The PureLights of Ohm Totem

by Brandon Ellis

  “Crepus,” replied Nova curtly.

  Skint scurried next to Crepus, his head hanging low. He'd been caught red-handed. He was working for Crepus.

  Nova merely glanced at him, dipping her head in greeting as well.

  “You're too kind,” said Crepus.

  “That's how I live. With kindness,” responded Nova.

  Numee, Taregan, and the badger remained calm and quiet, but kept their eyes locked on Crepus.

  Crepus's expression contorted. “That's a lie.” His mighty tail swished back and forth in anger. “You give a good act, that's for sure, Nova,” Crepus hissed. “Kindness you say? It was you VioletLights who shunned me, ignored my genius, and tried to destroy any semblance of the wonderful life that I had. You still do!” His eyes were like flames sparking with anger. To Zoey, it seemed like Crepus’s feelings had been hurt, somewhere, somehow. A pain from long ago, perhaps?

  Nova sat serenely on her hind legs, wrapping her long tail around her forepaws. “When you blame others, there's no limit to your blame. You're in a pattern, Crepus, blaming everyone and everything for the mistakes you've made. Remember, you create your own reality.” She paused. “Learn from your past, Crepus. Remember what it was like to be a VioletLight.”

  She touched her tail to his shoulder. “VioletLights are accountable to no one else but themselves, and because so, they correct their own mistakes in life, and don't expect others to do it for them. VioletLights do what they need to do and require nothing from others. Remember this and all your anger will disappear.”

  Crepus closed his eyes, and for a moment Zoey could tell that he enjoyed Nova's touch. The calm moment changed in a flash, however. As Crepus suddenly lashed out, driving his fangs into Nova’s tail. He wrenched his head back, taking a giant chunk out of her tail. Zoey gasped, recoiling in horror as Nova's blood splattered all over Crepus's face. Zoey flew toward Nova. She didn't know what she was going to do when she got there, but Nova needed help anyway.

  But something wasn't right. Nova and her companions remained calm. How could they possibly be peaceful at a moment like this? Zoey reached Nova and saw that the end of Nova's tail was fine. Mystified, she began to wonder if she was just imagining it all. Crepus’s face told her she wasn’t imagining—blood stained his face and he had a tuft of fur caught in his teeth.

  Crepus spat it out, eyeing Zoey. There was emptiness in his eyes. Was that sadness, too?

  “Nova,” Crepus hissed, “one day very soon my power will exceed the skylark's power.” He glowered at Zoey and she shrank away from him.

  Zoey suddenly jumped. What in the world is that? Above Crepus hovered two shadows. They looked like dark smoke rising behind him, but they were too thick to be smoke. A moment later they disappeared.

  Crepus glanced at San and then turned back to Nova. “I must be getting on my merry way.” As he passed the limp cardinal—Zoey's good friend—he grabbed her in his jaws and walked around the corner, disappearing from view. His entourage, including Skint, followed. The last ape, however, looked intently into Zoey's eyes. She could feel his compassion and warmth.

  “Who...?” asked Zoey.

  “That's Maldwyn of Gwenfree,” replied Nova, before Zoey finished her question. “He was, and apparently, still is a good friend.”

  Numee poked her nose into Nova's side, looking over at Coda. Everyone turned to see an exhausted panther lying on the floor struggling to get up. His eyes were half-closed and he looked as if he was trying hard not to fall asleep.

  Zoey hurriedly flew over to him. He was breathing rapidly, and his head was jostling back and forth. “Coda?” His eyes locked on her when she said his name, but then drifted away.

  The badger reached him next, placing his paws on Coda's stomach. “He's been drained. It's a trick the more advanced Dims do to the PureLights. They drain your energy, taking it for their own. It's a Dark Art.” The badger closed his eyes and his indigo crystals started to brightly glow. In a matter of a few breaths, Coda was standing up, revitalized.

  Looking around, he eyed everyone like they were crazy. “Why are you all staring at me like that?”

  Numee wrapped her tail around his shoulders. “You've been drained by Crepus. Let's get you back to the tribe.”

  Coda shook his head. “Not without San.”

