Upon waking up, what I see comes as a surprise to me. A little girl. It was strange, most definitely. But it was better than seeing dark spirits trying to snatch my soul. Nevertheless it was a surprise.
I jolt up looking around. I'm in a log cabin of some sort. Not the first time I woke up in an unfamiliar area but I don't remember passing out. Last thing I remember is the fight with the Raijin. I don't think I killed it. That thing was more akin to a god. Still confused as to why a Japanese god is on American soil but hey alll kinds of crazy things happen in this world so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. In any case I need to understand why I'm here and who I'm here with. This little girl is a good start. She just stares at me with big brown eyes. Reminds me of my moms. She has short black hair. And a honey brown skin tone.
"So kid. Have any idea where I am?" I give her a geeky smile. She smiles back.
"We're in Mommy's cabin! Mom! He's awake!"
And that's when she walks in the room. A woman I haven't seen in six years. Kim Rayner. And although she's a bit older it's almost as if she hasn't aged a day. And that's when it clicked. This little girl. She's my daughter. She's our daughter. Our little mitacle I only just recently learned about. I look back at her and Kim. The resemblance is uncanny but she also resembles my mom. Like a mixture of the two.
"My daughter" I repeat over and over again in my mind. As if to wear it out. Although she in front of me it seems unreal. I sit up.
"Don't hurt yourself hero. Don't want you scaring Nala." Kim wipes her hands with a cloth and sets it on a hanger on the wall. Nala…that's her name…our daughter's name. My eyes burn. I'm shocked.
Kim strides closer and kneels next to our daughter. She rest both hands on either one of Nala's shoulders.
"Nala…meet Ryan. He's your daddy honey." Her voice is soothing. Smooth and silk like. She speaks to Nala with more tenderness than I've ever heard come from her lips. That's the second surprise for today. And next came the third. Something I didn't expect.
Nala looks me in my eyes and smiles. Almost as if she already knew who I was. I knowing twinkle in her eyes ignites.
"Hello Ryan daddy!" She hugs my neck. And tears fall from my eyes as if a dam burst in my sockets. There's such overwhelming happiness, sadness of not knowing her for six whole years, and shock of seeing her the moment I awaken. It's almost incomprehensible. I hugs her back with a whimper. Kim leans against the wall and wipes away tears as she watches Nala hug me. Her father.
"Cmere you gorgeous devil!" I wave Kim over and she bout balls over in tears herself and falls into us and I wrap my arms around them both. I cover them in my embrace almost as if I'm holding my destiny. Something I simply cannot let go of. They are apart of my family.
"Oh my God!" I cry as I squeeze them tightly. This feels to unreal and yet it feels like something I've known all my life but lost. It was almost as if I was holding my mom and dad again. A great happiness that would fall into sadness again. The happy wholesome moment was short lived as I remembered something terribly wrong. I remembered what happened before I got here. The Raijin. That thing that attacked my brothers and I in our home. And how it all strangely feels connected. Like it was building up to something more sinister. I look around for The Spirit bear Yonah.
"Where's Yonah?" I pull away from them. "How did I get here? Where have you been Kim? Why are you in Seyuta? Why…" I was filled with so many questions by Kim place a finger to my lips and I see a look of urgency in her face.
"Ryan. I'll explain everything when we have time but Yonah brought you up the mountain. She said you exhausted all of your power and needed rest" she stands and pulls Nala back towards her. "But your brothers need you. Yonah says Seyuta is under siege and a dark power is closing in on your brother Cal. You have to go…I'm sorry." She wipes a tear from her face and looks away with the look of guilt enveloping her features. Nala looks at her mom confusingly and concerned. "Whats wrong mommy?" Her voice is the most adorable thing I've ever heard. It sounded like a treasure. But something else drew me back. "Cal"
"Where's Yonah?" I ask calmly. Kim simply points outside.
I get up. I feel the soreness everywhere. Makes sense considering. No one moves like that in a fight and can expect not to be sore. Especially because I believe I fought a god of lightning. In any case I stretch and move towards the door.
As I exit the cabin I see a young woman maybe a teenager standing tall observing what seems to be the town of Seyuta. Though it's covered in dark swirling mist and a storm. The Same storm that covered the mountain. Not good.
"I see you're awake." The girl who I presume is Yonah in human form says to me.
"How long was I out?" I ask
"A few hours. You should've already recovered most of your spiritual power." She never looks away from the city. I stand next to her. We're on the snowy mountain. High atop what seems to be near a cliff. "How about we form a deeper contract?" She looks to me with a smile. Her appearance is like that of a Cherokee warrior woman. She has balck and dark brown paint in her face and carries a staff. Her skin tone a reddish tan. And her eyes a dark brown with a white pupil. She's definitely a spirit. As if I didn't know that before.
"Sure" I finally speak up after taking in her appearance. "Wanna go over the details on the way. I'm kind of in a hurry." She simply smiles kindly and walks to me.
"There is a great darkness that has awakened. It and something else seems to have brought this disaster with it to the city. Until they are both dealt with I'll lend you all my strength if you can handle it.
"Fine." I agree offering a handshake "sounds like a plan. I don't think I can protect my family without you right now anyway.
"Wait a second" I remember. "You already got me for a lifetime don't you? What you trying to do this time"
She giggles and slap me on the back "Nothin"
Alright I think it's time for us to be on our way. I can't stand the idea of leaving my…daughter. The word alone gives me a hope like no other. But it also gives a great fear. Something so precious and yet so…defenseless. As soon as I help my brothers I'll measure to introduce them so her.
And so, we head down the mountain and into a storm like no other.