Dwellers of the New World Chapter Three ( Pt 3 )

The echoes of forest creatures could be heard all around. Small birds flitted through the trees. The tall pines towered high into the sky, such an impressive sight to behold. Clouds started to build, as they floated across the sky.

A woodpecker could be heard, somewhere off in the far distance, pecking away at some tree. A bear high up on a ridge, was wandering along, it had seen the little party of travellers, but didn't show any signs of interest, it was more curious as to the movement in the undergrowth, that was much closer, an unseen creature foraged, unaware of the eyes that followed.

The path was strewn with pine cones, the horses were careful to avoid stepping on them, their hooves although hardened, still found the sharp lumpy cones uncomfortable, as they trotted along. Straying from the path, was not an option, for amongst the pine trees, there were dangers, snakes would be slithering, ready to bite, as did many other living things lurking, daring anyone to come near, for this was their world.

Further up the path, some deer wandered freely, stopping every once in a while, to listen and watch for danger, ready to bolt at the sight or sound of a threat to their life. A squirrel ran across the path of the travellers, rushing to climb one of the many oaks that grew close to the pines.

The aroma of pine filled Jay's nostrils as the quietness of the ride home, worried and disturbed him, he adjusted himself on the horse, sitting behind Ben, then scratched his head trying to think of something to say, but nothing would come. Knowing what he knew, he felt a panic wash over him, unlike any he had experienced before.

He knew his sister loved stability, he had the feeling she probably wanted to go and look for their mother and father, but he also knew she would be afraid of the unknown, therefore having no intention of running off anywhere.

Even Netty was aware of her mother's silence. “What's wrong mother, why are you so sad?” Netty sat in front of her mother staring into her face.

Fern was imagining all kinds of things, it was like her mind was in overdrive. She wanted answers, the most important ones being...who were the men her parents had gone with...where did they go, and most importantly was her mother and father safe? Turning to her daughter, she gave Netty a smile, then said, “Oh Netty! I'm as disappointed as you not to see grandmother and grandfather. Perhaps you could sing me a song to cheer me up.”

Netty began to sing, but her heart just wasn't in it. She leant in to her mother and nuzzled her face into Fern's chest for comfort, the fur was soft against Netty's face, she almost felt like she could fall asleep, with the trotting of the horse.

When they got back to the cave, they all dismounted. Breaking the silence, Ben patted his horse and said he was taking them both back to the meadow.

“I'll come with you!” replied Jay, taking hold of the rope of the other horse. He figured this would be a good opportunity, to tell Ben what he knew.

“Can I go too?” asked Netty excitedly.

“No Netty,” replied Ben, “you stay with your mother, I expect she will need help with collecting herbs for the pot.” He looked at Fern, as he spoke, he could tell she wasn't too happy at all. Netty pouted and turned away, the mood of the family seemed at its lowest.

Trying to sound more positive, Ben asked Fern what she would prefer for supper. “Me and Jay will go hunting, would you like a rabbit, or shall we get some fish?”

Fern wasn't really that bothered, she was still thinking of her parents. “A rabbit will be fine, but will you skin it this time? I'm taking Netty down to Crystal Grove, we'll get the herbs on the way back.”

As soon as Fern mentioned Crystal grove, Netty cheered up and was happy again. “Yeah! Crystal grove!” she cried, she skipped and jumped, running into the cave to get her crystals she loved to play with.

Then Fern said, “I'll take some chicken eggs down with us, see if I can barter them for some corn.” She was just about to go into the cave, when she remembered about her parents, she turned to Jay saying, “brother I want to talk to you later...do you understand?”

Jay knew what she meant, he also knew he would get an earful when Netty was asleep. “Yeah! Sure...that's fine...I'll speak to you later.” he said nervously. He hated it when his sister was angry, it was the one thing that upset him, more than anything.

As the two men walked side by side, Jay wanted to lighten the mood. “So Ben...what have you named these magnificent horses?”

Ben wasn't very amused, but gave him an answer. “Well the one you're leading is Fern's, she named hers Rainbow. Then my horse is named Bracken.” he was somewhat perturbed as he spoke. Ben was getting anxious. “I'm presuming you didn't come with me, to talk about the horses?”

Jay realised, that Ben had guessed he knew things, but wasn't saying. “Yes you're right brother...I do,” he replied.

“Well go on...spit it out!” Ben was looking at Jay, like he was ready to explode.

Jay thought it best to start at the beginning. “When I went out with the other Priests, spreading the word of love and how people should work together, we were so far South, you wouldn't believe how much open land there is out there, a man could get lost, it's so vast, with open moors and huge Oceans.”

Ben said, “come on...get to the point!”

Well some of the farmers were rebelling and stirring up trouble, people were fighting over land, they said they didn't like being told what to do by Priests.”

“So were you telling them what to do?” demanded Ben, “because I don't suppose I would take very kindly to being pushed around.”

“The Priests never pushed anyone around...Ben, all we did was preach and advice. We tried to remind them of what the watchers had told them when they came in their crystal ships, but the people wouldn't listen, some were too young to remember, and just followed their parents word. Anyway, they said they were starting up their own rebellion...their own resistance. We begged them to rethink what they were saying and doing, but too no avail, others started to follow the rebellion, they believed that their way was the only way to be free... they just wouldn't listen to the Priests.”

“So what does this have to do with Fern's parents?” asked Ben.

“The rebellion have been brainwashing people to follow them, by giving them land that they say can be theirs, if they follow their way, they don't understand what's going on, and before they know it, they've been taken and they disappear without a trace.”

“So what you are saying Jay, is you think that fern's parents have been led away by these men?” Ben was getting more frustrated by the second. “Why didn't you tell us all this, when you arrived?” said Ben angrily.

“I didn't think the rebellion would have come this far into the forest, they seemed to be further down South. Now I'm not even sure if that's what's happened to mother and father, but many people have disappeared, lost...vanished into thin air.”

“I don't know how you're going to explain all this to Fern, she will be devastated, you know what she's like. But for now we'd better just release these horses into the meadow, then go hunt for some meat for the stew.”

Now Jay was even more worried than before, he knew they would have to go and search for their parents, but how would Fern take the news, and the thought of travelling so far? Jay was beginning to wish he'd stayed away and not returned to see his family.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Three ( Pt 4 ) | ABCtales