Mariposa

Out Of The Garden

KYLE'S POV

"Did you pass through any portal?" Mari asked and honestly I don't know, did I pass through any portal?

"I don't think so." I said, scratching my head to remember if I passed through one.

"Come on think! Okay, tell us what happened before you got here." Claudia said.

"Well...

I told them everything that happened I got here.

"Well, clearly you fell into the portal not a pit." Claudia said and that kinda made sense because it was when I fell into the pit or portal that I appeared in this weird place.

"Yeah it all makes sense now."Rose said. Mari gasped making everyone to turn to her.

"Since he passed through the portal, I'm sure it'll still be opened. It won't close till the end of the day so I'll just...

"You're not going anywhere Mariposa." Novah said calmly but commandingly.

"Grandpa it's no big deal. I'll go with him and I'll return before sunset.That way, he'll go back home and I'll get the adventure I've been dreaming of. I'll come back before the portal closes. It's a win_win maybe I can...

"You are not going near that portal and that's final!" Novah roared in anger making everyone flinch except from Roxie. What the hell is living inside that tiger?

"Grandpa.." Mari said as she tries to hold back the tears threatening to fall. I think this is the first time Novah is thundering at her because she looked hurt.

"Mariposa I...

Novah tried saying but Mari didn't wait for him to complete his statement before she ran towards the direction of a water fall. Novah sighed and gazed at us. "I want that human back to where he came from before sunset." Novah said. "Roxie, you are to excort him." He added with authority.

"And make sure Mariposa doesn't go near that portal."

They all nodded. With that, he took to the sky jumping from tree to tree till he was out of sight.

I sighed deeply and looked beside me. Rose saw me and she flashed me a smile which I returned.

"You know you shouldn't be sitting here right?" Rose said

"Huh?" I asked in confusion

"You should go thank who saved your life." She said

"Saved my life?" I asked

"Yeah, how come you're not feeling any pain?" She asked and that was when it dawned on me. I was bitten yesterday but I'm feeling totally fine.

"It's true, I'm not feeling any pain." I said in realization as I felt my body for any sign of pain.

"All thanks to Mari." She said.

"What?" Wait it was her. I just realized that. It was really her. She was the one that held me before I passed out.

"You should go and thank her" She said and I nodded.

I stood up and went to the direction of the water fall. And there she was having a fight with the water.

"When I'm I gonna be free huh?" She asked no one in particular as she folded her hands on her chest.

"What's grandpa's stress? I'm 20 for nature's sake! I'm old enough to make decisions by myself. He's not the boss of me. For 20 years I've been living by his rules, he should let me live my life my way for a while. When I get a chance to sneak out I'm never coming back!" She screamed, jumping forcefully on the water making it to splash in all directions. She's funny when she's angry though. She's never coming back? What a funny girl. With the way I see things, she can't do without her grandpa.

She's seriously wrestling with the water and oops! She fell on her butt

"Ow." She winced in pain making me to chuckle. She turned to my direction and she gasped before standing up hastily.

"How..how long have you been standing there?" She asked.

"Long enough to know that you're really good at wrestling. Maybe you should teach me some of your moves." I said and her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.

MARIPOSA'S POV

The moment I found out kyle was human, I thought the opportunity I've been waiting for has finally come but grandpa ruined everything. He has never shouted at me angrily before and that made me hurt.

"I'm twenty! Twenty for nature's sake. I'm old enough to make decisions by myself. When I get the opportunity to sneak out, I'm never coming back! Never!" I screamed angrily as I started wrestling the water and unfortunately I slipped and fell on my butt.

"Ow" I winced in pain then I heard someone chuckle. I turned to my right and I saw kyle. I gasped and I hastily stood up.

"How...how long have you been there?" I asked

"Long enough to know you're really good at wrestling. Maybe you should teach me some of your moves." He said, making me to blush in embarrassment.

