She never saw Gaia again for a long time, not even in her dreams.

Did she imagine her, or was she real? She didn't know, but it did leave her sad and lonely, despite her mother and Honan being there with her every day. She was happy that she had them, but it's been a long time since she saw Elsu, and she never made any friends with the other children or even the adults.

Did that make her a bad child?

No one seemed to believe so if one doesn't count the natives who were weary of her and Honan, but she sure felt like she was an awful existence.

It's been about twenty years now, and she now had finally grown into what she learned was the appearance and body of a two-year-old child. Her hair had grown longer until it was reaching her middle back, her arms and hands were still a little chubby, her cheeks were puffed out still, and her body had gotten a little taller and bolder. Now she no longer needed the strap that Kwanita used to carry her around, though she did have a hard time walking and required her mother's assistance.

But she could finally speak after so long. In fact, she started speaking only ten years ago, but found that talking was troublesome and unneeded at times, especially when she said her first word.

It was when the sun was in the middle of the sky that she said it. Honan, who had grown too, was helping the other boys make what she would later learn were weapons. They had been traveling the land for some time now, and she found herself taking everything in, but still remained confused on what this meant, and why the people seemed to regard her, her mother, and her brother as "guardians" or even "gods".

Kwanita was sewing something while she sat beside her, watching her fingers dance with the thread and needle. She told her daughter that it was called a basket, and it was going to be used for the harvests, which would enable those using it to carry more than their hands ever could.

She was fascinated, and then, almost like she was possessed, she uttered something.

Kwanita looked at her, stunned. "What have you said?" she asked, her brown eyes wide with shock. Caught off guard by this, she hesitated before she opened her mouth again, pointing at the grain fields nearby.

"Gai...a..." she said.

Kwanita dropped the thread, needle, and basket, a gasp flying past her lips. She looked at her with a shock that she couldn't describe, and suddenly she wished that she could take that word back, that she had said nothing at all.

Most of all, she didn't understand.

Why did her mother react that way? Does she know Gaia somehow? And if so, why did she look so shocked...and even scared?

So, after that, she didn't speak much, but she did when she was spoken to.

She could tell that this worried her mother and brother, and once, Honan looked up at Kwanita with concern after his unknown sister didn't babble like most of the babies in the villages do.

"Is he well Mama?" he asked.

Kwanita nodded, trying to not show her own worry. "He is healthy my son, I suppose he just does not like to speak much, that is all."

"But..."

Kwanita smiled at Honan, placing a gentle hand on his cheek. "Do not worry my son, your brother is fine, you have my word on that. Migisi is still young, so wait just a little while longer, and we will see changes with him."

Honan bit his lip, clearly still concerned for her, but he nodded all the same. After that, Honan never questioned their mother about her behavior, but she could tell that he was still worried about her.

She was worried too, just not over the same thing.

She was wondering if something was truly wrong with her, just not in body. She knew what she saw when she spoke with Gaia, and yet, she knew that no one else would be able to see or speak with her. And what did Gaia mean by getting answers when she was old enough? How long was she going to have to wait for obtain them?

Or was it just a false sign in her dreams, like some medicine men have said? Somehow that saddened her.

She wanted to speak to Gaia again, but besides with obtaining answers, she didn't know why.

She doubted Kwanita would believe her if she even said anything though, much less Honan.

She never felt so alone, and she hated it. Now she began to wonder if sadness and loneliness could create illnesses, because she sure felt like something was wrong with her, especially with the heavy feeling in her chest.

And it hurt, it hurt so much, and she couldn't even say anything to describe how she was feeling to her mother and brother.

She doubted that they would've believed her anyway.