From A Distance Chapter 3

Title: From A Distance Chapter 3
Characters: Chandir/Wryn/Enoch
Series: Another World

Wryn watched as Enoch unwrapped the burlap from the tree roots. His movements were slow like his fingers were moving through thick molasses. His shoulders were rounded, drooping as if the weight of the universe was on them.


Wryn frowned. He’d thought bringing Enoch out to plant trees would help him. Every year they planted two trees for every one tree the took from the forest. The rhythm and beat of the trees should have strengthened his spirit. Yet, Enoch’s pale face and slow movements spoke of how tired he was.


“Enoch. Sit and rest for a bit.” Wryn ordered.


“No. I’m not tired. I helped take the trees for fuel, I want to help replant them.” Enoch’s words were brazen, but his voice sounded weak.


“Do as Wryn says! Sit!”


Wryn hid his smile as Enoch stepped in front of Chandir. The small, fragile man standing tall in front of the grouchy dominant.


“I am of Gliese now! I will do my part in keeping her alive.”


Before Chandir could reply to Enoch’s challenge, Wryn stepped in front of the large dominant. “You’ve so much knowledge of our ways, Enoch, yet there is more to know. Sit. There on that log. I would tell the story of you. You and Chandir and me.”


“I came here from Earth. What more is there to know?” Even Enoch’s voice sounded tired, but he finally obeyed Wryn and sat down.


“Listen and you will know.” Wryn set a tree in the hole Chandir had dug and started to tell their history. Their story. “Chandir had lived twelve springs, I only eight, when he stormed over to me during our daily lessons.”


“I did not storm. I walked with purpose,” Chandir argued.


Winking at Enoch, Wryn continued, “He stormed with purpose toward me.” He smiled as he heard Enoch’s giggle. “Of course, I was quite startled at why this older boy was stomping toward me. Everyone was quiet and watching, even Jora, our teacher, was silent and watchful. Chandir came to a halt in front of me. I was expecting him to yell, instead, his words were a whisper of promise.” He picked up another of the saplings. Unwrapping the damp burlap that kept the roots open, he nodded to Chandir.


Chandir picked up the shovel. He dug a home for the tree to grow.


“What! What did he whisper to you?”


Not leaving his sub in suspense, Wryn replied, “‘He is forever hungry. When he is with us, he will never know that pain again.’ And then he stomped back to his chair and sat down.”


“Was that the first vision you had of me?” Enoch’s curiosity broke through.


Wryn looked toward Chandir, who then continued the chapter of their story. “No, not the first one of you. All of my visions up to that point were of you. Historians typically start having visions at the age of consent. The age can vary for each person. It’s the year that one knows right from wrong. When one can think with reason in their head and their heart. Mine had started around the age of six years. But until that day, every vision the stars sent to me were of you. Always of you. Only of you.”


Enoch’s face paled even more. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Chandir had one more statement.


“Though I ached for you, I treasured each one.”


“After Chandir confronted me in our lessons, my own visions started. Not of you. Not at first. Mine were of small inconsequential things. Of women becoming pregnant. Of people who lived centuries ago. And of Chandir. Of our lives entwined like the vines that grow in the fertile ground. My poor tutor turned grey at stopping me from telling Chandir of all that I saw.”


“I thought you told each other of your visions. I tell you. Should I not?”


Chandir walked over to where Enoch sat. “Your worries overcome you. Be at peace, once a bond is made Historians share their visions. This is why most Historians bond with more than one person. The support we give and take require more of a.....” Chandir struggled to find the right words. Finally, he settled on, “Of a clan mentality.”


“Chandir’s visions were only of you until that day. My own visions of you started after one magical night in the woods. Chandir and I had started bonding together. Sharing meals. Walking together. Talking to each other. One night when the moon was almost as bright as the sun, our talking turned to touch. And kissing. Clothes became barriers that were swiftly broken through. We shared our bodies with each other.”


