Into the Forest Shadows (35 page)

She closed her eyes. Down below she could
feel the bunt group mind still working, but with the spores gone it
functioned much more efficiently. Her lips curved into a smile at
the thought of a bunt computer. So much power from such little
creatures.

She found Bunbun nearby, no longer the center
of the processing. She urged him towards the surface, picturing
Ayden's face.

By the time she walked back Bunbun poked his
head up from a burrow. With a wiggling hop he headed straight for
Ayden. Ayden picked him up, snuggling his fur before Bunbun
insisted on climbing down into his coat.

"It appears our family is complete again,"
Uncle Henry said with a grin, reaching out to rub between Bunbun's
ears.

"Almost." Her mom crossed her arms, asking
Kate. "Any idea when Mom will be back?"

"Not until a world is found for us. Who knows
how long that will take." Kate took her arm and led her towards the
break in the barrier. She ignored the Watcher's attempt to get them
to move faster. "We have plenty of things to get ready before
then."

Her mother sighed. "Oh yes. The Directory
needs to be disbanded and homes for most of the Oburos City
inhabitants must be found. I'm not looking forward to the challenge
of finding worlds for all those people."

"Creating trust funds for each one will
help," Uncle Henry said. Kate looked back at him, comfused. He
smiled back at her, "We still have permission to harvest. I'm to
see that the Gatherers are re-organized. It means we will still
have product to sell to Alliance sources."

"That might help," her mother said. She
stepped over a ridge of dirt from where the shuttle had crashed.
She wrapped an arm around Kate's shoulders and squeezed. "We're
still together and that gives me strength. I'll figure it out."

"Enough to learn the ways of the forest?"

Kate looked down to find Vistus padding along
beside her. The barrier trees twitched and turned as they grew
outwards to heal the breach to the city. "Who? Mom or me?"

"Both, but I sense you know more than your
mother. She is now a Watcher and must learn," Vistus said.

Her mother shivered. "I admit I've never
liked it."

"Did you hate the forest so much before
Grandma's shuttle accident?"

Her mother stopped on the other side of the
barrier trees, "What do you know about that?"

"Grandma showed me her memory of it." Kate
realized how strange her words came out, but it was the best way to
explain it. "The trees felt her desperation to stay alive to get
back to you. So they helped."

"Mom came back different, I could feel
it."

"She would have died before she could be
rescued if it hadn't happened. The forest didn't do a bad thing. It
made sure you still had a mother, and it meant I have a great
Grandma."

Her mother shrugged, turning to walk away
from the city, "I was a child. I had a lot to fear in those
days."

"There always will be, but we have each
other." Kate trotted after her. "I noticed the brighter colors. I
like the ribbon. Does that mean you might be a little braver now,
too?

"I'm working on it. Give me time."

Uncle Henry rushed forward to help her mother
down the steep side of the mesa. Animals moved past them in the
final exodus from the city, some of them calling to Vistus.

Vistus took the lead once they reached level
ground, saying, "The Newcomers smell almost as strong as
humans."

"I wondered when the insults would come."
Kate looked back at the mesa once more before it disappeared from
view. "Is that how you found the city? Following us?"

"Of course. With Diasis on the move in your
same direction I thought the city might need protectors. I did not
expect an all-out war."

"None of us did." Kate glanced at Ayden. He
picked his way along the path with the help of his staff. She
noticed he kept his eyes down. Why wasn't he happy? They'd been
successful.

The Newcomer ship lay in a muddy trench with
broken trees around its perimeter. With relief Kate didn't detect
any of the sleeping Ancients among them. A wide gash along the side
revealed several internal rooms. In one of them two Newcomers
worked to seal the gash.

Kate ran up to the side of the ship, shouting
to them, "There's no time for that! The fog is coming!"

One of them looked down at her, a tool held
tightly in his hand. "We do not wish harm. Do not attack. We will
be gone as soon as repairs are finished."

