Escape to the Sea
Alex sat next to the peculiar tree while her feline guide scouted out the surrounding area for the most direct path out of the forest. The large single limb of the tree was bowed down by the weight of its large yellow bloom. Leaning forward to smell the sweet flower, she noticed a piece of metal sticking out from one of its petals. Carefully lifting the blossom she was shocked to see her saddle bags lying on the ground. Heart pounding with excitement, she lifted the object to her chest hugging it to her like a long lost friend, breathing in the comforting scent of leather.
“I wonder how these got here?” she said to herself while glancing around the forest to see if anybody was nearby.
Feeling like a child on Christmas morning, she quickly undid the buckles and opened the bags. A smile spread across her swollen face as her hand caressed the familiar objects. Carefully she inspected the various things, surprised to find everything there including her money. While munching on some jerky she opened the second bag. She crinkled up her brow upon seeing a small box. Gently she picked up the box and turned it around in her hand studying it. Allowing curiosity to get the better of her she opened it. A three dimensional image appeared of a frontier family - two children were dancing around in circles to the father’s fiddle music while the mother looked on happily as she fed a baby. Tears spilled out over Alex’s lashes as she watched the happy scene play out.
The picture disappeared after a bit and Alex peered into the tiny box spotting an ornate key. “What is this?” Reaching down to remove the key she let out a little yelp of pain. The key was hot, burning her fingertips. “Now how do you like that? Give me a key but don’t let me touch it.” Gently she closed the box, placing it back inside the saddle bag.
Picking up a spare shirt that was packed in one of the bags, she shrugged out of the torn one she was wearing and put on the fresh garment. “Too bad I don’t have any extra boots in there,” she thought sarcastically while taking another bite of jerky. Stretching out in the grass she waited for her guide to return. The sky was a beautiful blue with big white fluffy clouds rolling by, the grass was thick and cool beneath her, and the smell of earth was all around. She breathed deeply, thankful to finally be out of the mountain.
“What have we here?” questioned the orange tabby taking a sniff at the saddle bags.
“Something that I thought was long gone” replied Alex. “The sun is starting to set. Did you find us a way out of the forest?”
“I was hoping to take you to the city but given our race with the sun, I think it best we head to the sea. We’re but an hour’s walk away. We should be able to make it before sundown.”
Hoisting the saddlebags up onto her shoulder, she psyched herself up to follow the cat. She was sore, tired, and cold but the thought of finally being out of this forest made her hasten her steps.
They walked out of the forest in time to witness a beautiful sunset over the water. The large orange sphere looked as though it were being swallowed by the sea. Alex had seen many a sunset but never one by the ocean. She felt a lump in her throat as a wave of emotion came over her. Fighting for composure, Alex followed the cat down to the sandy beach, free at last of the forest and it’s mountain of terror. With the final glow of the sun gone, blood curdling screams and howls were heard coming from within the Mountain of Pastanpresent.
“They’re not too happy that they lost you. Not often one escapes the caves and lives to tell about it. The gods are watching you.” The cat sat on the shore watching the waves roll in. Like Alex, he was relieved to be out of horrible place.
“Where to now” asked Alex, not taking her eyes off the water that was now pitch black without the suns light on it.
“I’m afraid this is as far as I go with you, I have other business to attend to. I would suggest that you follow the shore in a westerly direction. That should get you to the city.” Stretching out his sleek feline form, the cat prepared to leave. “I would go further on down the shore before making camp just incase the dark creatures get daring. Good luck to you Alexandra Fields,” he called back over his tail as he walked away, “I’ll be watching you.” And with that he disappeared into the night.
“Why does everybody insist on calling me that name?” muttered Alex under her breath as she worked her way along the beach.
Feeling that she had put a safe distance between her and the mountain, Alex dug out a small hole in the sand for shelter and warmth. Lying there on the shore like some sort of animal Alex gazed up at the open sky. She felt alone and vulnerable surrounded by so much blackness, a feeling she had become all too familiar with since her family’s passing.
