Heart of Ice (Part 2)

 I stepped onto the wood, the stuff that trees were made of, and looked around the cabin. There was a colourful thing on the floor, and I recognised the red and orange colours Harri had pointed out to me. The others weren’t familiar, so I continued looking around. There was a window, I remembered that word, and it showed the mountain behind it. There were a couple of things in the room I didn’t recognise, but I did remember the table and chairs in the middle of the room. There was another table, but it didn’t have any space for you to put your legs under, instead, it was attached to the wall and you had to sit on a super high chair without a back to it. Harri and Cooper walked past me, Harri going to the other side of the weird table, and Cooper pulling a chair out for me. I sat down on it, noticing how much harder it was than the snow. I watched Harri carefully, wondering what the things he had pulled out of a covered depression. They were white and he was putting some sort of bark-coloured powder into them. Then he poured something white into it. Liquid snow perhaps? He turned with the three white things and opened a door that was the same colour as the strip on their head things, and he put them in it. Whatever IT was. He touched something on the side of it and it made the strangest sound. It went BEEEP! and I jumped a little. The little orange symbols appeared on the side, and Harri pressed a couple before he made it go BEEP! and I saw the white things through the door! 

“H-how do you do that?” I asked, getting up from my seat to look closer at what Harri was doing.

“Oh, this? This is called a microwave. It makes things warm.”

“And what colour is that?” I said, pointing to the door of the microwave.

“That’s black. You can’t tell me you’ve never seen something that’s black.” He said, looking very confused.

“Well, yes, I can, because it’s true. The only other thing I’ve seen that’s black is your head thing. The one you and Cooper were wearing when you saw me.” I added the last part when Harri looked at me strangely.

“Wait, you mean our helmets? The only black thing on them is the visor. The rest is yellow.” I rolled the word yellow around my head, and I decided I liked it. Then, Harri started ripping his chest apart. I cried out and covered my face, turning away from him. I heard laughing, and someone touched my hands gently.

“Hey, sheila, it’s ok, it’s only a jacket,” Harri said as I took my hands away from my face. “See?” He showed me the jacket he had just taken off, and I studied what was underneath it. It was orange, and it had some sort of symbol in it.

“What does that say?” I asked him.

“It’s the camp Cooper and I are going to. They take us on trips all over the world. It’s called the Junior World Discovery Camp, or JWDC and this is the shirt they give us. There are more kids here, but we’re the only ones from Australia. There are a couple of kids from around here, Switzerland, and loads from all over everywhere else. I think you might recognise Arther and Ivy’s accent, it’s close to yours. Do you know where you’re from?” Halfway through his explanation, the microwave made that sound again, and he opened the black door and took out the three white things. He put one in front of me and the other two further down the weird table. It had a loop that stuck out, and when I put my hands on it, there was a slight hissing sound and steam cured off of my fingers. It was lovely and warm. I carefully lifted the white thing to my nose and sniffed it. It smelled warm and like something else… something velvety. I carefully dipped my tongue into the brown liquid, and something exploded on my tongue. Not violently, it was a nice explosion, like I had just found something good and it surprised me. I carefully poured a bit of it into my mouth and swallowed. I could feel the heat travelling down to my stomach. Harri came back over and sprinkled a red powder into the drink once I had put it down.

“It’s chilli powder,” He said by way of explanation, “It tastes REALLY good with hot chocolate.”

“Is that what this is?” I said, pointing to the warm drink. Harri chuckled a bit.

“Yeah, that’s what it is.” I brought it to my lips again, but this time, something had changed. As it slid down my throat, a burning sensation filled my mouth. Then it spread to my throat and eventually filled me. My vision got blurry, and suddenly I wasn’t in the cabin any more.

Snow filled my vision as it whipped around me in a frenzy. I was walking up the side of the mountain, holding onto trees as I climbed. I could see the clouds darkening, and I hurried on, knowing I had to be somewhere, otherwise the world might end. I looked down at the bundle in my arms, the faint blue glow lighting my way. Suddenly, a flash of lightning hit the top of the mountain and dislodged a huge chunk of snow and rock. I realised that’s why Arila told me to go now. I was so stupid to believe her! I carried on, despite the raging avalanche heading straight for me. I knew it wouldn’t hurt me, and that’s why I was the one who had to deliver the orb. I was the only one who could do it. Arila had taken advantage of that fact, but I wasn't going to let her win. I pressed on and stopped only when the wave of white was almost upon me. As the avalanche crashed down on me, I curled into a ball and huddled next to a tree, knowing my powers would protect it, me and the orb. Then I knew nothing.

I was stuck in a river of floating memories, the one about the avalanche most clear and shocking. My family drifted past, as well as all my childhood friends. The orb, still glowing, was ever-present in the background, reminding me of my failed task. I drifted in and out of dreams, only conscious of the aching warmth I felt in my body and the crippling fear of what would surely soon happen.

Slowly, I began to hear voices.

“She had the cut when we found her, but I didn’t think much of it. I mean, I was mainly focused on her white hair, pale skin and the fact that this was all she was wearing.” That voice and accent were familiar, but I still couldn’t place it.

“Well, if she looked fine when you brought her into the cabin, why is she burning up now? As far as I know, she should be freezing if it is because of the snow. Did you give her anything to eat?” The voice was new, but at the same time recognisable, like I had heard the way it spoke before.

