Sky Elf: The Anti-Matter Chronicles (The Matter Chronicles Book 2)

by P. G. Thomas

  Lauren suddenly fell limp to the ground, and John, rolling onto his back, surrendered to the pain, passing out. Fodu kneeled down beside them, “Brothers, both do breathe. Brother John, pain consumed he is. Earth Daughter, what happens, I am not sure.”

  Bor looked to Aaro, “Clouds did hear Earth Daughter; others also may have. Go, warn elf and dwarf,” and then they carried John and Lauren to their bedrolls. As Gingaar returned to Logan’s side, Bor ordered the others to get rest, insisting that he would watch the camp. After lighting a fire, he began to pace. He questioned the black sky, the trees, the stars, the ground, but none answered.

  Gingaar did, “Bor, SHUT UP!”

  Chapter 4

  An hour before the first sun would raise Fodu woke Bor, sending him out to relieve Aaro. It was shortly after this that Alron, Panry, and Hakk entered from the south, as he searched for the pot and beans in the strangely empty chests, hoping that Alron knew the secret behind the magical oddities.

  “What happened the day past?”

  Fodu only had a few hours of sleep, as his concern for Lauren, John, and Eric had woken him six hours earlier. When sure all rested comfortably, he had offered to watch the camp so that Bor could get some sleep. To have Alron walk into the camp, demanding answers like he was a prisoner was wrong. As such, he was unimpressed, being certain that he already knew what had happened, having heard it from both elves and dwarves. “A fine day it is, but better if I could find the bean juice pot.”

  “What happened here yesterday?” repeated Alron.

  “Troll, go mate with. You have no right to demand answers from Ironhouse.” In Fodu’s opinion, only Lauren could demand answers, and Alron served her.

  “Something happened, and I need to know what it was.”

  “You already know. Problem, what is it?”

  “I need to hear firsthand what happened.”

  “That what you heard, happen it did. Now tell Fodu of pots and beans. Where do I find?”

  Waking up Ryan and Gingaar, Alron herded them towards the fireplace. He had heard the reports from the dwarves about the events: the harness, the bear, the surgery, the Earth Daughter calling out to the skies, but he wanted to hear it from the participants. As he understood it, Lauren had either Cursed or tried to Invoke Mother; neither of which she had the knowledge. He was also concerned that the recent events might hinder the fourth sun from rising, prohibiting the shadows from being pushed back. After corralling everybody, he began asking questions about the incidents from the previous day, but quiet responses only made him louder, causing him to repeat the same questions repeatedly.

  Having been asleep under the wagon, in a pile of blankets and bedrolls, the never-ending questions had entered Zack’s dreams, causing him to lose focus.

  While Lauren had been aroused by the loud conversation, she only sat up, taking notice, when quiet embraced the camp. Wandering over to Zack, she scratched him behind the ear, “Good boy, Socks! Make the noisy elf shut up. I like this side of you.” She then went over to the gathered crowd, searching for the hot bean juice but found none, “He who is most capable, boil some water, and bring forth the nectar of rock stars, which my brother calls it. Alron, climb down off your testosterone filled pedestal and join us on the ground.” Sitting down on one of the stumps in front of the fire, Lauren began to bang her mug on a rock. After Alron had turned to Zack, he turned back to Lauren, remaining quiet. She looked at him, “I would suggest that you find a more friendly way to ask questions. I think you remind him of somebody, somebody he doesn’t like. I believe you met those men that he silenced. You remember them? In that cell, where they had him chained like a beast? Let’s use your nice voice. It’s okay, Socks, go chase a squirrel.”

  Zack, having no interest in squirrels, was more captivated by the quiet. Laying his head on his paws, he never moved his eyes from the elf.

  Ensuring his voice was polite and soft, he asked, “Hakk, could you please go relieve Gor? We need bean juice.” After double-timing it into the forest, twenty minutes later, Gor entered the camp. “I need answers,” Alron advised in a very polite tone. “My price for such is hot bean juice. Can you please satisfy Earth Daughter’s thirst, so my answers I can have?”

  Gor looked at Alron, the wolf, and then to Lauren, who was slapping one of the stumps beside the fire pit, “And some of those great pancakes, please?”

