Welcome to Gaia! ::

Do not let her have died in vain! You found a sapling near the complex, did you not? It brought you here ... to the glade we planted the other in. They are cuttings from the great tree, Modr, Yggdrasil. We had one when we left, and kept the other in case we needed to get home. It took three days to take root ... But by the third ... We were both gone.

Tell her, tell your mother to water the sapling with the juices of my fruit. A branch reached up and delicately plucked the ruby orb and presented it to the child. You, oldest, tell your leader what to do.

Eden ... How you've grown.

Build it here...


Eden awoke with a start, a cold sweat covering his body. Skimming some of it off of his arms, he looked around to see the others still in slumber. Indeed, the world hadn't even woken up yet. The sun was just starting to show her beginning light on the horizon. Soon he knew that the whole forest would be alive, with birds singing, and flowers basking in the glory of that coming light.

What haunted him were the events from the day before. He may have grown, and with that growth the tiny wisdom he'd accumulated by putting OFF his growing was seeping through, but he still felt the pull to be the child again. Putting the palms of his hands to his eyes, he rubbed them, trying to take the images away. Undoubtedly everyone would be sleeping late, after the ordeal of the previous day.

Looking over at Alinedra, Eden's heart warmed. He had chosen her for her kindness, compassion, but most of all her understanding of the world. He'd concidered most of the researchers in the labs, looking for who might suite him best. Uennie, while being a genious, was too busy, and often times not cold, but... not warm enough for him. Alinedra had seemed to give off the right light that he needed to learn and grow.

Grow... that's right.... Getting up quietly, He made his way toward the large tree. No one was particularly cradled against it, so it was easy to walk up to the large wood. Placing a hand upon the same knot he had fallen on what felt like minutes before, he felt a certain type of peace. But it was quiet. He had moved out as he wished. Shivering a little, not being able to keep his leaves from rustling, he heard Alinedra's shifting behind him.

He turned to find her staring at him. It wasn't a scolding stare, but more as an examination and pride that one would expect from a parent or friend. Motioning him over, Ali got up and wiped the morning dew off of her face with a cloth she'd produced from her pocket. Coming to her call, she began to walk silently next to him away from the camp a bit, as to not wake any of the others.

" How are you feeling?" She asked finally. She had a notebook out that he hadn't seen her bring. Motioning for him to sit, she plopped down, writing down what must have been observations for the journals they were expected to keep. He didn't mind, he'd been under scrutiny like this before, and undoubtedly, it wouldn't be the last time. He even expected one from Uennie herself this time, when they got back to the lab. If they got back.

Taking a seat he stared at her. " I'm... a little disoriented. It's uncomfortable getting used to these long limbs... and it wasn't what i had expected or wanted. " Putting his hand through his long hair, Eden sighed.


Shuffling closer to her charge, Alinedra gave him a hug that he undoubtedly needed. He seemed to hesitate at first, but then gave in, as a dam finally breaking from the pressure. It lasted for a long moment, and when they finally pulled away, she spied tears welling in his eyes. She couldn't imagine what it would be like, to be suddenly grown. but she was determined to help him through.

"I hope you know i'm going to be here for you as much as i can. This is an... odd... thing to have happened, to two of you. We won't be able to get much to the bottom of it till we get back to the lab more than likely, especially with the directions that were apparently given us yesterday. I do not envy Uennie's shoes at the moment. " Eden nodded. He had done as he was told, providing all the information that he was told, and handing the fruit to their leader. He didn't stick around to find out even her reaction however. He had simply turned and returned to Alinedra, on the outskirts of their camp where he felt more at ease.
Turning toward her, Eden looked at his caretaker. " Can we go exploring today? Just the two of us? Or perhaps some of the others. The little ones... they... sense things. I think i've been too pre-occupied to notice them. I need to explore." Keeping his stare, she looked him up and down. Oi it's going to be harder to refuse him now that he's grown she thought, and nodding her head, they walked back to the camp, hoping either the others had awoken, but more than likely she'd need to leave a note, and their possible direction. Who knows, perhaps the day would turn out to be fun. As long as they could avoid the corpses....

