Conscious, Conscientious

Lammy sighed a breath of relief as he and Zayza followed Folel and Foler into their village. Once they entered the snow died down dramatically, and Lammy noticed the cloudy vapor puffing from his mouth whenever he breathed out. Winter sure is a weird thing, he thought. Oddly, it had also become slightly less cold the instant they stepped into the village—but not enough to stop him or Zayza from shivering.

The village was about half the size of Tailpiece. Its small, spherical ice buildings were all similarly sized, and jointly formed a semicircle. Each of them had a smaller ice building attached to the back, with an entryway facing the other direction. At the farthest point of the semicircle, a larger building stood tall with a blue flag sticking out of the top. Nobody seemed to be outside at the moment.

“It’s dinner time right about now, so everyone’s inside eating,” Foler explained. Lammy nodded, realizing Foler probably heard him think that question before he even needed to ask it. “And Zayza, that larger igloo at the end is where our Chief lives.”

“Oh, I was just wondering that,” Zayza said with a laugh.

“We’ll be stopping by there right after dinner for our village meeting,” said Folel. “You two are welcome to join us and meet the Chief.”

The twin consciousnesses led them to the right of the village and to the sixth igloo from the Chief’s. As they entered, Lammy found the building looked much bigger on the inside, and felt notably warmer. There was a bunk bed covered in blue blankets, and two armchairs made of snow on parallel ends of the round wall. Spaced out between these were a couple bulky cabinets, and a large white box with ice protruding from its seam, clearly meant to contain frozen of chilled items. A metal pot hanging above small wooden logs rested in the center of the room.

“This is a lovely little home,” Zayza commented.

“Thanks!” Folel and Foler said at the same time.

“I’ll whip us up something for dinner,” announced Folel.

“Sounds good,” agreed Foler. “And I’ll grab you two some warmer clothes. Feel free to make yourselves comfortable.”

It didn’t take long for Foler to get clothes for Lammy and Zayza. He found something in his cabinet Lammy could fit in, and had to run over to a neighbor’s house to borrow women’s clothes for Zayza. Lammy and Zayza took turns going out to the smaller igloo in the back—which was apparently a bathroom—to change.

The clothes were big and thick, but comfy. Both of their outfits included bulgy snow pants and boots, and clingy but warm long-sleeve shirts made out of dense material. Lammy’s shirt was black and Zayza’s grayish-blue. Lammy couldn’t help but notice that even in clothes as ridiculous as these, Zayza still looked outstandingly beautiful. Foler also offered them enormous coats, soft hats, and scarves, for when it was time to go back outside.

Within the hour, the food Folel prepared was ready. He had cooked some sort of fish in the pot after making a fire underneath it, adding in a variety of unfamiliar ingredients to create a stew. A subtle fishy aroma filled the igloo. He grabbed four bowls and spoons from the cabinets and gave everyone their meal. Lammy and Zayza sat in the snow chairs—which were surprisingly cozy—as Folel and Foler took their seats on the top and bottom bunks of their beds.

“So how did you two end up out there, anyway?” Folel asked his guests. “Judging by your feelings, it must have been something wild. You seemed pretty lost.”

“To be honest with you, we haven’t a clue,” Zayza told him. “Not too long ago we were standing in No Man’s Land, just outside a place called…was it Tailpeas?”

“Tailpiece,” Lammy corrected.

“Right—and then I blinked, and all of the sudden we were here.”

“And to add to that,” started Lammy, “We were about to get jumped by a couple of guys…just when my mom showed up…” He trailed off. There was no way to know if she was okay, or how far they would have to travel to find out. He felt helpless, as the cold stares of those two strangers remained imprinted on his mind.

“Hmm…” uttered Folel as he stirred his stew. “That’s a lot to be stressed about, I’m sorry, friends.”

Foler nodded. “And well, we’ve never had anyone just randomly show up near our village like that before…”

“We should bring this to the Chief; maybe he’ll be able to make sense of it,” Folel suggested.

Foler agreed. By then the stew was cooled enough, so they all began eating while continuing the discussion. Lammy was surprised the stew was quite delectable, compared to the fish-based meals he would eat in Tailpiece.

When they all finished, the brothers stood. “It’s about time to make our way over to the Chief’s igloo for the village meeting,” Foler stated.

“You two can either make yourselves at home here, or come with us to hear the Chief’s explanation for yourselves,” offered Folel.

“I would love to attend the meeting,” answered Zayza. “Will you be joining us too, Lammy?”

“Yeah, sure,” he responded. While joining an entire crowd of strangers sounded like the last thing he’d ever want to do—especially when he was already anxious enough over his current plight—he figured sticking with these new friends was probably the right call. He just hoped they could learn how to get home, and fast.

