Chilren of Nature 3 Trilogy

8/6/2019 Chilren of Nature 3 Trilogy

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Earth s Children 3 TrilogyTheir world is slowly returning to the Ways it once was before the Rebel attacks that killed off theChildren of Nature. Hungry for Mother Nature s Power, they had almost succeeded in killing her children and their bonded Protects, those she would pass on to each clan while they searched for thesource, the Nullahnaco.

They lost though. For the 5 remaining Childs and their Protectors returned, and once more, the cycleof Mother Nature continued. Their Brothers and Sisters continuing on.Keru Ayla Nehele, the Nullahnaco (of all Nature), Child of Nehele Clan, giver of hope. Survivor and Reviver of their world.The Rebels were gone. Too late, did they realize that just because they were out of sight and sound,did not mean they were no more. And the one they seek once more, will suffer for it,Yet the power of Faith and Love in each other, no matter the horrors, the pains, will always live on

They sit in the cozy hut with their big blankets wrapped around them and a fire warming them fromthe cold blizzard winter outsideThey were having a sleep over with their siblings Jai and Jami of Dagodan the J Twinlets just like

Keru and Robby were forever the little ones , and with Kitchi clan and Ocoee nearby that generallybanded them from being their usual troublesome pack activities; confining them to their hut withCoban and Ella, but that never really stopped them because known as Nature Children, we were bynature curious, adventurous- and mischievous. Adado Ayule as their mother and Youngers calledthem, and of course the Nullahnaco Keru.

Robby and Keru were wrapped in the one bundle of blankets on the ground against their bed whilethe Twinlets had the other blankets around them on the opposite side of the fireKeru leans against Her Protector, Robby while they continue laughing as their Child Carers Ella andCoban come in looking suspiciously at them, making them chuckle deeper at them. They all shoutout paranoid! and point at them

Oh come on Ella, don t turn into a Kiowai Keru grimaces. Kiowai her eldest sister- Eldest and Chief Nature Child, was always so suspicious of them, then again they were the Youngest of the NatureChildren Youngers.. She was also born of Kitchi Brave Clan, a Fierce Warrior Tribe. You didn t wantKiowai angry- or her husband Tylan angry.No one liked being caught by fire, the element she belonged to.You couldn t break through it likewater, or hide from it like wind. Her Spirited Away brother, Amaroo apart from Keru had belonged toSpirit, and Keru was the onlyNature Child able to wield Nature element, though all Nature Childrenhad affinities to it. As a nature child, Nature protected them if danger was presented. A naturalinstinct to protect what belonged and what belonged to them.

And Coban not another Ocoee they all groan together at the thought he ll probably be waltzing in

any minute Jami looks expectantly to the door. If they thought Kiowai was bad, their BrotherOcoee, the bear lug grump- teddy bear of their family, was all the more so. Kiowai was a smallmouse with a whisper to Ocoee s charge- strength and bellow routine.That s what big brothers were for.

That s okay; we ll get him like last time Jai jumps up already planning with a devious smile playingon his lips, the master mind of their little family gang pack. The tricks they had played on him- andthe rest of the Youngers were always fun, particularly remembering their last game of hide andseek where they had temporarily separated as usual but never far due to Bondment sickness, and


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they hid from the Youngers while they seeked as they had from a young age. Ocoee complainedthey were the worst combination in history. Period and that Jai and Jami were impossibly themakings of their deceased troublesome brother, Amaroo himself in two bodies; easily taking over attheir young age because though he had more practice and experience having dealt with Amaroo andTala, they were never masterminds and trickeries like Jai s scheming and equally Jami s sneaky mind.

Ocoee was no match for them and their gang, but they all enjoyed it no matter how angry andserious Ocoee and the Youngers and Carers would get; kids were kids and Nature Child s wereNature Child s as the Elders would tell them.Then running through the forests whether it be their game or their instinctual natural selves, theywould suddenly appear and the chase would begin as they would scoop them up or pick them up bythe scuff depending if they used their earth elemental forms, sigh and speak got Keru otherYoungers usually Kiowai, Tylan or Ocoee himself would say before Elementaling of their elementthey belong to, away; winning.They would see each other always though; having adventure days with them or sometimes withtheir kids where the youngest of them would show them some tricks around that the parentYoungers would shake their head and frown on them but always their loving familiar intimate smiles

followed, or their hugs and kisses, even if they had fights or would lock them up for their own goodit always followed with a hug and the smile and a kiss.Our family. Our strange special and precious family.

I think we should let him soak in the loss for a little longer, if we are to be faithful to our role modelAroo-roo Jami jokes putting a pledging hand over her heartRobby beside Keru puts his arm around her and squeezes before kissing her temple lightly makingKeru smile and happily lean against him again as she watches the Twinlets and their innocence. TheTwinlets were part of a growing young familythat had been born after their arrival back to theirworld, absent of the dangers that had once plagued their homes and lives from the Rebels. WhileRobby, Keru and the other four- now three Nature Children Survivors of that perilous time, had notbeen so fortunate.Even so, after years, they were still here. Each day there were smiles, each day new life and the cyclecontinued. A world they had helped saved and were apart of.

Nah, let him off the hook for now, he s been stressed out as it is with his own twins Amaroo andLully,and Wollem, let alone Brelick and Aloiki Keru states mercifully. Once upon a time, before Keruand Robby had been born, Ocoee had solely made his job to watching and stressing over justAmaroo and his Protector, a year older than him. It had taken nearly a long 20 years for the GreatMother to give birth to another Protector, Robby, followed a year later by Keru. Then the greatRebel pillage, the near extinction of Nature Children. Now it blossomed, and poor ol Ocoee had toomany siblings let alone his own kids, to grumble worry and watch over. He still enjoyed it thoughRobby adds to the discussion. Its winter though so the games on hold till it warms up at least- truce

for now he states and once again Keru looks to her protector who was just as cunning andmischievous as the rest of them unlike her other memories of him when he was stressed, overprotective and possessive and always worried I was not he tells her defensively through the bondWere too she retorts smiling and you know it. You were a grouch . Like all protectors of that era

were, whereas now, like the Twinlets, Jai s protector Jami was just another play mate. Robby hadbeen Keru s play mate and best friend once too, always playing around with her, go on adventuresbefore the attacks. Like the other three Youngers, they had had too many times to count where their


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lives had nearly be forfeited. As a protector, to have you Child in that situation, was like a motherand her new born. Unacceptable. It had scarred them; it wasn t something you got over with a flickof a wrist. After all they were protectors, solely of their other souls, their other halves. They werealso their mates though. And like time, they slowly began to heal.In response he turns her head and heatedly kisses her lips; the twinlets too busy planning their

summer games and trickeryOnly coz you put me in a bad mood he jokes you re the one that always seemed to live in the healer rooms because you were too self-sacrificing and selfless

Okay, okay- shush she dismisses him quickly not bothered to go into the now 3 very eventful,adventurous and dangerous lives they d partially had you could have been nicer though on the busrather than creeping me the hell out of my skin Keru finishes with a statement that made him groanand roll his eyes at her while shaking his head; she would never let him forget that. As a protectionmechanism, when the Rebels had attacked and pilgrimaged, the last five surviving Childs were sentaway and for further measures of safety, their memories locked away in their minds for fear theRebels would find them. Reborn into families across the alien world. The Protectors along with theirtwo Carers, were also sent, this time to find them. Eager to make the connection to be re-bound,

Robby had found her on a school bus and kissed her, believing the physical connection would beenough. It had frightened the spirits out of her and ended up with her in hospital for running acrossthe road from him and getting hit by a car. It had taken a longer time than expected, but eventually,with the rising dangers of Rebels slowly finding the five final Children of Nature, they had re-linked,found the other Youngers and returned.Keru leans further against him, sighing. And she couldn t have been more happier or grateful herProtector had come for her

With the moon shinning bright and aluminous through their window, Keru watches it s steady rise,meeting Jacy s white friendly and always watchful face, always reminding her of Amaroo and hisprotector Tala, reminding her of the orang-utans and when they had met then shifted forms thatfirst time, all the trouble they had gotten themselves repetitively into together- in both worlds,remembering the sunrise and the black leopard Amaroo had promised her when they would return,for she had only been six years old when she and Robby had been sent away. She and the Youngersstill kept to that natural troublesome adventurousness and curiosity as was their reputation asYoungers, though never as good as Amaroo- the legendary Amaroo. Jai and Jami were coming very close though, Ocoee s almost permanent scowl as evidence; and they were only 12 and 13.Amaroo and Tala were with Mother now though, helping, nurturing and watching, getting into newunknown troubles and mischief along with their brothers and sisters before them.Keru lay against Robby s back now staring at it while he continued chatting and listening to theTwinlets and her mind, and watching the fruitnut on a stick cook as ritual in the fire on a blizzard

winter s night.Keru forgot about this though as her marks, unique to Nature Children as symbolism of theirelements and nature they belonged to, glowed. The moon seemed to grow bigger and bigger, and atthis it changed; no longer was it completely white, only the outside glowed with its beauty whilestrange yet familiar horror warnings began making themselves known and heard in her mind as Kerusaw un-faced and fuzzy shadows and running with jerky movements of panic, fear and desperation;time was running out, the dark blacks and bloody red s foreshadowed like the screaming cries of different people and creatures making her mouth taste of its salty death taste and caked in mud dry.


