As the icy winter wind rolled on the iced hills, Liren pushed her way through the violent winds. The tall grass dead from the passing autumn bowed to the mighty wind as it swept around her. Liren�s green cloak whipped in the wind and her golden hair whirled constantly in her face even though she tried to tuck it in her hood. Each step felt like a mile, and every breath was hard and cold, with a silvery whisp that was soon lost in the wind. She looked up at the gray sky with the black clouds blocking the pale winter sun. It would snow soon, for it had already frozen and the weather pondered to rain.
Something jiggled in her haversack. Then again. And a tiny squeaky voice sounded from inside." Would�ja walk a little steadier? This loaf of bread �as hit me more than once. I think I�m startin� ta bruise!" Liren snorted and continued scanned the hills of waving grass that looked like the ocean, with waves of golden yellow grass." Skaw, stop complaining, were almost there" She muttered wearily. A tiny green head poked out of her haversack with a annoyed look in it�s glistening beady eyes." Almost there, almost there, almost there, you�ve been sayin� that for the last week!" Skaw said shaking his head his shiny green scales gleaming in the pale light that shone down from the sky through the cloudy windows. Liren merely waved off his comment and looked ahead to the back of her friend that scouted ahead in the distance.
Skaw was a dragon. And not a very good one at that. He was far too small to become a wild dragon, he would be eaten alive by the murderous dragons who would delve in the weaker. One day when Liren found Skaw in Bramblewood, the murky forest were the mists were said to take forms of the persons most wanted desire and drive them insane. No one had ever been known to go through Bramblewood surviving or coming out in a sane state. Liren strayed on the outskirts of the forest were she would escape her fathers yells and wander around aimlessly. That day she ventured in farther than usual, passing through the thorny brambles of which the forest got its name. Liren saw a pair of yellow eyes beaming out of the hole in a hollow tree. The eyes looked frightened and scared like a child�s eyes. Liren reached in and pulled out a tiny jittery dragon that was long and scaly and crawled around like a salamander, unable to use it�s stubby wings which shown beautifully out of his shining back. The moment she set eyes on him, she couldn�t let him go�
It was not easy keeping a dragon away from your temper prone father whom kept having spurts of blind anger ever since his wife died a long time ago. Liren�s mother was named Sage, after the herb her mother used in her healing pulps. Her death remained a mystery to Liren, for her father refused to answer, as if afraid to bring himself to the truth. He was no longer the kind blue eyed soul she had known, he was now a heartless man, deprived of love.
Liren had kept Skaw in the cellar cupboard, where her dad rarely treads. Over the months Skaw learned more and more human, and grew little by little, though he was still tiny. But one day a letter came that was slid under their drafty front door. It was addressed to Liren, and luckily she got it before her dad did who usually never let Liren get mail. The parchment was yellow and a glittering address of loopy letters shone clearly. It read: The Ministry of Dragons. And above that was a seal that was decorated with a crest with a dragon twisting around it printed clearly in the red candle wax. She opened the letter carefully and removed a folded piece of neat parchment with the same handwriting and blue ink. It read
Liren,
We have been notified by our magicians that there is a dragon in possession of yours. Dragon keeping is against the laws of the Ministry of Dragons. Please remove it from your house immediately and hand it over to the Ministry workers that will visit your house shortly.
With All Due Respect,
Armond Crements
Minister of the Dragon Ministry
The letter slipped from her hands as a slight knocking came from the door. Through the tinted window she could see the shadow of a bearded wizard. She rushed to the cellars and snatched Skaw pinching his squirming mouth shut. Quickly she took a haversack and stuffed anything on the kitchen counter that was edible into it. And with that she rushed out the old back door crouching low amongst the rocky path overgrown with grass and weeds that twisted down into the old forest Bramblewood. Liren could hear the faint voices of her father and an old man talking, though she could not make any words. When she quickened pace and her house disappeared in the mists of the forest, she got up from her cramping crouch and strode quickly slipping Skaw into her haversack without a word. The path deteriorated into only a narrow dirt path with occasional stones that tripped her many times.
