Chapter 38

Guide You Home

Somewhere in an Uncharted Jungle

It didn't matter how far they went or how determined they were, the chasm would just keep on following the trio. Jumping across it wasn't an option for the ledges were too far apart and walking around it was also leaning toward the outrageous. They had been walking for an hour nonstop. None of them knew how much longer this chasm could go but what other choice did they have?

Frederick looked up into the thick tree limbs above them, obviously trying to think up of some idea to save them time. A few minutes later, he saw monkeys up in the trees. They were small sized and there were two of them. The human watched them as they knocked a vine down from an overhead limb, grab the vine, then they swung across to the other side and landed in the trees where they disappeared. The vine they used, swung back and hung over the edge of the chasm.

"Did you two see that?" Rita asked, referring to the monkeys.

"Yeah," Frederick replied. "I assume you have the same idea as me?"

Rita didn't answer. Isaac knew what the two of them were thinking and he didn't really like it. Frederick made his way toward that same vine the monkeys used to find it hanging over the chasm a little out of reach. He reached for it, but his hand came up short.

Frederick looked back at his two companions and commanded, "Rita hang on to me. Isaac, hang on to Rita."

They did what they were told. Rita held on to Frederick's hand tightly as he leaned over the chasm. Isaac did the same to Rita, knowing two lives were literally in his grasp. Frederick reached for the vine but he still wasn't out far enough. So he slowly leaned out further, leaving only one foot on the edge while his other hovered over a long fall. He just managed to snag the vine and Rita and Isaac heaved him back in. The vine was quite long. It hung from the limbs above all the way down into the chasm for a few yards.

Frederick held onto the vine with a tight grip, looking back at the two who was with him all the way. "Well, nice knowing you all if this doesn't go as planned."

Isaac nearly uttered a chuckle, "Hey, that's my job to say lines like that."

Frederick grinned then turned to face the chasm. He took a few steps back . . . then ran. Dirt kicked up in his footsteps as he jumped upwards, hanging on for dear life and wrapping his legs around the vine the best he could. A soft warm wind rustled through his hair and everything seemed silent around him. When Frederick touched down on the other side of the chasm, he threw the vine back towards the two humans on the other side. Rita caught it with the look she always gave when faced with a challenge of any sort.

"Looks fun." Rita gripped the vine and took a few steps back then followed Frederick's example. She soared through the air like a graceful bird in the sky. Her legs were out in front, ready to catch the ledge, when she heard something crack. Didn't sound all that loud and it couldn't have been the vine. When she landed on the other side, she passed the vine back to the awaiting jester, Isaac.

Isaac snagged the vine, breathed in, and took a few steps back, just like the other two did. The golden haired human breathed out, then ran for it. When he came near the edge, he lifted his legs and was airborne. But something was wrong. Isaac heard something above him crack making his eyes shift upwards. By the time he did, he heard a loud snap and the branch supported the vine gave way. Isaac felt his heart stop as he began falling down, but something else caught his arm. It hurt though, but whatever it was saved his life. He looked up to see a falling branch heading straight for him, then he was forcefully pulled up and over the ledge as the large branch fell into the chasm below. Isaac looked around him, seeing Frederick had somehow grabbed his arm before he fell to his doom and pulled him out of the slump he was in. Isaac realized he was holding his breath, so he let out a sigh of relief, nodding in appreciation.

"Thanks," Isaac slightly panted, slowly windmilling his arm Frederick grabbed. It hurt a little, but it wouldn't be a problem.

"Looks like we aren't going back that way," Rita gestured, noticing Isaac rubbing his arm. "You alright?"

Isaac nodded, "Yeah, I'll live." Isaac stood up straight to his feet without any trouble, hoping his heart rate would slow down now that the sudden action was over. "Where to now?"

"North right?" Rita guessed.

Frederick walked over to Isaac's back to retrieve the compass out of his bag. "I do believe so. Once we reach the coast it will be a straight shot to the desert. Since this jungle is uncharted, the map is pretty useless, so we won't be using it. Once we reach the end of the coast then we should end up at a desert. The same desert that we are looking for."

"So if you know it's there then why are we here?" Isaac pointlessly asked.

Rita answered, "Because we don't know for sure if it's the right desert."

"So how will we know if it's the right desert?"

Frederick nor Rita knew how to answer that one. They only thought about it. How would they know? The only thing the book said about the desert was that there was some kind of legend to it about jewels buried underground or some type of money. Looks as if the only way to find to desert is to see if the legend was true.

City Square

6:55 P.M.

