by Mali Baker
She looked at all three of them in turn. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I have to leave. I have to find my sister; she’s been kidnapped.’ She looked up at No Name. He didn’t say anything, just stepped aside, clearing the path. Neith and Maolan did the same, both wearing mild expressions on their faces.
River found her courage and then took off towards the path, away from Indigo House. She hoped No Name would follow her but she couldn’t feel his presence. She kept her head low, not wanting to make eye contact with any of No Name’s friends, who were now closely watching her every step. But she had only taken seven or eight paces before the wind started to howl around her. Like a tornado, it surrounded her and she couldn’t push through it. River could hear everyone around her beginning to twitter.
‘Protect yourself, River,’ Neith called out to her. Maolan ran towards River, getting as close as he could without being dragged into it himself.
‘What?’ River yelled back, turning to face them, but she could barely see through the whirlwind of air that had trapped her.
‘Use your power, to protect yourself.’ Maolan’s voice was loud despite the howl of the wind but she had no idea what he meant. She stood very still for a minute, trying to keep her balance. She let the wind continue around her and thought of her dream. She saw Violet and No Name talking in the garden, remembering what they had said to each other and how she had seen light flow from his heart to hers.
‘My dream,’ River shouted. ‘Violet did some sort of hand signal and she said “RALA” as she did it?’
No Name smiled at Neith, reminiscing, not that River was able to see him. ‘Ah, yes. It’s been a while since we have used that. In fact we stopped soon after Violet left that day,’ he said.
‘What does it mean?’ River shouted, trying to be heard above the violent howl of the wind.
‘Right Arm, Left Arm.’ Every being outside Indigo House spoke in unison, reciting the words like a sacred text. River still didn’t understand exactly what it meant. The wind was fierce around her now and she was struggling to stay upright.
‘Ground yourself,’ Maolan shouted. ‘You need to grow your roots into the ground.’ He could see her now being bounced around inside the tornado.
‘Think like a tree, River: push the light downward – like the roots of a tree,’ Neith said. ‘You need to plant yourself in the earth, otherwise you will take off.’
River could feel how strong the force was around her and she was starting to feel afraid she would be whisked away from them any minute. Neith’s words replayed in her head. She fought as hard as she could against the wind. She forced her whole body down, as close to the ground as she could. Closing her eyes, she thought of the light, her light. She heard commotion around her as the others discussed what to do but she didn’t let it distract her. Adora flew over the top of the tornado and into the middle of the rage.
‘From your heart, River. You can do it,’ Adora said, sending the words swirling around with the wind. River jolted and opened her eyes. Adora was doing her best to fight the wind, weaving in and out of the gusts. River followed Adora with her eyes as she flew and it calmed her. She focused like never before on grounding herself. There was a moment of complete silence, just before she saw her light begin to emerge from her heart, enveloping her whole body. It shot into the ground and she gasped at the sight of it: it was incredible. She saw roots of light burrow into the earth and she felt as strong as an iron pillar. The wind dispersed into the bright blue sky above her, revealing every single person that had been outside Indigo House, all standing in a circle around River. The backs of their hands were tightly placed together in the gesture River had seen Violet make, and from each of their palms flowed the most vibrant coloured lights, joining them as one.
CHAPTER 19
Everyone Has a Power
River had honestly never seen anything so spectacular. It was like the most magnificent firework display but without the big bangs. All around her was calm.
She looked at Maolan first. He was concentrating intensely; she got the impression he was new to this too. Her own bright white light was sparkling around her. It was the first time she had seen light emerge from her own heart and she wondered if it meant anything. Adora rested on River’s shoulder, her poor wings exhausted from the resistance of the wind. Slowly the circle of Warriors relaxed their arms, placing them by their sides, but the light continued to float around and through them all.
‘You did it, River!’ Sedina came running over to her. ‘You found your power.’