“What would you think of your little girl now, pa?” she directed her question to the twinkling stars. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the little box and opened it. Again the happy family appeared before her. Alex fell asleep with a smile on her face, a tear on her cheek, and happy memories in her head.
“I wonder how these got here?” she said to herself while glancing around the forest to see if anybody was nearby.
Feeling like a child on Christmas morning, she quickly undid the buckles and opened the bags. A smile spread across her swollen face as her hand caressed the familiar objects. Carefully she inspected the various things, surprised to find everything there including her money. While munching on some jerky she opened the second bag. She crinkled up her brow upon seeing a small box. Gently she picked up the box and turned it around in her hand studying it. Allowing curiosity to get the better of her she opened it. A three dimensional image appeared of a frontier family - two children were dancing around in circles to the father’s fiddle music while the mother looked on happily as she fed a baby. Tears spilled out over Alex’s lashes as she watched the happy scene play out.
The picture disappeared after a bit and Alex peered into the tiny box spotting an ornate key. “What is this?” Reaching down to remove the key she let out a little yelp of pain. The key was hot, burning her fingertips. “Now how do you like that? Give me a key but don’t let me touch it.” Gently she closed the box, placing it back inside the saddle bag.
Picking up a spare shirt that was packed in one of the bags, she shrugged out of the torn one she was wearing and put on the fresh garment. “Too bad I don’t have any extra boots in there,” she thought sarcastically while taking another bite of jerky. Stretching out in the grass she waited for her guide to return. The sky was a beautiful blue with big white fluffy clouds rolling by, the grass was thick and cool beneath her, and the smell of earth was all around. She breathed deeply, thankful to finally be out of the mountain.
“What have we here?” questioned the orange tabby taking a sniff at the saddle bags.
“Something that I thought was long gone” replied Alex. “The sun is starting to set. Did you find us a way out of the forest?”
“I was hoping to take you to the city but given our race with the sun, I think it best we head to the sea. We’re but an hour’s walk away. We should be able to make it before sundown.”
Hoisting the saddlebags up onto her shoulder, she psyched herself up to follow the cat. She was sore, tired, and cold but the thought of finally being out of this forest made her hasten her steps.
They walked out of the forest in time to witness a beautiful sunset over the water. The large orange sphere looked as though it were being swallowed by the sea. Alex had seen many a sunset but never one by the ocean. She felt a lump in her throat as a wave of emotion came over her. Fighting for composure, Alex followed the cat down to the sandy beach, free at last of the forest and it’s mountain of terror. With the final glow of the sun gone, blood curdling screams and howls were heard coming from within the Mountain of Pastanpresent.
“They’re not too happy that they lost you. Not often one escapes the caves and lives to tell about it. The gods are watching you.” The cat sat on the shore watching the waves roll in. Like Alex, he was relieved to be out of horrible place.
“Where to now” asked Alex, not taking her eyes off the water that was now pitch black without the suns light on it.
“I’m afraid this is as far as I go with you, I have other business to attend to. I would suggest that you follow the shore in a westerly direction. That should get you to the city.” Stretching out his sleek feline form, the cat prepared to leave. “I would go further on down the shore before making camp just incase the dark creatures get daring. Good luck to you Alexandra Fields,” he called back over his tail as he walked away, “I’ll be watching you.” And with that he disappeared into the night.
“Why does everybody insist on calling me that name?” muttered Alex under her breath as she worked her way along the beach.
Feeling that she had put a safe distance between her and the mountain, Alex dug out a small hole in the sand for shelter and warmth. Lying there on the shore like some sort of animal Alex gazed up at the open sky. She felt alone and vulnerable surrounded by so much blackness, a feeling she had become all too familiar with since her family’s passing.
“What would you think of your little girl now, pa?” she directed her question to the twinkling stars. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the little box and opened it. Again the happy family appeared before her. Alex fell asleep with a smile on her face, a tear on her cheek, and happy memories in her head.
posted by duster | 21:35
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