Beyond Linear

Sunrise begins to tinge the skies purples, pinks and peaches as water cascades in a small falls, pleasantly hypnotic, though the desiccated fish and human remains upon and within the rich moss of the banks have long warned that the river's pleasantries, at least, are thus limited.

A beautiful heart locket of gold with “Renee” elegantly carved on the lid slowly comes down, as consistently as the soft hissing that comes from somewhere near, and almost touches the water's surface, only to stop millimeters short. It hangs from my neck as I listen to the water.

The hissing sound creates a frown on a hardened face well used to frowning. I look at the crack directly below the river's surface, reflecting my silver eyes, and the new but faint glow within that crack deepens that frown.

As I rise, I imitate a robin's call, and two more robins reply as I move towards the savage, craggy rock formation that rims the small falls and the river a short way.

Ripped, shoved up, then twisted under new flora only two years old, the trees and other plants that had resided on the rock formation are also torn and the sections have either died or grown, some at the oddest angles, including the trees I headed for that grow towards the ground in a seemingly easy trail out of this alcove, and an offer of some cover.

Within moments my eleven year old son Aiden joins me, his silver-blue eyes flashing a smile, as my older sister Rory, face and silver eyes as serious as mine, quickly joins us.

Everything wears the scars of two years ago.

“You need more information?” she asks, soft as a breeze.

Meeting her gaze, then my son's, I nod, replying just as softly, “We know where the vents are. Where the tunnels flow. It has been awhile. We check them. See what they are doing.” I nod towards the river, “The threat demands attention.”

“We do live on a hot bed,” my son offers, and we nod our agreement, as we are in the heart of the volcanic chaos, which has kept most everyone else well away, but with things heating up, we might have to relocate soon.

“Think they will be out today?”

I shrug at my sister's question.

“But they have a din-go,” my son softly enunciates for me.

The accuracy and tone make us chuckle and him slowly smile. Though I'm not sure if that is envy, fear or both, I tousle his hair and my sister winks at him. “We should get going.”

As the day begins to brighten, my sister, a monkey in the trees with minimal movement, and my stealthy son meld into the forest. We head towards the second volcanic vent.

After a grueling hike that cost an hour, we arrive at the next vent, and I smile, as a cherry tree is in glorious bloom. Some of the fallen blooms float the air, but most float the stream below, and even though the water is toxic, the petals lie and stay pink as they float by victims of the stream I am very careful to steer clear of.

The vent here is in a mini cave under a rock cropping, and getting out quickly is never going to happen, making it the trickiest. I take my time and shimmy in, always feeling the ground before I move forward, finding all is clear to the vent, which, despite the increased heat, is a relief to my mind. The vent is clear, its lava flowing directly below me, but the lava within nearly touches the top of the tube, which is new. The fast flow launches little splashes of lava that have me quickly retreating, due to proximity. I shimmy out as I had shimmied in, carefully. And without meeting up again, we three are on our way to the next vent.

The furthest yet easiest to observe vent is basically a hole at the base of a rocky outcropping, but the entry options are many. As I come around and down the battered dirt and rocks of the outcropping, I come upon it. The vent gives off some pretty intense heat to warn of its presence. Getting as close as I safely can, I frown, as, again, the lava flow is filling the wide tube, while the excess lava, continually shaved off the top by the tube, has already begun to accumulate in a growth that is closing off the vent. This confirms volcanic activity is increasing, and we will have to move.

Two taps on a rock, so soft another would miss it, has me on my feet and turning towards my easiest escape.

“I'm telling you, if it's Renee, she'll-” a man says in a voice of honey as he walks over the same entry I was headed for. His words and motions freeze because his shocked gaze is locked with mine. Then his eyes flick to the heart locket he had put around my neck before we were married, and his silver eyes crash closed before they tear open again, his disbelieving gaze sticking to my own.

An odd noise, and the man I might know orders, “Heal!”

“Kurt?” Me, on a disbelieving whisper as my eyes chase his lines and curves and while different, the true cues match, and I continue my instinctual motion towards him.

“What is it?” another man says in a familiar whiskey-rough voice, topping the ridge, and I hear that my sister is on her way down. In a hurry, if the breaking limbs and fast footwork say anything about it, as faces break into happiness and questions.

“Tizzy, Friends. Friends,” the second voice offers.

“Dad!” My son. His voice cracks, but there is no question, and he too is in motion from within the trees, racing to his Dad.

“Renee! Aiden! God!” And my husband opens his arms wide for us, as we are coming at him from two different directions.

“Rory?” From beside Kurt, Reegan sees her, his voice a caress, and he is a blur, moving towards the tree my sister is in.