“Don’t worry kiddo; if anyone knows his stuff, it’s the Chief,” Folel ensured, sensing Lammy’s unease.

They all put their coats and hats on, and departed from the igloo.

~

Much like the brothers’ home, the Chief’s igloo appeared larger on the inside. Folel, Foler, Zayza, and Lammy were the first ones in the building—in fact, not even the Chief himself was there yet. It was strangely bare, save for a mattress off to the side, a large blue rug covering the farther half of the floor, and a cabinet to the right (identical to the ones in Folel and Foler’s house). Two wooden torches that stuck out of the icy wall on each side lit the room. Their reflection on the ice made the space bright and clear.

“Have a seat,” Foler said, and they all sat on the snowy floor in the center of the igloo, facing the rug.

Soon afterward, a young couple entered the building and gave warm smiles to Folel and Foler as they greeted each other. People gradually began to trickle in, and each person was just as delighted to see the twins. This pattern continued for the next few minutes, and Folel and Foler knew everyone by name.

“Wow, you two certainly are popular,” Zayza noticed.

“It’s a small village; we all know each other around here,” said Foler. “I guess it also has to do with us being the only two consciousnesses in the village.”

“Yeah, we try to use our abilities to help however we can,” Folel added. “It’s not much, but it goes a long way for these kind folks.”

“That’s very inspiring,” said Zayza. After a moment, she looked at Lammy. “You’ve been awfully quiet, Lammy…I know you must be so worried…”

Lammy looked over to her, realizing he had become sort of distant. “Oh, I-I’m fine,” he said, blushing. He could see the depth of concern in her green eyes.

“We’ll get back to your mother as soon as possible. I’ll make sure of it,” Zayza declared. “Besides, you wanted to help me with my memories. I’ll return your kindness.”

Lammy smiled. Zayza’s care enough to check on him lifted his spirits a bit. “Thank you,” he said.

Village people continued to file in every few seconds, taking seats on various parts of the floor. Some of them had the same tan complexion as Folel and Foler, while many others looked like they may have come from somewhere else. Chatter filled the igloo, growing louder with each person’s arrival. After a few minutes, about fifty people covered every part of the floor up to the rug. Some decided to stand at the entrance to allow room for everyone else.

“Good evening, Chief,” someone close to the entrance uttered. Then people behind him had to shift slightly to allow room for the Chief to make his way to the rug. Zayza and Lammy followed suit, and a moment later two shaky legs in old snow pants swished between them.

The Chief arrived at the center of the rug and turned around. He was tall, very old, and hunched over. The man’s aged face featured intelligent eyes and a long, gray beard. He wore no winter hat, but instead covered the top of his head with a heavy hood. Upon first glance, Lammy knew this Chief was wise and potent. He could tell why Folel and Foler had confidence in him.

The Chief waved his hand slowly and the igloo grew silent. Then he looked down to Lammy and Zayza and greeted them with warm eyes. “I see we have newcomers,” he said.

Lammy almost exploded in a surprised laughter, but he quickly swallowed hard to contain it. The Chief’s voice was much higher than he thought it would be, and was notably scratchy. He sounded like a small boy with a dragonfly jammed in his throat—not at all matching his demeanor. Zayza was also having a hard time hiding her astonishment as her eyes widened with surprise.

“These are our new friends: Zayza and Lammy,” Folel introduced.

“We found them lost in No Man’s Land just outside of here,” Foler explained.

No Man’s Land? thought Lammy. That’s what Zayza called the woods we were in earlier…that’s the same place?

The Chief seemed equally intrigued. “‘In No Man’s Land,’ you say? That means you young ones are consciousnesses!”

Everyone in the igloo gasped.

“That is correct, Mr. Chief,” Zayza confirmed. “I am a Dreamer, and Lammy here is an Imaginer. We—oh…”

Zayza trailed off as the Chief abruptly lifted his face to the ceiling with closed eyes and raised his arms above him dramatically. “O Great Spirit of the Mountains!” he cried in his odd voice. “We thank you for this gift of salvation you have brought to us!”

Lammy and Zayza exchanged confused glances.

“Chief,” began Folel, “we haven’t gotten around to telling them about the monster yet.”

Um…monster?? thought Lammy.

“Oh…pardon me, young ones,” the Chief said. “Allow me to hear your story before jumping to conclusions.”

Zayza politely proceeded to sum up the events of the day since she first met Lammy. The Chief—along with everyone else in the building—listened very intently. She told them of her amnesia, her near-kidnapping, Lammy’s mother coming to help, and their sudden and unexplainable relocation to the snowy abyss. As Lammy listened, he realized this was the most absurd and horrifying day he ever had.

When Zayza finished, the village people began murmuring to each other in amazed and sympathetic tones.