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These images and sounds repeated blurry and grew faster and faster in her mind; it was comingsoon, something, and it was dangerous and inevitable. Suddenly the last images as they racetogether into one it turns into someone running with blood and burns and bareness as the imagespeeds up.Keru jumps abruptly off Robby s back looking away from the window and moon but as she turns, she

finds him asleep along with Jai and Jami lying alongside each other. The fire was already out and theeven breaths heard around her and from the next door room told her they were all sleeping.Confusedly, Keru looks to the window again hesitantly but this time finding the moon no longer highin the sky, instead moving back down readying for its own slumber. Looking to Robby s watch sheseeing it was four in the morning; 5 hours later from the last time they had looked to the timemeaning she had fallen asleep like the rest of themThinking, Keru slides quietly out from under their blankets and shivers on the edge of the bed at theicy chill that touches her. With that Keru shifts finding herself a warm fur of a snow leopard cub andstretches out before wandering slowly and quietly out of the hut into the night to wait for the soonapproaching morning. The ability unique to Spirit bearer Youngers aloneShe wanders out looking around at her Nehele village that flourished like the rest in their world,

listening to the peaceful quiet that seemed to whisper eerily to her now, Keru shifts again into herfavoured small gibbon form then with her agility she jumps to one of the many trees and climbing ithigh, she then sits on one of the rooftops of the huts huddling into herself from the cold wind andwaits for the sun to greet her with its warm rays and happy face in greet

***Robby wakes slightly in the night feeling a chill race through his body and opening his eyes to thesnow leopard cub. When they had first arrived back home to Mother Nature, they had been at theages of their rebirths, 18 and 19 and progressively gotten younger until they had been six and sevenagain; like the others, the ages they had been when they had left. The elements a Younger belongedto, didn t ripen inside them until they reached at least sixteen at the youngest, so once they hadreturned as mere children again, they could no longer elemental through the land as their familycould, however Keru still had the ability to use Spirit and change shape.The snow leopard trotted quietly to the front door before disappearing with a glance to him with heremerald green eyes. Go back to sleep Keru whispers gently to him and still heavily induced, heobliges by lying back down, his eyes already closed but wondering thoughts robbed him of sleepAfter a while of quiet with no movement except the slow even breathing of his little brother andsister huddled beside each other on the warm ground beside the out fire, he sits up and a curiousface and putting a jacket on he strolls outside quietly looking for his Nature Child.Robby looks up to the roof top seeing a small brown gibbon gazing in anticipating greet for the sunthat would appear in her line of sight in half an hour s time. Keru was still though, like her thoughts,

like her small troubled body that sat hugging itself ignoring the cold wind of the frosty winter smorning. Robby didn t intrude though, just watched his little Nature Child as she watched for thesunAt moments rise, Keru moved and started singing her call then made her way to the tree after awhile of warming up and enjoying its presence.

Wake Jai and Jami up, I'm going to Bree then from there I will go to Paco and the other Youngersand meet you at Dagodan okay? she states suddenly making Robby blink in surprise but by the timehis mind could function properly to ask why she was already gone from sight


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Why, Keru? through the bond he asks while heading back into the hut.Once upon a time to Robby and the other Protector survivors, the idea of their Nature Childrentraveling alone was not even thought of, it had been inconceivable. Even when Nature Childrenwhen Wandering, it was together. Yet with the dangers gone, there was no need to be so overlyprotective.

We need to all talk. Something s going to happen she says to both him and into the others dreamsI ll see you soon okay? she smiles in his mind then continues on it s annoying not able to elemental everywhere huh? he jokes

Right now- yes she states grimly

***Jumping, Keru holts as Camira appears from elemental travel in front of her with a smile

Morning little one, how about we do this a little faster? she states and Keru gratefully nods andthey go straight to Paco. All Youngers were connection, not as sensitively as Protectors to their Child,the older Youngers would have known she was coming though.

Ocoee, Coby Keru knocks on the door while Camira goes to Tehalin for Stephan and Bree

They both sit up half expecting her but not her reason or her mood. The smile kindly and sit uprubbing their eyes morning little one they both greet as usual and Keru smiles and takes a fewhesitant steps inside the room and whispers hoping not to wake the twins up; only 5yrs old

I'm sorry to wake you up-Don t be they both interrupt

Keru smiles lightly I need to speak with you all urgently so if you could please meet me at Dagodanthat would be great. Camira has gone to Bree and Robby had the Twinlets and Kitchi, I'm going toWallemi now for Aloiki and Brelick and I ll see you there she smiles and before they speak shedisappears.

***Heading the urgency they get up immediately and get ready

I'm gonna go and get Keru and at Wallemi, I ll meet you there? Ocoee kisses his protector whonods and they both disappearOcoee arrives as Keru picks up Brelick then Aloiki into an affectionate hug kissing their noses

morning you three, thought you might like a lift Ocoee states and eyes narrow suspiciously as Keru jumps; she hadn t done that since Tsu gi Creature of the darkness 12 years agoKeru quickly smiles and nods, then sighs I never used to have to ask for a ride . She was nearlyseventeen which was when she had come into peak with her elements last time, right now whendanger was possible, she was no longer patient.Ocoee grimaces and walks over giving her a warm hug like the big brother he was not for too much

longer Keru, you come into peak in a year s time so don t worry he reminds her and again growssuspicious when he doesn t receive a canny or any reply let s go she states and as he picks upAloiki and Keru picks up Brelick, they depart and arrive with Tylan and Kiowai with Robby, Jai andJami who were still wiping their eyesOcoee watches subtly as Robby walks over and gives her a long quiet hug, just standing with herwhile the others of their family talked and greeted the morning. He looks to Kiowai meeting hersimilar gaze; watching Keru and Robby with a sinking feeling.The Nullahnaco Youngers, a rareprecious gift of hope given to them by Mother Nature when they had feared, after waiting for


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twenty years, they would not come. Throughout all the dangers, the youngest of their era had beenthe most vulnerable, always targeted.

Um Keru began looking to the ground unsure and uneasy; anticipating their reactionsThey wait patiently but Keru doesn t speak but then she looks up meeting their eyes all except Aloiki,Brelick, Noara and Kiwi then squeezing her eyes shut they all freeze as the images cross into their

minds quick and fast taking only a few seconds before disappearing and then slowly, they meetKeru s hard eyes. She half smiles and shrugs I m not very good at talking and I wasn t sure of howelse to explain watching them warily

Something s gonna happen and I don t know when or why or how, but it s coming she looks up tomeet their eyes again I thought I should let you know she tells them honestlyRobby immediately spins her around, his eyes stern and you re not holding anything against us rightKeru? he asks harshly and Keru shakes her head and breathes out. It was well known Keru Nehele,his Child, would if she thought it would help them. No. You all have a right to know this because Ialso think it s directed at usRobby s eyes remain firm I promise Keru vows earnestly with a small smile and Robby removes hishands to beside her waist

You didn t Camira subtly points to the 2 youngest pairs and Keru shakes her head no ***Separating, Robby puts warm comforting arms around her crossed ones. You re worried, heobserved solemnly. Is that why you were out there this morning he whispers in a soothing tone toher ear, making Keru lean back into him and Robby in return tightening his hold on her and thenplacing his chin on top of her head.Robby sighs, closing his eyes for a moment. He leans back, taking her hair out from her pony tail ashe felt her head becoming a little tender.

it s called a hair ache she edits him and he smirks.yeah, okay he replies, putting the headache prone blue elastic band around his wristbefore leaning

his head down. He nuzzles her neck, breathing her in. Come on, Kiowai has ordered us all to Kitchiclan by dusk. We ll head home, grab some stuff. Kiowai said she would grab us in the afternoon, tillthen we ll just relax. Okay?

Okay she replied, pecking his cheek.

***In late Afternoon, Keru went for a walk with Jai and Jami nearby in the edge of the forest slowly,around the edge of Kitchi Clan. Keru kicks absent mindedly a rick on the ground while they strollaimlessly

Keru, why are you sad?

She looks up with a strange expression then back down I feel funny something s she fadesunsure of how to explain her expectant confused feeling of anticipation from the warnings it sstrange she manages as they continued walking

***Walking through the full moon light purposelessly while brushing past the trees and past thecreatures of the night that flourished around them, the Twinlets close nearby wandering whensuddenly the elementals react almost violently, circling forcefully into them but zooming into Keru.


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They all throw their hands up from the sudden strong tornado force, seeing the wind whip closerinto Keru; separating her from the others who were all shouting with surprise.Soon she was captured in an elemental ball of water, wind, earth and a glow twirling around her andpushing in on her and down forcing her to her knees like tight unbreakable chains trapped herpainfully and she cries out with it and the fear.

