Tulip's Mythic Emotions

Tulip's Mythic Emotions (Part 8)

The News
Aphrodite snapped her fingers, and they instantly returned to the small room. Carter leaned on the wall and looked at Aphrodite, "when are you going to tell 'em the news?" He said, chewing a piece of gum. "What news?" Tulip said. Aphrodite winced, obviously not expecting to tell them any "news" anytime soon. "Uh..heh, um..." she played with her hair, nervously looking at their confused faces. "Well, Persephone has an invitation for you." She explained, forcing a weak smile.
       "For what?" Rosy pressed, leaning in. "Uhh.." Aphrodite trailed off. Carter rolled his eyes, "just give 'em the reward, and I'll tell them," he said. "Classic goddess, always putting it on the mortal," he mumbled. "What was that?" Aphrodite chirped.
       "Nothing," Carter grumbled, spitting out his gum. "Okay, your reward," Aphrodite repeated. She raised her hands and waved them around, conjuring a ball of blinding light. The light started forming into a glowing creature. She put her hands down, and a ghostly fox emerged.
       "Is it for all of us?" Emery said, gazing at the shiny animal. "Hah! No, it's for Katelyn. You each get your own since you each competed in the course," Aphrodite explained. She constructed another magnificent beast, a horse, and it came galloping out to Nadia. She scratched its misty head.
       Her third creation was for Emery, it bounded out with horns curved towards each other. "An antelope!" She cried, running towards it with glee. Then she whipped up Rosy a glistening snow fox with fur that was as white as new-fallen snow. The fox gracefully leaped into Rosy's arms, cuddling and bonding with her right away. She finally prepared for Tulip's jaw-dropping prize.
       She spun another ball of light in her hands and released the most beautiful and loving creature of all. On its four paws, a shimmering white snow leopard walked out. It looked up at Tulip, and she met its starry pink eyes. The leopard bowed down to Tulip, and softly purred, nudging her hand with its head. She slowly stroked its white spotted fur.
       "Should we give them names?" Katelyn asked, playing with a tuft of hair on her fox's forehead. "Oh, right!" Aphrodite said. "Your spirit friends will telepathically tell you their names, but you have to close your eyes and connect with your animal," Aphrodite told them. The girls shut their eyes and had a moment of silence and concentration. What's your name? Katelyn heard herself ask.
Jijo, the fox replied. I'm Katelyn she told him. Nice to meet you, Jijo said. She opened her eyes, and saw the fox smiling at her intently. She smiled back.
       Nadia and Emery's eyes were open too. They were hugging their spirit friends tightly. Rosy and Tulip's eyes were still closed, deep in thought. Rosy was staring into darkness, picturing her elegant snow fox. Do you have a name? She asked, surprised by her voice as it echoed around her.
Yes, the fox said, singing with a delicate response. My name is Lilac, she continued, waiting for a reply. Hi Lilac, I'm Rosy, Rosy said. You can open your eyes, Lilac said, her voice fading away. Rosy saw Tulip's eyes still closed.
Who are you? Tulip asked, listening for an answer. Who am I? Well, I'm your spirit friend of course, the leopard said smoothly. What's your name? Tulip said. I'm Kaia, the leopard replied. We are very similar, that's why we were paired together, Kaia added.
Is there anything special I should know about you? Tulip questioned. Not right now, we can chat later, your friends are waiting, Kaia said. Tulip opened her eyes to see everyone staring expectantly at her. "Let's go around saying our friend's names!" Aphrodite said. The girl's briefly flash backed to grade school when the teacher would go around learning everyone's names.
       They marveled at the thought. "Emery?" Aphrodite said, ushering her to them. "Oh, ok," Emery said, snapping back to the present. "My spirit is named Arroyo," she said, patting the antelope on its head. "I'll go," Nadia offered.
       "My spirit is named Luna," she said, smiling at the horse. Katelyn stepped forward with her fox. "My spirit is named Jijo," she told them, displaying the creature in her arms. "My spirit is named Lilac," Rosy said, eagerly caressing the fox's fur coat. "My spirit is named Kaia," Tulip said, letting the leopard prowl around her.
       "Awesome!" Aphrodite cheered. "Now we can get you guys packed to go home!" She said, pushing them to the exit. "Not so fast, princess," Carter said, getting up from his position in the corner. "I still haven't told them the news," he reminded her. "Oh, fine! But they can't blame it on me!" Aphrodite whined, turning to them with a crooked smile.
       "Will someone tell me what's going on?" Tulip asked. Aphrodite hung her head glumly, and Carter gave a weak smile. "Your mother wanted you to stay with her in one of her hidden temples." Tulip cocked her head.
"For how long?" She asked. Aphrodite sighed, "she wants to train you to be like her, so you'd be away from your friends for a long time." All the color drained from Tulip's face.
"Can I talk to her?" She asked. Aphrodite pondered this. "Maybe, but she won't be available long. She'll probably stop by to see you and take you with her before she leaves." Tulip shook her head, "then there's no time to waste!" She said.