Enoch could see in his vivid imagination the two dominants just past the edge of adulthood touching, kissing, entering each other’s bodies. The sight in his mind made his heart race.


“After that night, visions of you became frequent. He would see you on Earth. I would too, but I also saw you here with us. Chandir’s fear for your safety weighed heavily on his heart. The stars granted me the sight of you growing stronger with us. Of us loving you. Of learning your heart and body.”


The sound of an owl calling out signaled that day was ending. They’d given trees back to Gliese and it was time to go to their own home.


“Come. Let’s go home. I’ve left a stew simmering on the stove.” Wryn collected the burlap that they’d discarded as Chandir collected the shovels. The three men started their trek home.


Slowly a mist of blue shimmered over the forest. Wryn was no longer seeing Gliese, instead, he saw Earth, years in the future, through the eyes of another. The eyes of Nova.


***Earth***


They were walking toward the unknown. All twelve of them. The night before, Rona had shown them all the piece of pottery she had found. That she suspected there had been others on this planet. Those others may have left things that would help them.


Nova had felt a swell of pride in her chest. Rona had been nervous to try and convince everyone to leave this valley. But she stood tall and her voice had been steady. She gave no promises as the group asked questions and talked swirled like the smoke around the fire.


“There could be shelter,” Thora said.


Aria wrapped her arms around the woman who had just spoken. “Shelter would be a good start.”


“A place to stay warm,” Nuri agreed.


“We could find lakes and streams along the way.” Nyneve’s voice flowed over the others.


“Or seeds,” Terran said turning to Miku who smiled at him. They’d both talked of growing food for all of them.


Ashur spoke up. “We need weapons. There could be weapons stored someplace.”


“No! We don’t need weapons. With weapons come war!” Mircea growled.


Nova watched as Ashur ran his hand down Mircea’s back. She marveled at how their names were at odds with their personalities. Ashur was an ancient name for war. Mircea a name of peace. Ashur had learned how to calm Mircea. To bring peace inside of the other man.


“So is it agreed? We leave with the rising sun?” Rona asked.


After all had given agreement, they’d banked the fire and laid down to slumber. Rona kept glancing at Nova as she laid down. Nova didn’t keep her waiting, she laid down beside her. They fell asleep with their arms wrapped around each other. But their sleep was not sound.


Rona’s mind was full of worry for the others. Nova’s mind was full of worry for Rona. They both greeted the day tired from the night before.


They started their journey with an air of optimism. But the day was long and the sun was hot. As they walked on sweat trickled down their backs and their legs grew tired. Nova could see the energy slipping away from Rona. She gave thanks to the stars that she had been walking so close to Rona when the other woman tripped and fell.


“Let’s stop for the day. All are tired,” Nova suggested.


“No! Something awaits us. We need to keep going.” Rona took the hand Nova held out for her. Trying to stand, she cried out in pain as she put weight on her foot.


“A stone. Your foot slipped on a stone.” Nova knelt down to feel the delicate bones.


“We must keep going.” Pain tinged Rona’s voice.


“You lead us with strength. Yet, you need to learn to allow others their strength. I think my own strength is to protect you.” Nova was unaware at how stern her voice was, she only knew that all eyes were on her. “We stop for the night.”


***Gliese****


The mist faded away. The stars gave just enough light that Wryn could see Chandir and Enoch’s concerned faces. “A vision. Of Earth. Let’s warm ourselves at home and I will tell you what I saw.”


When they turned to walk home, Enoch cried out and began limping.


“What? What is wrong?” Chandir’s voice scared the owl and other birds away.


“I don’t know. My ankle. It hurts.” Enoch’s voice was full of pain and confusion. He gave a small yelp when Chandir swung him up into his arms.


As Chandir started to stalk home with Enoch in his arms, Wryn blurted out, “I know what is happening. Why you are so tired. Why your ankle hurts. You are still moored to Earth.”


On to chapter 4

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