14 Chapter 14 : A surprise

The weather was cold, the sky was full of clouds, Kipo, Sarah and Zet were sleeping in their tent, it was 6 AM, Zet has just woke up, usually he would go for his daily morning walk, but he could not for two reasons, he had to stay in cover at all times now, and he did not want to pass by his treehouse again, he decided to meditate on top of the highest tree in his surroundings, he needed a place where he can go to clear his mind, his music was always an answer to this, but this time he needed something stronger than his music, so he tried the opposite of it, complete silence, he thought the girls would think he left, so he left a note saying (I'm up on a tree....don't come to me).

It's 8 AM, Sarah woke up, while Kipo is still asleep, when she woke up, she looked for Zet, then saw his note, she was going up for him, but not now, she decided to give more alone time.

Sarah then woke Kipo up, she was trying to get her to get used to waking up early.

Sarah : hey Kipo.....come on....wake up.

Kipo did not respond, she was very tired from yesterday's night walk they all did, she needed to rest.

Sarah then realized that she is tired and needed more sleep time today, she left her to sleep while she decided to climb on the trees and look at the hamster's village from far away and see what did Zet do to it last night.

What she saw was horrifying, destruction everywhere in that village, villagers running everywhere, grabbing buckets of water trying to stop the flames from spreading to the forest.

This was not her first time seeing this much destruction and chaos in one place caused by Zet, her first time seeing all of this was when she was the reason to cause it, when she and Zet saw each other for the last time in a long time, when they fought for something they both now agree it was not worth it, but none of them is ready to admit it.

The sun has risen to its highest, it's 11 AM, it was time for Sarah to wake Kipo up and call Zet, it was time for them to leave their place and continue their journey.

Sarah has arrived back at the tent.

Sarah : let's try this again Kipo....wake up.....it's time to go.

Kipo : mmm....just five minutes.

Sarah : no....get up now before I throw you and the bed.

Kipo : alright alright....little too aggressive.....

Kipo then opened her eyes and looked around her, but only to see Sarah.

Kipo : where's Zet ?

Sarah : I will go get him...don't go back to sleep...we need to go.

Sarah then left the tent, she climbed the trees around her, she saw Zet laying down on the top of the tree, staring at the sky.

Sarah : hey.

Zet : hey.

Sarah : what are you doing here ?

Zet : nothing special....just trying to relax.

Sarah : for 5 hours ?

Zet : yeah.....nothing special.

Sarah : I will not even ask....anyway come on....we need to move.

Zet : what are you planning to do exactly ?

Sarah : I will tell you, but first we need to go back to the tent.

Zet : sure.

When they both came back to the tent they saw Kipo sleeping.

Zet : let me guess....you woke her up....she slept again.....brave move of her.

Sarah : that's it.

Sarah then carried Kipo while she was still in her sleeping bag and threw it out of the tent.

Kipo then woke up immediately.

Kipo : whoa!....ouch...I deserve this one.

Sarah : told you I was going to do it....go wash your face....there's a lake 40 feet south from here.

Kipo then left the tent to wash her face.

Sarah looked at Zet's face, he was upset about the treehouse.

Sarah : hey.....you ok?

Zet : no...but I will be...thanks.

Sarah then nodded with a small smile on her face.

After they packed up their tent they headed randomly to the opposite way of the hamster's village.

Kipo : so....what do we do now ?

Sarah : we need to find out who is "him".

Kipo : and how ?

Zet : I think I know a place we can go to.....a bit dangerous...but if we succeed to get in we will be able to see all of Las Vistas from there.

Sarah : what do you mean by "a bit dangerous" ?

Zet : there are mutes who live in there.....but I don't know what are they.....I have never seen them.

Kipo : ok....sounds good to me.....which way ?

Zet : we need to get out of the woods first.....then we need to look for a giant observatory.

After a while of walking in a straight line trying to get out of the forest, they have finally reached the end of it, lucky for them, it was good weather, it was cold with the sun rising, it was beautiful weather for a walk.

Kipo : ugh.....we finally got out....we've been walking for hours.

Sarah : we can rest here a bit....we're not in a rush.

Kipo : well that's new....but I can really use some rest.

Zet : sure....I'll go grab us something to eat.

Sarah : ok.

Zet left.

Kipo : hey do you know anything about where we're going ?

Sarah : no...I haven't spent as much time on the surface as much as I did in a burrow...I'm as clueless as you in this one.

Kipo : so what's up with Zet ?.....he looks so upset.

Sarah : he's been living in that treehouse for 4 years....2 with me and 2 without me....that house is very special to him.

Kipo : well....there is a chance that they did not attack it....a slight chance.....but still a chance.

Sarah : I could go check it out later....but you need to distract him.

Kipo : you want me to distract him!?.....how am I supposed to distract someone who's very aware like him....he'll know I'm stalling him for something.

Sarah : you know what....forget it....we'll look for it together.

Kipo : honestly...that's way better.

Zet came back with different kinds of fruits in his hands.

Zet : that's all I could find around here.

Kipo : this will be enough for a while....thanks.

