Coda lashed his tail back and forth impatiently. “What are you doing, Zoey? We gotta go!”
“No,” was her only reply, and she turned her head away and stared off toward the meadow.
Coda and Chev looked at each other. Chev shrugged, “Well, she's like a rock you can't move.”
Coda was about to yell at Zoey, but gasped instead. Below Zoey stood a large lion, with eyes that burned with fury. He was much larger than any lion Coda had ever seen. He had a big, brown mane, and dark yellow matted fur covering the rest of his body. He slashed his forepaws on the ground, flinging dirt to the left and right, flexing giant muscles that looked like they were going to pop out of his skin. The lion's crystals were gray. Coda knew that this creature was one of those dreaded Dims.
The lion let out a massive roar, momentarily stunning Coda with pulsing fragments of fear, as if he'd just been hit by shrapnel from an explosion.
“Oh, boy,” said Chev, “they got through the Fog.”
Coda’s taut muscles screamed of panic, and he slowly shuffled his paws backward, not taking his eyes off the lion. He stopped once he felt he was beside Chev's big body.
“What do we do?” whispered Coda, hoping not to rouse the already angry lion.
Chev shrugged his shoulders again. His face was grim and twisted in concern. “I don't know. I've never done this before.” His voice cracked and was barely audible.
Coda's eyes widened. “You've never done what before?”
Chev's voice shook, “I've never fought a lion.”
The lion twitched its tail as if motioning to someone. In response, two smaller and even less friendly looking coyotes stepped from the bushes, out from behind the lion. The coyotes had gray crystals, just like the lion.
Coda's tail, as if acting on its own, went right between his legs and his stomach turned upside down. “Chev? Have you fought any coyotes before?”
“Well,” Chev shifted nervously from side to side, “I'm really not much of a fighter. You see, I'm a singer, a poet, a nice guy, and an all around charming elephant once you get to know me.” He looked at Coda with concern on his face. Then his face brightened. “Maybe I can charm them?”
Oh no, thought Coda. We're doomed.
The lion and the two coyotes moved closer.
“Oh boy,” said Chev again, as he stepped in front of Coda, doing his best to shield him from an attack.
The lion, just ten yards away, let out a low, menacing growl, yelling, “Separate!”
At first Coda didn't know if the lion meant them or the coyotes. Noticing that one coyote walked to the right and the other coyote to the left, he knew it was meant for the coyotes. A moment later, the lion roared, jumping straight at Chev with his claws bared, ready to dig into his opponent.
Chev shrank back, closing his eyes, waiting for the inevitable pain from the sharp claws.
Coda, watching the lion as it jumped, saw a blur of something moving fast out of the corner of his eye. First he thought it was one of the coyotes, but realized that it was Zoey, flying at an incredible rate of speed.
“Wait!” cried Coda as he suddenly realized what she was doing.
She was flying head on, straight toward the lion.
With a confidence he'd never seen Zoey display before, she did a half-flip in mid-air, aiming her feet at the lion's eyes, screaming, “Leave them alone!”
The lion's outstretched forepaws went from attack mode to protecting his eyes, but a second too late.
Zoey's heels planted firmly against the black pupils of his eyes, immediately coursing pain through him. He yelped and tumbled over, landing in front of Chev, bumping his back against Chev's front leg. Zoey, not realizing the full force of the inevitable impact, ricocheted backward, landing hard against the ground.
The lion, now succumbed and writhing in pain, twisted and turned on the dark soil, crushing grass and brush in the process. Finally, he stood up in a daze on unsteady legs, but his eyes wouldn't focus, no matter how many times he blinked.
Before Coda could run over to help his sister, Chev shifted to his left and threw his body in front of Coda just as a coyote lunged at them. The coyote bounced off Chev's big right flank, skidding across the forest floor, until he dug his claws into the ground, stopping himself.
The coyote slowly shook his head and forced a low, long growl, saying without words that he wouldn’t let the elephant get the best of him again.