The Chief nodded slowly. “What a terrible experience you have both had,” he commented.

“So what does this all mean?” asked Foler.

“It is clear,” announced the Chief. “These two youth have been delivered from their dangers, and in turn have been brought here to help us defeat the monster. The Mountain Spirit has provided us with the youthful energy and powerful abilities of these two, so that we may finally overcome our conflict.”

Now the peoples’ murmurs were sounding more excited and hopeful. Lammy, however, wasn’t at all comforted by the Chief’s words. Something horrible could happen to his mother, yet the Chief wanted them to put that aside and solve another potentially perilous problem.

“Um…Chief, sir…” stuttered Lammy nervously, “My mother could be in a lot of danger right now, if she’s still okay. I was just hoping you could guide us back to where we were.”

The Chief looked at him with soft, understanding eyes. “That is quite reasonable. Where exactly is this ‘Tailpiece’ young Zayza spoke of? There is a chance it’s not too far from here.”

“I’m…not sure, actually,” Lammy said. “It’s the only place I know.”

“Let’s see…” Zayza pondered aloud. “Well, I know we were still in No Man’s Land…but it was a forest area. And there were trees with all kinds of fruit on them. Unfortunately, that’s all I know.”

The Chief nodded slowly again. “Ah, yes. I am familiar with the region. There are few like it,” he confirmed. Then he looked at Lammy solemnly. “Young Lammy, I’m afraid you are very, very far away,” he said. “This village is in the Realistic Fiction Country—the largest Country in the Multiverse…and not only that, but we are at the tip of it. The area young Zayza describes is somewhere between Fantasy Country and Normal Country. I’m sorry to say: it will be an extremely long journey back.”

Lammy’s heart dropped into his stomach. He lost the will to respond. Zayza placed her gentle hand on his shoulder, but not even that helped him recover from this awful revelation.

“So...Mr. Chief…you believe we were sent here to help your village?” Zayza asked.

“That is the best conclusion I can reach for this,” answered the Chief. “Allow me to explain: for the past month a strange mystical being, which we’ve named Snowdust, has been causing us a great deal of trouble.

“You see, just beyond my igloo lies a path that leads out towards the mountains. These mountains are the only place we can get our resources: fish, wood, and other necessities—but lately we haven’t been able to access that area because the monster lurks on the path, attacking anyone who tries to pass by.”

“That sounds so dreadful,” Zayza commented. “What is this monster like?”

“I believe our dear friends Folel and Foler would be the best people to ask,” the Chief told her. “Being the best fighters in the village, they have been trying to defeat the beast for weeks and see it face-to-face almost every day.”

Foler nodded. “We often go out into the harsh weather of No Man’s Land to train and strengthen ourselves before fighting it,” he added.

“Despite all our work, that thing still defeats us each time,” said Folel. “It would be an honor if the two of you helped us fight it.”

Lammy’s heart skipped a beat. They’re serious—they really want us to fight…but I’m no fighter…I’m barely even an Imaginer! And what about Zayza? How does a Dreamer fight a monster? By sleeping at it?

“Wow—you have enough doubt for all of us,” laughed Folel.

“Yeah, you’re thinking too much—I would know,” Foler added. “Look at it this way: we’ve only almost died in half our attempts to beat it.”

“That’s reassuring…” Lammy mumbled.

After Zayza figured out Folel and Foler had sensed Lammy’s feelings and thoughts, she turned to him. “Lammy, I’m scared too…and I can’t remember if I know how to fight—but I think we should try to help them,” she started, looking him in the eyes.

Instantly the same thing that happened when he first met her reoccurred: the world became a glistening, foggy frame around her radiant face and her eyes seemed to gently peer into his soul. He could hear her soothing voice, but her words had no meaning.

“…clothed and fed us, which is why I think it’s the least we can do,” finished Zayza. “Would you agree…? Lammy…?”

Lammy blinked and shook his head. “Huh? Oh…sure,” he said, blushing.

The Chief suddenly lifted his hands into the air and closed his eyes again. “O Great Spirit of the Mountains! Truly your chosen heroes have followed your path and we shall be saved!!” he exclaimed. The crowd, including Foler and Folel, let out a collective cheer.

Oh great…what have I done? Lammy thought.

“We are incredibly grateful,” the Chief told Lammy and Zayza. “May the Great Spirit provide you with strength.”

With that, the nature of the meeting shifted towards what seemed to be the more routine agenda. Zayza and Lammy sat silently it progressed. The village people made known their health needs to the Chief, and then they moved through a variety of other topics such as the food supply, supporting each other as resources continue to deplete, and what types of inventions are in the works from the village’s construction man.

