Battling the Invisible

Chapter 10

Yawning Drake rolled out of bed and slipped into his shorts. He had decided the night before that he was going to wake up early before the sun rose and take a quick run before the final competition. After today those who were in the top ten in each grade would advance to the Arena Battles and would go through the brackets to the finals. Axi and Drake had moved into first and second place in their class after the last round and were fairly confident about the next one.
The young brunette stretched out his muscles before starting to jog toward the town. He just wanted time to clear his mind. His mother’s death haunted his dreams and he needed to shake them from his head. Drake started for the town, but then decided to take a turn toward the forest. He ran for a good twenty minutes before he found himself in the middle of clearing. He found a spot under a tall oak tree and sat down to take a breath. Time seemed to pass by slowly as he zoned out and starred at the field in front of him. His mind drifted back to when he was younger.
***

Cierra ran up to her father, “Did grandma really die?”

The middle aged man, picked up his daughter, kissed her on the forehead then sat her on the chair next to him. “Yea, Sugar-muffin. I’m sorry.”

Tears welled up in the small girls eyes. “Why? Why do people have to die, Daddy?”

He thought for a moment. “Have I have told you the story of how Wolf tricked the Trickster?”

Without saying a word, Cierra shook her head and whipped the tears from her eyes.

“A long time ago Wolf and many of the other animals walked the earth like man does. They walked and talked just as we do. Wolf was well known by many people and the Shoshoni people especially loved him. They respected him and saw him as the creator.

Now, Coyote was Wolf’s younger brother and he was the jealous sort. The Shoshoni people avoided him because they knew he was a trickster. He was always up to no good and would never miss a chance to double-cross any one he could.
Coyote decided one day that he was sick of how much respect Wolf got from the Shoshoni people. So, he thought of a plan that would make the Shoshoni people hate Wolf forever.

He knew that Wolf boasted about being able to bring people back to life so there was no such thing as death. If someone died Wolf would shoot under them with an arrow and they would come back to life.
Coyote told Wolf that if he kept bringing people back to life the world would over populate and make life miserable for everyone. It would be better if people who were dead stayed dead. Coyote hoped that if Wolf followed his advice the Shoshoni people would come to hate him.

Wolf saw through Coyote’s plan, but when he spoke with Coyote he only replied with a nod.

A couple of days later Coyote’s son was bitten by a rattlesnake. The venom consumed the boy and killed him within minutes. Coyote immediately ran to Wolf and begged for him to bring his son back, but Wolf reminded his younger brother of his own words, ‘You were the one who told me that people should remain dead and I’m going to take your advice and stop bringing people back.’

That was the day that death first came to the world and Coyote’s son was the first to die. He paid for his father’s mischievous ways. Despite Coyote’s efforts, the Shoshoni people still didn’t hate Wolf. They admired him for his strength and wisdom.
That is how death came to our world and why you must feel this sadness when someone you love dies.”

Drake whispered a prayer for his mother, then headed back to his room.

***

“Where have you been?” Jackson prodded.

Shrugging he responded with a simple, “running.”

The three friends made their way out of the dorms and out to the main arena complex. Everyone had shown up to watch the final task. Drake still had no idea what to expect. The young brunette followed his roommate and best friend out onto the field and waited for instruction from the school’s student body president.

“Before you is a maze. At the end of the maze are ten tokens. You get twenty-five points added to your final score for being one of the first to get a coin and then another twenty-five for being one of the ten with a coin at the end. So, even if you aren’t fast enough to get a coin at the beginning you can score points by battling for the coin and being one of the last ones standing. When you get to the battle phase in order to eject another player from the competition you need to do one of two things; either completely immobilize your opponent or throw them out of bounds. There will be four groups according to grade. Freshman, you’re up first. Any questions”

The herd of boys said nothing.

“Then freshman I want you line up here and the rest of you get to follow Ms. Jennifer Nelson to another area.”

Jenny waved at Drake and mouthed good luck to him as she led the rest of the boys away.
After they had disappeared behind the stands the student body president turned his attention back to the freshman. “The competition starts at the sound of the bell and ends at the sound of the bell. If you are told to leave the competition by a staff member please find Ms. Nelson and she’ll take you back to the designated area.” With that he disappeared into the crowd of students.

