Alina's Crossing: Guardians of Terrin (8 page)

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Having arrived on the other
side of the island by boat meant that we had a half a day’s walk ahead of us to
get to the village. The island was huge and extremely mountainous, dense and
vibrant tropical foliage consuming the island.

The village was laid inland
toward the south side of the island with no beach on its shore, another
safeguard they took for the village. They told me that the only way to reach
the village was by climbing up one of the huge sheer mountain walls, or, by the
way we came, which was on foot. Either way it would take someone several hours
to reach the safety of their village and their lookouts posted all over the
island would spot whomever was attempting to breach the island way before they
would actually make it to the village.

 I had managed to get more
sleep than I thought I would and woke up at first confused as to why I was
sleeping on the ground in a tent, then reflective when it all came flooding
back.

‘It wasn't a dream I had. It had been real.’
I realized.

I rolled over and saw my riff
friend, still sleeping peacefully. I slept in what was left of my clothes from
my now botched interview and was grateful when I noticed a pile of fresh
clothing neatly folded by the front of the entrance to my tent, as well as a
pitcher of water and a piece of cloth for washing. The idea of getting clean
and putting on new clothes was super appealing. I grabbed the items, quickly
heading back inside my tent to wash and change.

Several minutes later I emerged
from the tent in my new digs feeling refreshed and eager to see what the day
would have in store for me.

I felt powerful in my new
outfit.

I received brown pants made of
an unfamiliar sturdy cloth...it wasn't cotton and it wasn't wool....and brown
leather boots that tied up to my knee, which I have to admit, having a soft
spot for boots, gave me a little thrill. A plain white tunic and sturdy fitted
button-up black jacket made of the same mystery material completed my new
ensemble. It was the same style of clothing that Jeb and the others wore. All
homemade, but extremely practical. It was a comfortable outfit, one I could
walk and climb in. I managed to pin my hair up with the remaining pins I had
left from yesterday and was wondering what the chances of them having an
elastic hair tie would be.

‘Probably not too good.’
I
thought, amusingly.

My stomach started grumbling
when I smelled the wonderful aromas coming from outside. I went off in search
of the source of those smells when something familiar crossed my senses.

‘Could it be? Coffee?’
I
wondered, excitedly.

 
I quickened my pace in anticipation of a sip.
I had thought coffee completely lost to me in this world.

I found Jeb and a few of the
group seated around the fire talking quietly and eating. They were a close
bunch, the comrade that existed between them highly evident. I suddenly felt
like I was intruding, my steps going from a quick pace to hesitant in one
instant.

My hesitation didn't last too
long because I was quickly noticed by Gio, and subsequently, the group in total
when Gio greeted me. Like a chorus, they all started yelling my name in a
robust and welcoming greeting.

I was so embarrassed by the
attention, but I kept my footing sure, striding over to them as confidently as
I could.

“Good morning” I said to all.

A chorus of
'Good mornings'
and
'Hello's
ensued.

“Are you hungry Alina?” asked
Jeb.

I shook my head eagerly. “Yes,
a little.”

Jeb gestured for me to sit next
to him on the log he was sitting on, and a plate was quickly thrust into my
hands.

“Thank you. Umm...did I
smell...coffee by any chance?” I asked so hopefully.

“Yes, there is some left. Gio,
fetch her a mug will you?” asked Jeb.

 
“Oh, I can get it” I said, starting to get up.
I didn't want to be waited on.

“No, it's ok. Gio can get it.
You eat and relax for a few moments. He is finished eating and just running his
mouth. You had a rough day yesterday and you have a long day before you. The
least we can do is get you a cup of coffee.” Jeb said with a little smile.

I smiled gratefully through my
mouthful of eggs.

“Did you manage to sleep at
all?” asked Jeb thoughtfully.

“Yes, I did actually. Thank you
for the clothes by the way. How did you know my size?” I asked, shoving another
bite of eggs in my mouth.

“I didn't really, I just
guessed. I hope they fit well enough. They aren't what you are used to wearing,
but they will do out here.” Jeb stated practically.

“Oh no, I love them, really,
especially the boots.” I said with a sheepish smile.

“So that makes us even on the
spiky shoe incident?” Jeb asked hopefully.

He was teasing me.

I wanted to smile back, but
instead I decided I was going to make him sweat a little. I understood that he
threw my beautiful shoes overboard for my safety and that they really weren't
the best all situation footwear so I wasn't going to be too hard on him.

“Hardly. But the boots are a
start.” I said with a big grin that produced a loud laugh from Jeb.

 
I had never seen him laugh like that before.
Something told me that Jeb didn't do much laughing in his life.

“How is your stab wound?” I
asked, seeing Jeb pretend that he still wasn't in pain.

“Better.” said Jeb, unconvincingly.

I raised my eyebrows to him,
calling him out.

Jeb laughed a little, which
made him clutch his side even more. “Ok, ok, I am still in a tremendous amount
of pain, but the guys here cleaned me up and bandaged me really well this
morning. I will be fine.” Jeb assured me.

I continued the rest of my meal
in silence, watching as the rest of the group got back to making plans for the
day trip back to the village and breaking down our little makeshift camp.

My new little friend came
running up to me just as I finished my food. He..or she....jumped right up into
my lap, nuzzling up to my chest.

“Is this thing for real?” I
asked Jeb.

“Oh yes, he is. The riffs are
the most docile and loving animal. Even in the wild, if they take a liking to
someone, it's over, they have a pet and there is nothing you can do about it.”
explained Jeb with a small laugh.

“I've never been really good
with animals.” I said weakly. “What does it eat?”