  Zoey then remembered. Her friend and roommate. Gone. She wasn't coming back, no matter how hard she wanted her to.

  Zoey started to cry. All of her emotions, missing her mom, her dad, almost losing Coda, and now losing her friend flooded in as she wept. She eyed Coda. “She's dead.”

  “She can't be. She's right there,” Coda said, pointing behind him with his tail. His tail dropped when he saw that San was gone. “Where is she?”

  “Didn't you see?” asked Zoey.

  “But, I thought I saw her breathing over there.”

  Numee still had her tail wrapped around Coda's shoulder. They started to walk toward the Zolts.

  Nova spoke, “Crepus took her life, Coda. We'll honor San when we get back to the Sihu Tribe. Don't worry, you two. This isn't the end for her. In life, there is no end. All she did was change form from the energy of a cardinal, to the energy of her spirit.”

  Chapter 25

  The next day came and went like a blur. Coda had spent most of the day on the beach, and by now the sun was falling to the west, beckoning the night.

  Coda heaved a heavy sigh as he sat on the sand, watching the waves crash on the shore. He still felt drained, and couldn't figure out why. He'd been like this all day, no matter how many times Numee placed her paws on him to bring in Prana. He'd get filled up with healthy energy, then quickly fade into the doldrums with low energy.

  Crepus had done something to him that he couldn't quite escape.

  He leaned on his side, sighing again, feeling the fresh air against his fur. It was the one thing that felt good. He looked around. All of the spirit animals, except for some Wing Watchers, were enjoying the day at the beach.

  Earlier, Nova had explained to Coda and Zoey that the best way to assimilate information effectively at school or at training is by learning for three days, then resting for the next three days. Which, apparently, he and the rest of Ohm Totem were doing right now—resting.

  This way, according to Nova, the student's minds wouldn't overflow with too much information. One more day of training would've been too much and 'brain fog' would've trickled in. Plus, a spirit animal’s body needs rest as well, and for the PureLights the beach was a perfect place to do just that.

  “I think I got it,” said Numee, as she turned to Taregan.

  Taregan cocked his eyebrows. “Well, I hope so. This kid can't be the guardian of guardians, or the famous night walker, or whatever label we want to put on him, if he can't stay awake.”

  Numee had seen an energy anomaly in Coda's aura earlier in the day. It was placed there, somehow, by Crepus. She'd never seen such a thing, but it continued to steal Coda's energy no matter what they did for him.

  Chev and Zoey sat to his left and Taregan sat several bird lengths in front of him, watching Numee do what she did best—find the discomfort and heal it. And the way she did it almost made Coda laugh.

  She'd put a paw near his fur, then wave it in a certain direction, and clap her paws above another area of his fur. She did this for what seemed to be hours. If Coda wasn't in Ohm Totem, he'd think that Numee was nuts.

  She clapped next to his left ear. “Got it!” she said with satisfaction. “It's gone.”

  And it was. In a matter of a second, his energy came back to full strength. He'd almost forgotten how good it felt, here in Ohm Totem. He breathed in the rich air, relishing the tingling sensations splashing throughout his body. He wanted to stand up and run around the beach, but felt a tap on his back just as he was about to sprint away.

  “Are you feeling better now, Coda?”

  It was Nova. Coda hadn't seen her since this morning. She had spent much of her day in quietude, next to the Snow T
ree.

  “Yeah. I feel much better. Thanks.” He paused as a question popped into his mind. A question he'd had since they discovered the Large Boulder. What exactly is it?

  Just as he was about to ask, Zoey had a question. “How's the Snow Tree, Nova?” She had sadness in her voice, not for the Snow Tree, but because she’d been thinking about San all day.

  Nova smiled. “She's wonderful.”

  “Oh,” Zoey said, looking forlornly at the sand. “How come I don't hear her much anymore?”

  Nova sat between Coda and Zoey. There was compassion in her eyes. “This is your experience. Her job was to point you to Ohm Totem, which she did, and that's all she was to do. She may speak to you here and there, but it would interfere with your lessons if she spoke with you too often. You must learn from your own experiences. It's the most effective way.”

  Zoey didn't reply. She was too depressed. Nova wrapped her tail around her as Coda stared into the distance. The Bards sat in a circle, singing and carrying on.

