The Sky and the Sea, the Sea and the Sky

4

Kalani..Kalani....please wake up.. please come back to me....

My eyes slowly opened then shut again.

Please...Pleaseee....

I tried once more. It was an effort to try and see. The weight of my eyelids finally lifted. A blurred face phased into one figure. "Kal..." My body was paralyzed yet limp. I still couldn't see the face. The figure sat me up and untucked my wings from where I was laying. Where was I laying?

You're safe now.

The voice said.

"I don't understand.. where am I?" My clouded vision suddenly cleared. It was her. My heart stopped. I didn't know whether to feel anger or sorrow. "Kalani.. I'm so sorry. You don't deserve this. This... this kind of life.. this kind of world.", Hai muttered. "Just.... what were you trying to do Hai?!" I exclaimed. "I.... I know what we need to do to put a stop to this war." I took a moment to look around me. I was on a rock. And then I remembered. The lightning. The constant build of anguish and distrust. "You left, Hai. You left..." She looked up at me with guilt. Her lips trembled, but she knew she could say nothing. "I saved your life, Kal," she trembled. "You landed near the water, on this rock... because of me. I saw your bolt of lightning from where I was and rushed to save you. Luckily, you were somewhat close to the ground. I got you wet, though." That explained the weakness. That explained why I was here. I looked up at the sky. The darkness had faded into smeared greys and blues. Clouds hovered up above by the rising sun.

I attempted to stand up, but my body trembled and fell into the hard rugged stone. Hai gazed up at me from the water. Her eyes shifted back and forth as if she were trying to avoid watching a helpless creature. A sharp pain seared through my torn wings, and my horns felt as if they were smashing into my head. I stared up at the sky. Maybe this was all just a dream. A nightmare that had crept into my mind and overtaken all hope and light that was residing there. The clouds again just kept moving. I wondered why the clouds could move so freely with no pain or interruption. "I'm going to get help," Hai abruptly spoke. We both knew this was treacherous. My dad would be worried sick about me and send a dozen royal Skyden Guards to come to my rescue. Ever since my mom passed, he hasd been extra paranoid about my safety. He, however, has a kingdom to rule, and would never come to see me. I found myself looking back to the water's surface. It wasn't me. I saw a broken girl with torn wings and a blurred conscience of the past and present. 

I could feel my strength coming back slowly. Everything around me seemed to be so much louder, so much more alive and constant than when I was well. It was almost dawn, and I knew I needed to make up with Hai. I knew I needed to be home. Just as I finished pondering on these concerns, Hai and two Skyden Guard Men traveled to the rock which I lay. "Princess Kalani?" a large Skyman approached me slowly. He looked into my eyes carefully. "Can you see me?", he asked. "Yes..", I mumbled. "She's fine.", Hai mentioned rudely. She just needs rest." The guard picked me up gently and slowly flew up into the air, past the clouds. I heard Hai shift and swim under the water. The other guard grabbed my legs so they weren't aimlessly dangling below. It felt nice to have someone hold me. Someone I could lay my head on and trust. This was not just a guard. This was my....friend, Raiden. We have known each other just as long as I've known Hai. Raiden and I are very close as well, but not in the same way as with Hai. We have this connection that-

"Kalani."

He spoke softly. "What happened to you?"

I jolted. Out of nowhere, tears flowed from my eyes, soaking his uniform. His wings flapped up and down, again and again, yet he was so calm and steady. I felt like hugging him but knew I would fall for good. His hands trembled as he held me. "Kal, I care about you. Why didn't you tell me about this?" I didn't need this right now. He sensed my hidden pain. I could never keep it hidden from him. It was like he knew me inside and out. My uneasiness was overbearing, for both of us. I suddenly didn't feel the rush of the wind as Ray arrived on Sykden land. Our land was up in the sky on a big cloud, with surrounding islands of clouds at every angle. The Skydens land, that is. I was nearly healed of the pain of the sea. "Hey...Raiden softly added. "Cheer up, Sunshine." He wiped the hanging tear from my cheek and flew off into the orange sunlight.