“Oh, you don't have to feed
him. He can fend for himself. They eat vegetation, and can go out on their own.
He will always come back, he will always find you.” Jeb said.

“It's a he? How do you know?” I
wondered.

I had tried to view the most
obvious places to determine the sex of the creature but to no avail.

“The ears.” Jeb said, flicking
the riffs ears softly. “The long hair on the ears means male, the short-haired
ears are the females.”

“Oh, ok. Now I can name him.” I
picked up my new friend, holding him up to my face. He looked at me lovingly,
purring and making little squeaky noises.

“What is your name little one?”
I asked aloud.

I couldn't think of anything
that would fit this animal and didn't have time to figure it out. I was sure
that a name would come to me. Until then, I would just call him Riff.

Jeb wasn't kidding when he said
it was a half a day’s walk to the village. This island was huge and I never
fancied myself an athlete even though I ran regularly, but the walk through the
incredibly dense foliage was rough, steep and very long. There was not a
well-traveled footpath as I had expected, just trees and large plants, vines
and muddy pools we had to walk around, through and over, all at a steep
incline. How Jeb managed this walk, I would never know. We stopped several
times to rest or eat and drink and I was able to get to know the members of my
walking party in those moments.

Gio, the oldest member of the
group was instantly my favorite. He reminded me of Santa Claus without the
extra weight. He had pure white hair and a pure white beard and was just as
jolly as Santa. He told me he met Jeb a few years back when he had just started
the resistance to Shael. Gio said that he could not continue to watch his
beloved home being torn apart and not do anything about it. He joined the
resistance as soon as he found Jeb and pledged the rest of his life to their
mutual cause.

Then there was Jasser and
Helix, twin boys of around seventeen or maybe eighteen at the most. They were
younger than me for sure. The boys were very quiet, didn't say much to
themselves or to any of the others in the group and were always together. They
looked at Jeb like he was their King, hanging on his every word. Since they
didn't speak much, or at all since I had been in their presence, I couldn't get
their story, but I was determined to figure them out. I made a mental note to
talk to Gio or Jeb about them when I could have an alone moment with either of
them.

The last of the party was made
up of Tawni, Yedwin, Paul and Joe. Jeb explained that Paul and Joe had both
come from my side, the 1st Realm. They were rare crossovers and a welcome
addition to their group. Paul was medium height, shorter than Jeb, but taller
than me, with dark, scraggly hair and a thin, but muscular build. Joe was the
exact opposite of Paul, very tall, with short, neatly cut blond hair. He was
extremely muscular, the carriage of a body builder and quite attractive. Jeb
had recruited them a few years before.

Jeb had explained that only
special people could cross the barrier between the realms and it appeared that
Paul and Joe had ancestors from the 2nd Realm that had made the crossover into
the 1st Realm at some point and stayed. Jeb said that both Paul and Joe had
crossed accidentally. It appeared that most of the crossovers that occurred
were truly accidental. The spots that acted as doorways in between the Realms
didn't have a lock. If you possessed the right genetics and were in the right
spot at the right time, you crossed. Many choose to stay for various reasons,
mostly acceptance and resignation of their fate and many wanted to leave, but
couldn't. Those people spent years trying to find the right spot to cross back,
almost none able to find their way home. 

Tawni and Yedwin were Jeb's
oldest and dearest friends, having known them since their youth. They appeared
to be around the same age as Jeb. Yedwin and Tawny had the most beautiful dark
skin, hair and eyes I had ever seen. They were of above-average height, but
Tawni, who hailed from the Taag providence was stockier and Yedwin, who came
from the Kilderin providence, possessed a much thinner build. They were a stark
contrast to Jeb and the three of them together made quite a breathtaking view.

I spoke to them all at one time
or another during the walk, except for Jasser and Helix, of course. They nodded
or shook their heads politely if I asked a question, but didn't expand on
anything. They would shrug if a yes or a no head bob wouldn't do the trick. Jeb
told me not to take it personally, they just didn't talk much.

I knew that climbing a steep
mountain surrounded by the group was not the right time and place for any
questions regarding the two boys. Jeb did say I could trust them implicitly.
So, I didn't take it personally, I was just intrigued and curious about them.

When at last we made it the
village around dinner time, I experienced a welcome unlike any other. A dirt
path lead up to the village and was filled on both sides with people of various
ages, all cheering and patting the backs of the members of my party.

We were welcomed in this manner
all the way into the center of the village, the enthusiasm continuing from the
path to where there was a large clearing with a few ramshackle buildings. The
loud sounds had frightened Riff. He had buried himself under my jacket, hiding
from all the people.

 All of the homes on the
island were tents, crude ones made of a tan cloth covering tucked over a wooden
frame. They weren't poorly made, on the contrary, they appeared sturdy and
sound. The tents contained no frills and were placed on the outside of the
clearing in a circle. There were fire pits everywhere, some with seating around
them. Washing stations dotted the village core for dishes and clothing, a large
outdoor kitchen and groups of tables and chairs everywhere completed the
essence of the village. It looked like a primitive, but very well run little
community.

“This is not what I was
expecting. It's so....nice!” I said excitedly, walking around in dazed circles.
I felt like I had time traveled back to the 1800's. As an archaeologist
wanna-be, this was a fantastic sight and I wanted to go exploring. I had all
but forgotten the reason I was there in the first place.

“Thanks, it's not much, but it
serves its purpose.” said Jeb humbly.

“Oh no Jeb! It's wonderful! I
have never seen anything so beautiful before. You can see how well-planned and
thought out the village is. Everything serves a purpose, all necessities are
met here.” I exclaimed, putting my hand on his arm and then jerking it back
when he looked startled at my touch.