Loki, Overseers
Great Mountains
Loki stood in the Grand Cave, holding her tray of food, and searched for a spot to sit. It was named the Grand Cave because it was the only cave in the Overseers’ facility that had room for all members at once. It was where they took their meals and it also served as a meeting place for the group.
Loki was still trying to reach a level of comfort with spending most of the time underground, or up in the mountain, which was still under the earth…just higher. She missed being outdoors in the fresh air, riding Beno and listening to the ‘tweenlings.
Morten warned that the indoctrination given to new Overseers would change her relationship with the ‘tweenlings. He explained that her ability to read energy would expand to the point that she would no longer need them, as an intermediary, to tell her what messages were carried in the ethers. She would simply know. In fact, in so many words, he basically told her that the ‘tweenlings were her own creation. He admitted that her ability to read energy was quite real, but apparently at an early age, her imagination had fashioned a personality for the energy. As a child, that was the way her mind learned to deal with it, especially since she had no adult to help her understand what she was hearing or seeing. He appreciated why her mother couldn’t cultivate her talent; she was protecting Loki from other forces that might take advantage of her. Morten commended Loki for having such creativity in how she dealt with the energy.
“The mind is a powerful, multifaceted force with a strong survival instinct,” he told her. “When you were too young to understand, it created a way for you to relate to the messages you were hearing.”
Waysu and Kado were in the same boat. For different reasons, they also had no adult available to help them understand their talents as young children and so their imaginations fostered the means to deal with their experiences. For Waysu, she heard the energy as sound and the frequency changed depending on what message was conveyed through the ethers. Loki thought it must have been hard for Waysu to understand what each sound meant. Waysu understood it well enough but, because she had to listen so closely to the sounds, she didn’t talk much. She told Loki at one point, “When I talk, I can’t hear.”
Kado, on the other hand, had a keen sense for smelling energy. Loki found this amusing because she never knew that energy had a smell but this explained why Kado was often sniffling. It wasn’t that he had a cold; he smelled things…just like a dog.
Loki understood Morten’s explanation, that the way she related to energy was about to change. She still heard the ‘tweenlings on occasion but it was becoming less frequent and she already missed them. It felt like she was losing a dear friend and that made her sad.
She scanned the dining cave, which was full of Overseers, when her eyes caught Waysu waving at her. She and Waysu had been assigned as roommates but they were kept so busy they were hardly in their room. Loki walked over and sat on the bench on the opposite side of the table.
“Thanks. It’s hard to find a seat in here.”
Waysu nodded.
Before Loki had a chance to say anything more, Kado stepped over the bench and sat down beside her. Loki felt like she should scoot over to give him more room but there was no room to move. With someone on her other side and a person on the other side of Kado, she was stuck.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked.
Waysu smiled.
Loki looked sideways at him. “No…no…that’s fine,” she stammered.
She reached for her fork and her arm brushed next to his. Her heart skipped a beat and her face suddenly felt hot. It was an uncomfortable feeling and she stared at her plate, praying that it wasn’t obvious to anyone else. She quickly shoved some food into her mouth and busied herself with chewing.
A quiet hum of voices filled the cave but then it changed to excitement. Loki looked up, wondering what all the fuss was about. Three clusters of fairies flew into the Grand Cave, each carrying a large round golden ring. As the fairies passed over the group, Overseers were heard expressing the occasional ooohh or aaahhh. Loki exchanged perplexed glances with Kado and Waysu, as they realized the fairies were headed straight for them.
The first group reached Waysu and hovered above her. The second group stopped above Loki and the third above Kado. Loki glanced up at the ring hanging in the air above her head and saw a beautiful headband, woven with thick golden threads. On one side was a small amber-colored crystal, the kind that lined the surfaces of the fairies’ cave. Morten’s voice filled the cave as he knocked on the table to get everyone’s attention.
“May I have your attention, please” he said.
A wave of silence washed over the group as all eyes focused on the three new members. Each group of fairies lowered themselves until the rings came to rest upon their heads, with the crystal resting against their foreheads.
The band was as light as a feather and Loki barely knew it was on her head. She glanced at Waysu’s and Kado’s bands, and admired the golden, radiant bands that had been interwoven to form the ring, holding the crystal in place. They were beautiful!
The fairies lowered themselves further so that they faced the neophytes, as Morten addressed them.
“On the eve of their indoctrination, let’s officially welcome our three new, talented members of the Overseers: Loki, Kado and Waysu. The fairies also extend their gratitude to you for your service in helping to protect them and their home.”
As Morten spoke those words, the fairies, in unison, fluttered in place and curtsied before the three. Loki couldn’t help but giggle at how adorable they looked. The Overseers lightly clapped.
“Enjoy your evening. Your indoctrinations will take place first thing tomorrow morning,” stated Morten.
Loki glanced at Morten. He smiled that knowing smile and his eyes flickered playfully at them. Morten started to sit and then stood upright.
“Oh. One more thing. Please join me in welcoming Gwynn back into service. We are happy to have her with us, once again.”
He motioned with his arm to his right and Loki saw her mother sitting at Morten’s table, along with other members. The Overseers lightly clapped a second time.
Morten sat and everyone returned to their meals. The fairies flew out of the cave.
Even though Morten explained that the forthcoming changes were for the better, that the exercises taught would fully integrate all of their senses, Loki didn’t know what to expect and she was nervous. Kado and Waysu were dealing with the same emotion.
Loki glanced back and forth between Kado and Waysu when she asked, “Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
“A little,” replied Waysu. Then she tipped her head as if she heard something.
“What’s there to be nervous about?” asked Kado. “Morten said things will get better. It’s time to let go of the old and embrace the new.” He smiled. Then he sniffed the air, turning his head at different angles to pinpoint the direction from where the scent came.
Come play, miss. Spin wit’ us.
Loki was mid-bite when she felt the ‘tweenlings swirl past. She almost dropped her fork at their surprising presence.
Kado was diligently sniffing the air. Then he jumped up and stepped over the bench, as if he were suddenly leaving. He turned back to Loki and Waysu. “Come on.” Then he bolted out of the dining cave.
SEVENTEEN
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