The PureLights of Ohm Totem (20 page)

Zoey felt a paw underneath her beak. It gently lifted Zoey's head. She saw Numee's motherly gaze. “Zoey, here in the Sihu Tribe we enjoy being spoken to.” She nodded once to Zoey with reassurance, asking, “Do you understand?”

Zoey nodded as Numee continued. “You are one of us. There's no need to feel shy or insecure around here. Your voice is beautiful—speak up. So, in every moment from this point forward, you have our permission to feel secure, compassionate, and strong. Practice that every day.” Numee gazed into Zoey's eyes. “I want you to tell yourself, 'I'm secure, compassionate, and strong'.”

Zoey mimicked her, saying, “I'm secure, compassionate, and strong.” She felt a little weird and hoped no one else was listening.

“Wonderful,” replied Numee. Her eyes were proud, like a mother watching her child successfully perform something new. Zoey felt drawn to her, just like she did with her own mother.

“Okay you two,” Numee pointed to San and Zoey. “Follow me. I don't want you flying right now. Not until we can get you to the Wing's and Paw's training meadow.”

They followed Numee to Deer Meadow. On the way, Zoey noticed a large zebra standing next to a small maple tree. The grass was lush all around him. She saw the zebra's feet shift slightly when he glanced at them. A squirrel stood next to him. The zebra leaned down to the squirrel and whispered something. Zoey sensed, and she could tell Numee did as well, that these two were holding a secret.

The zebra realized that Zoey, San, and Numee were staring with interest and quickly hushed the squirrel just as it was about to speak. They looked at Zoey with sullen eyes and fake smiles.

Numee laughed, “Don't mind them. They spend their time trying to recruit other spirit animals. It's silly.”

“For what?” asked Zoey.

“They want to create a government. They think it will be the best way to stop the Dims.” As they walked past them, Zoey sensed another feeling. She didn't know what it was, but it didn't feel right. She looked back at them with innocent eyes. The Zebra smiled even wider, but the squirrel, for some reason, looked baffled.

“Why are they looking at me like that?” Zoey asked.

“Who knows?” replied Numee.

San flapped her wings wildly, but kept her feet on the ground. “We're about there!” She nudged Zoey, “Are you ready?”

Zoey didn't reply. She felt apprehension run through her body.
What am I getting myself into?

Up ahead was Deer Meadow and they were heading straight for the Snow Tree. Sitting near the Snow Tree were what looked to be forty or so animals of all types and sizes. They must be some of the students, waiting for something. And there, right next to the tree, stood a tall elephant. Was it Chev? When she saw her brother next to him, she knew it was Chev.

“Coda!” screamed Zoey. Her excitement startled both San and Numee. She flew ahead of them, forgetting Numee's orders not to fly, landing happily next to her brother.

Coda grinned, “Hey Zoey.” He dug his claws back and forth into the soft earth. “What do you think of all this?”

Before Zoey could answer, Chev patted her back with his trunk. “Hey little lady! How are you this fine sunny morning?”

She looked up into Chev's friendly eyes, “I'm good.” And, it was true. It felt good to be with her brother again.

“It's your first day of school. Are you nervous?” asked Chev.

Zoey shrank back a little. She disliked the sound of “school.” “I don't know. What do we do?”

“Well, you walk over there where the other animals and birds are. You know, the Wings and the Paws. You take a place among them and viola! You learn.”

“Learn what?” asked Coda.

A woman's voice made Zoey twirl around. “The Art of Defense. I'll be leading the Paws today.” It was Nova. The sparkle of lights glistened around her as she bowed. “Are you two ready to start?”

“I am!” came a voice behind Nova. It was San. She was walking with Numee.

Numee looked serious. “Nova? Can I talk to you after the training?”

“What's the matter, Numee?”

Numee nodded, “Nothing we can't handle.”

“Shall we talk now?”

“It can wait.”

Nova brushed her tail against Numee’s fur. “Keep calm, Numee. The children are safe because of you.” Nova gestured her tail toward the Snow Tree. “San! Coda! Zoey! This way, please.”

