"So where are we anyway?" I asked curiously. We'd been walking for about fifteen minutes. We'd left the Nightmare Desert behind and had entered into a more peaceful looking forest. It wasn't heavenly or anything like that, although compared to the Nightmare Desert, you could've described it like that. Since there was nothing else to do I decided it wouldn't hurt to have a conversation with the Redeemer.
"We are in the Spirit World." He answered.
"So I'm dead?" I didn't really care if I was or wasn't.
"Not necessarily. Your body is still alive, but your soul is not with it right now." He replied.
"So technically I am, right N'yaka-de?" I began addressing him respectfully. The word meant Master in my language.
"Yes, technically." Our conversation paused for a couple of minutes.
"Thank-you for saving me ,N'yaka-de." I tried to say it as sincerely as possible, instead coming out awkwardly.
"Your welcome." He replied. Another pause.
"So where are we going?"
"As I said there is someone who'd like to meet you." He answered.
"Who?"
"You will see." He said smiling back at me softly. I didn't know what the big mystery was about, but I was still a little to upset to care really so I just accepted his answer and kept on walking. I will be honest, I was at least a little curious, but I didn't bother asking myself to many questions. I just stared at the ground and mulled to myself the rest of the way.
"We are here ,Kjon." He announced a little dramatically. My head was still facing the ground.
"Yes ,N'yaka-de." I looked up to him as I responded, bringing my gaze back to the ground.
"Kjon." I heard a feminine voice calling out to me softly. It wasn't Ooman. It didn't sound off or threatening or anything like that, but you could tell. The voice also sounded familiar. "Kjon." The voice called out to me again. I could hear it more clearly this time. I hadn't heard her voice in a very long time but I could recognize it. Could it really be her? I asked myself hopefully as I raised my head with wide-eyed interest.
"M-M-M-Mother?" I stuttered. It was her. It really was her... It was Mom... I could see her clearly. She looked a little different from the way she did the last time I'd seen her. She was still as young and beautiful as she was before, but... I... I can't describe it... t-there was something about her appearance that made her look even more youthful and beautiful. She wore this smooth, silk dress that covered her whole body down to her ankles, she looked like an angel with it on. She was smiling. "M-M-Mom?" I sputtered again, feeling a smile creep across my mandibles. Her smile brightened as she saw me. "Mom!" I exclaimed excitedly as I ran towards her, tears streaming joyfully as I charged. I wrapped myself around her as firmly as I could around her and began to cry uncontrollably.
"Oh, my special pup how I've missed you so" She said tearfully.
"I missed you too! I missed you so so much ,Mom." I told between fits of sobbing.
"Let me see you ,my son." She requested. Her smile brightened as she looked down at me. "Oh, Kjon, look how much you've grown." She said before embracing me again tightly.
"I love you ,Mother." I told her.
"I love you too my special little suckling. I love you so so much." She replied. "I am sorry I could not keep my promise to you ,Kjon. I am so so sorry that I left you behind. May you forgive me?" She apologized with a sorrowful frown.
"I-It's okay. It's okay. You did what you had to do. It's not your fault. T-There's nothing to forgive. Your here now. You've kept your promise." I told her with a smile as I sobbed.
"Thank-you. You do not know what it has been like being without you my little one. Thank the H'chak (Mercy/Merciful) N'yak-de I can finally see you again." Her mandibles clicked softly.
"W-What are you doing here? H-How did you get here?" I asked curiously. Although Mother believed in the existence of gods, she knew nothing about my God, so I was very curious.
"It is because of you my suckling that he found me. He heard your prayers for me and gave me the chance to be with you again... Thank-you my little one. Thank-you so much." I couldn't believe it. I was the reason Mom was standing here in front of me now?!
I turned around to see N'yaka-de standing behind me, that sweet smile of his glowed even brighter as he watched. "T-T-Thank-you." I said gratefully as I went to hug him. Mother quickly joined me.
"That's not all ,Kjon." N'yaka-de told me.
Before I could have time to even process what he said I heard yet another familiar feminine voice call out to me. "Hola hermano!"
"Michelle!" My heart skipped a beat as I heard her. I turned over in the direction of her voice and saw her. She wasn't alone. Richard, Taylor, and William were with her.
"Well well well, if it ain't old PF himself." William said.
