Escape From Hindmirror Village

--Escape from Hindmirror Village ___

-a novel collaborative-

Escape From Hindmirror Village 13-year old Ketzal crept into the bedroom she shared with her older sister Lisa, taking care to be quiet. It was very late, probably around four in the morning, and the sun was already starting to rise. She had been out late, walking around her small village and enjoying the nighttime. This was something she did frequently; she preferred the night to the day. It was calm and quiet, whereas the day was loud and busy.

Ketzal used the very small amount of light coming through the window to look at herself in the mirror and giggled softly at her eyes. Most people's eyes would be tired looking at four in the morning but her bright green eyes were lit up happily, no sign of fatigue anywhere.

She turned away from the mirror and, without bothering to comb it, pulled her waist length copper hair into a low ponytail, tying it with a white ribbon. She changed into a bland, white nightgown and crawled into bed.

Just moments after she had gotten into bed, she heard faint shouts. Her eyes flew open and she saw the silhouette of her sister sitting up.

"Ketzal?" Lisa whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Do you hear that?"

"What is it?" Ketzal asked as a response.

"I don't know," said Lisa. She swung out of bed. "Let's ask Mother and Father." Ketzal got out of bed and followed her sister to their parents' bedroom. Before they could open the door, it flew open and their parents, Martha and Jack, were standing there, looking frightened. "What's going on?" Lisa asked.

"The witch burnings," Martha said.

"There are no witches here," Lisa said, looking puzzled.

"They say that anyone with green eyes is a witch because the color is so uncommon," Jack said. Martha and Lisa had blue eyes but Ketzal had inherited her green eyes from her father. Men weren't considered witches, but Ketzal could be captured. She felt a wave of nausea and fear.

"They kill everyone in town too," Martha said, looking slightly green.

"They say that the townspeople are guilty of protecting the witches."

"That's...." Ketzal couldn't think of a good word.

"Horrible, I know," Martha said. "We must try to escape. Don't bother changing. Just get a coat. We must run. Now." By the time Ketzal, Lisa, and their parents made it outside, it was chaos. Townspeople were running around, armed men were capturing them, screams were everywhere, and torches were being dropped carelessly, starting fires. Instinctively, Ketzal turned and started to run. People, fire, and even some pools of blood, were everywhere.

As she turned a corner, a soldier grabbed her. He looked into her eyes and then looked triumphant.

"This one's a witch!" he shouted.

"Let-go-of-me!" Ketzal screamed, struggling to get free. A fist came out of nowhere and the soldier holding her crumpled to the ground. The fist belonged to a friend of Lisa's. "Thanks," Ketzal said. She didn't wait for an answer and continued to run. She finally reached the edges of town but didn't stop until she had sprinted up the tall hill for a full five minutes. She stopped where it leveled out and tried to catch her breath as she looked down on her town in the valley. It was lit up: fires were now burning everywhere. She heard screams, even as far up as she was.

Ketzal realized that not many people could possibly escape from this.

There was only a very slim chance that her own family would survive, let alone anyone else. She fell to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest in a fetal position, suddenly shaking with sobs.

Her family was unquestionably gone.

She noticed a figure running swiftly out of the lit up town with something in his arms. A soldier, no doubt, carrying something harmful. She stood and, trying to stay balanced, hurried into the forest behind her. She only went a few feet before realizing that any soldier could probably catch her if she stayed on the ground.

She looked behind her quickly and then pulled herself onto the lowest branch of a tree. She climbed up thirteen branches nimbly and quickly, waiting for the soldier to pass under her.

The figure she had seen came up over the top of the hill and started into the forest at a slow, cautious walk.

"Hello?" it said. "Is someone up here?" Ketzal noticed the attire of the boy at the same time that he placed the thing he was carrying on the ground.

What she had assumed to be a weapon was actually a girl about five years old. They were both wearing sleeping attire and looked very frightened.

Ketzal climbed down the branches and jumped softly in front of them.

Almost in the same second as the girl started to scream, the boy clapped a hand over her mouth.

"It's a girl!" he said. "Not a soldier." He took his hand away from the girl's mouth and peered at Ketzal. "Who are you?"

"I’m Ketzal. Who are you?"

"Will. This is my sister Sally," he said. "My parents told me to take her and run. I thought I saw someone up here."

"Yes, I escaped," Ketzal said. "My parents and sister are still down there though, I assume."

"My parents and older brother are too," said Will.

"Are they going to die?" Sally asked, her bottom lip trembling. Will and Ketzal exchanged a quick glance, though they barely knew each other.

"No, Sally," Will finally said. "They're not going to die."

“How do you know?” she whined.