"Can I come?" He asked, brushing his hair with his hands and wow! That made him look more handsome

"Sure, I said, flashing him a smile as I sat down on a rock with my feet in the water. He came closer and he sat on a rock just beside me.

"So, your grandpa huh?" He said as he faced me.

"Yeah." I sighed. "He's just too over protective, always treating me like I'm some kid. I'm 20, jeez can't he just let me leave a little?" I huffed

"You really wanna go to earth don't ya?" He said.

"I really do. It has been my dream since like forever but grandpa won't let me leave." I said as a tear dropped from my eye.

"Awwn it's okay." He cooed as he wiped my tear with his thumb.

"Mari I know whatever reason your grandpa has for not letting you go is important. Have you tried asking him?" He asked.

"More than once." I replied

"And?"

"He never opens up. All he'll say is that I shouldn't know for my safety and I'm sick of that." I said in annoyance

"You shouldn't be mad at him. He's your grandpa, he knows what is best for you." He patted my shoulder lightly as he said this.

"I guess so." I shrugged

"Now smile okay?" He said

"No!" I playfully said, folding my arms to my chest.

"Smile." He splashed water on my face and I laughed.

"Hey!" I laughing as I splashed water on him.

"You see, I made you laugh." He said and I smiled broadly.

"Yeah. Thanks for that."

"No, I should be thanking you." He said.

"For what?"

"For saving my life." He replied

"Oh its nothing." I said

"It's something." He said, staring at me. "If not for you, I would have been dinner for those freaks." He added.

"You are welcome." I said and he smiled.

"What were those things anyway?" He asked.

"What?" I asked.

"Those creatures chasing me yesterday." He replied

"Oh..those are red wolves." I said

"Red wolves?" He was surprised and confused at the same time.

"Yeah." I replied

"Wow"

"You know. It's kinda amazing you were still alive when I came. You were chased by red wolves, the most dangerous species of wolves, there were even five of them!"

"Actually, they were ten"

"Ten?" I yelled in surprise.

"Yes, ten were chasing me but it got to a point where five of them burnt to ashes leaving only five alive."

"You mean, ten were chasing you then five of them burnt away?" I asked and he nodded

"Goddess Hera." I said

"Who?" He asked

"Oh my God! The forest is getting weaker." I said in shock and fear.

"What do you mean?" He asked in concern.

"Oh my God this is bad. This is really bad! We have to go tell the others." I said as I pulled him along with me.

"Hey guys!" Claudia beamed as soon as we got to them.

"Hey, there's something going on." I said, taking a seat with Kyle beside me

"What?" Rose asked curiously

"Kyle told me that there were ten wolves chasing him yesterday."

"Ten? But when we got there it was five we saw." Roxie chipped in.

"That's what I also thought until Kyle told me that five burnt to ash." I said

"Hera." Roxie said

"Exactly." I concurred and Claudia nodded

"But what's bothering me is that if she had burnt those five, why were there still five remaining?" I asked

"Her powers are wearing off, soon her powers will fade away and demons will gain access to the forest." Roxie said

"And that will results in catastrophe." Claudia said anxiously.

"Okay, this is bad." Rose said as she sat up

"Really bad." Roxie added.

"I'm confused." Kyle spoke up and obviously, he was lost.

"This is the thing. This forest was created by Goddess Hera. So when she died, her powers flowed into the forest thereby keeping it safe." I paused to see if he was catching on and it seems like it. "That was 300years ago." I continued. "So apparently, because of the high number of demons trying to break into the forest,"

Before I could continue, Kyle cut in "Most of her powers have been used to keep the demons away thereby making her powers weak." He said.

"Smart." Rose complimented.

"That was why only only five were burned." Claudia said.

"That was all her powers could take out." Roxie added.

"We have to find a solution to this because the forest is in grave danger." Rose said

"Let Novah come back, he might have an idea of what to do." Roxie suggested

"Yeah." Claudia agreed and wow! First time they agree on something.

