Author's Notes/: I had to take today off due to some sort of back injury I somehow gave myself in my sleep -Shifts in her chair and winces- so I decided I'd be impatient and go ahead and update this again. Hey, what else do I have to do when I can barely move my left arm away from my body?
I mentioned this in the first massive 'Credit Where Credit is Due' warning in the first chapter, but just in case here's another: Kat's spirit animal here coincidentally matches Jeremy Ray Logsdon's Earth Crystals, so I'm giving him credit since he wrote it first.
Also, more mentions of non-graphic attempted rape.
Chapter 21:Inner Discoveries
The next day, Tommy, Kimberly, Trini, Aisha, Kat, Tanya, and Vengi teleported down to Phaedos in flashes of light. They looked around uncertainly. Jason had confessed that no one really knew where they were going before, that Dulcea had found them.
Kimberly looked up at the sky, searching for the spaceship she couldn't see. A fist clenched over her heart as she bit her lip. It had taken a lot of convincing from Pahla and Trini for her to leave Cassie, and she still didn't like it. It was only the fact that Cassie had reluctantly admitted that it made sense for her to go with her own team that she'd agreed.
-(Please be safe,)- she begged silently. Cassie reminded her so much of herself years ago, when she'd just arrived in Florida. Cold and alone, her heart aching and confused by everyone around her ...
A hand squeezed hers and she looked up, startled. Trini gave her a gentle, reassuring smile. "She'll be okay, Kim. Ashley and Pahla will be there for her," she said softly, her voice too low for anyone else to hear.
She returned her smile hesitantly, trying to convince herself to believe the other girl's words.
"So what do we do? Just start yelling 'Hey, Dulcea! Jason said you wanna talk to us!'?" Aisha asked skeptically.
Tommy shrugged. "Hey, Dulcea! Jason said you wanna talk to us!" he shouted.
They all stared at him.
"I was kidding, Tommy," Aisha informed him.
"Anyone else got a better idea?" he returned, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Dulcea!"
"Go back to wherever it is you came from!" a voice ordered.
They all spun to see a cloaked woman standing on the cliffs above them. Tommy stepped forward, bowing deeply as Pahla had warned him to. "We don't mean to intrude. Jason and the others said you wanted to see us."
Dulcea looked at him sharply. "You are of the ones who seek the Prophecy? Zordon's Children?"
"Yeah." He really *hoped* they were. "We're the second group. There's one more after us."
She sighed. "I suppose the sooner this prophecy is fulfilled, the sooner I may have my peace and quiet. Follow me."
"Within each of us is an Animal Spirit, waiting to be released," Dulcea informed them. "As each person possesses that spirit, we also have a Color of the Morphin Grid that guides and protects us. To wield both Spirit and Color simultaneously is to access a level of Power that can never be taken away."
"How do we find them?" Aisha asked softly. All of them had been taken in by Dulcea's solemn and mysterious nature as they gathered around the fire she'd build for them on the plateau.
"Stand before me."
As one they stood, adjusting to give themselves enough space for whatever Dulcea had in mind.
Her gaze swept over them. "To know the level of the Power that I speak of is to know yourself. You must go inside yourself and face your own darkness. As you accept the darkness that lies within in your heart, as it does in all hearts, you will find the purest form of Light and goodness in your soul. That is the Power you will need to face the Dark Rangers." She reached for the ashes. "Now close your eyes, and look deep inside."
Tommy didn't know what he was expecting when he went to find his spirit and Color. Whatever it was, it wasn't a maze. Yet that was what he found himself in, a maze with walls that shifted between green, white, and red.
"Great," he grumbled to himself. "My mind really *is* as messed up as everyone says it is. No wonder I can't remember anything."
The walls shifted to green, and a movie began to play on the section in front of him.
- "I want those useless Power Punks destroyed!"
"Yes, Empress." He looked up at Rita Repulsa, his honored leader. He would serve her until the day she allowed him to die in battle, a warrior's death. That was all he wanted in life. -
He shook his head. "I'm not the Green Ranger anymore!" he insisted, glaring at the wall. "I'll do whatever I have to prove that!"
The wall turned red, showing another movie.
- "I shall destroy all the Power Rangers! For your evil deeds against my Machine Empire, you will pay! -
"I don't think so!" he retorted confidently. "That was a trick by Gasket. The Red Zeo Ranger was never really evil, and I *never* hurt my friends that day!"
