Voices of the Goddess

Chapter 13

Day 2: Heaven to Earth

The Shobijin were jolted from their connection with the chaotic energy that was the last vestiges of a dying goddess. A force of spiritual power seemed to come from nowhere. Prayer and meditation were interrupted as the pain of their long vigil ripped through their consciousness. The serenity they had achieved despite spending so much time kneeling upon cold and unforgiving rock was ripped from them. The chill of the rock beneath their knees caused goosebumps to race across their skin. Yet, the wave of spiritual energy that sprang from the earth and raced through their bodies quickly soothed their pain. Through it all, the Shobijin remained still with their hands folded in prayer as they opened their eyes and lifted them to gaze at the cloud of golden light that was Mothra's spirit. Together they spoke aloud the thoughts that emerged in their minds through the fog of disorientation from their awakening. "The rune stone of heaven is created. Death's shadow upon the hearts of Mothra's children is no more." The energy that came from the creation of the rune stone passed through them and faded. The Shobijin bowed their heads and closed their eyes, returning to their silent devotions.

#

Taiyun and Mianai walked toward the southern tip of the island for an hour rather than flying directly to their next destination. Both of them wordlessly acknowledging the need to reconnect with the earth after their profound communion with the power of the heavens. Despite the intensity of that communion, their steps were light and filled with eager anticipation of the next phase of their quest. Mianai turned and walked backwards, watching her own footprints appear in the sand. Taiyun looked over at her with a puzzled expression until Mianai returned her gaze, smiling as she continued to walk backwards. "Thank you Taiyun, for parting the clouds of pain and doubt within my soul. You freed me so that I could commune with the power of the heavens without hinderance." Mianai stopped and stared at her footprints, "We make our mark upon the earth and upon the hearts of those we meet. Some of those marks can only be seen as scars, while others a mark of love. Look Taiyn… Look upon the trail we have made this night and remember always where we came from. In the days ahead when all we may feel is sorrow and pain, we can look upon the trail we have made and remember where we came from and where we are going. There is a source of strength in that knowledge."

Taiyun smiled, "I am overjoyed you have discovered that truth. You have always been the one who was more sensitive between us. I have feared for you since this journey began, knowing we would both see things that would threaten to tear our souls asunder. Yet, you have shown me a source of strength within yourself I have never seen before. I pray you hold fast to it, I know it will serve us both as Mothra's priestesses."

Mianai turned to face their destination, "We must take to the sky and set aside enough time to place the rune stone and welcome the morning."

Taiyun gave Mianai a questioning look, "You seem hurried, why do you feel we must make such haste?"

Mianai frowned, "I cannot say for certain, there is a feeling that brushes the edges of my senses which tells me we must hurry."

Taiyun nodded, "Let's fly over the jungle instead of through it. It's late enough no one should see us and I wish to be close to the stars."

Surrounded by starlight, Taiyun and Mianai flew just high enough to have a clear view of the sky. The flight was uneventful until they came upon the shrine site half way to the southern tip of the island. Mianai was the first to see the torchlight that broke the darkness. Taiyun was too preoccupied by the beauty of the stars to notice the change below. Mianai nudged Taiyun's shoulder and pointed to the light. The presence of a large group of people at the shrine site both surprised and concerned them both. Until they discovered the gathering, Taiyun and Mianai were fairly certain no one had yet learned that the centerpiece of Mothra's shrine had been destroyed. Now that people had come to the shrine, Taiyun and Mianai knew they must have noticed the sign of Mothra was gone. They feared that knowledge would start a panic throughout the village.

Taiyun and Mianai dropped into the jungle, cautiously keeping out of sight as they attempted to take a closer look at the visitors to the shrine. The people were milling about in a disorganized fashion, neither Taiyun nor Mianai believed the reason for the gathering had come to pass.

Mianai's eyes widened, "They're all women!"

Taiyun looked over the crowd and saw something unusual. "Look! They brought children with them." Taiyun thought carefully, "The purpose of this gathering must be to pray for the women and girls of the island who were the only ones affected by the plague. "

Mianai's voice became reflective, "It makes sense, the plague arose from Mothra's fading energy. The only death from it we saw was Lanai's mother and it could have been the same with the child you were asked to watch over."

Mianai was afraid, "What do we do to sooth the fears of those women and the children old enough to understand why they have gathered?"

A light appeared in Taiyun's eyes and she smiled. "Mothra's sign…"

Mianai furrowed her brow, "What do you mean, Taiyun?"

Taiyun didn't reply, instead she stepped back, faced her palms to the earth and closed her eyes. Before Mianai could question Taiyun further, a golden light surrounded her. Taiyun opened her eyes and looked to Mianai. "We both have our own talents, yet I sense both of us have pieces of the power the other uses. I am an Earth Weaver, yet I can heal if I have to. My healing would not be as powerful, but it is there. You are a healer, yet I sense earth's energy within you. I suggest you try to find it within you, when you do, hold on to it as tightly as you can. If I am right, the light that surrounds me may also come to you."

Mianai arched an eyebrow, "I understand, but what does this have to do with the gathering?"

Taiyun's gaze shifted to the shrine site, "We fly over the gathering, tracing Mothra's sign over them during or after they have prayed. Assuring them their prayers will be answered."

Mianai nearly jumped back from Taiyun at her suggestion as if she had turned into a deadly viper. She began shaking her head fearfully and her voice quivered. "We cannot do such a thing! We are not Mothra, we have no right to grant the people what we ourselves are uncertain of."

Taiyun remained calm, "Do you believe in our cause?"

Mianai replied, struggling to keep her voice down from the anger in her heart. "Of course! It is why I am still here even after the tragedies we have experienced."

