Nature's Sign

Chapter 9

"Wow," I say, "You live in a cave?"

"Yep, and you live in a tree." Johnathan says, grabbing some sodas from a box. 

"Very funny. Where is Father Earth?" I ask.

"Out to check on someplace. Here," He says, tossing me a soda.

Sky and Flame sit on the floor with a cup of water each. We sit in silence for a minute. I can tell that Johnathan wants to ask a question, but the fact that he isn't asking the question must mean that I look like I don't want to talk. The thing is, I really need to hear something funny, if that's possible right now.

"What's the question that you want to ask?" I finally say.

"I don't have a question," Johnathan says, looking down at his soda.

"Yes, you do have a question. I have telepathy, remember?" I say.

"Telepathy?" Johnathan asks.

"You know, being able to communicate through the mind," I explain, "Anyway, what is your question?"

"If you're telepathic, why can't you tell what my question is?" Johnathan asks.

"I don't know. My telepathy hasn't been working properly since..." I say, my voice trailing off, "Anyway, I can still tell you have a question."

"You can probably tell what my question is, even without telepathy," Johnathan says, looking up from his soda.

"Is it about Mother Nature? Or what happened?" I ask.

Johnathan nods.

"What do you want to know?" I ask.

"You don't mind me asking?" Johnathan asks.

"It won't help just keeping it pent up," I say, "Trust me, I know."

"Okay, what is the deal with Jake? How do you know him?" Johnathan asks.

"He was my best friend when I was a kid. But, then one day, he came to see me and was acting very weird. He asked where Flame and Sky were, even though he hates it when they are with us. Then he left in a hurry and I found him trying to take Flame and Sky. I haven't seen him since then," I say.

Johnathan stares at me, stunned.

"What? Why are you looking a me like that?" I ask, getting tense.

"You use to be friends with that maniac?!" Johnathan asks.

"Well, yeah. I kind of had limited friends options. Also he wasn't a maniac at the time," I say.

Johnathan groans.

"Why are getting mad? You're the one who asked about how I know Jake!" I say.

"I'm going to go outside and get some air!" Johnathan says, getting up and walking outside.

Flame and Sky look at where Johnathan was, then they look at me.

"Are you okay, Alexa?" Flame asks.

"I'm fine. Right now I'm worried about Johnathan," I say, setting down my soda and looking at where Johnathan had gone.

I get up and walk outside of the cave that Johnathan and Father Earth call home. Inside the cave are a lot of boxes containing all sorts of different things. Some boxes where used to sit on, some boxes contained food. There is not one piece of proper furniture in the cave. I start walking around the forest circling the cave. I find a clearing with a hill, very similar to mine at home. I sit on top of the hill turning my face to the wind. I hear the rustle of leaves to my left and turn to see Johnathan emerging from the forest.