Twins Amber and Calcite couldn't be any less alike. Where Cal is happy to stay at home with his piano and guitar, Amber has a desperate need to see unknown places and explore the wilds. Chasing a childhood dream into the jungle of Selvadorada, Amber finds a dream cut short...and Cal finds himself living for two lives, instead of just one.
Amber: …there’s no way forward. The bridge must have rotted away.
Mora: There should be another way in…let’s check the outside.
Amber: no.
Mora: No? What’re you–Amber!
Amber: Relax! I used to swim in the hotsprings back home all the time!
*splash*
Mora: Ugh…chica, you’re nuts.
Mora: Amber! Chica, you alive back there?
Amber: Yeah! It’s a burial chamber!
Mora: Ai, Miradora…okay, come back out!
Amber: There’s another tunnel down here! I’m gonna see where it leads!
Mora: Okay, be careful! I’ll take your clothes back out front!
Amber: Ow ow–hot foot, hot foot! Guys?
Pato: Around front, chica!
Jungla: What it doesn’t make is sense. The Omiscans would do sky burials–they didn’t bury their dead like we do!
Mora: They did bury nobles, and the imperial line. This could be the last emperor’s tomb, for all we know for sure.
Pato: But why all the way out here? Was there any sign of why?
Mora: No. But I don’t know if that’s from time or just because they didn’t put anything up front.
Coral: We’ll have to check the back exit, too.
Amber: Guys–this is a burial tomb! There’s a snail and everything!
Others: A snail?!
Amber: A snail, shaped out of brass.
Pato: Well, fry and batter me…
Coral: Have a nice swim, chica?
Amber: Very nice, thank you. Listen–the Snail is Guardian of the Dead, right? Carries them in its shell?
Mora: Right.
Amber: Well, this one had something on it’s shell. Mapping coordinates!
Jungla: Holy–they left a map behind!
Jungla: Where does it lead?
Amber: Back south.
Jungla: Back and forth, back and forth–they were riding a pendulum weren’t they?
Amber: Probably! I don’t know the exact end of those coordinates off the top of my head, but it definitely puts it back in Belomisia.
Mora: Where they left…so they could go back later!
Amber: Has to be!
Amber: Which means! We have a map and a plan.
Mora: We have coordinates and an idea, Amber, not a plan.
Amber: The start of a plan.
Coral: Yeah, to go find where it is and dig up a new temple!
Pato: Hopefully. People have been scouring the jungle since I was a boy–maybe they already found the thing.
Jungla: We won’t know until we get those coordinates deciphered.
Pato: Eh, true! So, chica, you going to Belomisia after this?
Amber: If the Prof agrees to it, you better believe I am!
Amber: Finding this temple was already once in a lifetime, but finding something from another Era in Belomisia? id’ be stupid to not take that chance!
Mora: And you are not stupid.
Amber: My degree sure says I’m not.
Coral: So,we’re off to the jungles at last! Great.
Amber: Hey, nobody said you had to come with me, old man!
Pato: Ha! She’s got you there.
Amber: But seriously–this is the find of a century! We can learn so much from this!
Mora: I just want to know why they left home…it still doesn’t make sense. Why run from Belomisia but leave a map back?
Amber: We’re not going to find out standing around here!
Amber: The only way to know what they were running from is to find that, which has to be back in Belomisia. Which means…
Mora: Tracking it down in the jungle. You’d better pack your bug spray.
Amber: Ha! That’s the least of my worries. The Prof still has to get funding for the whole team to go!
Mora: Or just you.
Amber: What? No, no way! We all found this place, we’ll find the next one too!
Pato: It is a lot cheaper to send one person than five, chica. And there’s whole teams down there that wouldn’t mind an extra set of hands.
Mora: Oh yeah…isn’t the professor’s daughter working out of Alam?
Amber: She does! Canela is…oh.
Mora/Coral: Oh?
Amber: Nothing! Just–we went to school together and I haven’t seen her since graduation and–
Pato: And that sells it. If only one gets to go, it’s Amber. We can hardly get in the way of school girl reunions.
Prof. Ciruela: Oh, I cannot believe it! These coordinates–Mija, I cannot believe this!
Amber: Good news or bad?
Prof. Ciruela: Amazing news! No one has ever discovered a temple in this part of the jungle! It is a new era!
Prof. Ciruela: There are already multiple teams preparing to leave and scout the area. If you wish to see it undisturbed, you had best hurry!
Amber: Oh, I’m going. The others?
Prof. Ciruela: They will follow after. There is a flight that leaves in two hours. I trust you can be on it?