  Everything was happy that day, except for Zoey. Coda could feel sadness swell all over her. He knew she wanted to just go home and fall into Mom's arms, crying the day away. Coda didn't know San too well, but she must have made a big impact on Zoey. Coda sighed to himself. I wish she didn't have to go through this.

  He looked up and realized the stars had come out. He smiled as Chev gently prodded him with his trunk, saying, “We're going soon.”

  “Going where?” Coda wondered.

  “To the Circle of Elders.” There was a hint of fear in Chev's voice.

  “In a moment,” said Nova. She turned to Zoey, continuing a conversation they were having. She leaned over, brushing her cheek against Zoey’s. “One ability that a VioletLight has is the power to help a deceased soul move on. We help lead them to the light. It's a way that we honor our loved ones.”

  Zoey didn't completely understand where Nova was going with this. Coda perked up his ears. He was intrigued.

  Nova continued, “I spent many moments today searching for San in the after-realm of The Great Spirit. I found nothing.”

  Zoey and Coda exchanged befuddled glances. They didn't know anything about an after-realm.

  Numee interjected, “She wasn't there? Do you think Crepus did something with her soul?”

  “No. I think something else.”

  Zoey's eyes lit up. “That she's alive?”

  “Yes,” Nova nodded. “Those were my exact thoughts.”

  Taregan hopped up and stood in front of Nova. “But, she was clearly dead.”

  Nova shook her head. “I'm not so sure about that.”

  Numee paced back and forth. “I knew Crepus was growing stronger. He brought her back to life I bet! But why?”

  “The answer will come to us shortly,” replied Nova. “We must go now. The Circle of Elders awaits.”

  ∞

  They stood in front of the southern Fog, only a stone’s throw from the Spruce Hollow. Gathered with them were the nine elders, all with indigo colored crystals, except for Nova’s violet crystal.

  Coda was a little surprised to see that Taregan was one of the elders in the circle, but wasn't surprised to see Honani—the badger he admired above most.

  Ke eyed Coda, giving him a wry smile. “These next few steps aren't like the joy ride in the Zolt you had last night.”

  How did he know about last night? Did Nova tell him?

  Ke winked, then walked directly into the Fog. It swirled around him, until the thickness of it completely hid him from view.

  That's not hard, thought Coda.

  Chev nudged Coda forward. Coda looked over his shoulder to see Zoey standing on Chev's back. Her thoughts were far off and her eyes were welled with tears. She must still be thinking of San, thought Coda.

  Nova walked up and stood beside Coda. Isi, the deer he had met a day ago, stood next to her. Nova dipped her head to both children. “When you walk through the Fog, stay true to yourself. Don't react to anything. Do you understand?”

  Coda drew back. What was inside the fog? Was that why Chev was so scared?

  Coda simply nodded, then eyed Chev. He crossed his eyes, making a face at Coda, doing his best to lighten things up. It didn't work. Coda's mind was filled with dread. What was he getting himself into?

  Nova brushed her fur against his and assured him, “I'll be by your side.”

  The red-tailed hawk he remembered seeing above him the day he was on top of the Large Boulder jumped up and flew through the Fog. A puff of mist flared as the hawk went through, vanishing.

  Next came the giraffe—the one who leads the bards in song. His head bobbed back and forth as he slowly walked into the Fog. He, too, quickly disappeared into the thick mist. Then two more, a hummingbird and a black bear, walked through, leaving the ones Coda knew best waiting behind.

  Honani tapped Coda on the shoulder. “I'll be on the other side. I'll see you there. And Coda,” he said solemnly, “remember when entering the Fog, walk with focus. Focus onto the other side, and do not look at anything else.” He added, “Think only that you have already made it through the Fog as you enter it. Exiting the Fog on the other side is the goal. Make that your sole focus. Understand?”

  Coda merely nodded. Honani turned and walked through the Fog, vanishing in an instant, just like the others.

  “My turn,” said Taregan. Coda felt a swoosh of air over his head. Looking up, he saw Taregan dive into the Fog, then get swallowed up by the swirling mist.

