55 Chapter 55 A Change of Perspective (1/2)

Gia sat on the rock overlooking the rocks and dreading the upcoming climb down. Vonn was hefting Mikey onto his back, with her father's help, and they were tying the boy in place until he woke up, so that Vonn's hands would be free. Carla kept fretting over them, basically getting in the way, but Gia was having a hard time caring. She was so tired. Both of her parents were acting like children, and she wasn't sure she had the strength to keep going. Her determination was starting to fade in light of their constant state of danger and impending doom, and she wasn't sure they would ever reach an end to the journey.

”If you look just right, towards that highest cliff, you can see the branches of the great world tree,” said their lizard escort, pointing further south over the mountains.

Gia squinted against the bright sunlight, trying to see what the lizard what trying to show her, but shook her head.

”I guess that cloud is blocking my view,” she said, sadly. It figured, with everything else, that even this would be taken from her.

The lizard just chuckled and said, ”That isn't a cloud, that is the tree.”

Gia's eyes widened as the lizard's words sunk in, and she stood up to take in the sheer size that she was seeing.

”But that can't be right! How can it be so big?” she exclaimed.

”It is far away, almost a year's journey to reach, and half of that time, it's great branches obscure the sky from view. I have never made the trip, but I have been told only the most skilled survive the trip, and many decide to never return.”

Gia glanced at the lizard, and saw a look of yearning on her face that she remembered having when they had first started out on this trek of survival. Thinking of how she had felt when she was filled with determination to keep her family together and safe, she just sighed.

”There are so few things to yearn for in the short lives we are given. Do you not yearn for something?” asked the lizard.

”I want to be done with this trip. I want to have a nice house to have babies and raise my children. I don't want to have to worry about my parents falling and getting hurt, or my little brother tripping and being attacked by some monster.”

”Worrying about things, doesn't make those things go away, or not happen. It only causes heaviness on your spirit,” said the lizard. ”Why worry about things you cannot control? Perhaps it would be better to place one foot in front of the other, to do the things you can in the moment that presents itself, than to worry about the danger that hasn't presented itself yet.”

”But how can you be prepared for such a danger, if you don't worry about it?” asked Gia.

”I am prepared for anything that may happen, because I train my body and mind constantly. Not because I worry about what might happen if I don't.” The lizard tilted her head at Gia, to see if she understood.

”How do you train your body and mind?” asked Gia softly, her eyes darting towards her family, who were almost ready to continue.

”I will show you as we travel, but you must watch me carefully.”

Gia nodded, standing up and brushing her pants off. Keeping an eye on the lizard, instead of her parents, she saw how the lizard descended the rocks as if they were nothing more than stepping stones in her path. Shaking her head, Gia knew she would not be climbing down this cliff like that! What if she slipped? She would get scraped and banged up, maybe break something or even die!

Vonn was slowly starting to make his descent, placing his feet and hands carefully, to keep himself from slipping on the wet rocks, and her parents were also making their way carefully.

The lizard had said to train her body and mind. Her mind told her she might get hurt, because her body wasn't capable of doing the task, she had witnessed the lizard do. So, she must need to train her body to be able to do things, so her mind wouldn't tell her she couldn't do it. Taking a breath, Gia started her descent as well, but she forced herself to stretch and move in ways that she knew she could do, without putting herself at risk, while telling herself she could do this.

She was so focused on trying to improve herself, she almost missed when her mother slipped beside her. Gia's hand shot out, without a second thought, and grabbed her mother's wrist, keeping her from falling.

”Oh! Gia! Thank goodness you were there!” exclaimed her mother with a wide smile, before returning to climbing.

Gia remained there for a moment, staring at her hand, wondering where that had come from. She hadn't even noticed her mother was slipping before she was reacting.

When they reached the bottom, the lizard merely blinked, before turning to resume leading them along the path, watching for the dangerous needleteeth. Had she seen her save her mom? Was it because she was trying to improve herself, or not? Gia was so confused, but decided it didn't hurt to improve herself.