"Guys!" My smile brightened as I beheld them. They all looked like what they did before Crimer's Ridge. They also had that strange glow to them that made Mom look so beautiful as she did. Unlike her though my Hunter Siblings were in more casual wear, with T-shirts, camo jeans, and boots.
"We missed you ,Hermano Cazador." Michelle said, as we embraced each other.
"We all did. Come here big guy." Richard said softly, as he and William joined us.
"It's good to see you again ,Kjon." Taylor spoke as he and Mom joined in the group hug as well.
It had been so long since I'd seen them all. It'd been too long. But now I was here with Mom and my Hunter Siblings now. I could see them again, talk to them again, their touch felt real, it felt soft, it was comforting. So great was my joy I couldn't stop crying.
"It's alright ,my child. Everything is alright now." Mom told me. Except... Except it wasn't... My joyful crying quickly turned into that of regret. They were here because of me. How much had they suffered because of my mistakes? Although they were happy, I was responsible for their deaths. Their blood was on my hands still, and that sense of guilt still lingered with me, even to this point.
"What's wrong man?" William asked. I was too choked up to respond at first.
"What's the matter ,Hermano Cazador?" Michelle asked concerned.
"What is it ,my suckling? Please tell us?" Mother's voice purred with worry.
"I-I... I'm sorry." I uttered tearfully.
"What?" They asked.
"All of this is my fault. I did this to you. I'm sorry Mom. If-If I... If I hadn't... If I hadn't have been born, you wouldn't have spent all those years locked up in that cage. You'd still be alive. I wasn't even strong enough to restore your honor... I was too weak... Now I can never restore it... I can never be the hunter warrior you wanted me to be... Michelle, Rich, Taylor, Will... If I hadn't been so damn proud of myself, maybe... maybe He wouldn't have needed to humble me by taking you guys away. I-I-I was too prideful. Had I thought... Maybe if I tried harder you guys would still be alive... Michelle, you and Rich would be alive right now, happy and together if it wasn't for me... All of you guys... I am so... so... sorry." I whimpered.
A moment of silence passed us by before Michelle spoke. "Eres tonta." She said jokingly with a soft chuckle.
"W-W-What?" I stuttered in disbelief.
"Please. Don't tell us you believe that horse crap." Rich said with a smirk.
"Y-You're not mad at me?" I asked.
"Why would we be ,Kjon?" Taylor questioned.
"I-I don't understand?" I shook my head in confusion.
"Kjon ,my sweet little pup, you did nothing to any of us. You were not the cause of our suffering." Mom told me. I still didn't understand.
"B-But I dishonored you?" I told her.
"And I should end the life of my child because he is different? Because of something that was not his own fault?" She retorted softly.
"But... you did so much for me... you gave away your own life...?" I said.
"That is what a mother does for her child. Because she loves him. It was my duty as it should be to all mothers. Besides how much different are you when you give your life daily, not just for the ones you love, but for those you do not even know?" She asked thoughtfully.
"Same here." Rich said.
"B-But my pride...?" I sputtered as I looked at my Hunter Siblings.
"Oh, please get outta here with that crap ,man! What is it Clint Eastwood said? 'Everyone's got a right to be a sucker once.' We all get stupid once in a while. You aren't perfect ,Kjon. Heck do any of us look perfect?" William stated. That was honestly a little jarring to hear coming from the guy who used to be called "Wacko."
"Seriously. You really believe your pride was the thing that got us." Taylor laughed.
"Y-You mean it wasn't my fault. None of this was."
"No." He responded. I was still confused.
"Kjon, I didn't take them because of your hubris." N'yaka-de told me.
"Our deaths were a necessary part of the plan. Although it was also a good opportunity to humble you though. That part is true." Taylor said.
"So... So you're saying I didn't do anything to you?" I asked stupidly.
"That's what we've been saying ,Cabrona!" Michelle laughed.
"Kjon. We know it may seem hard for you to understand, but it's all true. Hell, if anything you've done a lot for us. You saved our lives multiple times. You saved Michelle. You saved me. You were friendly with me even after I was a dick to you. You forgave me for it too, and you went a step further ,not just by becoming my friend, but my brother. You've done a lot for us ,bud. You've been the best brother a guy could ever have. And I'm not talking about being 'Hunter Brothers' but you are a legitimate brother to me, and I'm not going to settle for anything less than that." Rich said resting his hand on my shoulder as he knelt down beside me.
