Part 2- The Dawning
Chapter 2
Humans thirst for water
And genius thirsts for knowledge.
They rode for a while. Maia's mind traveled everywhere. From what life used to be like, to the future, to what were they eating for lunch. Her poor underfed stomach was talking to her.
They rode at a fast pace. Anna led the group with Tim in the middle and Maia was not far behind. With the rising sun behind her back and the dark expanse of trees in front of her she felt as if no problems, worries, or even Elements could touch her. She knew she had things to think about, but the wind drove it all from her mind. That was until it started raining.
"Out into the field on our right!" shrieked Anna. "We do not want to be caught under these leafy greens when lightning is zipping this and that way! Come on Tim- stop being such a sissy!" Tim was shaking on his horse. His head was bent low and his feet had slid through the stirrups. Maia on the other hand was flying across the forest, for she had lagged behind and needed to get through to the field before the rain got more wild than it was already. Along with the rain seemed to come the awareness of poverty, hunger, and all the other of her problems.
"Get Tim onto your horse Maia." called Anna from where the line of trees ended. "I'm too stimulated and distracted now, I can't control a third horse!" So Maia rode next to Tim and hollered,
"Hurry Tim the rain is getting worse!" Tim clambered on and they took off. When they met Anna she too kicked her horse and they ran into the center of the field. All three jumped off their respective horses and lifted their heads to the falling rain. The rain seemed to revive them, for the day was a hot one, even though the morning had been freezing. Anna took a few slow deep breaths and with an expression of intense pain created blowing wind on her palm. The cool Air cleared Maia’s foggy brain but the sense that this restoring gust was the labor of Anna's pain disconcerted her.
For although Maia had been through a lot, and she gave the impression that nothing bothered her, she was a young human girl just like you. She still felt her feelings fiercely all the while perceiving and understanding more than the average 14 year old girl. "Sharp as a knife and quick as a shooting star," her father used to say proudly.
For the next hour the rain went from wild, to calm as a baby. Finally, with the trio soaked to the bone the rain ceased completely.
"As moody as Mr. Buford when he was in one of his fixes," muttered Anna under her breath. She thought no one heard, but Maia did and her heart ached. But then she thought about how Anna abandoned her little daughter and her heart hardened. Imagine running away from a cruel husband, yet leaving a young 5 year old to suffer as she had. Inconceivable. Unbelievable.
Maia's heart felt as though it was full of holes. Her father's disappearance being one. The war another. Her mother's death. All of these unanswered questions and feelings. Her mother would never come back. She knew that deep in her bones. No amount of magic, praying, or crying can bring the dead back once they're gone. But these questions could be answered. And according to Anna they were going to the exact person who would do the answering.
They ate lunch in their muggy clothes. All traces of rain were gone, and in its place was a hot, dry, arid, humidity. ‘Twas a simple meal of bread and cheese. Anna found some wild yet non poisonous mushrooms and added it to the bread and cheese to make a sandwich. After they ate, Anna stood up and declared,
“Back on the road lassies! This time we walk. I'm too drained to create transportation. What can I say? I'm getting old in years. It's around 3 miles away. Hussle!”
After around 2 and a half miles of walking, Maia could barely keep her head up. Sleep was an irresistible force pulling her down, down, down… Maia grabbed Tim’s shirt as her vision filled with black dots.
“I need water!” she cried. And she fainted.
***
Maia had a vague recollection of being lifted. Then fingers pulled open her lips and water, blessed water being poured into her dry mouth. Maia wanted to open her eyes to see who this savior was, but her head was too heavy and her eyelids felt as if they were full of cold, grainy sand. Suddenly a stream of water hit her face, but however refreshing she still could not open her eyes. After a little bit she succeeded in peeling those misbehaving features open. She beheld Anna, Tim, and a strange boy looking of 10 years staring at her. He was a pretty child with long lashes and curly hair framing his plump and ruddy cheeks.
“Maia!” cried Tim. “What was that about? That fainting was the prime example of ‘damsel in distress’.” The little boy giggled. “Maia, this boy helped you immensly. His name is Clark. And luck is with us, because besides for having water which he good-naturedly decided to share, he works for Mr. Hart!”
“Aha,” said Maia, trying to share his excitement,anf failing miserably because her head pounded and her very existence protested being awake.
“Well girl, think you can stand on your feet or need I create Air to carry you?”
“Oh no Anna, no more exerting yourself. You nearly collapsed after you sent that jet of Water at Maia. No need for two faintings in one day.”
“I can walk, but I’ll need to borrow someone’s arm.” The pretty boy proved, by offering his small, dimpled hand, that his good looks went soul deep too, for he was a gentleman if there ever was one. Tim took Maia’s other hand and with all three young people working, Maia was standing in no time.
“Well let’s be on then!” exclaimed Anna, “Your answer’s are just around the bend!”
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