Chapter 3: A Short Journey
Gin could hear the screams. Thoms all around him were fleeing. Many were bloodied with the wounds of themselves and other Thoms, family and friends. Gin cried. "Mother! Father!" he called. "Mother! Father!"
His village was burning to the ground. The Lehrs had swept through the Thom settlement in a surprise attack. Gin ran into the thick of battle, searching frantically for his parents. "Mother, Father!" he called again.
"Ginothroph!" He heard his mother's voice. She was hiding behind a barrel. Blood dripped down the side of her head from an unseen wound. Gine ran to her side, sobbing.
"Where is Father?" he asked.
"I don't know, son," his mother answered. "I don't know. Everything will be alright."
Gin wanted to believe her, but he couldn't. Suddenly his mother screamed. Gin looked up. They had been found by a Lehr. The Nod grinned, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. His eyes were averted at a fierce battlecry, and Gin's father lunged at the Lehr out of nowhere. The Lehr fell at Gin's feet, staring up at him with lifeless eyes. Gin never forgot that face; like all Lehrs, he had a birthmark on either side of his face, running from his ear to his cheekbone. There was a look of surprise on his face, that and an undying menace. Gin could not move.
What happened after that was too quick for the young Nod to take in fully. Gin's father, in the pause following the short victory, was suddenly cut down from behind by another carnaging Lehr. He advanced towards Gin's mother, and with a last reserve of strength she took her husband's sword and ran him through. Then she lay on the body of her dead husband, sobbing uncontrollably. Gin did not know how long it was before he could move, but the Lehrs had gone, the fires had died down, and his mother had ceased moving. He went to her side. "Mother! Father!" he cried once more. "The Lehrs are gone! The Lehrs are gone! Come! Come!" He pulled on the limp limbs of his mother. "Mother! Father!" Gin heard steps behind him, and he was carried away from his parents, arms outstretched and tears streaming like blood down his face.
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Gin awoke. Sweat dripped off him and he gasped for air. It was over 50 years after the Lehr attack, and the memory of his parents' deaths still haunted his dreams. It was still just as vivid.
----
Gin was surprised to find it was late morning when he arose. He was going to visit his cousin that afternoon, so he had to put together a quick brunch and be on his way. He put on the coffee as he packed what he would need for the trip. "Hmm," he noticed, "low on coffee. Have to swing by town t'night."
After a simple brunch of grits and bread, Gin was on his way. He brought his favorite walking stick, more for company than necessity, and struck down the Southern Path through the Forest.
"Hoom diddle diddle, hoom diddle diddle,
Hoom diddle diddle, dee dee!
On through th'forest, on through th'forest,
On through th'forest, we be!
One little bird in, one little bird in,
One little bird in, th'tree!
Fox he's a-lookin', fox he's a-lookin',
Fox he's a-lookin', at thee!
Food he's a-hopin', food he's a-hopin',
Food he's a-hopin', t'see!
Too high he's sayin', too high he's sayin',
Too high he's sayin', for me!
Down on th'path is, down on th'path is,
Down on th'path is, a leaf!
Says to th'ground, says to th'ground,
Says to th'ground, beneath!
What great a duo, what great a duo,
What great a duo, are we!
Rock he's a-laughin', rock he's a-laughin',
Rock he's a-laughin', with glee!
Leaf you'll get stepped on, leaf you'll get stepped on,
Leaf you'll get stepped on, says he!
Fox he's a-slappin', fox he's a-slappin',
Fox he's a-slappin', his knee!
Owl wakes an' sees the, owl wakes an' sees the,
Owl wakes an' sees the, birdy!
You're just in time for, you're just in time for,
You're just in time for, my tea!
Bird he don't know he's, bird he don't know he's,
Bird he don't know he's, hungry!
While in th'forest, while in th'forest,
While in th'forest, we be!
Hoom diddle diddle, hoom diddle diddle,
Hoom diddle diddle, dee dee!"
Gin smiled as he finished the hiking song. He had been so proud of himself when he had learned all fifteen verses; he even made up his own sometimes. He and his cousin had learned it together during hiking trips with his uncle. His cousin had envied him because of his creativity; he had envied her because she could hike faster than him.
Gin had been put under the care of an old widow of the village after the Lehr attack. Her services were needed more and more as the war between the Thoms and the Lehrs continued. Gin soon felt like he was falling through the cracks, to the side, unnoticed. When he was a little older he was taken in by his cousin's family, who lived in the forest. It was safe there and Gin had a normal upbringing. He and his cousin grew inseperable over the years.
Gin hopped a log and whistled a brisk tune. After a nice, short journey, he would be at his cousin's house!