Even in this difficult time, they were all in the same carefree mood as Folel and Foler. Lammy wondered if this had anything to do with the hope that came with his and Zayza’s arrival, or if that was simply the way they were. Even after all the topics were covered, everyone—the Chief included—engaged in conversation about the events of the past day. It was an overall warm atmosphere despite the chill of the winter they lived in.

It had been almost an hour since the proceedings began by the time the Chief dismissed the people of the village. Everyone stood and began to file out. As Zayza and Lammy rose to their feet, the Chief thanked them once more.

“We’ll do whatever we can,” Zayza told him with a smile.

The Chief returned her smile. “And Lammy, remember this: no matter what enemy you’re facing, doubt and fear are your only true opponents.”

Lammy nodded, unsure of why the Chief was telling him specifically. The four consciousnesses then turned to leave the igloo.

~

When they returned to Folel and Foler’s home, the brothers set up the sleeping arrangements for Lammy and Zayza early, to avoid worrying about it later. They provided them each with a hefty black sleeping bag complete with a pillow. Lammy could tell these were made specifically for low temperatures.

After Foler cleared up space, he placed the sleeping bags beside each other in the middle of the icy home. They lit a couple lanterns to ward off the incoming darkness, and sat around the room to discuss their task.

“Normally I would suggest that we get in some practicing tomorrow morning to get used to fighting alongside each other,” Folel began, “but I know we’ll need all the energy we have to last against that thing.”

Foler nodded. “We’ll already have the advantage with twice as many fighters.”

Lammy wanted to challenge that statement, but felt he missed his opportunity back in the meeting. Besides, he knew the twins could already sense his reluctance, yet it wasn’t enough to dwindle their hope in the Chief’s prophecy. And most of all: he already told Zayza he was in, and he didn’t want to let her down. If anything, maybe he could keep her safe.

So there was no choice: he was about to fight a monster with her.

“I’m still quite curious—what exactly is this mystical creature?” Zayza asked them.

“Oh—that’s right! We haven’t even told you guys anything about it yet!” laughed Foler. “Sorry about that. To answer your question, we can barely explain it ourselves.”

“Yeah,” Folel agreed. “Snowdust sure is a strange creature. It’s almost like a human—well, it’s shaped like one, at least. But it’s made entirely out of specks of snow and ice. The thing doesn’t have a face, so it doesn’t talk or anything…but it sure can fight.”

“We can never seem to finish it off,” Foler added. “Even when it falls apart into nothing but a pile, it can rebuild itself in a second as long as there’s snow—which around here, is always. We’ve even tried melting it by lighting sticks on fire, but it just rebuilds itself in another spot using different snow. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“That’s so strange…” Lammy thought aloud. “How are we supposed to beat a monster like that?”

“We just keep trying; it’s all we can do,” answered Folel, and then he sighed. “…Now I don’t know about you guys, but I think we should get as much rest as we can. We need plenty of energy for tomorrow.”

“If you all would like,” Zayza proposed, “when I enter the Dream World tonight, I could search specifically for any memories I may have lost that have to do with fighting. Maybe I’ll find something that can help us out.”

“I didn’t realize the Dream World worked like that,” commented Foler.

Zayza nodded. “Mm-hmm, in the Dream World every Dreamer has a home—mine is a cute little cave beside a river—and everyone’s home stores all their memories, feelings, preferences, and other thoughts—well, it should at least. Because I have amnesia, most of my memories aren’t in my cave…They’re all scattered around the Dream World…lost…” her voice began to sound choky and her eyes shined with tears.

Lammy’s heart dropped at the sight of Zayza’s distressed face.

“Foler, you made the poor girl think of her troubles,” Folel told his brother.

“Hey now, don’t cry,” Foler said to Zayza kindly. “You don’t need to explain it if that’s a tough subject—just do your thing, and let us know what you find.”

Zayza sniffed, wiping her cheeks as her tears gently rolled down. “I’m sorry—how embarrassing…” she said with a light laugh. “I’ll definitely see what I can find…I’ll have plenty of hours to do so.”

A little while later, everyone agreed that it was time to go to sleep. Folel put the lanterns out with handfuls of snow, and they all got in their beds. As Lammy lay there in the dark, he reflected upon all that happened in that single day, and laughed bitterly in his mind.

Deon wouldn’t believe how ridiculous everything got right after he left…I wonder if his life is just as messed-up right now…Then he thought about his mother. Now he wouldn’t know if she was okay for a long, long while.

That last thing you said to me, Mom…‘Don’t worry about me. Just stay safe’…I can’t tell if that makes me feel better or worse about all this.

Lammy continued to lay there, wide awake. Eventually Folel and Foler began to snore (at the same time) and he could hear Zayza’s steady breathing. Soon enough, he merely accepted it as it was and closed his eyes, imagining numerous different objects in his head to pass the time and prepare for the next day.