The forest was old and the trees stretched out to the sky that was completely covered by the dark green layered canopies that blocked out most of the light, save a few shafts of light every once and awhile. The trees around her were old and mossy, like pillars of an ancient temple now in ruin. Nothing but darkness was behind those trees that bordered the path, and in front of her was nothing but darkened brambles with thorns that scratched her skin until it faded into blackness. Finally she opened her haversack, and out jumped Skaw, his face red and fuming." What�s goin� on Liren? At least you coulda� told me we were goin to the forest �" But his voice trailed off as his beady eyes glanced around. He gulped." Liren? Are we supposed to be the far in the forest?" Said Skaw with a worried tone. Liren sighed." The Ministry of Dragons are after us. They came to our house so I had to leave in a hurry". Skaw�s pupils dilated small and his pointy toothed mouth was expressionless." The Ministry of Dragons? Oh my�" He gulped again." We have to leave, to live somewhere else�" Liren moaned as she pulled her hair in frustration." Oh Skaw, what are we to do?" She cried.
Suddenly a glint flashed in Skaw�s small black eye." I think I know" he grinned "we�ll see the Serbresse, master of all" he murmured with a far away look in his eye as a shaft of golden light shone in his eye like a light from heaven." His throne wrought in the mightiness of the world. Creator of all that breathes the very air that the gods gave him. His pedestal that lays on the highest mountain, guarded by the archangels who blind the eyes of any humans that set eyes upon them in their spectacular splendor�" He sounded as if another were speaking through him, some spirit casting their warning�
"Let us go there" Liren said after a pause." Though there are many dangers" Skaw said in a wary voice sounding as if something was blocking the way between them. Liren nodded gulping down the lump in her throat that so persistently warned her. She turned on her heel and walked slowly down the path her eyes flicking everywhere at once, as the sounds seemed louder and more foreboding.
It turned dark as the heavenly shafts of light faded away and the path was pitch black in front of her. No one spoke one word for hours. Liren stumbled upon the path picking her way around overhanging branches that she saw in the pale moonlight. It was as if she was walking in a dark desert that she couldn�t see more than a foot away from her.
Finally she stumbled upon a small clearing, or what it seemed like for she could not tell with the darkness that closed in around her. A large gap in the trees set a small bit of light for guidance. She shivered as she glanced behind the dark trees, not knowing what lurked behind it�
Collapsing at the Base of a gnarled tree that seemed to close in around her. Skaw scuttled out of her haversack and on to her arm curling into a ball. Weather the sleepiness of the forest, or something else, her eyes fluttered closed in a matter of moments. And the groaning oak that sung her to sleep casting shadows through the leaves onto her face that was pale in the moonlight� Something else watched hidden, waiting for the right time�
" Liren! Wake up!" A distressed voice spoke in her ear. Liren kept her eyes closed and yawned lazily." What Skaw, I�m tired�". Suddenly a small pointy thing poked the side of her neck. "Ow!" Cried Liren as she rubbed her neck." What was that for?" She hissed glancing around for Skaw that was sitting on her shoulder. But he wasn�t there. Liren scanned the clearing searching every niche and cranny of the old clearing. She could now see the clearing because of the dim morning light, but that sight was not as she imagined it. The clearing floor was covered in overlapping roots that created crevices and holes that were a hazard to any feet. The trees around the clearing were charred and twisted, yet still bore leaves that were unlike the bright green ones of the forest she saw before, were now browned and falling.
Liren pushed herself up with some unease growing at the back of her mind. Some warning trying to tell her something�" Skaw were are �" at that moment Skaw seemed to fall from the sky onto her shoulder. Liren jumped and unfortunately fell into on of the holes in the rooted ground. She swore under her breath and turned to the shaky looking Skaw on her shoulder." Liren! We have to be quiet. Someone�s around. I don�t know who though�" He whispered with a tone of worry cast in his voice." We must move, somewhere else, they�ve, or whoever they are, have already found are trail" he murmured again trying to keep his voice as low as possible.
