The Isis Stranger

As Ra rose high into the sky, Olwen walked the beautiful mesa which overlooked the hazy Cascade Valley. She looks down the steep mesa cliffside, she has never once in her life have ever ventured into the green lush Cascade Valley, for the air seemed to always be just to thick down there, and anyway, she had everything she could ever want up here on Lighthouse Mesa.

Olwen ran through the mesas grassland dodging spiny cactus, she became naturally winded and collapsed on the dry, rocky ground, feeling the soothing warmth of Ra-heated rock, not burning hot, just soothing warm. As Olwen stares up at the blue-green sky, the rays of Ra sting her eyes and she shades the blinding white light so she could watch the clouds go by.

She closes her eyes slowly and she removed her arm from shading her eyes and let the brilliant light shine through the fleshy covering that usually invites sleep when Ra settles over the light purple-red colored mountains in the west.

She preferred the crisp view of the Ra-rise in the east, the cool air sharp and clear, with a light wind in her thick red hair listening to the morning sound of chirping birds, unnamed, chirping with the rise of the first rays.

Olwen loved to dream, not while sleeping, but day dreaming. She loved to lie down in the wiry grass, just laying there, fire ants crawl, purple-furs hop, and prey of wing fly overhead flickering the rays of Ra which draws Olwen out of her slumber. She listens to the beauty of the world, of Isis.

Olwen realized, the other visitors to Isis, they never stop to listen to the beauty of Isis, always on the go, trailing the lowlands, fearing the highland, leaving only their footprints and nothing more, since it's unlawful to pollute, and if you did so, you would receive a stiff fine from the Keeper of the planet. As for Olwen, she never had to worry about polluters, or noisy ships, not many visited Isis, and she liked that!

It seemed to her that Isis always seemed to be a space mariner's worse nightmare, complaining of sickness, the heat, and the lack of oxygen. Olwen just blamed their troubles on the fire ants. Maybe that is why no outsider would ever lay down in the grassy field. To lie down is to risk the painful bites and stings of the small reddish-purple fire ant, a bite that is not life threatening, but just annoying. Olwen realized for a second time, these fire ants, why don't they bite me…I'm like the mariners, Human, according to what Guardian says, but then why don't I feel them? Olwen just shook her head. What a silly thought! Of course they would not bite, they live permanently on Isis, and I live permanently on Isis, we're one.

Olwen did not understand why the travelers were so busy, but of course not, Olwen being only eight years old did not stop to ask. She never even talked to them; Guardian was always greeting the visitors. But Olwen did not worry over the fact; she would rather lay here in the wiry grass, listening to the little creatures scatter about as busy as the visitors.

With Ra's rays warming Olwen beyond comfort, she rolls around onto her side and feels the pressure of a jagged rock pushing into her arm. What an annoying place for a rock, it just seemed that she just could not become comfortable today. Annoyed with the failure of becoming comfortable, Olwen opens her eyes, she looks at the shiny stones on the ground, she thinks, how beautiful.

Olwen felt her breath against her face as she exhaled so closely to the ground. Breathing calmly, her eyes catch the sudden movement of a purple fur, it scatters across the surface and sniffs the dried twigs of dried out wiry grass. Olwen smiles, this is life at its best, everything was perfect.

The purple fur ventures slowly to Olwen, taking slow, careful steps towards her dusty face. Olwen watching the curious purple fur, breathed carefully, rhythmically, not to startle the creature. With only inches from the purple fur, Olwen smiles, even for her face being so close to the ground, she smiled at this close encounter with a creature that usually is very frightful of other creatures.

She laid there just imaging what it would be like to be a purple fur? It was a silly idea for a Keeper to be thinking about. Instead of creatures, she should think about her daily report which Guardian beams out at dawn, dusk and at midnight when she is asleep.

She should really be up and about as she told Guardian, and carefully checking the terrain before tonight's report. But to Olwen, today was a gorgeous day and if she could have the chance, she would ask Guardian to prepare dinner up on the mesa, but she already knew his answer, thinking of Olwen's safety and the harmful UV radiation at such heights.

Wondering about the worries of the day, Olwen begins to fall asleep and is soothed by Ra's warmth. As Olwen sleeps, nature keeps on track around her. The purple furs play around Olwen, admiring her silvery jumpsuit, the only main piece of clothing she owns, she would have asked for more of a wardrobe, but can't find it in her heart to ask Guardian to do such a task, not saying that it would be any stress to her friend, only that, Guardian already does so much to see her happy, and she does little in return to please him…if he could be pleased?

Hours must have passed by, for Ra was now in the western sky and the overcast shadows began to stretch across the mesa like invisible hands grasping towards Olwen's body. It was not these shadows that awoke Olwen; instead it was the silvery communicator on her wrist that beeped wildly.

Olwen stirred, yawned and saw that Ra was now in the western sky, ready to slip past the table top western mountains. She wondered for a moment to what might have woke her, and then her communicator beeps at her again.

Olwen pressed gently the red jewel in the center of the bracelet, yawns again, wipes the moisture out of her eyes. "Hullo?"

"Why did you not respond when I called you Olwen?" Says the voice in a kind, but worried tone.

Olwen looks around at the mesa, nothing much has changed except for the scattering of the purple fur, which once were snuggled up to Olwen to keep out of Ra's intense rays. Olwen presses the jewel and speaks in the tired, slurred speech. "I must have fallen asleep?"

The voice seems to drop the kind, mild tone and speaks in a quick, stern tone, a tone Olwen recognizes when she better not argue. "Where are you?" Says Guardian softly.

Olwen tries not to giggle; she admires the will Guardian puts up when he tries not to sound so nervous about her safety. "Up on the mesa, it's beautiful up here today. You can see for miles."

"It's getting late, hurry back home…and please do hurry Olwen."

Olwen slowly stands up, and stretches "Well okay, what is the hurry?"

"I know that tone Olwen, please don't delay, you need to finish the report, you did remember the report did you?"

Olwen gasp, oh no, the report, she was to scout out the land to see if the Isisquake ever caused any damage. "I'll be right there!" Olwen shakes the sleep off and runs back home, up the eastern wall where Guardian lasered out crude steps and up to the terrace wall where she and Guardian lived.

It was a simple home, made up of the local geology, with hand crafted furniture made from bamboo from the Southern Highlands where the most beautiful waterfalls on Isis plummet to feed the river that feeds the lake in the Cascade Valley. Everything here on Isis has a purpose, and Guardian and Olwen thrived on the natural gifts that the land provided for them.

When Olwen finally arrived to the Terrace, she felt the true extent of sleeping out under Ra. Although not Ra-burned, her body felt incredibility sticky and hot, she wanted a shower.

When she walked in, Guardian meets her. Guardian looked at Olwen, he looked at the condensation upon Olwen, she's been out in Ra too long. As Olwen looked at Guardian, she smiles, "Hullo Guardian my dear."

"Hello Olwen, is everything fine?"

Olwen nods. "From what I saw, yes." Olwen wipes off the moisture off her forehead and it dries off quickly. "There are no cracks in the mesa walls."

Guardian studies Olwen's face. "Very well." Guardian turns and walks to the kitchen. "Supper will soon be ready."

Olwen wipes her face again, "I'm going to go wash up, I feel very hot and sticky."

Guardian turns before entering the kitchen. "You did get a Ra-burn!"

Olwen is just about to enter her bedroom, turns to face her friend, smiles. "No dear, I have not been burned, just sticky and hot." Olwen turns and enters her room.