Earth Bound

by Serenity Williams

  I needed to change the subject. There was nothing we could do now to solve our problems anyway.

  So what are their names?

  Who? Jade answered, distractedly.

  Your cubs. I urged.

  Oh! She sounded shocked, as if I had just reached over and woke her up.

  My first born is named Rowley. He’s the rowdy one of the bunch. Always getting into trouble and sticking his tail where it doesn’t belong… I could hear the pride echoing in her words as she described her babies. Flora came out next. She’s my little flower baby. Always rolling in the tall grasses or playing swatt with the butterflies. Then there is Miles, he’s my little sunbeam, always looking on the bright side of things. Kit, is short for kitten. My tiniest runt of a baby. She came out last and weighed only about half as much as Rowley. She’s still tiny. But smart. She’s the brains of the whole litter.

  They sound really great. I sighed.

  They are…

  Longing radiated from her so intensely it hit me like a wrecking ball from all the way across the caravan.

  Jade? Are you ok? Her answer didn’t echo inside my head. Jade? Jade? Are you still there? Did they hurt you? What’s going on?

  Still no answer.

  I sent my energy out to find her’s. It was difficult with the cuffs on, I had to push and force my energy out and away from myself. My body trembled from the effort but I had to know if she was still alive. Finally, I found her. I could feel her body slumped down as she allowed the men to lead her forward. Her energy was washed in a deep aching sadness so strong I couldn’t breathe.

  I'm sorry Jade...I whispered.

  Jade wouldn’t talk to me for hours after that. She completely withdrew her psychic connection and nothing I said could pull her back out of hiding. I was starting to feel pretty lonely. Cooped up in this wagon with no one but me for company. Everyone else avoided me, no one spoke to me, no one even looked at me. I watched them though.

  As I sat huddled in the back of the wagon, I watched families talk and plan their dream. I watched mothers soothe their crying babies and proud fathers teach their sons to hunt. I watched children run and play and laugh as they wove their way through the caravan. All the best parts of the village was on display before me...and all the worst. I saw people argue over the last turnip. I saw some cheat and swindle their neighbor out of supplies. I saw parents fighting like wild animals in front of their babies. Humans, as far as I could tell, were complicated creatures. Malcolm was no exception.

  I watched him closely over the hours we spent riding alongside one another, and I still didn’t understand him. He would smile and joke along with the children during rest times. Very patient with all of them. But if one of his men got out of line, he was swift and fierce with his corrections. Sometimes even to the point of violence. At least his relationship with Mindy hadn’t been a lie. They shared company with one another like mother and son. There was so much love between them.

  Even though we had ridden close to each other every day since the night he captured me, we hadn’t spoken another word. He avoided my gaze regularly. Infact, he completely ignored my presence. It was like I didn’t exist to him.

  Now, with Jade not talking to me, I was lonelier than ever.

  Madame! Madame!

  Jock? I sat up a little straighter in the wagon. My heart beat frantically as my eyes scanned the trees.

  We! It is I. Is Jade still with you?

  Yes. She’s still here.

  Oh good. Good! I was so afraid the men had killed her. I wanted to fight them Madame. I wanted to so badly! But la charrie, she begged me to go. So Jock, I go and now I feel like such a coward. I could hear the shame in his voice.

  Don’t feel like that Jock. You did the right thing. I rushed to reassure him. Those men would have killed you.

  We madame. I know. But Luna, she is my friend. Just as you are my friend, no?

  Yes Jock. Yes, we are friends. I answered, my eyes still scanned the trees as the caravan rumbled slowly forward. Where are you Jock?

  Oh! I am here! I am flying over the tree line. Look up...ma cherie...Do you see?

  I peered up through the branches and just barely caught a glimpse of his white tail feathers sparkling in the sunlight.

  Yes! I see you Jock!

  Good! Very good! Now, Raina, listen very closely to Jock. I have a plan.

  No Jock! I don’t want you to do anything foolish. I had already gotten one friend captured. I didn’t need another to join us.

