Conscious, Conscientious

Zayza’s steps were heavy, and Chiwawo’s steadfast, as they set foot inside Zayza’s tent.

Sighing, Zayza dropped her personal bag of heat stones into the sand before her. A dozen of them spilled out, clanging in a percussive chorus.

“They go over there, Princess,” Chiwawo pointed out, cocking his head not five steps to the side where the pit waited. It became clearer under an orange glow as he lit her torch.

“I know…I’m sorry,” groaned Zayza. “My arms have turned to jelly.”

Chiwawo only shook his head in a tease as he regathered the stones and posted them by the pit for use. Satisfied, he turned to exit the tent.

“Well then, rest up for another trip tomorrow.”

Zayza’s ears perked. “Oh…but isn’t one of Nahutala’s workmates returning?”

“That is how it seems,” Chiwawo confirmed. “But while you were climbing back up the slope, she told me she hopes you will come anyway.”

Speechlessness befell Zayza for a moment. “Really? Me?” she mustered.

Chiwawo juggled a couple of the heat stones that hadn’t quite fit in the basket. “You didn’t notice it, did you?”

“Evidently not, because I don’t know what ‘it’ is.”

Chiwawo smiled, seamlessly catching one of the heat stones with his foot. “You led us the whole way there, found stones by yourself, and led us the whole way back today,” he revealed. “You didn’t notice that Nahutala stayed behind you the entire way?”

Zayza blinked. She did find that rather odd in hindsight—after all, Nahutala usually moved much faster than her.

“She was secretly testing you,” Chiwawo shared. “You navigated flawlessly without even knowing it. Your feet are learning to listen.”

For a moment, Zayza forgot her fatigue. She stared at her bare feet—she’d neglected to put on sandals today, and couldn’t remember the last time she remembered.

Days had past since the first time she helped Nahutala collect heat stones, and she hadn’t missed a day since. Hidakala didn’t break time up into weeks like most of the Multiverse, but Zayza guessed at least a couple had gone by.

She closed her eyes. Zayza could feel the tremors in the ground, ever shifting. But lately it was no more different than when her eyes were open and her attention was on something else.

Is it really becoming second nature? she noticed.

She knew she couldn’t attribute her learning solely to experience: most nights after their all-day journeys, Zayza encountered more Memory Triangles in the Dream World.

And while not all, many of them were of Hiroko helping Nahutala collect stones.

Feeling the sand on Hiroko’s feet like they were her own, however briefly, must have helped her mind calibrate the sense for reading the earth. Or at the very least, it improved her memory for their daily travels.

But she didn’t dare mention that to Chiwawo. There was still too much she didn’t understand.

It didn’t help that none of the memories lately seemed to point to any explanation for this phenomenon. Though the triangles were plentiful, they were often much smaller. And likewise, their contents lacked the depth she’d found in the first two.

They were easier to come by, as well: Zayza didn’t have to find a purple field or dive into a whirlpool. Instead, they simply appeared along her path most times.

And even the ones unrelated to collecting heat stones seemed equally minor—trivial, even.

But Zayza savored each and every one.

Through Hiroko’s eyes, she’d watched Hirochota nudge Hiroko until she danced with her—badly—by a fire. She’d heard Hiroko’s laugh again while Chiwawo fulfilled a dare to impress her, pranking a row of warriors they were about to hunt with.

It was like Hiroko was with her again, if only in flashes.

Sometimes, she awoke to the real world with tears on her cheeks.

“Are you well, Princess?” came Chiwawo’s sudden concern. “What is wrong?”

Wiping fog from her eyes, Zayza realized they’d gone damp again.

“Nothing,” she insisted. “Just…I’m glad I can be of some use to you all.”

And yet…not as useful as I could be, she told herself. I need to know why this is happening. I need to find more triangles…and bring us closure.

Only I can do it.

“Give her feet ears, and I will teach them to hear. Give them eyes, and I will teach them to open.”

Am I getting closer to the Tribe Father’s meaning? she wondered. Or, rather…did he even mean anything to begin with?

“I don’t think it is only that you’re useful,” Chiwawo disputed. “Nahutala seems to enjoy your company quite a bit.”

Managing to fully emerge from underneath her weight of her ponderings, Zayza smiled. “Well, the feeling is very much mutual.”