“Reegan!” My sister is nearly down the tree, her eyes alight as she sees who she is looking for.

“Rory!” Her husband practically tears her from the tree and into his arms, just as my husband tears us up into his arms for hugs, each of us kissing wherever our lips meet.

Eyes and lips full of questions, everyone speaks at the same time, and Aiden makes quick friends with Tizzy. More kisses are given. More hugs are traded, nearly crushing ribs. But our family is united and the relief is a miracle we cherish, as we all wrap Aiden in a family hug we haven't enjoyed for just over two years.

“We made too much noise.” Aiden says solemnly. It earns the softest look and nod from everyone around him.

Kurt looks at me, “You got what you need?”

“I've got enough. Aiden is right.”

“We're... fairly close. I'll lead out. We move fast.” Kurt looks at me, “You're between us; everyone good?” Everyone nods, and Aiden fades into the woods while Rory disappears into the trees.

Swiftly, using every stone, tree trunk or other such opportunity for speed into the forests interior, we leave a helter-skelter trail, if anything follows.

Moments later, when we hear the call of a robin signaling no dangers, Reegan recognizes his wife's call and also gives a robin's call.

Instantly Kurt and Tizzy veer left, just as sunset starts to color the earth and the water begins to sound; we jog through vegetation that seems green and vibrant even as the land is torn up, and as the water's call begins to roar, we walk, the animals here much more alert, they keep out of our view, and away from Tizzy. We come to a stop at a waterfall's home, the water cascading in ways that allow that it might, or might not, have a cave behind it. With the variant flora and fauna around the perimeter and dipping nimbly into the water, it's a delightful oasis!

I grin, charmed and surprised by the vast beauty around us! As Rory and Aiden silently join us, they are equally wowed. We each hug the one next to us a moment, even as the shadows creep into the forest around us.

“I'd move here,” Aiden says with a glance down, as his fingers dance in Tizzy's fur, then up at the adults around him, and grins spread. His Dad taps his nose and chuckles, pleased.

No skulls by the waters here, first Kurt then Reegan silently go in, and the rest of us follow, instantly refreshed.

“Did we just-?” Rory begins, as she clears her face of water.

“Contaminate our water supply?” I finish, as I clear my own, the darkness creeping ever in.

“No worries. This is where the fresh water escapes, then takes off ,” he points to where a flow seems to go off under the rocks, “underground.” Reegan explains, then smiles as my sister and I look at each other, and our smiles grow.

As darkness swallows day, we swim to a rock just right of the thunderous waterfall and slip within a barely noticeable hole.

Within the rocks, we immediately come up, out of the water. As it is dark, a hand holds the one behind, our movement swift. Led by Reegan and finished by my husband, after me, we move silently. As we navigate, we hear two thumps from ahead, so as we come through a bit wider channel, Kurt stops, as I, drawn by Aiden's hand, continue on.

From behind, something drags along the stone, as light slowly comes to shine around us, shows Kurt shifting the skin in front of him to fully cover the narrow entry by the time the light shines around us fully.

“It wouldn't do to have a glowing waterfall,” Aidan quips, and we chuckle softly, as we come through the second entry, which Kurt also settles around the rim of the entry.

Eyes adjusting to the light, we do not miss the exuberant cries of both my and Kurt's Mom's!

“Mom!” Rory and I say in delighted unison, well aware of how sound travels through rock.

“Grandmas!” Aiden sighs in an excited grandson's dream.

“Oh! It has been too long! Come give me love, Darling Aiden!” Kurt's Mom chuckles.

“Too long! Get in my arms!” my Mom says, on her feet in a moment and taking Rory and I into a fervent hug.

Kurt and Reegan grin at each other, delighting in the scene before them, and take up serving the dinner our mom's made as love and hugs are shared among us newly reunited.

“And you two!” Kurt's Mom begins, with a wonderful smile for Reegan and Kurt she gives them both happy hugs and cheek kisses.

“Surprising us like that! What a wonderful duo you are!” My Mom praises, giving Kurt and Reegan heroes hugs and cheek kisses.

“But where have you been? How did they find you?” Kurt's mom asks.

“Oh, I bet Kurt recognized that locket around her neck, Bessie, but what I wanna know is, how much stuff you got?” My Mom teases, making us all chuckle.

“Well, I made some bowls. And created a shelf for them.” Aiden is full of pride, and his uncle affectionately ruffles his hair, just as both grandmas lean into him and give him hugs and smiles. Tizzy wanders over, laying in his lap.

“You have to bring them so we can see!” his Dad lovingly says, so proud he might bust.

I'm just sitting back, enjoying my family. So proud and happy, tears hold my eyes, and the scene before me... blurs out.