As Liren pulled herself up from the hole she bit her lip from howling in pain. Her ankle seared and ached. She had sprained it. With her twisted leg she hobbled into the thick of thorny black brambles to a dark path. The darkness overtook her and Skaw again as the thick canopy covered the sun again. Liren looked down the path. Something had stopped her. A feeling stopped her. The narrow path seemed to widen the slightest bit as the trees stirred slightly." Lets not go on that path" she said turning quickly." But where will we go? There no way to go but forward on the path or go back!" exclaimed Skaw whispering." We must travel off the path. I had a bad feeling about that path.
She couldn�t see Skaw but she could sense him rolling his eyes in disgust. Liren carefully made her way across the clearing and pushed the annoying scratchy brambles out of the way and entered the rough terrain of the forest. A slight disturbance in the wind and trees around her crept forward from the back of her mind. Something was coming." Get down!" Commanded Skaw in a whispery shout. Liren collapsed down in the roots of a tree that jabbed her back. But that didn�t matter now. Her breathing hastened and her face turned pale as she heard a scratching sound. It scratched away, from where, Liren didn�t know.
It echoed throughout the ancient trees. Suddenly Liren almost jumped at a low call that sounded deep and large. Like a horn of some sort. Suddenly out of the brambles in front of her jumped out a large creature attired in rusted chain mail that clinked and swayed. A battle helmet sat on his head and his crooked pear shaped nose stuck out with a wart stuck at the end. His skin was a sickly green color. Liren almost screamed. With a swift movement and a colliding of metal in a flash his rusted chipped sword was inches away from her face.
Liren turned pale as the thing grinned, showing his yellow crooked sharp teeth." And what is a human girl doing in goblin lands?" He spoke in a slightly amused tone that was dry and cold. "I-I was just p-p-passing through" Liren muttered, her face turning pale. The goblin grinned menacingly and poked the sword closer to her nose, almost touching now." Well you won�t be passing any more now will you" the goblin spoke, a voice of evil in every note.
Suddenly out of the brush jumped another goblin, this one looking higher. His chain mail had a polished gleam and his purple cape swished with every step. On his head he wore the same helmet, but this time with a red plume billowing down the side. Obviously this goblin was a higher rank of some sort. Liren felt Skaw clutching her cloak shivering violently." Crenn, sheath your weapon. We don�t need any more spilt blood over mere passing travelers" The goblin muttered. Then he turned to Liren and a very scared Skaw both looking very pale and shivery." Go back. NO human shall tread past this part of Bramblewood. If we find you here again, we will not hesitate to dispose of you" he said in a deep cold important voice. Crenn grinned at the words dispose of you and fingered his blade menacingly. "Crenn get them back in the other direction" the goblin said shortly striding off through the brambles and branches.
Crenn took Liren�s shoulder, digging his claws in and shoved her through the brambles and into the forest path grinning maliciously. Liren sat on the path for a long time looking pale and shaken, until Skaw�s small voice broke the silence." Liren, what are we going to do?" He whimpered on Liren�s shoulder still hiding half his face in her forest green cloak. "We can�t go through there!" He shivered, his voice trembling with fear.
Liren turned to him and chewed on her lip thoughtfully." We must. It�s the only way through the forest" She sighed glumly staring out at the gray path that seemed to grow smaller. The trees stirred again casting shadows. For a moment Liren though she saw eyes on the path, which disappeared quickly. Liren uneasily pushed herself up and backed away." We just need to be very quiet and slip through unnoticed". Skaw whimpered and shook a bit, his beady small eyes looking dubiously at Liren." �Twill not be possible, the goblin warriors have the keenest of sight and smell" stated Skaw licking his dry lips with his pink forked tongue.