Now the walls were bright white, and the movie that played made him flinch.
- What did he do? Wasn't he good enough? Didn't he treat her like she was special? Because she was, she was the most beautiful, amazing girl in the world. He'd done everything he could to tell her how much he loved her.
Was it because he was still a Ranger, and the world came first? All she had to do was ask, and he would resign. Just to be with her again. No one else mattered as much as she did - except Jason, of course.
Was that it? Because Jason was his brother? Did she want him to chose? Please don't make me chose between you ... -
He blinked away the tears that welled in his eyes. This movie wasn't so easy to deny. It was made of thoughts he'd already had the day he'd gotten The Letter. It asked questions he still couldn't answer.
At last he bowed his head, shaking it slowly. "I'll always love Kimberly, no matter what," he said quietly, fighting to keep the grief from his voice. "And I love her enough to respect her decision. I just want her to be happy. I'll never chose between her and Jason. I love them both. If ... " His voice cracked, and he swallowed. "If they can't accept that, I'll love them anyway. I won't chose one over the other."
After a moment, the walls turned red again.
- He should have known better. He should have watched him better. First Jason and Kimberly, the people he loved so much, and now Justin. Why didn't he stay in touch? Why didn't he talk to him, make sure he was okay?
This was all his fault. As the leader who trained him, Justin was his responsibility. He should have talked to him more, offered to listen more, *done* more. He was supposed to protect the innocent, damn it! Why couldn't he protect the most innocent of all? -
He looked up again, eyes narrowing. "I *will* save Justin," he growled. "Even if I have to do it without the Power. I won't let him down again! I won't let there be any more evil Rangers!" Distantly, he knew he was shouting. At what he didn't know. But he *would* keep this promise.
- "Justin ... I don't understand - why ... ?"
"Because you killed my mother."
"Murderer. When your brain stops glowing, try remembering the name Melissa Stewart, and what you did to her you bastard!" -
The memory of those words made him pause. "You're wrong, Justin." he whispered, pain and grief filling his eyes. "I've never forgotten that name."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as more names from the list he'd memorized so long ago came to mind. "I'll never forget any of those names. And I'll never stop fighting evil for them," he continued quietly.
Somewhere beyond the maze he could hear a car horn honk. He smiled at the sound. "Red Lightning ... " he sighed. The first Zord he'd ever helped to make. It was an awesome car, and he'd never forget how it felt to drive with it.
But T.J. had driven Red Lightning too, hadn't he?
A bird cried now, a strange noise like none he'd ever heard in nature. That made him smile, too. "Phoenix Zord," he identified. He'd been so strong as the Red Zeo Ranger. Nothing had stopped him.
The movie of Gasket's brain drain played again.
He frowned. "That wasn't real," he insisted again. "Maybe I wasn't the perfect leader. I tried to be! That's all anyone could ask of me!"
A powerful roar in the distance.
"Tigerzord," he mused. "The White R - Thunder Ranger." He remembered the day Zordon had given him that honor. He'd been so scared, so afraid that he wouldn't be worthy of becoming this new Ranger. He'd loved being a Ranger again, but when he was willing to be honest with himself, he'd never liked being the White Ranger.
A screeching roar instinctively made him smile again. "Dragonzord."
The walls were green again, but the movie they played wasn't memories of the Evil Green Ranger. It was sparring with Jason, flirting with Kimberly, Billy trying to help him work on his horrible memory, Zack making him laugh, and Trini teaching him about one of the legends she was so fond of. All of them together, laughing and teasing.
He was smiling in these memories, he realized. "I wasn't always the Evil Green Ranger, was I?" he asked softly. "I was the Green Dr - Dino Ranger, too. I ... I had them."
The green walls brightened as he mused aloud. "White Ranger was to prove I could be worthy of Zordon, worthy of being a Ranger. Red Zeo I had to be a leader when I wasn't sure I could do it. And Red Turbo ... that wasn't me. That was necessary." His eyes widened abruptly. "I'm not White or Red. I'm Green?"
The walls seemed to shine in response, and another bird called. This one however, came to him as the maze crumbled away. Now he was surrounded by green light, Dragonzord, Tigerzord, Phoenix Zord, and Red Lightning in the background. A falcon came towards him, landing on his forearm as he raised it instinctively. The bird gazed at him, its stare intense.
