Hidden Powers

By VR Janis

Papakoosigun is a restless and motivated young elf maiden who always seems to find trouble. When her beloved teacher tells her she doesn't have any other choice but to report her behavior to the Queen it drives her from her ancestral home. She does not want to have to explain her actions to the queen only to be shunned forever. She finds herself

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inked Scroll Press
• Release date: Nov 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9780991134281

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

ENCOUNTER

Papakoosigun jumped into her canoe, shoved it away from the shore, and grabbed her paddle, forcing her already tired muscles to move the canoe through the water. She was leaving this place, and she did not care where she ended up. In all her sixteen years on Gashi Aki, Mother Earth, she had never been so hurt and ashamed, so misunderstood. The accident was not her fault, yet everyone had stared at her with blame in their eyes and on their tongues. It had been her idea to race, but she never thought anyone would get hurt.

She looked back at the island as she paddled and then closed her eyes, keeping a constant rhythm. When she opened her eyes and looked back again, the island was no longer visible. She looked forward, determined not to glance back anymore.

Papakoosigun worried that her hair would be like a beacon leading everyone to her. Its vibrant copper color stood out against the ocean water and flashed in the moonlight every time she moved. She jerked her hood over her head and continued to paddle toward the mainland.

She was angry at herself for jumping into action without thinking yet again. She didn’t even have her pack with her.

What I am going to do? she muttered.

At least she had her bandolier bag. Ever since the time she had gotten lost in the caves on the island for four days, she had always kept her bag with her. She could still think of a few things she wished she had packed, things that she forgot in her haste. All she had in her bag were socks, undergarments, tobacco for offering, her doll, and a small bottle of lavender. She also had her staff with her, but she did not know if she should take it with her when she landed on the mainland.

She had heard stories of the mainland, scary stories of humans, and the destruction they had done to the earth. She didn’t believe the stories, thought they were just told to scare the young ones into staying on the island. Well, she was never going back to the island. This was the last time she was going to get in trouble and be yelled at by her teacher, Biboon.

Her teacher was a giant who stood ninety feet in the air. She was intimidating when she was calm and smiling, but when she was angry it was a whole new experience. This was the fourth time in a month that Papakoosigun had stood in front of the elders of the island and taken punishment for causing mischief. This time was different, though.  Biboon’s booming voiced still played in her head.

I have had enough with you, Papakoosigun!  I wash my hands of all this trouble. I am writing to the queen of the elves and she can deal with you.

Papakoosigun shook her head and continued to paddle away from the island. Her brother did not want to be near her, and may not ever again. He was her only family and she felt utterly alone. In her mind, she replayed the last thing he had said to her.

It is your fault this happened to me, Papakoosigun!  I don’t want to talk to you. Just leave me alone!

Opichi, I’m sorry you were hurt.

Just leave, I don’t want to see you again.

Her brother said it was her fault, everyone was saying it was her fault. They said most of the accidents which happen with the younglings involved her. She heard them and still it did not bother her. But when Biboon said she’d had enough, that was what made her leave.

Heads burst above the water. The water elves surrounding her canoe would not let her paddle any farther. One held her paddle and the others held the canoe still. The water elves were blue-skinned and blue-haired, with eyes that flashed between blues and greens. The only similarity between her and the water elves was their pointed ears.

All of the elves who surrounded her canoe were her age and she knew most of them. One in particular was a good friend who had gotten into a lot of mischief with her. He was one of the older elves in the group and Papakoosigun spoke to him.

What are you doing, Gigoon? Why are you stopping me?

Papakoosigun, you have to go back to the island. Everyone is looking for you. They sent us to find you when they noticed your canoe was gone.

I am sorry, cousin, but I am not going back. All they want is to have me back so they can ship me off to the queen.

Everyone is worried. Please come back with us.

No! Please let me go, she wailed. I can’t go back to a place where I am not wanted.

He sighed. How do you know how everyone feels? Can you see their thoughts? Do not assume; it can bring more problems than it helps.

You don’t understand, Gigoon. I don’t have to read their thoughts when I can read their faces.

Fine, Papakoosigun, you win. We will not try to stop you, but I will listen and wait. All you have to do is call and I will try to help.

All of their heads disappeared beneath the surface except Gigoon’s. He still held the tip of the canoe.

Papakoosigun, I do not think you should go to the mainland. I have watched these humans. They are careless and that makes them dangerous.

I will be careful, but I need to do this. I cannot be handed around because people think I am trouble.

No one thinks you are trouble.

Still....

Okay, okay. I will not argue with you, I know when I am going to lose. I surrender. He threw his hands in the air. Not everyone thinks you are trouble, and you are sorely missed already. Your brother was just mad; I know he is worried about you.

Goodbye, cousin.

