The next morning held a supposed long journey ahead of us – we would travel the entire day and rest for a night, then travel another day and reach our destination at nightfall. Regarding that we were to spend the entire journey on her cats back – this forest must be huge. We were jumping from branch to branch at great speed, stopping here and there for a view and to pick some fruit.
After having spent the morning on the move we reached a tree that was grown with magic – its branches grew as to form a flat rectangular platform, each corner formed by a branch reaching to form the trees canopy. There were many of these outposts strewn across the forest she mentioned; their folk often wandered the forest sometimes days on end – so these made for good rest spots – the branches were grown as to form beds and some had pieces of cloth spanned between them as another form of rest provision – if the floor was not good enough. The middle of the platform provided a place for fire – fire provided a better boost for morale than lights created by the travellers themselves. This practise of surveying the jungle in their leisure time meant that the forest was always under a watchful eye – so the forest was always cared for and nothing would disturb the balance.
She spoke of the Lumina being the caretakers of the forest and how it was their duty to protect and cherish the place they were inhabiting. The pristine state of the forest and its natural balance were their responsibility and without their care it would slowly lose its sense of mystique. Every spaces quality was determined by how much care its caretaker gave it – so it was a good habit to leave in ones wake a path looking a bit better than before. The responsibility for ones living space is one shared by all inhabitants of the realms – so it is ones duty to spread this knowledge so that collectively all realms willing may reach a higher level of being.
After having relaxed for a short while we were off again – this mode of travel was much like riding a bull – constant adjusting of momentum and an unknowing of which direction we would move towards next. I was holding on to her and trying to mimic her ways of leaning so that our collective motion was most harmonious. I got the hang of it eventually after which I could spend more of my time focusing on the vegetation and animal life flowing beside in jittery haste.
From gorgeous rainbow coloured flowers in all sizes to intimidating birds and massive mammals– everything imaginable was in this jungle. As we floated by nothing seemed to be bothered by our presence, we were onlookers of life living and so we were viewed in return – every animal respecting the sanctity of the other. Life seemed to be exploding here – so this is what the world looks like when protected and encapsulated in pristine harmony.
The day moved on quickly – the constant awe never leaving my mental plane. Just as I thought I had seen the greatest of beauties I was surprised at the next – the views were exquisite and the myriad of life was overwhelming. I kept pondering at every animal’s purpose in the jungle – they were all intricately connected; much like a bee to the flower or the sun to the leaf.
As the night slowly rolled in I wondered what creatures of the night we would see. Not long into the darkness we arrived at an outpost and set up camp. She created a shining light in the canopy and from a hole in the trunk of the tree she provided us with warm thick blankets. We lay on our backs pondering thoughts of what we had seen and of what we wished to see – sharing a kiss here and there. I felt comfortable in her presence and she in mine. We both felt free to express what was in our hearts and living seemed effortless. She assured me that there was an infinite world to see and that we would experience it beyond measure when our current purpose was fulfilled. Balancing the dark was our destiny – we were students of the light and it was our calling to provide the answers many in this world seek. We are the ones that find beauty in the darkest of places to provide an anchor for it. We are cornerstones of the world for without us all the world would fall into darkness – much like every angle of life – without the one there is no other. Without light there is no dark and without every protagonist there is no antagonist. The realms are arenas of perspectives peering at one another from different angles – all parts of the same being – re-expressing itself for its own amusement.
She was rekindling the knowledge of the light within me so that I might awaken from my slumber in the dark world I had gotten to know too well. I was grateful for without her teachings I would learn slower once we got to Izuh’goll, besides that the warm philosophy was music to my ears. It has been long before this dream since I’ve heard the insights of an enlightened soul – since I’ve been here its been a torrent of information that I welcome with grace. Back where I came from this kind of conversation is a rarity.
That must be another realm – a different dream of mine – one put on halt by a car crash; a dream that could not go on its depravity, misery and chaos. I escaped into this dream; pierced the veil to another world to accomplish something profound – save myself from myself and in parallel help save a world in peril. Serve my true purpose as a warrior – not as drugged up psychopath.
She chuckled at my revelations: “you seem to be quite the character in your parallel life”
“All I know is that I am here now – not there. Life here seems only different and with you here a lot better – I can hardly remember my old life.”
“And you do not need to – all shall make sense in the end.”
With that last insight comfortably ringing in my ears I fell asleep – not dreaming; just thick sleep – that of a stone.
The morning rays hit my face and my lips became a smile as I peered down at my love laying on my chest still in blissful sleep. I was going to enjoy this drowsy state of tranquillity for a few moments longer before I would wake her. The canopy buzzed with the sound of bees and I looked around to see all the birds in their wonderful colours – their chirping was the sound of peace.
After breakfast we set off; her cat took us through the brush on the forest floor for a while – the canopy had become too dense for a comfortable ride. This meant we would encounter a lot more of the ground creatures up close – I couldn’t wait to be zigzagging within a heard of unfamiliar beasts – my excitement was high. The experience was bewildering and I couldn’t express my state of ecstasy when it happened – it was the witnessing of great creatures migrating to greener pastures; giant animals at each side and to them I wasn’t even on their radar – a truly humbling experience.
After our brush with the greatness of nature we traversed a valley and were soon back in the canopy of the forest following a stream along our right side.
Clouds greeted us at night time cutting the day short – we moved on at the same pace under a starless sky. The well was not far off so we stared descending and hit the forest floor shortly after. The cat was weary so we walked the rest of the way – encountering luminescent insects on our way through giant mushrooms and other humongous ground plants – everything had a purple hue since the moons light was the only thing protruding the cloud cover.
The pool could be seen in the distance against a rock face – some small palms at its side along with a big rock. There were rocks dotting a path all the way up to the water. Getting closer I could see a figure hop to and fro on the rock – almost dancing, but there was no music audible. As we got closer we could see him wearing a wooden mask too big for his frame which let him seem like a which doctor. He wielded a fitting cane. He was singing a tune in a language I could not understand – if it was a language at all – it sounded more like jibber jabber.
Acknowledging our presence he sent out a stream of stars in our direction – illuminating our way towards him – white light now above our heads. It felt welcoming.
On our arrival his singing stopped and he announced from the rock above us:”What is the difference in prepostrocity between the cross of an elk and an elephant and a tiger and a llama? Furthermore what do you expect is the difference in credibility a known word has opposed to a word I have just made up? For its legitimacy is only its ability to be understood in context. Beyond these 2 puzzles I challenge you to tell me which ability is keener; the dog’s sense of smell or the whale’s ability to yell? I shall give you a hint; these riddles are all intricately connected in the deepest sense possible – you need but say the words on your mind.”
“Their all deterministic of perception” I expressed – the words almost feeling as if they had been pulled out from inside me.
“Correct fellow travellers – your mind is keen and open – now tell me; if either beings perception is as different from one another as the ant’s life is to yours, yet consciousness is intricately connected in every way possible then how do you define madness? Is it the fascination of a fact gone too far or is it the failure to understand its possessor – for every secret is only a secret as long as its keeper not wishes to set it free. This point – my friends – is where madness can be understood to produce sanity; or if you wish clarity.
The question has within itself the answer – for there is no question without one – they are a married couple.
Now I believe you may enter; may torrents of light flood your way – the world wishes to bestow you with riches ethereal and not; you may go forth.”
The gatekeeper sprang into the air and with a twist and turn he sent a green twirling light into the pool before disappearing with a small puff of blue smoke.
The pools water started churning and before long there was vortex at its centre – releasing a its slurping sound with candid wonder of what the world was like on the other side.
Without a thought wasted we both sprang.