The PureLights of Ohm Totem by Brandon Ellis Page A

else. What am I supposed to see?”
    “Relax,” said the Snow Tree. “Take a deep breath and clear everything from your mind. It’s then that you’ll see.”
    Doubt crept into Coda's mind and he began to feel silly. Is a tree really talking? Is it good to see orbs? Were his eyes and ears playing tricks on him? What kind of a trick was Zoey playing on him?
    Coda stood up abruptly and all of the orbs instantly disappeared. He brushed past Zoey with a scowl. “We’re going.”
    “What’s the matter?” Zoey asked.
    The Snow Tree spoke again to Coda. “There will be plenty of moments to think twice about me. But, right now I need to help you and Zoey get ready for the mission you're both about to go on.”
    “Mission?” Coda liked the idea of a mission. He stopped and turned toward the tree.
    “Yes, a mission. In order to start your mission, I'm going to show you and Zoey how to find your true courage.”
    “Whaddya mean, our true courage ?” asked Coda.
    “True courage is when you can look at something you fear, and change the fear into love. When you do this, all of life feels safe in your presence and life fears you no more.”
    “I’m not afraid,” Coda asserted.
    “Life fears us?” asked Zoey.
    “All of nature senses your fear. Animals will respond to your fear with their own fear. Changing your fear into love will change the way nature responds to you,” said the Snow Tree. “Fear is the opposite of Love. It is an energy that flows through your body when you have negative feelings and thoughts. Love is an energy that flows through your body when you have positive feelings and thoughts. Both energies are very powerful. Love, however, has more power than Fear. Love comes from the thoughts and feelings of your heart and evaporates fear instantly. You must have the courage to love what you fear in order to fulfill the mission you're both about to go on.”
    Coda played with a small rock, trying to understand what was just said. “How can you think from your heart?” He dropped the rock and watched it hit the moss-covered ground. “That doesn't make sense.” He furrowed his brow, not trusting the words he was hearing.
    “It's easy,” responded the Tree. “You can practice by closing your eyes and bringing an image to your mind.”
    “Alright,” Coda nodded, “I’ll give it a try—even though I’m not afraid of anything.” Zoey stood next to Coda as he closed his eyes.
    “What's something that scares you?” asked the Snow Tree.
    A vision of his mom came to mind, scolding him over something. Next, he saw his school teacher from last year, Mr. Hacklin, and his heart nearly stopped. Coda and his friends thought Mr. Hacklin was the scariest teacher in the history of school teachers. He was a towering, grumpy old man with gray hair and white whiskers that came out of his ears and nose. He would creep up behind someone when they weren’t paying attention, and ferociously slap a metal ruler against his own hand or on the desk. More than once Coda had nearly jumped out of his skin at the unexpected noise, and then had to go to the front of the class to explain what Mr. Hacklin was just talking about.
    “What do you see?” asked the Snow Tree.
    “Mr. Hacklin. He was my teacher last year,” Coda said, anxiety wriggling around in his stomach.
    A bird landed on the Snow Tree's lowest lying branch, twitching its blue head to the left and right, as if listening to the words being said. Then it flew off, darting to the next tree.
    “Before we start this exercise, the bluebird wants me to tell you something. When you're done practicing, she would like you to follow her.”
    “Huh?” asked Coda. “Follow her where?”
    “Wherever she leads you, but I suspect she'll lead you through the blackberries.”
    “Will I see the talking elephant again?” asked Zoey.
    “The talking elephant?” Coda questioned.
    “Yeah, an elephant…an elephant talked to me yesterday. I swear, Coda!” Zoey was very