Taiyun pressed further, "What do you hope to accomplish?"

Mianai's face flushed and her body began shaking, "I want to be a priestess of Mothra and serve our people in that role."

Taiyun's voice became harder, "What is the role of a priestess of Mothra?"

Mianai matched Taiyun's forcefullness, "To bring hope and faith to the people, to be Mothra's voice and bring her blessings to those in need."

Taiyun did not falter or ease her voice, "Do you not see it? That we will bring hope and faith to those in need? You are wrong, we are not uncertain! There is no need for us to be Mothra, we have the power to grant this. Mothra lives, we know this because the Shobijin exist. Even the plague is proof that Mothra is fighting to exist! We can and will give proof of that to those who pray so fervently for deliverance!" Mianai's body relaxed, her lips moved to speak but no sound came from them. She merely bowed her head, faced her palms toward the earth and closed her eyes. Taiyun waited, holding her breath as time slowed to a snail's pace.

Finally Taiyun could make out a faint light starting to envelope Mianai. "Yes! Do not waver, dig as deeply as you can into your soul and pull the energy to the surface! You can do this Mianai!" The light grew more brilliant until Mianai lifted her eyes and smiled, taking deep breaths so she could speak. "I feel the earth! I feel its power and I understand what you are trying to tell me. Please, Taiyun, lead me and I will follow."

Taiyun grabbed Mianai's hand and they launched themselves into the air. They flew high above the gathering as they finished their dancing and went to their knees to pray. When all eyes were lifted skyward, Taiyun and Mianai began with a large loop that formed the outside of Mothra's symbol. The gathering of women gasped and Taiyun flew faster, knowing she had gained their attention. Heaven to earth, faith to love. The cross is formed. Courage tempered by Wisdom, Honor guiding Strength. This is the symbol of the Queen of Earth. They flew like lightning as they formed the symbol with their spiritual light. When the symbol was finished, they let go of the energy of the earth and flew into the darkness before anyone could figure out what had caused the symbol of the goddess to appear overhead. Taiyun and Mianai landed nearby, watched and listened as the women and girls began to sing praises and thanks to Mothra for restoring their faith. After a moment's rest, Taiyun led Mianai to a place where they could take to the sky once-more without being seen and continue their journey to the southern tip of the island. All of the fear and anger from their argument melted away as they listened to the women and children sing.

After an hour's flight in silence, Mianai turned to her dearest friend and embraced her in midair. "Thank you Taiyun for showing me another aspect of what it is to be a priestess to Mothra. I mistakenly thought you meant for us to become what we could never be. I believed you were speaking blasphemy, yet you only meant to show me that it is the duty of a priestess to show the people faith when they have lost their own. I have been caught up in our own struggles with that since the plague began, I know you have as well. I needed to see how simple it can be to restore faith in others after the tremendous struggles we both have had in keeping our own. Forgive me for the dark thoughts I had of you."

Taiyun returned Mianai's love without a hint of anger. "Fear not, let us instead prepare ourselves for the morning. The night grows short and the sun will soon rise from the sea."

#

Taiyun laid down on the sand and closed her weary eyes, "Why did we have to be here so early? The sun won't be up for a few more hours."

Mianai's voice rang out with excitement mixed with fear, "Taiyun, open your eyes! Look at the sky!"

Taiyun reluctantly opened her eyes as she was told and scanned the stars. She shot up to her feet when she saw the giant fireball streaking far above the horizon, seemingly headed right for them. Taiyun was about to scream when she heard Mianai's voice calmly chanting. She found Mianai on her knees with her hands stretched out toward the fireball, glowing with the same golden light as before. Her eyes were closed and her body was completely relaxed. "My eyes behold creation's light. Across the sky it burns, reminding us we are of the stars and to the stars we return. A gift from the heavens is bestowed upon the earth. The earth shall give thanks in return through the voice of one of its children. By heaven's blessing and the will of the earth the gift shall be received and we shall not be harmed."

The fireball grew ever larger as the meteor screamed toward them. The earth below shook and the thunder the meteor made as it crashed through the atmosphere was deafening. Taiyun was paralyzed with fear, she could only scream as details of the three story building sized rock barreled toward them. Mianai remained still with her eyes closed and her hands raised to heaven as if she were soaking up the rays of the summer sun. A part of Taiyun wanted to cover her against the meteor, but she knew such a gesture would be futile. In the blink of an eye, Taiyun saw Mianai lift her head and open her eyes. Simultaneously the meteor came to a dead stop a few feet off the ground, flames still licking its surface from entering the atmosphere. Mianai lowered her hands and the meteor came to a gentle rest before her. Mianai came to her feet and walked away from the meteor, leaving Taiyun to her part of the ceremony.

So many questions flew through Taiyun's mind, but she remained focused on the ritual. She approached the meteorite, the heat from it made Taiyun perspire almost instantly and she welcomed the coolness of the sand as she descended to her knees. Taiyun closed her eyes and faced her palms to the earth before beginning her chant. Though the meteorite before her was as big as Godzilla's head, Taiyun pictured a different form in her mind, the familiar pointed monolith of the shrine. "Fire in the sky matching fire beneath the earth, splits the sea of stars. Earth's spirit flows through my being, my lips are honored to speak of its gratitude. Earth to Heaven, Heaven to Earth, eternal bonds unbroken." Fingers of golden energy grew from the earth and wrapped themselves around Taiyun's hands. They continued up her arms to her shoulders and stopped. Taiyun lifted her hands and faced her palms toward what would become the rune stone. The energy scattered and the rune was carved into the meteor. Taiyun opened her eyes and saw the meteor had taken the same shape as the image in her mind with a glowing blue rune marking it.