"Your ship can't protect itself against the
fog," Kate said impatiently. "Shut down all the power and ship
systems and get the crew together. We can find shelter among the
trees until the fog passes."

The Newcomer shook his head back and forth,
"No, the trees will attack. Why should they not? They have been
deceived by our former captain, just as we have."

"We know that. We know you were infected with
the spores." She turned to her mother. "I don't think they
understand."

"I think I do." Her mother walked up to the
gash, tilting her head up at them, "My name is Mary O'Hanson, the
new Human representative empowered by the Ancients. Your crew is no
longer in danger as long as you do not harm the forest from this
point forward. You are safe in our protective custody. We will
arrange for you and your ship to be returned safely to your people.
Please inform your crew that their safety is endangered by a
natural weather phenomenon. We must take shelter."

Kate eyed the ship. It would take time for it
to be repaired well enough to fly. Her mother's shuttle had taken
out a good chunk of the under-belly. Pits marked where the City
tree weapons had inflicted their own massive damage.

"It's too close to the Ancient's city," Kate
said.

Vistus sat down next to her, regarding the
shape with distaste, "So long as it's on the planet it is too
close."

"That's not what I mean. I don't want any
repair crew this close to the Ancient's city, just in case any of
them get any ideas." She turned to Ayden, "I need Bunbun."

"Why? You can understand the language of the
Newcomers just fine." Still, Ayden pulled Bunbun out of his
coat.

"Ever thought of how they do that? Think
group mind, one big organic computer." She cradled Bunbun in her
hands and smiled at him, "Thanks to him the city could protect
itself even when the other bunts and forest was infected by
spores."

Bunbun raised an ear at her, scratching his
neck with a back paw. She nuzzled his forehead against her own. As
she'd hoped, there was still a connection to the City bunt
group-mind. She wished she could use words, but instead she had to
rely on the one thing the half-asleep city computer could
understand: The Newcomer ship must be moved away from the Ancient's
city.

The group mind computer came back with a
solution using resting equipment sitting and waiting under the
sleeping city surface. Kate received a brief mental image as well
as an impression it would soon be on the way. At least, she hoped
that's what they meant. With the emergency over, she had a feeling
the Bunts still in the city were starting to turn their attention
to the simple things in life, such as foraging for food and with
each other.

Kate lowered Bunbun, rubbing him behind the
ears until he crooned. "Mom, tell the Newcomers to stay on the
ship. Everyone, get onboard. We're taking the entire ship out of
the area before the fog descends."

Uncle Henry eyed the ship, "And how is that
possible? The thing may never fly again."

"Not on its own it won't, but we have help,"
Kate said. She handed Bunbun back to Ayden and pointed into the
sky.

Through a break in the trees two massive dark
objects arrowed down towards them. Perfect, plenty big to handle
the Newcomer ship.

Kate scrambled up the dirt embankment into
one of the exposed compartments, urging everyone else to follow.
Her mother moved into the interior of the ship to continue talking
with the crew.

She frowned when Vistus followed. "I thought
you would be going home."

Vistus sighed, his claws making clicking
noises as he walked gingerly on the hard flooring of the Newcomer
ship, "I am to make a new forest my home. I'm the new Watcher
liaison with the humans."

Kate laughed before she could stop herself.
"Sorry. I didn't expect that."

"Trust me, I'm not thrilled with it either.
How am I to work with a species who doesn't like shadows? You like
to live in the bright open spaces."

"That will change for those who stay among
us."

"I will do as the Ancient's asked, including
seeing that you, and whomever may need it, are properly
trained."

"Great, more schoolwork." She heard several
clangs overhead as the mobile engines attached themselves to the
hull.

"Can you please explain what is happening?
Whoa!" Uncle Henry grabbed the internal doorjamb as the ship
shifted.

Kate yelled out, "The Ancient's version of
freight lifters. We're heading for the city!"

The ship lifted away from the dirt and mud,
moving past the treetops. Kate steadied herself against the wall,
watching the scenery fly by from out of the gash in the outer hull.
As they rose in altitude she saw fog descending out of the
mountains.

