Day 150: No Fate

The sun shined brightly in the morning. There was nice offshore breeze that caressed the whole of the beach. Most of the survivors were busying about; going ahead to their daily routines that they did to keep from being bored out of their minds. John hoisted up his quiver into his lap. He did a quick check of his arrows. Twelve pros and ten homemades. He knew he would use the home-made ones first and then use the standard ones when he had the best shot. He stood up and put it on, ready to go hunting. Micheal gave McKay the day off from building the second raft; he realized getting food was slightly more important.

Mia walked up to John and hugged him. There were no words between them; none were needed. Their love was more than enough. Taylor helped McKay get his backpack on, but she held it open. She started to pile some fruit into it. “There are three mangos in here, sweetie.” She said.

“Why three?” the Australian asked.

“One for you and John, then one for the teacher.” She giggled.

“Teacher?” he laughed.

Taylor leaned up and kissed him on the lips. “Be nice in school.” She whispered.

“Cute, “he said, kissing her again, then turning to his friend, “C’mon, John! Boars are waiting.”

“Have a nice day, Mia.” John said, turning away.

“Be careful, John,” she told him.

“Don’t worry,” he laughed, as he ran off into the distance, “This is easier than falling out of a tree!”

Mia sighed, watching him leave. She loved him so much. She remembered the image of her dream, watching him in the bookstore, reading about the birth of children. Was that a symbol of what was to come or COULD come? She didn’t know but the thought of giving birth to his children, made Mia feel completely warm inside. Mia dwelled on the thought for a moment, letting it feel her up with peace.

Then she had to get back to business.

Shanna was reading Watership Down, munching on a banana. Seth was standing in the sand, twirling his sheathed sword, just like Brendon taught him. They were her close friends. Then Mia stopped herself; no, Seth and Shanna had gone beyond that. They weren’t even her best friends; they were more like a brother and a sister now. Anything that was going to affect them, she wanted to tell him. Especially if the visions were true. “Shanna?” Mia called.

“Morning, Mia,” the redhead smiled.

“Do you mind if you stop reading that for a second and come with me?” the Lakota girl asked.

“Sure,” Shanna marked her page and stood up.

“Seth!” she waved, “Come with us!”

Seth stopped his sword practice and paused, wiping his sweat. He tucked the sword by his side like his friend taught him, then followed the two ladies. They began a walk down the beach for a few minutes, past most of the encampment. Eventually they made it to the “concert area” for their little band. Mia looked around and made sure they were alone. “This will do.” She whispered.

“What’s up, Mia?” Seth asked.

“Have a seat, you two.” The Lakota girl said, sitting into the sand.

Shanna slowly sit down and Seth followed her. The redhead past her water bottle to him, allowing him to quench his thirst. The young man swallowed half of it and gave it back to her. “So, what going on?” Seth asked again.

“Yeah, why did you bring us out here? Is this really something you want to tell us with no one around?” Shanna asked, stating the obvious.

“Yes,” Mia replied.

“Well, what is it?” the bookstore worker said.

Mia took a deep sigh and lowered her head. She gathered her thoughts, then looked at them. “I had a vision last night.” She told them.

Shanna stared at her blankly. She had told her about the other visions and how one of them foretold the death of their good friend Brendon. Seth was frozen. He too knew of the visions. He remembered everything she told him and it just reminded him of the kismet that was associated with his photo of him and Tanya.

Then Seth abruptly got up and tried to leave.

“SETH!” Mia grunted loudly at him.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

“COME BACK HERE . . .and sit down.” She ordered, assuming the mother role again.

Seth didn’t move. Then he finally turned around and walked back toward them, head hanging low like a scolded child. He sat down, and crossed his legs. “I honestly don’t want to hear this.” He muttered.

“I know you don’t Seth but you must. It’s very important.” Mia said, placing a hand on his knee.

“What happened in your vision, Mia?” asked Shanna.

“I was at a bookstore,” she began to tell her tale, “Many of you were all around me. Reading books. I saw several people but my grandmother was there. She gave me two warnings.”

“How bad are talking about?” asked Shanna.

“Very bad.” Mia sighed.