“Just trust me they’re not going to die. In the end this will all blow over and we’ll be a happy family again,” Will said this in a surely voice, but he didn’t know what would happen. He was scared too.

“Hey guys, do you want to come up here, it’s safer to be hidden,” Ketzal tried to be optimistic.

“No we better be going,” Will started to turn around.

“Where are you, going to go?” Ketzal questioned him.

“Home.”

“Remember you don’t have a house now. Where your house used to be, there are many soldiers burning our family and friends. Do you really want to go back there? I don’t mean to scare you but look at the reality of it.”

“C’mon Will I really want to go up in the tree,” Sally whined in her obnoxious high-pitched voice. Before he could even think about what she was asking she had started up the tree, swinging her featherweight body on the branches.

“Sally, get back down here right now,” Will called. He was careful to not make too much noise in fear that soldiers would find them. Sally didn’t even consider going back down and she kept on climbing until she reached a

nice solid branch a little ways higher than where Ketzal was positioned.

Finally Will gave up hopes that she would come down and had no other choice than to climb up the tree and catch her.

“Good choice,” Ketzal remarked as she watched in awe as he easily flung himself up the tree. He gracefully grabbed one branch by the next completely oblivious to the fact that Ketzal was watching every move he made. To her disappointment he continued on a couple branches above her instead of stopping on the branch beside hers.

“So what part of town did you live?” Will easily started a conversation.

“Umm. We lived on the North side up by the crops.”

“Oh, so you were farmers?”

“Yah we were. What about your family? Where did you live?”

“We lived on the East side of town, you know by some of the markets.

My dad is a merchant so it made sense to live there, instead in a prettier part of town.’’

“What did your dad sell?”

“Well really all sorts of things but mainly jewelry and decorations.”

Ketzal could see where this was headed. How they were rich and she was poor. So she decided to change subjects.

“So what do you think about these witch burnings? Aren’t they just stupid?”

“In my opinion if we lose all of those poor women with green eyes and the soldiers leave us away than I would be quite content. In fact all of those women with the green eyes should have just gave themselves up so they wouldn’t have to put us through all this torture.” Ketzal was shocked at his response and made sure to cover her eyes.

“Will, can I climb higher?” Sally whined. He didn’t hear her as he was focused on the view towards the village. “Will!” she screamed, this time.

“Sally you can’t yell. You’re going to get us all killed if you’re not careful.” Will whispered.

All of a sudden there was a rustle in the bushes.

“I thought I heard a voice over here,” said a fat soldier in uniform.

“Didn’t hear a thing,” said another tall skinny man with a ponytail.

They were both dressed in the traditional red uniform with a loaded gun on their back.

“Well I think we should rest here and make sure there are no villagers hanging out in these woods,” decided the fat one was all red in the face.

“Good with me, I could use a break too.” Ketzal slowly kept creeping up the tree. Branch by branch she slowly made her way up. She would check the branch first to make sure it was okay to put her weight on and then would step. Then she got off balance and lost her balance. She was hanging by her hands. The only reason they couldn’t see her was because it was still dawn and they were hidden under the leaves of the trees.

“What was that?” The fat one stood up.

“Relax Pete. If someone was here they try to run, then I would catch them.”

“Bill I just have a sense that someone is watching us. I just have that instinct feeling. You know?”

“I know what you’re talking about but really haven’t we killed enough people already?”

Sally had started to cry and had tears streaming down her face. Will gave her a glance, telling her that if she blew it they would be headed for the fires too.

“I just heard something again. Didn’t you?” The skinny one shook his head. “Bill you must be deaf. It was loud and clear, a sniffle of a child.

Wanna bet that there is a witch around here hiding her baby? I can sense.”

“Pete would you relax? Don’t you already feel sorry for the people we’ve killed and lives we’ve destroyed.”

“Nope. Each person I kill, the happier I become.” The children were frozen with terror by this point. There was a little reassurance the skinny guy would be able to talk Pete out of killing them, if they were found, but it sounded like once Pete wanted to kill you he was going to kill you.

“Pete I’m going with or without you. I’ve had enough of this silly stalking. See you later.”

“C’mon Bill we’re a team you can’t quit,” and he waddled to catch up to Bill.

“Close call,” mumbled Ketzal. Will still wasn’t satisfied that they were gone so he motioned for her to be silent. Finally after a while, Will spoke.

“So James how’d you escape?”

“Who’s James,” Ketzal blurted out.

‘Oh. That would be me,” a boy on the other side of the tree waved his hand.

To Ketzal’s great embarrassment she nearly lost her footing on the sturdy branch that she was clinging onto again. She had already had enough near death experiences for one day and she certainly didn’t want anymore.