"The same goes for me ,hermano" Michelle spoke.
"I feel the same way too." Taylor concurred.
"Join the club." William joked.
I knelt there silently as I took all of this in.
"Kjon. You have made me the proudest mother in this world. You risk your life time and time again not just for those you care for, but for those who you do not even know. You even spend your life for those who beat you. For the Ooman colonists, for our own clan, for your friends. You tried with every ounce of strength you had to restore my honor, and although you were unsuccessful, you still did what you could... Even after I abandoned you to try and restore our honor... you still showed me your love by risking your life for that... and you still continue to love and adore me... It is a lie when you say that you are to blame for our suffering, when you've done so so much to try and alleviate it. Now you are not perfect. But I do not wish for you to be. Just for who you are... as the noble young-blood that I see before me now... as my son... you are perfect just the way you are. You are the greatest thing to have ever happened to me ,even for all of the pain and dishonor I endured to raise you. I love you so so much my sweet little suckling. You've given me the greatest joy I have ever felt, and you shall never understand how thankful I am for it. Thank-you." Mom spoke with tears in her eyes and a soft smile on her face before hugging me. Her words put a tearful smile on face.
It didn't stop with just Mom and my Hunter Siblings though.
"We wish we could've been down there long enough to know what a great mei'hswei we have." Came a voice I'd never heard before, yet strangely recognized somehow. I turned to see five other Yatja standing behind me. Two males, and three taller females. They were my brothers and sisters, not like Beo'n and Trish though. This was my litter.
"Kjon, these are you're mei'hswei, and mei'jadhi (brothers and sisters). Al'uni, Mek'esha, Sal'zu, Trikindre, and Get-huem." Mom said. I uncontrollably heaved a joyful breath when I saw them.
"It's good to finally met you in person ,Kjon." Mek'esha said.
"It's good to met you too." I said to them.
"Good to see you too." Came a voice with a deep Austrian accent. My eyes went wide as when I saw them. It was Alan 'Dutch' Schaefer! And standing right beside him was his brother John! "You made a pretty damn good Schaefer ,kid." He complimented me.
"Nice to know not all of you are out to get us." John added sarcastically.
"Yep, I'd say Hadrick did a pretty good job with you. You're one helluva marine ,kid." Dutch Schaefer said (Not Alan). Standing next to him was his wife ,Linn Kurosawa.
"What do you say ,Julia?" Linn asked.
"He's a Schaefer alright. No doubt about it." It was Hadrick's wife Julia Schaefer! She was here too! "Thanks for keeping that asshole of a husband of mine in check form me." She said to me with a smile.
"You've done well with this one ,Mei'jadhi. He is a fine and noble hunter. Just as you said he was." A'rgr-lo spoke. I finally got the chance to meet my uncle in person. He looked a little like me, only with much much longer dreads and was a reddish brown color with black stripes and hues.
"Thanks for taking care of this guy for me, while he was away." Laurie ,Richard's sister, said as she suddenly materialized beside him.
I even met Ch'ris' father ,Va-saka. I could tell it was him when I saw him since he looked so similar to him, only his color was darker than his son's, and the blue patterns on his skin were brighter. "Thank-you too young one, for restoring my son, his mate, and our clan to our honorable status. I cannot thank-you enough." He said with a bow.
Even more members of my family, both Ooman and Yatja began to emerge. It was so amazing... just to see everyone who'd came before me... just to see how truly large my family was... It... It... It was breathtaking.
I turned my gaze back over to N'yaka-de. He saw the overwhelming smile on my face and returned it was a softer ,yet more intense smile. He'd done all of this for me... He'd allowed me to see my family... He'd given me this joy I felt now... I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.
I looked up at him. "Thank-you... N-N'yaka-de... Thank-you so so much...!" I laughed softly as tears continued dripping from my eyes, before lowering my head back down.
"Your welcome ,Kjon." He replied softly.
"You are alright now, my precious little one." Mom said as she and everyone else began to gather in this massive group hug.
"We're all here for you." Michelle.
"No where you are." Rich.
"We'll always be with you." Taylor.
"And you'll always be with us." William.
"I love you all so much." I said softly.
"We love you too." They all said in unison.