  Me? Oh no, ma cherie. Jock never does anything foolish. Do not worry. This plan will work.

  Alright Jock, but be carefull. I warned. What do you need me to do?

  There is a clearing coming up a few yards away. I need you to convince la misure to stop for a rest. You can do this, we?

  We, I mean, yes. At least, I can try…

  Try hard Madame. This is important.

  I will…

  “Um...Malcolm?” I said loud enough for him to hear me. He glanced over and I could see surprise in his eyes before they narrowed into slits.

  “What?” he asked his voice gruff with suspicion.

  “Um...I'm hungry. Can we stop for a moment, please?”

  “No, you can wait.” He looked ahead again, effectively dismissing the whole matter.

  “But I’ve lost the connection.”

  His eyes shot to mine.

  “What do you mean?” he growled.

  “I mean I can’t feel the connection to the gold anymore. My energy is too low. I need to eat and rest so I can regain the connection.” I saw the look of suspicion waring with the power of his greed in his eyes. Greed won.

  “Let me find a good area to rest in,” he grumbled.

  I slowly released the breath I’d been holding.

  I did it Jock!

  Good. Now just eat and rest like you said you would. We don’t want to be liars, no? And just wait for my signal.

  What’s the signal?

  You’ll know it when you see it.

  Alright…

  Oh and Raina, don’t be alarmed if you can not contact me for a moment. I’ll be very busy we?

  Ok Jock, but please, please, please be careful.

  I will. Jock is always careful.

  Just like Jock said, after a few yards the forest broke into a large clearing, big enough for the village to pause for lunch.

  “Hold!” Malcolm shouted and slowly the moving caravan came to a stop inside the clearing. “We’re stopping here to rest and eat. But don’t get too comfortable,” his eyes shot to mine,” we are going to be moving again.”

  Everything got loud for a moment as people unloaded some food supplies and took a few minutes to care for their tired horses. Then after a moment, the sound quieted down. All the families had gathered into their own little groups and were sitting down together to eat. Then I saw Jade. She was only a few yards to my right. Close to the tree line. The same four men still stood guard over her, but they seemed a little more relaxed. Probably had more to do with the fact that Jade was laying down defeatedly on the ground at the moment, and less to do with their confidence in the spears they were carrying.

  “Here,” Malcolm said gruffly as he tossed me an apple, a chunk of cheese, and some bread. “Eat.”

  “Thank you,” I murmured as I gathered the food onto my lap, but he had already gone.

  As I bit into the apple, I gazed around at the families huddled together sharing their meal together. Contentedly munching on their food and swapping quiet stories together. All except the two lonely orphaned children that sat huddled under a tree a few feet away from my wagon. Their faces were crestfallen as they watched a family eating a few feet away from them. No one seemed to notice them but me. My gaze traveled from the kids to the food in my hands and back.

  Don't do it Raina you haven't eaten all day. You need your strength to escape. Jade warned.

  Now you speak?

  Yeah,... sorry. I was stuck in my head for a minute. You s
till shouldn't give them your food.

  But look at them Jade. I can’t just pretend they’re not there... When I lifted my gaze back to the kids my eyes caught theirs and I watched them lick their lips at the food I held. The longing in their eyes was too much for me to ignore. So I held it out to them.

  “For you,” I mouthed. “Eat.”

  Oh! You have no survival instincts.

  Shh! I'm doing this. They need this food more than I do.

  “It’s ok. Come. Eat.” I urged.

  At first they both just stared at me. Then very slowly they approached the wagon. As they walked over, I took a moment to examine them more closely. The boy had mousy blond hair and the older girl had thick curly red hair, both could have really used some water. Each had big green eyes that were framed by incredible thick lashes. And they were both way too thin. The girl was taller and seemed to be the eldest. She was a long, gangly little thing with pencil thin arms and legs. Her eyes were slightly sunken in from lack of nutrition and too many sleepless night. The boy wasn’t much better. His shaggy blonde hair kept getting in his eyes and he had to keep pushing it back out of the way. But even though he was just as skinny as his sister, his face still held that boyish roundness in the cheeks.

