So, I'm going to admit that I'm very disappointed in this chapter. I'm annoyed with it, but I wanted to update yesterday but I didn't have internet access.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

We came to a fast running river of red. I stared down at the water for a moment before I slowly reached my hand to touch it.

"Don't touch!" Esme said quickly, "It'll burn you if you do."

"Oh," I said jerking my hand away, "Why would it burn?"

"You weren't chosen by the goddess. This river protects the sacred room of the goddess. Technically there are no outsiders allowed, but it's alright. I can give you a ride on my back."

She leaned down so I could climb onto her back. I smiled as I remembered when I was little, and my dad would give me piggyback rides.

"Is something the matter?" She asked as she stepped into the river, the water around her legs turned blue. The water around her tail was blue as her tail drifted through the water, reminded me of a long snake.

"Riding your back kind of reminds me of when I was little, and my father would let me ride his."

She smiled, "You and your father were close?"

"We were. My family was very close."

"Do you miss them very much?"

"Sometimes."

"At least one day you will see them again."

"Maybe."

She set me on my feet when she stepped out of the river.

"Maybe? You must not really believe in the power of the goddess."

"I was just never raised with religion. It was outlawed before I was born."

"Hmm, that sounds kind of sad to me. I don't know how I'd live without the goddess in my life."

"On Outerra though, there is only one religion. On earth there were many. It caused wars and death. It was better to outlaw it."

"Well, maybe after today, I can make you a believer. You'd be the first human to believe. I think the other humans believe I am crazy."

I chuckled, "I don't think you're crazy. You're a very interesting person."

She smiled, "Why thank you. Now, climb onto my back."

She leaned down so I could climb onto her back. Once I was securely on, she walked to a very thick and tall tree. Her hands grasped it and I realized she was going to climb it with me on her back. I gulped.

"Um, is this really safe?"

"I've been climbing this tree since I could walk. You'll be fine."

She began to climb up the tree as I clung to her. My heart was beating erratically. I looked down and immediately regretted it. I pressed my face into her hair and squeezed my eyes shut.

Finally, she stopped, and we crawled into a large opening in the side of the tree. I sighed in relief, glad to be in a safe place.

She looked out of the hole and smiled, "When Edward was a baby, I used to bring him up here and we would spend hours here. Those days were truly amazing."

I looked out of the hole and a little wow escaped my lips.

"This is beautiful." I said as I looked out to beautiful sight before me.

I could see the lights from the city, and then the lights from the houses in the country side. The moon was beginning to appear, and the two suns were beginning to move away from one another. It was truly a breathtaking sight.

"This tree is the tallest point in Outerra. It oversees everything. This was where the goddess watched so she could protect everyone."

"So, was the goddess a real person?" I asked.

"Yes, she was my ancestor."

I frowned, "Ancestor?"

"It's like grandmother, but from a long time ago. I'm not sure what you humans call it."

"Great-grandmother?"

"Oh yes, something along those lines. But, that is why I am the priestess. It runs in my family."

"That's why you want Edward to have a child."

"It is, but I'd also love to have many grandchildren."

"Why didn't you and Carlisle have many children? Edward is your only one."

She sighed, "Unfortunately, I had reproductive issues myself. After I carried Edward, I just could never get pregnant again. I never understood why. I guess it just wasn't for me to have more kids."

I frowned, "I'm sorry, that sounds awful."

She shrugged, "I am just glad that I had one. So, I can't be to upset."

"What a good way of looking at it," I said, "When my chances of having children were announced slim by the doctors, I never really realized how much I wanted children until the chance of my having them were down."

"It's because you never met someone before that made you want to have kids."

"That's true. There wasn't anyone on earth that I ever liked as much as Edward."

She smiled, "I like hearing that someone cares for my son. I worry, as a mother does," she crossed her ankle, "So, you'd like to know more about our religion."

"I would like to know more. It's interesting."

She clasped her hands on her lap, which drew my eyes to the tattoos on her chest.

"What are those tattoos? What do they mean?" I asked.

She looked down, "Well, my tattoos are a symbol of the priestess and the goddess. My devotion to her and this temple."

She pointed to the different tattoos, "Each tattoo is a stage of life that the goddess went through. Here she is at her birth. She was born from the planet, from the ocean. She created our little Amabilia, and once she perfected it, she created the first Outerrians. She spent years teaching them how to love and respect the land. Before she gave her body back to Outerra, she birthed a daughter to act as the priestess and to lead the people of Outerra and keep them on a steady course. Before the humans integrated to our planet, the council consulted my mother. It was her decision that brought you to us."

"Huh," I said, "That's interesting, so the goddess was a real person?"

"She was, very real."

"So, Edward said something about the possibility of us not having a daughter. What would happen to the priesthood?"

She frowned, "Well, there would be a decision to make. I'd have to keep the torch for longer than I'd like and when I was very much in age, I'd have to make a decision on who would get the torch."

"What happens if you die before I have a daughter, or a decision is made?"

"I'm not really sure," she said, "that's never happened. I guess the closest female member of my family would be chosen. That would be my younger sister, Jasper's mother."

"And then her daughter would be chosen?"

"I assume so. Like I've said, I really don't have any idea how it would play out. It all depends."

"Are you ready to pass the torch?"

"I am. I'm ready to relax with Carlisle and enjoy my golden years."

"Do you not get time to relax?"