The square was big and decorated with colorful ribbons hanging onto buildings surrounding it and one big stage set up near the southern side. The stage was high enough fall everyone on the ground to see who was on it, right now there were cheetahs with musical instruments and there was something about the stage that was unique. A dome hung over it to amplify anyone's voice who stood under it to make it seem louder. It worked by using a series of echoes, which would bounce off the dome walls, and make the user's voice easily heard all over the square. Which was why the cheetah's kept quiet as they sat on their chairs with their instruments. Some had flutes, violins, acoustic wooden guitars, harps, even a piano.

On the other side of the square was where the games for toddlers were set up, along with many tables with several stalls which served food for anyone who wanted some. Best of all, it was all free. At least to a certain extent on the food. First meal was free, the rest you had to pay. This was to keep dragons from literally, eating them out of business. Already, the square seemed lively with dragons walking from stall to stall.

Cosmo felt like turning back as he saw the crowds of dragons that hung all around him. Crowds, something Cosmo never liked, especially being in the middle of them. He always felt lost and suffocated but every time he felt like that, he always looked over at Kali. She always seemed to make him feel better.

The two of them were near the dome stage, just looking around before the festival began. Everything seemed perfect.

"What are they?" Cosmo asked, regarding to the figures on stage, fiddling with their instruments.

"Those are the cheetah's. They live in the Valley of Avalar and I guess they came to play some music." Kali looked up at what instruments they brought along and saw one she didn't recognize. "Hmm, never seem that before. Must be new."

"What?" Cosmo asked, trying to spot what she was looking at.

"That big wooden thing over toward the right. Come on, let's go ask them what it is."

Kali was already walking toward the dome when Cosmo spotted what she was talking about. The yellow dragon caught back up to Kali as she made it to the stage and climbed the stairs on the left side, followed by Cosmo. When they made it to the top, Kali couldn't help but looking out off the stage and into the crowd of dragons that were on and about their business, not even noticing the two dragons on stage.

"So this is what it's like to be on stage," Kali quietly remarked.

"More or less," Cosmo replied.

"Can I help you?" Someone from behind them firmly asked.

The two dragons turned around to see a taller, thinner, looking cheetah standing there. He wore a thin black coat and his voice was quiet enough for the dome not to take its effect. The two dragons thought they should do the same.

Kali replied just loud enough for him to hear, "Yeah, we were wondering what that large wooden instrument that is in the corner over there."

Kali pointed with a paw and the cheetah knew what she was talking about. "Oh you mean the piano?"

The blue dragoness nodded, "Yeah, never heard of it."

"I have," Cosmo added.

The cheetah looked down at Cosmo with disbelief in his eye, "How could you have heard of it? It's a brand new instrument that-"

"Is there a problem here?"

The cheetah turned around to see a young white dragon behind him. The white dragon's scales were just pure white and the dragon was actually a dragoness. It almost looked like she had short eyelashes on her eyelids and her eyes was a green that seemed to light up in the dark. Her tan underbelly went with her four tan horns. Two horns curved back straight-wards and two more were right below them. They were way shorter though and were only just a few inches big. They also curved back toward her tail which ended in a pointed furry frill. There were a few spots on her scales that had that darker white tint to them and her darker tanned wings ended in short stubs. She was a bit smaller in size than Kali and Cosmo.

"No Yin everything is alright. These two were just asking me about the instrument you helped us build."

"The piano?" The white dragoness guessed but quickly continued. "Never mind that. Just go on about your business and I'll see what the two visitors want."

The cheetah slightly bowed, "Yes Yin." Afterwards the cheetah obeyed and went back to his place behind one of the three golden harps.

The white dragoness turned to face the two dragons she was responsible for, "Alright, your names?"

"I'm Kali," the blue dragoness answered. "And he's Cosmo. We just never seen a piano before."

"Oh I'm not worried about you Kali," Yin answered. She looked over at Cosmo, "It's you that I'm concerned about."

"Me?" Cosmo sounded a bit off his usual voice.

"Yes," Yin went. She eyed Cosmo with a steady eye. "How did you know about this piano?"

"I err . . .-" Cosmo was at a loss for words. He only nervously shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, lucky guess?"

Yin rolled her eyes, "Well, no matter at this point anyways. Soon everyone will know about it."

"So do you have a part in the festival Yin?" Kali asked.

Yin sat down on the wooden flooring, "Why yes, I do."

Cosmo chuckled, "Really? So are you like, serving the food or something?"

