Minnow and Corbin: Chapter 4

The gate opened and they walked into the next area. A tower stood in front of them, reaching up like a giant tree. Corvin led Minnow to the first glyph and activated it. The same picture they had seen earlier with the Ancestor. A sparkly substance started to fill the room. It was like water, except it restored their scarf power, allowing them to fly without stopping. The tower shone with a brilliant glow. They went from glyph to glyph, making the fog rise, and watching their story unfold.  They made their way to the top, using cloth bridges and jellyfish. Corvin motioned for her to follow, and entered a small, circular room, with long strips of cloth hanging from the ceiling. A glyph stood alone in the middle. When activated, it showed a picture Minnow had never seen before.

Is that… a funeral?

I believe so. I don’t have anything to say about it, but I thought I should show you anyway.

They flew out and landed on the whale. While riding it, Corvin explained that Guardians were actually cloth whales encased in metal and given a searchlight. Finally, they reached the platform on which the Ancestor stone waited. They chirped, but before they sat down, the roof lit up, covered with glowing symbols, which streamed towards them as they sat down.

Minnow stood before the Ancestor. The Ancestor did not disappear, but all around them were symbols, the same as the ones on the tower. They showed her and Corvin at the broken bridge, with the kites, sliding through the Sunken City, hiding from Guardians in the Underground. Then it showed them at the base of the Mountain, leaning into heavy winds, almost to their goal. She remembered how monumental this moment had been the first time. Discovering her destiny and seeing how important her Journey really was. But this was even more powerful, as she suddenly realized Corbin had been with her every step of the way. For the first time, she had a companion. She had a friend.

Now, Corbin was seeing something else. As a white cloak, he had made the journey enough times that he didn’t have to rewatch his history. Instead, he had short meetings with the Ancestor.

Hello, child.

Ancestor. he bowed.

It seems you finally found a good red cloak to take under your wing.

Corbin nodded eagerly. Yes. How am I doing?

Hmm… the Ancestor paused in thought. You’ve done very well. But what matters most is how you do in the final chapters of this journey.

Yes.

You must go now. Your companion awaits.

He bowed again, starting to fade.

And Corbin, you mean more to her than you know. Do not lose her.

They got up as their visions faded and walked out. Snow blanketed the landscape, and sharp cliffs jutted up around them. But right above them was the Mountain.

Almost there! She smiled and turned to him. Thanks for staying.

He beamed back. Don’t thank me yet. I’ll be with you all the way.

She shivered, frost quickly collecting on her scarf.

Corbin walked close to her, and their cloak patterns glowed. Minnow felt herself warm up, smiling when she realized companions could keep each other warm.

They walked for a few minutes then took cover behind a large metal marker. The cold wind rushed around them, kicking up snow. It bit at them, starting to freeze their scarves, even with their shared warmth. Flying was of no use. They walked from marker to marker, stepping out when the wind paused.

 They finally reached a small clearing in which the wind died down. Unfortunately, it was just as cold. Grave markers were buried in the snow, war machine pieces all around them. It had been one of the many battlefields at the foot of the Mountain.

Minnow found a half-frozen kite inside one of the fragments. It was shaking in the cold, but flew out and around her happily when she chirped at it. It restored some of her scarf energy and defrosted, but the poor thing froze up again almost instantly. Gurgling miserably, it went inside another Guardian piece and wouldn’t come out.

It’s s-so cold… she shuddered and walked closer to him.

The worst is yet to come, my friend.

Minnow didn’t respond. Her cloak was stiff, the end of her scarf frozen solid. Corbin led her into a small room, cut into the side of the cliff wall. Inside was a heat lamp, fully functioning. She sat against the wall, already exhausted. The white cloak joined her, and they sat together in silence until Minnow spoke.

You know… lots of stories, right? Do you think maybe you could… tell me one?

Hmm. Well… alright. So he told her a grand tale of adventure, bravery, and friendship. The hero had fallen for a beautiful princess, but she was snatched away by the villain, who was bent on taking over the world. It was up to the hero and his loyal companion to save the day. Minnow loved it, but never heard the end. She had fallen asleep listening to the soothing sound of his voice.