Dwellers of the New World Chapter Nine ( Pt 4 ) The Storm Goes On

Varden risked life and limb struggling to keep his feet, across the moor. Darkness was almost upon him, as the strong wind and rain whipped him back, with every step he took, it was as if with every stride forward, he struggled to keep on his feet, the terrain so uneven and the deep crevices that surrounded him, one wrong move and he could be swept down.

His eyes watered and his body was icy cold, his rags that he wore, giving him no protection, he wished he had a wrap and some decent footwear. He was used to walking barefoot, but at this time, even he was finding it hard on the soles of his feet.

The boy stared at the sky, wondering if he'd made the right decision to go to the beach, but it was too late to turn back, he knew that trees without leaves would offer him no protection at all.

In the distance, he could just make out the huge boulders of rock, which meant he was coming close to the sea, so he soldiered on.

Exhausted, the ocean finally came into sight. In the blackness, the moonless sky gave no comfort, as cloud upon cloud drifted, the murkiness giving rise, to thoughts of the doom chamber and his friends.

He suddenly felt ashamed and angry at harbouring such thoughts. Here he was free, he couldn't believe he was actually selfish enough to be wishing he were back in the doom chamber.

Pulling himself together, he crawled on his belly towards the edge of the cliff, it was far too dangerous for him to be standing. Looking over the brink, he began to experience vertigo, as he became dizzy.

Backing away from the edge, he got to his feet, to see where he was going, though the darkness did not help. Eventually step by step, Varden found his way down to the beach.

Though he wanted to find his friend Si, he was happy to settle for the nearest cave he could find for shelter.

Shivering the boy began sneezing, he knew warmth was the only comfort, but there was none to be found, his body was so numb, that it was starting to effect his thinking.

Collapsing in the next opening to a cave, he found his whole body desensitized, only vaguely could he hear the sound of the ocean as wave upon wave lapped the shoreline. Feeling the cold, damp sand beneath him, exhaustion gave way to sleep.

When Varden finally awoke, he opened his eyes, his body stiff and shivering, cold sweats and a racing heart frightened him, he'd never experienced anything like this before. “Must get to Si's cave!” he said to himself over and over again.

Trying to stand was an effort, his legs were so shaky. Leaning against the cave wall, he looked out of the entrance, dawn was approaching, the storm from the night before had died down, but it was still raining, the sun was nowhere to be seen, hidden behind thick clouds.

Pulling himself together, Varden mustered up the last bit of strength he had left in him. Leaving the cave, he staggered, feeling light-headed, so he kept close to the wall of the cliff, in case he should fall.

At last he found the entrance to Si's cave. Picking up a large pebble, he entered walking to up to the back wall, knocking five times as hard as he could, there wasn't any reply, so he knocked again.

Eventually the stone was removed from the wall. “Boy...is that you?” came the voice.

“Yeah!” replied Varden. “Please...I need your help, can you reach out and pull me in?”

Si's long arms reached out, lifting the boy through the hole. Varden collapsed in a heap on the ground, his body just about gave up. The heat from the cave, made him feel feverish.

“What happened to you boy?” asked Si, removing the wet rags Varden wore, then carrying him over to the fire.

“I had nowhere to shelter from last nights storm, I spent the night on the wet sand, at the entrance to the first cave I could find.” Tears suddenly filled the boy's eyes. “I thought I was going to die.” He felt so sorry for himself and just let all his feelings out, his face now wet with emotional sobbing.

“Now...now!” said Si, hugging the boy with his long, gangly arms. “Your safe now...I'll look after you.” Si took the boy over to where he normally slept, placing Varden on his sheepskin bedding, then he covered him with some fleeces.

The boy could instantly feel the warmth coming back to his body, relaxing him, though he had a fever. Si came back with a bowl of heated up water. “Here...sip this boy, it's warm water and will help
with your healing.”

Varden swallowed the water slowly, feeling the warmth go down his throat, giving a soothing feeling. “Is this the water from the pool?” the boy asked.

“Yes boy...of course it is, you will start to feel better soon. Now get some rest.”

His head now back down on the sheepskin, Varden drifted off to sleep, strange dreams giving him visions of his friends Gideon and Gerrard, they were all together in the doom chamber again. Then the dream changed and they were walking through endless tunnels, trying to get out, but ending up at dead ends.

The boy slept fretfully for most of that day, each time he woke, Si gave him some more of the healing water.

The creature that was a man, worried for the boy and hoped he would recover soon.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Nine ( Pt 5 ) What Next? | ABCtales