The Light in Aquala

Mara emerged from her family's weathered bamboo home with her waterproof traveling pack already secured across her shoulders, the golden morning light spilling through the doorway and illuminating the fine dust that floated in the air.

Their family home was one of the oldest in the village, built by their grandparents' grandparents. The walls were stained with years of rain and sun, its roof patched with fresh palm fronds which their mother had woven just the week before.

A small garden grew beside the entrance, filled with herbs and medicinal plants that their great-grandmother had planted decades ago and that continued to flourish.

Mara had dressed for the jungle trek, wearing sturdy cargo pants and a thick belt that had all sorts of gadgets hanging from it: a compact spectrometer, a small data recorder, a set of measuring tools that clicked and whirred in ways that fascinated the children who gathered to watch.

Her soft leather boots were new, purchased from the tanner who lived two villages over, and her sleeveless vest was covered with large, zippered pockets that bulged with notebooks, spare instrument batteries, and the small containers she used to collect samples.

The fabric of her vest was woven from a durable plant fiber that she had helped develop at the Academy, treated to resist moisture and repel the tiny insects that thrived in the jungle's humidity.

A narrow band of matching fabric held her hair away from her face, although several glowing strands had already escaped around her cheeks, curling in the humid morning air. Her hair was a combination of striking, luminescent blues that were completely unique amongst all of the villagers and made her stand out even more.

The flowers she wore on her head, a gorgeous crown of decoration common in their village, were mostly rich blues and greens to match her Neon glow. The flowers would last for weeks, happily living by drawing all of the nutrients and water they needed from the humid jungle and ocean air.

Tucked safely among Mara’s belongings were her beloved scientific instruments, the ones she used to measure the Neon as the Season changed. She always wanted to be a scientist and was thrilled when she was accepted into the Academy, a prestigious institution located inland where the most curious minds gathered to study the world around them.

Now a teacher herself, she reveled in the knowledge that one day her research and measurements would help society determine how the Neon was able to wrap itself so intricately into their lives. Why so few humans had the colorful Neon glows emanating from their faces and why the colors were different for each of these humans.

It was all still a mystery, one that had fascinated scholars for generations and showed no signs of yielding its secrets easily.

There were even records of others in the past called the Queens of Neon, who perhaps lived far away now or who were no more. Another mystery that Mara hoped to solve one day, especially since she and her sister Lena were the only ones that anyone had ever known that had the Neon. Everyone except their great-grandmother.

It would be amazing to meet others with the Neon glows, and a childhood wish come true.

Lena was already waiting beside the path outside their home, looking considerably more energized and very pleased with herself. She had been up before dawn, as she always was on mornings like this, unable to sleep through the excitement of a new adventure.

Her long, glowing, golden hair was loosely braided down her back, with wisps escaping around her temples and curling in the damp morning air, and her lighter traveling clothes were already marked with the evidence of previous journeys: a faded stain from swamp mud on one knee, a spot of dried tree sap near her cotton shirt pocket that had hardened into a tiny amber bead, and a small tear on her well-worn pants that had clearly been repaired more than once with uneven stitches she'd done herself.

She lived for adventures, gathering stories and the occasional scar, each one a reminder of some adventure undertaken and survived. Her maps of newly discovered areas proved invaluable to the village, since she had found many new resources and also villages that had been forgotten about.

The thrill of a new adventure always had her up early, filled with anticipation, long before everyone else.

Mara was still fast asleep when Lena sprinted out of the house, barely taking the time to braid her hair or slide into her sandals.

The family dog, a shaggy creature with floppy ears and an enthusiastic tail, was excited to be reunited with her once again and happily ran at her side towards the beach, barking joyfully at the swooping seabirds that circled overhead. She had chased the birds across the beach, her paws leaving deep impressions in the wet sand and her tail wagging so furiously that her whole body shook with joy.

Rejuvenated even more by a her morning swim in the cool waters of the bay, Lena was ready to start their trek to Aquala, the ancient waterfall.

Her old but trustworthy backpack looked ridiculously over-stuffed as she stood there, struggling to heave it onto her back, the straps creaking under the weight of supplies she had insisted on bringing. The golden orange and vivid pink flowers of her traditional crown narrowly escaping damage from her ungraceful backpack struggles.

Mara, now fully awake and ready to go, walked outside and stopped when she saw Lena’s overstuffed backpack, raising one eyebrow slightly in that way that always made Lena feel caught. Their mother stood in the front doorway of their home, an indulgent smile on her slightly aging face.

"You promised you weren't bringing half the village this time!" complained Mara.

Lena adjusted the pack, shifting its weight more comfortably across her shoulders, and smiled with practiced innocence while avoiding eye contact, "I promised I wouldn't bring anything I didn't need."

"You brought enough food for five days." Mara exclaimed, gesturing at the bulging sides of her sister's pack. "I can see the outline of at least three canteens, a cooking pot, and is that a blanket poking out from the side?"

"As you always say, we don't know what the weather will do," Lena replied innocently, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she tried to push the blanket back into place, defending her decision.

"But we are only going for two days," Mara retorted, her voice already carrying the exasperation Lena knew so well. These arguments were inevitable and happened every time Mara watched Lena pack for adventures with her usual reckless enthusiasm.

"Then we'll eat very well for two days," Lena cheerfully replied, giving her sister a winning smile that she knew Mara couldn't resist.

Their mother burst out laughing, shaking her head as she turned and went back into their home to continue on with her day. She was glad to have her daughters back with her for a little while.

She always looked forward to the Season changes, since she knew that for a while, her family would share a few meals and stories together before the girls headed back to their own lives again.

Mara had tried not to smile, but Lena knew her sister too well to miss the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, the way her eyes softened despite her best efforts to maintain her stern expression.

Their bantering arguments started when they were young, a familiar rhythm that had become as natural as breathing.

Mara planned. She carefully measured everything she could and prepared for possibilities that Lena rarely considered until they actually happened.

Lena, on the other hand, loved her traveling comforts, trusted her instincts and had little patience for carrying the scientific equipment she believed they could live without.

Neither had ever completely convinced the other of the wisdom of their approach to life, but after years of traveling together, they had learned that somewhere between Mara's careful preparation and Lena's willingness to leap straight into any adventure, they always managed to return home safely.

"Finally, we're going," Lena said, quickly changing the subject and peering up into the sky, the sunlight shining down onto her golden hair, causing it to glow brighter.

The morning sun was already warming the air, promising a day of increasing heat and humidity as the jungle absorbed the light. A few wispy clouds drifted overhead, too thin to bring rain but enough to offer occasional relief from the sun on the uncovered parts of their path.

Mara checked the scientific instruments in her backpack once more, just to make sure everything was there and was secure.

"I was the one who wanted to leave an hour ago Lena."

Lena smirked. "But you wanted to finish measuring the Neon here first."

"I wanted to be certain."

"You are never certain." Lena complained, throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation.

"That's because there's always something new that ends up needing to be measured. Besides, it was you holding us up, trying to stuff last-minute items into that gigantic backpack of yours."

Lena laughed, the sound bright and genuine, and walked over to hip-check Mara, almost causing both of them to lose their balance and fall over.

"Come on. Let's go see what amazing new changes await us at Aquala this Season."