The next morning, Ma had the table all set up with a nice fruit buffet breakfast. Tia was the first one to the dining area and picked out a few deep red strawberries. Pa and Jack followed in a few minutes later. Tia sat in her chair just outside of the dining area while Pa sat down at the table in his usual spot. Ma poured some blackberry juice for Pa and then helped Jack find favorable fruit.
“I wonder what is taking Olivia so long this morning?”
After a few minutes had passed, Ma went to see what Olivia was doing. When she walked into Olivia’s sleep area, Olivia just wiped some tears from her eyes.
“What’s wrong Olivia?” Ma walked over to her.
“I was just thinking that we will never see Mr. Fishwick again,” Olivia sniffed.
Ma said to Olivia, “when we lose someone we know, we feel really sad. But after some time passes the sadness lessens. It’s part of living and just like everything else, we learn how to cope with it.”
Olivia turned and hugged her Ma, and told her that she hopes that she never dies.
Ma explained to Olivia, “everyone dies eventually dear, but that’s why when we are alive we should cherish every moment together.”
Ma hugged Olivia for a few minutes longer and then suggested breakfast. She knew that school was going to be in session soon and that Tia would be waiting. Just as Ma and Olivia walked into the dining area, Tia told them that she was just about to check up on them. Ma told Tia that today might be a sad day for many of her students and to try and be patient with them. Tia nodded her head because she knew then what was taking her sister so long.
While Jack and Olivia finished their breakfast, Pa headed out early and went over to Drew’s house. He wanted to talk to him about their future and get the rest of the elder’s together. On his way over their, he heard a lot of birds squawking. More than normal. Pa looked up and saw through the tree tops, groups of birds flying over. It looked as if they were coming from the direction of the human construction site.
“I wonder if the humans are cutting down more trees,” Pa said as he kept walking.
Then, Greck, the little lizard-like creature swung down on a vine squawking. Pa had never seen Greck before, he’s only heard about him. Pa suddenly stopped and looked at Greck as he squawked and pointed.
“What is it? What are you trying to tell me?” Pa asked.
Then as Greck shimmied down the vine to get closer to Pa, he spoke and said humans. Pa was stunned because he didn’t believe that Greck could speak.
“Humans you said? Are they coming?”
“Humans come,” Greck nodded and bounced while clinging to the vine.
Pa jumped up and flew the rest of the way to Drew’s house. Drew had just walked outside when he saw his brother land at the end of his walkway.
“Good morning Coss. I didn’t expect you this early.”
As Pa breathed heavily he said, “the humans are coming and we need to warn everyone.”
“What? Did you see them?” Drew asked.
“No, not yet but Greck told me. I’ll fly to the far end of the village and tell everyone there. You start on this end,” Pa said.
“Okay Coss.”
So, while Drew ran to all his neighbors to tell them, Pa jumped up and flew as fast as he could, and shouted that the humans are coming. This put everyone on high alert as the community went to and huddled in their hiding spots. They have been through unexpected visits before but it’s been quite a while since the last one.
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