Chiwawo nodded. He shifted towards the tent flap. “May the sand bless your dreams tonight, Princess,” he farewelled.

“W—wait…”

Chiwawo paused. And by the judgment in his eyes as he turned back to her, she knew he was well aware of the situation.

“Again, Princess?”

Zayza pushed her fingers together bashfully. “I…I can’t remember the last few steps to it…”

Thankfully, her tender display of guilt once again proved charming, as had been the case countless times in her life. She supposed she owed it to her genes. Sighing, Chiwawo reentered the tent.

“One last time.”

“Right.”

“And pay full attention this time.”

“Okay. Full attention.”

“Alright. So first, you need to—hey! Why are you already sitting down?” Chiwawo snapped. “I need to show you.”

“My legs have turned to jelly, too,” Zayza reasoned. “Don’t worry; I’ll watch you from here.”

Chiwawo appeared rather doubtful while he approached the stone pit once more. “Fine. Well, first, you need to find the largest stones and separate them from the rest,” he instructed. “Please repeat all of this back to me, Princess. You’ll be the one doing it tomorrow night.”

“Find the largest stones. Separate them.”

“Exactly. Next, search through your pit for any charred stones,” continued Chiwawo, beginning the tasks in conjunction. “Remove the brittle ones. Then, stack in the new. The order should be new large stones at the bottom, used stones in the middle, and new small stones at the top.”

He waited.

“Princess?”

“Remove brittle stones. Stack in…new…”

“Good. Now, we are ready to begin lighting. You’ll need a torch stick, flint, and a small shovel.”

Chiwawo waited again.

“Princess?”

The tent had gone silent.

“Princess?” he tried again, knowing it was useless. Rolling his eyes, Chiwawo turned and found exactly the sight he’d expected.

Zayza was sunk cozily into her bed area, already sound asleep.

“Again,” he muttered to himself. “You can certainly work hard like us, Princess. But your small body can not keep up with your drive.”

Shaking his head all the while, Chiwawo completed the heating process for her tent alone, for what must have been the dozenth time.

He stretched, setting aside her tools, and made his way towards the tent flap.

But this time, Zayza hadn’t even bothered to try covering herself first. He retrieved the blanket by her feet and spread it onto her delicately.

Where the edge of the blanket ended at the top of her dress, Chiwawo’s eyes happened upon some of the swirling tattoos on her shoulder. Rising and falling slowly with her breath, they matched the ones he’d already seen running down her arms. He couldn’t help but wonder just how far they reached across her, and more curiously—why. Perhaps it was related to that ‘Dream World’ place.

Seeing her now, he could hardly fathom the idea that she was ever-awake, currently in a realm he’d never be able to see or prove. Could Dreamers really traverse their own hidden world? How was that any different than a normal dream?

But though he didn’t know their meaning, her tattoos were a constant reminder. He glanced at the Hidakalan one on her cheek, and then at a few of his own.

Perhaps Azvaylens weren’t much different than Hidakalans.

Sure, she wasn’t born from the Gods Below, but she was absorbing their customs nearly as fast as a Hidakalan child.

So was she any less sacred?

Was she truly an ‘outsider,’ or just a person?

Heat began enwrapping the tent. Confident with his work, Chiwawo once again made his way to the exit. He put out her torch and stepped into the chilled night air.

“So when is the ceremony?”

Chiwawo had only gotten a few paces before a voice had stopped him in the dark.

“Oh shut up,” Chiwawo retorted, hushing to respect the nearby tents. “What are you even doing all the way over here? Stalking?”

Nahutala stepped closer into the moonlight. Matter-of-factly, she raised her mostly empty basket of heat stones. “I am finishing up my deliveries,” she defended. “You know, for such a hesitant bachelor as yourself, you seem to spend a lot of time in a certain maiden’s tent.”

“‘Hesitant?’ I am principled,” countered Chiwawo. “I told you, I am assigned to watch over her.”

Nahutala smirked. “Oh? And tucking her in every night is part of that assignment?”

She’d already begun bracing herself before Chiwawo gave her a shove. They both chuckled.

“You are nosy as ever. And wrong,” Chiwawo grumbled.

Nahutala raised her hands in innocence. “Hey, I am just hopeful,” she told him, her teasing tone dropping. “Do you not realize how many young ladies your mother has tried setting you up with? Why do you think she was so insistent on making this your responsibility? Eh?”