“I’m going to my cave,” Seth rocked back and forth, holding his legs, “I am going into my cave and I am going to find my power animal.”

Shanna slapped him on the arm, “Shut up, dummy! Let her talk.”

“Anyway the first warning was directed at Micheal,” Mia continued, “My granny told me that if he fired his warning flare too early, he’ll lose something more valuable to him than his own life.”

“Like what?” asked Seth.

“The only thing I can think of that might be more valuable to him than his own life . . .would be the life of his son.” Mia sighed.

“Something bad is going to happen to Walt?” asked Shanna.

“Not if I can help it.” Mia demanded.

“What’s the second warning?” Seth said frantically, “Who else is in trouble?”

“The second warning . . is complicated,” Mia said, “I think the next person to die might be one of two people. Boone . . . or me.”

“YOU!!” Shanna screamed.

“No, no, no” Seth finally got on his knees and waddled over to the Lakota girl, “Not you, Mia! We already lost Brendon, we can not lose you too!”

“Seth-“ she sighed.

“Whatever it is that is gonna happen, you have to stop it! Tell me what it is and I’ll help you!” the bookstore worker demanded.

“It’s already been decided, Seth. The fates have degreed it’s either me or Boone. But I will not accept that.”

“What do you mean?” Seth said, leaning back on his knees.

“I have taken many things for granted in my life,” Mia whispered, almost teary eyed, “My father, my grandmother, my friends, freedom for my people . . .The one thing I will not ever take for granted was the freedom of my soul. I am a free woman and I will choose my own fate. I am not going to die and neither is Boone . .not if I can help it.”

“What will you do?” Shanna asked.

“I don’t know. I have to stay close to Boone and Locke cause I don’t know how he gets injured. Once that options presents itself, I will do my best to prevent it.”

“If anybody can do it, it’s you, Mia.” Seth smiled.

“There is one more aspect of the dream I wanted to share with you guys, “she smiled, “Brendon was there, in full samurai armor.”

“Really?” Shanna smiled, a single tear going down her cheek.

“His . .his eyes were glowing green and he said something to me. A speech I can’t comprehend.”

“What did he say?” asked Seth.

Mia reached into her pocket and pulled out her note pad. She flipped it over to the page where she wrote down the little limerick. She then began to read it aloud to her friends.

At times I almost dream
I too have spent a life the Sage’s way,
And Tread one more familiar paths.
Perchance I perished in an arrogant self-reliance ages ago;
and in that act, a prayer for one more chance went up so earnest, so . .
.Instinct with better light led in by death, That life was blotted out--not so completely
But scattered wrecks enough of it remain, Dim memories,
as now, when once more seems
The Goal in sight again.

“Wow,” Shanna breathed, “That was nice.”

“That’s . ..that’s poem, isn’t it?” Seth asked.

“Is it, Seth? I don’t know.” Mia pointed out.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s a poem . .who wrote it?” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose and trying to find the author in the confines of his brain.

“How would you know about poetry?” asked Shanna.

Seth pointed toward himself, “HELLO?? Hello?? Bookstore clerk!”

“If you can remember who wrote it, it might help me to determine what clue it represents, Seth.”

“I’ll think about it, I am almost certain I have heard it before.”

“Hey, Mia!” Boone called.

The three friends turned to see the young man with the ice blue eyes coming out of the jungle. He wore a tanktop, torn jeans and a backpack. He looked at her and then pointed back to the jungle. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Boone commented, “Locke needs our help. He is building . . .something.”

“Okay, I’m coming,” she said, standing up.

“You want us to come with you?” Shanna asked.

“No, we can handle it,” Boone said, not wanting anybody else to see the hatch.

“Yes, we can handle it.” Mia said, hugging her friend.

Mia gave Seth a hug and then smiled, turning to follow Boone. The two friends were left on the beach watching their good friend head off into the jungle. When she reached the outerlining of the jungle, she turned around and looked at them. “No fate but our own!” she called, assuring them.

Seth and Shanna waved to her as she disappeared into the jungle. After a few seconds, they began their walk back to the main encampments. Shanna was rubbing her sunburned arms and Seth was doing his best to try and remember the poets name.