“Yeah, hot chocolate, but she didn’t seem to mind it until I put the chilli in.”

“Oh, Harrison, you should know better. She could’ve been lactose intolerant!”

“I hate to disagree with you, Miss, but I don’t think she would’ve known herself. She was asking all sorts of weird questions.”

“Do you think the cut might be from something that caused amnesia?” An unfamiliar voice said.

“Well done, Ann, yes, that could’ve very well been the cause of amnesia. Did she act like she had amnesia, boys?”

“Yeah, it was pretty noticeable. That’s why I asked Cooper to call you so you could be here. But he forgot.”

“Hey, I had a cute girl in my lap, can you blame me for not focusing? Besides, Miss Barr got here soon enough when you called.

“Yeah, because we thought she had a heart attack!”

“Well that’s not MY fault, is it? I didn't give her the poisoned hot chocolate.”

“At least I TRIED to help her. You just sat there and shook off your boots.”

“BOYS! I know you both were here, and you both feel it was the other’s fault, but we need to try and find out why she’s like this, who she is, and how she got up this mountain without a jacket, boots or anything else to keep her warm.” When I heard that, I tried to open my eyes and tell them I was on a mission and had gotten stopped, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything except lay there and listen.

Iriel? Are you there? Please tell me it’s you… A voice whispered in my head.

Mari? I- I thought you had been killed! I replied, hope blossoming in my chest.

Iriel! I thought YOU had been killed by Arila! What happened? You’ve been unresponsive for years!

That long? I thought back to my sister, surprised.

Yeah! You’ve been gone for about 100 human years. We all thought you had either died with the orb, or you had run away with it! I didn’t but the others did. I always believed you were still alive and so was the orb. What happened She reiterated.

I- I don’t know. I think Arila set a storm to try and destroy the orb, and there was an avalanche… I think I was buried, and I have no idea where to orb is, well actually I do, but not the exact place. I’m in some cabin surrounded by humans, but I can’t move or speak or do anything except listen to them talking around me. I think one of them gave me chilli.

WHAT? WHY DID YOU EAT IT???!!!!! The thoughts thundered around my head and made me cringe in my mind.

Have you heard of something called amnesia? The humans think I had it, and that’s why I couldn’t remember anything. THAT’S why I ate the chilli. I didn’t remember that it was dangerous.

Oh, Iriel. I can’t really do much to help you, Homrey got caught along with Mami and Dadi when you didn’t return with the orb. I can try to heal you, but You might not be able to see or something. You know how bad I am at healing.

Hey, that reminds me! When I first got buried by the avalanche, I might’ve cast a time bubble around us, like Tiama taught us! That’s why I only woke up just now! If you can get here, I can try to find the orb with you and then we can get our family back! Please, you have to try! We need to orb, and I need you. Please?

I’ve already told you, I’ll try my best. I’m on my way already, I should be there soon. Oh, what about the humans? Won’t they be there? Can you do something to make them leave?

I can’t. I’m completely incapacitated. I can’t use my powers or even move.

Right, well I’ll figure something out. See you soon! And with that, Mari cut our connection.

It wasn't long before I could hear a scratching sound at the door, and I knew she was here. No animal would be scratching at the cabin door without Mari telling it. That was the great thing about our powers, we almost completely controlled our charges. Only almost though, because it would be exhausting otherwise. I could hear the humans rushing around, trying to find the source of the sound, and when I thought I heard all of them go, I called out to Mari through our telepathic link to tell her the coast was clear. I could hear her whooshing into the room And I felt her warm touch gently healing me. Soon enough, I could add my own healing powers to the effort, and I sat up and opened my eyes. Mari was standing there, looking a bit older, but not much different from when I last saw her. She leaned in and gave me a big squeeze.

“Can’t- Breathe!” I got out from underneath her big fur coat.

“Right sorry. I’m just so glad to have you back. But we really need to find the orb.” She said in her slightly growly voice.

“What orb?” Said an Australian voice. Mari and I both whirled towards the door and when Mari saw Harri standing there, she shifted into a wolf and started to growl at him.

“Mari, NO!” I said quickly, “He’s the human who rescued me!” Harri had stumbled back into the hallway beyond the little room I was in, watching Mari with fear on his face.

“Harri, I can explain. We’re Keepers, and our job is to keep things running while some higher being is doing the more complicated stuff. Think of it as if we are the middle step. You, the humans, are the bottom step, the ones we have to protect against other bad Keepers, and there’s still a top step where the gods or God stays and sorts the future, fate and all the juicy details out. We have to make sure everything is running smoothly down here and keep you guys safe. That’s why you found me in the state you did, I was knocked out by a bad Keeper, and now we have to go find this orb thing that basically keeps our powers working. Got it? Now, MARI! Stop being weird, and let his shoe go!” Mari disappointedly dropped Harri’s boot, which she had grabbed off of him, and turned back into her human-looking form.

“Thank you for keeping me safe, other than the chilli, but that wasn’t your fault. I’ve got to go stop the world from collapsing, but I hope you won't tell anyone about this, Ok? I’m trusting you, Harri.” I added as Mari opened the window, turned into a big bird and scooped me up in her huge beak. As we flew away from the cabin, my almost white hair (it was a VERY light blue) blowing in my face, I saw Harri’s worried face in the window. I tentatively waved to him, and he waved back. I smiled as I told Mari the general direction the tree was in.

*Part three coming soon!*