Amber: Two hours…uh…yeah, yeah I can do it. That’s enough time to go back and let my family know.
Prof. Ciruela: Good, good! Then I will let Canela know to expect you.
Amber: Oh! No, I wanna surprise her!
Amber: Just–tell her to expect a team at the airport?
Prof. Ciruela: That I can do. *chuckle* She will be happy to see you, Mija.
Amber: And it’ll be great to see her, too. I can..take something for her, if you want?
Prof. Ciruela: No need. But thank you all the same.
Amber: Seriously? It’s been what, five years since you last saw her in person? Are you sure…
Prof. Ciruela: I’m sure. *chuckle* I suspect she will be too surprised to see you to think of her old man back here.
Amber: Prof you’re not that old.
Prof. Ciruela: It is only a saying! *laugh* I trust your papers are in order?
Amber: Of course they are! Up to date, every single year!
Prof. Ciruela: Good, good! We will be dodging monsoon season, as well, so there is no time to delay!
Amber: Monsoon–oh, shittake, that’s right. No flights in or out for three whole months!
Prof. Ciruela: And too much rain to explore the Belomisia as well. It is a very narrow window we are approaching.
Amber: Good thing I’m so skinny. I fit through narrow windows real easy!
Prof. Ciruela: Yes, you do, but…do be cautious, Amber.
Amber: Oh, not you too…I can look after myself, Professor. Really, I know what I’m doing.
Prof. Ciruela: And I do not doubt that! But these are unknowns, and unknowns carry the most risk!
Amber: And that makes them the most fun! There’s nothing to worry about, I promise.
Prof. Ciruela: Mija, you are one of mine. I will always worry!
Amber: Prof…
Prof. Ciruela: Ah! I will always worry, but I do trust you as well. Simply be careful and return to us with all the knowledge you can gather.
Amber: Oh, now that I can do. I’ll be back bursting at the seams, just you wait!
Prof. Ciruela: I look forward to it.
At home…
*laughter*
Calcite: Ma! You really–you really did that?
Saffron: I did! Not that it got me very far, but…I sure did try to stowaway on a ship to Sixam.
Moonstone: Watcher, Saf.
Nova: So they caught you at the weight check and then what?
Saffron: Oh, I had to sweet talk my way out of getting arrested and got tossed off the base. The launch was still neat to see, even from outside the fence.
*door opens*
Amber: I’ll be right back! Hey guys–oh, hi, Nova!
Nova: Hey. Good to see you again.
Moonstone: Amber! Welcome home, sweetheart. How was Wineburg?
Amber: Chilly! I can’t stay long–I’ve got a flight to Selva that leaves real soon!
Moonstone: Selva–whoa, slow down! What happened?
Amber: Oh, Mama, it was–the temple was from an unmarked Era! There were coordinates leading back to Belomisia–I’m going to go scout them out and I’ll explain later okay? I’ve gotta grab a thing!
Calcite: Just like that? Amber! You can’t be serious! You’re just going to run off like this?
Amber: It’s not “running off”, Cal, this is what I’ve been working towards my whole life!
Calcite: You’re abandoning your whole life!
Amber: Don’t you dare start–
Calcite: You’ve been gone for a week and now you come back and it’s just jet right off again?! You cannot be serious!
Amber: Of course I’m serious!
Amber: This was where things were always going to go, Cal! You know that!
Calcite: With you turning your back on us?!
Amber: I’m not turning my back on anyone! I’m following my dream–why can’t you just accept that?!
Calcite: Because you’re leaving the rest of us behind!
Calcite: All you’ve ever cared about is your dream, your wants. You don’t give one wit about the rest of us, do you?!
Amber: …If that’s what you think I don’t know why I bothered coming back to tell you i was going. *scoff* Why am I not surprised.
Calcite: So you’re just going to run away, again?
Amber: I have a plane to catch.
Calcite: Fine! Catch your plane! But don’t bother coming back if we’re worth this little to you!
Nova: Cal!
Moonstone: Guys, don’t–don’t fight!
Saffron: Ugh…
Amber: Fine! I won’t come back!
Calcite: Fine!
Saffron: *sigh* I’ll talk to her. Nova, could you check on Cal?
Nova: Sure thing.
Nova: Babe, what was that?
Calcite: ….it’s stupid.
Nova: Tall me?
Calcite: ….
Nova: I’ve never seen you that upset before. Something’s bothering you…and it’s more than just Amber going without warning, isn’t it?
Calcite: …I just…
Nova: I won’t laugh, babe. I promise.
Calcite: *sigh* I had a bad dream.