  See Jade, they’re adorable.

  For humans.

  The boy was a little braver than his big sister and reached out instinctively for the meal. Overly cautious, his sister paused his hand mid grab and shook her head.

  “It’s ok,” I said again and held out the food, towards her this time.

  Her gave met mine and I could see the weariness and fear there, but also the despritation. They needed the food. Then very slowly she reached out and grabbed both the bread and the cheese from me. As soon as it was in her hands, they both backed up slightly from the wagon.

  Still afraid I might bite them?

  “I won't hurt you children.” I soothed. “You have nothing to fear from me.” Neither answered for a long moment, then the girl lifted her head high and offered a shy smile.

  “Thank you Drifter,” she whispered.

  Then they were gone. Running off together to eat what was probably the best meal they'd had in days. My eyes followed them and I smiled as I watched the sister hand her brother the larger portions of both food items.

  You’re too nice. Jade groused but I could hear the softness in her words.

  You would have done the same thing and you know it.

  She shook her head slightly before laying it back down on her paws.

  A flash of white fluttered through the air across the front of the wagon.

  “Jock?” I whispered.

  That was supposed to be the signal! We are attacking now Raina! Jock whistled in bird as he flew by the wagon a second time.

  We?

  Suddenly the forest erupted in the chaos of a hundred different animal sounds. It was so loud it shook the earth and I had to cover my ears to keep my sanity. The sound was defining. Everyone in camp seemed to have crumpled, coving their ears as their frightened cries mixed with the noise around them. I peered over to see that Jade had fully grasped this opportunity. As her guards struggled between trying to block out the sound and keep her at by, Jade went on the attack. She lunged at the guard to the right, who was too distracted to lift his spear in time. Her heavy body crashed down on his and I had to close my eyes as her teeth sank into the man's jugular. The other guard with the spear jamb his into Jade’s right front. She let out a feral growl but one little spear wasn’t going to do the trick. She turned her golden blood-thirsty gaze on him and the poor man wet himself before he tried to flee. Luna made quick work of him. The last two guards approached her together. Daggers gleamed in their tight fists. Luna turned to them and smiled that strange cat-like smile.

  Lunch time… her voice said in my head and I glanced away again, knowing what was coming.

  It’s working! I thought as I glanced around at the entire village crumpled to their knees, hands over their ears.

  All except for Malcolm. His steel gaze cut to mine from across the clearing and I knew he knew exactly what was going on. Then as I watched, he slid a dagger out of his belt and he ran towards the waggon.

  He’s gonna kill me! My heart beat frantically and I glanced around for a weapon. I saw one of the pickaches with in hands reach. But as I went to grab for it, both hands still bound, Malcolm was already there and he yanked me down from the wagon.

  “Don’t even think about it,” he snarled as he pinned my back against his broad chest. One muscled arm wrapped around my stomach and one hand held his dagger to my throat. “Tell them to stop,” he growled in my ear. “Now!”

  I closed my eyes, willing the forest to quiet.

  Please you have to be quiet! You have to stop! If he kills me, the whole earth dies!

  After a moment the noise died down.

  No! Do not give up cherie! We area so close. Jock will save you!

  “Jock no!” I screamed as his little dove body flew into Malcolms startled face. His tiny bird feet clawed at Malcolm’s skin, his wings flapped wildly. Malcolm cried out in pain and he dropped me to gab Jock. He struggled for a moment, but finally tore the bird off of him with a vicious yank that left three longs scratch marks on both of Malcolm’s cheeks.

  Jock summersalted through the air and then rechocheted back towards Malcolm aiming for his eyes. At the last second Malcolm sliced through the air with his dagger. ..he was deadly accurate. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I gazed at Jocks tiny little body impaled on the tip of Malcolm’s knife. Blood ran down the blade like a tiny stream. Then Malcolm flicked his blade and Jock’s body hit the dirty ground with a thud.

