The PureLights of Ohm Totem (31 page)

Coda shrugged. He wanted to hide. He felt he had done something terribly wrong, but what? Was he not supposed to go out at night? If not, wouldn't Honani have told him so? He looked at the tiger's eyes. They were fierce and unmoving. He didn't want to rat out Skint, saying that he left, nor did he want to tell the tiger that he wanted to follow the squirrel to see where he was going, so he made up something. “I just wanted some fresh air.”

The tiger slowly shook his head. Coda could see that he had blue crystals on his chest and forehead. He knew this tiger could rip him apart with one bite and for some reason, Coda couldn't stop himself from imagining him doing so. He prepared himself for an attack. The tiger, instead, took a few steps toward the door, then sat in front of it, blocking Coda's exit. “Why are you lying to me, young one?” asked the tiger.

“Because you've frightened him, Sigun!”

Coda turned to see Honani approaching them. “I've not ever seen you act like this, Sigun. Why are you blocking our friend from leaving the Marble Burrow?”

Sigun relaxed and blinked his eyes a couple of times. “I'm merely doing as Nova asked.”

The badger padded up to Coda's side. “I'm not aware that Nova had asked you to do anything. What was it that she asked?”

Sigun dipped his head, his eyes narrowed. “She asked me to protect this young panther friend of ours.” He looked over his shoulder at the closed door, and then back at Honani. “If I let him out, then he will have no protection.”

“Oh, I see.” Honani eyed Sigun for several moments. “However, I ask that you let Coda leave at his own will. His protection is the night. He is a master in that realm. He'll be safe.”

Sigun shook his head again. He let out a low growl. “I can't do that.”

Honani turned to Coda and put out his paw, showing Coda his way to the door. “Proceed,” he said.

Coda looked at the tiger’s hostile eyes, then back at Honani. “I'm okay, Honani. I can just go back to bed and get some air in the morning.”

The tiger grinned. “That's a good little boy. Now turn around and go back into your room.”

That angered Coda, stirring up an aggressive energy in his belly. He didn't know where it came from, but it made him feel like fire was flaming off his black fur. He lowered his eyes and body as he slowly crept toward the tiger.

Honani stepped between them, calming the situation. “It's not your place to impede the comings and goings of any Being.” He took a step toward Sigun. “I've explained that Coda needs no security. He'll be safe. You have my word, Sigun. Now, let Coda proceed!”

Sigun stood his ground, letting out a throaty growl, which practically shook the hall. Coda crouched, waiting to pounce if Sigun attacked Honani. Honani simply held his paw up, indicating for Coda to stand back.

The tiger leaned downed, glaring into Honani's eyes. He sniffed the badger in contempt, letting out a frustrated grunt. “At sun up, I'll let Nova know about this.” He walked cautiously around Honani and padded off down a hallway on the other side of the big crystal.

Honani watched Sigun leave. Coda was puzzled.

“It seems there's more to Sigun than I thought,” said Honani. He smiled at Coda, then turned and blew on the round door. It rolled open. He gestured for Coda to walk through.

Coda bowed his head in thanks, then thought for a moment. “Will Nova get mad if I go? Sigun said she wanted me to stay.”

Honani shook his head no. “Nova would never control another being. Your will is your own, not hers. Plus, I haven't heard the screech of an owl warning us that the Dims are coming, so you'll be safe. You have the freedom here to do as you please, so long as it doesn't harm another.” His indigo crystals glowed and he nodded. “And so long as it doesn't go against the PureLight Order.”

“The PureLight Order?” asked Coda. His whiskers twitched and every cell in his body vibrated when he said those words. He'd heard about the PureLight Order before, but where?

“Yes, the PureLight Order. You'll learn about it soon.” Honani beckoned Coda to go through the main entrance. “You may get some air, if you wish.”

Coda walked into the long tunnel that led in and out of the Marble Burrow. He looked behind to see the badger staring back at him. Honani exuded a calm confidence. Coda didn't. It felt like he was doing something wrong. It was the first time he had felt guilty here in Ohm Totem.

He walked on, noticing the hazy glow of the zytes. They weren't bright so late in the evening;
good thing for those of us who are sneaking out
, thought Coda. The farther he walked, the deeper his thoughts went. He remembered feeling fine when he first decided to see where Skint was going. It felt good even when he was almost to the main door of the Marble Burrow. It was only when the tiger told him that he couldn't leave the burrow that these feelings of wrong started creeping in. Was he trying to slow Coda down in order to give Skint a longer lead?

Skint!
Coda halted, crouching down, trying to disappear within the shadows of the tunnel.

Up ahead, Skint sat at the top of the dirt tunnel. He glanced nervously from side to side. He was low to the ground as well, as if doing his best not to be noticed. Staying low, he scurried forward, until he was out of Coda's sight. Coda inched forward as quietly as he could, until he reached the lip of the dirt tunnel. He peeked out, but only saw the forest trees, the grass, and foliage. Coda narrowed his vision and surveyed the land. Coda remembered what Honani taught him about being able to see the whole picture.

The moonlight lit up the forest, casting shadows of trees across the land.
Movement
, thought Coda. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Skint scuttling quickly toward the Large Boulder.
What's he doing?

Coda lowered his hind legs, silently pushing forward into a slow run, matching the speed of the small squirrel. His vision again narrowed, and the confidence of a skilled and stealthy panther took over. He moved with careful steps, allowing each paw to cushion itself quietly, but quickly, on the ground. He didn't know how he could be so quiet, it just happened. As Coda followed, Skint ran up a large fir tree, and out of view.

Coda stopped, searching the many trees in front of him. He wondered if he should climb a tree, but then noticed movement on a fir tree next to the one Skint had climbed. Taking a closer look, Coda realized that Skint had jumped from one tree to the other.

