Chapter 25

A guttural growl rumbled off the cold stone walls. Dylan and Norm backed themselves up as far as they could, waiting for the unseen to show itself. The tip of Su’So’s staff ignited, lighting the twenty-foot-wide chamber.

On the far side of the cave, the shadow of a tall, thin humanoid moved toward them, a massive creature at their side. “Zalee!” Su’So said, holding the glow high enough to see the outline of her face.

“I waited by the fading ridge. Enri told me you were in trouble. I had to come find you, Su’So.” Zalee said, stepping into view.

“Dude,” Norm whispered in astonishment, “I’d climb the mountain without you for her.” Zalee stood nearly six feet tall with an athletic frame. She appeared only slightly older than the boys, yet carried herself with confidence and maturity that belied her years. Her white hair was tied back in long braids, adorned with assorted beads and feathers that complimented her sleeveless toga-like garment. Her golden skin shined, luminous. Wide amber eyes, sharp, cat-like above high angular cheekbones, framed her lilac-lipped smile.

Su’So threw his tiny arms around her and squeezed. “My friend, it should not be that a coming war is the only reason we see one another.”

“Agreed. Lyca misses you, too,” she said, motioning to her companion. The gray and white wolf stepped into the light, snuffling Su’So playfully. Nearly the size of a bear, Lyca’s ice-blue eyes pierced the shadows like lasers, while an extra thick ruffle of fur around her neck resembled a lion's mane. “Z’Keni, you are hurt.”

“I will survive, Zalee,” he replied, already applying a prepared salve-soaked cloth to his wound. “It is good to see you and Lyca.” Z’Keni cracked a rare smile.

She turned to Dylan and Norm, her eyes suddenly wide with anticipation. “I am Zalee, of Telos. I have come to offer my help in any way I can.” Her voice was lyrical and kind, filled with excitement.

“I’m uh, umm, yup… Norm.” Norm bowed his head, hardly able to put two words together, and extended a hand to the beautiful young woman.

Zalee gripped his hand firmly, squeezing with both her hands as if they were long-lost friends. The huge wolf followed suit, padding up to Norm. The massive canine sniffed his legs and belly, causing him to giggle.

“This is Lyca, Norm,” she introduced her over-sized pet, standing almost eye to eye with him. “She is a dire wolf.”

“A dire wolf?” he asked, allowing the wolf to nuzzle his hand with her cool, damp nose. “Are they all this big?”

“Not quite,” Zalee said, proudly. “But they are larger than wolves on the surface where they became extinct some years ago. They have been preserved since then in Telos. Do not let her size frighten you. She is quite affectionate to her friends.” Lyca placed her paws like boxing gloves on Norm’s shoulders and licked his head mercilessly. “And she likes you, Norm.” Zalee inhaled anxiously before turning to Dylan. “And indeed, you are the-” Her words cut short when their eyes met.

“I-I- uh-” Dylan stuttered, a swarm of butterflies swirling in his stomach and the uncanny sensation he not only knew her voice, but knew everything about Zalee as well.

“Greetings to you, Scion. It has been a long time,” she smiled coyly, rested her soft hand upon his cheek. “… my love.” To Dylan’s utter shock, she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. He froze, unsure what to do on a number of levels, but knew one thing: he liked the warm sensation in his center. She pulled away, giggling despite herself, watching Dylan’s speechless face contort through a myriad of expressions. “It is good to see you… again.”

Norm’s face registered as much, if not more, shock than Dylan’s. “Y’know, I used to think you were a seriously unlucky guy, but you gotta hand in your loser-card for this! I get the giant dog licking my face, and you get whatever that was.”

“I apologize.” Zalee bowed, her eyes fixed on Dylan.

Dylan could only blink, his heart thumping like a bass drum in his chest. “H-how do I- do we know…I mean…what was that for?”

“Perhaps I should have waited until I could explain.” Zalee glanced at Su’So and Z’Keni chuckling at the awkward scene. “I am excited to be with you again.” Impulsively, she kissed Dylan again. “There will be a time for explanation. Though not now.” Dylan tried to hide his smile behind a stone wall of confusion, but in reality, he only wanted to kiss her again.

Norm shook his head. “Sure. Just walk up and kiss a guy, then tell him I’ll explain later. That always works.”

“It will have to suffice for now. There is much to be done.” Zalee’s smile vanished into the seriousness of the situation.

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Dylan straightened himself uncomfortably. “Yeah, we can deal with all, uh… this later. We gotta fix up Norm. He got hurt pretty bad.”

“It’s not that bad,” Norm said, nuzzling Lyca and scratching her between her sharp, pointed ears. “It just hurts. Who’s a good puppy?”

Zalee’s eyes widened when she saw the chunk of flesh the blood-gutters had torn from his shoulder. “This needs attention.” She pulled a cloth soaked with a whitish paste from her pouch. “This contains some healing remedies. It is from Ra’Nelle.”

“It looks like bird crap.”

“Please be still.”

“And it smells even wor- Yeow! Holy crap, does that burn?” Norm grimaced as she applied the gritty substance to his skin. “Yep, it hurt at first… and now it’s getting worse.”

“The mountain sage root will help it heal,” Zalee secured a small patch over the wound.