The bell sounded and it was like the scene from the lion king when Simba was almost killed by the wildebeest stampede. Drake sat there trying not to get stepped on and was the last one to finally enter the maze. He didn’t think he could make it as one of the first to the tokens at the end, but he figured if he waited long enough most of the guys would be knocked out at the beginning. So, he took his time walking through the hedges.
Axi seemed to have the same idea as he did. The two came out at the end only a few minutes apart. Jackson on the other hand thought it best to try and get ahead by getting to the token as one of the first ten and then protecting it. The three friends decided to work together. Axi and Drake would help Jackson protect himself and his coin if he would help them gain their own coins.

The three zeroed in on a water bender. His strikes were powerful but he was a bit of a clutz. So, if they could catch him off balance they could probably get the better of him. The second guy that they targeted was a burly red haired kid, who seemed to have super-human strength. Immediately Drake disappeared and Axi started a rainstorm to amplify Jackson’s powers. Axi ran toward the water bender, but was knocked over by a blow to the head. The small brunette bender saw the attack coming and took a preemptive strike. What the group hadn’t counted on was that their opponent’s secondary ability was super speed. So, even though Jackson had enough power to blow the kid out of the arena, he couldn’t hit him. Drake snuck up behind the kid and put him a lock to try and keep him from moving. Jackson took the opportunity to take a shoot at their opponent. He focused hi energy and sent a streak of lightning toward the two boys. Axi realized that the blow would take both the students out. So, thinking on his feet he froze time and ran across the field to Drake, picked up his roommate and moved him behind Jackson before the strike could happen. It was almost like Drake had blinked and was suddenly standing at a different point in the arena. The young bender flew backwards about fifty feet from the blast, then reluctantly gave his coin to one of the staff who gave it to Axi.
Now all they had to do was focus on the redhead and get Drake’s token.
***

Drake woke up in the hospital wing the next morning with a pounding headache. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and glanced around the room. Jackson was passed out on the linoleum floor and Axi was slumped over in a chair.

“Good morning. How are you feeling?” A younger woman stood next to the head nurse smiling at the brunette.

Drake groaned as he struggled to sit up in bed.

“Stop moving so much,” the head nurse snapped. “You’ll make yourself sick.”

The seventeen year old smiled to himself at the older woman’s familiar bedside manner. “What happened?” The last thing he remembered was finally beating the redhead kid in the final challenge and winning his token and twenty-five points.
The bubbly young nurse stepped in with a response before the older gray haired woman could open her mouth. “You got pummeled by a boy with super-human strength after the end of the tournament, but don’t worry. You’ll be fine within a day or so.” She patted Drake on the head and gave him a couple of pain killers. Then the two nurses left the boys alone.

After about twenty minutes Axi was the first to stir. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he yawned, “How you feeling dude?” He moved a piece of hair on Drake’s forehead to get a good look at gnarly gash above his eye.

“I’m sure I look worse than I feel. These pain killers are totally amazing.” Drake stretched out on the hospital bed.

Axi chuckled softly, “glad to hear it.” He glanced on the clock on the wall and shoved Jackson awake. “We’ve got to get to class, but we’ll be back later to check in on you.”

***

The nurse’s released Drake after twenty-four hours of observation, which meant he had just enough time to pack and make it to the airport to catch his flight home. Axi in tote, he drug on behind Drake complaining the entire time. He seemed more nervous than anything else and the complaining seemed to just be there to avoid having a silent moment between them. Drake hadn’t said much about his mom since he had gotten the phone call, so naturally Axi had no idea what to say or do.

On the plane, Drake did his best to relax. He was exactly found of flights. He fidgeted the entire time. One minute he’d be reading a book the next trying to watch a movie or listen to music, then he’d be trying to read the book again.
Axi, on the other hand, was much more calm. He was so calm that he actually slept for most of the plane ride and ate when the flight attendant came by with the cart. Between bites of his chips, he tried to make some sort of conversation with his roommate. “So, is there anything I should know about your family before we land? Anything I should expect? Or any subjects you’d like me to avoid?” The older boy asked the last question pointedly.

