In the beginning I had no idea that the cat that approached me would be unlike any other I knew to exist, much less thought was in existence. The powers of my worlds dimension held many magical wonders, yet none to me was as fascinating as this. I soon learned that not all things seen can be accepted until experienced, which went against what I had been taught and raised to believe in my third life. When I look upon the past that I have lived nothing could have ever prepared me for what was about to take place in this life time. Thus, as I accepted into my heart, mind, body, and ultimately my soul, I found myself in awe of what was granted me to protect and be protected by.
To fully understand and comprehend what my life was like, I must tell you about my lives and where my destiny, which my second life prepared me for unknowingly, brought me to the place that I now love.
I was born on the eve of year 2500, and given immediately the blessing of the Icestone's. As I matured, I learned that this blessing was only given to the first child born of a new century, and continued until death. While the blessing was an extreme honor, it also had a price. I was taken from my mothers womb and sent to live on Mount Zypher. Never did I experience what other children of my world experienced. Never did I see another person of my race. Here I lived alone in solitary with only the Mist of the Rain, the Heat of the Sun, and the Shadow of the Moon as my companions till I reached my maturity.
Upon my 30th year I was embraced by the Mist and the first part of my first life as ruler began. Thirty years of teachings on Mount Zypher taught me what was expected of me, but no expectations could really prepare me for what my role as Leader of the Zypher's was and what was to come.
The people of Zypher's, had lived in the 4th star field of the new dimension since the end of the war in 2100 that closed the tunnel to the other three star fields. When the Mist of the Rain brought me into its presence I was ensconced with the life force that would enable me to diminish any fire that rose up. This power that was given to me was not so important in the essence of what I was able to do, but for the strength that was needed to protect the City of Zypher's from any enemy's that found their way to my world.
For unlike the other worlds where fire is greatly accepted, the heat of fire would cause my world to melt. You see, Zypher's was solely made of ice. Which in itself is unique for the temperature is never cold. How a city made of ice could burn is one of the mysteries of the 4th dimension. I spent the next 30 years watching from the top of Mount Zypher's while my people lived their lives below. I was always alone with my only unseen companions being the Heat of the Sun and the Shadow of the Moon.
As I reached my 60th year I was once again embraced, but this time in the life force of the Heat. The warmth that is given out over the city is just as unique as the ice that creates it. For without the control I was powered with, the Sun would melt the city. It took the teachings of my first 30 years to have complete knowledge of the 4th dimension to fully understand the necessity of the life forces that kept my city and people alive.
For the next 30 years my watchfulness never wavered, but I began to feel the acute loneliness of my existence. When my 90th year came to pass in the year 2590 the Shadow of the Moon was given into my power and for the first time I saw another being. The one that had taught me all that I had learned. It was a shock to my sense to see another Zypher's in the flesh, and I knew I craved touch. Do not believe that you can not miss something that you have never experienced. I knew as I looked upon my fellow Zypher that my need to feel another was not going to pass. As the Shadow of the Moon was given to me I watched as she faded with my arms outstretched begging to have one brief touch. In despair I turned away from emptiness and took my place to watch over the my city and my people.
I felt great anger at being left alone to stay on top of Mount Zypher, and for the next 10 years I took my anger out on my people. For you see, the Shadow of the Moon is what brought darkness to the 4th dimension. I know that my people suffered and that they would look up at where I lived and sent their angry curses to me. While I never could hear their voices I could sense their hatred.
With the new century of the year 2600 I began to feel remorse for what I had done. There where children that had never experienced daylight. How worse for them to never see such a sight, as it was for me to live in my lonely existence? There was a reason that my birth took place when it did and though the price that I paid was high, the honor that was given me was higher.
I spent the next three centuries watching over my people and on the eve of the year 2900 a male child was born. I embraced this moment for in 90 years I would be free of my solitary existence and would move onto my second life.