Words could not describe the joy I felt as I stood there. And even if I could, I still wouldn't describe it. It's something sacred you have to feel for yourself in order to properly understand. I could have stood there forever. The only thing that would have made it even more perfect was to share it with Pyode, and even Ch'ris, and Rachelle.
Once our loving embrace was over I gave a loud joyful roar, which caused everyone else around me to do the same. Once that was over everyone began to leave. I knew this was only a temporary visit, and although I wanted to spend more time with them, I wasn't disappointed. I knew that there would come a time where I would be with them again ,permanently. But that time was not yet. N'yaka-de still had work I needed to do. Even though no one said it I could tell. But for the joy I'd just witnessed and felt... I could continue. I had peace, a peace that couldn't be taken from me, and for that I would be patient. Mom, Michelle, Richard, Taylor, William, A'rgr-lo, and Julia stayed though.
There was something that Mom, A'rgr-lo, Michelle, Rich, and William wanted me to do for them. They wanted me to baptize them. N'yaka-de could have had anyone do it for them, but they wanted me to do it. I accepted without hesitation.
Once that was over, I was able to spent a few short moments with them. "I'm afraid it's time for us to go ,Kjon." N'yaka-de said. That was okay though. Even though my time with them had been short, It had been long enough for me to cherish it. It was enough for me to get to see and speak to them again, to know that they were all happy. To know that they still loved me. And to get the chance to tell them that I loved them too.
"I love you ,Mom." I told her as I hugged her.
"I love you too my special special suckling. Remember, I will always be with you."
"I won't forget." I told her.
"Continue in yeyin thar'n-da s' yin'tekai." (bravery, strength, and honor.) A'rgr-lo said.
"I will do my best like I always do. I promise." That promise I would be sure to keep.
"Thanks for making Hadrick happy for me. I know he can be a real son of a bitch when he's unhappy." Julia said. "Please if you see him again, keep him on his feet like he's suppose to be." She requested.
"I'll try to." I responded with a gracious smile.
"Thanks." She replied.
"Cuidate ,Hermano." Michelle told me to take care of myself.
"Voy a ,Hermana." I responded.
"I'm going to miss you ,Brother. But we'll see each other again." Rich said as we hugged each other.
"So will I Rich. So will I." I said to him.
"Here's your crucifix, Taylor." I said as took it off and gave it back to him.
"It's yours ,Kjon. I gave it to you so you as a gift. I'm not going to be needing it. Thanks for holding onto it though." He told me as he gave it back to me and wrapped his hands around mine. I nodded to him before putting it back around my neck. "Keep protecting everyone like you promised." He added. I smiled and nodded before embracing him in a warm hug.
"Remember to laugh and smile every once in a while. It helps." William said. That was pretty good advice.
"I will." I said to him, before turning back to N'yaka-de ,who was patiently waiting behind me. "Good-bye. I love you all so much." I told them all softly as a tear fell from my eye. "I'm ready to go." I said to N'yaka-de before I began to follow him. I remember looking over my shoulder to see them all waving to me, before they all vanished behind a cloud, along with the forest. N'yaka-de continued leading me along until we finally stopped, somewhere. Where I can't say for sure since everything was blanketed in bright clouds of fog.
"This is it." He announced.
"Yes ,N'yaka-de." I replied.
"Remember, you'll still be weak when you return so don't worry. Just do what you need to do." He said.
"And you'll be there with me... every step of the way." I said with a smile.
"That's right." He returned with that same smile of his. He rested one hand on my forehead. "Semper Fidelis." (Always Faithful.) He quoted the marines motto.
"Semper Fidelis." I responded. He placed his other hand on my forehead, and then everything went white.
I felt pain and weakness enter into my body once again as I awoke. I was in the desert again, the sun was still where it had been when I dropped. Time must have acted differently in the Spirit World since I'd been gone for hours yet, it looked as if I'd been dead for only a couple minutes.
I saw the swamp. It was right in front of me. I began angrily dragging myself along the dune stretch. I was still weak yes, but not as weak as I was before. It was excruciating, but not unbearable. I felt a presence with me pushing me forward. N'yaka-de. I would not stop. I would continue. I still had a job to do, and although I'd never promised to finish it for them, they gave me a reason to finish it. I would, down to my last dying breath.
But that wouldn't be necessary yet. I made it to the swamp lands.
(And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7)