∞

“The Art of Defense has nothing to do with fighting,” began Nova. She sat on a small mound in front of the Snow Tree. “It's a non-violent technique to keep you from being harmed, and to guide your opponent away from you.”

Zoey watched from the back row of animals as Nova gave the lesson and her thoughts began to wander. Coda sat to Zoey's left and San sat to her right. Chev was nowhere to be seen. She had no idea where he'd disappeared to. Still, he's a bard and no doubt had different things to do.
But really, what's a bard again?

Nova made eye contact with each of the students as she spoke. “The Art of Defense is a form of calm, self-control. It allows you to control your opponent, or several opponents, at once. It allows you to control a situation before a severe or deadly incident may occur. If your opponent does perish, even after you've mastered this Art, know that it came only as a last resort in the defense of your own life. That's your right as a living Being according to the PureLight Order—the right to protect yourself.”

Nova paused. She closed her eyes, turning her head toward the sky, as if receiving information from an unknown source. Then, opening her eyes, she continued by saying, “I'm here to teach you how to master this art. You all have it within you, having been placed in your heart the moment you were born. It's a form of love, and even the Dims are born with this, but they have forgotten how to use it. I'm here to give you the directions to find it within yourselves, and instructions of what to do once it's found.”

Zoey could feel the hearts of many spirit animals around her tighten when Nova mentioned the Dims. She sensed that none of the students had ever faced a Dim. To them, the Dims were unknown—something to be scared of. Zoey’s heart clutched when she remembered the lion and the two coyotes.
They were scary.
She realized that she also feared the Dims.

“The Dims never develop this art,” continued Nova. “Instead, they learn fear and become fighters. The love inside of them gets lost. Forgotten.”

Zoey looked around at the many animals and birds in the gathering. They were all attentive, looking pleased to be receiving this knowledge from Nova. Some even looked grateful. Then, a sudden urge rose in Zoey’s heart, pulling her in the direction of Nova, who was staring benevolently at her, as if waiting for her mind to wander back to her direction. Nova nodded at Zoey when she made eye contact, and continued the lesson.

“If a severe incident develops, then you've momentarily lost control. We'll teach you how to gain it back.

“Your opponent,” continued Nova as she gazed off into the distance, toward the northern Fog, “deserves neither punishment nor death, no matter what the situation.” She looked intently at her students. Everyone was quiet, and all ears were pointed in her direction.

Zoey shook her head. That didn't sound right.

No injuries? Then what were all those dead and knocked out birds lying on the ground doing if they weren't injured? They fell from the sky and hit the ground. That had to hurt.
Zoey, again, wondered what she had gotten herself into.

“Sometimes injuries, and even death, can occur.” Explained Nova, as if reading Zoey's thoughts. “But if it can be avoided, then do so. Never, and I repeat, never do we end the life of a Dim unless it's absolutely unavoidable. Remember, war is unpredictable. Death occurs on both sides, even if the intent is otherwise.”

After a moment, she continued by saying, “There is no winner and there is no loser in the Art of Defense. If you think you've won or lost, then you've entered into the minefield of your own thoughts—the minefield where doubt, judgment, and competition live. Once entered, the Art of Defense disappears from your heart, and fighting enters. Our goal is to avoid fighting. Fighting only brings more fighting, creating a never-ending circle of pain and fear. Our goal is peace. And peace may never be attained by being the aggressor.”

Nova paused again, scanning the students. “Fighting cannot eliminate fighting, period, and never has. Only peace can. Just like darkness cannot give light to darkness. Only one thing can give light to darkness—light. Fear cannot eliminate fear. Only love, the most powerful force in the universe, can. Don't expect to heal a spiteful person by returning spite. It doesn't work that way. Peace, love, and forgiveness are the most powerful weapons you possess. If you don't continually use these powerful weapons, then you’ll have an angry attitude with a short lifespan.

“We use these weapons like a dance. Your opponent is your dance partner. You simply lead the dance, not because you're a better spirit animal, but because you know the dance steps and they do not.”