“Dylan, how about you?” Norm asked. “You got tore up pretty badly yourself. You want some of this stuff?”

Dylan proudly revealed his blood covered torso, displaying his part in the fight. “I heal pretty fast.”

“One of many gifts given to the Scion,” Zalee said, inspecting Dylan’s wounds. “When you are in synchronicity, you will find even more.”

“So, what else can I do?” Dylan asked, more comfortable every second he was near Zalee.

“Scions are enlightened with their planet’s life force, which originates in the stars. Each has abilities which are passed from the Om. Healing is but one. They all possess an innate knowledge of their planet and can communicate with its creatures. They can also channel their essence into powerful energies. But each Scion has other unique abilities that come from the person. They will not be realized until you are in synchronicity and may take time to develop.”

“Dylan’s going to get even more powers?” Norm asked, wincing from the stinging salve on his shoulder. “Good. Between the void, the space pirates and the octo-turtles-.”

“Blood-gutters,” Dylan corrected with a shiver. “The Terovian called them blood-gutters.”

“Whatever. We need all the firepower we can get. And food?”

“I am sorry, Norm.” Zalee shook her head apologetically. “There is food in Telos. The space pirates you speak of are Terovian raiders. They were once part of the community of planets under the Galaxis’ protection and were once proud and honorable. When their star began to fade, Terovia and its people suffered. For centuries since, they have turned to piracy and genocide in hopes Necromanos will grant them a new world. They have lost themselves and are now one of the greatest enemies of the Galaxis.”

“How do you know all this?” Dylan asked, looking overwhelmed again. “You’re not much older than me.”

“I am Lemurian,” Zalee said. “We have been here far longer than any human. There are even more races beyond ours, far older than humans.” She motioned to the two Menehune who sat cross-legged, resting against the wall. “I do not wish to insult humans as they are a beautiful people, but as a race, they are still very young.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Norm folded his arms.

“You have not yet reached your potential,” Zalee continued. “Humans will continue to learn and mature, eventually.”

“So, we’re a young race, who will get better?” Dylan shrugged.

Zalee nodded. “We hope so. The Terovians are far more advanced than humans, but were still corrupted. We hope to live side by side one day. The Lemurians would not have protected you as long as we have if we did not believe in you.”

“How do you protect us?” Dylan asked. “I mean, you’re the only one we’ve seen.”

“There are just over a two hundred thousand Lemurians and most adults are capable warriors. We have a star-force of over fifty thousand vessels. But, Dylan, it is the Scion who protects us all.”

“I protect you?” Dylan exclaimed, “And you have spaceships?”

“Yes.” Zalee nodded, motioning to the Menehune again. “You protect all of us.”

“Seems like the other way around.” Dylan looked sheepishly at Norm. “But at least you gave us some answers. I just don’t know if I like them.”

Zalee scratched Lyca’s broad back. “Your journey is not near complete and I fear the hardest tasks are still to come.”

“Can’t your people protect Dylan so he can get up the mountain?” Norm asked.

“Most of my people are at the edge of the solar system protecting the planet. Our elders have taken the young ones to the deep earth for safety.”

“So, there’s a war going on in space right now? And we’re the Earth is in that much danger.”

“Since the birth of the seventh planet of the Galaxis, our Earth, there has been war. And yes, it is in danger.”

“Necromanos,” Dylan said.

Zalee nodded. “That was once his name, but he is the Hate-bringer to all whose lives his death-hands have touched.” Her eyebrows drew into a deep frown. “He has no allies, only unwitting slaves, who see him as their salvation. In the end, he will betray them until every soul and particle of creation is gone.”

“He just wants to kill everybody?” Norm rubbed Lyca between her ears.

“No. Death is a part of the cycle of existence. A part of life. He exists as nothing. He wishes to annihilate the cycle, leaving nothing in its place. The void are his army, extensions of whatever he is, sent to devour the light.”

Dylan shifted uncomfortably. “So, what am I supposed to do to stop him?”

“I cannot tell you that. I can tell you each of the seven planets has a Scion, and if its Scions should fall, so will the planet and eventually the galaxy. Necromanos planned this attack with the time you are most vulnerable.”

Dylan ran his fingers through his dirt-matted hair. “I can’t even take care of myself. How am I going to save the planet?”

Zalee took Dylan’s hand in hers. “Like the queen upon the chess board who is strengthened by those around her, the Scion has many allies.”

Dylan found a familiar comfort in her touch, strength. “I just don’t want to let anyone- everyone — down.”

“You will not. Max believed in you more than anything.” Zalee squeezed his hand tight. “There is no more time for talk. You must continue your journey.”

“Everyone is coming, right?” Dylan looked into their eyes.

Zalee touched Dylan’s cheek. “For now, but there will come a time the journey will be yours alone. Enri is telling me it is time to go. Our window is small.”

“Where’s Enri?” Norm asked, looking around the cavern.

“In the sky, where he usually is.”

Norm’s face tweaked with confusion. “Someone in the sky told you it’s time to go? You got a cell phone in here?”

Zalee shook her head. “An ability we shall discuss later, Norm. For now, Su’So, would you light our way?”

Norm chuckled. “He’s like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

“Norm,” Zalee sighed, “is everything a joke to you?”

“Pull my finger and find out.”