As I taught the male Zypher my knowledge of the 4th dimension the first 30 years I let him see me from a distance. I did not want him to grow up lonely as I did. He grew into a handsome man, and I found that my heartache for the touch another only deepened. It was at this time that I handed over the power of the Mist that I experienced ultimate despair. I tried to embrace him and found that I was unable to. The transference of my life force was given in an embrace that was superficial. It was simply a matter of my mind releasing the power. While I knew that my successor would feel the acute loneliness that I had lived with for so long, I never again let him see me. He would have centuries living alone and I now understood why my teacher never revealed herself. It was much better to never see what one can not have then to long for it. When the time came for the release of the Heat, then the Shadow I did not show myself to him. As my life force faded from being I embraced the joy of moving onto my second life.
In my ignorance when I lived my first life I thought that my second life would begin immediately. I knew that I would be born of the same world, but believed my second life would be to live as a Zypher's in the city. While my life span would be shorter I did not fear this for I was grateful for the opportunities that my second life would afford me.
It was with great disappointment and complete anguish that I found myself born again on the eve of the year 3300 and taken back to Mount Zypher's. In the other three star field dimensions a persons next life does not remember the previous existence. However in the 4th dimension each person has three lives and remembers the previous one. Had I thought things through perhaps I could have foreseen what my actions in the year of 2590-2600 would bring to pass. But in no dimension is the future revealed.
I rebelled against what was to be my destiny and I found that the Zypher's male that I had taught was not going allow my selfishness keep me from taking responsibility for my world. As I already knew all the teachings of the 4th dimension there was nothing for him to teach me. Not only did I live in complete loneliness, I also lived in total silence. It was only during the appropriate life cycle when the time to release a life force to me did he reveal himself and only at these three times in 90 years that he ever spoke to me. I had nearly 4 century's to contemplate his words and as I turned over my rule in year 3790 I prayed that my third life would bring me happiness.
I found myself born in the year 4203, not in the city that I remembered, but in one that was being devastated by war. For the next 16 years my people fought the invasion of the Zelots. It seemed that no matter how much protection the current ruler rained down from Mount Zypher's, it was not enough to keep the city from slowly melting away. It was during the second moon quarter of the year 4221 that the people of Zypher finally succumbed to leaving their beloved city and seeking homes on the other worlds in the 4th dimension.
While most Zypher's spoke of what their past lives had been like, I never did. I felt ashamed that my first term as ruler caused sadness and hatred in the city, and that during my second rule, I only did what was absolutely necessary to protect the city. In the center of my being I knew that when I handed over my reign in the year 3790 I had not left my successor with sufficient knowledge to pass along to her successor in the year 4190. Thus the life forces of the Mist, Heat, and Shadow were not being used to their full potential.
As my family fled the City of Zypher's I knew not where we would end up, but I prayed that the world we approached would shelter us and provide a home. Perhaps after all I had lived through I should have anticipated what would happen, but again, my knowledge is limited to what I know and not what will happen.
The fact that my family's life pod crashed should not really have surprised me, but to see my parents dead along with my two siblings in their travel chambers was very devastating. I knew not where I was, only that the 4th star field dimension was made up of over one-hundred worlds and that each families life pod was pre-programmed to travel to a new world. The reason for this was to simply try and preserve the Zypher's race. My world was not the first to be destroyed and past history had taught each race, that in order to preserve you must divide. Now I am where I began the telling of my third life.
For three weeks I stayed inside the life pod surviving on the rations that each pod is stored with. I went for four days with nothing to eat or drink before hunger and thirst drove me to open the hatch. What I found when I ventured forth was a world that was full of vegetation that I'd never seen before. The colors astounded my eyes and the smells accosted my senses.
I stayed close to the life pod and slept securely there each night, but during the day I ventured forth to explore this new world. As the weeks went by and I saw not one person or animal I began to despair that once again my life would be full of loneliness and isolation. Each day that passed began to roll into the next and soon all meaning of time ceased to exist for me.
My days were filled with eating the abundance of fruit that surrounded my little world and bathing in a clear pool that was about a mile from where my families pod had crashed.