Jai had Jami protectively under him holding her to the ground to prevent her from being thrown off by the strong hurricane force that overwhelmed them all whipping harshly at them trying to pushthem away, all while they could only glimpse at Keru as she cries out with the terror and painbuckling to the ground through the aluminous elements and glowing and the wind that lashed atthem visibly as it let off and continued to build its energy

Keru Jami shouts out but it is barely audible over the strong overpowering thrashes of theelements, eyes squinted shut. Jai struggled to keep hold of her and himself to the ground grittingtheir teeth with determination pinning them both as the storm impossibly grewThe pressure suffocated and pressed on her; compelling her elemental states as her marks, theYoungers and the Totems all shine glaringly in response to Keru the Nullahnaco in distress and thethen followed by her vinal pattern making her scream agonized; too young to wield such power all

while the elemental prison grew with intensity and closer and closer pushing with pressure, crushinghard into her to the ground covering her crying face with her two hands with the vinal marks nowcovering her whole body.One her knees and bowing with her head in hands with the force of gravity and the elements vigorwhile glowing gloriously with a beaming light shooting up in the air with a scream of Keru s own andthe twinlets nearby; making her disappear into the bright ominous bright gleaming light, withscreams echoing, growing distant and indecisive until the light no longer exists, and Keru, is no more.

Keru feels the elementals fade and lift the harsh suffocating pressure from her, Keru listens to thecalming breaths and her slowing heart beat in her chest then around her. It was quiet with the soundof no animals or the wind, of Jai and Jami and the forest. Hesitantly opening her eyes, she smellsalien.Her dream warning invades her mind harshly then though but this time as it speeds up at the end of the screaming, thrashing, desperation and running, the person grows closer before falling injuredand terrified into the dark unknown. The person turns and shrieks in a hollow raw terror, eyes of emerald green, skin though crusted with blood it was golden brown like her hair only lighter. It washerLooking up from her crouched panting position she looks inquiring to a lamp post on the edge of astreet that she now sat in the middle of, then beside the lamp post were houses, not huts or thehammocks that she remembered, not the clan villages.Disorientated and terrified in the unknown place of a suburban area, Keru quickly searches for

familiarity with wide frightened eyes feeling the strong Bondment sickness wrack her insides withknowing. She calls out for Robby while her wide anxious panicky eyes seeking desperately forfamiliarity Robby! she calls then picking herself up she runsKeru looks to the sky; the only familiar thing to her now but even then it was different. She could seeno stars and no moon; instead it was covered over with clouds of a brewing storm and tinted anorange colour from the steel works that worked 24 hours a day.Keru then realizes this was her old world, the world of her second cruel upbringing with painfulmemories she had been able to forget about until now.


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Running blind, she suddenly falls over as she runs into a couple of teenagers. She shakes her headfrom the fall and looks up with fear alert in her eyes skittishly but she falters as she meets her gazewith a familiar dark brown curly boy with blue pure eyes

Ayla? he asks bewildered frozen in placeAyla. That was her name when she had been reborn in the sister world, with her two younger

brothers, her mother and her dog. Keru s mind races and fatigue takes over as her adrenalin leavesher empty and worn out Tyson? she replies wearily to her youngest little now- big brother as hisface grows blurry and her mind fuzzes and recognizing the feeling she welcomes it from over thepain and fear and Bondment sickness; dropping not too far to the ground.Tyson picks his sister up numbly and dazed who looked the same to him as 12 years ago the last timehe saw her when he was only 5, then she had disappeared into a dream after they got a phone callsaying she had died. His 2 friends Georgia and Nate walked home with him to his brother Dylan shouse and his wife Rachel; both 26 and Teddy who was unusually old; deaf, blind, toothless andincoherent but the only thing left of their sister, and finally his niece Lully who was only 3 now butinstead of calling him uncle, he called her his big brother. Their mother had left them then shortlydied by the time Tyson was in year 8, but his older brother Dylan and wife, Rachel were already

married by then and they had both insisted ever since Dylan moved out a year before for him to staywith him

Ah, Dylan, we re- er- back he states hesitantly as he walks through the doors with his collapsedyoung old sister in his armsDylan comes around and drops his coffee and favourite mug to the ground at her sight. Tysonwinces.Grimacing, Tyson starts. She just ran into me at the shops and collapsed he explains to his gapingbrotherTyson continues in with the help of Nate and they put her onto the couch. Tyson feels protective of her suddenly as Nate stares at her longer than liked.

Nate he warns and Nate shakes his head from his goggling at his sister and steps back, his eyesstill on the couch though making Tyson step in front of his view instinctly.

Okay you two, would you like a lift? Dylan asks wanting them gone. They smile it s alright Mr.Wattle, we ll see ya later Ty they wave and leaveDylan turns to Tyson who shrugs, than they turn to their out cold sister who hadn t aged a year

Is it me, or is she younger than you remember her? Tyson asks. She had been nearly eighteenwhen she had disappeared.

Younger. Definitely Dylan nodsThey stare at her for a long moment, then Rachel comes down the stairs and gasps at their sister,looking to a framed picture of them all at the beach together taken 12 years ago and yet she lookedthe same

Dylan goes to her and gives her a reassuring hug while Tyson grimaces I just found her. It sdefinitely her though he statesDylan sighs and picks her up I don t want her down her by herself and takes her to their guestroom beside Tyson and Dylan/Rachel s room with an on suite and safety.

I ll stay in her room, you two can go to bed Tyson states though knowing Dylan would hardly besleeping, he nods and Tyson lies beside her on the side of the door; knowing his sister s reactionsand instincts; anticipating them


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***Jami whimpers as the event ceases and aftershock take control, she rolls into his and her Child, Jaisits up pulling her with him looking dazedly to where Keru was no longer, the only evidence of herexistence being the marks where the elements had circled into the ground and where it was bothwet, windblown and burnt with vines wielded in the area in a subtle circle where she once was only

second before.The Youngers then appear in the scene looking to them all immediately reaching Jai and Jami helpingthem up then following their gaze to the only evidence left.

What they startedShe said she felt something funny was gonna happen Jai dazedly speaksShe got a feeling Jami adds numblyThen this tornado wrapped around her like the elemental glow but everything. Then all the marks

on her and us started glowing and the storm kept growing andShe was screaming and it tied her down and thenKeru disappeared they both finish while the Youngers follow on in their mindsBut where did she go! Robby asks urgently pacing

Robby! she cries out Robby! he pauses hearing it and looks searchingly around. She was in themiddle of a black road and a single orange light shone, a lamp

A lamp? the others ask then realization dawns and they all gasp. To their surprise, Kiowai takes off into elementals away from them and Tylan Kiowai! he calls outraged and surprised, but she wasgone from his grasp. He presses his hands to his temple pained from her and the sudden BondmentpullingRobby transfixed in Keru s mind still; unable to break free because the Bondment sickness madethem cling with survival instincts togetherA dream of the same warnings flicked through his mind; the inevitability and closeness, thedesperation and fear and screaming, then a single face comes into his mind as Keru turns and runsfalling with a cryThen Keru abruptly stands and runs through the night unknown; along, frightened and unable tocontact him and the others Keru! He calls desperately to assure her but she doesn t hear. Shecouldn t feel him at all. They were so far apart and alone and frightenedSuddenly she runs into a familiar face Ayla? Tyson? then she collapses as does Robby intonothingness of pain, confusion and distress; the Bondment sickness pulling at them.

Robby! Tylan catches him and Robby feels his hand on his forehead

***

Kiowai runs fast and obliviously through the forest to eventually find herself at her village s gates.

Not stopping she heads straight for her hut where her son Obey was looking after his little sisterRaiya. She pauses before taking her small little daughter into her safe arms with Obey beside her

What s wrong? he asks putting a hand onto her shoulder. Fresh hot tears travel down her eyesagain, then holding little Raiya close asleep Keru s gone burying her face in her daughter s wavylight brown hair she s gone again she mumbles, envisioning Keru trapped in the elemental schained to the ground, her head arching up with a cry of pain then curled into her hands as shedisappears, to the other world, alone with no protector no Youngers no Carers no family, vulnerable,lost, defenseless with no abilities. Her little precious sister, who had saved her from the Rebels when


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they had both been caught and locked into a scientific laboratory, who had helped her find herProtector and husband Tylan, linked them, taken a bullet for her. Her sister she had promised at sixyears old when the rebels had finally attacked the Nehele village all those decades ago that shewould come for her, would always protect her. After all the battles she had fought to survive, to helpthem all survive through the years and dangers. And now she was gone from all of their reach. Their

hope, was out of all of their reaches.

