With her hands outstretched to touch the shirt, she moved one more step closer. Shell felt the ground give way underneath her and let out a scream. As she fell into the hole that Keith dug, she caught her head on a rock and all went blacker than the coming of the night.