  “No!” Then Alron quickly lowered his voice after seeing Zack raise his ears, “Gor, please only make bean juice right now. Pancakes can wait. Earth Daughter, shortly you shall have your drink. Do I have your permission to politely ask the others what happened yesterday?”

  She nodded, being more concerned with the speed in which Gor could produce the hot liquid.

  Alron turned to the rest of the group, “Gingaar, would you please start?” Looking at the ground, she was quiet, being too afraid to meet his gaze. He turned to Ryan, who was counting stones around the fire pit. “Fodu, please advise me of what happened yesterday.”

  “To the camp I arrived. Saw John examining Eric. Great was his pain, and Zack with Ryan helped. John described a brace for Eric. Aaro a harness he made, which lessened John’s pain.”

  “Bear. What of it?”

  “Saw one I did not. I was concentrating on the brace.”

  “Then?” Alron was unaccustomed to asking politely.

  “John gave instructions, and I fixed Eric’s hand. To bed all went.”

  With Zack’s ears still upright, Alron’s smile was still courteous, “Did you leave anything out?”

  “Much. If information you want, reinforcements you should call.” Fodu was still angry with Alron, but he enjoyed watching him sweat under the wolf’s gaze. He knew that they had done nothing wrong, as it was Lauren’s actions that had saved Eric’s hand. Secretly he was hoping he could trigger an interesting response from both Alron and Zack.

  By this time, Aaro had shown up. “Friend Alron, is there a problem?” Alron may have been the captain of the Earth Guard, but Fodu was Ironhouse, Aaro’s clan now. Disrespect to one was disrespect to all, and he knew that Alron knew that.

  “I am trying to figure out what happened yesterday.”

  “That is water under the bridge.”

  “Sometimes there is an obstruction downstream. Then the water flows back and destroys the bridge.”

  “Bridge not dwarf built. Elf did make?”

  Lauren finished her first mug of the hot bean juice, “Aaro, please sit so we can talk. Alron, calm down. Zack, go and get dressed, or I’ll pour your mug of bean juice into a bowl. Gor, thank you very much. Now, since nobody asked, I’ve a terrible headache, so I don’t need this crap right now.” She held her mug out for a refill, “Alron you seem to have, as we say where I’m from, your panties in a knot. Why’re you so upset?”

  “Yesterday you talked to Mother. More specifically, you challenged her. Possibly, threaten her? You demanded from Mother, raised your voice to her, and tried to Invoke her.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Earth Daughter, Invoked Mother.”

  “Seriously, what?”

  “You did that which must not be done. Mother does not serve us. Demand from Mother you cannot.” Alron knew that she had no comprehension of what he was talking about, but he was worried that if he coddled her, she would mistake his concern as compassion for her friends, wrapping herself in a misunderstood embrace of kindness. He wanted to challenge her, finding out where her focus was, and what she was thinking. He knew that he needed her to help lead, getting them out of this mess, and to help save her friends and Mother’s children. The Earth Mother had warned him that Lauren would test him. She had advised him to meet her mistakes with civility, making sure the fire of hope would not be extinguished by a blaze of doubt. However, he needed to know who sat in front of him: the Earth Daughter, guided by her heart, or Lauren, guided by her head. If it were Lauren, she would be more concerned about her friends, but if she cared for both, then the Earth Daughter was still with him
.

