Expedition Dipuma

Chapter 16: Rosie

"Hey," I said, trying to get him to look at me. He took a moment and made eye contact with me. "You don't have to bear it alone. You can bring some of her memories to our tree. That way, when you need it, it will be there." He visually relaxed and said "Yeah, you're right, as always, Jiejie." I gave him a soft smile and helped him stand up. I heard a small shuffle of someone leaving but I paid them no mind. I need to have all my focus on Mike, who is almost drained of all his energy. He may need to rest for a few days in order to return to normal life. Except it won't be normal because he is now the healer and he has wings. Maybe once Sarah is better, she can teach him how to fly. I will at least teach him the basics. "Jiejie?" He asked quietly, "Why is my back so heavy?" I made eye contact with him, but his eyes are so droopy that his weight is all on me. I patted his back and said "I will let you know when you have rested." I walked him down the stairs, got Mike and meon Jiānqiáng's back, and rode off to our home. Once we got home, I had to roll Mike off because he had fallen asleep. I'm glad that I have had to deal with him like this in the past, because otherwise I don't think that I would've been able to bring him in. I sit him, slumped over, in front of our ancestor tree that lights up the whole house. I parted his hair at the end of his braid and hooked him up to the ancestor tree. Then I joined him.
I always loved the soft glow that this dimension gives off. It's so comforting for my soul. "Rosie?" I heard Mike say. I look at him and his expression is shocking. "I have wings?! How did I get wings?!" "I gave them to you." Mike jumped hearing Jackie's voice, but ran over to her and gave her a big hug. "Woah. It's okay, big guy. I will always be here for you." She said a little taken aback but embraced him back. He was sobbing into her as she rubbed his back the same way I did with Sarah. I softly smiled at the scene in front of me and I can't help but feel like I'm not entirely needed so I started to leave. That's when Jackie saw me and we made eye contact. "Wait! Don't go." She said, as they let go. I smiled at her and I watched her relax. Besides, how could I refuse such a request?
She walked over and embraced me, as I did with her. When we let go of each other she said "How are you, wǒ de nǚwáng?" She gently holds my wrists, pulls my arms out. "I am well, we all miss you." She sighed and said "I know, but this was the only way to heal the human. Otherwise, she would have died." "How was it possible to heal her like that?! The only way that you could have is if you are and or were a queen!" I started to freak out a little. "I mean how old are you really?! There's no way that you were a queen, because I would have remembered!" Jackie is having the hardest time keeping her laughter to herself as she is trying to get me to shut up. "Hey!" She said to get me to be quiet. Jackie is still laughing at me. "I was a queen four generations before you became queen. Then, when I passed on the crown, I became the healer's apprentice, and once that healer died, I became the healer for two generations. I outlived three queens in my lifetime. I was surrounded by some of the most loving people and yet I was ever so lonely. Once I had lived past my own children, I closed myself off from ever having a relationship again. The past few years my health has started to go downhill fast, especially once the humans came to us. When Mike came to retrieve me, I was in such a weakened state that I could barely do things on my own. That's when I knew that my time was very near. With all my medical experience, I have never had to do something so extreme in order to heal someone." With everything that she was talking about, there was a scene playing in front of us. Showing us everything from her memories throughout her lifetime. "Hmm." She half chuckled, pulling Mike to her for a half hug. "I'm just grateful that this kid helped me get from my tree to the human. I couldn't have done it on my own." He looks so pleased with her praise of gratitude towards him. Then she let go of him and turned to me, put her hands on my shoulders, and said "And you are the most dearing, bravest, smartest queen that I have seen yet. You are so strong. You carry yourself with such grace and vigor and dignity that nothing is impossible for you and your future." She looked back over to Mike and again at me. "Leaving the living world was the most difficult thing to do but I know that it was left in good hands. You were born to be the rulers of Sunyata. You are courageous young warriors, I couldn't have been more proud and honored to witness your wonderful lives." My, she has so much adoration for us. My heart swells with every sweet word.
"Well," I said, motioning to leave, "I don't mean to be rude, but I should really get going." I paused for a moment, covered my mouth as I gasped and said sheepishly "What I meant, is Thank you for all the sweet words of gratitude. I didn't mean to be rude." Jackie gave me a long hug and when she let go, she said "Well, you are the queen. I wouldn't want to keep you from doing your duty." We smiled at each other. I looked over at Mike, pointed at him, and said "Hey, take your time in here. You need all the rest possible to get better. Just don't make too much trouble for each other, okay?" He smiled, almost mischievously and said "Okay, but I make no promises." I punched his shoulder, he tried to dodge it, but I managed to land my fist on his arm playfully. I plastered a smirk on my face as he pouted at me. "Okay, I really need to get going, but I will see you soon, brother." So, I waved to them as I faded back into reality, unraveling my braid from the branch, and stood. I looked at Mike who was hunched over on his knees and I decided that he should probably lie down so that his body won't hurt when he returns to it. Then I bunched up a blanket and tucked it under his head and kissed his forehead. I can imagine that he felt it while chatting it up with Jackie.