"Green Falcon," he said aloud, understanding now.
The falcon trilled, the Zords screeched, and for the first time in as long as he could remember, Tommy felt whole.
The field of pink that surrounded Kimberly was warm and inviting. She wasn't sure she ever wanted to leave. Here she was safe. Here there would be no enemies to use her to hurt others, no friends she couldn't bring herself to face. Here there was nothing but peace.
- "Tommy?" she called, walking up the stairs to his room. "Sorry I didn't call first, but your Mom said I should just go on up - "
She froze in the doorway of his bedroom.
Tommy lay in bed, wearing only boxers. Kat was cuddled against his side covered by a sheet, looking up at him adoringly. He flashed her the smile that had melted Kimberly's heart from the moment they met. After a moment, Kat seemed to notice they were being watched and looked up almost lazily. She nudged Tommy, making him glance up at her.
"Oh. Hey, Kimberly."
She stared, shaking hands coming up to cover her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. "Tommy ... I ... why?" she whispered.
He shrugged. "You were fun for awhile, but seriously Kim. Come on. Without you here, I had to find someone else."
"W - why Kat?" The tears were falling freely now. "Why did you have to chose her?"
"Kat?" he looked puzzled. "Who said anything about Kat?"
"I think you're seeing things, Kim," a familiar voice informed her. To her horror, Jason sat up on the other side of Tommy where Kat had been. Like Tommy, he wore only boxers and seemed quite comfortable where he was. -
Here there was no worrying of Tommy abandoning her for Jason or Kat.
Here there was no Tommy ...
She opened her eyes, uncurling from the ball she'd found herself in. Here there was no Jason, Zack, Trini, Billy, Rocky, Adam, Aisha, or Kat. There were no friends who needed her. There was no way to save Justin and bring back the sweet, gentle boy she'd met. Here she couldn't help Cassie, couldn't make Ashley smile, couldn't giggle with Trini, couldn't laugh at Zack's jokes, couldn't pry Billy away from his experiments long enough to eat.
Here she couldn't tell Tommy she was sorry.
Her fists clenched. "They are my friends," she repeated to herself. "No matter what happens between us or what they may think of me, they will *always* be my friends."
- "Sleep, my child. Help is coming." -
Her eyes went wide abruptly. "That wasn't a dream. That was ... Zordon?"
She reached instinctively, trying to find the place where the words had come from. She pushed love and concern, praying for Zordon to hear her. There was no response, and she bit back tears.
A familiar call came from within the pink haze, and she found herself looking up to a crane as it hovered in the air before her. She smiled slowly. "I think it's time to go kick some butt, don't you?"
The crane gave a soft trill, and she laughed. "*Especially* Tommy's!"
In the wake of giving up her Power, Trini had been lost. She'd struggled for a way to find herself again. In all those meditations, she had found her way here, to the soothing calm Yellow of her inner soul. She knew what she was looking for. She'd found her already, after all. All she had to do was call, and she would answer her. But could she?
She'd betrayed the Rangers, giving her Power to their enemies. How could she fight alongside them after that? How could she call herself a Power Ranger? How would she ever look Zordon in the eye when they found him?
- "Everyone breaks, child. This one fought long and hard, with the most delightful screams. She resisted me, but now she is my perfect doll." -
The Yellow around her seemed to pulse, and her eyes narrowed. "No. I won't give up. I won't leave her to that fate. I'll save them all."
An angry hiss came from beside her as her Spirit Animal joined her. "In the name of the Wildcat, I vow to save Justin, Spectra, and Zordon!"
Aisha's mind was busier than she'd expected. She flashed through several areas filled with knowledge of medicine, veterinary medicine, martial arts, and various quirks of her friends. The proper way to fix a second-degree burn was - Rocky bit into a paper plate once and actually swallowed it before she and Adam had managed to catch his attention - bears were gentle creatures who hibernated during the winter -
"Hold it!" she shouted.
The activity abruptly stopped, the golden yellow around her dulling. Almost immediately she was assaulted with memories.
- The other girl was advancing, saying such horrible, hateful things. Her temper broke, and she attacked. She was wrong! None of it was true! She'd stop her from saying that, prove her wrong! -
She shook her head. "Knock it *off*!" she growled, greatly resembling her Spirit Animal. "So I put others before my problems? There's nothing wrong with that! I just want to know that my friends are safe!"
