Navi
"My love?"
She stands frozen in the doorway. Her blank stare sends an icy chill down my spine.
"Kimi, what is the matter?"
Snapping out of her daze, she says, "We have to get out of here, Navi. Now!"
"Wai—Tell me what is going on. Come sit," I say, guiding her to the couch. Her shivers
are frightening; I have never seen her in such a state. "Kimi, we are not leaving. This is
our home and Adri needs to be surrounded by her own kind. You cannot truly believe
your father is just going to let us leave."
"I don't care what he plans to do!" She barks. "Navi, I'm begging you. Get her and let's
go!"
I have always known of her incomprehensible speed, but witnessing it firsthand is more
than my brain can process at this moment. She bolts across the room, gathering the
bare essentials.
"Stop! Where are we going? And I am still waiting for the reason."
Abruptly stopping mid-air, she leans into my face. "She's a bearer," she says, with a
cracked voice.
In an instant, I feel my heart drop to my stomach as her outrageous panic registers.
"How certain are you?" I ask, hoping this is some kind of mistake.
"As certain as I am my father will feed his only daughter to his beloved Hydra if I stand
in his way."
Desperate for an error or a misreading somehow, I insist that it cannot be. "Adri is only
12; it is too soon to tell."
"Don't you think I know that?" She snaps. "I was doing the routine inspections when one
girl was too afraid, and Adri volunteered to do it with her. I saw it, Navi."
Her sobs are like knives to my heart as I pull her to my chest. In the blink of an eye, she
is back on her feet. "There's no time! You have to go get Adri and Dr. Arabi. I'll meet you
at the spot."
The ocean never felt as empty and silent as it does right now, albeit we have been
preparing for this moment since the day we learned of Adri's conception. Still, we never
truly believed such drastic measures would be necessary.
Collecting Adri from the academy, she gently takes my hand and looks up at me. "Pa,
what's wrong?" You look sad."
"I am sorry to pull you away from your lessons, Snowflake, but we have to meet up with
Ma."
She queries where we are going, and I can barely get this knot out of my throat to
respond.
"Pa, are we going somewhere?" She repeats.
Nodding slightly, I whisper, "Only for a bit."
Yanking her hand from my grasp, she refuses to leave. "I'm not going!"
"Adri Zaphaia, I suggest you lower your voice. I am only going to say this once: Our
departure is not a request. You have to trust us, alright?"
Pulling herself together, she grips my hand tightly as we whisk through the waters,
leaving our home, as well as our identities, behind.
∗∗∗
Scanning the surroundings, a look of trepidation washes over her face. "How will Ma find
us?"
"It will not be long now, Snowflake. She chose this spot, so you do not need to worry."
My dearest daughter has never dwelled beyond the waters of the peak, but I am certain
a breath of water free from Hydra toxins will do her good.
The cave is well hidden as we approach it from a distance. I can sense Kimara's
presence—she is already there. Arriving at the mouth of the cave, Kimi paces nervously.
"I sent word for him before we left; is he here?" I ask.
"In the back. We need to do it immediately," she says. Turning to Adri, she continues,
"Snowflake, we need you to be brave. I know you can do it."
She gently touches foreheads with Adri, and we make our way into the makeshift medical
room.
"I'm scared. Please, will you tell me what's going on?"
Kimara lifts her onto the operating bed and lays her down tenderly. "I promise I'll explain
everything, but right now, we need to do something that will save you before it's too late.
Pa and I will be right here the whole time, and I promise you won't feel a thing."
Our brave little fighter nods and looks to Dr. Arabi and says, "Please don't hurt me."
Her innocent smile lights his face as he assures her it will be over in no time. Using his
abilities, he entrances her. The first incision is made and my chest begins to ache. "Are
you sure we are doing the right thing?"
"Nav, please. I can't be strong for both of us. We both know exactly what the colony will
do to her if they discover this."
A giant underwater wave sloshes into the cave, and Kimi and I both dash to the entrance.
"Oh, no, no, no. How did they find us?" She quizzes.
"Kimara!" A thick, deafening voice echoes in the cave. "I know you're here. Where is she?"
Dr. Arabi must be saying something important, but my terror and the sound of the walls
being destroyed impede my ability to comprehend it. "Do not stop for anything!" I order.
"We will buy you some time."
"I'm sorry," he says, laying down the blade. "In here, King Adrav!"
Kimi's rage shakes the entire mountain. "Cowaaaaard!"
With her enormous wings, she releases a gust so powerful it knocks the breath right out
of the intruders' lungs. She glances over at me with a fierce gaze, almost as if to say, "if
you don't, I will." And with that, I turned my attention to the spineless snake.
"Please, Navi. Under—"
In one motion, I sever his head and toss it across the room. Glory to the gods for my gift
of strength.
"Get her out of here!" Kimi cries.
"I am not leaving without you!"
"Navi!"
"Kim!"
We scream like maniacs, both unwilling to surrender to the will of the other.
"Kimara," the sinister voice reemerges.
"Father, please don't do this."
"Are you suggesting I reinforce this notion you have created? One that implies treason is
no longer an act of lawlessness and anarchy?"
"She's your grandch—"
"And you are my daughter. Every Zephyr understands the sacrifices that are necessary
to continue our species. Our children cannot be exceptions to the very laws that sustain
us, or our nation will perish!"
As I watch on as a passenger in my own body, I force myself out of suspended animation.
"Our daughter's free will will not be our sacrifice."
Kimara hangs her head in despair, as though she has made peace with the reality that
there is no swaying her father. King Adrav's speed is unrivaled, as I attempt to strike him.
At lightning speed, he passes me and bashes Kimara to the ground. In yet another flash,
he appears before me.
"No!" she screams. Her eyes plead for me to get our daughter to safety.
Charging at her father, she gives me the gap I need to get Adri and force my way through
the soldiers, who are just standing by as the king wraps up his torment of my family. An
array of beams is launched at us, but I shield Adri with my wings and somehow manage
to pass through. Balled up, I penetrate the mountain walls and watch helplessly as the love of my life is executed by her own father. Without looking back, I carry our limp,
unconscious Adri to a life of isolation.
My dearest Kimara, how will I do this without you?