  Little bird… Tears slid down my cheeks as I dropped to my knees and bent to pick up his little body. I cupped him gently in my palms. Half of his beautiful feathers were coated in warm red blood. His little eyes were glassy and lifeless. No more life energy emanating from his shell. He wasn’t there anymore. Jock was gone.

  “Your animal friends can't save you Raina.” Malcolm snarled. Then he wiped the blood off on his tunic before sliding the knife back in his belt. His eyes glared down at me. “Get back in the wagon,” he growled. “ we're moving out!”

  My heart ached so bad it was difficult to breathe. Gently, I lowered Jocks body back to the grass.

  “Good bye… friend,” I whispered. I needed something to remember him by, so I gently and carefully pulled out three white feathers, one for each of us. Then I crawled back into the wagon and huddled in on myself. I had never known pain could run this deep. That it could seer deep down into your bones.

  At least Jade was able to escape… I scanned the tree line where all four men now lay lifeless in the dirt, but she was nowhere to be seen.

  It didn't take long for camp to pack up. As the caravan rumbled out I looked back to see Jade’s lithe form following behind.

  You didn’t think I was really going to leave you behind. Did you?

  Jade no! Don't follow me!

  Why? Jade paused for a moment and I could see the confusion in her eyes. I can save you Raina.

  I don't want anyone else to die trying to save me.

  But I'm not some two inch bird. I'm a panther. I will kill him! Her growl echoed inside my head.

  But what if you don't? What if he kills you?

  I'm coming Raina…

  No! Don't! He'll kill you Jade.

  I don't care…

  I do! I don't want to feel your death too. This pain is already too much. Go back to your cubs...they need you….

  What about you? She retorted still following the caravan.

  He won't kill me. He needs me. If he kills you, no one will teach your cubs to hunt. They will die Jade. Please, I don't want more deaths on my conscience.

  Raina-

  Go! I demanded. Go back to your baby's Jade. Please!

  Jade went silent for a moment. When her voice came again it was tinged with sadness and regret.

  Good bye Raina. Don'
t forget what I told you about the balance. Sometimes things need to die, so others can live.

  I remember. I whispered and then she was gone, and I was truly alone.

  Allowed my tears to stream freely down my cheeks. I really didn’t care who saw. As the wagon rattled it’s way along the path through the forest, everything flew by me in a blurr. I wasn’t really there, consciously anyway. My eyes glazed over because I wasn’t seeing the world anymore. I was seeing my friends. Picturing how they looked the first time I met them. Jade had admittedly been a little scary, but so very cool. Jock, Jock had been warm hearted and so filled with life.

  And now he’s gone…

  My body was so numb, from too many emotions raging inside me, I had to struggle to make my fingers functions. It took forever, but I finally managed to weave Jocks feathers through my green-black hair. The white tips caught the sun light and scent sparkles dancing along the feather.

  Goodbye Jock… Goodbye Jade... I’ll miss you...

  Chapter Twelve

  Painful Bonds

  On the sixth day the trees faded gradually away until the landscape opened up to what looked like a large bowl. The rim of the bowl was the forest that grew around around the enclosure in a full circle. In the very center, a large mountain rose up into the gray morning light. It's base was circular and it rose steadily into a point at the top. All around it grew a vast field of wildflowers that stretched all the way to the tree line. They were all sorts of beautiful colors. Red, yellow, pink, purple, blue, white the colors just went on and on. Normally such a sight would have filled me with great joy and peace, but right then it only filled me with sadness and regret.

  All those flowers are going to die… Just like Jock died… all for some wretched gold.

  “We’re here,” I announced my voice cracked from non- usage. The caravan pulled to stop at the base of the mountain.

  “Where?” Malcolm barked pulling his stallion up to the wagon. He dismounted and stalked up to me.

  “There,” I nodded towards the base of the mountain, and watched that same greed filled his eyes as they followed my directions.