  Nova repeated, “Empty your mind and proceed from your heart.” She and Isi took several steps forward, beckoning Coda to follow. Chev and Zoey were a tail length behind. A second later, he felt small talons dig into his back.

  “What?” Coda twisted his head to look over his shoulder. He was relieved to see that it was only his sister.

  She grinned. “I want to go with you,” she said, pressing the side of her head into his neck. “I trust my brother more than anyone in the world.”

  Nova nodded, then raced forward into the Fog. Isi was just a step behind.

  “Well, here I go.” Chev did a little dance, cracking a large smile, waiting for applause. When none came, he shrugged, then closed his eyes, chanting, “This is only temporary. This is only temporary.” He blathered all the way into the Fog.

  For a long while, Coda stared into the Fog. Fear pulsed through him. He didn't know what to expect and didn't want to find out. He was jostled to his senses when Zoey asked, “Why aren't we moving?"

  “Um, I'm scared," admitted Coda.

  “Me too,” said Zoey.

  “What should I do?” Coda looked up and down the fog. It swirled, but didn't look too threatening. But why couldn't he move?

  Just then Nova emerged out of the Fog. Her strong shoulders flexed as she held her head high. The most delicate, gentle smile was on her face. She walked toward them and touched their heads with her long, white tail. "It's okay. I promise.”

  Instantly, Coda felt lighter and full of confidence. The fear had, for the moment, vanished into thin air. He padded forward, stepping steadily into the Fog. The last thing he heard just before entering was Nova shouting, “That's how you do it. Fear only resides in your heart. The fog doesn't determine our lives, we do!"

  Coda felt a sudden thickness surround him and a deep chill engulfed him. The Fog seemed endless and empty. Coda felt Zoey shift on his back, clutching his fur more tightly. She remained silent, as if waiting for something terrible to happen.

  Then it began. The Fog rushed around them like a swirling tornado. It felt like water rushing against his body mixed with horrendous winds. A penetrating, jet engine-like sound pierced his eardrums. He lowered his head, pushing forward, pressing his strong paws hard against the earth. His eyes were open just a slit as the rushing fog tortured him like a sandstorm.

  "Coda!" yelled Zoey above the torment of wind. "Are you okay?"

  He pushed himself to take step after step, though it seemed he was merely walking in place. "I
don't know if I'm getting anywhere!"

  A vile laughter shot through the Fog. It was Crepus. His image appeared to their right. He flashed in and out from the mass that swirled about. His red eyes penetrated through Coda's thoughts. At first, Coda felt a tinge of anger toward Zoey. She was holding him back, weighing him down by clutching to him so tightly. He shook off the feeling and looked forward. Those weren't his thoughts. Those were Crepus' Dark Arts at work.

  He trekked forward, but felt an energetic pull at his head. He had the sudden urge to look back into Crepus's eyes. But why? He fought against the feeling, forcing himself to look forward, locking his neck muscles to stop from turning his head.

  His head turned in spite of his best efforts to resist.

  Around Crepus was an oval sphere of red light. The red light changed to black, then slowly crept through the fog toward them. Zoey shifted again, but held on tightly. The blackness wove its way through the Fog, inching eerily forward.

  Coda couldn't turn his head back toward his goal—the other side of the Fog—no matter how hard he tried, and as the blackness neared, Coda knew it would hit them.

  And it did.

  The black mass surrounded them and silence filled the Fog. Then, terrifying screams darted at Coda like frigid icicles falling from the sky. He shuddered and fell to the ground, putting his paws over his ears. He couldn't take it. It was just too much. He wanted to close his eyes, but some mysterious force kept them open.

  With all his might, he stood up.

  “Go back to where you came from,” commanded Crepus's voice. It was frightening and squeezed his heart. Fear began to devour him and he felt lost, as if he'd walked into a jungle of terror, not knowing where to go to next. His mind spun in circles and he became dizzy. He wanted to scream. Instead, he yelled, “Zoey! Go on without me!”

  There was silence. Not because of the absence of Zoey's reply, but from the lack of any sound at all. The glaring screams, the rushing jet engine sounds of the fog, and Crepus's voice was gone. It was completely and absolutely soundless.