Trailing next to her, Eden seemed a little lighter. Whatever she had written in her journal, undoubtedly it was nothing that seemed to be causing her much conscern now, or she'd have that look where her lips pursed together and her brow came together ever so slightly. Perhaps one of the others would be awake and go with them, but he had a feeling that he'd have to learn all on his own what exactly he needed to do. With a sigh, they continued their trek, and arrived back to their campsite and started packing up their things.

Alinedra checked the food stuffs twice, as well as their water supply. Others in the camp were rousing now, and so instead of leaving a note she would leave her message with Opunta? Opuntia? She really had had little contact with Kyo after they became researchers unfortunately, as he had been in on a special project that kept him in a different area. She'd missed his companionship from the days of their being janitors, but there was nothing to be done about it in all actuality. Work was work, and they all had their places.

Eden was ready. Choosing to carry the bag that Alinedra had packed, leaving their other bag there he was eager to get going on whatever little adventure they could get on. They had a day of rest, but he meant to do anything but. Ali had taken her medication, and was good to go for the rest of the day. He felt a pull toward a tiny animal path that he could barely make out of the brush and trees, and meant to take them in that direction. Bending to scratch his ankle, playing with his anklet a bit, he wondered how exactly the transformation had... clothed him. But it was a wonder, and he was thankful for clothes at all. It's not that he felt the weather, but he felt... felt that he should at least be clothed around the humans.

Turning to Eden, Ali gave him a sort of a nod, and walked over to Kyo's lovely charge. Bending down, she whispered that they were going on a little adventure, and to let everyone know that they would be back without any problems. Ruffling his hair a bit, she smiled and turned toward her now taller than her charge and began off. He led the way, and she soon noticed that it was into a barely there deer trail. She didn't question, since this was his day for discovery, but followed and observed. She also took out the box of specimen bags, as she knew Uennie wouldn't want the day to go to waste.

Trecking down the trail, with Ali bringing up the rear, she ocassionally called out to halt so she could snap a picture of the full grown plant, or take a sampling and deposit it back in her bag. Eden wasn't necessarily in a hurry, but it was something in his chest that he was drawn to. As if something had hold of his heart and was pulling him gently. Standing there in a patch of sun, basking, he waited for his caretaker to complete her observations. He could almost hear a whisper of what was calling him. Moving a stray strand of hair from his slightly sweat covered brow, he turned to see Ali staring at him.

"What is it Eden. You seem... well, hell bent on getting to someplace, but you don't seem to know what that place is..." Her blue eyes stared at him inquisitively, looking for an answer. Unfortunately, there was none, and Eden did nothing but give a shrug and a grunt about not knowing. Sighing, they continued on.

The day went on like this until about an hour before noon. Ali wanted to stop for lunch a bit early, having still feeling a little lack luster since her brush with her allergy attack. They spotted a tiny clearing, barely large enough for the both of them to sit in, but with ample sunlight to warm their limbs. Their rations were normal. Eden's taste for the organic food that he had been fed as a child wasn't what it used to be, but he didn't complain, it still gave him what he needed. Ali herself brought out what smelled like a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a tiny bag of crackers. They sat there munching for a little while, talking about the happenings of the day before, and what it could all mean. They hadn't dared do it in camp, for Uennie seemed too overcome with it, and surely didn't want speculation and rumor starting. They were just getting to the part of how exactly they were meant to built a gateway when the whisper that Eden had been hearing before turned into something much more.

"Welcome home" The voice, unfamiliar, but caring nonetheless, brushed through his mind as softly as a feather falling. Standing up, alert, Eden took off toward the voice. It had been so close! Ignoring the calls and curses from Alinedra behind him, he ran on. it wasn't that he wanted to be careless, but he -had- to get to wherever it was the voice was coming from. Branches and vines were slapped aside in his attempt to get to what seemed like a clearing only a hundred feet farther. Cutting his leg on a fallen log, he cursed and continued on, hearing Ali desperately trying to keep up behind him.

He skidded to a halt in a meadow. The suns rays blinding him before readjusting. Before him stood a very large tree, but not only large, but familiar. An Apple tree. There were so many blossoms and shoots and branches that one could have climbed it for an hour and still not explore every nook. Cautiously stepping forward, Eden put his hand to his heart. The invisible hand was no longer there, but a new feeling presented itself.