Yin didn't show any sort of sign of amusement, "No. As a matter of fact, you're looking at the singer of your festival."

The joking side of Cosmo quickly disappeared, "Oh you're serious?"

Yin nodded, "Yes, I am serious."

Then whatever lights on the stage were beginning to dim shading the square in a dark shadow. The moon gave enough light for all the dragons to see where they were going so there was no problem there.

"Looks like we're starting," Yin said. "So if you will excuse me."

"By all means," Cosmo replied.

Yin looked over the yellow dragon again then made her leave toward the backstage. Immediately Kali and Cosmo went off stage and went to in front of the stage where some other dragons were already taking places for the show. The two dragons sat as close as they could for they wanted to see everything clearly. Cosmo and Kali looked at each other excitedly, waiting for everything to begin.

A few minutes seemed to pass as even more dragons took their places behind them. Commotion was going on all around the square about the festival, until a cheetah took his place on the front stage. He stood at the edge of the ledge and everyone went silent. Only thing Cosmo could hear was the singing of a cricket. Then someone nudged him on the shoulder.

Cosmo looked over to see a familiar red dragon.

"Torch?" Cosmo whispered.

"Hey Cosmo, good to see ya," he whispered back. Cosmo noticed Micha on the other side of him, seeing a smile that he saw in the market that day. Cosmo smiled back and turned his eyes toward the cheetah in front on stage.

"Hello and welcome to Warfang's Grand Festival," the cheetah announced. His voice seemed loud meaning the dome was working as it should. His voice echoed across the square letting everyone hear him clearly. "As you already know, we have some singing planned for tonight. Well, we also had a play planned but it seems as if someone is running late. So we will have to delay the play and move on with the singing. We hope you enjoy the festival."

The cheetah retreated from stage in a calm and fashionable manner and several more cheetah's appeared on stage and took their places behind their instruments. Cosmo eyed one as he sat down on a stool behind the piano and ready himself. Then he saw Yin. She took her place in front of everyone else on stage and she looked a little nervous. Cosmo noticed as Yin looked down at him.

The yellow dragon mouthed the words, "Don't worry, just do it," which somehow seemed to make Yin smile. She seemed to perk up and feel better as the band started playing.

The flutes began first, in sort of a medium pitched tune. Then a guitar began playing in a low melody. It sounded beautiful. Then Yin began singing.

This is the darkest night

Stars have all faded away

Quiet upon this world

Her voice sounded, different when she sung. It was just a grand thing to hear. It sounded as if the piano joined in on the song.

Through the clouds there is a light

We will find our way

The band got more livelier and it seemed as if there were a few backup singers near the back. But Cosmo couldn't tell if it was cheetahs or dragons. Instead he just listened to the song.

I would die for you

Cross the sky for you

I will send out a light burning for you alone

Yin's beautiful singing voice was heard over everything else.

You're all I need

To set me free

And this fire will guide you

Home

Someone else seemed to sing this part of the song. A male. It could have been a cheetah but Cosmo couldn't picture a cheetah having a voice like that.

There is an open door

Somehow it feels so familiar

We have been here before

Through this old forgotten fight

There must be a way

The whole choir seemed to join in on the chorus. Cosmo could hear some dragons behind him singing the chorus as well.

I would die for you

Cross the sky for you

I will send out a light burning for you alone

Yin's voice came up over the choir.

You're all I need

To set me free

And this fire will guide you

Home

Where our hearts will be open

Where our promise; unbroken

The song continued and Cosmo enjoyed every second of it. It was all so great, so perfect, and Yin was doing an excellent job. Pretty soon, everyone in the choir was joining in on the song. It rounded around the chorus for a few so Cosmo guessed it was getting near the end of the song. He thought about the words in it, somehow it made him think of Kali. Maybe because those words in the song were true. The more he thought about it, the more attached he became to the lyrics.

Suddenly everyone around him was cheering. It brought him back into the real world and realize that the song was over and Yin was bowing on stage with happiness in her face.

"Whoo that was great!" Torch exclaimed. "Wasn't that great Cosmo?"

"Yeah," he replied. "It sure was."

"How about you Micha?"

Micha smiled, "I loved it."

Cosmo looked over at Kali to hear her say, "I wouldn't mind hearing that again soon."

Micha and Torch looked by Cosmo at the blue dragoness. Cosmo noticed them and realized he had to do something. "Oh sorry you two. This is Kali."

"It's good to meet you," Micha said from her spot.

"Same," Torch added. "It's good to see you've got a mate Cosmo."

Cosmo didn't respond to that statement.