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A Different Path, part 8 Rachel saw the shocked faces of the four women from Mother Earth and knew what they were experiencing. She urged the others to hang back while the women made their way up the path towards the waiting pair. Jenny kept her eyes locked on Cierra's counterpart and noticed that she seemed to be shrinking into herself further, as though she was frightened. She seemed timid but then Jenny recalled that Cierra was rather shy in the beginning. She still was to some degree in fact. Cierra never had an aggressive personality nor was she outgoing. Her confidence had been a slow process. The blonde wondered what this other woman's life had been like to cause her to be even shier. The six women remained still and silent until Elinor spoke. "Hello, Cierra. I suppose you have a lot of questions." The shaman barely nodded while she kept her eyes on her twin who was still sitting on the ground. "It's a long story but maybe we should go to Mother Earth first? The others have been anxious to get there." Cierra didn't respond at first. JP tore her gaze from the woman sitting and placed her hand on her spouse's back to gain her attention. "Hon, let's get everyone to Carey's village. We'll talk there, okay?" JP asked everyone to gather together so Cierra could speak with them. Cierra stood in front of the group and explained the goals of Mother Earth and the society they were building. If any of them didn't feel that ME was the place they wanted to help build then there were alternative worlds to settle. The people listened intently to her words then held out hands to be shaken by the shaman. Cierra first held out her hand to Rachel, who smiled charmingly. She had always thought that the lovers would have made good couple for Mother Earth. Their families accepted their lesbian relationship so she felt confident that they'd fit in well. The singer would also be a nice addition to their village but wondered about her crew. She knew without asking that Alix wouldn't abandon them. Where they were sent is where she would go also. She shook their hands but really couldn't make up her mind about them. They were fairly neutral. The men were also loyal to Alix and very protective of her well being. Cierra turned to Alix and asked to speak with her privately. They walked from the others and stopped to chat beneath a large tree. "Where do you want to go?" she asked frankly. You're crew don't care one way or another but I see no reason to take in another seven single men to Mother Earth--not when man power is so badly needed in the other colonies." "My crew is like family. We don't want to be separated." The shaman remained silent, allowing her mind to go over many possibilities before making a suggestion. "We formed a village north of us for the people from the farming communities of Napa Valley. There's quite a few single women there," she hinted. "My crew can settle there, perhaps find wives," Alix finished for her, "But they may not want to be land locked. They might want to live with the ones by the ocean or maybe ask for places on your ship. We can ask what they want. And where do you want me? I was hoping for your village. I have a better chance of finding someone there since I'm a lesbian." "It depends on you. Alix, your reputation for never being with anyone longer than a few months is well known. Our community isn't for players or anyone who just wants a good time. The women there are looking for life partners, not playmates. Being a celebrity won't make up for a lack of sincerity. You'll be just like all the others." Cierra didn't want the singer to have any doubts about that. "I understand. I won't play any games there, I promise. But I'm more worried about my guys. I want them happily settled before I make up my mind. Let me talk to them. I'll give you my answer in about half an hour. Will that be all right?" Cierra agreed and they walked back to the others. She would have Rachel and her group collect their belongings while Alix and her people chatted. She glanced at her counterpart and cringed. Even knowing nothing about her, she was afraid this would change everything. She wasn't unique in her ability to jump. This could be hell if the other one chose to cause trouble. Did she really want her on Mother Earth? Cierra felt lost. How could she control what went on with her world if someone else existed that could undermine her? This other person lacked confidence in her abilities and could be manipulated. The possibilities with her very existence terrified the young woman. So much could be destroyed. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice JP's presence until warm arms wrapped around her. "It'll be okay," she whispered into ear. "No, it won't," Cierra said, her voice almost a sob. "Yes I can. I can almost hear your thoughts, you know. I won't let her hurt anyone," JP growled. Cierra didn't raise her head from JP's shoulder. She didn't want to look up and see such fierceness in JP's beautiful blue eyes. She knew what JP was promising. She would stop the other Cierra from destroying their lives by any means, even if it meant staining her own soul to prevent it. * * * * * Jenny walked over to where her friend was sitting and sat next to her on the log. The blonde had noticed that Cierra had refused to speak with her alternative self yet and did her best to even avoid eye contact. "You have to talk to her sometime--especially since you brought her along to Mother Earth with everyone else on the yacht." "I can't. Not yet." Cierra looked so