"I do but with this job comes a lot of planning. People are always looking to me for guidance and comfort. And I have to give it to them."

"Wow."

She smiled, "I know it sounds like a tough job, but I truly do love it. I wouldn't change my occupation for anything in the world. Being a priestess is second nature to me."

I nodded, "It sounds like a lot of pressure."

"It is, but in fairness a lot of jobs hold pressure. Your job holds significant pressure."

I sighed, "That's true. But I do miss it. It kind of sucks staying at home while Edward goes to work. I'm bored."

"When are you allowed to go back to work?"

"In a week."

"That's not to long. I'm sure your patients have missed you dearly."

I smiled and looked back to Outerra. The moon was more prominent in the sky now and the suns were almost gone. It was almost nighttime.

"What happens to Outerrians when they die? Is there some sort of heaven or hell?"

"There is a place where Outerrians go for a period of time before the goddess sends their souls back to a new body."

"Oh, so like reincarnation?"

"Yes, but, before they are reincarnated, they spent time in the afterlife. I'm not really sure if it is paradise or what it is. Perhaps there is nothing. We're not sure."

"Wait, you're not sure?"

"No. It has never been said what happens after we die. All we know is that we are reincarnated."

"How do you know you're reincarnated then?"

"It's in the carvings the goddess left. But, for some reason she never said what happens before we are reincarnated. All I know is that there is about a fifty year wait before one is reincarnated."

"Huh, I wonder what happens."

She shrugged, "Unfortunately, not all mysteries have answers."

"At least there are still mysteries to be had. On earth, we left no mysteries or magic."

"Hmm, I've always wondered what earthlings Outerra," she said as she looked at me, "tell me your honest opinion."

I blushed, "What? I love Outerra."

She chuckled, "No, I mean what do you think of our religion and our traditions."

"Well, I definitely think they're strange. But, I do blame that on earth though. We never had religions or traditions. Honestly it was kind of boring."

She chuckled again, "It does sound a bit boring," she stared at me for a moment, "Do you miss it?"

"I mainly miss my parents. But, they've been dead for a while now I guess."

She stroked my hair, examining it closely, "To be honest Bella, I brought you up here because I wanted to examine a human more closely. Your hair is different. It has a different texture than mine."

"And your eyes, such an intriguing color," her thumb pulled at my cheek, so she could examine my brown eyes, "Why is it this color? All Outerrians have green eyes."

"I'm not sure. Just how humans are. We have different colored eyes."

"Hmm, I think that trait is so beautiful."

I chuckled, "Why thanks."

She leaned back against the wall, her tail lifted and falling lazily like a cat's tail.

"Esme, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why did the goddess give you tails?"

"To remind us that we are not better or different from the animals that inhabit this planet. This tail, that seems to sometimes have a mind of its own, serves as a humbling tool. Of course, most think it is nothing more than an evolutionary trait."

"Huh, that's interesting," I said, "I wonder if the hybrid children will have tails. Or if it'll be a select trait. It'll be interesting to see."

"I think the children will have it. You humans are now a part of Outerra."

"So, in your religion, is Outerra like, alive? You talk about the planet as if it's alive."

"Well, because Outerra is alive," she said, "I know it sounds silly, but, the way we look at our planet, the planet that nourishes us, and provides us with what we need, we know it is alive. It gives us everything we need."

I nodded, "In a way, would the planet be considered another god or goddess?"

She cocked her head while she thought, "Hmm, well perhaps it might be. But, all we know is what the goddess left behind. I wish I had the answers for your questions."

"Oh, it's alright Esme. I'm not upset about it. I'm a researcher, I love to know everything about everything."

"Well then you and my son make a great match because there was never a time where he wasn't asking questions."

It was now dark, and the lights in the city were beginning to turn off.

"We should get going. Edward will start to worry."

"Yes, I guess we should. It is quite the walk to his home."

I crawled onto her back and clung tightly to her as she climbed back down the tree. The walked back down the mountain was like walking down another location. It was dark, but, some of the plants were illuminating in the darkness.

"It's so beautiful." I said.

"It is," she whispered, "Try to keep your voice low. On this mountain, it is forbidden to put up borders around the trail, so there might be dangerous predators out."

"What? Really?" I whispered nervously.

"Don't worry. The predators mostly stay away from Outerrian spots. But, there's always a chance that our worlds might collide."

"Edward didn't tell me there were predators on Outerra."

"Well, we don't see casualties with the predators, but it's better to stay away from them. And if I know Edward, he's more than likely waiting at the end on the trial to walk us home. He's a worrywart."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I was tired, and frankly being carried most places was making me lazy. I couldn't wait to be able to walk places without getting exhausting.

As Esme predicted, Edward was waiting at the end of the trial. He sighed in relief when he spotted us.

"I knew you'd be here," Esme said jokingly.

"Yes, well I get worried, mother." He said as he kissed my forehead, "I hope my mother wasn't too crazy."

I laughed, "She wasn't, your mother is wonderful."

"Well, are you two hungry? I've been waiting. Dinner is my treat tonight."

"I think I might go home and spend time with your father, but you two have a wonderful evening. Be safe."

"Bye Esme."

"Bye mom," Edward turned to me after waving at her mother, "Alright, how does dinner sound?"

"Dinner sounds wonderful. I am starved."

I hope by some miracle you guys liked this chapter because I certainly didn't. Ugh, there may be a chance I delete this chapter and rewrite it.