***Carrying Robby still unconscious, Tylan enters Kitchi clan anxiously then slower, to his hut to findKiowai curled on the lounge with their young daughter Raiya only 8 with her wavy hair sorrowfullyreminding him of Keru; of that little tiny ray of hope that was born after 20 years of waiting, longingand fear that she would not come, and now she was taken from them all and Robby. Robby who layunconscious in his arms, and his distraught Nature Child who lay on the lounge clinging to herdaughter with Obey eyeing them with concern.Tylan meets his eyes gloomily Come on then Obey, I d think Takonem and my granddaughter Erawill be wanting you back around now he smiles to his son who returns it easily do you want some

help? he asks eyeing Robby then Kiowai No, it should be fine, you go home and get some sleep hetells himAfter a moment he stands Keru s gone? he asks with a sad expectant tone. Obey and Robby hadbeen born months apart, and a year later Keru. With low births at the time, the three had been closefriends. Tylan looks down trying to contain the sudden emotion he felt rile up in him. Taking amoment to compose himself he replies Yes, she s gone

Is there any way you can get her back? Obey asks with an urgency plead, his eyes pleading withhope and desperation.Because she had brought hope to their lands as well. A hope they hadn t known they had needed.And then again and again after that.Tylan looks down again, his eyes wet with tears and shakes his head slightly biting his lips withdoubtfulness and uncertainty I don t know he whispers, his eyes close in anguish I really don tknow looking to Robby remembering them as babies, remembering his first year alone searchingfor her like no other Protector at such an age, seeing him babble explaining something to them whilehe pressed his little hands and body to the totem stones, seeing him hold baby Keru and sneeze atthe same time, seeing him point to her and say found her ; his one of first words; first being hername. Tylan couldn t fathom seeing Robby when he would wake, to see his eyes, to share histortured Bondment sick mind and broken heart.Tylan lays Robby onto one of their many beds, hearing him mumble restlessly as he lies him downand puts the blanket gently onto him. Watching Robby, he seemed like the small young child againwith his familiar frown he carried for his first year, seeing him asleep lying unconscious in this room

again.Tylan then moves back downstairs to his sleeping Nature Child and daughter, picking Raiya s littlebody up first and into her small cozy room and bed, watching as she curled and sucked her thumbstill with a similar frown on her face to the rest of them which Tylan smoothens out with a brush of his fingers, then kissing her forehead and walking back down the corridor, he moves finally toKiowai, her stress and anxiety radiating from her almost. Tylan sits beside her and kisses her cheekwhile brushing her hair back and then taking her hand in his he lies down beside her on the loungefacing her and falling deep into sleep


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***Keru wakes hearing a hushing soothing voice, then she realized it was because she was crying; herheart felt as though it was slowly dying as it burnt through her painfully from the Bondment sicknesslike her mind. She was tossing and turning with the pain and steady hands were on both side of her

holding her in place sshh the voice says again and slowly she opens her eyes to the blue eyed,dark haired boy Tyson. She gulps stifling her vocalizations then with a distraught hiccup.Tyson s hands only loosen like his face

Ah Ayla? What s happening? Tyson asks; he was always an outspoken child, always askingquestions like she why are you the same as I remember you from the fire? memory reminds her of that event and Keru frowns Ayla, Ayla that was my name here; Ayla she recognizes then

Do you know where Robby is? she asks in a whisper of a voice. Tyson s face fills with confusionagain Robby? he was only 5. Tylan had been only five the last time she had seen him.

The boy, the one I stayed with she states with a slow memory trying to remember all those yearsago.Dylan then appears as he knocks on the door making her jump and he eyes his sister with concernand an affectionate smile before walking and sitting on the edge of the bed I remember Robby, is

that who you ve been with?Keru nods rocking don you know where he is? she asks again looking like the vulnerable child shefelt like. Dylan and Tyson look to each other grimacing sympathetically before returning gazes to her

Ayla why haven t you aged? they ask quieter and she eyes themIf I explain you will think I'm crazy. It is a very long story crossing 3life cycles their eyes remain the

same but through her words they grew some recognition does it have something to do with youtattoo mark? Tyson asks and Keru gasps moving her hands to her forehead oh shoot, I haven t gotcover up she states a little franticDylan puts a hand to her knee and she reflexively jerks it s okay, Rachel has some he said with asmile

You re married?Yup he smiles smug almost then Tyson eyes her and rolls his eyes making her smile

She sighs it might be easier if you ask the questions and I ll answer best I can she states waryDoes it have to do with the fire too? Tyler adds quickly. She smiles at him, remembering his bubbly

baby face. As the Nullahnaco, she belonged to all nature, including fire. When their house hadcaught alight when the Rebels had found where she had lived at the time, Keru had gotten herbrothers and cat out of the house unscathed because she had been able to repel the fire- for aperiod of time. Being so young, she hadn t been able to control fire and she had gotten burned fromit as well. Her brother had seen it though and they had promised to keep the secret. They had, andthey would now she decided.Keru nodded in response

Why haven t you aged? Dylan asked first.She puffs out and lets out a small nervous laugh this is a big one she states they remain firm

Okay, remember I said 3 life cycles? This is my 3 rd, my second was with you when we were youngerand the fire and my first was in a completely different place altogether with Robby and my siblingsand Carers and clans she starts and they are gaping at her. Staying on topic I am what s called aNature Child, Robby is my Protector that I am bonded with and Ella and Coban are my Carers, mysiblings are like me also like me except I am what is called a Nullahnaco because I belong to all of nature, meaning when I come of age, wind, fire, water, spirit and earth elementals are with meunlike the others whom belong to one or two elementals.


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She lets them take this in and remind them of the fire and her glow that s called the elemental glowand when the fire fell onto us and didn t hurt us that was the first fire elemental she explains andwaits for them before continuing

my first cycle, I was born and lived until I was 6 but an evil came upon us and the Nature Childswere sent here for protection where they were separated from their Protectors and Carers and

Siblings for precautions until they would be found again, that was my 2nd

cycle as I was reborn herebut not genetically and stayed until I was 18. Afterwards we seeked each other out until we found away home and stopped the evil, then during 2 years, Robby and I began growing younger and afteranother event we turned back to our true age of 6. 10 years later where we are now, yesterday I wastaken from my home and my protector and put here. It is by coincidence that I ran into Tyson fromthe threatThe boys take a while to absorb and comprehend this so your 16 now then Tyson states finallythen smiles I'm older than my big sister he states smugly and she smiles ah, but in a way, I wouldbe more than 30 by now if I had remained on my 1 st cycle she states

And you don t know where Robby is now? Dylan asks concernedKeru begins rocking again with pain in her face showing, her eyes closed he s not here, he is home

with my clan and family and I am alone she tells himYou aren t alone, you may be different by blood but you are still our sister Dylan states truthfullyIt is not safe. I am a threat. She states to him matter of fact well considering you are on 16 and

without your protector, you are in our care for now until we can sort this out and get you homeDylan tells her with an authority that made her look to him curiously. Don t give me that look Ayla,you listen to me. I don t care what you say, you re staying here and listening to me he tells hersternly

You said bonded what does that mean? Tyson asksProtector and Child are bonded through the heart the mind and the soul. We are a part of each

other, can feel each other and talk through the connection in our minds. There is a thing calledBondment sickness. When we are separated, we grow ill from it. The longer the distance, the moredangerous it gets. It is as though you are a soul in two bodies, once you are separated you arebeginning to split. The connection seeks each other out and we grow more and more vulnerablewith it she shakes her head distressed and agonized he is so far away I cannot connect with him, Icannot feel anything but pain and anguish and the growing sickness. We feel each other s painthough; it grows as it is the only way to connect us together through desperation. If he is injured, Ibare his marks, if I am hurt, if I am injured or sleep, he bares the same fate she meets their horroreyes if I don t not reconnect with him again and remove this Bondment sickness we will cease it isthat bad. It is killing us she tells them

You are going to stay here Ayla. Robby and your Siblings won t let that happen, they will find you.Until then we need to keep you safe. You will do as I say, do you understand? Dylan asks her

fiercelyDo you have another name to Ayla? Tyson asksKeru, Keru Nehele, Nature Child of Robby she whispers before she suddenly faintsDoes that mean she fainted, or Robby? Tyson asks Dylan who glares at his little brother

***After breakfast and still nothing while not letting Kiowai out of his hold, they hesitantly move up thestairs to where Robby slept quietly. Opening the door though, they find him no longer asleep and no


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longer there Robby? Tylan calls out hastily moving further into the room Robby he calls out forhim searching through the bonds finding nothing, alarmed he looks to his Nature Child who warilyreturns his panicked gaze and they rush out taking Raiya with them and Elementaling to Nehele Clanto find him not returned to his home clan either and no one to have seen him

Is Robby with you, have you seen him? they both urgently ask the other Nature Youngers who jolt

up in hysterical panic and moving their children to Kitchi, they frantically search for the one youngmiracle Protector of theirs, unable to deal with the loss of both a Nature Child and a Protector. Noone could find him though despite their desperate pain filled cries of his name that filled the air andearth and water around them, through the trees and grasses, through the villages, people andanimals