"So, when is Kyle gonna go back to earth?" Rose asked.

"Now." Roxie stated as he stood up.

"Now? Isn't that too early?" I asked in a low tone.

"No, it's not. Novah clearly gave that order before he left." Roxie said.

"Oh, okay then, we should start going." I said.

"I'll navigate the portal through it presence." I said as Rose and Claudia nodded.

"Come on, let's go." Roxie said to Kyle and we all proceeded to take Kyle back.

==========

We all set out to where the portal was so as kyle could go back to earth. I was kinda sad because this is the first time I get to relate with a creature that looks like me in every way. All my life I've been surrounded by trees and mystical animals but meeting Kyle, it felt like an empty space was filled in my heart. I sighed deeply and Kyle tapped me.

"Hey." He said

"Hey." I said with a dry smile.

"What's wrong? You look sad and worried." He asked in concern.

"It's nothing, I'm fine." I lied.

"You sure?" He asked

"Yeah"

"Okay." He shrugged but he was not convinced.

"You know, this was quite an adventure." He said as we walked on.

"Really?" I asked, arching my brow.

"Yeah..I was chased by ten wired animals, I almost died but I was magically saved by the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I met four talking weird animals. I figured out Nymphs are real, I discovered that animals flirt and I saw the most beautiful garden that ever existed. Isn't that quite an adventure?" He asked, facing me. The most beautiful girl part made me blush.

"Yeah, I guess it is" I said, kicking a little stone shyly.

"Found it!" I heard Rose shout.

"Oh the portal." I said as I walked close to it. I almost got blinded by the light emitting from it

"So this is it." I faced Kyle and he smiled. "Yeah and thanks again Mari, qnd all of you." He said facing the others.

"You're welcome." Rose and Claudia chorused

"You're welcome, even if I hate your guts." Roxie said, making Kyle to chuckle.

"Bye Mari." He said, opening his arms for a hug.

"Fine I'll give you a hug." I said playfully as I went into his arms.

"Be a good girl." He ruffled my hair and I huffed.

"I will not." I stumped my foot on the ground playfully and he laughed.

"I know you won't. You're always in for trouble." He said in between laughs

"Bye once again." He said as he waved at Claudia, Rose and Roxie.

He flashed me one last smile and one foot then the other, he stepped into the portal.

I sighed deeply and turned to the guys.

"Well, I guess its time for us to go back home." I said, walking away but they stood still.

"Um, guys let's go.".I said, pointing to the way back.

"Mari. If Novah wants to keep you locked up for the rest of your life, I won't allow that." Roxie said.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked. I hope it's not what I'm thinking.

"I'm saying you should go live your life. For the next 12 hrs." He replied

"Wait...you mean ..

"Yeah...go on Mari." Rose urged

"But grandpa." I protested

"Come on. All he'll do is to nag and besides you'll be home before sunset so..." Claudia said.

"Really?" I squealed with happiness and excitement.

"Yes, really." Roxie said, almost smiling.

"Oh my God!" I shrieked as I pulled them into tight hugs kissing them all over.

"Enough of the hugs now go. Kyle wouldn't have gone far." Roxie said

"Yeah I can still catch up with him." I said, straightening up.

I went close to the portal and I took a deep breath. I faced back to them and they gave me a good ahead look.

"OK, thanks guys. Wish me luck." I said

"You don't need luck. You're Mariposa." Claudia said with a grin

"Now go." Rose said

"Yeah, shoo" Roxie added

I took one last deep breath. It's now or never. After all these years! I've been waiting for the opportunity to live my life, to step out of this forest for just a minute but now, the opportunity is finally here. I can't believe it. Is this a dream? I pinched myself to confirm and no, this isn't a dream.

You can do this Mari. Go live your life for twelve hours

Here I go! I closed my eyes with determination as I stepped into the portal.