River smiled at her excitedly, although she still didn’t completely understand what she had done. ‘It felt so good, Sedina – the light, it felt so warm and I felt so strong. But… I don’t know how I made it appear.’
‘You believed in yourself, River.’ It sounded so simple when she said it like that. ‘You truly believed in yourself.’ Sedina hugged her tightly.
‘But Adora told me what to do,’ River confessed. ‘She helped me.’
‘River, Adora can only say what you already know. She confirmed that what you were thinking was right, but, had you not known what to do, she couldn’t have given you the answer.’
River was still confused by what had happened. No Name, Neith and Maolan joined them. ‘Seems you are stronger than you thought, River,’ Neith said, complimenting her. ‘I think we are ready to set off on the path again.’
River was pleased to hear they would be joining her. ‘What does the light mean? What does it actually do?’ she asked.
‘The light protects us, it guides us, but most of all it connects us all as one,’ No Name began explaining as he gestured for them to start walking away from the crowd. ‘As we have discovered, over many years, the light can do many things, but should only be used in the name of love.’
‘But some use it for the wrong reasons,’ Maolan butted in.
River’s body went icy cold at the memory of Eleon’s flashing skin.
‘Like Eleon?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ Maolan said. He clearly didn’t like Eleon. Adora ruffled her wings on Maolan’s cheek. She was telling him off.
‘Eleon is not evil, River,’ No Name said, looking at Maolan with teaching eyes. ‘He is temporarily misguided.’
‘Everyone has powers, River, in your world and in ours. We all just need to figure out how to use them. Eleon was traumatised by Violet’s disappearance. Sometimes people can behave in ways we may think aren’t right, when the truth is, they are unable to see clearly for themselves,’ Neith said.
‘As a matter of fact it seems you have discovered quite a lot about yourself recently. You are very special. As much as it is hard for you to see, Eleon needs your help – ’
‘But…he has…’ River interrupted.
‘I know,’ Neith said, stopping River. ‘And, believe me, I want nothing more than to reunite you and Kit, but we need to do it in the right way. That’s what makes the Warriors of RALA so powerful: we lead with love.’
Neith was direct but her voice comforted River. She trusted everything Neith said, despite finding it hard to accept. But how could she find kindness towards Eleon after all he had done? That would be difficult.
They had reached the outer edge of the forest. Indigo House was still in sight, but a few more steps on to the path and the trees would block it from their view.
‘We shouldn’t waste any more time; we need to get the crystal back, and quickly.’ Maolan said, cutting to the chase.
‘You’re right, son,’ Neith agreed.
‘If Eleon can’t use the crystal, why is it so bad that he has taken it?’ River asked.
‘There is every chance he may be able to force Kit to use it for him.’ Neith looked at No Name, almost asking for permission to tell the last part of the story. ‘If she does, and they leave RALA, we are not sure you will be able to get home.’
‘Then let’s go,’
River said, with a new-found sense of urgency in her voice. This really was a serious situation.
‘You three go on ahead,’ Neith said, nodding at River, Adora and Maolan. No Name, Sedina and Neith held back and let the young Warriors continue to walk along the path. ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear,’ Neith said to No Name, winking at him and creating a flash of light from the palms of her hands.
He chuckled his deep, hearty laugh. ‘Ah, Neith, I think this may be one of the greatest days of her life,’
‘Well, you have both done a great job in getting her this far,’ Neith said, smiling at No Name. She turned to Sedina. ‘You must stay here and watch over Indigo House, Sedina. No one can enter, no matter who they are, especially not Eleon. We must do all we can to protect River and Kit while they are in RALA, at whatever cost.’
