Crystal Song

Chapter 2

Dawn broke over the valley as Sai woke to the pronounced hum of the crystal form. The vibration of the crystal form was stronger then she had ever felt it. Of course no one would listen to her fears that there was indeed something wrong within the matrix. She lay curled on her side allowing the vibratinon of the planet to calm her. In her short time of the yearly sun, she had never felt the vibration this intense. Finally, she sat up, her long white hair cascading down her back and pooling on her bed. Sai reflexively ran her fingers through her hair then, with quick movements divided it into five sections to complete the complicated braid that was so popular among the girls her age. Her mind sought out the link so familiar to her, searching for some kind of answer to her concerns. It was difficult for her to keep her anonymity this close to the council tower so she only lightly touched the matrix.

A soft rap on the divider caused her head to jerk up. Her lavendar eyes dark from the connection to the matrix.

"Sai" Ossle barged in without even waiting for permission as was customary. He stopped jsut inside her sleeping area. " Come quickly!" He moved forward to take her hand and tug on it.

"Ossle" Sai said as she faked a yawn. "Why do you barge in without even asking if I am dressed?" She looked up at him with a sisterly "Im irritated with you " smile.

"Mother needs you now. There is something wrong with the plants." he tugged once more.

"They were fine yesterday." Sai objected as she followed her brother's quick pace outside the sleeping area and into the family's main living area.

They exited the living quarters and came to stand beside their mother who had her hands outstreached and was singing. Her aging voice had a magical lilt to it but the wilting plants did not seem to hear or respond to it. Their vibrant colors seeming to fade right before thier eyes.

Sai's eyes widened in shock. Her beautiful friends that she sang to just last eve lay sick at her feet. With tears in her eyes she took up her mother's song. The connection the plants had with the matrix was fading and because of that failure, they sickened right before her eyes. Sai changed the lilt of her voice and modified her tune. She knelt on the deastone walk and placed her hands on the soil to make a better connection. When she did this she realized that all of the planet was suffering thus. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she attempted the delicat repairs all the while sensing that others did so as well.

As she entered the matrix, she felt the other chosen joining with her to mend the abnormalities that had occured over night. It seemed such a short time to actually have so much go wrong. Sai wove back the delicate strands that made up the matrix. The connections were so important to maintain and yet they had slipped so much into disrepair.

The song she sung was one of binding. It seemed energies were breaking apart.

As the chosen sang the strident hum of vibration that was there upon her waking settled down into the near normal pattern of the vibration she was getting used to. The plants began to respond and come back to the beautiful beings they once were.

Sai knew she was noticed amoung the chosen. It was no small thing that she had joined into the binding song. There would indeed be reprocussions for her bold action. Now it was a "wait and see" situation. She realized too late that she should have just kept to the healing of the plants which was her family's station.

During the whole of the day as she went through the motions of her daily routine, Sai watched warily the commings and goings of the house and when the daily sun began to set she began to breathe more easily. It wasnt until after the family finished eating thier evening meal that she relaxed. Perhaps sh had gone unnoticed. She certianly hoped so.

Sai slipped out of her sleeping camber's window and into the alleyway. A quick look up at the yearly sun, hating the fact that it was only the beginning of the year, Sai made her way down the alley and toward the edge of town. She pulled the hood of her cloak closer to her face in hopes that she would not be recognised. The edge of town loomed closer and closer as her feet quickly and softly took her along her way.

Green eyes narrowed, the man followed his assignment. It has surprised everyone to find a new mind within the matrix at the time of the collapse. And this mind had helped direct the healing. None of the chosen had anticipated the collapse of the supporting life-matrix. It had taken all they knew to do to correct it. Most of the lower life forms including thier beautiful plants, had sickened to the point of dying by the morning. The chosen has rallied but didnt know what to do. Then another mind had merged with the matrix. At first it had shyly and cautiously followed the lead of the others but when it saw that the measures were not working, had led in a different way. The song had abruptly changed and the matrix had responded. The other chosen had rallied behind that mind and just like that the healing began. It had taken him quite a time finding that mind. But finally he had tracked the energy to this one green singer. Now he followed. He needed to know how gifted she was. He also needed to know what she knew about the collapse.

author: Mysti