Backdated to Summer 2011
”Pandora Idlewild Sagan, you are going to stay with your aunt and-that-is-final!”
It had been over a month since her parents had all but banished her to Haida Gwaii, where her uncle and aunt still lived. The flight from Destiny City to Vancouver had been uneventful, and while the second flight from Vancouver to the remote archipelago formerly known s the Queen Charlotte islands was slightly less so due largely in part to the fact that there was an entire campaign to promote tourism to the Islands. Screaming children, newlywed couples, elderly couples…even a small group of businessmen joined her on the flight.
Pan thought she’d prefer just transforming right there and ripping out each and every single starseed than having to sit through a return flight with these people, but she reminded herself that patience was a virtue and the point of her going was to try and rediscover who she was (beyond the Negaverse Officer Moonstone). Besides, most of them would not be staying near her in Skidegate - visiting, yes, but staying? No. Besides, Pandora could remember her parents before she left: their dismay, the worried glances exchanged - low voices arguing, accusatory, afraid.
“She’s different—“
“Her eyes are so cold, it’s like I’m talking to another person—“
“Give her time, she was in a coma—“
“We have to do something—“
Stepping off the plane in Sandpit was encouraging - her Aunt had taken the ferry over from Skidegate to meet her at the small airport with it’s metal roof and single lobby area. Baggage would be brought down and set on a small conveyor where the small woman waited for Pandora. “Aunty—“ She tried - wasn’t this where a normal person would hug their relation?
“Pandora! Sánuu dáng gíidang?” Pandora found herself pulled awkwardly into a warm embrace, her aunt keeping hold of her wrists as they exchanged greetings.
“Díi 'láagang. Dáng sán?”
“You’re rusty, but we’ll fix that. Your Uncle and I are fine, fine, fine. It’s good to have you. Was your flight good?”
Pandora side-eyed the throng of vacationers waiting for their luggage and shrugged, “It was okay.” Her aunt laughed, making further small talk about Pandora’s family and what was planned for her visit while they waited for the large suitcase she’d brought. It held enough of her things to last her several months if need-be, supplemented with purchases on site, of course. Her parents hadn’t said just how long she would be gone, but Pan had assumed more than one month - her Negaverse superiors had been informed that she would be leaving the area, but that she would also be available if they really needed her. Teleportation was an option, of course, if she were needed.
Getting from Sandpit to Skidegate took quite some time, since her aunt wanted to give her a look around town; the ‘scenic’ route all the way to the ferry, then once more when they arrived. Meeting family. A large group dinner, celebrating her arrival. Niceties given and taken - all in the native tongue. By the time Pandora was settled in her Aunt and Uncle’s home, in the room that would be hers for the duration of her stay, she had quite a headache, was worn out, and absolutely missing the comforting quiet of the Negaverse barracks, of the Castle. The Rift. The warm, sleepy whiskers of horses at the end of the day, fresh shining hay. The crunch and sweet scent of the horses eating their oats. Home.
With a tired sigh, she settled into the bed under the unfamiliar ceiling. It will be okay. Things are strange now, but it will get better in time. This is for the best. It was hard when I first joined the Negaverse too.
WC: 629