“Nahutala, listen to yourself. Do you really think Hidakala would be okay with that?” Chiwawo challenged. “Me and an outsider?”

“Ah. So the thought has crossed your mind, then,” she derived. “Even a little.”

Chiwawo glared at her in pause. Finally, he shook his head.

“You are crazy. I am fulfilling my duty. And eventually, I will have a new one,” he dismissed. “If the Princess didn’t keep falling asleep when I try giving her instructions, I wouldn’t need to spend so much time in there.”

Nahutala laughed. Finally, she surrendered. “That Zayza is too funny. I have no question why she and Hirokyauta became close.”

“Ha. You are right about that.”

They let the desert silence have its way for a moment.

“So Yakotula and Hauwawa are pregnant, huh?” Chiwawo reflected. “When are you and Hakarwo starting your family?”

Again, Nahutala lifted her basket. “Not while most of my group is gone, I can tell you that.” She turned to resume her walk. “And speaking of it, I have one more delivery. Go warm up your tent for the night.”

“No need. I haven’t spent a night there in moons,” Chiwawo shared. “I should head back to the Princess, though. I have been sleeping there just in case.”

The smirk returned on Nahutala’s face.

“OUTSIDE HER TENT,” Chiwawo pressed, kicking sand her way.

“Mhm. Goodnight, Chi.”

~

A breeze began steadily, shivering the pink and orange leaves of the trees.

Zayza couldn’t feel it from where she walked, but that didn’t diminish the tranquility of her stroll along the white-sanded path. At some point in recent nights, she’d noticed her Dream World outfit had transformed to omit shoes. And so, she could feel the sand within her toes just like the bed area of her tent.

Now that she thought of it, much of the Dream World ground had taken form as sand lately. This particular path was wide, between two fields of red grass as rosy as Kotono’s eyes where the trees all stood overlooking her from afar.

Zayza let out a smiling sigh; even after nineteen years, this realm’s beauty found new ways to amaze her.

There was still one thing quietly challenging her peace, however: no Memory Triangles had appeared all night, not even the small, insignificant ones. Having only ever found herself in their presence by accident or spotting them in passing, Zayza wondered if a more thorough search was necessary from now on.

But then again…how could she be certain there were any more to find?

Zayza shook her head. She couldn’t go there.

If there were no more, then there was no meaning. This was just a prolonged scar from the debris of Proscious’s affliction.

Giving up was simply giving them satisfaction in Hiroko’s death.

No.

Zayza kept a keener eye on her wondrous surroundings. She was likely reaching the end of the night, meaning her body would awaken soon. But that didn’t keep her from trying.

And yet, once again, she hardly had to try.

Light blue sparkles shimmered ahead of her, in the distance of her sandy path.

“There you are,” she said.

But despite Zayza’s continued approach, she didn’t seem to get any closer. Another minute passed, and the lights were equally distant.

Peering closer, Zayza uncovered why the lights seemed particularly brilliant this time: it was an entire flock of floating triangles, at least a couple dozen. The realization sped up Zayza’s pace.

“This many?!”

Soon, she was jogging. Then running.

Yet all the while, she gained no progress.

“Enough of this.”

Zayza ignited a burst of green energy around her body. She soared into the air and called upon all of her power to charge forward.

The ground and trees around her turned into a blur, but the Memory Triangles remained the same.

“Princess…”

She felt a light tap on her shoulder.

“Hey, Zayza…”

Please…not yet, she begged.

Zayza stretched her hand out to the triangles, knowing it would do no good.

But she felt so close.

“Princess…?”

~

“Princess! Wake up!”

Zayza’s head sprung upward in a gasp. Two faces stared down at her from above.

“…Huh?” she moaned.

“We’ve been trying to wake you up all day!” Chiwawo told her.

“It’s already getting dark!” added Nahutala. “We’ll have to work through the night to get the stones!”

“Huh?!”

Zayza launched to her knees, her vision and balance struggling to awaken with her. Indeed, her tent was dim. Chiwawo and Nahutala’s concern was all over their faces.

“Oh no! I slept in that long?! I’m so sorry!”

With no regard for her tousled hair or unchanged clothes, she rushed to her feet. Sand flung everywhere as she stumbled her way to the tent flap.

But she came to a sudden, dumbfounded halt.