Suddenly, remembering the second coyote, Coda glanced behind and saw the second coyote only ten feet away and charging toward Coda at full speed. Coda had never seen such menace in another's eyes; eyes that told a thousand killing stories. Coda knew this coyote wanted to rip him apart.
Before Coda could yell for help, the coyote, now only five feet away, sprang into the air and opened his mouth, baring sharply-pointed, saliva-dripping teeth.
Coda, without knowing how he did it, reacted in a way that he himself couldn't explain. His whole body relaxed. In an instant that seemed to pass in slow motion, he assessed the situation like a trained soldier and immediately knew the weaknesses and advantages of the coyote's plan of attack:
One - The tree to the right was precisely three-and-a-half feet away.
Two - The coyote's jump was very risky. It allowed a trained defender more time to evaluate the attack.
Three - The coyote only extended his left front leg, leaving the right portion of his body unprotected.
Coda could use the coyote's left leg against him. This meant two things; that the coyote was going for the immediate kill by using his teeth as a weapon, and that he had underestimated Coda's skill.
In the quickest move the coyote had ever seen, Coda jumped straight up, meeting the leaping height of the coyote, and caught the coyote's left leg with his mouth. Still in the air, Coda flipped while clutching the coyote's leg, then let go at the perfect moment. A moment later, the coyote slammed against a tree.
Coda landed, facing the coyote. He saw that the creature was slumped on the ground, shaking his head violently, trying to make the stars in his eyes go away. Coda stood on all fours with his head level and chest out. He flared a new aura of confidence, more so than any defender the coyote had ever been up against.
Slowly getting up, the coyote eyed Coda. For the first time, the coyote saw something in Coda that he'd missed only moments ago. “It's him!” the coyote barked.
The lion, who could see a little more clearly now, hesitated and stepped back. “He's returned!” he echoed. Swiftly, the attackers turned and ran, retreating from their failed attempt and heading north, disappearing among the trees and foliage in the forest.
Coda, sitting proudly amongst the maples, cedars, and pines, glanced at his sister and Chev, who sat uncomfortably under the branches of a maple tree.
"That was…it was... incredible. You saved our lives, Coda. How did you learn to defend like that?" asked Chev.
Coda wondered the same thing. He hadn't the faintest clue. It had come to him as naturally as sleeping. It was easy, just as easy as it was for Zoey to fly.
But that, however, wasn't what racked his brain and heart the most. It was the words, he's returned! Who is "he" and what has "he" returned from? Perhaps they mistook Coda for someone else? Yet, they feared every ounce of him, tucked tails, and ran.
Then something, some memory of defensive skills, scratched at the back of his mind. He saw himself training thousands of spirit animals, but he knew it was from the past. But how? He suddenly heard the words “the Art of Defense” echo in his mind. What's that? His thoughts evaporated a second later as he sensed his sister. She was trying to understand what he just did as well. She eyed him seriously.
"We must get to Deer Meadow," said Chev. "The battle in the sky has ended."
Chapter 11
Dusk had settled and the sun hung just over the vast trees in the west, washing the horizon with gold and purple hues. The few clouds in the distance were like dark moving shadows with interwoven pink outlining their form, giv
ing them more life. Zoey could see that they floated toward the western shores.
The last few hours had been a blur for her. She was standing in the meadow on a large circle of soft, minty moss. The battle in the sky had been fought above this meadow, known as Deer Meadow, less than fifteen minutes ago. Along with her brother, she had followed Chev here, and upon arrival saw hundreds of other animals standing around in a half-circle, mostly in silence. She didn't know what to make of all these animals. She felt like she stood out like a sore thumb.
Some of the animals looked at Coda and her with curiosity, wondering who the newcomers were, but most smiled, nodding in appreciation to them. What she was appreciated for she didn't know, much like the myriad of things that she didn't know about this land. Maybe it was because Zoey and Coda had stood up to three of the invaders?
She tried to calm herself down by taking a few deep breaths. Her emotions had been a roller coaster during the fight. She'd been nervous, then calm, then back to nervous, and then scared, and then determined and focused. Up and down, left and right her emotions went, merging into a state that was numbing to the body, and dizzying to the mind.