Nova: So this is just you being really tired, or…
Calcite: It was about Amber dying down there.
Nova: Oh. Oh, Cal.
Calcite: I know. I know it’s stupid, I just.
Nova: You’re worried about her.
Calcite: Of course I am!
Nova: So why not just say that? Why not just tell her about the dream?
Calcite: She wouldn’t listen! She’s so determined–so focused to do this, she wouldn’t. She’d never…
Nova: Cal. She’s your twin. I’m sure she’d listen to you.
Nova: And it might have gone a little better than…that.
Calcite: Ugh…I need to apologize for that, don’t I.
Nova: Be a good idea.
Nova: Oh, babe. Sometimes you love a little too hard, you know?
Calcite: I know. I just…the dream, and her going…
Nova: Freaked you out. I think I can tell that much.
Nova: Have you had dreams like that before?
Calcite: Never this clearly, but…yeah. I have. Ever since I was little.
Nova: Huh. There’s something to look into.
Calcite: What do you mean?
Nova: Hm, just a thought. You might have some dream powers or something.
Calcite: *laugh* I’m happy being normal, babe. Scoot–I need to go apologize to Amber.
Amber: Love you bye!
*front door closes*
Calcite: Or not. *sigh* I’ll apologize when she gets back.
Saffron: Oh, we’re going to miss you so much!
Amber; Ma, it’s only for a couple weeks!
Saffron: Or months! It could be months!
Saffron: Monsoon season’s no joke, honey bee! Stay safe, you hear?
Amber: I hear, I hear.
Amber: Give Mama a big hug for me. …and Cal, too.
Saffron: I will. Have a safe flight.
Belomisia Trailhead…
-
Canela: I still cannot believe you are here! Five years and you’ve barely changed at all.
Amber: Says you! You still look like you did when we were kids.
Canela: The wonders of jungle air! How is everyone? Calcite, your cousins?
Amber: Fine, fine! But I’m not here to talk about them. Did you get the files from your dad?
Canela: I did. The coordinates lead into a quadrant of the jungle none on my team have reached so far. We are most definitely going to need a guide.
Amber: Is that a problem?
Canela: Not a…problem, but a…*sigh* The best guide is refusing to take my calls. She does this quite often.
Amber: She?
Canela: Solana Dorada. If there is anyone who can get us there, it will be her.
Amber: It sounds like you two don’t get along?
Canela: Pfft, nothing of the sort. She is a good woman, simply…*groan* Difficult to work with at times. Especially when she does not answer her phone!
Amber: Why don’t I go get her? She’s in Alam, right? Back in town?
Canela: She should be. I suppose a new face could tempt her into the jungle…especially one as handsome as yours.
Amber: *laugh* Flatterer.
Amber: I’ll go talk to her, then. Watch, we’ll be back before dark and head out in the morning as planned!
Canela: Hm…well, best of luck, amiga. You are going to need it.
Fuego: Afternoon, stranger. What’ll it be?
Amber: Ah–afternoon. Information, if you’ve got any.
Fuego; Hm, depends. Information on what?
Amber: I’m looking for a guide into the Belomisia. Solana Dorada?
Fuego: Ah, you’re looking for our solesita! Well, you’re in luck because there she is.
Amber: Wha–oh. Oh.
Amber: That’s Solana Dorada?
Fuego: Si, senorita! The best guide this side of the Rio Guayaba. If you can pull her away from the stereo.
Fuego: Which is a lot harder than you would think, let me tell you!
Amber: Oh, I think I can manage. Thanks for the tip.
Amber: Solana–
Solana: Ah-ah. Dance first, business later. Do you know the local dances?
Amber: Uh–a little?
Solana: *laugh* Not bad for an extranjera! You’ve practiced!
Amber: A little! I-oof–I’ve kinda got two left feet, though!
Solana: Well, in that case.
Amber: Whoa–
Solana: Why not let me lead?
🎶
Amber: Oh…oh, I know this song.
Solana: Most do. It is quite popular outside of Selva.
Solana: So, which team are you with?
Amber: I thought it was pleasure before business.
Solana, Ah, indulge a lady’s curiosity.
Amber: La Universidad de Arqueología, Professor Ciruela’s team.
Solana: Ah! You’re working with Canelita, then.
Amber: Canelita, huh?
Solana: *laugh* I’ve known her since we were school girls. The stories I could tell about her.
Amber: Oh?
Solana: Another time. This is about you, bonita. Tell me, what’s your name?
Amber: Amber. Amber Crystal.
Solana: A pretty name for a pretty lady.
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