Sedina knew the responsibility was a big one but hearing it out loud made it real. She entwined her hands in their signature symbol that had now been resurrected. She flapped her wings into flight and delicately flew back to the front door. ‘Warriors of RALA,’ she called to all those who stood waiting outside the house. ‘It is time for us to come together again. We must do whatever it takes to protect River, in whatever shape or form you wish to appear to her, but it is vital that she guides you first. You know the rules!’ There was mumbling in the crowd. She took a deep breath; the next bit was harder. ‘Take your place along the path and do your best to bring Eleon back safely too, but… if he becomes too dangerous…’ She paused and swallowed. She was doing her duty, but it was hard when she loved her brother so much. ‘If he becomes too dangerous, do what you must to save Kit and River and retrieve the crystal.’
All the remaining Warriors transformed themselves into tiny balls of vibrant light and fled in all different directions away from Indigo House.
Neith turned to look at the house. She closed her eyes and held her hands out in front of her. Within a few seconds the most beautiful indigo-coloured light shot out of her palms and began circling the house. A huge bubble formed, shielding the house, and Sedina, who was standing beside the front door.
Sedina closed her eyes and a gold light started spiralling from her heart, filling every inch of the bubble.
‘Well done, Sedina,’ Neith said, proudly. ‘You always were a joy to teach.’
Sedina’s eyes twinkled with gratitude. ‘Thank you. I learnt from the best.’
‘It takes persistence and determination, River,’ Maolan said. He had been talking non-stop for over an hour about being a true Warrior. He was very serious. River was trying her best to take everything in but it was overwhelming. There was so much she needed to learn. They had stayed on the path, walking perfectly in time with one another. Right, left, right, left. They were side by side with Adora sleeping peacefully on River’s shoulder, while Neith and No Name followed behind.
‘So what else can I do with my powers?’ River said. ‘Pow-pow,’ she teased, tensing her biceps. She was eager to use her new party trick; plus she wanted to change the subject before he could start lecturing her again.
‘Patience – you’ll see,’ Maolan said.
‘Why does everyone keep saying that to me?’ River said, rolling her eyes. She hadn’t meant to be funny but Maolan laughed at her. His laugh was the nicest sounding laugh she’d ever heard. It was boyish compared to the way he looked, and infectious; she couldn’t help but laugh too.
‘What?’ she giggled. ‘Why are you laughing at me?’
‘You’re such a girl,’ he joked. ‘Why me? Blah, blah, blah…’ He rolled his eyes, mimicking her, and she lightly punched his arm. The two began to wrestle playfully, their lights growing brighter the louder they laughed.
‘Just what she needs,’ No Name said to Neith as he observed the two Warriors. ‘He will help her confidence grow. She needs a friend who understands exactly what she is going through.’
‘I think so too,’ Neith said, smiling as she remembered Maolan’s transformation into a Warrior. Neith wanted more than anything to see River reach her potential as a Warrior Princess. But did she really have what it took to face the path ahead of her?
CHAPTER 20
A Leap of Faith
The two of them wrestled on a long stretch of grass at the side of the path, before collapsing on to their backs. The trees were sparse and the land open. River had tears streaming down her cheeks; she hadn’t laughed this much in ages. Like two long-lost friends they lay side by side, looking up at the sky.
‘That cloud looks like my grandpa,’ River giggled, knowing Grandpa wouldn’t have found that very funny at all had he been there.
Neith and No Name stood admiring the long stretch of land ahead, a potential shortcut across RALA to get to Kit, should River take it. Neith watched as River and Maolan continued to laugh with each other, finding funny pictures in the clouds. River had no idea how far she had come on the path. She was more of a Warrior than she knew. To be here now and not have given up was an admirable quality.
Neith took off her shoes. She loved to feel the earth beneath her feet. She began to run, and River felt her pass at great speed. She rolled over on to her stomach, watching Neith. Resting on her elbows, she followed the trail of indigo light that floated behind Neith like the jetstream of an aeroplane. It twisted and dived across the blue sky, creating hypnotising patterns. The grass parted as Neith ran, making a clear runway for her. River thought she would take off any minute.