" Oh, Skaw, your such a Pessimistic" she muttered taking a shaky step into the foreboding road that was shaded by darkness. The trees whooshed in a slight breeze and the road before her seemed to stretch and grow. Every sound became more threatening and louder. She couldn�t even hear Skaw anymore, only feel him pulling on her shoulder. Liren struggled to keep her beating heart and breathing from bursting out of the darkness. The air turned stale and cold, and the mist in front of her seemed to move. Each apprehensive step of hers now sounded like and iron weight in her ears.
She curled her arms around herself as to protect her from the faint white mist that swirled into shapes blocking her view. Pictures formed and twisted as if trying to tell Liren something before the mists engulfed them back. Though no words they spoke it seemed their whispers pierced into her mind. But no words Liren could make out, just a whisper.
Every time she stepped into the wall of mist, it seemed to be farther away. As if it was impossible to escape that followed you through the forest like a curse. The whispering became louder and more menacing, as the whispers swirled around in her mind. Skaw spoke in a hushed voice in Liren�s ear. "Do you hear that?" Liren had a cloudy look in her eyes as she nodded a reply. "We�ve got to get out of these mists" she muttered quickening her pace.
Slowly it fastened more and more until Liren was almost at a run, a frantic look in her eyes. Suddenly she ran into a large leathery thing and toppled over on the path. As she looked up, her eyes widened and her breathing stopped. There was the huge heaving chest of a goblin whose teeth were filed sharp. His face was painted with red paint that added to his fearsome features.
Liren shrieked and ran as fast as she possibly could down the path, no longer caring how loud her footsteps were. Skaw was muttering curses and trying to hold on to the flying cloak of Liren as he barely clutched her shoulder. She and Skaw could hear voices that came nearer and nearer sounding gruff and angry. Liren dashed behind a tree facing the path and sank as low as possible hidden by the surrounding brambles and bushes.
The clanking of armor and weapons came closer until they were right beyond the tree their eyes glancing every where, even right were Liren and Skaw lay shivering silently. "Do you �ear somethin�?" Grunted a low voice, most likely from that fat one. "Yes, I do�" Another one murmured taking a step closer in Liren�s direction. Liren held her breath and clutched Skaw close.
Right about two steps away from where Skaw and Liren hid a rustling came from the other side of the path. The goblins cursing pounded off into the bushes. Getting up cautiously she crawled low to the ground weaving between the twisting trees and crawling under the brambles that grew thickly out of the ground. As Liren got up and leaned on a tree, her hands shaking and her breathe hard and quick, the same rustling noise came. Then again, then again. Skaw suppressed a screech and hugged Liren�s neck painfully tight, the claws adding to the pain. Liren wheeled around in all directions seeing the same misty forest, but still heard the ominous sound that seemed to echo as if she were in a large empty room. Suddenly a hand clamped tight on Liren�s mouth and pulled her back on the tree. Liren shrieked a silent screech and her eyes widened waiting for the goblin to come from behind her and run his rusty sword through her heart�
But when the figure came around, his skin wasn�t green, he wore no armor and handled no weapon. Kind brown eyes gazed at Liren as he put a finger to his lips and removed his hand from her mouth. A boy just about Liren�s age stood in front of her attired in a green tunic that seemed to be woven from brown and green vines. His face was kind and smooth. Freckles dotted under his eyes and his dark brown hair was tousled carelessly on his head. But the most curious feature of his was his ears. They were pointed. Unlike anything she�d ever seen before.
"I am sorry about that. It was for mine and your own good" he spoke softly with a strange accent. Skaw whispered in her ear "don�t trust him". Liren nodded bewildered at the boy. "My name is Keean" he said putting out his hand with a smile. For a moment Liren stood still emotionless, and then finally returned the gesture slowly and cautiously. "I-I�m Liren" she stuttered. Still in shock, Liren was a bit dazed." N-not to be rude, b-but, what are you?" She blurted out without thinking, then covering her mouth in embarrassment. Keean merely laughed and grinned heartily. "I am a wood elf. A tree talker, as were called". Liren gasped. On visits to her grandpa when her mother was alive, her grandpa told her all sorts of stories about the wood elves. After words she would pretend that she was an elf and frolic in the woods. But then they were all tall tales. Fake. They weren�t real. Until now she was talking to one.