She had stopped the lion from hurting Chev and Coda by mustering up a courage she never knew she had. She knew it was love that had driven her actions. What would she do without Coda as her brother any more? She had to do what she did! She had risked her life to save his. The moment was quick and she hadn’t given much thought to it. She only remembered diving straight for the lion’s eyes, and then hitting hard against the earth.
Then it was Coda who shocked them all, including the coyotes and lion. He had moved with grace and precision when the coyote attacked. His lightning-quick actions had turned the tables all at once, making the intruders fall back, running north, through the Fog.
Where had he learned to fight like that? Was it something he learned at home?
No, it couldn't be. He'd never taken any karate classes or had any lessons in wrestling. His reaction was amazing, though. Zoey sighed, looking around at the disheveled animals in the gathering. Some licked their wounds; others seemed to be patiently waiting for something.
Chev pointed toward the river with his trunk. “There are about fifty PureLights just beyond the River Ohm standing watch near the Fog, just in case the Dims come back for another attack.” He'd been standing silently between the two of them for some time. He, like the others, was waiting for something.
“Don't worry,” he said, lowering his voice to a whisper. “The Dims won't show their faces any moment soon.” He winked at Zoey, adding, “We PureLights of the Sihu Tribe whipped 'em good. Everyone is calling this conflict 'Sky Battle,' and it will be spoken of for many moons. It's being recorded in the tablets.”
Sky Battle? Tablets? Zoey didn't know what he was talking about.
Chev continued to recount details about the conflict, and Zoey was very sad when she heard that several PureLights had died. They were apparently outnumbered by the Dims five-to-one. Still, she had anticipated that most of the PureLights would've been massacred. She was thankfully proven wrong.
Yet, on the other side of the confrontation, some of the Dims were killed as well. Not many, but nonetheless, this blew Zoey's mind. How could such a small tribe take on that massive Dim army and not get slaughtered? She had noticed several Dims lying on the ground on her walk over to the meadow, but she didn't know if they were knocked out or truly dead. She saw some blood, but did her best not to look. She was told that some of them were “stunned”, whatever that meant, but knowing that some of them were dead put a knot in her stomach. She didn't count on this mess when she decided to stay here and help. Help with what? The PureLights seemed to be doing just fine dealing with these Dims on their own. And the Dims who were stunned? What about them? They're lying there on the outskirts of the meadow right now. They've either been forgotten by the attackers or left there to die, or perhaps to find their own way back to the Dim Lands. And, why weren't the PureLights paying much attention to them? Don't they want to put them in jail or something?
None of this made sense.
Zoey looked around at the crowd, and then focused on Coda. He was still looking quite stunned by what had just happened.
Nova was now standing regally at the head of the half-circle, facing the gathering, and beaming a calm energy to everyone. Her eyes were clear, while reflecting the concern in the spirit animals she surveyed.
“I'm saddened,” Nova addressed the assembly, jolting Zoey out of her thoughts, “just as you all are.” She surveyed the crowd for several minutes, seeming to make eye contact with each and every member of the gathering.
“Remember,” she continued, “that this, too, shall pass, much like a giant wave hitting the shore. The wave pounds and disrupts the sand while it's there, then recedes back into the ocean to be whole again. The Dims are like that wave. Right now they're on the shore, slowly receding. One day they'll be pulled back into the ocean, and into the source of it all—The Great Spirit—and find peace. When this happens, they'll realize that doing harm to another is no different than doing harm to oneself. They'll understand that they're all part of that same source, the vast ocean of The Great Spirit, and that we're all the same.”
Zoey noticed that Nova bristled, as if she felt something unspoken from the crowd. “Yes, I understand your dissatisfaction with the war. Remember, it's a war they brought to us. It's not your fault.”
She then frowned, saying, “I know you detest violence. All decent beings detest violence. And yet, we're forced to protect ourselves and this land. This, my friends, is our biggest dilemma.