***Robby wakes in such pain he thought was not possible to be alive while the only word remainedimprinted to his mind heart soul and tongue begged and pleaded and cried out desperately for theone that could put them all at rest. Waking with fierce determination through both of their pain,Robby s face held only its hunt for her, his search for her. Quietly, he runs out of the Kitchi clan and

does not stop as he travels to each village, each stream, tree, cliff and mountain searching for Keruin any way possible to somehow find her and bring her back to him. That is all that mattered. Not histhirst or hunger and not his need for sleep and rest, nothing stopped him for the 3 days that he ranwith the speed and stealth of any protector and searched; nothing contenting him until he foundsome way of returning her to him, back to her rightful place beside him no matter the cost.On the fourth day, he returned to the totem sacred place where he was drawn like the other placesand weeping, he listened and prayed and begged through their connection and to their mothernature for this was wrong and unnatural; Child and Protector were not meant to be separated so. ***Searching relentlessly with such raw fear that ate at them all, fear of what had become and whatwas becoming of the precious and miracle Child and Protector they do not breathe and their heartsdo not restart as they find Robby where they had once found him on his first year. At the totems hehad his face to the ancient scripture totem listening to it, his mind held nothing, spoke nothing, feltnothing that they could cohere. It was as though he was the babbling baby child again that spoke anunknown language that no one understood but his partner who was lost from them. Taken fromthem leaving a whole in their hearts, knowing only that she was in the other world they could notreach, not knowing what was happening to her, not able to feel her or protect her or secure her withthem, and it was the hardest off all things to accept, that such a terrible thing could occur; that aprecious Nature Child Younger- their little one, would be taken from her home, family and mostimportantly her protector. It was worse than losing their brothers and sisters to the rebels or any

when they perished because they knew they had returned to their Mother, they knew where theywere but for Keru, sweet, little, precious Keru was lost, utterly and completely alone and separatedfrom them all.Just then, Robby s marks glow followed by the totems then followed by theirs; flashing inrecognition and they alertly watch. Robby begins talking in the ancient tongue to Keru; his longing,his sorrow, his pain and his irrevocable need for her by his side; to protect her, to love her, to keepher safe and secure by him and to end the bonding sickness that threatened to destroy them


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Kiowai steps in front of them letting go of Tylan battling tears and moves to him slowly at the totemrock

All will be well little one, we will have her back again she whispers only to him as she then fold himsecurely into her motherly arms keeping him close to her eyes closed with her face pressed into hischeek and sharing his pain, Kiowai eases it from him. Slowly then, the marks fade and Robby s hands

accept her support as they lift up and wrap around hers that were tight on himKiowai begins singing softly and gentle into the wind, its affect soothing on them all as the treesbegin swaying in rhythm and the clouds thin out with its calming affect like the earth. It was theancient song they had learnt as youngen and Camira joins in then melding her voice to the tunes andsoft lulling that calmed the seas and the rivers and the waterholes. It was of hope and their deepconnections to one another and the earth that the trees with flow with the life of the sea, as eachwave travels like the wind and a soft flame, like the rain that gives us life, as our bare feet walk onthe rich soil. We breath, we cry, we weep, bring up hope that we stay and continue and grow, bringus hope the land continue like the endless waves of the sea, like the endless strand of the wind, likethe always falling rain and the rejuvenating flame with the earth and nature apart of all we sangin hope, with sorrow, with pain of our little sister s takings from us as the gentle precious seed of

life is blown from us through the wind to a desolate place out of our reach with no rain, no sun, no air and no love They sang of hope and one day it shall be returned to us, with the rain and sun, with the air and thelove, and once again the seed with be nurtured At the end of their song, Kiowai picks up Robby whom they had put to sleep and as Tylan took himinto his arms once again, they all silently travel back.

***Tyson to school, Rachel to work and Dylan babysitting, Keru stays in her room where he had lockedher in while he had need to go to the shops. Keru trembling from the Bondment she fearfully sits atthe door with her ears on it listening skittishly, knowing her being here in this old world was set up.It knew she had been separated from the others and whether it was for her or for her family athome she did not know, the others had said she would be the target for being the Nullahnacothough and for Robby, she would not let them take her until she saw him again nor would they letthem touch him. Somehow she had to get home, to Robby, to her family, to her clan where shebelonged. Closing her eyes, Keru travels through her memories once again ofRobby with his armaround her tight and protective beside her, his smile and his fierce eyes, then taking a deep breathshe opens her eyes and focuses for the danger she knew followed her; her body could feel it.Keru s heart stops as she hears the door creek open then two slow quiet and confident steps intothe house. It was not Dylan she knew but Keru remained frozen listening with terror in her. Sheneeded Robby so badly, she was so alone, so utterly alone with no elementals, no Protector, no

family, no familiarity. She was dead.

***Robby s eyes un-focus at the words she is dead that echoes into his mind and he stands facing theground, then his Protector marks shine as he hears a door creek open from behind an upstairs doorand the confident quiet footsteps that walk in and analyse before they make their way up the stairs.Keru s frightened breathing was faster than her heart, her body trembling viciously she steps backfrom the door and looks desperately around. There was nowhere to hide or escape though, only the


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locked door in front of her and standing fisted, terrified and determined she waits as the footstepsstop like the shadow in front of her locked door then shake the door handle. Silence greets thembefore the door is suddenly kicked open and simultaneously a dart is shot from the masked manwith a bag in his arms at her making her instantly drop to the groundRobby drops simultaneously with her feeling the dart prickle his neck and the weakening substance

enter through his trembling body.

***Dylan arrives home to find his front door open and races inside Ayla! he calls desperately andseeing the house and shoe marks heading upstairs where the walls were menacingly torn with aknife up them, he runs up the stairs to see wood debris shattered around her room and her doorkicked from the outside and lay broken on the ground inside her room. Beside her bed the blanketshad been pulled down as he presumed she had fallen. Ayla! he calls again with fear, then calls thepolice, Rachel and picks up Tyson.

***

It is dark now and Keru looks around her; defensive, tense and skittish. Her breathing was coming inpanicked pants and her eyes shot edgily around her expecting an attack. Her body naturallytrembled now with equal pain and fear from her unknown threat who took her here and from theBondment sickness that ached through her. She could not remain still though, her body would notallow it as it grew hysterical from her long separation from her Protector completely cut off fromhim all except for the reminding Bondment sickness that told her none other than that she neededher protector and that they were bonded. Nothing else but the pain she knew they both felt growand build inside them as the hours past them. Her mind continued to seek out Robby s from instinct;calling him to her desperate for him.Keru unthinkably suddenly darts off running away through the forest needing to escape, needing tofind Robby but knowing he was nowhere near or beside her like her mind alluded itself to. Tearsstreaked her face as she ran but hearing pursuing steps she turns suddenly to face it. Suddenly a netenvelops her knocking her to the ground with harsh impact while her mind remains dazed at thehorrible familiarity. Harsh hands grip her up from the ground making her meet green icy eyes of hatred while capturing her eyes into Dr Karigan s before a needle is plunged into her throat makingher grunt at the pain it brings.Dr. Karigan had been one of the searching rebels of the sister world who had found her and Kiowai,then taken them from family, told them they were dead while they had conducted experiments onthem.She had thought like all of their world, the Rebels were all gone now after the Great Tsu gi of Darkness had been defeated and they had once more, returned to the Great Mother into their true

forms of animals. Apparently, that wasn t the case.As the anesthetic travels through her body, Keru holds herself stiff and glaring into his eyes withdisbelief and determination before her body uncontrollably slumps and drops as Dr K throws her tothe ground with his ruthful smile of victory playing across him

Keru wakes with Dr K crouched in front of her strapped body Good morning Keru Ayla, how nice tosee you again he states with his menacing eyes. He had been her doctor, had hypnotized her andKiowai, taking their wills and freedom from them, nearly killing them.


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I am flattered by your words sir but I do not reciprocate them at all. She tells him flatly andtruthful, her voice polite and formal, just as they had been forced to do at the labs, in fear he wouldharm them worse. Just like she feared now.He smiles only wider do you know where you are Nullahnaco? he asks. Keru watches him whileshe quickly orientates herself around the area and gasps remembering this was the first time she

had been taken by rebels; from school and into this house where the machine her breathing grewmore pronounced and she immediately began struggling glaring feverishly with hatred at the manwho only smiled in front of her. The machine that Rebels had created to drain the elemental powersof Youngers in their world, killing them off down to only five Youngers, the machine, they hadstrapped her to and nearly killed her withThe machine that had taken Amaroo s life.