"We don�t trust you elf!" Cried Skaw with a burst of bravery. Keean merely smirked and scratched his head casually. "Oh, in that case I should just leave you here to be slaughtered by the goblins" He said leaning against a tree putting his arms behind his head lazily. Liren shot a nasty glance at Skaw and turned to Keean. "Please do help us. Skaw didn�t mean what he said" Liren spoke. "I surely did �" Started Skaw, but he was cut off short when Liren clamped his mouth shut.
"Alright then. Follow me" Keean said brightly starting off through the woods. Liren struggled to keep up with him. He was like a deer, skipping and jumping over logs and low hanging branches humming softly to himself a cheerful tune. Finally he stopped in what seemed like a circle of trees and stopped near the middle. He turned and grinned at the panting Liren that came running after him. "We�ll stop and rest here" here he said stretching out by the roots of a willow tree, whose branches drooped low to the ground like a thin curtain. Liren settled herself down in a crouch of a tree that it�s branches spread out widely like arms.
"Where are you from?" Asked Keean fiddling with a small twig." Don�t tell him!" uttered Skaw into her ear. But Liren felt a strange feeling of trust for Keean." From the town of Evernite" Liren replied." And you?" � "I live here, in the forest by myself. I don�t have a home. I�m a wanderer" he shrugged. Skaw poke her neck none to softly. "Ow!" she cried flicking Skaw off her arm. "What is it Liren?" Questioned Keean still seeming to be amused with the small twig." Oh, nothing but a darned bug". Skaw shot her a glare and crawled away into the brush.
After a few quiet moments Keean started a song. But it was like none Liren had ever heard. It was in a language that flowed like water, and sounded like the wind.
Incartan fith weean sollom kree,
villerand ivon martel foresque,
grondell eenill foranderskawth,
dramica villerand elofso,
sillocranpten villerand elofso
The tune was low and mysterious and sounded like a chant. Liren wished much that she could understand the words.
" That was beautiful," Liren said in awe." It�s elvish" stated Keean setting down the twig. "The ancient language of the forest". Liren nodded curiously. "What does it mean?" She questioned. "It is an old chant sang by our people to bless the forest. It goes,
In Green splendor doth provide,
The wooden forest within to hide,
All it�s wonders,
May gods bless the world,
And blessed be the world."
Liren stood silent taking in and contemplating the song. "Elvish is much better than human talk" muttered Liren enviously. Suddenly out of the conversation came a cry. "They�re coming! Goblins!" Screamed Skaw scuttling as fast as he could on the dirt forest floor. Liren jumped up and scooped up Skaw. She looked around for Keean but he wasn�t there. Liren turned red with anger and frustration. Skaw cursed "That no good coward! I told you he was filth!" It was too late to do anything. Even if she tried to run away, the goblins were too fast. She shrank down into the roots of the tree and groaned in exasperation and fury. How could Keean do that! If only she had time to see him again it would not be pleasant.
Four goblins burst through the foliage brandishing their rusted swords menacingly closing around Skaw and Liren. Skaw whimpered and buried himself in Liren�s mangled green cloak. Liren wished she could do the same. The goblins grinned menacingly showing their uneven yellow teeth that were jagged and disgusting. Their yellow eyes gleamed as they closed in." How�re ya� gonna� ��scape now eh?" A particularly large one drawled spitting as he talked. Liren said nothing but glared up at the ugly creature with a look of disgust.