It was still bright enough to see outside, just unusually gray. Heavy rain patted down the sand all around the village, where some Hidakalans still went about their days with added coverings. The tent hummed with the constant tapping of raindrops.

“…Huh?”

She turned to her companions.

Now more awake, her eyes could spot their crooked smirks before they cracked all at once.

“Just kidding. It’s morning,” said Chiwawo.

“Apparently it will rain all day,” revealed Nahutala collectedly. “Don’t worry, I checked earlier. We have built up just enough stones in reserve for everyone tonight.”

Zayza’s ensuing pout made them both burst out laughing.

She crossed her arms in defiance. “Fumenzen züren bui,” she fired back, leaning fully into the royal eloquence of a princess.

“It’s ‘fumenzen bu zür,” Nahutala corrected. “You just said ‘when we poop, it is unfriendly.”

This time, Zayza laughed with them. “I suppose I have much to learn.”

“Well, we are all trapped here for today,” figured Nahutala. “It is a better time than any to help you practice your Hidakalan.”

“True,” Chiwawo agreed. “I will fetch some bread and—um…Princess?”

Zayza blinked. Wherever her senses had just gone for a moment, they returned to the tent.

“Sorry, um…” Zayza tried distantly.

“Did you just go back to your Dream World or something?”

But Zayza had stopped listening—to them, at least.

Something was rumbling, shifting, deep beneath her feet. She could feel it in her bones.

And she couldn’t focus on anything else.

Zayza didn’t remember if she closed her eyes, but she no longer saw the tent. Now, she could see a shape: thousands of little dots, drifting as one within the endless darkness.

Then the shape began migrating.

Zayza turned around and took a step forward.

“Where are you going?” Nahutala wondered in an echo behind her. “Wait…do you feel that?”

“I do…” came Chiwawo’s sober reply.

Zayza left their voices behind. She didn’t know why, but somehow she knew this shape was here to guide her.

Its shape turned murky for a moment when the sand felt soaking and firm beneath her, like a thin film had covered her senses. But it was still more than enough to see the direction it was traveling. Her feet followed, mimicking the shape’s shifts and turns often before she even thought to do so.

And still, it was all she could see.

“...Zayza…wait a moment…”

“Princess…”

She came to a stop. But it wasn’t because of her friends—the shape had stopped first, and somehow she knew she was in the right place.

“Princess!”

Zayza jolted. All at once, she could see her true surroundings once more. Nahutala had her hand, placing it in a sleeve as she covered her in a hooded coat much like her own.

Drenched, Zayza’s hair stuck to her face. She was standing outside in the middle of the village, and the rain was pouring perhaps even harder than before.

“Seriously. You’ll get sick again,” Chiwawo hushed.

Why was he speaking so quietly?

“Where are we?” Zayza asked.

Chiwawo stepped out of her view. Behind him, only a dozen steps away, waited the Tribe Father’s tent. His guard stood tall just as before, ignoring the rainfall.

“Oh…” muttered Zayza. “I…for some reason, I felt like I was supposed to…”

“We sensed it, too,” Nahutala assured.

“The Gods Below,” uttered Chiwawo. “We’ve been called here.”

The guiding vibrations faded gracefully from Zayza’s feet. With it her vision reverted to the darkness, where she witnessed the shape descend until it was gone.

“Give her feet ears, and I will teach them to hear. Give them eyes, and I will teach them to open.”

Zayza blinked and recovered her view of the tent, where the Tribe Father’s voice had just come from.

Chiwawo and Nahutala dropped into a bow, so Zayza rushed to join.

“Chiwawo…Nahutala…you have given her feet ears, so I taught them to hear. You have given them eyes. So now…I will teach them to open.”

The Tribe Father fell silent for a moment.

Zayza glanced at Chiwawo and Nahutala. “The Tribe Father will teach me?” she whispered.

“Not the Tribe Father. He is the voice,” expressed Chiwawo, his jaw tight. “What he says…is from the Gods Below.”

“Rise.”

Zayza awaited her companions’ motion before she joined them to their feet. She noticed the guard was standing from a bow, as well.

Maybe it was the rain intensifying, or Chiwawo and Nahutala’s stiffness. But Zayza’s heartbeat increased in the silence.

“It is already time,” declared the Tribe Father, “for the next stage of your journey.”