Echo

wish?”
    “What do you mean, young Brother?”
    “My wish; e veryone gets a wish from a fairy. ” Scotty grew agitated. If everyone got a wish from a fairy, he wanted to make sure he got his before he disappeared again.
    “Brother, I do not have a wish for you. I am here for a mission. I have chosen you. You will be the one .” Huh? The boy scratched his head. He stared at Lula.
    “I want to pet you, Lula.” Standing, Scotty walked toward his new friend. Walking past the cake, he bent down to pick it up to give to Lula. Being the clumsy little boy he was, he tripped. Caught off balance, he crashed down, head first, rolling near the edge. Dazed, he sat up, perilously close to the edge. Still maintaining a hold on his gift to Lula , he stepped back, falling straight over the edge, landing in a broken heap on the sharp pile of rocks at the base.
    ###
    The Oolahan scurried over to the edge and looked down. She saw blood, lots of blood. The boy’s head sat at an unnatural angle, but she could tell he still lived. Unbidden, her tail shot up in the air, directed down at the boy. The air filled with pressure and the smell of sulfur as her tail extruded its membrane to do its miraculous work.
    Unfortunately, the meeting failed to produce the results she hoped for. The unexpected disaster changed everything. Sighing, the creature spun her head in frustration, trying to contain her disappointment. Lamenting the frailty of human offspring, she realized her mission must wait. Even though the boy appeared a good choice, at the moment his youth disqualified him. She should measure her expectations carefully next time. Remembering the young of humans took twenty-two years for their brain to mature, her mistake shamed her.
    Life worked more efficiently for her species as all the young were born with their birth parents genetic memory. The fact that humans did not evolve this necessary trait is a severe handicap. She would love to know what the Elders thought they were accomplishing as they handicapped this life form. A simple adjustment to their enzymes during evolution could turn the trait on. She knew the Elders rarely made mistakes. Perhaps they did it deliberately. She promised herself to ask the Womb.
    Now, forced to rectify the situation the only way she knew, even though it might cause more problems, she must leave the boy alone. Sadly, she climbed down the rock, wobbling over to the boy. She watched his eyes flutter, bringing him back to consciousness. Hurrying, she reached out to grab the cake, still remarkably intact, clutched tightly under his arm. She wobbled over to the cairn of rocks that marked the way to the Hive and disappeared.
    ###
    Scotty sat up slowly. What was he doing on the ground? He could feel the rough edges of the cold rocks digging into his tender skin. He picked himself up off the cold rocks and made his way back to the glen he usually played in. Looking around, confusion made him dizzy. Shaking it off, he stretched and yawned, freakishly feeling vigorous. Deciding to return home, he wondered if Abby was back from the doctors. She’s so tired of late and he needed to help move Mom’s stuff from her bedroom to get ready for the Diaz family. Trudging back down the hill, he wondered what happened to the piece of birthday cake he took into the woods with him.
    ###
    Deep inside the cavern, the creature blinked her golden eyes, curled up in her chamber, golden tail wrapped protectively around her furry body as she contemplated the shrinking piece of cake in front of her. She did not take it to eat, not having that capability. Curiosity compelled her. It belonged to the human Brother. Maybe it would help with the sadness she felt, knowing he could have been The One . The only reason the Womb even allowed the healing was because she caused the incident. The humane solution called for the creature to let him die in the fall. Sadly, even though he now lives, the human will confront a troublesome road.
    She ached with the knowledge that the only thing she envisioned for herself was the unremitting loneliness of passing years. Reaching out with one of her long golden leathery fingers, she stroked the tiny piece of cake and closed her eyes.

Chapter 4
    Jose hardly remembered his birthplace. At fifteen years old, his height outstripped the average teen from Costa Rica, a lush country known for its riches, lovely people and diverse topography. Mountains, volcanoes, wet rainforests, dry rainforest, hot