Dwellers of the New World Chapter Fourteen ( Pt 9 ) Mysterious Disappearances

Feeling tired, distressed and naked as the day she was born, for it was still quite warm even at this late stage in the day. Liora could see Jomei and Avner at the water's edge staring up and waving to her.

The two citrine birds were still perched on the crystal trees as she waved back to the two men. It was as if the creatures were awaiting their next instructions, their huge eyes gazing upwards towards the woman.

Cupping her hands she knew the birds would help her, the sound of cawing echoed around the mountains as Liora imitated them. The birds responded their red beaks opening as they called back to her. Then they started to fly up, soaring through the air till they reached the woman, coming to rest on one of the boulders.

Again with her hands; Liora used sign language to communicate and her facial expressions also making contact. As she moved in closer obtaining the birds trust, she stroked their head feathers and looked into their eyes. Instead of just talking, she sang in a whispered...soft melancholy voice. “I'm so sad...I've lost the children and my beloved friend Jay. Please can you help, show me the way. You! Who are magical can lead me to them, take away this camouflage that conceals them.”

The birds immediately cawed and flew off back down coming to land in the crystal trees. Liora turned lifting her arms up into the air and stretched. It had been a long day and one where she'd not slept at all. Yawning she made her way down the mountain path.

Walking between the fruit trees, she picked a couple of pears and then proceeded to head back to the shore. “Here you are feathered ones, take a bite of these juicy fruits.” She said as they cawed in appreciation.

Jomei and Avner never doubted Liora's ability to communicate with birds, but even now they were still fascinated at how the creatures listened to every word and action she made.

Looking around in confusion, Jomei questioned Liora to the whereabouts of everyone. “What's happened to Jay and the children?” He voiced scratching his head and looking at Avner for support, but Avner was quiet and never said much, he always appeared to be miles away in his own thoughts.

“I have no idea.” Replied Liora, “but I'm hoping the birds can help me. You two go back to the cave, keep the food warm and wait for me. I'll see if the birds can lead me to them.”

The birds pecked at the fruit until there was nothing left but the core. Then they flew off once again and headed further up the shoreline coming to flutter at yet another track. Shaking some of the silver dust from the tips of their wings, the silver substance came to land on the path as footprints appeared.

They waited on one of the boulders for the woman to approach, preening themselves as they anticipated her gratified smile. Liora finally reached the path and examined the impressions. “So! This is the way they came...I wonder why they would wander off! I explicitly told Jay to stay close by.” Turning to the birds she beamed thanking them in hand sign language they could understand. There was nothing for it but to push forward even though darkness was just around the corner.

Signalling again to the birds she called them to light her way; so they flew up their wings quivering as more magical dust floated down along the path, throwing light upon the track and illuminating the ground she walked on.

The track was surrounded on both sides by rocks that seemed to grow out of the mountain casting shadows, as two full moons began to rise lighting up the sky, each one pinpointing her location. All was peaceful, only her footsteps could be heard as the two birds flew above her.

Liora ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it back from out of her eyes. She had no idea how long she'd been walking and why Jay would have taken the children so far. Her thoughts were distracted by the sound of the birds cawing anxiously. They seemed to be wanting her to move quicker, as if they knew somebody was up ahead.

Walking a little faster she came to a bend in the path, aware of the sudden sound of chattering getting closer. Not wanting to be seen, Liora crouched down inching closer to peer around the corner of a rock.

Coming in the opposite direction she could make out the figures of Jay and the children, but they weren't alone, with them were strangers dressed in unusual clothes. The woman was mystified and felt uneasy, but at least she'd found everyone.

There were so many questions running through Liora's mind as they got closer, she could hardly contain her curiosity, taking a deep breath she came out from behind the rock, waiting for them to approach.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Fourteen ( Pt 10 ) When Fantasy Meets Sci-Fi | ABCtales