"Nothing, that�s right!" Completed a skinny tattooed one standing next to him rubbing a rather large axe in his greenish hands." I�ll do something" a calm voice spoke. But Liren saw none of the goblins lips move. They too looked around confused. Suddenly the tree behind Liren groaned and a large branch whipped out and smashed the tattooed goblin in the helmet. The three others shrieked and stared at the tree behind Liren. Liren glanced back behind her and her jaw dropped and her eyes widened. Right in the middle of the brown barked trunk was a face! It�s features seemed to be carved into the wood. A set of ghostly looking eyes beamed out at them and it�s mouth moved slowly and so did it�s calm voice. "Cast your wrath upon another forest scum" It croaked in a withered voice. At that moment two branches thrust out and picked up the three other goblins whose weapons clattered to the dirt. The shrieking and screeching trio was then catapulted into the distance when the tree�s mighty branches heaved and groaned.
Liren shakily stood up and faced the tree gulping down the lump in her throat." Er, t-thanks" she stuttered gazing at the eyes that were no fixed on Liren boring into her. The old face in the tree slowly crinkled into a smile and disappeared into the rough bark of the tree. Startled and confused Liren collapsed on the ground. So many things were happening. So many things that were not supposed to be true. Her mind kept spinning with frustration as she tried to accept that the things that were happening were real. But her mind wouldn�t accept as she grew up thinking those things as rubbish.
"Liren! Are you okay?" Came a voice. She whipped around and saw Keean standing by the talking tree. Her face reddened with rage as she charged furiously at a confused Keean. Slamming into his chest she knocked him over onto the roots of a tree. Punching and lashing out blindly, Keean tore away and backed off warily. "But Liren! I summoned the tree to help you!" He pleaded truthfully. Liren turned a shade of magenta and covered her face with her hands." I feel like such a idiot" she mumbled pounding on her forehead.
Keean sat down next to her. "It�s ok. You didn�t know," he said comfortingly. Liren felt so moronic to find that the person that had abandon her in battle was actually the one who saved her. For whatever reason she felt a air of trust that surrounded Keean. She glanced up and saw that Keean�s hand rested on top of hers, spreading warmth into her cold pale flesh. It was almost as if the skin was revived a small tint of peach color, like some sort of magic.
After a while the silence was broken by Keean "I know a place we can stay for the night instead of sleeping under the stars," he said grinning ear to ear at Liren. Her heart gave a jump. "Well what are we waiting for?" Liren said excitedly jumping up almost knocking the dozing Skaw off her shoulder. "What�s it like were we�re going?" Asked Liren shoving Skaw in her backpack due to his constant snoring. "Unimaginable" replied Keean shortly with a far away look in his eye as he set his first step onto the beaten forest path in front of him. "It�s underground. Dwarves live there. Two of them". Liren jump stepped a little to keep up with Keean as he strode purposely down the path swatting away occasional flies and slipping through brambles." Dwarves?" Liren exclaimed, a puzzled look cast upon her face. Keean snorted slightly and stifled a laugh. "Obviously you humans don�t know very much about the forest creatures". Liren�s lips pursed as she held her tongue from spitting out some sort of retaliation.
Hours passed but Liren was to absorbed in Keean�s descriptions of forest creatures. Some sounded delightful, yet some terrifying. As he came to dragons Liren nearly jumped. Keean froze in his steps and peered at Liren. " What is it?" He asked adjusting the small pack on his shoulder. "Nothing�" Liren muttered waving away the subject. Keean looked into her eyes as if looking for the answer. Suddenly he turned on his heel and continued walking again.
"You never told me why you are in the forest by the way" He said not even taking a glance behind him. Liren shivered. It was like he read Liren�s mind. Reluctantly she began her long story of Skaw and the Ministry of Dragons. After the tale was finished Keean nodded still gazing at the darkening path in front of them. Crickets chirped in chorus from all around Liren and Skaw, and Liren saw glimpses of a full moon between the gaps in the trees. Conversation ceased as Liren grew too tired to talk anymore.
All the sudden Keean�s pace quickened as a small yellow glow pierced through the darkened path. Liren�s mouth curled into a smile as she too raced towards the bright light. "There it is!" Cried Keean almost leaping with joy. Liren�s feet thumped the cracked dirt pounding wildly, as did her racing heart.
