Mirror

Chapter 11: Unpredictable

Somebody needs to make a pic for Violet! Please! I can't draw to save my life!! 

This is the 'information' chapter.

The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.

-Helen Keller

Something about her just feels right.

Something about her makes me think of a stepped-on-cockroach, slimy and smelly and -

That's enough. I think she'd make a great addition to the team.

I think you need a mental check-up.

You're hilarious.

What?

Did you forget...I am a mental process.

Oh...yeah.

Marquera started out of her slight stupor as the voices in her head, Kyli, Rory and the ga'ampii girl who Marquera called Violet all seemed to turn to her in unison.

A wave of understanding swept over her; she was the leader; they required direction. A heavy weight of responsibility fell over her shoulders. Why had she let them come? Why had she not instead deftly closed the window in their faces and hurried out, alone? Something was bound to happen to them.

Our visitor has already happened. A little voice in her head pointed out.

Yes - she has.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Marquera wondered out loud, without looking at her comrades. There was no response.

After a few moments, she raised her head and made eye contact with Kyli. The other girl looked back, brown eyes full of faith, and Marquera felt an uncontrollable surge of guilt at her friend's unquestioning trust.

Could she live up to the standard of a leader that Rory and Kyli expected?

Marquera decided she would try.

_Flashback_

The girl who had identified herself as Violet stood there, gazing at them with unnatural, shining eyes, and made no further sound.

Marquera was at a loss for words. What, indeed, could you say to a girl who appeared out of the bushes with swirling hair that somehow didn't catch on tree branches, and introduced herself to you in a voice fit only for a chipmunk?

A chipmunk with unearthly beauty, perhaps, but, nevertheless...

It was Rory who spoke first.

"Are you a ga'ampii?"

Marquera and Kyli looked toward her, confused. A ga'ampii...the name seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place it.

Violet ducked her head shyly.

"I am most relieved to find one spirit who believes in this world of time and space."

Utterly bewildered now, Marquera switched her gaze to Kyli, then turned away immediately, as the expression on her face was enough to make her choke with laughter.

"Morning full moon, and noon star, hold thee tight," Rory recited seriously, and again Marquera had that nagging feeling of déjà vu.

Violet looked up a little, and somehow her eyes brightened even more as she replied, equally somber,

"Evening sun, and midnight world, embrace thee." Her squeaky voice sounded somehow powerful.

"Ima-turbanii Lakwa nkurge-ga'ampii." Rory said, loosening a bit, and Violet absolutely beamed as she responded in this strange language.

They talked for a moment or two, and before Marquera knew what was happening, Rory had turned to her and explained that the "ga'ampii" (whatever that was) was not actually named Violet, simply belonged to the rank of Violet, and that she wanted to join them on their quest.

Marquera blinked a couple of times, then shook her head vehemently.

"No way, Rory. We don't know what she wants, we don't know why she's here, heck, we don't even know her name!"

"Her name is NpadmaqxKtrfDl."

Marquera stared.

"How did you say that?"

"What, 'NpadmaqxKtrfDl'?"

"Nevermind. Do you know what she wants?"

Rory rolled her eyes.

"I already told you. She wants to join us on our quest."

"Yes, but why? Why does she want to 'join us on our quest'? Why did she search us out? Why did she have to go and startle us in such a professional way? And while we're at this 'why' game, why did she identify herself by her rank, instead of name? Why are color names equivalent to rank? Why was the rank-versus-name thing important enough that she mentioned it immediately?" Marquera thought she might explode with questions.

"She wants to join us on our quest because she lost a comrade and thinks he is at our destination, and as numbers provide safety, it is beneficial to all of us. She did not seek us, merely stumbled upon our group as she was gliding, and thought to speak to us. She did not intend to startle us. She identified herself by rank because, on t-ga'ampii, it is the most proper way to greet an unidentified group of persons. Colors are rank because—"

She was cut off from her explanation by the ga'ampii, who addressed her, this time in English.

"Rory, your friends are tiring with their questions. Yes or no, simple answers, questions without need." She squeaked in broken English, tossing her full head of curls as she spoke.

"And yet - they speak in words of worth." Rory said thoughtfully, an irrational smile breaking across her face.

_EndFlashback_

So many unanswered questions - like what a ga'ampii was. Where this strange girl had come from. What her real intentions were. How Rory knew her language.

"May I call you Violet?" The words coming out of Marquera's mouth were unexpected, especially to herself.

The girl paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Violet, welcome to the group."

I'm sorry it feels so pinched. I wanted to explain some stuff and couldn't find a really great way to do it.