Zoey was bored and nudged Coda's shoulder. “What is she talking about? This is dumb.”

“Shush. I'm listening.”

Zoey shuffled her feet back and forth, giving her something to do.

“Zoey?” called Nova's voice, arching over the crowd in front of her.

Zoey's head jolted up and pang of anxiety hit her chest. Did she do something wrong?

“Do you have a question?”

Zoey held her breath, quickly shaking her head “no”.

San raised a wing.

Nova grinned, “Yes, San?”

San stepped forward and puffed her chest feathers. Zoey could tell she wanted to feel powerful and confident in front of Nova. She wanted to impress her. San cleared her voice with a couple of 'ahems'.

“Zoey's a little shy, so it's hard for her to speak her thoughts in front of other people.” San then pursed her beak, “No, no, no. That's not right. I think she doesn't speak her mind to older people. I think she's fine with her friends—those who are the same age as her.”

San nudged Zoey, whispering, “Come on. Tell her.”

Zoey, feeling singled out as all eyes in the audience were now on her, nudged San back. “What did you do that for?”

San seemed puzzled, as if suddenly realizing that Zoey didn't want San or anybody else talking about her. “Didn't you just ask the black panther kid over there, 'what’s she talking about?'”

Zoey nodded, “Yes, but you don't need to tell everyone.”

“Okay, sorry,” San whispered back, then gestured with her wing to Nova. Then she said to Zoey, “Anyway, ask Nova your question and she'll explain it to you in a way you'll understand.”

Zoey, embarrassed, looked down at the ground. Her cheeks flushed red, but her feathers hid the fact. “I...um...I don't understand what you're saying.”

Her voice was quiet and, like usual, she mumbled.

Nova leaped off the mound. “Everyone, speak amongst yourselves. I'll be but a moment.”

Nova approached Coda, San, and Zoey with a determined look. She padded around the crowd, glancing over her left shoulder. “Chev!” Chev came bounding around the Snow Tree, tripping over a large root, falling hard onto his chin. He skidded to a halt a couple of yards away from Nova.

The crowd paused and silence filled the meadow, then laughter erupted and cheering ensued. Chev's brows rose, surprised by the sudden cheer. He gathered himself and stood up, shaking off the dirt, simultaneously bowing for his audience. “Thank you all. Thank you all. The entertainer has arrived, but must keep it short. I have other duties to attend. Mingle amongst yourselves.” With that, he dipped his head and held it there for a long applause. Once the cheering dissipated, he walked over to Nova.

“Was that a nice entrance?” he asked her.

“As clumsy as ever,” Nova replied. “It changed the energy of the students and for that, I thank you, even if it wasn't your intent. Now we need to help the energy of one of our friends here. She's comfortable around you, so I thought your presence would help her.”

Zoey almost gasped out loud when Nova pointed a paw at her. Zoey blinked a couple times.
What did I do?

“Zoey?” Nova tilted her head like most spirit animals did in Ohm Totem. “San made a wonderful point. She noticed that you talk liberally and confidently amongst friends, but not in front of elders.”

San beamed from Nova's recognition and Zoey shrugged her shoulders.
What's so wrong with that?
With that thought, the Snow Tree entered her mind, saying,
Remember, Zoey, that the sun’s warmth and brightness are like you. You were created just like the sun. You are here to shine. Everyone would feel the wonderful qualities of the sun in you if you showed them how bright you truly are
.

“That's true,” said Nova.

“What's true?” wondered Zoey.

“What the Snow Tree says.”

“Oh,” Zoey innocently looked up at Nova, “can you hear her, too?”

“I can, but most here in Ohm Totem can't. There have been many moons of struggle and they've forgotten how to listen. You, however, will always hear. You were born to listen. It's a gift.”

Zoey looked at Coda. He was sitting quietly next to her, watching Zoey and Nova speak. Chev and San remained quiet as well. She had the feeling that she was being ganged up on. A flame of anger rose in her belly and she eyed her feet. “Well, Coda can hear the Snow Tree, too.” Her voice was low, barely audible.