The Solution to Salvation (Charlotte C., Grade 6

my drawer, grab my uniform, try to find socks, but none of them match, pick up my shoes outside of my bedroom door, and head down stairs to the bathroom. I grab my brush and a hair tie, pull my hair back, and I skip the brushing teeth part because I didn't feel like it. That's how it is most mornings now. Not all, but most. I waited for about ten minutes for my dad to come back from the town picking up fish. As soon as I see his Benz ride up to the front yard, I grab my things, fix my hair, and grab my coat on the coat hanger. My dad looks at me with his normal wink and smile. Shutting the door behind me, I skip two steps on the porch’s stairwell and run to the car. Another box checked off. Now, I go to school and redo it all over again.

The Solution to Salvation by Charlotte C., Grade 6

“Tundra!” Mother yelled, “You are going to be late. Gods forbid,” She was the kind of mother who wanted the best for her only child. But the way she did that was by signing Tundra up for the most dangerous missions. This was, of course, for the family. But it was more for the title, whoever could make it back with the solution became similar to a god. That is what had happened a thousand years ago. The Animalias were in the same situation as today. The need to leave the planet because others had made ways to break it. Break the fresh water, the clean air. They made ways to break it like a dry twig that fell from the tree and had the misfortune to be stepped on by someone’s foot. Well anyway, back to a thousand years ago. The Animalias lived on a planet called Animania, they shared it with others, until the others broke the water and the air. Just like the humans. So a thousand years ago a man named Lunar of the Alphas went forward in time to a new world, Earth. Earth was fine then, still new. So they stayed. They stayed for a thousand years until the humans broke it, so now they have to leave to find the solution. And that was Tundra’s job. To find the solution to salvation. She wouldn’t travel alone of course, her best friend and confidant, Tigris would accompany her. “Tundra!!” Her mother snapped her to the present. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” Tundra yelled. Then under her breath she said, “Nag, nag, nag,

pff.”

She pulled on a light blue tube top and brushed her teeth. Her cat-like eyes dilated as she walked into the brightly lit hallway that connected her room to the main part of the house. Her big white and black wings brushed the wall with each step she took. She ran her claws on the walls leaving small scratches on the black stone. Her ears took in all of the chatter that was directly above her flying through the trees. She smiled when she heard Tigris at the door. “Hi Tigris,” She said. Tigris was much more brightly colored than Tundra. She had rainbow wings like a parrot and Sky blue eyes that looked nothing like Tundra's icy blue eyes. “Aren’t you excited?!” Tigris asked, “Cuz’ I definitely am.” “I can see that,” Tundra said, “You are jumping around the main room like a kangaroo.” Tundra and Tigris had been best friends since they were small. They did everything together. Where Tigris was Tundra would be close behind. Tundra was shy and thought before she acted and Tigris was energetic and friendly. They balanced each other out. “Out, out, You mustn't be late,” said Tundra’s mother as she straightened Tundra’s top and waved them out.

“Sorry Mrs. Snow,” said Tigris. “We’re already gone,” declared Tundra as she walked out the door. They flew past their favorite fruit orchard, the river that used to cool them down on a hot day, and the school they went to as children. “I don’t want to leave this place, I don’t think anyone does,” Tigris always thought about others in that way. But Tundra always reminded her that it was going to be fine, “Maybe we don’t want to, but we don’t know the plan it might be different from the original, find a new planet move there” They flew into the Center Tree Dome which was made right next to the Heart of the Earth. This was the capital city for the Animalias. Though the Animalias were all over the world wherever they moved they would look for the Heart of the Earth and wherever that was they would make that the new capital city. Wherever you were born your body most likely reflected that. Or wherever your parents were born. Tundra had been born in the Tundras in Russia but her family had moved almost immediately to the capitol once her mother’s best friend was appointed as Guardian of the Tree. Tundra was headed to the Guardian of the Tree at that moment. “Are you nervous?” Tundra asked. “Not in the slightest, we are going to be the next Lunar of the Alphas!” Tigris always looked on the bright side of things but it was Tundra's job to worry, “I can see you worrying under that mask of mock excitement.” “I don’t know what you are talking about,” Tundra knew she couldn’t lie and not be caught by her best friend but she did anyway. When they arrived at the Tree, Pine, the Guardian of the Tree, welcomed them, “Oh Gods above I am so happy that you are going to do this!” Pine did not make any attempt to hide this. Her deep green eyes for which she was named shimmered shined as she herded Tundra and Tigris into the dome. Each Guardian was chosen by his or her special ability, the magic that you were born with. Depending on where you were born that is where your magic would come from. Tigris had the ability to control and make fire. Tundra however had the ability to control water. The Guardian was chosen if they could control plants. One Animalia could control plants out of every single Animalia on Earth. So, standing in front of them was the bubbly, Guardian of the Tree. As she led them inside Tundra looked around at the beauty of the Dome; each layer of vine had been added by each Guardian and they maintained the entire Dome. The vines braided up maybe 30 feet and then twisted at the top and supported the massive glow flower that illuminated the entire building with its radiant light. They walked to the center of the dome where the Council was waiting. The Head Council member, Willow, began to speak, “My dear children, you have come here today to save our world or perhaps bring us to a new one. You are completing a task that very few have ever thought of doing on behalf of the entire world. Thank You,” She spoke to Tundra and Tigris as if they weren’t fourteen but instead as if they were true saviors. It was nice. One of the other council members spoke up, “This is your tracker bracelet, in case you get lost,” his sharp canines gleamed as he smiled. He winked at Tundra. He was Tundra's Uncle Glacier. She smiled at him as she accepted the bracelet.

To read the rest of Charlotte’s story please use this link: The Solution to Salvation Continued