Sarah : so Zet...

Zet : hm?

Sarah : Kipo and I have something for you.....it could be good news...it could be bad news...but it's worth it.

Zet did not say anything, waiting for her to continue.

Sarah : it's the treehouse....it may not be destroyed....there is a chance that it's still standing.

Zet : sure.....let's go check it out.....I know where it is from here.

The three of them agreed to go back to the treehouse and check on it, maybe it's still standing and no one showed up to destroy it.

The night has set, they were about to reach the treehouse, but they could not see anything in the total darkness.

Sarah : I can't see anything.

Zet : the moon is not going to help us this night....we need to find a light somehow.

Kipo : what are you guys talking about ?.....it's bright here.

Sarah : wait....you can see ?

Kipo :yeah....can't you ?

Sarah : no we can't.

Zet then noticed two pink lights next to each other.

Zet : wait Kipo.....stay exactly where you are now.....don't move.

Kipo : ok.

Zet then approached the two pink lights and touched them.

Kipo : hey....that's my eye....what was that for ?

Zet : your eyes.....they are glowing pink.

Kipo : wait....what?!...what does that mean?!....I'm I going to be ok?!

Zet : we'll talk later....but now you can lead us to the treehouse.

Kipo : ok...I guess I can try.

Kipo tried her best to follow Zet's instructions and lead them all to the treehouse.

They have arrived.

Zet : we should be here.....Kipo...can you see it ?

Kipo : no.

Zet : lift the leaves on the closest tree to you.

she then lifted the leaves of the trees around her.

Kipo : there it is...I found it!

Zet : good job....now can you grab me any stick....I'll take it from here.

Zet then sat the stick on fire to create a light source.

Kipo : wait....you could've done that all this time?

Zet : my powers aren't free when the sky is that clear.

Kipo : right...I forgot about that.

Zet then found the entrance of the treehouse and turned on the candles he had on in the house, the treehouse was fine, no one came to destroy it.

Zet : all clear....come here.

Kipo then grabbed Sarah's hand and took her to the entrance.

Sarah : look at that....no one came.

Kipo : the house is still fine!

Zet : that's because of what I did to them.

kipo : what do you mean ?

Sarah : the night when we ran away from them....when you were so tired you went to sleep immediately...Zet went back to that village and burnt it all....this is why they did not come here....either they ran away....or did not survive the fire.

Kipo : that can't be true.....you're a wonderkid.....you're supposed to be the hero...not the villain.

Zet : apparently I'm not any of both...I still think they deserved it....and also...I'm not the only wonderkid here.

Kipo : what do you mean?

Zet : kipo....you are a wonderkid.

Kipo : what!?

Zet : your eyes....they glow in the dark.....and when you got mad at Sarah...you got heavier....and your head was hurting you badly....that's because your powers started to show up.....

Sarah : and not to mention that you're faster than me....and I worked for years to get to that pace.

Zet : in a short version...you are one of us Kipo....you are the animal wonderkid.

Kipo : that can't be right.....why did nothing show up before ?....why now ?

Zet : you have a lot of questions....I'll answer them...but for now we need to sleep here.

Sarah : the animal wonderkid ?

Zet : I'll explain tomorrow.....now sleep.

It's midnight, everyone was laying on the ground sleeping, except kipo, she was very surprised by what Zet told her, she was scared of the responsibility that she can potentially have, but at the same time she was excited about the fact that she has superpowers.

Kipo then got up and checked if Zet or Sarah is awake, they were asleep, she sat on the doorstep and looked right into the darkness of the forest, she was amazed by the fact that she can see everything.

Zet then came behind her and sat next to her.

Zet : can't sleep ?

Kipo : no.

Zet : if I have to guess.....you're still shocked.

Kipo : more like afraid.

Zet : from what ?

Kipo : doesn't being a wonderkid mean that you have so much responsibility ?

Zet quietly laughed.

Zet : Is that what's all about?.....listen....responsibility comes to those who ask for it.....responsibility runs away from those who run from it.

Kipo : what do you mean ?

Zet : I mean that you can just run away from any problem you might have....or you can defend yourself against it...or you can have the responsibility to be a hero and be the solution to other people's problems.....it's all your choice.

Kipo : but what about all the things that I should learn now ?

Zet : there is no "what you should do"....you can just stop looking for answers and forget that you are a wonderkid.....you can live a normal life as a normal girl....or you can be the hero to be called when needed....if you choose to become a wonderkid....I will help you as much I can....I would love for you to become what you were destined to be, but more importantly, what you choose to be.

Kipo : I'll think about it.

Zet nodded, he then got up and went into the forest.

Kipo : where are you going ?

Zet : I didn't do my morning walk....so I'm going for a walk.

Kipo : but you can't see anything.

Zet then turned around facing Kipo with his eyes glowing yellow.

Zet : that would be incorrect.

Kipo realized, Zet had his suspicion about her, he just needed to make sure, and it worked.

Kipo : that's very smart!

Zet did not respond, and Kipo no longer can see him.

Kipo : Zet ?