“Umm…” Drake stuttered. “My family is pretty laid back. So, you should have anything out of the ordinary to expect. Yes, my family is Native American. So, yes, we will have a lot of Shoshoni traditions in the burial, but we like to put our own twist on things in my family.” The seventeen year old shifted in his seat. “If you have any questions you can ask me later about them. Otherwise, just follow what I do for the most part.”

Axi nodded his head, his mouth too full of chips to actually form words to respond.

The rest of the trip went about the same as the beginning; Drake messing with various items and Axi snoring in his ear.

About an hour later, the two friends were climbing off of the little jet and walking towards the front gates. “I almost forgot to tell you. Don’t call me Drake here. Stick to my birth name and call me ‘she’ while we’re here.” Cierra grabbed her bag with both hand to yank it up the small flight of steps.

“Whatever you say…Cierra..” Axi teased, although he knew it would be hard for him to remember the name change and switch in pronouns.

***

A few hours later, they had finally made it to Cierra’s house on the coast. It was in a rundown part of town, but it was the nicest house in the neighborhood. Her father took pride in his house and lawn care. Every chance he got he was outside working. Her mother kept a garden outside under the living room window. She always said that she didn’t care for the gardening much, but it was something that kept her close with Cierra’s father.
Axi helped Legacy, Cierra’s younger brother, drag the luggage inside. Their older brother Jacob was supposed to be driving in from San Francisco later that night.

“Is that everything?” Mr. Tory asked.

“Yes Sir,” Axi replied wiping the sweat from his forehead. He wasn’t quite use to the hot weather yet. It was one of those freakishly hot days that could almost make the pavement melt.

Cierra laughed to herself as she listened to Axi talk to her father. He was the perfect gentleman. It was like he had done a complete 180 from the slob she knew from the dorms. Suddenly, he was opening doors for her and calling his elders sir and ma’am. She wondered if this was only because he was nervous or if he really was this way around women. Either way it gave her some amusement for the time being.

Someone knocked on the door, then peaked inside. “Anyone home?” An older woman’s voice asked meekly.

A smile grew across Cierra’s face when she realized who it was. “Memaw!” She ran to the door and gave the elderly woman a hug.

“Hi Sweetie, How are you?”

She didn’t answer. The brunette was too busy fighting the tears in her eyes. She hadn’t realized until now just how much she had missed seeing her family.

The three men in the house made their way to the entry way. Mr. Tory took his mother’s hand and lead her to a comfy chair in the living room, making small talk the entire way. When she finally made herself comfortable, Memaw took notice of Axi, who was standing in behind the couch were Cierra sat. “Now, who is this young man?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Memaw. This is Axi.”

The eighteen year old stepped forward to shake the older woman’s hand. “Hello, Ma’am.”

“There’s no need to be so formal.” She chuckled. “Just call me Memaw.” The gray-haired woman turned her attention her granddaughter. “He’s cute and a gentleman. Looks, like you’ve caught a good one. He’s definitely a keeper, Sweetie.”

Cierra blushed, “Memaw… He’s not…”

Memaw wasn’t listening anymore. She was busying trying to find out if Legacy had found a girl for himself.

***

The next morning, Cierra got dressed in the nicest cloths she could find. Today, was her mother’s funeral and she wasn’t sure what to expect from herself or from her family. She walked out to the kitchen, where her dad was cleaning up breakfast. He was already dressed.

Axi’s mouth dropped when he finally caught a glimpse of his roommate. He was surprised at how good she looked in her dress. He tried to stay smooth, but Cierra caught him gawking.

“Are we all ready to go?” Mr. Tory asked, heading for the door.

They all hopped in the car and headed toward the ceremony. No one spoke. No one moved. No one wanted to disrupt the silence.

Once they got there they all entered a small tented area, with campfires burning on each side of the door. Mrs. Tory’s body had been here for days. During the past week, visitors were to come and pray for her. She was not to be left alone either. Mr. Tory had been there for most of the time, only leaving to pick up Cierra and Axi from the airport and take them home. Some family members had already take the time cut their hair. Cierra wasn’t exactly sure why this was done, but she guessed that it had something to do with rebirth in a new life or the ending of a life and them starting over.