frightened that all Jenny could do was wrap a comforting arm around her friend and remain silent. Pushing her friend now would only make it worse. Cierra would deal with her counterpart when she was ready and no sooner. Jenny was convinced from what little she learned fro Elinor that the other Cierra was just a victim and not someone who would deliberately cause trouble. The timid woman just needed understanding friends and a place to heal her wounded spirit. Or to love. Jenny watched the reporter and the other Cierra. Elinor seemed to hover over the skittish young woman and very protective. A small grin curled Jenny's lips and the thought that Cierra, no matter where she came from, drew protective people to her. The two friends sat silently until Alix stepped up to them and gave Cierra her men's decision. If Janet accepted them as crew members, they'd like to join the new trader ship. The shaman nodded and asked Carey to join them. It would be up to the Napa-Sonoma clan to provide a home base for the men until the WaveDancer arrived. Carey agreed and asked what would become of the small yacht once the men left. Alix informed her that the N-S clan could keep it; that it might come in handy one day. Her crew would even be happy to give sailing lessons to villagers. With that decided, the women from the Napa clan urged the others to climb onto the double canoe. It would be cramped but with so many young people who could help with rowing, they wouldn't have much trouble traveling upstream. JP and Cierra handed out oars to everyone. The shaman turned to hand another oar to the person behind her then nearly gasped aloud when she saw that it was her counterpart. She shook herself out of her stunned fugue and even managed a slight smile as she handed the wooden oar to the woman. Early in the journey upstream, the teenagers were boisterous but the warm sun and labor soon had them quieter as they rowed. After a while, they passed their ores to others to take over and they snoozed in the afternoon warmth. The Cierra from the alternative world wasn't accustomed to exercise and stopped rowing when her tired arms would no longer work. She stared at the strong back of her counterpart as she evenly and effortlessly paddled with the oar. The shaman had a nice tan and seemed so strong, her muscles well defined. This was an unusual sight for Cierra, who thought only farm girls had muscles. No city bred woman would do anything to even build up a sweat unless they belonged to a tennis club. The woman in front of her didn't look like either type. She wasn't a big, burly farm girl nor a wealthy woman who joined country clubs. "You're very strong," Cierra told her counterpart. She cringed, thinking that was a lame sounding conversation starter. The shaman stiffened. She had almost had pushed the existence of the woman behind her out of her mind and resented being dragged back into thinking about her. "Lots of hard work," she said bluntly, her voice cool. "What was your home like? When you were a kid," Cierra asked shyly. She could barely remember home and wondered how the other woman grew up. Cierra hadn't expected that question. Her stomach tightened in remembered anger. "Nothing special. Why do you ask?" The escapee from the institute could hear the anger in the shaman's voice. Was it possible her history was much like her own? That would explain her defensive attitude. "I didn't mean to make you angry. It's just that...well, my mother let them take me away when I was young and I never saw her again. I barely remember her." "If she's anything like my mother, that's no loss," Cierra growled. "What did she do to you?" Cierra asked while moving closer to her alternative twin. The shaman sighed heavily. "She didn't have me locked away but she was just as distant as if she had. They kept me drugged until I was nineteen and she had little to do with me if she could help it. She spoiled Rupert though." "Who's Rupert?" Cierra was surprised but once she thought about it she realized this Cierra may not have known of a brother's existence since she was nine years older than her sibling. "My brother. He was born just after dad died. He's twenty-two now. He and mother are living in one of the survivor camps, thank God. the last thing I wanted was to come into contact with her all the time." "I wonder if Rupert was born on my world?" Cierra sighed. "I guess it doesn't matter much since I didn't grow up with them. So, I was wondering, should I take on a nickname? I was thinking it wouldn't be easy having two of us named the same thing. I could go by my middle name if you want me to," she offered. "Is it Emily after Aunt Emily?" Cierra felt suddenly warmer inside. They did have something in common. "Yes, it is." The shaman remained quiet for a minute then spoke. "Okay, we'll call you Emily," she told her, Cierra's voice much kinder. They spoke more and Cierra felt her tension easing off now she was exchanging histories with Emily. The young woman was very much a victim in her own world and seemed too shy to every try anything to disrupt her new home. Although her very existence might be a shock to everyone. JP listened shamelessly from her seat at the rear of the canoe. She knew her spouse well and listened to her emotions in her voice. Cierra's words told her that things would be odd at first but everything would most likely work out in the end. She only hoped that Emily's place on Mother Earth didn't bring any division in people's loyalties. Cierra was their queen and no one else could replace her even if they looked the same. Next Chapter |