“Though, how may we be content?” Nova asked, looking toward the northern Fog. “How can we be content in each and every moment, knowing that behind the Fog live the Dims? Knowing that they can attack us at any moment?
“I'll tell you how. We remain content because we look at the Dims, not as demons, but as Beings like ourselves. If we see them as something other, something less than us, then we'll slowly fade into the reality they have created for themselves. We'll forget that we're all connected and we'll become one of them. Our crystals will fade to gray, our memories will be forgotten, and our love toward all things will diminish.”
For a moment, Nova’s head dropped and she was silent. Then, with a powerful breath, she raised her voice. “We'd even fight amongst ourselves.”
The crowd murmured in agreement. Nova stood up, taking a step forward. “However, we won't become the Dims. We'll defend ourselves and this land properly. No one knows what the outcome of this war will be, but I can tell you this—the tides are changing and we're the reason it's doing so. I honor you all for your courage and skill.” Shouting toward the Fog, she declared, “We will never be driven out of Ohm Totem!” The crowd cheered and Zoey cowered at the blast of energy that swirled within the half-circle. Then she noticed that Coda still had his head down. Was he even listening?
When the cheering died down, Nova resumed. “Many can say that we were victorious today. However, do not rejoice in this victory. There's no delight in the slaughter of our friends and companions. There's no happiness in the war between two great tribes.”
She padded toward the front of the gathering and walked along the front line of the half-circle. She calmly paced back and forth before speaking again. “Send your love to the Dims, and to those who have fallen. This will help them along their way. And, in so doing, keep your heads high. All of you. You protected this land. The land that has been granted to you, not by Crepus Dim, not by me, and not by you, but by the Great Spirit. You defended this land and your lives with composure and compassion for your attackers. I'm very proud of you all. I bow to you and thank you for being the brave souls that you are. I pray that our land will continue to be full of love, abundance, wisdom, and a place that serves others. May this conflict be the last.” Then she raised her head, cheering, “To the River Ohm!”
The assembly shrieked with joy and ran toward the River Ohm. Coda and Zoey lo
oked at each other, wondering if they should join the run as well. Chev nudged them, “The water won't hurt. It's for cleansing and healing. The River Ohm is sacred.”
“Okay,” replied Coda, looking in the direction of the river, watching the many pattering paws and flying birds splashing delightedly into the water.
Zoey giggled. “Look at them run. It's like they've won the lottery or something.”
“Won the lottery?” Chev asked.
“Oh, I don't really know. It's something my dad says sometimes when people get really excited over something,” replied Zoey.
Chev was about to respond, but was interrupted by a sweet voice coming from behind them. “Hi Chev. Who are your friends?”
Turning around, they saw a raccoon smiling and nodding a welcome. Her crystals were emerald green, like her eyes.
“Numee, meet Coda and Zoey.”
Numee leaned forward, touching her nose to the ground. It looked to Zoey somewhat like a feminine bow or a curtsy.
“Welcome and nice to meet you two,” she said. She gestured toward the River Ohm. “You coming?”
Zoey looked to Chev, wondering if he'd answer for them, but Coda took the lead instead and shrugged his shoulders. “I-I don't know.”
Numee narrowed her eyes, pursing her lips, almost prodding them along toward the river with her thoughts.
“Well,” she said, “I'll be waiting for you.”
And with that, she waddled past them, humming, and then stopped, looking closely at Coda and Zoey. “Thank you for saving Chev's hide today.”
Zoey didn't think she had done enough, but nodded anyway. Coda looked at the ground and flicked some dirt to the side with his tail, clearly uncomfortable.
“How'd you know that, Numee?” asked Chev. He narrowed his eyes as he looked down at her, pretending to be suspicious.
“Well,” she chuckled, “I saw two wild-eyed coyotes run out of the forest, and then a lion who was bellowing orders to get the news to Crepus. I didn't hear what the news was, but it sounded like it would have been most interesting to know. Then I saw you three walk out of that same spot moments later.”
The PureLights of Ohm Totem Page 10
