"It's so flat here." Kara said the next morning, looking out of the passenger side window at the acres of farmland they drove past on their way to the Kiwatchee tribal center. "And the sky is so blue." It was a beautiful day, clear and perfect, the kind of spring day that most farmers looked forward to. Clark preferred the afternoons, Chloe the evenings, but Kara adored the mornings, rising at daybreak with Clark and exploring the fields before she had to go to school, Krypto tumbling along behind her. Kara had grown two inches since arriving on Earth. Also her hair and skin seemed to glow - something Clark and Chloe were able to explain, having Dr. Swann's notes, which put them way ahead of Jonathan and Martha Kent in raising an alien teenager. Chloe smiled, and rubbed Kara's shoulder comfortingly,
"I guess this is all very different from what you are used to, isn't it?" Chloe asked, and Kara nodded solemnly. "From what I saw of Krypton, I mean."
"It is. Well, was." Kara hiccuped and shook her head. "I want to see everything, Kansas, the oceans, all of it." She sighed and traced a shape on the window with one long finger. "There is so much to learn."
This had been a common theme since Kara's arrival. Naturally curious to begin with, the Kryptonian girl's desire to learn all she could about her new home world was nearly a compulsion. Maps and star charts lined her new room at the top of the Kent's farm house and Clark's telescope pointed to the heavens through a sky light Clark had installed for that exact reason. The curious adventure of seeing a dead Kiwatchee shaman was not about a paranormal experience, but about going to the tribal center and finding out about the culture for Kara. Spotting the cluster of buildings that made up the Kiwatchee town center, Kara sat straighter, her excitement almost an electric charge. Her curiosity was infectious, and Chloe smiled, remembering herself at that age. The little town was stirred up, preparing for the benefit tomorrow and there were visitors from other tribes setting up booths and tents as temporary shelters during the festivities. Dancers in brillant costumes walked together, talking about the practice ahead, the sunlight making everything brighter and more vivid.
Dr. Willowbrook stood outside of the tribal center, waving as they pulled up.
"Hello!" He called, walking to the truck. "Glad you're here today. We have the Planting Moon Festival tomorrow and then the benefit..."
"We'll be here for that too." Clark replied, shaking Dr. Willowbrook's hand. "Dr. Willowbrook, I'd like you to meet my cousin, Kara."
"Kara, it's nice to meet you." Dr. Willowbrook smiled, and Kara shook his hand politely, studying his face.
"Hello." Kara replied, smiling back. "It's beautiful here. Where I'm from, the sky is never.." She paused, realizing she may be saying too much, "this blue."
"Well, welcome to Kansas." Dr. Willowbrook bowed formally, "Although I should say, tsi-lu –gi. It means Welcome."
"tsi-lu –gi." Kara repeated, her accent perfectly imitating the professor's. "I like that."
"I'm glad. I like to teach people about my world. " Dr. Willowbrook smiled, and shook Chloe's hand. "How are you today, Chloe?"
"Fine, but my list of questions just keeps getting longer, " Chloe replied with a rueful grin. "And I'm all about getting answers."
"Let's see if we can get them for you." Dr. Willowbrook tucked Chloe's arm around his own. "Miriam is waiting inside."
They found the Kiwatchee shaman alone in a small auditorium. She turned when she heard them enter, fixing Chloe and Kara with a deep, searching look.
"This child…" Miriam walked over to Kara and looked into her eyes. "She is like Naman."
"My cousin." Clark offered, and the shaman grunted in acknowledgment.
"A fledgling." Miriam said, looking up at Dr. Willowbrook. "A young one, of Naman's race."
"So it would seem." Dr. Willowbrook nodded, his dark eyes full of thoughts as his mind raced over the prophecies of his people. He looked at Kara. "Her coming has not been foretold."
Miriam grunted again. "Well, then." She smiled at Kara gently. "We are in new territory. Perhaps calling to the spirits will help us."
"Why?" Kara asked, looking at Miriam suspiciously.
"Because the prophecy of Naman does not mention a female of his kind." Miriam took Kara by the hand. "When the spirits answer then we will know."
"I've already been visited by a spirit." Kara said, looking over Miriam's shoulder. "There he is, right there."
Everyone else turned to look at the empty chair Kara had indicated, and all except Chloe had puzzled expressions, seeing nothing. Chloe, for her part, gasped, her eyes growing larger in her face, all color leeching from her cheeks.
"You see him?" Chloe asked, leaning into Kara. "Describe him."
"He's very old, with black eyes and a wrinkly face." Kara began, "He's wearing a white shirt, jeans and boots, and his hair is long and white." She smiled. "He's waving at me."
"I'm seeing that too." Chloe said, looking at Clark. "Can you see it?"
"No, Chloe, I can't." Clark shook his head. "All I see is air."
"You see him now?" Miriam asked, looking back and forth between Kara and Chloe, shocked. She turned and looked at the spot Kara indicated. "I do not see you, Father, but I can hear you. Tell me why you have come…"
There was a clatter and a thud behind the small group. Turning with a gasp, Miriam spotted her granddaughter, Livvie. "You are supposed to be outside, young one."
The child came out from behind a stack of ceremonial lances, paying no attention at all to her grandmother. She was staring at Kara, her dark eyes unfathomable. Livvie shuffled her feet for a moment, and then walked over to where Kara stood.
'Hello." Livvie said, looking up at Kara. She rifled through her pockets and came up with a small polished rock. "This is yours."
"Thank you." Kara took the stone and looked at it. "What is it?" Her finger traced over the carving on the top of he rock, a stylized bird.
"Your totem." Livvie explained. "That's an eagle. Eagles fly very high, and sometimes they fly so high that we can't see them anymore, but they're still there…" The child sniffled, and turned to Chloe. "You still have the stone I gave you. Your mother needs it. This is yours." Livvie handed Chloe another smooth stone and smiled.
"Livvie." Chloe knelt down, "The worry stone you gave me is for my mother?"
"Yes. She has too much on her mind." The child said, in a tone much wiser than her age and size would give credit. "Give her that stone. She'll feel better." Turning her attention to Clark, Livvie grinned. "Hi, Naman!" She reached up and Clark lifted Livvie up into his arms. "Naman, will you be here tomorrow to see me dance?"
"You bet I will." Clark said laughing. "Livvie, how do you know about Chloe's mother?"
'The old ones tell me her stories." Livvie said, looking down at her hands. "About the time she was here with us."
Chloe looked up at Miriam. "My mother was never here. She only moved to Metropolis with Dad when he first started working for Luthorcorp."
Miriam shook her head, "What you do not know about your mother is what keeps you from finding the answers you seek, Angel Heart. Find her voice, Chloe." The shaman looked at her granddaughter. "Well, little one, what does the old one say?"
"The old one says that when Angel heart's mother can speak her truth, then the next part of Naman's prophecy will come to us." Livvie touched Clark's face. "You have a prophecy?" She asked, and Clark smiled, hugging the child closely.
"He's saying something else, " Kara said, and she looked at Livvie. "What is he saying about me?"
"He said you must have your Vision Quest, Fledgling." Livvie's grin sported the buds of new teeth. "He said that you are a blank page. To be written on by the Great Spirit." The little girl held out a grubby hand to Kara. "You don't have to worry, Fledgling. I'll go on your quest with you."