As I flew above the treetops, I saw a pair of bodies lying face down on the ground, not ten miles from the two human ships. My heart rate spread up and my hair stood on end as I slowly lowered myself to see if they're alright. I kneeled next to the red, curly haired male and gently turned his body over. No heartbeat. I swallowed the bile in my throat and went over to the brown haired male and gently turned his body over. There's barely any breath in his lungs, his eyes are glossed over, unfocused, and ever so slightly opened. I battled with the tears that were threatening to spill over. Heh. How was it that I was made queen when I am this emotional over beings that I haven't seen before? He choked on a cough and I focused on him. "Beautiful..." he said, his voice so horse-like that it was just a whisper in the wind, but I was able to hear it. His head hit the ground and whatever air was in his lungs was let out in a sigh of relief. I finally let my tears splash his face. What a tragedy. I let him rest where he is as I stand up to leave and fly away, letting the wind dry my tears.
I came back to see how Sarah is doing but I can't find her in the medical room. I walked into the courtroom and found Marie and Cayleigh sitting at the foot of the throne, chatting about something. When I approached, they looked up at me and stood up, hastily. Shocked, I put out my hands and said "Woah, it's okay. Go ahead and sit there. It's just me." They looked at each other hesitantly, back at me, and gave me a kurt bow as they said "S-sure. Your Majesty." I sighed and just ignored them for now. "Do you know what happened to Sarah? I can't find her." Marie looked a little frightened at this. Maybe even guilty? "Oh! We put her in your room and gave her three drops of that sleeping stuff." She looked down and fidgeted with her hands, "I hope that it's alright with you." She said while looking back at me with a worried expression. My room? I thought. Oh! The queen's bedroom. I mentally slapped myself in the face. "Oh! Okay thank you!" I said as I got up and went to her. I pause because it's quiet. There's a soft, dim shade of pink glow in the room. I can just barely hear her breathing. She is curled up on her side, the lower half of her body is bathed with the silky pink blankets. The scenery before me is so soft and warm that I can't help but yawn in response. I tried to stifle it but it escaped my mouth by the time my hand could even reach it. I stretched and quietly strolled over to her. It's strange how only just now she started squirming in her sleep, her pained expression showing. I sighed, brushed my thumb along her feathers on the side of her face next to her eye, and pressed my forehead against hers. I see her thoughts spiral in circles about her running off to get the humans and coming back in time to watch Jackie disintegrate into tiny glowing specks. Over and over again. I start to cry again too but I need to calm her down. So, I hum a soft happy lullaby to ease her mind. She needs her rest, so I break the connection, make sure that she's okay, and I go find the royal guard.
I find him just outside the castle, with a guard stationed here and there, watching over the people. I tread quietly to Tim but he heard me. "Dough!" I exclaimed as he sharply turned towards me. His face is stone hard, and serious. I wasn't planning on trying to scare him but he must have thought that. "Woah! Stand down soldier!" I say jokingly. His face doesn't move but his eyes twinkle playfully. He moves in closer to my face and suddenly, we are all but an inch away from each other's faces. My heart does this pattern patter and my face is burning from the closeness. He smells so good like I don't know what. "Too bad we are in the public's eye, because I so badly want to kiss you." He purrs. Goodness, I hope no one sees us like this. I adjusted my face, gave him a scowl, and crossed my arms. "Stand up straight, soldier!" I commanded. He instantly obeyed, his eyes still playful. I inwardly shake my head, which he knows because I can just barely see a smirk flash across his face. Tsk, this boy. This man. Ugh, sigh. I love him so much though. My face softened a touch after that thought. "Do you need something, your Majesty?" He asked seriously, but with a touch of coyness. I snapped out of my thoughts and said "Yes. I need to find out about the two male humans. I discovered them about ten miles from the two human ships and they are both dead." The playfulness in his eyes died out and he said, "My team and I will find out all that we can and report back to you, M'Lady." I feel my face heat up again at the last remark. I froze for a moment but responded with a stutter, "G-great. That, is a great idea, Tim." He very dramatically bowed to me and walked away. I am stunned, but I walked away as well, while I giggled to myself until I reached the entryway of the courtroom. Marie, Cayleigh, and Stephanie are there chatting. I took a deep breath to cool my nerves from the encounter with Tim and walked in, ready to deal with anything.