Uncle Henry took one more look out the gash
and retreated to the interior corridor. She heard him talking with
the Newcomers and her mother. She stayed where she was, letting the
air of their flight push through her hair. The forest flew by
underneath.

No way did she want to go inside. She wanted
to see it all, experience it all.

Ayden appeared just as enamored with the
view. Until she looked a little closer.

The corners of his eyes drooped, his mouth
tight. The shoulders that were usually so straight, slumped.

Kate pushed away from the wall and carefully
made her way across the room to him. Vistus followed her, keeping
her between him and the open gash in the hull.

"Does it bother you that much?" She asked
quietly. So quietly she wondered if he heard her over the sound of
rushing air.

He moved his intense gaze to her. "What do
you mean?"

"What the Ancient did to me. How I'm
different inside. I'm not in my head, you know."

A slight smile turned his lips, "Why should I
care about that? You are now apart of the forest in a way I'm not,
despite living in it for years. I've been asked to help develop the
new technology our new society will use. I'm excited about that
part. I love designing and making stuff. It means we'll be working
together a lot."

That part pleased her, too. Perhaps a little
too much.

Kate frowned, "Then what is it? You aren't
happy."

"What is the one thing that has shadowed my
life?" He asked, his eyes losing its momentary sparkle.

Kate's thoughts flew, trying to figure out
what he might mean. She heard her mother laugh at Uncle Henry's
voice. She glanced towards the interior door. "Your mother?"

"Exactly. This incident is going to cause a
lot of publicity. My mother will be able to find me."

"So what? What can she do?"

"I'm not of age yet!" He squeezed his eyes
shut. "She can take me away and I won't be able to stop her."

Kate laughed. "I would almost like to see her
try."

"This isn't a laughing matter."

"Ayden, you aren't on an Alliance world and
now never will be. You are working with the Ancients for the new
human government. She can't touch you." She gestured towards the
forest going by below. "And might I remind you that you also are a
part of this forest, and we protect our own."

"Indeed we do," Vistus said. "If you do not
wish to leave this world, then you won't. Why do you humans
complicate your lives with so much thinking?"

A reluctant smile came to his face "I hope
it's that simple."

"We'll make it that simple. We'll tell Mom
and she'll take care of it. She doesn't stick up for herself much,
but she does for others." She folded her arms. "No one is taking
you away from this world."

He reached out and fingered the tattered edge
of her cape. "You aren't going to need this for protection in the
forest any longer."

"No. I'm a part of the forest now in a way a
simple Watcher is. But, it's still a symbol," Kate said. And more
than that. A cape she'd once disliked wearing meant so much more.
"Do you think you could duplicate the fabric and color?"

His eyes flew to her face, "Are you serious?
I thought you hated this thing."

She shrugged. "It reminds me of Grandma. I
want a new one. She made it special for me."

Her mother come up behind her. "We have the
Newcomers calmed down. They're relieved they aren't going to be
charged with murder and will be allowed to return home."

"We'll be back at the city soon at this
pace," Ayden said.

"Kinda fitting. Arriving in an alien craft
that is being carried by Ancient technology," Kate mused. "I think
this will tell everyone in the city that things have changed. In a
big way."

"Ms. O'Hanson, Kate thinks you may be able to
help me with a problem," Ayden said.

Her mother smiled, nodding towards Uncle
Henry as he joined them, "If this is about your mother, your uncle
has already informed me. We'll get it taken care of."

"See, I told you she's good." Kate said with
a cheeky grin.

An odd sense of peace settled over her. She
wasn't mad at anyone, her family was at peace even with one of them
in parts unknown. For the first time since she could remember, she
felt at home.

It was a new feeling, but a wonderful
feeling.

In her mind flashed the image of twisted
trees with shimmering light between them. A gate. A gate she should
keep an eye on as its Gatekeeper. Maybe one day she would explore
beyond the gate, just like Grandma would be doing.