As I sat in the walnut shell boat with my family, I could hear the wooden guard of the Innocent Healers’ Pouch announce that it was almost 12:00 noon. 1

The ride was silent. All I could see were the boats of other Gardies making their way across the Sea of Forgotten Memories like us.2

As our boat passed Turtle Rock, the rock that held the Innocent Healer’s Pouch, I stared at the bare enchanted twigs that were weaved together very tightly guarding the sacred bag. There was a legend that said there would be one Gardi that would be able to make it through those twigs, retrieve the pouch, and become the new protector of Yalla Adogardi.3

The old, multi colored, turtle shaped rock seemed to shimmer under the sunlight. The blue waters of the Sea of Forgotten Memories seemed to say, “Protector” every time I looked down at them. Those bare branches seemed to me like I could just push them apart and make my way through. 4

These were the things that made many adventure to Turtle Rock in the dead of night, only to never return. The reason why there was a guard to keep Gardies off. The reason why our population was growing smaller and smaller.5

I tried not to think of these things as I sat in that small, cramped, dirty, smelly, boat on our way to the Oldies Village, and instead took a deep breath, smelled the fresh sea air, and looked at our sky, which was gold with either silver or white stars… depending on what you thought it was. We were only going to the Oldies Village to visit my grandparents. I would rather have gone to the Work Village, but then again, maybe not. Well anyway, I don’t mind visiting my grandparents. They make these really good Yalla-berri cookies, which I am eating right now. They taste very sweet.6

There are a total of 6 villages in Yalla Adogardi. The School Village, Oldies Village, and Orphan Village, are on the East side of Yalla Adogardi. The Work Village, Family Village 1, and Family Village 2, where I live, are on the West. 7

It was then when I looked back at my small village, the blue houses with the nutshell roofs. I also looked around at the other villages. Purple for the first Family Village. Yellow for the Work Village, which was more like a city. I turned back around to look at the other villages ahead of us. The Orphan Village with its red houses. The green School Village where I would soon go as I got older, and at last, our destination, which we had reached at this time, the Oldies Village, which was filled with pink.8

Somehow, every time we visit my grandparents, and I look at Turtle Rock, I feel like the Innocent Healers’ Pouch is wanting me to come and retrieve it. I’ve never asked any other Gardies if they’ve felt this way around the rock, but I know, even if I am not the chosen Protector, that the chosen one will keep our home, Yalla Adogardi, with all the remaining Gardies, safe for eternities. 9