Before you managed to destroy Felix and our clan, myself and others were sent back in order torecover some tools of ours. Felix had been the Rebel leader before he had been freed back to theGreat Mother.He continued. When we reported back only a few months ago we were quite upset that you haddestroyed out plans

I am not yet of age she and her Bondment sickness offers. If she wasn t of age, they could get thepower from her, or RobbyThey all merely laugh at her That does not matter my Nullahnaco, not at all Dr Karigan caressesher face making her growl and rip her face away

But Tsu gi no longer reins you! she screams with no control only the need to escape the machineshe was tied to. No elementals and no protector could save her though

Yes we recovered our master s destruction where it were once of decay now nothing but smellingof the fresh putrid stench of your touch Nullahnaco he growlsIn a softer voice she tries, we can free you though, like Felix and- Dr Karigan slaps her hard makingher cheek bruise and where his metal rings had grazed, they left scratches on her- and RobbyShe screams in rage at him let me go! she cries. The Bondment sickness desperation reaching outonce again making her shakeDr Karigan stands and turns to the machine switches where the others also stood watching withdeath in their eyesKeru hears the machine start at the touch of their fingers to the buttons and suddenly, she growscalm no longer moving and struggling.Her heart rate slows like her breathing and her eyes blink easily as if she were merely sitting on theground beside Kiowai in Canada with her Siblings when they had gone to find their final siblingCamira. It was as if she were sitting around the fire again, as if she could hear wolf howl in thedistance like before. Closer, the chats and soft laughs of Amaroo and Ocoee while seeing Robby sprotective eyes watching her casually, glistening in the shine from the steady warm flames.

In her mind, Keru is merely watching the flames now. She is alone with it and the fire is dancinggently with its intricate red and orange with white. It is warm and cozy while Keru simply sits withher hands beside her watching it curiously and easily. She takes a deep soothing breath and closesher eyes as the warm engulfs her keeping her close, tortured screaming curdles could be heardaround her nowKeru opens her eyes meeting Dr Karigan s who was obviously not enjoying her calmness. He liked tosee the pain and fear, the struggle he caused.


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Doctor Karigan s smile still remained knowing that he brought death with him to her though. To herand Robby. Meeting his eyes evenly she then simply loosens her whole body, feeling her limps andfingers, her chest and lungs relax as she closes her eyes once again and leans her head back againstthe machine that itched for her death as it began draining her.It didn t take very long, as she watched the fire it began to soften and slow, it began to shrink slowly

until she was huddled into herself arms around her legs and rocking with cold, feeling her face nolonger with colour as it too, was drained away from her. The fire growing smaller and smaller as shewatched, but she could no longer bare to watch it, no longer bare to think of the wolf and Canada,the night sky and northern lights, the laughter. She was too cold nowShe feels hands wrap around her shoulders then travel down to around her legs holding her close.Robby s face tucked into her neck from behind and he kept her in a protective warm embrace whilethe fire continued to dwindle and dwindle until it was no longer warm ash that glowed with theamber shades left behind while they listened to the multiple screams, cries and shrieks of the dying

***Robby kneeled down out of breath in the early morning in Kitchi clan, panting as if no air could reach

his lungs. He was against the bed with one hand on it to lift him while the other was on the groundpreventing him from falling overTylan and Kiowai were suddenly there with arms around him, followed by Ocoee and Camira.Their voices were echoes Robby it fades Robby Open your eyes slowly he manages tocomply only partly as he continued to slowly open and close them growing cold and incoherent,feeling his body drain into nothing.The other faces of his siblings were there now also he noticed but only one he seeked and called

Keru he mumblesHe was falling limb and his body trembled with the cold and of Keru. Eyes closing Robby, open youreyes! Tylan commands, he doesn t comply though feeling his body relax in his and Kiowai s arms,listening to his slowing heart and breath as they even out quietly she s going he speaksThe others shook their heads watching Robby disappear from them

What is happening to him? Jai and Jami ask crying. Ocoee and Coby were already preoccupied withAloiki and Brelick who were struggling in their arms crying to grab the Twinlets also. Camy andStephan did

Robby s not feeling very wellMake him better then! Get a healer! they scream at him

They patiently shake their heads at them only Keru can heal him he tells them Keru is very sicktoo though. The bad people that took her are hurting her too much Stephan tells them through anemotion voice

They re rebels. Kiowai suddenly realizes aloud. They all stare at her they can t be Kiowai, Keru-

They are Rebels. They are draining her. She shouts louder in a furious voice how-She shakes her head at them They are rebels meeting their eyes they have more than onemachine that drains and not all returned here. Including Dr Karigan she tells them puttingeverything togetherRobby drops then Robby! Robby! they shout at to him

***Robby! Robby! Keru lifts her head up still feeling Robby s arms around her, cold also.


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Keru turns on him, his eyes remaining closed Go back! she shouts to him with the energy thatremained in her Go back Robby! she cries with tears in her eyes.She lifts his face up and harshly forces her lips onto his with desperation Wake up and Go Back!she tells him don t die, don t die, don t die. Please don t die she chantsShe suddenly screams and grabs her chest as if something stabbed her, dropping to the ground

wincing Robby! Go! Please! she tells him looking to him. His eyes open and simultaneously, hedisappears and she screams with the pain in her chest, finding herself still strapped to the machinethat was no longer on and a needle pulled out after being plunged into her chestHer eyes were dazed like her body. Unable to focus herself, someone takes the restrains off and liftsher up then in the same movement throws her into a metal wall and she collapses to the ground.This time she knew Robby would not feel it because she made sure of it. He would not die becauseof her.

***Robby opens his eyes again blinking profusively on the bed beside Kiowai Kiowai he whispers andshe hugs him fiercely They are Rebels and Dr Karigan he confirms her and she nods then he adds

and I cannot find her. Not even the Bondment sickness lures me he weeps and Kiowai stunnedholds him all the more tighter crying and mourning with him

I will not leave you. Wait for me Robby hears and he sobs louder and harder at his Nature Childsvoice he yearned to hear beside him. His heart wrenched it seemed into two.

***My protector, my Robby Keru sobs hard feeling the broken bones of her sides, her head thumping

hard, feeling her and her protectors pain. She dreamed of only him, for the one day they wouldreturn to be together once again. And they would. With all their heart and soul they would

Robby! she calls as soon as she is able to move her lips, her body still stiff and paralyzed like hereyes as she lay strapped and in a bagThey stop and she cringes away from the light she had grown unaccustomed to then to the handthat moved towards her; sealing her mouth shut before lifting her up once again

Keru I'm here, I'm here she replies trying to calm her protector s immense pain she had created in him

Keru sobs I'm here bound and strapped and gagged, I'm here.Keru is put to the ground then and she readies herself for the light again but finds it is dusk. Lookingaround, they are in a circle around her. Keru can t move though, still so weak and pained. The rebelsheld and spoke the ancient language, then the forced elementals swamped once again; forced intotheir bidding which she promised she would free. Chains strapped her suddenly down and she criesout in the gag then further as her marks are forced to glow then her vinal glow.

It was the ritual of seizing and it was only strong enough to force the Nullahnaco because they wouldneed all elementals for it and they had her elementals in control after draining her and Robby butbecause she was underage she could not fight back. This prison was a trap, a curse andindestructible. They had the full advantage and she had none like her siblings.As the prison cell envelops stronger and stronger, applying pressure into her the glow begins againand they once again leave.Simultaneously they arrive to their new destination, yet she is still in the prison; still chaining herdown and circling her with her marks still glowing in their control and her nose bleeding


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Dr Karigan walks to her smiling then forcing her eyes to him, You are no longer in controlNullahnaco he tells her then with his permission the elementals diminish away and Keru shakingwith fatigue collapses to the ground energy drained still remaining on the verge of the danger. Bykeeping her so low, they had optimum control over her and from whatever else they had done toher; able to control her elementals, her state and her marks after being able to take her from Robby

and capture then contain her fully.Keru s heart jumps as she realizes where they were; back home. Finally. Her mind travelled throughthe situations though because it didn t make sense to her.They separated her from the others when she was unable to use her elementals, they must haveallowed her out of the elemental chamber she figured, or they didn t have as much control on her asthey did now. The needles maybe? They drain her and Robby nearly completely to death thenanother needle, and now they were back where they could completely control the elementals, her apparently, and kept her well drained and energy drained. It didn t make any sense to herThey had wanted to get her separated to get more control of her after taking her abilities? Whatwere they planning to do now that they were back and presumably succeeded.Then Keru remembered her warnings, of screaming and crying and inevitability and running. She

remembered because then, she heard the screaming and crying, she also so smoke.Keru sat staring as she forced herself to her bottom and feet; her knees to her chest and her handstied behind her back then strapped all together; they were taking no precautions

Robby she calls with no reply and not connection, only both of their Bondment sickness ever sincethe draining; her yearning and knowledge of him being close and yet so out of reach was burning herso deeply her tears burned her eyes and her face and her gag tasted more salt than blood. She wasso worried for him, it had grown worse since the machine had almost ended their lives, after she hadsent him back, after she had kissed him and her heart was stabbed- the needle!She remembered inthe labs Doctor Karigan had injected her with something that made it hard for Robby and her tocommute to get her out.What had the need done?! She worried hysterically.It was obvious they had done something to herthough as the they stood there and the Rebels smug, that no one realized they had returned; norealized they even existed.