Then Maolan shot up after her and started running too. River noticed the strength in his body, every muscle defined. No Name followed, gliding through the air with every stride he took, his arms spread wide, like wings. They all moved so differently but were equally fascinating to watch.
River got up and took her shoes off. The grass grew over her bare feet, sewing her to the earth. She watched as her three new friends came to a stop. They each wore a layer of light, like a second skin, but their colours were different. No Name’s was a blinding white and it spread like the feathers of angel’s wings from his shoulders to the floor. Neith’s was a thick shade of indigo, flowing around her like the waves of the ocean; and Maolan wore a solid green shell. Standing still in a line, one beside the other, they looked almost make-believe. Like cartoon characters she had made up in her imagination. They had run so far that they looked no bigger than a finger-length in height from where River was.
Adora stayed behind with River, fluttering around her. Despite wanting to get to Kit, River didn’t want to rush the walk to meet her friends. She wanted to savour the journey. She wanted to feel every bit of grass brush the side of her feet. She wanted to run her hands through every bit of the blue sky around her.
Flapping her four wings, Adora flew in front of River. Her big beady eyes gleamed like a glass mirror. At first River thought she was looking at her own reflection but then she realised Adora was showing her something. It was a vision of Kit alone in the forest.
‘Adora, tell Kit I’m coming for her,’ River said, and Adora flew off towards the horizon to deliver the message to Kit.
As River approached the others she realised that they had in fact run to the edge of a cliff. Clouds were floating around and above them. She was surprised: she had felt as though she was going uphill slightly, but not so much as to be surrounded by clouds! She had never seen a cloud up close. She reached out her hand to touch one. Surprisingly, it was denser than she had imagined, and she was able to stroke it as though it were a fluffy toy.
They all stood in silence for a few seconds before No Name spoke.
‘Trust, River,’ he said. ‘A Warrior knows that she or he must trust and believe in themselves.’ He turned his head to look at her. ‘You have learnt to trust yourself. I am very proud of you.’
‘I have,’ River said, genuinely meaning it. ‘I really do trust myself, I do.’ She grew a few inches taller in self-belief as she said it. River watched as the clouds in
front of her aligned, making a perfect path to another cliff opposite. She counted seven clouds in total.
‘Take the first step,’ she said to herself. River bravely stepped on to the first cloud and then the second. It swayed slightly from side to side beneath her and she felt a wave of nervousness make her hesitate to step on to the third. She placed her hands on the cloud and peeked over the edge. She gulped, seeing how high up she was. She turned back to see if the others had followed. The first cloud was evaporating right before her eyes. It had been as solid as a rock when she’d stepped on to it, and now it was nothing but a dispersing mist. There was no way she could get back on to the cliff’s edge and, worse than that, no way the others could join her.
‘Wait,’ she said, trying to stop the cloud from disappearing. ‘What’s happening?’ She looked at No Name, panicking as she floated alone, mid-air, on a cloud! ‘How will you get across?’
‘If you need us, we’ll find a way to you,’ No Name said, calm as a dove.
River had no way back, so before any more clouds could disappear she took a leap of faith from the second to the third cloud and continued all the way to the other cliff.
When River had safely bridged the gap, No Name, Neith and Maolan transformed into balls of light, just like the other Warriors had done back at the house. They flew up into the sky and rested there, awaiting River’s call. If she needed them, they were only a wish away.
CHAPTER 21
The Stars and the Moon
The opposite cliff looked very different from the open land River had just left behind. It was much more exotic. Dozens of birds and butterflies flew above and around her, and there were lots of fruit trees. River grabbed a few plums and gobbled them down. While she ate, she heard the sound of running water, not too far away. She decided to follow the sound and came to a small waterfall. Small rocks made stepping stones on the surface of the water. She could just about fit one foot on at a time. She balanced like a tightrope walker to get to the waterfall. She managed to squeeze both feet on to the last rock and then stood straight as a pencil, tilting the top half of her body forward slightly to catch some water in the palms of her hands.