Alinedra skidded up behind him, cursing and asking what was going on before she stopped to notice what he was staring at. Whistling softly through her teeth it was not hard to see. Not only were they apple trees, but they were the same kind. Edens blossoms matched this large magnificent tree in front of her. Sitting to catch her breath, it was all she could do to keep from asking questions.

Stepping forward to the trunk of the tree, leaving Ali behind, he placed his hand on where he thought the heart of the tree was. So overcome with emotions was he so quickly, Eden fell to his knees. They were the same! The same family, possibly parent and son, uncle and nephew, cousins, something, but he was certain that this tree was kin. Putting his back to the trunk, he tried to recover from the shock, when that gentle voice, though stronger this time brushed his mind again.
"Welcome. We see you have been well taken care of. We are pleased." Heart pounding, Eden looked up. They were the same, yet they were not. He walked... talked... he.... They were the same but not! Frustrated he put his palms to his eyes to rub them. It was then that Ali made her way up to him. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she stared him in the eyes.

" WHAT is going on Eden...."

Eden sat down. The tree itself had gone back into a dormant sleepy state, as if sitting and relaxing in the bright sunlight. He could feel it's pulse, it's life.... it unnerved him. He'd never before been able to contact other plants that weren't like him. Sure, he may have talked to the flowers in the biodome, but this was in a whole league of it's own. Shaking his head, he looked up at Alinedra, seeing the worry creased into her brow.
"I... It... it spoke to me. It called me here. " It was all he could say to keep from shaking. At this level, he should have had some sort of control over everything, but their classes hadn't started yet, and here he was full grown with all this potential, and none of the training. It almost angered him.


Taking up a seat next to him, Ali put her arms around her now teen sized charge. Looking warily up at the tree branches swaying in the soft breeze, she fathomed the possibility that he was right. They'd seen so much already. Part of her mind refused to wrap itself around the fact, but she had faith that Eden knew what he was talking about. Trying to sooth him the best she could, she pulled out the last bits of their lunch. She always felt better on a full stomach.

After a time, she let out a heavy sigh, lunch finished, and leaned back against the great base of the apple tree. The warmth of the day made her want to rest there for hours, possibly even nap. She knew it was unwise, but the urge was almost overwhelming.

"So what did it say." she asked, hoping to keep awake with conversation. The boy hadn't said a think while munching his food. She wasn't sure if he was still in communicaiton with the tree, or if he was brooding over the discovery.

Eden let out a sigh and turned to her. "It said 'welcome home' and that it was pleased i was well taken care of." Nervously twirling the braid in his hair, playing with the beads, Eden looked at Alinedra, square in the face. " It was.. disturbing to hear. I'm sorry i rushed off like that. I just.... this place, i think it's put us all on edge. And after yesterday...." He trailed off, not wanting to remember the site.

It was enough for Ali however. She'd noticed the younger ones acting strangely, and now this. Whatever allowed communication here was obviously unsettling their charges a bit. Though she hadn't seen where any real harm had happened, minus the incident the day before. The urge to be back with the camp, safe and sound, made the daydreams of a nap in the sun fade away. Perhaps it was time to get back. Looking up at the sun it was now noon. They would make it back before dark, with time to spare and possibly dinner waiting for them. At the thought, she nudged Eden.

"Say your goodbyes, and lets get going back to camp. I think we've adventured enough for one day. And Uennie will be pleased with the samples at the very least. " Gathering their things, she walked to the edge of the meadow, giving her charge some space. She watched as he placed his hand on the trunk and closed his eyes. He stood there like that for a few minutes, till finally making his way toward her. Smiling, and much lighter, Eden fell into step behind her, and she made no move to inquire about what was exchanged between the two.

The journey back to camp was uneventful, stopping only to gather one or two more specimens, along with a seed pod of an unusual flower she'd never seen before. Entering back into the clearing, she noticed the others there and awake. Without stopping, she went back over to the area they had slept at the night before and began to set up to write and keep notes on everything she'd seen. Eden lay down, hands behind his head, with his eyes closed as if to nap. Sighing, Ali looked down at all the work she had. Muttering something under her breath about paperwork haunting her even in strange lands, she began her notes while daylight still shone. Her journal entry later however, would be much more entertaining she was sure of it.

An odd wind blows as the camp falls into a deep sleep ...

Somehow, and probably magically, Opuntia and Eden have been blessed with +10 Luck!

Something is emerging from the bushes ...