Chapter 6

Findings

Narrator

--

"Hmph!" grunted Dareyl. His eyes shot open as he sat in his cell.

The grey yoshi has died. If I don't get out of here soon enough, I'll lose my chances to kill the others!

The guard watching his cell grew tired. He lay against the wall, just out of Dareyl's reach.

...They must do that to get me angry.

--

The second Lila's hand touched the camera, she felt memories rush back to her. Kai had taken a picture of a human girl once... A human girl in a wheelchair... Her eyes opened again.

"Lila?"
She looked at her Papa.

"Are you okay?"
She looked down at the camera, then back at her Papa.

"I saw a human girl in a wheelchair, Papa."
Sytik's calm face quickly showed alarm. He stood up and turned to walk out of the room.

"Lila... you're young. It's your imagination."
"I'm 10, Papa."
More like 22... thought Sytik. At least, you're supposed to be. I wish I could've made you better...

"Papa?"

Sytik looked back at his daughter.

"Lila, trust me. It's just your imagination acting up."

Lila fell silent, and nodded. Then she looked back at the camera.

You're still too young to know the truth... I must talk to Kai.

--

2 years later...

"Hi Scout."
"Hi, Lila."

Scout was behaving strangely once she turned 12. She pulled fewer pranks and didn't speak much to Lila anymore. Lila was afraid for a long time that she was drifting away, but then she saw the problem.

Scout had a crush on a yoshi boy of her age for a little while. But, he didn't ever acknowledge her except for when he needed something in school. In fact, he even pulled a prank or two on Scout before. Though she was a master at the art of getting on her fellow villagers nerves, even she fell victim to such play.

"Scout, is it Miles? Is that who you're staring at?"

Scout nodded, but then shook her head. "Yes and no."

Lila was confused. What did that mean?

"Lila, I think..."
Scout took a deep breath.

"I think your parents are funny in the head."

Lila glanced at Scout. "What?" she asked blankly.

"Well, yesterday I was planning on going to the store, but I heard them arguing. They think..."
Lila continued listening.

"They think you're a human."

Lila couldn't help but laugh.

"I mean it, Lila. If you don't believe them, ask later! Now then... back to business..."
Scout turned back to face Miles, and slowly picked up a rope that lay by her feet. She tugged the rope gently, sending a bucket of water she had placed in a tree crashing onto Miles' head.

"Owwch! Hey!"
Miles' head shot in Scout's direction.

"That's for filling my desk with rotten fruit at school, and there's plenty more where that came from!" Scout shouted. She dropped the rope and walked off.

"Lila, let's go do something. What do you want to do?"

Lila giggled. "Let's talk to my parents and see if what you said was true."

Scout sighed deeply. "I'd rather not."
"Scout, you owe me. I bailed you out when we first met, remember?"

Scout groaned in defeat. "I was wondering if you'd ever use that excuse on me... okay, okay. Let's go ask."

Both friends walked to Lila's hut and entered. Kai was sitting on the couch holding a picture.

"Mom?"

Kai looked up when she heard the voice. "Hi, sweetie, Hi Scout!"
Lila smiled. "Can I ask you a question?"

Kai nodded. "Yes, go on."

"Scout thinks I'm human."

Kai froze.

"Why does she think that, Mom?"

"...I.... Lila, get Papa and come back. Scout, you go home."

Scout shook her head. "I want to see you come clean to your daught-"
"Scout!" shouted Lila angirly. Scout shrugged. "I'm sorry, it's just..."
"Lila... Papa, now."

Lila nodded, and dragged Scout out of the house with her. She ran to the medical hut, where Sytik was talking with another yoshi.

"...Get some rest and you'll be fine."
"Papa!"

Sytik looked up.

"Mom wants you... it looks important."

Sytik stood, and smiled. "Okay, then."
He turned to the yoshi he'd been talking with. "Remember, rest. You need it."

Sytik, Lila and Scout walked back in the door.

"Sytik... I... think it's time..." whispered Kai, her face buried in her hands. Sytik's face bore a look of shock.

"Why?"
Kai looked up. "She's old enough to know."
"Know what? What's going on?" asked Lila, thoroughly confused.

"Told you, they're funny in the head..." whispered Scout.

"Lila, sit down. Scout..."

"Go home-"
"No, stay if you want."

Kai stopped talking and stared at Sytik.

"She's going to find out sooner or later. I guess sooner rather than later."

"Find out what? Mom, Papa..."

Sytik took a deep breath, and began:

"Lila... 12 years ago... we found a young blonde girl injured on our beach. We took her in, dressed her wounds, and treated her as if she were a part of our tribe."

He paused, letting the young yoshis take in the information.
"But, this girl was human. She had a broken arm and a broken leg, and we were in the midst of conflict with the Hashashins."

Lila's eyes widened, and memories of Fajor and Sytik battling two armored beings resurfaced.

"As time progressed... this girl didn't get better; she got worse. The problem was an illness only humans can get."
Lila looked over at Scout. She only sat and stared, her mouth slightly agape.

"It was protein deficiency... and the only way to fix it was to get this girl meat instead of only fruit. We were unable to do so. You know our fishing spots are terrible. And back then our boats couldn't get far out to sea. The current kept pushing us back. Lila..."

Sytik sighed, and took the photo from Kai.

"The only way to save this young girl from dying was... to make her a yoshi, too."

Lila froze up, and Scout's eyes almost popped out of her skull. Sytik held up a picture of a sickly looking blonde haired girl in a wheelchair. Memories continued rushing back to her.

Little Joe... Mom... Dad.... My trip to Hawaii.... I...

"Lila..."
"You... you were...." gasped Scout.

Kai smiled a mournful smile. "You were this girl."

End of Chapter 6


Sorrrrry for the late update... I tried to get it up on Valentine's Day... but I couldn't!

Updates may take a little while longer than usual... because I'm working on another story with my cousin.

I hope this was good to you anyway! And happy Valentine's Day! 3