One of the big men dragged her from behind away from the scene they had just created. Not caringfor them, she struggled knowing it was useless; she only desired to make herself as difficult aspossible to their plans

If you do not behave we will finish Nehele off first, and you will be the one to destroy it Dr K sthreat immediately stilled her and her eyes wide. He smiled victoriously. Keru watches and listens tothe screams and smoke as they moved in the opposite direction away. Looking around, she realizedit to be Dagodan clan and her heart wrenched for them. They arrive at the now reconstructed rebel

village of white moon valley next to the village- and no one had ever noticed. There were only 4 hutsthough; there were only a very few left, and yet Dagodan was burning down and the screams werenot mistaken for anything but.

That night she was chained also, inside of one of the huts alone where there were no windows andonly the bolted door where the only air was from under the door. She breathed slowly and begged.Please, please, please help me, please Keru pleads the elementals that were in control of by Dr K


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She spent the night in deep thought and drifting with her fatigue but when the sun rose as she sawthe light shine at the bottom of the door, she grew an idea

Desperate times call for desperate measures she tells herself watching it then taking a deep breathshe shape shifts into a gibbon; unable to change into a worm or her elementals she improvised withwhat she had. Instead, she could only change into the symbolized creatures. The sister cheetah and

leopard of the great plains, the gibbon of the canopy and snow leopard of the alps had been Amarooand Keru s favourite.Then as loud and true as she could, she sang at the door pleading someone would hear it, thoughknowing their location was isolated severely she kept singing and calling until she could no more.Hearing the doors open beside her, she runs to the chains and shape shifts back then as the doorunlocks and Rebels barge in they see nothing different and grunts back out. Keru sighsin relief andlistens with desperately whispering I love you, I love you, I love you to her Protector, knowing hewould not hear her though

***Tylan and Kiowai didn t not leave his line of sight as they watched him hard and wary knowing he

and Keru were the strongest bound of Nature Youngers that were ever encountered. Keru was goneand they feared for him

Jai! Jai! Where are you! Jai! They all suddenly hear Jami cry out in terror Jai!!! She calls again desperately. They were already there though and paused at the sight of historyrepeating itself. Of the great pilgrimage. Smoke and flames rose high and wide around the villagewhile there were people running away screaming while others carried flames and through it on thehuts. Some had women and children dragging them with knives before brutally cutting them andwatching them drop lifeless down with the smile they recognized as the rebel like their marks, thenthey fledGrabbing Jami then Robby hastily, they run while Tylan looks for Jai with fear Jai he calls Jai theyall call searching. No one was left though.

***Camira hugged Jami fiercely when suddenly she squeezes out of her hold and into the bushesdisappearing Jami! she calls out with surprise before taking after her

Camy! they all call after her thenCamy manages to slimly follow little Jami until they then find Jai kneeling and watching something.Jami hugs him fiercely and he reciprocates with a quick kiss before telling them to be quiet. They allkneel down and watch, waiting to see what he didKeru is dragged out by chains from a bolted room unmoving then further down to the river bedwhere she is dragged in, pushed underwater then dragged back out and thrown into the bolted

room again. The rebels walk off then.Right Jai says and stands. Camira quickly grabs him and Jami then elemental away to Stephan who

instantly grips her tight and shakes her with the twinlets in her grasp You stupid women, don tever-

Keru she breaks out and everyone stares at her dangerously while Tylan s hand tightens on Robbywho tries shrugging it off and looks to the ground, never speaking.They whisper harshly what about Keru


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She hesitates and looks to the twinlets in her hands that also hesitate then look down. Camira sighsand looks away also. Keru was dead and a trailing tear ran down Camira s face as did Robby s whoquickly wiped it away and tried shrugging Tylan off again. Tylan tightens in response Robby hewarns. Robby merely looks down not responding. It had been a week since he had spoken; since hehad woken

Tylan sighs then glares at Camira who grimaces apologetically before they continue on their way weneed to keep alert now if rebels are back Tylan fades and pauses again, looking to Camira and theTwinlets who grimace then Keru is?... Camira hesitantly looks up to meet his eyesThey stare at her for long time before Tylan comes to his senses and looks to Robby and curses

Where the hell was it he growls searching for Robby who was no longer beside him or in his grip

***Robby arrives and sits watching with his heart vulnerable at the knowledge of Camira. He flincheshearing young girl s muffled tortured scream that was pained beyond belief from one of the smallhuts that had been rebuilt. It reminded him too much of Keru, is cry he could imagine coming fromher lips and with his name. Unable to withstand the cries, Robby bulks and runs back, his heart was

too sore for this. He ached numb and empty with tears down his face for his should to be rejoinedonce again, the face of Keru always emerging into him. He drops to the ground tired and drawn

***Keru cries out as she is strapped to the machine again and the draining painful and slow. Tears raceddown her face violently and fresh. Her fingers and toes were spanned aching for freedom and herback ached as far away as possible as the machine forced more and more out of her Robby! shecries in her gagged form pleading him to save them both.They drag her out again after her fulfilling of her duty role into her lock up room where theelemental chains latched her down with the metal ones cuffed on her legs and wrists, preventing herchange of state. Keru cried and cried

Adado Ayule, my precious Adado Ayule. Do not give up on hope little one, never give it up for helpwill come to you, stay strong you have battled for too long. Rest, all will be well my cherished child. The words of her Mother Nature travel through her and Keru sleepsShe dreams of her Robby again. So close to her. He will find her, my protector will find me as I searchfor him too.

Dr K enters in the night, his plan in attack. Keru pulls uselessly at the chains and glares at him It isyour time to shine Nullahnaco. Let us pay a visit to your Clan he tells her removing her chains fromthe hut the big man once again grabs her in his arms this time and walking behind the others, theytravel to Nehele. It want Nehele they were heading to though because as they reached the

mountains and began climbing through the hidden paths from different angles, they were headingto Paco clan, where Ocoee and Coby were from.The warning horns were sounded and throughout the land they were sung aloud in alert. Keru wascarried now hidden with a group that were still unseen in one of many mountain gullies near to thevillage with forest abundant like the rest of their land.Listening she feels the shift as the Youngers elemental arrive making Keru suddenly uneasy. Shebegins struggling in the big man s hands who jerks her roughly in warning and glares with hisferocious eyes to her. Keru fiddles with the chains that trapped her hands but it was no use; the


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elemental chain could only be removed by Dr K but she continued the struggle feeling edgy andanxious not knowing what they were planning or why they had brought her

Ah, it s always nice to see old friends Meeko Dr Karigan greets as he walks up with a few othersbeside him. Keru and her group were only a few meters away from him but angled on the hidden

part of the slope obviously waiting their queue.You Murderer Keru hears Kiowai shout out and could imagine Tylan grip her close hiding herbehind them like the other protectors standing in front of everyone with the warriors around thewhole village wary and alert.

Now, now let s not be hasty Dr Karigan states in a bored even voice reminding her of Felix, shecould see the smile on both of their faces. She involuntarily shivers.Keru hears gasps and the people become wary as other groups make themselves known along withtheir weapons then looks up to see the storm she had noticed when they had left brew

What is your business here the Elder Gwareb asks gruffly. He was a great warrior and leaderDr K answers easily and throws his hands up casually just to talk with his smile still broad andknowing

Leave this place. You are not welcome Screams are heard suddenly and Keru s gut clenches asthen her group move up with her behind them all behind the big man s back out of sight for now.The others look to their group edgy and careful. Her group just stood there with smiles on their facesunthreatening like their stance with their hands behind their backs

Now will you listen? Dr K asks amused. There was no reply and with that Keru is gripped tighteraround her neck making her grunt and gasp for breath involuntarily in her weakened state as she isthen revealed; thrown beside them all between them and Dr K, on the edge of the cliff but full view.Keru lies gasping for air and the pain her eyes tightly closed for control, her crushed bones burningher. Aware of everyone watching her, not for the Rebels benefit, Keru slowly forces herself up by herelbow and broken side to meet her family s gazes who stood in one protective line strong,dangerous and fierce at the rebels with and Childs behind.Keru instantly finds Robby who was beside himself. She watches in torture as he turns awaydistraught rubbing his face to contain his self; distressed before turning back to face her. Keruwinces as she keeps herself partially upright. She could not keep the pain and torment from her faceand eyes.Keru was the first to look away, ashamed at herself as tears streaked down to the rebels amusementwatching her as she was gagged chained and contained along with the elemental grip preventing heraround her wrists. She didn t want them to see her like this.She heard her tears drop to the ground beside her, then the rumble of the thunder above them inwarning

No- don t you touch her she hears Robby growl rough with no use, alerting her of the man s

shadow that comes towards her. Keru leans away glaring but he easily grabs at her chest chain andshirt and pulls her off the ground meeting her gaze with his own glare while she leans as far away aspossible keeping her eyes the same. Tylan had Robby s wrist tight in his iron grip hand only watchingDr K; the leader

Why have you come he asks this time in an even measuring voiceDr K smiles and as the big man walks over with her, he caresses her face again and she shiveringsnatches her face away angrily then looking to the ground not wanting to meet Robby or the other seyes, by doing this though she is suddenly alerted to the high proximity of the cliff they were now


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standing on, and she was closest. Keru stiffens and her hands instinctly reach to grip the man shands for fear of falling but the chains the big man kept hidden from everyone prevented her tomove like the rest of her body. Her eyes were wide though and expectant as she continues to staredown the deep cliff.A sudden tingle of grim anticipation rushes through her as she continues to look down it.

