Part 5- Welcome Home

Coco woke up to the fresh sounds of cawing birds and gently blowing trees. She absently blinked the sleep from her eyes and released a monstrous yawn. Although she felt glorious when she settled for the night the previous day, her muscles were just beginning to feel the effects of almost three hours of consecutiv movement. Her muscles were incredibly tense, and all she could think about was getting into the lagoon and glide through its cool rejuvenating water. Then after that she'd find a secluded spot to meditate, and by that time her Teacher would have returned to the camp with breakfast ready. It had become a relaxing and comforting routine that Coco looked forward to every morning. Yet as she staggered to her feet and stretched her arms high over her head, she could feel something was not the same. It was just a small prickly feeling at the back of her mind, but her Teacher taught her to always consider each small feeling before dismissing it. Coco slowly strode over to the calming lagoon she had admired her first day, and the scene also served as a tranquil backdrop to their camp. Coco could just make out a figure sitting motionlessly on the rock bordering the water.

"Teacher?" Coco questioned as she approached. "Is something the matter?"

Her Teacher was silent for a moment, and then he released a long sigh. He rose from his cross-legged position and turned to face her, his eyes bright with pride but his countenance regretful.

"No young one. Nothing is wrong. You have learned all I have to teach you, and you have learned it with patience and steadfast enthusiasm. Now, you must return to your home."

Coco couldn't withhold her surprise. "What?"

"You still have much to learn, my young bandicoot, but you are my student no longer. Now, your eyes will be your teachers, to observe the world around you. The only task I have yet to give you is to find your inner self. You are still young, and your enlightenment will take time to develop. As it does, rejoice in your surroundings and appreciate all you have."

"I'll see you again though, right?" After all of Coco's intense wisdom training, she still managed to sound like a whining child.

Her Teacher smiled slowly and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"My time here is complete Coco Bandicoot, the task I had set out to do is concluded. Return home."

Coco felt tears sting her eyes. "Where are you going?"

"I will return to where I belong." Her Teacher's face held not a trace of regret. "Just as you must."

Coco realized with a sudden shock that her Teacher had begun to disappear. His kind face and wise eyes slowly faded away, and all her pleas had somehow stuck in her throat as she watched with devastation.

"I am a spirit of this jungle, therefore I will never truly be lost to you. When you quiet your mind and reach your calm state of meditation, I will appear again. I will watch over you, young one. That I promise."

Coco sobbed loudly as her Teacher disappeared, and she was looking into empty air. Yet she could make out one final sentiment from her Teacher.

I am proud of you.

The words rung in her ears like an echo, and after the realization had sunk in Coco dropped down to her knees. She didn't collapse into tears, but she did sniff back the sobs from earlier. Although she was overcome with regret that her Teacher left her, she knew it was only the intended way. She couldn't remain there forever. He was right, she needed to return home. Coco got to her feet, and brushed away the last remnants of tears before striding purposefully toward the jungle trees. Before she entered the dense vegetation, she turned back, feeling a warm breeze fan her blond hair around her shoulders.

"Thank you." She spoke on a whisper, and then she turned and prepared the long trek home.

--

Crash lay in the shade of his favorite tree. He was simply sitting in a hunched position, quite uncomfortable, tossing a wamba fruit up in the air and then catching it with absent interest. Twenty-nine days! Twenty-nine days and twenty-eight nights Crash hadn't seen a trace of his sister. Ever since they had first found each other, Coco had never separated from his side. Now, she had been gone for almost a full month, without even telling him where she was going. Aku told her she was okay, and although Crash trusted the old spirit implicitly, it was by sheer willpower that he didn't get off his butt and comb the entire island looking for her.

Crash frowned, and then without taking so much as a bite from his most cherished food he tossed it away. He wasn't hungry, and he hadn't been for a while. He crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. He needed to get some sleep, though it was hard to come by when one was worried sick. Nonetheless he fought to get into the state of mind that used to bring him the most joy. Not so much anymore. Just as he started drifting off, he felt a brief brush of wind. He opened one eye and was shocked to find that his gaze met two identical green eyes.

"Hello big brother, you miss me?"

Crash leapt to his feet in horror, as though he had just seen a ghost instead of his little sister.

"Holy crap!"

He grasped Coco by the shoulders and shook her with a frazzled intensity.

"Don't....you….EVER…do that again." Crash's voice was filled with a mix of relief and dramatic hysteria.

Coco was smiling brightly, and when her brother finally loosened his grip Coco leapt on him, giving him the largest and warmest hug she could manage. Crash's eyes widened and his green irises shrunk in surprise. Coco drew back, and then held his hands in hers for a moment as she gazed up at him. Crash shifted uncomfortably.

"What the heck did you do up there that made you so smiley?"

Coco's smile remained on her face as she started toward the house with her brother in tow.

"You're a bit of a dope, big brother, but you're the best kind of dope."

Crash smiled awkwardly as he scratched his head with one hand. "Not sure if that's a compliment…"

As the two siblings strode back to the house, Crash found himself wondering what exactly Coco was up to in the mountains that inspired this transformation. She was absolutely beaming with excitement. Suddenly, Coco stopped abruptly, and Crash almost barreled into the back of her.

"Hey, what's the hold up?"

Coco turned around, a cold expression on her face as she stared past Crash into the trees behind him. She furrowed her brow.

"I…never mind."

Now Crash took the lead, pulling his sister along even as she remained transfixed on something behind them.

"I think your hallucinating from your steady diet of twigs and leaves Sis."

Coco snapped around to glare at him. "I didn't eat any twigs and leaves jerk face."

Crash grinned.

Ah, there's the Coco I remember.

Despite Coco's annoyance, she quickly overcame it when the house came into view. She let go of Crash's hand and darted toward their makeshift home.

"Race you Crash!"

"Tell you what, how about you race and I'll walk pleasantly behind?"

Coco didn't even turn to see if he was following or not. She vaulted over the gate and stormed into the house, all the while yelling "Aku! Aku!"

Crash felt a smile brighten his features as he pushed the gate open, but quickly felt a prickly feeling on the back of his neck. He turned around only slightly, expecting to see someone or something behind him, but there was nothing there. Crash scratched his head and shrugged, joining his family in the house and listening intently as Coco rattled off her adventure to a contented Aku Aku.