  There was a fire in Lauren’s eyes, but staring at the ground, none saw it. She was neck-deep in one of the worst situations imaginable. Her words were hard like flint, the edges sharp, “Gingaar, Fodu. Please go check on the injured. Gor, fetch me Mirtza’s pipe. Panry, go guard a tree.” Remaining quiet, while she waited for Gor, Alron began to speak, but she simply held up her hand. Accepting the pipe, she packed the bowl with the odd tobacco, reached down to the fire for a burning ember. Lifting her gaze up from the ground, Alron saw the fire in her eyes: the eyes of the Earth Daughter. “Do you remember the little talk we had in the woods at the Earth Mother’s tree? You asked me to lead, accepting this challenge. I was the one that had doubts, worried that this could happen. I was the one that said I didn’t know anything, but it didn’t seem to bother anybody, in particular, you.” She paused, taking a drink of the bean juice, inhaling deeply on the pipe, “I even asked you; what about a trap? What were your words? First, there’s my Earth Guard and their new ability to hide. The giant Eric, who now lies near death in the wagon. My brother Logan, Sister chosen to protect me. Let’s go ask them what they think of our little journey. My staff, big help that was. Ryan, not much help there. My mighty army lies dying at my feet. Yes, the Earth Guard was concerned for my safety but of my friends? I guess I’ll have to be concerned about them.” He started to speak, but she shook her head, suggesting he should not, “If you’re going to get upset at me because I did wrong, then you’re going to get really good at being mad at me. When I arrived at the Ironhouse Mine, all of the sudden, I’m an Earth Daughter. Before I even get a chance to spend any time with Earth Mother, were going on a field trip, and when we return, she’s dying. Mother, maybe she’s mad at me also, as she really hasn’t given me any clues on what I should be doing. This unknown force that walks the lands, Mother Chosen, its name is Lauren. Do you remember those words? Well, that unknown force also has no knowledge. I told you that I would help find Mother’s children, showing them the truth and try to help win back the lands. I’m keeping up with my end of our deal. Yours was protection, and when I say that, I don’t just mean myself. It includes my friends and Mirtza. You wanted my help, so I’m doing everything I can, which includes making mistakes. Get used to it.” Lauren took a sip of her bean juice, which was now cold, like her comments to Alron. Spitting it out, she inhaled from the pipe. “Find me a route south, and help me get through those damned mountains. Maybe there we’ll find the children, or maybe Mother will fire me. Alron, I might not be able to command you, but I believe part of your oath is to protect and that includes my friends. I’m doing what I said I would do, so be the damned Earth Guard and protect. Now, if you don’t mind, I want to go visit my mighty army, so I can change their bloodied bandages.” Standing, she left without looking back.

  Whispering a prayer to Mother, Alron walked over to Panry, who had a confused look on his face. “Earth Daughter tried to Invoke. You are right to teach her.”

  “Earth Daughter does not know how to Invoke. Such knowledge she does not have. She was angry, upset, and does what any child will; scream for attention. She complains to Mother and mayhap that is her right, but between Mother and Earth Daughter that issue is. My job is not to teach Earth Daughter, it is to keep her on the path, and not let her focus wander.”

  “You test Earth Daughter?” asked Panry.

  “Like the black-clad test us, so our mission becomes more difficult. We need to find a route south to find Mother’s children. Aaro and Bor we need to talk with.”

  *******

  Around noon, after Gor prepared a pot of tea for Lauren, she took the steaming mug and Mirtza’s pipe to the back of the camp. Sitting down on a deadfall, she tried to reach out to Mother. However, the thoughts of Logan, Eric, John, and Mirtza, all motionless, muddied her thoughts.

  Approaching her, Ryan asked if she wanted company.

  “I don’t know what I want. I don’t know what anybody wants. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Lastly, I’ve no idea on what to do about the injured. This isn’t what I signed up for, and it sucks.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” began Ryan. “Yeah, it’s crazy. It shouldn’t be happening, but it is. You can’t change it. Are things happening like they’re supposed to? Who knows? I know that John thinks there’s some divine design or presence here. Maybe there is because you helped us get this far—”

  “What happens if Logan dies?”

  “My answers will only cause you pain, as I lived with similar answers to a different question for over a year. You don’t want to know those questions or answers. If I can do anything for you, please let me know.”

  Before he could turn, Lauren called out to him, “I know the accident wasn’t your fault. I know that I blamed you and that it was wrong. Right now, what happened when Samantha died, that’s so far from my mind. Logan, Eric, John, we’re stuck here in these woods when we really need a hospital. I can’t go back, and I don’t know what is ahead. What do I do Ryan? What the hell do I do?”

  “Anything I say will seem like a lie. I don’t know either. A couple of days ago, we wondered if we would ever see them again, or if we would arrive too late. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, and I won’t tell you lies under a false pretense: like everything is going to be okay. You’ll just end up hating me again. I think we have defied the odds in getting this far, and I know it seems like a long shot, but if I had the money, I would bet that we get out of this. I don’t know how, or when, or what will happen, but right now, I just have to believe it’ll all work out.”