It was on one such day that I was taking care of my ablutions that I felt I was being watched. I'd never felt this before and became very leery and for the first time in my life truly scared. In haste I gathered my clothing and began running the mile back to the life pod.
Each time I looked over my shoulder in my hasty flight I could not see what was following me, but felt acutely that the presence was there. I gave many thanks to the powers of the Zypher's Gods that I made it to the life pod unharmed. I spent the next few days locked in what I felt was my security, before once again hunger and thirst drove me to venture out.
In the short years of my third life I'd heard stories of how ones heart beats uncontrollably, the breath escape so fast that the next seems impossible to grasp, and the taste of fear thick upon the tongue when you are scared of the unknown. In all my lives I had never felt such fear as the day I ventured forth again into what I felt had been a utopian paradise.
Immediately upon stepping out of my security I felt to be watched, and the need to dash back inside was strong, but self preservation for food and water took precedence over fear. I did not venture far into the dense vegetation, and a relief pooled in my belly as I made it back to the life pod without be accosted.
Perhaps I can not begin to explain adequately enough how the next events took place but I shall endeavor to do so. It was about two weeks after I first felt to be watched that I saw the cat for the first time. I'd opened the hatch that morning with no less fear then I'd felt on any other day, but this time, no sooner had I stepped outside then coming out of the vegetation right towards me was a cat. Now I have to say, that I had seen cats, for on Zypher's cats where common and kept as pets. However this one was unlike any cat that I had seen before. Outside of the very large difference in size, this particular cat was the most unique color. Mostly composed of black, however there were parallel markings of silver-blue that ran down each side of its back to the four paws.
I stood completely still, even though one step back would have put me safely inside the life pod. The cat seemed to be watching me as watchfully as I was watching it. I would not say that I felt my life was in danger at this moment in time, but I certainly was not at ease. The cat's eyes held me spellbound for they mirrored the color of the silver-blue hair. I do not know how long I stood there watching it watching me, but after a time I sensed that it meant me no harm. With more confidence than I would have imagined possible under the circumstances, I ventured forth.
When I was a couple feet away I stopped and held out my hand. It have to admit that it was a pretty foolish act on my part, for the cat could attack at any moment, but in my mind I remembered what was told to me the 30th year of my second life. "Venture forth with open eyes and fear not fear, but fear itself."
I have to say, that at the time this was told to me, and as I remembered it through the centuries, that I thought this pertained to the fear of loneliness. It now came to me that what you can not see is more fearful then what you can see. Thus I put my faith in my outstretched hand and hoped I was right. After all, only a fool ask to be born with stupidity. To my relief I did not get bitten nor attacked. I simply got a lick upon my palm before this unusual cat turned and disappeared into the vegetation. Thus this day passed with me eating my fill of the delicious fruits offered, and I even went so far as to walk to the pool for a quick bath.
The following days held the same pattern. Each day that I opened the hatch the cat was there and the same routine would take place. For about two weeks this went on and I became very comfortable with his presence. Now you may wonder how I knew this cat was a male, and I can only state the obvious. I looked.
At the end of the second week or so, I was amazed at what took place. I was doing my normal ablutions at the pool, when the cat showed himself to me there. I had always felt while I was at this place, he watched me, but I'd never seen him. So on this day, it should not have shocked me like it did, and I must tell you that I felt like he watched me a little differently then he had on previous occasions. I told myself that it was silly but it did seem as if he knew that I was female. Why this mattered to me at this time was not significant in my mind, only that it made me feel embarrassed to be unclothed. I did however recall what was said to me on the 60th year of my second life. "See not what is there, but what is not there."
This particular phrase had puzzled me for a century, but I had concluded that it was not to see the loneliness of my isolation, but the peacefulness that other Zypher's never got to experience. Now as I dressed on this day and this male cat watched me so intently, I thought that perhaps I was not seeing what was behind the cats black and silver-blue coat.