As the trees moved and shuddered, Coda knew that trailing Skint would be easy. Skint jumped from tree to tree, clumsily clinging to branches with his front claws, spinning his back legs, as if he was on a bicycle, to grab hold with his entire body. His movements were noisy and disruptive. Coda wondered how all of Ohm Totem didn't hear him.

Coda suddenly froze. The movement in the trees had ceased. He could see Skint looking right at him from the base of a tree. It was about ten yards from the Large Boulder. Even though the moonlight lit the ground brightly, the ground still held shadows from the trees. Coda was lucky to be in one of the shadows. His black fur masked his body well and Skint merely gazed over him. Not seeing anything that might be troublesome, Skint turned and ran up the tree again, clumsily jumping from one tree to the next.

Coda almost gasped out loud and his heart clutched when he saw Skint attempting a long jump. It was too long. A jump that Coda knew the small squirrel couldn't make, but flexing his back leg muscles, Skint attempted the leap anyway. Skint hit the branch of the tree with his outstretched paws, but lost his footing a second later. He careened down the tree, hitting one branch after another. Coda ran toward him, hoping to catch Skint before he could get hurt, but Skint was too far away. He landed with a loud clunk, stopping Coda in his tracks.

Skint lay motionless and Coda crouched low, watching.

For many long moments, Skint didn’t move.
Is he okay?
A panic came over Coda.
Is he dead?
Just then, Skint sat up. He was alert. He wiggled his legs and body, then stood up and ran toward the Large Boulder.

Coda followed.

When Skint reached the boulder, his eyes darted around, checking to see if anyone had followed him. Coda shrank into the shadows.
What is he doing?

Skint extended his front squirrel paw to something that Coda couldn't quite make out and a portion of the rock opened. Skint tiptoed inside the opening and the rock shut behind him.

Stunned, Coda wondered how Skint knew about the boulder.
Do all of the spirit animals here know about the boulder? Why didn't Nova tell me that it opened?

Coda looked around to see if anyone was watching. He saw and heard nothing, other than trees moving in the wind. He ran as fast as he could to the Large Boulder, hoping that the door was still partially open. When he got there, it was closed. He stared at the rock face, searching for the way in. He didn't see a button of any kind anywhere.

He placed both front paws on the boulder, feeling for something that Skint may have touched to open it. He found nothing.
Maybe, it's right
—

“Coda!” said a voice from among the shadowed trees.

Startled, Coda whipped around, his whole body tensed for a fight.

Why can't I sleep?
Zoey wondered with agitation. So far in Ohm Totem, she'd been able to go to sleep every night just after she'd close her eyes.
I'm too wound up,
she thought.

The day had been a long one and she'd spent half of it singing in front of all those spirit animals on the beach. It must have stirred her up, making her antsy, because her skin crawled with goosebumps as her mind raced with thoughts of singing. She had enjoyed it so much. It's so different here in Ohm Totem.

Maybe it's that Prana stuff making me feel like this?

She sighed and closed her eyes again, listening to the sound of San snoring triumphantly across the room. A moment later Zoey opened her eyes and shook her wings.
I can't sleep.
She stood up and walked over to the open window.
Maybe I'll just stare at the stars.

Looking out of the window, she noticed that everything was perfectly still. She gazed out into the twinkling night sky and saw the glow of the moon. Its light was bright, spreading across the forest floor below. She took a big sniff. The sweet fragrance of the flowers that grew everywhere filled her senses.

It's so peaceful here,
she thought.
I don't blame Coda for wanting to stay.

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She saw a black shadow creeping slowly toward something. It was Coda! His belly grazed the ground and his focus never wavered from whatever he was stalking, but Zoey couldn’t see any other movement. Coda was heading straight for the Large Boulder.
What's he doing that for?
Then she lost him in the shadows.

Was she just imagining that? She blinked her eyes a few times, thinking she was just too wired tonight.
I must be seeing things.
She walked back to her nest and burrowed in. She closed her eyes a third time. She tried to force herself asleep by taking in several deep breaths. Then she heard a whisper.

Coda needs your help.

Zoey's eyes popped open. She jumped up and peered out of the window again. She didn't see anything or anyone who might have whispered to her. She gazed at San. She was fast asleep.
Was that the wind? Snow Tree? Was that you?

There was no response to her thoughts. It didn't matter.

She glanced over at San again, making sure she was really sleeping. She was. Good, thought Zoey. She felt that San was a wonderful friend, but tended to be a little loud. Zoey didn't want a loud spirit animal tagging along with her.

Knowing that the window was too small for her to sneak out of, she moved quietly to the door and opened it. She looked all around, seeing that the balconies were empty, or at least the ones she could see on the left side. The view to the right was blocked by the door, so she closed it a crack, peering around it. The coast was clear.

Over the railing, she saw Taregan fast asleep on his little perch. All she had to do was sneak past him and she was free to find Coda.

She stretched her wings, gliding down to the main door. She landed silently. She was confident no one had seen or heard her, not even Taregan. She held her breath as she tiptoed forward.

She then remembered something. The door had bells on it, and would definitely jingle if she opened it. How was she going to get out without making a sound?

“Just open the door, Zoey, and be on your way.”

Zoey jumped back. It was Taregan. He had hopped off of his perch and walked over to her. He leaned in, whispering, “Empty your mind and proceed from your heart.”

Did he mean to follow her heart and help Coda? Or was it something else? What did he mean?
Zoey looked quizzically at him.

He flung his wings all about. “Oh, dizzle dazzle, just go! I don't have all night to explain the comings, goings, and proddings of your heart.”

He hurried her over to the door, swinging it open. The bells clanged and he gently pushed her outside. “Now, follow that heart of yours. Get, get!”