Keean took the lead and almost ran into a small thatched hut with crude walls with mortar that seemed to seep out from between the bricks. A couple windows dotted the walls that were covered with shutters, but slivers of light poured through the holes and spaces between the boards. A chimney protruded through the thatched roof and smoke curled out of the top. Liren stopped beside Keean as he looked proudly at the house as if it were a palace. It wasn�t as magnificent as she was told it was.
Striding up to the crooked door Keean chanted something in what Liren supposed was elvish, or dwarvish. "Graciad Adencia" he chanted as if talking to the door. Suddenly the door swung upon with a whoosh of the wind that sent the branches of the forest trees flailing. A bright light poured through the door and Liren covered her eyes for they had been to use to the dark. Colors flashed as Keean started talking as if the light didn�t bother him at all. "Here we are. Tirithryen Hall. Hall of the thirteen Dwarven lords" he announced sweeping his hand in front gesturing the small hut. Liren stifled a fit of laughter and faked a coughing fit to cover it up.
The hut was like any other. Small, crude, and plain. The floor was beaten dirt and most took up of the hut a large table and a fireplace. Shadows loomed in the corners and a fire blazed in the red brick fireplace with a mantle laden, almost sagging with boos of all kinds. The whole place looked as if it hadn�t been touched in years. Many layers of dust covered the chairs and mantle while cobwebs found niches in the corners and spaces between books in the mantle. Keean sighed happily and moved toward the bookshelf as followed Liren. He scanned with his finger along the selection of faded leather jackets searching for a specific book. His finger stopped at a small blue book that looked by far older than any of the other books. Keean gave a satisfying grunt and slid the book from between to large red books. Thunking it on the table, he open up the book with a creak. "Argh!" Yelled a old voice. It was the book, it was talking! A small face with eyes seemed to grow in the paper with as if an invisible hand were drawing it with ink. It�s inky eyes scrunched together as the face fell into a coughing fit, out of it�s mouth spewing a cloud of dust." Agh, Keean! D� ya� know �ow late �tis?" The face gagged. Keean smirked and leaned on the table. "Yes I do. Can you get us into the tunnels?"
to be continued...
I was walking once and I was scared of something that was following me, but I didn't run because whoever was following me would know I was scared. Eventually I found a pocket in the side of the river I was following and decided to go to sleep. When I woke up I got out of the hidden pocket and climbed up the bank. But I met a sharp halt at the end of another otter's javelin. He asked, "Who are you?" "I am Coral, an orphaned wandering otter." Then I recognised him, he was from the holt I had visited two days ago. He told me that if I went to Redwall Abbey, which was nearby, I could travel and always have a place to return to. I asled him why he had scared me and followed me. He said he hadn't meant to scare me, he had only wished to tell me of Redwall or to go back to the holt with him. I asked why go to your holt, I have a full haversack and that's all I need. He told me to go with him because he too had no family and I reminded him of his sister. So, I went with him. The holt was merry and full of life, but it reminded me of something I couldn't quite find. I decided to ask the otter, his name was Riverblood, what had happened to his family. He told me of how the had been helping to forage for te food when some vermin had attacked, the had killed everyone but him and his sister. He fainted from the pain of his injury and when he woke he dug a grave for his family, but he couldn't find his sister when he went back to the holt and he hd never found her. After he told me the story even more around the holt looked familiar. And one day I went for a walk. I found a clearing with berry bushes and everything came back to me. I was Riverblood's sister! I had been injured and after the first vermin group attacked us and the injured were given time to bleed to death, but I had only broken my leg and fainted just as they had carried me off to their ship. Then for eight seasons I was an oar slave, always waiting for the chance to escape, but during that time I remembered nothing of the time before they had captured me. Then the vermin crew had disembarked for water, leaving us with one guard. I was very thin by now and easily slipped my chains. I had no oar partner as punishment for trying to kill the captain and was chained to nothing but my oar. I took it with me and killed the guard. The others had escaped too, but we went our seperate ways. I to find my past and the others to find their's.