Each time that I had returned to the life pod the cat had drifted back into the dense vegetation, but on this day, he entered with me. I was greatly nervous over this change in events and it was not until full dark settled over this world that I finally gave up of him leaving and closed the hatch. To my utter dismay when I laid down on my pallet to sleep that night the cat laid down next to me.
This pattern became the new pattern of our relationship, if you want to call what we had a relationship. I'd never spoken aloud to the cat, but as time passed I found that my thoughts became spoken words, and as I looked at the cat I got the impression that he understood me completely. Being that I never had a pet in my three lives I found this a little surreal.
I'm not sure how much time had passed from when I first came to be on this world, but it seemed as if maybe 4 months had. I do know that each day seemed the same. Daylight came and well as darkness each time of the day. The weather was always mild, never too hot, never to cold. And not one day had it ever rained, but the vegetation was just as lush as the first days I had ventured forth.
In the complexity of associating with another species I decided to give the cat a name. This by no means was an easy decision, for I had never named anything before. It took me the better part of two days to settle on a name that seemed to capture the spirit of the cat and the world in which it and I now lived. Thus I called him, Ambrosia.
It was only after naming my pet, and yes I did consider Ambrosia my pet, that the words spoken to me on my 90th year during my second life came to my mind. "Each life lived is remembered as an experience to learn from."
For me, this seemed pretty clear, I had let my anger in my first life dictate my actions, thus I returned to the same lonely existence for my second life. While I did not use my life forces against the people of Zypher's, during the years of 3390-3790, I also did not use my experience to the ultimate means. I was lax in my responsibility, and thus I was now existing where I found myself. It seemed to me on this day however, that these words held a different meaning. I looked upon my pet and felt that what I had learned in my loneliness and isolation, was really the strength to live with loneliness and remember that you are only lonely when loneliness defeats you.
I know longer felt defeated after this day and with each morning that I woke, I looked upon my isolation as a means to live each day happily. In essence there was no other course to take, for I was here on this world and Ambrosia was my sole companion.
Time know longer passed for me as one day simply into the next. Each day I traveled farther into the dense vegetation with Ambrosia at my side and no fear crept up my spine. I looked and saw what was beyond my vision, and experienced my surroundings deep within my being.
I accepted with my mind that this was how my third life was going to be lived. I drew strength into my heart, that I would not be defeated by my isolation. My body was nourished not with substance of food, but with peacefulness. And most of all my lonely soul was at rest.
I must say to you that had I not lived my first two lives as I had, I do not think that I would be where I am today. Surely nobody would feel as honored as I did on the day that I followed Ambrosia to his home. For at the center of this utopian paradise was a world I never would have dreamed of.
He brought me to this ledge where I looked down upon the most beautiful city no one could ever imagine. Words are simply not enough to describe the lustrous homes I viewed. And while I felt healed and at peace with my existence, I must say that my heart swelled at the sight of people. Beautiful people. So wrapped up was I in looking at what was spread down below me, I did not notice whom was standing by my side.
Only when I felt the touch of a hand slide into my own did I turn my gaze. Silver-Blue eyes looked down upon me from the most entrancing face. I was memorized by the pure perfection and love that I saw. My heart swelled within my breast, and my breath caught in my throat. My tongue licked my lips and I tried to speak but no sound would come forth. I could only stare and hope that what I felt blooming in my soul was my true destiny.
Then Ambrosia lifted my hand to his lips and gave my fingertips a gentle kiss. Fire like liquid shot through my veins, and I knew the words even before he spoke. "Your My Destiny."
I do hope that you enjoyed reading Destiny™ . I feel that this story has much depth of the written word along with some very thought provoking ideas. When I saw this background I knew that there was a story behind the woman and the cat. It took about 6 hours to write their story, and I am pleased with the results. *VBS* Please be sure and sign my guestbook and give me your feedback, and you are most welcome to send me an e-mail. That link is found on the Aerial's Dreams page. *S* Please use this link to return to the Short Story page and continue your journey though Aerial Dream's. *HUGS* Marie.
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