The PureLights of Ohm Totem (39 page)

“Okay,” he agreed quietly. “But, what did the scroll say?”

Nova hesitated. “It's not for you to concern yourself about. You must rest.”

“But, you said, 'This can't be'.” Nova wrinkled her nose. She didn't want to tell him, but why? He persisted. “Why did you say that, Nova?”

Nova sat in front of Coda, tenderly stroking his cheek with her tail. “It said, ‘The sacred heart has sung her sacred song and the dragon listens intently. The dragon whispers for her and she shies away. Death arrives at her doorstep, malevolently.’”

Coda frantically tried to decode the meaning.
Is she going to die?
“I thought you said she'll be safe?” Coda tried to run toward the Fog as fast as he could, but after a few steps the pain still ached in his side and he fell back down.

“They mean nothing. Scrolls are mere prophecy, and not set in stone. They are warnings to be heeded.”

Coda stared into her eyes. She sounded confident, making Coda feel the same way. Nova then bowed to him, and turned to go. Looking back, she said, “You're her Guardian, Coda. You'll find her. It's what you do.”

“But, Crepus will kill her if we don't get to her fast.”

Nova shook her head. “He'll do no such thing.”

“Yes he will!” cried Coda.

Nova nodded. “I know you fear this, but know that if Crepus kills your sister, then he has no chance of survival.”

Coda shifted on his paws as he stood in front of the northern Fog. It spanned the entire distance of the island from east to west. There was no way around it, except through it. Last night, he had entered the southern Fog, which was no walk in the park. The northern Fog was probably no different. Glancing left and right, he inwardly cringed. He didn't want to go through the Fog again. Then he thought of Zoey. Crepus had kidnapped her! He swore to himself that Crepus was not going to get away with it. He bared his teeth in a growl. A stupid Fog wasn't going to stop him. Somehow, he'd find a way to rescue her.

Coda pondered his changing feelings for his sister. Wanting his sister to be safe was odd. He never knew he cared this much for her, but here in Ohm Totem things had changed quickly. Only a day ago he had thought she was annoying. Now he had do anything in his power to make sure she got back home, happily doing her irritating things again. His stomach twisted into a ball of fury. He wanted to take on the entire Dim army.

“That's exactly what Crepus Dim wants, Coda,” Nova replied in response to his silent thoughts. “He wants rage. He wants you to display and feel all the emotions of fear. He feeds off of it, especially inside the Fog.”

Coda nodded in understanding. “I know. I just want my sister back. She’s…she's okay, right?”

“She's okay. I trust Crepus with her, but there's something else out there, beyond the Fog, that I don't trust. Last night's scroll warned us about it. I can't quite put my paw on what it is.”

Coda glared at Nova, ignoring her last words, aghast at what she just said. “You trust Crepus?”

“For one simple reason. He knows that if Zoey dies, then he surely dies. He'll do everything in his power to keep her alive.” Nova then bounded forward as fast as a bullet, parting the Fog for a millisecond, giving Coda a glimpse of a large hill on the other side. Just as quickly, the Fog closed again.

What? If Zoey dies, then he dies? Why would that happen?
Coda heard those same words last night, but didn’t quite understand them.

A hefty pat on his back prompted Coda to glance behind him. It was Chev. “I guess I'll see you when you get back from the Dim Lands.”

“You're not going?”

Chev shook his head as he peered into the Fog, his face twisted with reluctance. “Nah, I don't want to.” Suddenly, he jumped up in surprise. “Ow! Who bit me?”

“I bit you, you silly oaf,” chided Numee. “You're going whether you like it or not.” She nipped at his back leg again. Chev quickly moved out of range of any further nips. “Come on, Chev. Get moving,” ordered Numee.

Chev sighed. “What happened to free will?” He shrugged. “Oh boy. Here we go again.” He closed his eyes, took in a rather large breath, then ran through the swirling mist. It whirled around him like tongues slurping up a meal, swallowing him whole.

Coda glanced behind him to see Shikoba, the red tailed hawk, and Numee standing there. They nodded at him. He guessed that meant for him to go. Gathering himself, he stared at the Fog. He took in a deep breath, just like Chev, and whispered, “I can do this. I can do this.”

Here I go.
He closed his eyes, and entered the Fog.

Silence seemed to swallow him. He opened his eyes, glancing around suspiciously, waiting for Crepus to jump out at him at any moment. He flinched, ducking down when a sudden roar of screams flew past him, trailing off to his left. Then he looked to his left and saw a dark, floating mass forming like blood weeping from a wound. Above him soared another scream. Taking his eyes away from the dark mass, he crawled forward, but his mind told him to turn around and remain in the Sihu Tribe.
Nova could deal with it. Nova could save Zoey. They don't need me on this trip. At least not on this day. Maybe tomorrow?

He shook his head, clawing the ground.
No
, he thought,
I must save my sister!
He looked left again, seeing the dark mass coming closer. It shuddered for a moment, then started spinning toward him.

He stood up, lurching forward, but moved no more than a step or two. His legs felt like they were stuck in thick mud. He looked down, but saw only hard soil. He took another step forward as a gust of heavy, stale air pushed against his movement. He flexed all of his muscles, marching forward with all of his might, but didn’t get very far. Then, wondering if the dark mass was almost upon him, he peered to the left and jerked back in surprise. It was nearly touching him! Coda ducked, hoping it would fly over him. The opposite occurred, and the mass wrapped itself around him, strangling his body and legs.

Coda wrenched with fear. But, he knew it didn't come from him. It came from the Fog. The fear felt like stinging punches, with every hit.

“Help!” he cried out.

Nobody answered his call, so he grabbed hard, cold soil, pulling himself onward. Another mass, filled with hideous laughter, careened toward him, landing on top of him, knocking the wind out of him and forcing him to the ground.

He panted hard, trying to breathe, but the harder the masses pushed and strangled, the harder it was to take a breath. Lifting his head, he took as big a breath as he could, then stretched his front legs forward, grabbing the dirt in front him, pulling himself closer to the Dim Lands.

A scream in his right ear startled him, and he let go of the earth to cover his ears. But the screams only became louder.

“Help!” he cried.

“Shhh,” said Numee's voice, and with her sweet tone the screams instantly stopped.

“The screaming,” yelled Coda, “I can't stand it!”

Numee brushed against him. “Sink into your heart.”

Another scream erupted above Coda. Startled, he went into a fetal position. His blood rushed through his veins as his heart pounded.

Yes, my heart
.

Coda sank into his heart, listening to it beat like a drum, ignoring the chaos around him. The more he listened, the more its rhythm slowed, calming him. He closed his eyes, bringing the fear down into his heart, and imagined smothering it with pink colors. When he was finally able to take a deep breath, he stood up, and felt much better.

He opened his eyes and saw Numee's soft face. He could see her smiling through the gray mist hovering around her. “Follow me, Coda.”

The Fog was heavy, but seemed to step aside for Numee. How she did that, he didn't know. A moment later they were out of the Fog.

He dropped onto moss-covered ground. He was in the northern Dim Lands now. The home of Crepus. Things, he thought, aren't going to get any easier.

Nova leaned against Coda to comfort and send him healing energy. She whispered in his ear, “Thank you for being so brave.”

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