"Thank you, for the apology." I finally get out after a few minutes.
"You're welcome. Gosh, I'm tired.." Queen Lirael says, clutching her head again. A few minutes later, the true queen who's considered B's mother is once again with me. Right in time too, as we approach a light ahead of us, we can see movement on the other side of the light.
"Does this lead outside?" I ask Vartonix as we approach and notice the appearance of vegetation.
"It's a portal. We are taking Graitiah's body back home. She would have wanted to be buried with her people." Vartonix's voice resonates in my head, making me clutch his body.
"A portal!?" I exclaim.
'I've never been anywhere but Earth! I'm actually going to another world!' I think, feeling excited, wishing that John could see this too. A tear escapes me, thinking of this wonderful experience I'm about to have and John's still being tortured.
We're close enough now, that you can see the watery edges of the portal that shows the other place we are going to. My heart starts beating like crazy, as I wonder, 'Is there air for me to breathe? B's there so I should be alright, right?'
Suddenly, arms wrap around me holding me tight.
"What the fu...." I start but as we go through the portal, I'm glad they're there. At first the feeling of cool gel hitting my skin is all I can feel, but then it changes to an intense burning sensation, but just as sudden it's gone.
I open my eyes and we're definitely not in Kansas anymore.
Blinking, I look around me at the lush flora and fauna of this world. I pay attention to the sounds that invade my ears too. Water, I hear water flowing over rapids? A waterfall? Vartonix walks us around a tree that the Sequoias on Earth would seem normal in this place. The large purple and green leaves are shaped like upside down umbrellas, and as we move closer to one, I stand up to peak over the edge. I recoil in horror, seeing a partially digested creature, still being eaten away.
A laugh escapes the queen, pulling the attention of my wide eyes to her. "Did you expect everything would be different on another planet dear? That it would be like... a paradise where nature was somehow different from Earth's?"
I blink, feeling sheepishly ignorant. "I never gave it much thought before really." I say rubbing the back of my neck as Vartonix leaves the underbelly of that tree, taking us through tall grasses that were at least five feet in height, past a waterfall that fed a small river, and through some different groves of trees, that had no leaves of digestive juices and more animal life in them.
Furry, white, blue, and yellow, winged things, glided around from tree to tree, making melodic whistles as they moved, their tails swishing back and forth. We come out of the trees and I sit back down on Vartonix, my weak legs unable to hold me up at the sight. There is a plain in front of us, that leads into a large valley, surrounded by mountains and trees. Several rivers run through it, to the center of the valley. A lake sits in its shimmering glory, reflecting the light of the sun in the sky.
By that lake, is a group of animals that must be B's pets people. Some resembled tigers like that one who had died, others foxes, bears, and some resembled twisted visions of those creatures one finds in nightmares. They were gathered around a mound of dark stones, and even from over a mile away I could see the white body of the tiger that I couldn't save.
As we move closer, some turn their attention to Vartonix, taking note of us on his back. Some begin parting, making a path between the large groups, all the way to the stone mound. Vartonix raises his tail to his back, and Queen Lirael climbs on, so I follow. Hopping off once he lowers his tail, we make our way to the mound and Queen Lirael lowers her head to the mound. She motions for me to step forward, and as I do, I drop to one knee as I feel responsible for his death.
I feel the presence of a larger creature than me approach me from the side. I look up and B stands with another Tiger creature only this one is white with electric blue stripes, outlined in black. The tiger takes it's large paw, slowly, pressing it to my chest, and does a deep, resonating, popping purr.
B speaks for me to understand, "She says, to not bear the burden of scenarios you can not change. The past is not for us to change, but learn from."
"That purr said all that?" I look to B, raising a brow in bewilderment.
He shrugs, "No, but she did say it. Just you are not linked with these people, so you wouldn't understand."
I nod top the tiger, as B begins walking towards his mother.
"We have more allies now." B informs the queen.
"We need to speak in private." Queen Lirael takes her sons arm, wrapping it with her own. "A concern that was always present has come to pass."
B becomes lost in thought, with hardened eyes that focus off in the distance. He lets out a deep breath, shoulders slumping in resignation. "I had hoped..." he muttered before setting his shoulders straight and hardening his gaze.
He turns to the leader of these people and bows low, almost with his head on the ground, and comes back up giving a light nod of his head. The leader takes off walking with B following close behind.
"Follow us, please." B calls out over his shoulder to us even though the queen was already following. I jump to my senses and hurry to catch up. They lead us through the plain to the lake, but instead of going around the lake, they jump in and begin swimming under the water.
"Uh?" I hesitate, but Queen Lirael grabs my hand, pulling me into the water with her. She pulls me under and I can see the glow of lights like a pathway. I kick my feet to help us move along, but it's not long that my lungs start to burn in need for a breath.
Yanking on my hand that is still firmly in the queens grasp, I try to kick up to the surface. Before I make it far though, my leg is grabbed and I'm dragged back down. I try to kick out, to throw her arm off as I fight to get to the surface for a breath. She drags me back down, and knocks me on the head.
I glare at her, as I try to swim back up for air, my lungs on fire from trying to hold my breath and not suck in any water. A glow catches my attention and suddenly I can hear her telling me, "Breathe! Fille naïve! (Foolish girl) Être con comme un balai! (Dumb as a broom!) Sometimes I wonder about you, girl. Now breathe."
I struggle but when I can't hold my breath any longer, I inhale water.
'This is going to suck.' I think to myself.