The yellow dulled further, turning an ugly olive.
She sighed. "I *need* to put my friends first," she admitted softly. It was hard to say, even in the privacy of her own mind. "When I'm scared, when I don't want to deal with things, I need to make sure everyone else is all right, so I don't have to think about it. When I hurt Tanya ... " she trailed off. "I know I couldn't help it. I *know* that. It wasn't my fault, and it wasn't her fault. But it's hard to accept that I just attacked one of my friends. I'm supposed to protect them, not hurt them!" She slammed an angry fist into her palm.
A roar sounded, echoing around her. The Yellow seemed to brighten again.
"I'm not going to give in. I'll talk to Tanya. But I won't quit now. I have to help my friends. I won't let the Dark Rangers get to them!"
The Yellow flared, turning a much brighter shade, and the roar echoed again. "I'm the Bear, and I'm Orange!" she declared confidently. "Mess with my friends, and you're gonna get hurt! Kicking evil butt is my specialty!"
Kat hugged her knees to her chest as pink fog drifted around her. She shouldn't have come here. What good was she going to do? Her parents were disappointed because she wouldn't work hard enough, Rita was most certainly eager to try and turn her evil again, her friends only kept her with them out of pity. Why had she bothered to let them bring her to Phaedos?
- Kimberly, pale and weak, giving her a warm smile from a hospital bed. -
- Tommy, grinning and applauding as he caught her dancing. -
- Aisha bringing her to the veterinary hospital where she was working, eager to share her interest. -
- Rocky making her laugh as he inhaled his lunch, innocently protesting that he was hungry. -
- Adam patiently demonstrating the move she was trying to learn once again. -
- Billy helping her study, always explaining as simply as he could to try and help her understand. -
- Tanya's shy, grateful smile as she took her shopping for the first time. -
- Jason giving her a grin as she trotted in from the beach with her surfboard, teasing that she looked like a drowned rat. -
- Zack encouraging her that yes, she *could* do this, and she'd make all the other dancers jealous when she did. -
- Justin seeming so small and vulnerable, looking up sharply with a suspicious glare as she came near him. -
Her friends ...
But what could she do to help them? She didn't ... she couldn't heal them the way Trini and Aisha did, couldn't provide information like Billy, tell them about space like Pahla, couldn't comfort them like Kim. What was she supposed to do?
Something glimmered in front of her, and she looked up to see a shining butterfly perched on her knee. She smiled sadly, reaching out a finger. To her surprise, it fluttered up to perch on it.
"I could be there."
She bit her lip. She could be there for them, just by being there. But what if ... what if they found out about what had happened? What if they knew how she'd failed to protect herself?
Tears welled in her eyes as the butterfly's wings twitched slightly, and an image came to life before her.
- Her eyes shot wide with a shriek of fear, and she struggled desperately to get away. "Rocky! Help me!" she screamed.
She was forced to the ground, Tearrah leering over her as she screamed and tried to get away. She tried to focus, searching for something to save herself from what was about to happen. She never saw the silver aura that flared around her, flooding the room with blazing color and intertwining with the brilliant white Rocky had summoned. Tearrah screamed and tried to cover her face as the pure Light energy seared her hands. She stumbled back to the door, leaving both teens unconscious on the floor. -
Kat stared. "I didn't ... she ... she didn't touch me?"
The butterfly's wings twitched again, sparkling.
She smiled at it as the tears began to fall, this time for pure joy. The silver of the butterfly's wings glowed brighter, as did the world around her. "I'm Silver," she said quietly. "The Light. The Silver Butterfly."
She admired the butterfly now, giggling as it moved to perch on her hair. "I'll save you, Justin," she promised. "And then we'll go rescue Zordon. Together."
Nothing but darkness surrounded her. Nothing but emptiness, the way it was supposed to be. Just a vast expanse of nothing.
- "Did you actually think you were good enough to take over for me? The Zeo Crystal could only cover for you for so long. The difference was just too great. You're pathetic compared to me." -
- "Why did Zordon chose you? You wouldn't be a Ranger if Zordon didn't want you there. Obviously he saw something in you that I'm not seeing now. Was that what you gave the Dark Rangers?" -
"I didn't give it on purpose," Tanya whispered, tears sparkling in her eyes. "I didn't mean to ... I didn't want to hurt Aisha!"
