Circum Universe
One:
FURRY EARS, TEA, AND A FLOATING STAR

     Searing heat and a blast of color from darkness woke Kitzani from a sound sleep.  She dimly perceived the feeling of moisture on her face, and sat upright, incomprehensively murmuring an “Mmmmgagh” before her senses faded into clarity.   A familiar scent found its way into her nose and at once, she realized what was happening.  She slowly reached in front of her and the touch of warm, smooth ceramic met her hand.
     “Tea? Thank you.” She muttered, taking a sip, inhaling the warm aroma of the tea’s vapor as she swallowed.  As soon as she gulped the first mouthful down, her eyes suddenly widened, and she felt instantly energized and prepared for the day.  It was as if her energy had suddenly been triggered, like a flame igniting on a candle’s wick – she was now, officially, awake.  “I do love some good O’otin in the morning!”  Kitzani exclaimed to her twin sister Miata, who, she just realized, was standing by her bedside.   Miata had, apparently, dumped hot tea upon her head to wake her out of a deep sleep, and she was also responsible for putting the cup into her hand.  Her sister was impatient for her awakening today, most likely because it was already half past six.  Miata growled at her, and her tiny, furry ears were twitching in frustration.  Tiny ears, because, though the two were twins, Miata was considerably smaller than her sister.  The existence of the furry ears is due to the fact that O’oret sisters are from the planet Adivai, and theirs is a race that just happens to have furry, pointed ears protruding from the sides of their heads.  In any case, Miata’s ears were twitching, and they were both tiny and furry.      
     “Kitzani O’oret, when will you stop staying awake all hours of the night?  I have no patience for your nocturnal hobbies.”  Miata huffed exasperatingly.  “We are out of O’otin leaves, which means no more tea until we go and get some – and there are but a few hours of daylight left.  Get up and dressed.  Now.”  At that, Miata stomped out of the room, ears twitching.  Kitzani shook her head.  She could never comprehend how her “little” sister could be so tough and domineering.  She had no reason to argue with her, though.  Miata was usually right, as she was in this case.  They absolutely must have their tea, after all.
     Kitzani quickly shrugged on her favorite non-symmetrical top (very fashionable, currently, on Adivai), pulled herself into her most comfortable shorts, and yanked on a tall, terrain-durable boot.  She did all of this on the go – Miata was not the most patient individual.  Kitzani came hopping into the entryway still struggling the other boot on.  Her sister was already waiting for her, basket in hand, ears twitching.  She said nothing as they stepped out-doors and walked the short trail to the O’otin fields.   The O’oret clan boasted a large crop this season, certainly more than enough to supply the entire province the whole of the year.  The field in the distance was covered, as far as the eye could see, with the thick, intertwining black plants.  So silent was the sibling’s walk together, Kitzani could swear each step crunched loudly enough to send Old Mistress O’Lanit  bursting out of her hill-shaped cottage for them to quiet themselves.  It seemed her sister was always mad at her about something or another, and she was used to her lectures, tirades, and silent treatments.  Miata was at her wit’s end with her, it seemed.  Though twins, the two seldom saw things identically.  Miata was a doer, Kitzani, an observer.
     When they had reached the O’otin plants, Kitzani’s observational tendencies seemed to activate automatically as she crouched down, carefully studying the curled, dark leaves, taking in the direction each curve turned, following the stem as it delved into the soil…
     “Must you gawk at everything?!”  Miata asked with an annoyed expression.  She plucked the plant away that Kitzani had been examining and glared at her sister.  “Get to work!”
     “Oh… of course.”  Kitzani forced her attention away from looking at things and began the task of plucking up seventy-four of the plants – enough to supply their family with weeks of morning, afternoon, and evening tea.  Believe it or not, each tiny, curled leaf would serve a full-grown Adiv four cups of O’otin.  The twins finished their job within an hour and with some time before the early nighttime meal (always promptly served at the hour before midnight), Miata decided that they would relax a bit and fashion rings from the discarded stems.  In four hours they had fashioned seventy-four rings.  Why they required so many, Kitzani did not understand, but somehow Miata always seemed to prove herself, so she did not even bother to ask.   Kitzani glanced up at the sky and noticed that both moons and all the stars had promptly popped out of hiding.  Her gaze was immediately locked to the heavens.   The nocturnal hobby her sister had complained about earlier, you see, was stargazing.
     “There you are again, staring at space.”  Miata sighed, finding another opportunity to complain about her pet annoyance.   For once, Kitzani spoke up for herself.  This was one issue she knew her sister was wrong about.
     “It is not space, Sister.  It is the universe, and you would do well to study it as I do.  There is more out there than our little world, you know.  Look at how complex everything is.  Greatness upon greatness, expanding to a larger greatness.  These plants are great, but animals are greater.  We are greater than the animals.  Adivai, greater than us, the sun greater than it, the galaxy greater than it.  Can you imagine what more could be out there, in this ‘space,’ as you call it?”  Kitzani was on a roll, she loved making speeches about the universe.  As usual, however, Miata did cared not.  She rose to her feet and yawned, acting as if her sister hadn’t said a thing.  “Let’s go, Sis, it is almost early nighttime meal, and I am famished, and in much need of some tea.”  She lifted her basket and waved it at Kitzani.  The idea of more O’otin and some food was tempting; she, too, was hungry and getting weary fast.
“Alright, Miata, but don’t try to stop me from coming back outdoors to make my observations.  I feel I am close to a discovery, tonight.”  Kitzani stressed, refusing to be pushed around in this matter.  She crossed her arms, hoping Miata would realize that she was not taking no for an answer.
“You are always close to a discovery, and I promise nothing.  Come.”  Miata whipped around and began to march back toward the house.  Kitzani jumped up to follow her and took one last gaze at the stars.   What a familiar site it was to her – so wondrous, each star in its own place…except – one was moving.  Not a shooting star, a floating one.  She rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was more tired than she thought.  The star was still floating, and it was growing.  
     “MIATA, look!” she ran after her sister, pointing to the growing bright light.  Miata glanced up and looked back at Kitzani, confused.  
“What is it?” Miata asked, for once, not sarcastically.  In all her knowledge of the stars, she could not answer that question.
     “I…its…WAH!”  The star grew larger and seemed much closer to them now, blindingly bright in the darkness.  Kitzani froze in wonder.  It was just as she always dreamed, a force greater than herself coming to greet her…
Abruptly, a hand pulled at her arm – Miata was trying to lug her away from the star.  Kitzani snapped out of her reverie and followed her, running as fast as her legs would carry her away from the light.  The star impacted the ground with a sound like thunder, and the earth shook so hard that it knocked the twins off their feet.  O’otin plants hurled at them while hunks of dirt beat at their faces.  Kitzani covered her eyes, shielding them from debris and the brilliant light.  She suddenly realized the star had crashed only feet away from them – they could have been crushed by it.  Then, the light the star illuminated so strongly unexpectedly extinguished, and darkness, like a wave, engulfed them.