His head disappeared beneath the surface but she felt him pushing the boat toward the mainland. He would probably follow her the entire way and she hoped this was true. Even if her words were brave, she was afraid of the humans. She was anxious about what she was going to do.

When she reached the mainland and pulled her canoe onto the shore she saw trash everywhere. How disgusting. She tucked her canoe deep under the cliff along the shore and put a cover spell on it so the humans couldn’t see or find it. Papakoosigun sauntered along the shore, picking up the trash and apologized to Gashi Aki as she went.

She followed a trail up to the top of the cliffs, and when she reached the top she saw a small town to the east glowing in the night like a beacon. Papakoosigun decided to trek toward the town. She passed a sign that read, Big Sur  Population 812. Bright lights that dominated the area on every house and along the road hurt her eyes and she blinked constantly as her eyes adjusted.

She passed a small blue house on the outskirts of the town. The humans were rushing outside, doors slamming shut behind them.

One of the human children hollered, Race you!

Three children, ranging in size from her knee to her shoulder, took off toward their car. A woman walked out of the house and turned to lock the door, then she climbed into the car and said, Is everyone buckled?

The three children were squeezed into the back seat and shouted, Ready!

The woman pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers and said, Okay, let’s go, but if you want to stop for ice cream you need to stop hollering.

The car sped down the black strip of stone. Papakoosigun, unmoving, watched the car. The kids racing each other to the car reminded her of the race on the island. She gasped for breath and forced the tears away. She needed her friends and her brother Opichi.

He always wanted to race. If he lost, which he did in most cases, he would say, best out of three, and then it would be best out of five. They would race until they could hardly walk back to their cabin to collapse on their beds. He would wake up the next day with the sun, shaking her awake to do new competitions. Opichi was creative and would design new games for the young ones to play. Papakoosigun was always the first to jump at trying his new games.

She ambled toward the center of town at a slug’s pace, wondering if she should turn around. As she walked, she gazed around her. She made sure her hood was pulled over her head. She noticed that the women wore pants and she was glad she never wore the gowns most Elvin maidens enjoyed. Still, she knew she stood out with her cloak and embroidered clothes.

The humans watched her and she studied them as she strolled by. They looked like elves, just more round. And then she saw the side of a woman’s head.  She was amazed: they had rounded ears! After she noticed this feature it was all she could do not to stare. She bet they would stare at her, too, if they saw her pointed ears.

When Papakoosigun reached the middle of the town she was shocked. There were no trees and no grass. How could these people kill so much earth and life? How could they live? She saw a withered plant struggling to grow between the cracks in the pavement. She touched it, sent it energy through her fingers, and watched it uncurl its leaves and grow larger. Then a human walked by, carrying several bags, and crushed the plant under foot. Without even realizing, this man had ended a suffering life striving to survive. Papkoosigun stood with tears in her eyes.

She was a forest elf and her clan of elves had a deep connection to the plants of the world. Her clan was scattered around the world as she knew the other clans of the elves were. They were the caretakers of the world.

She saw a girl watching her and their eyes met. The girl did not seem human; her eyes flashed from blue to silver. She was beautiful, with brown skin and brown hair with blue streaks running through it. Papakoosigun marched in the girl’s direction as she wiped her tears away.

Excuse me. I was hoping you could tell me where there is a place to eat.

If you stay on this road a couple more blocks, you can’t miss Jean’s Haven. It is the best place in town.

"Miigwetch, thank you, for the assistance."

You’re welcome. Take care, stranger.

Papakoosigun gripped her bandolier bag and stalked down the street. As she stepped over a puddle in the sidewalk, some teenagers drove by with their music blaring out the windows of their beat-up car. She reached up to cover her ears and stumbled.

How rude could you get? she muttered. Why are you so loud, stupid jerks!

A group of teens hung around the courthouse a few buildings ahead of her. She could see the sign for the café, two blocks away. She wanted to cross the street to avoid the teens, but she would just have to cross back over to get to the café. What was the point?

Some of the kids were cramming candy and junk food into their mouths. Her stomach grumbled. She was almost tempted to try some of what they were eating but it all smelled gross. She quickened her step.

One of the kids was a young girl with silver hair, and this girl did not look like she belonged with this group. The girl snapped her fingers and a young man jumped off the ledge they were all sitting on to stand in front of Papakoosigun.

Hey, who are you? You new around here? Hey, I’m talking to you!

Papakoosigun took a couple of deep breaths, and closed her eyes. All of the stories came back to her; she thought about how the humans had no qualms about hurting others. She would show no fear to these creatures. This was her first real encounter with the humans and she was not impressed.

Go away, she muttered under her breath.

Answer me.

Her emerald green eyes flashed up, slicing into the young man.

Excuse me, I am trying to get by.

Her eyes met his and she glared. He stepped quickly aside and shrugged at the girl with the silver hair.

When Papakoosigun got to the alley