The Sky and the Sea, the Sea and the Sky

8

I knew Ray wasn't gone forever. He couldn't be...

The constant fighting had receded.

My eyes traveled down to Ray's face. His soft brown eyes were still, yet looked as if they were lingering after a better ending. Hands shaking, I drew his eyelids over his gazed expression. Rain trickled in stinging bitter droplets that met on the bridge of my nose and wept through the cloud we lay on. I collapse on to his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. I knew that the only way to save our people was to be strong- but I how could I grasp such a mindset when my best friend lay lifeless? How could this be the answer I was looking for? Why must our people live in captivity for the sake of a problem caused many years before?

 And then it hit me.

I closed my eyes to remember it the way my mom told it.

My sweet Kalani, tonight I will tell you the story of the sea and the sky.

I was laying in my small bed in our kingdom. My young, hopeful blue eyes traveled up to my mother's face. She had only been Queen for three years or so. I remember her lively green eyes gazing at me, accompanied by the crinkled nose and a bright smile. The most beautiful smile anyone could see.

Long ago, there was a princess of the Sky, just like you. She was young and free and lived in a kingdom high above the clouds with her parents, the King and Queen.

Who was she, mommy?

Well, she was one of us, Kali.

Why isn't she here?

She is.

I was so enhanced by this, I let my mother go on.

One day, disaster struck her world. The Damaris' became angry at the Skydens', because of an evil spirit that got set free. This Spirit is very dangerous, Kal. It lurks around, waiting to cause murmurings and evil thoughts.  Their beautiful world was in grave danger.

How did she fix it?

Well, legend says that if the Princess of the Sky travels down in the sea, protected by her ancestors, she will reach a realm. The Realm of Reflection. It's very dangerous.

Why, mom?

 All of our thoughts and fears are unleashed before our eyes. But we must look past it Kal.

We must look past it.....

I opened my eyes. I must have fallen asleep, for that was all I could remember. Luckily, Ray had explained the rest of the story.

I knew what I had to do. My mother wasn't describing a tale. 

She was warning me.