One Voice

“Tell me more,” Said Shiara to Dauphina “About this place--surely you can tell me some of this in front of the others.  The other two—Voices.  Who are they?”

They are Raynor’s younger brothers, Damon and Rheis.  Rheis has feelings for you also, but he is… well he’s a bit of a nuisance.  You know, young, impetuous… B-R-A-T. Now let’s go. The rest I can tell you while you take your bath.”

The bath was a large warm pool with a small rippling stream flowing into it.  She peeled off her old clothes and handed them to Xara, who folded them as if they were treasures.  Shiara then walked into the bath pool and immersed herself up to her shoulders.

Raynor, she thought to herself, and Geo instantly entered her mind.  She had had feelings for Geo, certainly while they were on the Gray Planet, but things were very tense there.  How would she feel when she saw Geo again?

Geo is Human, she reminded herself. His needs are different, he is mortal.  He can’t travel and change the way I—or Raynor—can.  Geo has an entirely different purpose on the new Planet.  Wu.  The planet Wu.  He must work directly with the humans in the house, whereas I--I must overlook the whole forest.  And Raynor—what is his purpose?  She thought of Raynor in his physical form, and her stomach did a little belly flop. His curly dark hair, his dark eyes.  Yes, she liked him.  The One Voice.  She thought of The One Voice she had listened to all these years.  The Other voices lending him opinions, but it had been the One Voice who she felt had guarded her, and protected her.  He was the One she always wanted to hear.

She sighed, and immersed her head in the water.  Having no need to breathe, she lay at the bottom of the pool and looked up.

***

12:56:21 PM