Chapter 49
When they reached Kerrville, they realized that they were in such a rush that morning, nobody had a chance to properly take care of themselves before leaving. So, Daniel turned off the Interstate and pulled into a rest stop before parking the car.
"Alright, everybody better get out and go now, because we're not stopping again for a while." He said to the group. "Girls go with Milldred, Rian, you're with me."
"Got it." The Gelflings nodded as everybody got out of the car.
"We should let Fritz and Baffi out too." Penelope said. "They've been stuck in the car all night."
"That's a good point." Milldred nodded. "We'll let them out after we're done."
"What will the people around here say about Baffi?" Seladon asked unsurely.
"We could say that he's a strange breed of Chow Chow." Milldred chuckled. "He's fluffy and small like them, and a bit feisty too, so it should be believable."
Seladon nodded as they all went into the ladies' room to take care of any business they may need to do, while Daniel and Rian went into the men's room. When everybody was done, Penelope and Seladon went back to the car to get Fritz and Baffi out, taking them over to the pet area so they could do their own business. As Seladon was watching over Baffi, a childing boy came up to her, staring at the animal curiously.
"What kind of dog is that?" He asked her.
"He's a…" Seladon started, trying to remember what Milldred had told her to say. "He's a Chow Chow."
"That's one weird looking Chow Chow." The boy said. "Why is he wearing an eyepatch?"
"He lost his eye a long time ago. From what, I don't really know."
"How long have you had him?"
"Not long, three months at most. I adopted him after his original owner died." Seladon sighed. "She was a good friend of mine, but I didn't appreciate her enough."
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok." The Vapra chuckled. "His name is Baffi, by the way."
"Can I pet him?" The boy asked hopefully.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Seladon shook her head. "He doesn't really do well with strangers."
"Oh, that's too bad."
"Nickalos!" An older woman suddenly called out. "Stop bothering that girl and let's go."
"Bye, it was nice talking to you!" The little boy smiled before he left and ran back to his mother.
"Hmm." Seladon slightly chuckled before she picked Baffi up and followed Penelope back to the van.
"That was some excellent lying back there." Milldred praised her as they got in the car and started driving again.
"Yeah but… most of it wasn't a lie." The All-Maudra sighed. "Pretty much the only thing that was a lie was Baffi's breed."
The car was silent after that, nobody really sure how to respond to that. At last, Milldred sighed. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok, it's not your fault." Seladon sighed. "If I hadn't trusted the Skeksis more than I trusted my own people, she might still be alive."
"Seladon, Maudra Fara's death wasn't your fault." Rian assured her.
"But that's the thing Rian, it pretty much is." Seladon sighed. "Before I became All-Maudra, Maudra Fara challenged me for the crown. Trial by Air."
"A Skeksis challenge." Brea frowned.
"I defeated her in the trial after I threw her to the ground, damaging her wings a bit." Seladon continued. "And then, when the Skeksis attacked, she couldn't fly properly, so she was an easy target. And then, when I got distracted, she protected me from Skekok's blade. It's my fault she died. Nothing can change my mind about that."
"Seladon," Rian sighed, gently taking her hand into his own. "Maudra Fara's death was not your fault. You were loyal and ignorant to the Skeksis, nobody can blame you for that. The Skeksis have lied to us for a thousand trines, and we believed those lies until they made the mistake of killing a Gelfling for the first time. Maudra Fara died protecting you. Despite your ignorance in the past, she sacrificed her life to save yours. It's just who she is and she's always been. She would've done it for anybody, but she did it for you. Be grateful for that, and never blame yourself. She wouldn't want that from you."
Seladon teared up a bit and nodded, hanging her head as a tear rolled down her cheek. Rian gently lifted her chin back up and wiped the tears away. She sniffed and suddenly, she was hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Rian."
"You're welcome." The Stonewood smiled warmly as he hugged back.
Suddenly, Brea had an idea. "You know sis. I know we already mourned for her back on Thra, and, we're not on Thra anymore right now but, maybe we can still send her spirit back."
"What do you mean?" Seladon asked her.
"Well, when mother died, we sent her spirit back to Thra by singing a song. We could do the same for Maudra Fara right now… if you'd like."
The older Vapra sister couldn't help but smile. "Yes… I think I'd like that."
Brea nodded. The car got silent again, waiting for the song to start, the humans actually curious to hear what kind of music the Gelflings liked on their planet. Rian sighed and started.
"Tsian-oo-as-ae-oo-oo-am. Bez-a-a-a-puy-um-tsa."
Deet quickly joined him, just like she did with Kylan back on Thra.
"Tsian-tse-as-ae-oo-oo-am. Bez-a-a-a-puy-um-tsa."
And then Brea joined.
"Nu-mi-ami-oo-a-be. Tso-o-o-am-be-na-ub. Tsian-oo-as-ae-oo-am."
"Bez-a-a-a-puy-um-tsa." Seladon at last joined them.
"Nu-mi-ami-oo-a-be. Tso-o-o-am-be-na-ub. Tsia-oo-as-ae-oo-oo-am. Bez-a-a-a-puy-um-tsa."
Then, it was just the Seladon singing.
"Nu-mi-ami-oo-a-be."
"Tso-o-o-am-be-na-ub." Rian finished.
After the song, the car fell into silence once more, nobody daring to speak a word after such a meaningful melody.