  “It isn’t enough.”

  “I was in a hospital bed for a year, embracing that single thought. There were tears, pain, cursing, more, and nightmares that still haunt me to this day. Slowly, it all worked out, I think, maybe not, I don’t know either. When it seems like there’s nothing left, there’s always something: hope. Right now, positive thoughts will do more than negative. I know it won’t comfort you, but you need to believe. I just don’t know what it is that you need to believe in.” Ryan headed back to the camp.

  Realizing that like her, he had no answers, she avoided the group the entire day. The whole thing reminded her of Mirtza’s chests. While they had answers in them, she was uncertain of how to get them out. It was getting dark when she finally stood, heading back to camp. Gor had offered to make her a meal to eat, but while she was hungry, it was not for food. Declining his offer, she laid out a bedroll beside the wagon, stared at the stars, thinking of the things that she would rather not, until fatigue won its battle, and her eyelids heavy with sleep closed.

  *******

  Lauren woke the next morning to the aroma of breakfast cooking. Even though it was still early, the others slept, but she was positive the intoxicating smells would soon break them free of their dreams or nightmares. She went over to sit with Gor, “I told you that Gingaar and I would look after the meals.”

  “Agree all did, you are in better mood when breakfast prepared waits for you.”

  “Gor, please don’t ever change. Thank you. The last few days, I don’t know what’s happening. I know everybody’s getting tired of hearing that, but seriously, what am I supposed to do?”

  “Right now, Lauren needs to eat her breakfast.”

  As she did so, she chatted with him about nothing in particular, but after fifteen minutes, the sounds of others stirring reminded her that she was not Lauren, and the Earth Daughter thanked him before going to check on everybody.

  Heading over to John first, she shook him gently, “Hey, how do you feel today?”

  “I breathe, therefore I am.”

  “The pain?”

  “Present and accounted for.”

  Heading over to Logan, she saw Gingaar, her feet still bare, was asleep beside him, and she was thrilled to see that the goose egg was greatly diminished. Gently shaking her awake, she told her to get a meal to eat. Next, stopping off at the wagon, she examined Mirtza and Eric, who were beginning to look better, as the color
was returning to their injured areas.

  The day was quiet until noon when alarm whistles sounded, and in the distance, they heard dogs. Bor came running out of the forest, “Earth Daughter, tracks you hide but scent remains.”

  “Wagon, can we move?” asked Aaro.

  “No, the injured aren’t stable enough,” replied Lauren.

  “Dogs? I think I can help with that,” began Zack. “Aaro, bring my clothes when you return to the forest. I’ll find you.” Going to the edge of the camp, his profile lost focus. Once again, there was something and nothing there. Then there was only a pile of clothes with a gigantic wolf standing on them, which bolted into the woods until it found the dogs, all six.

  Fresh. (“NO! Lead them away!”) IT hungry. (“NO! Lead them away!”). Easy. (“If you kill, more will come, and you’ll put my friends in danger.”) More good. Fresh. (“NO! You’ll lead them away!”) Hungry. (“Lead them away, and we’ll hunt tonight!”) You Lie. (“We’ll hunt bad man.”) Good. (“Lead them far away.”) The wolf stalked the dogs, getting close enough to charge. Blindsiding the first, when the canine instincts kicked in, they forgot about the scent, and instead, chased after the wolf that ran to the north. (“Slow down, or you’ll lose them.”) The wolf made its scent harder to follow by using water, fallen trees, and anything else it could, yet it would always provide a visual to the dogs, yelping to get their attention if necessary. After five or six miles, it had led them far enough from the camp that Zack felt it was safe to stop the chase. Finding a tall tree, they waited until the dogs saw them before going to the other side. After a minute, a squirrel emerged, which ran around the base of the tree several times, before ascending into the top branches. While the scent was the same, the shape was different. When the handlers finally caught up with the dogs after two hours, they were confused why they had the tree surrounded, barking like mad, but there was nothing in it except one lone squirrel.