“What should I do?” Axi whispered.

“Sit over here with me.” She lead him to a spot toward the front.

Mrs. Tory lay in honor in a closed casket that was brightly decorated with traditional Shoshone designs. A small fire burned on the ground in front of her and a podium stood off to the side.

An older man from their tribe, made his way to the front and stood behind the podium. He started out with a prayer that everyone recited together.

Axi was lost, but bowed his head in reverrance.

The older man continued with a few more words. It was the typical stuff you’d hear at any funeral. Nothing that Axi hadn’t been expecting.

Mr. Tory stood up in front of the congregation and spoke about his wife. He talked about everything thing he’d miss about her and told some of the happiest memories he could think of.

Tears began to stream down Cierra’s cheeks. She hadn’t being vulnerable in front of so many people, but it finally got to her.

“There’s one thing that I will always remember and always keep close to my heart though. Every time she was outside gardening, she’d sing. She had a beautiful voice too. She normally sang the ‘Shoshone Love Song.’ It’s like I can still hear it.” He started out softly and grew bolder and more confident as he recited the song. He sang it once through in his native language, then in English.

Cierra closed her eyes. She could hear the echoing of her mother’s voice singing the song.

“Fair is the white star of twilight,
and the sky clearer at the day's end;
But she is fairer, and she is dearer.
She, my heart's friend!
Far stars and fair in the skies bending,
Low stars of hearth fires and wood smoke ascending,
The meadow-lark's nested,
The night hawk is winging;
Home through the star-shine the hunter comes singing.
Fair is the white star of twilight,
And the moon roving
To the sky's end;
But she is fairer, better worth loving,
She, my heart's friend.”

Cierra shuddered at the memory and tried to fight back the threatening waterfall of tears.

Not knowing what else to do, but wanting to comfort his friend, Axi put an arm around the seventeen year old’s shoulders and brought her in closer to him. He wanted to reassure her that everything would turn out alright and that he was there to help in whatever way he could.

A few more people stood in the front and talked about Cierra’s mother. Saying many of the same things as her father had before.

The young brunette closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sounds outside the tent. It was now pouring rain outside, making it hard to hear people speak. She leaned her head against Axi’s shoulder and tried to let it all drown out.
Once everyone was done speaking, the entire group of people said a prayer. Then it was time to bury the body and release the soul. The Tory family had always buried their own by themselves. So, everyone else left except for the immediate family and Axi. The three young men took turns digging the actual grave site while Cierra and her father sat and watched from inside the tent. The two had insisted upon helping, but the boys wouldn’t allow it. So, instead, Cierra sat quietly and talk to her mom like she was right there with them.

By the time the boys had finished, they were soaked. On the bright side it wasn’t a cold rain, it was warm and felt almost like a warm shower.

The five of them then lowered Mrs. Tory into the ground and said one final prayer before covering her.
***

Unfortunately, Cierra and Axi didn’t have the chance to stay and spend more time with her family. So, when they woke up the next morning, Mr. Tory had to drive them back to the airport so that they could fly back to school.
Axi had a bit of a rude surprised when walked out to the kitchen with his luggage, only to find that the whole family had chopped off all their hair. Mr. Tory had decided to go completely bald, while Jacob’s hair was buzzed. The two youngest, had a crew cut that was actually similar to Axi’s. The eighteen year old thought better of asking any questions and kept his mouth shut.

They all made small talk on the way to the airport. After they got all of their luggage checked and their tickets, Mr. Tory gave both of the kids a hug. “Thank you for taking care of my daughter. I’m glad she’s found someone like you.”
Axi stuttered, not sure how to respond.

Mr. Tory turns his attention to his daughter. “I love you, Sugar Muffin. Stay safe and do your best at school. I’ll see you at Christmas break. Oh, and if you want to bring Axi back, your boyfriend is always welcome here.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I’ve got to go though. Memaw has a doctor’s appointment that I have to take her too. Call me when you land.”