- "You're not a Yellow Ranger. Yellow Zeo, maybe. But definitely not Yellow in Morphin Philosophy. You're not a healer." -
- "Yellow Rangers are healers. If you were a healer, you'd be spending all your time fussing over everyone else instead of yourself. You're not a Yellow." -
"I'm not a Yellow Ranger." The tears were falling freely now. "Zordon must have made a mistake. I'm not a Yellow Ranger. I'm not supposed to be a Ranger."
She didn't see the darkness beginning to creep up over her.
- "It's not my fault she's acting like a spoiled aket. If she's that much of a coward, I don't see why she's even still here. And it's definitely not my fault she isn't Yellow." -
Her eyes narrowed, and her fist clenched. "I am *not* spoiled," she growled. "And I'm *not* a coward!"
- "Why did Zordon chose you?"
"He didn't. Aisha sent me to bring the Zeo Crystal in her place. I wasn't chosen - just there."
"That's shisight. You wouldn't be a Ranger if Zordon didn't want you there. Obviously he saw something in you that I'm not seeing now. Was that what you gave the Dark Rangers?"~
"I didn't *give* them anything," she said louder, gritting her teeth as her temper flared. "I didn't hurt Aisha because I wanted to. It wasn't my fault! I'm not pathetic, and I'm not Aisha! I'm my own person! I do the best I can, and that's all anyone can expect from me!"
She started abruptly, staring down at her clenched fist. It was glowing softly with purple light. "Purple?" she said incredulously. "Okay, so I'm not Yellow. But *Purple*?"
- "Purple is the Color of honor, often for guards or royalty, though several of them have been reformed thieves." -
She continued to stare at her fist. "Honor. I guess I can live with that." She hesitated, laying her chin on her knee. "But ... what good can I do if I go back? I'm not strong like Aisha. I'm not smart like Billy, I can't cheer everyone up the way Rocky does, and I don't know the first thing about medicine."
- "We're gonna stick together ... for now and forever. Through sun and stormy weather ... we're gonna stick together." -
"Stick together," she murmured. She lifted her head back up, firming her chin. "Stick together." she repeated. She sang the second line of the chorus automatically. "Through sun and stormy weather, we're gonna stick together."
A soft squeak at her side made her glance down. She blinked. "A mouse?"
The tiny creature sat up on its hind legs, staring at her. It was of all colors, bright purple. It squeaked indignantly before lowering itself back down.
A faint smile drifted across her face, and she reached down to offer it a hand. It crawled on instantly, and she raised it to her face for a better look. "I'm the Purple Mouse," she mused, then chuckled softly. "And Adam complains about being the Brown Frog?"
She never saw it coming.
"Ow!"
Vengi looked around himself warily. There wasn't much to see; just an endless ocean of black. He raised a hand cautiously, reaching out to test how far this 'blackness' went. His hand hit an invisible barrier before he'd even fully extended his arm, and he froze. Swallowing a wave of anxiety, he carefully reached out the other arm, only to find the same result. The fear was growing now, and he tried to fight it back.
He gasped for breath as he realized distantly he was beginning to hyperventilate. No. No more walls. Not again. He couldn't handle this again. He was free! He didn't have to go back to her ever again! She couldn't do this to him! She was gone, he was free, this couldn't be happening-
-( "What are you doing?" )-
He blinked, looking up slowly. A semi-transparent image of Litania was standing in front of him, hands on her hips as she looked annoyed. "L-Litania ... ?" he murmured weakly, still struggling to breathe through his fear.
-( "You nirc'la. Off on some great mission, and the first thing you do is have a panic attack. Do we have to go over all this again?" )-
"Again ... ?"
She tossed her curls as she always did when she was irritated. -( "She's gone, Vengi. You escaped her years ago. She can't touch you anymore." )- She crouched down, her tone suddenly gentle as she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. -( "You're stronger than this. You endured her for thirteen cycles and never gave in. You've never let this fear stop you from doing what was needed before. Why are you starting now?" )-
He stared at her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Never give in. Never let her win," he murmured. It was an old mantra, but it had saved his sanity far too many times. The calm light began to return to his eyes at last as his breathing finally steadied. "I'll endure. If only to see the look on her face, I *will* endure."
She smiled at him. -( "That's my boy," )- she teased affectionately as she faded away.
