The Hidden Song - A Sequel To The TV Show WANDER OVER YONDER

Ch. IV - The Song

            The black hills in the west lined the cold night sky. She'd watched the sun slip beneath them until all color had faded from the clouds. The leaves around her rustled soothingly, coaxing a sigh from her lips.

Kaz had gone to her favorite "alone" place, a secluded area high atop a tree on the outskirts of the village with a view of nearly everything around. Usually just being here calmed her down, but today her mind couldn't rest. She couldn't forget the way her friend Ignaz had looked at her this afternoon in the caves, after she'd mowed down the last of the attacking Dhraks.

"You're still angry, aren't you?"

"I'm not angry," she muttered, repeating the words she'd said then. "It's been fifty years, and I've changed since then."

Ignaz hadn't said a word. He'd just turned and followed the others as they tramped back to the entrance.

Kaz straightened. Music. Music always helped.

She pulled off the rose-wood mandolin strapped to her back and settled it in her lap. Her fingers immediately found their place at the strings, eager to begin. She didn't feel like playing one of the traditional folk songs of the Wyrls, instead lightly strumming the melody to one of her own.

"Wherever you are, I hope that the stars

Shine as brightly for you, as they do for me.

Wherever you are, I hope that the wind

Blows a sweet melody, like it does for me.

Wherever you are, I hope that the meadow

Is green and cheerful, like the grass at my feet.

Wherever you are, I hope you're not far

From those who love you, like those who love me.

Wherever you are, I hope that the stars

Shine as brightly for you, as they do for me."

No matter how many times she sang it, she always cried on the third time through. But this time, just as the tears were starting to sting her eyes, she heard something strange.

It was as though a second voice, low and soft, had joined hers.

She refused to stop. This has happened before. You've imagined Ivon singing along so many times you've started to hear his voice.

But the voice was slowly growing stronger, until she knew for certain it had to be real. The tears escaped down her face and her voice faltered. The Wyrls had always left her alone when she was here, so to have someone approach her when she was so vulnerable, so unguarded, threw her into a momentary state of confusion.

Then it hit her.

The Star-born, Wander.

She lifted her chin and kept playing, trying to keep her voice steady. As soon as the song had come to a close and their voices drifted off, Kaz drew in her chest and turned around.

It was indeed Wander. He was sitting further back on the thick branch, cross-legged, gazing at her with shining eyes. They were so wide and innocent, so empty of guilt and self-consciousness, that the sharp words forming in her throat stuck there.

"How did you find me?" she managed out.

"I heard your lovely singing." He smiled dreamily.

"Well...it...it's rude to just sneak up to someone and join in while they're singing."

He cocked his head. "What? Why would that be a bother?"

"I don't want other people around when I sing," Kaz said, hunching her shoulders and holding her mandolin closer. "It's...a private thing I do."

Wander swept off his hat. "I beg your pardon, ma'am, I had no idea. Guess I'm just not used to that..." he scratched his head and looked away, finally appearing somewhat bashful. "I sing all the time, everywhere, and around everyone. To me, songs are best when they're shared."

Seeing him upset made Kaz's resentment quickly drain away. She put the mandolin to the side and faced the horizon again, hoping the Star-born would soon leave. But in another moment his voice came from beside her.

"That's a beautiful mandolin you've got there. I love the cherry blossom designs here and here."

"Yes," she said stiffly. Go away, just please, go away.

"How long have you been called Kaz?"

She blinked.

"A while. Fifty years."

"Who named you?"

"My father, Nasaki. Kaz means brave." She frowned and tried to focus on the leaves shuddering to the right of her, fighting back the memories unexpectedly coming to mind like bubbles rising from the murky depths of a pond.

The ceremony. The pride and sorrow in Nasaki's eyes. Holding back the tears. Accepting the beautifully engraved katanas made for her. Burying the last pair of socks and saying goodbye.

Wander's voice brought her back.

"I don't mean any disrespect, but I don't think the name quite suits you. I don't know how often you take on names, but if you're ready for a new one...I think Melody is just perfect."

She finally looked straight at him. He was watching her like a hopeful child.

The name resonated within her soul and she knew instantly that he was right.

"I can't change my name, it would be disrespectful to the Wyrls, especially my father. But you can call me that, if you like." Before she could stop herself, she smiled at him.

Wander gave a little squeal. "Thank you so much!" As soon as he calmed down he looked at her with large eyes that she understood immediately.

"No, I'm not going to play a song for you." Melody laughed. "Don't give me those sad eyes. I told you, it's something I do privately."

"Fine." Wander moved his toes from side to side and studied the view for a moment. "How do you think up a song?"

Melody hesitated. "I don't really know. They just come to mind ever so often. Some form almost immediately, others take a lot of work before I'm satisfied with them."

"For me, it's like each song is in my heart, hidden away, and I never even know it's there until one day I start singing somethin' new, and it's that song, and all of a sudden it's as though I've known it my whole life."

He pulled out a banjo from his hat. "Want me to play one now?"

"I'm good, Wander." Melody stood to her feet. "I need some sleep right now; I don't want to be dragging my feet on the patrol tomorrow."

He grabbed his banjo and jumped up to face her. "Then I shall not waste another minute of your time, ma'am." He pattered down the branch and looked back. "Goodnight, Melody."

She tasted the word on her lips after he was gone. It had a lovely feel to it, like it was the start of something new.

She shouldered the mandolin and moved through the trees as lightly as a shadow.

Maybe it was.

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Note:  If you want to hear what Melody's song sounds like, I sang it and put it on Soundcloud.  You can find it at this link: https://soundcloud.com/iune/wherever-you-are 

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