{B-5-F}

Sunny takes flight, leaving you in a cloud of dust from the draft of her wings. When the dust clears you realize that she is gone and has left you alone with the people of the forest.

You follow them sadly into the forest, but suddenly brighten up when you walk out of the shadows of the trees and onto the streets of a city covered in gleaming gold! This is it, you think to yourself, the lost city of El Dorado! But why would Sunny leave if this is the place we were going to?

It dawns on you that you have no way to leave and no way to communicate with the people of this golden city. Before long, you learn their language. They teach you about their way of life, while you return the favor.

You become valuable to the elders of the city, as they are deciding how to interact with people from outside of their civilization. They are intrigued by many of the technologies and customs of your stories, yet are cautious of the impact that these things may have on their society.

Exchanging ideas with you, the natives of El Dorado come to value your friendship, and you realize that there is a lot that you can continue to learn from each other. Eventually, their elders come to you, and say, “We have grown fond of you, and value having you with us, but we also fear that you might be homesick and would like to return to your own place.”

“I love it here. It is like being on a peaceful vacation,” you say. “I’ve been thinking of home everyday, though, and you are right. I do miss it.”

“We can get you home if you’d like,” says Chia, the leader of the golden city. You admire her wisdom, patience, and leadership style.

You smile and start thinking about everything you miss from home, especially the people. You think of those that have impacted you throughout your life and your thoughts turns to how people might influence this place if they learned that there really was a city of gold. You know that you’ve warn them about the good and the bad about meeting other civilizations, but do they truly understand?

“You have demonstrated much wisdom during your time here,” their leader states. “We have no experience with outsiders beyond you. We rely on your counsel in this decision.”

You say:

“I have faith that our civilizations can learn from each other like we have during my time here.”{B-VI-C}

“I’m afraid that the outside world may ruin this civilization, only seeing gold and not people.”{B-VI-D}