In her place formed an incredibly large, dark creature. It merely looked at him, its eyes inquisitive. After a moment of studying him it lowered its head, offering one of its massive horns. He reached for it automatically, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. Once standing, he leaned against the creature, stroking its side gently. "I am the Black Bison," he murmured.
A thought occurred to him, and he frowned. "Why is my conscience *Litania*, the queen of corruption and chaos?"
Dulcea frowned as she watched the Rangers before her. It was not as easy for this group as it had been for the last. For a moment, Tanya and Vengi's auras had wavered, darkening. She found herself holding her breath in worry despite her resolve, and slowly relaxed as the warm glow of the Power began to shine through them all. At last their eyes opened, and she approached the young girl to her right.
"Aisha. You are the Bear. Fierce and unstoppable. Your true Color is Orange: bold, strong, and protective," she told her with a smile, receiving a confident grin in return. This was one who had found her center at last.
She moved on to the next, and was pleased to see that she was finally able to meet her eyes for the first time since they'd met. "The Butterfly is the symbol of the soul, the sign of goodness and purity. You are doubly blessed, Katherine, to serve as Silver, the Color of Light itself, and be guided by this sacred animal."
To her further delight, Kat blushed, but still did not look away.
The next girl was calm and quiet, but the fire of determination burned in her eyes. "Trini. You are graceful and sure, dangerous when provoked. You remain calm and level-headed when others need you, just as any Yellow should. The Wildcat proudly claims your spirit."
Trini smiled in return, but Dulcea was well aware that this was not news to her; the mind of this girl was strong.
"Purple is a unique Color, Tanya," she announced as she moved on. She hid a smile at Tanya's scowl. "It is the Color of honor, for those who both uphold it and use it to their own advantage. Your Spirit Animal is just as unique; the Mouse may seem to be quiet and small, but even the smallest creature can move the mightiest of obstacles."
"Are Spirit Animals supposed to bite?" Tanya grumbled back, nursing a finger.
Dulcea chuckled. "The Mouse is also very proud and sensitive."
The boy before her now showed no trace of the fear that she had nearly seen overwhelm him. She studied him for a moment. She was not a White, but her status as Guardian gave her the ability to read something from the boy's soul she would not have expected. "Vengi, you are a master of words, just as I would expect a Black Ranger to be," she said at last, her smile warm and knowing. His eyes flickered downwards in embarrassment for a moment, then went back to meet her gaze. "Your spirit is as calm and enduring as the Bison."
The petite brunette made her heart ache in memory of another sweet girl in Pink, but she couldn't help returning the excited and friendly smile. "Agile Kimberly, light as a feather. You are the Crane. Your heart is a powerful gift for any who are blessed with its love. You are a true follower of Pink."
Kimberly blushed, and Dulcea moved on to the last before her heart could truly break.
"And you Tommy, are the Falcon. Winged lord of the skies. You are truly a warrior, preferring to fight on the front lines of any battle and protect those around you. You are Green."
She noted the concerned and uneasy glances Kimberly, Katherine, and Trini shot in his direction, but Tommy didn't seem fazed. There was a sense of peace about him that hadn't been there before, and she smiled again at one who shared her Color.
"Congratulations, Rangers. You have found your center. To know the Spirit Animal that guides you as well as the Color you serve under is a powerful resource. Trust in that Power, just as you have trusted in Zordon's wisdom." She saw the ache and longing in their faces, and gave them her most reassuring smile. "Have faith. You will find Zordon, just as you *will* solve the prophecy. Zordon believes in you, and so do I." She was not surprised to see that they seemed somewhat reassured. "When you return to your friends, send the last of them to me. You will need all the strength you can find against the Dark Rangers." Her eyes darkened as she shed her human form, and vanished into the wind.
There was a moment of silence as they all contemplated her words. "Tommy?" Kat spoke up at last, looking hesitant. She started to take a step toward him, and paused as he turned to look at her.
He was smiling.
"We should get some sleep," he told them. His smile widened slightly at her startled expression, and he actually winked at her. "We've got a long hike tomorrow."
Everyone settled down reluctantly, some still marveling over how calm Tommy seemed at the announcement that he was Green, the Color he'd gone so far out of his way to avoid being identified by. Others pondered the strangeness that was their own minds, or wondered what dangers they would face on their journey. One faced away from the rest, hiding the tears that welled in her eyes as she remembered the warm smile that had not been directed at her.