Dr K smiles meeting her gaze with a knowing gaze like the man before returning to the watchfulothers stepping forwardNow I understand you met our master while we were away, along with diminishing the rest of our

clan. Now that hardly seems fair Dr K builds. Keru swallows closing her eyes and clenches her fiststogether feeling his power building, feeling his control growing. She forces her marks at ease notdrawing attention to herself as she continues to shiver listening

It hardly seems fair, that a mere child should wield such ability that Tsu gi and your mothernature should only have he continues and Keru grunts with the strange pain building from him inher, the gag hiding it though. Her heart was accelerating tight in her chestKeru takes a desperate breath and looks to the big man speaking through the gag We can free youlike your clan, like your brothers- she squirms as one of his hands come to her throat cutting her

off, the others still by her strapped chestDr k continued, ignoring her you took away our home, our master, our leader; our power from us. Itis only fair that we do the same to you. Let this be a lesson to you all on who is the strongest, for wecaptured to Nullahnaco Keru cries out and her body recoils from the pain, then her marks glow asexpected by the rebels. From the view, they saw the totems all shine in recognition.

N-o-o Don t she sobs in a trembling desperate voice, her voice breaking with her tears. Her bodytrembled viciously while Keru attempted to keep herself in control.She stretches and pauses as her vinal mark grows on her- not Robby. The needle prevented theconnection so that he wouldn t find her, find them. She was choking still under the grip while Dr Kcommanded Wind elemental to swarm around them showing his immense power he took from hermultiple times.The Paco clan screams in terror as do the 4 Youngers (Protector and Child).Dr Karigan suddenly wraps wind around little Kiwi, and then one of their youngest, was in Dr K shands hanging over the cliff face. Everyone screamed and Keru snappedKeru shifts into a leopard and growling loud she digs her nails into the big man s body forcing him toshout and drop her, but Keru s front feet were bond by the elementals and in the same instant she

jumps shifting Gibbon and bites Dr Karigan s surprised hand that held little Kiwi.All of the elements were pressing fiercely around them all threateningly now; they were out of control as fire raced and danced between them separating the rebels from the Paco clan, the waterspiraling around the village and mountain storming with the hurricane winds and the earth rockedunderneath them

Dr Karigan falls to the ground beside the cliff with Keru and Kiwi on him. Keru shifts menacingly intoa leopard again; her feet bound still she snarls at him and using her head knocks Kiwi away who rollsand looks to her Keru, your feet he tells her, referring to the glowing golden binds Karigan hadcreated. The rocks shake again like an earthquake and they all freeze. The rocks begin crackingDr Karigan then grips Kiwi who screams before the rock face falls. Keru goes with them but quicklygrabs hold of Kiwi and takes the impacts of the rocks. She growls as they hit the rocks one by one; asthey smash against her already broken side and hears Kiwi cry out- breaking his arm. Landing on topof her on final impact, Keru licks his face before standing up growling at the pain in her. She quickly


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He switched to Kiwi who was alright and as Keru shifts he quickly takes her gag away that was dirtyand infected with blood, dust and debris, then to her ropes; not the chains or the glowing elementalbind that he could not remove. Then the lightening provides first light and the eyes of the hunter;the murderer seeking their deaths.As Keru shifts again and hisses with such emotion and anger in defense for little Kiwi it was

frightening, Kiwi nods as Keru looks to him and hides while she moves forwards after attempting tobreak the elemental bind, towards Dr Karigan as the lightning flashes again revealing theirsurroundings and threat. Keru wait, don t engage, wait Robby commands her desperately she doesnot hear again as he battles to protect the Younger nature Children from the elemental s Kariganhad unleashed and from the threatening rebels that attacked and sort them all out to kill the rest of the Nature Children and the Paco clan; they were not succeeding though.

Little Kiwi, tell Keru not to engage for me. She s very sick Robby tells him gentlyKiwi nods Keru! Robby says not to en- engage coz you re really sick Kiwi tells her but screamssuddenly and clenches his eyes closed as Dr Karigan strikes at Keru with a knife they had not seenwhile Keru in sync pounces at Dr Karigan snarling.She jumps to the side to dodge a deadly wound as it instead goes into her from leg while she bites Dr

Karigan s shoulder and throws him to the ground harshly. As she moves in front of Kiwi again she didnot limp. She stood and waited for Karigan to stand again while his eyes remained focused on herwhile he lay.Suddenly fire elemental circled them close together, startling Keru as she jumps in surprise.

There s lots of fire and Keru is inside it with the bad man Kiwi tells them explainingRobby turns to Stephan; all have been listening we need to get her out of it Robby states andStephan nods. With that, Camira swirls herself into a dance to catch the swirling water that tunnelsaround them, then she pushed it like a waterfall over the cliff face to where they wereKiwi screams again and they hear Dr Karigan shout with rage; not expecting itKiwi ducks beside a rock and covers himself from the water falling Keru! Look out! he cries out asthen Dr K and Keru look up from the flames as the waterfall simultaneously lands on them andcatching them while it removes the flames and they fall further down the cliff landing on the groundthis timeKiwi looks over carefully and calls out Keru! in his high pitched voice for his sister watching as thelighting reveals them on the ground away from their reach standing and circling with water like armsbeside Dr Karigan. He strikes at Keru with it and she agilely maneuvers from its hit

Go Keru! he cries out in cheer from the rocks as he climbs his way down Kiwi don t go down youmight fall, stay where you are Tylan orders and he nods then anxiously watches Keru fight with theoctopus manOne see through arm lands on Keru then squashing her to the ground. Kiwi stands up holding therock oh no Keru! Keru! Get up! he orders her thinking of how Tylan did it but to no prevail, the

octopus arm stayed on top of herKiwi watches and begins crawling down the mountain again when he sees other leopards and blackcats come out and surround the bad man hissing and growling. Tree vines stood and swayed likesnakes and the water seemed to fall apart and sink into a puddle beside Keru like the rest of the badman s octopus arms. The cats circle and stand in front of Keru

Robby are the cats gonna eat Keru? Kiwi asks scared for her, pausing on the rocksNo they re her friends. Stay where you are though, or you re gonna be in big trouble mister Robby

warns and Kiwi obediently ducks down watching hesitantly are you sure he questions


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Kiwi was a funny character, so sensitive and sweet and shy; definitely a Child of Nature not aProtector. Noara s my Protector Kiwi defendsRobby chuckles for the first time in two long eternal weeks yes, Noara is your protector

Hey, where did Keru go? he asks aloud and Robby was instantly beside him taking his hand with afrown as the lighting reveals everything for the split second again

Hm I'm not sure he tells him then looking at Kiwi, he pulls him onto his back and they crawldown the mountain to the ground Tylan s gonna be cranky he warns RobbyI thought you wanted to help find KeruYeah I do he reaffirms Okay then and they race off with the speed of a ProtectorKeru they both call knowing she didn t have the mental bond Keru they call again following the

leopard foot printsThey hear a loud snarl of a leopard and follow carefully, finding Keru the one snarling shaking herhead viciously while stamping backwards hissing more like a Jaguar while trying to scratch at herfaceThen she shifts and falls to her chained self as her vinal marks then fade away with the totems andthe storm as she suck in the elementals that were created by Dr Karigan that was no longer a lost

child but a falcon as he sores free again. Kiwi and Robby turn knowing Keru was right beside them tosee her work as the Paco mountain flow with birds that fly away; back down into the trees and travelfar and wideThen their attention turns back to Keru. As she lies down to rest with her face in her chest andknees, Robby slowly puts Kiwi down stay here

but- just stay here for me Robby whispers to Kiwi again anxiously as he moves around to Keru s face that

was profusively bleeding, her eyes closed still in her multiple binds.Robby kneels in front of her slowly then hesitantly hoping she wouldn t shrink back from him, heputs a gentle hand on her head feeling the rush of the connection from the Bondment sickness faceand tingle them into the one soul, one heart and one mind again making him sigh with relief.She doesn t respond so he puts more pressure on it and brushes her hair away from her face. He stillhad her blue elastic from the last night two weeks ago and gently ties her hair loosely up beforebrushing hair and arm again.Ripping his sleeve off, he wipes her face of the blood gentle and caring like his other hand thatbrushed her hair and arm. Her tired eyes slowly opened to him and Robby smiles hey he says in asoft soothing voice touching her cheek.She smiles softly at

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Chilren of Nature 3 Trilogy