The Light in Aquala

Together they walked back to Rivia and Jaxx. The grass brightened under their boots as they crossed the clearing.

“Rivia, you are asking us to trust you and follow you into the unknown. To leave everything behind.” said Mara softly. Her voice was steady, but her hands were clasped in front of her and her fingers had woven themselves together, which was something she did when she was working through a problem and had not yet found the answer.

Rivia nodded. She had not stood up. She was still sitting on the grass, Jaxx loyally by her side.

“I know it is a lot to ask but I’m not asking you to make a decision right now. Just to consider it and think about what you could see and what answers you’ll find. I may be able to come back here, or someone else will. You might have another chance to go later.”

Lena had stood quietly while Mara talked and she now stepped forward and looked at Rivia with a concerned expression. “What happens if we say stay?”

Rivia's face softened and she smiled gently. “Then you go back to your village and continue to live your lives. You forget about me, the Neon threads, the portals and the different worlds. At least for now.”

She paused, and the light on her face dimmed for a moment and then came back.

“But I believe this experience has changed you both and you will always wonder what was out there and if you will ever get another chance to leave here and find out for yourselves.”

Mara felt the truth of those words, and she knew that Rivia was right, she would always wonder what was out there and wish she had been brave enough to follow. She looked at Lena and at that moment, they knew what decision they would make.

“We will come with you,” they said in unison, as big smiles broke out on their faces.

Rivia's face lit up with a smile that made her Neon glows swirl in bright, joyful patterns. "I know you will not regret this."

Lena grinned. "We will hold you to that."

The three women spent the next hour preparing. Mara carefully repacked her scientific equipment, making sure everything was secure and protected. Lena collected the camping gear and divided the food and water rations among the three of them.

Rivia spoke to Jaxx about the plan and he cocked his head to one side, looking at her with a serious expression before bounding off towards the river for one last swipe at the fish.

As they worked, Mara and Lena thought of their great-grandmother's stories about the Queens of Neon.

If they really had existed, then they wanted to know everything about them. Had they used the Neon threads to open portals and what worlds they had gone to and what they had found there. Also, why did they disappear, or do they still exist somewhere? Were the other people they would be meeting that had the Neon that actually be the Queens of Neon?

"Do you think we will ever meet the Queens or have they all disappeared, and they are just legends in stories now?" Lena asked quietly.

Mara looked at her sister with an encouraging smile. "I don't know but I’m sure we will find out more going than staying."

Rivia looked at each of them and reassured them that they would find the answers to their questions.

Rivia then stood, calling Jaxx to her side. "We should go back to the waterfall where this all began." She turned to face the sisters. "That is where the Neon was strongest and where the threads broke and the original portal exploded. I think that is where we will be able to find a path to another portal."

Mara slung her backpack over her shoulders and adjusted the straps. "Then let’s go."

They left the clearing and headed back toward the waterfall.

The trail was easier to follow now during the daylight and Jaxx led the way, his glowing eyes happily darting back and forth at the constant rustling in the vegetation as little creatures of all shapes, sizes and colors were scurrying about. The sounds of the jungle were alive around them, insects chirping and leaves rustling, but nothing felt threatening to Jaxx anymore.

As they walked, Mara felt the anticipation building in her chest. She didn’t know what they would find at Aquala or where a portal would lead them, but she knew that she wanted to find out.

They were doing the right thing.

She looked at Lena, who was walking beside her with a spring in her step. She looked at Rivia, who moved with quiet confidence along the path and at Jaxx, who turned back occasionally to make sure they were all still following him.

Whatever came next, they would face it together.