“What, did I scare you?” The boy that Ketzal assumed to be James laughed in a not-too-kind way. Her cheeks flamed red and she felt a strong surge of sorrow as she thought back to her kind, loving family who had just that night been tragically taken from her.

“Well, Will, When I heard them coming I woke up my family and shot out of that door. I didn’t wait for them, not even when I heard them calling for me. How could I have done so? I knew that if I didn’t leave the area soon I would be captured and killed! I wish I could save them now but at least I’m alive and for now safe.” The boy James answered, looking down. His voice had never cracked in sadness once, and as he stood there on his branch it almost seemed impossible to Ketzal that he ever had felt pain. Will sighed, and a dreadful silence went about them as they heard the screams back down in their village slowly die away. Their homes, right at that very moment, were being destroyed at the hands of soldiers and fire.

We’ll save them, won’t we Will? We have to save them. Will, save Mama and Papa!” Sally cried out in her little, ringing voice.

“Stop it!” Will yelled, for once loosing his temper with his little sister whom he had sworn to protect. Before Sally could react they heard the softest crack of a booted foot breaking twigs.

“I know your there, and don’t try to hide it. You won’t deceive me this time. I’m prepared, and you better not even think of running. There’s no hope for you now. This time you will die at the hands at either my sword or tied up to the stack, burning in fire!” They children recognized the ruff, cruel whine of the soldier, Pete, who had almost discovered them only a few minutes before now.

James cleared his throat. “Yes, yes. You have found us, but please, let me talk first. Hear me out!” James jumped out of his place in the tree. It was easy for both Ketzal and Will to see what was going on, but Sally was unable to see because of a large branch in front of her face. There were around

twenty soldiers surrounding them, and their chances did not look good.

“Yes, what is it? Be quick.” The head soldier said gruffly.

“I’d just like to say that we are but children and there are no witches among us, so…” James motioned to Will and soon both he and his friend were standing in front of the soldier.

“Oh, I don’t have time for this! Get them!” Pete ordered his fellow soldiers. The armed men advanced forwards and the four kids found an escape.

Ketzal lifted Sally into her arms and flung herself out of the tree, landed daintily on her feet. Will swung around and pushed himself, Ketzal behind him, through an opening between the soldiers. This all happened in a matter of mere seconds, and then they were running. James, who had already gotten through, took off through the forest. The one thing skipping in the children’s minds was that they had to run fast, away from the soldiers, and far away from their village.

The soldiers were close behind them, but they were weighed down with weapons and couldn’t sprint like their escapees could. They were grunting with the effort to run and keep up with children they were after, but the distance between them was opening up, and the large group of soldiers was having trouble navigating through the trees.

Sally, now in Will’s arms, slowed them down, and the fact that all of them were growing tired. The only thing that kept them moving was the fact that if they stopped they would be killed. If they kept going, there was hope of survival.

Then, just as the thought of giving up reached their minds, light shown through the tree branches.

In front of them the ground fell away into a cavernous ravine, sloping sharply down to a rushing stream. James, the fastest and farthest ahead of the group, skidded to a halt, his feet slipping dangerously close to the edge.

Ketzal jerked around and looked backwards. Will looked close to dropping Sally, and the soldiers thundering behind them. Soon, the officers would see them. They had to do something, now. Ketzal’s mind raced, searching for some way to get out of sight of the soldiers. But they were trapped, pinned against a sheer cliff…

Ketzal ran to the precipice and swung her feet over the side.

“Are you nuts?” James asked, wide eyed with shock.

“We have to get out of sight!” Ketzal hissed back. James glanced incredulously back to Will, who nodded in agreement.

Ketzal went first, her feet slipping down the bare rock. Sharp outcroppings scratched at her pristine nightgown, lacing it with streaks of red blood from scrapes. She hugged the cliff face tightly anyways. Debris scattered her from above as Will, James and Sally descended after her.

Ketzal looked down and saw a rocky ledge protruding from the main face.

She stared at it and judged the distance, determining how far they had to go.

She was just lowering her foot to the next hold when the moss covering it slipped under her weight.

The roots were not very strong, and the plant crumbled away. Ketzal swung wildly, trying not to look down. She clambered to catch a grip as the gray rock skidded past, but all she got was a bruised hand and nicked forefinger. Sweat coursed on her still remaining hand, coating it with a sticky sheen. Her stomach clenched as her last few fingers lost their grip.

She felt a weightless sensation coming over her. She was falling…falling… falling…

Will grabbed her wrist and yanked it up. She dangled from his single hand, but he wasn’t letting go. She clawed at the overhang until her still-sweaty fingers found purchase around a young sapling.

Slowly, more carefully this time, she picked her way down to the ledge she had first seen. Dropping down to it on all fours, she rubbed her fingers, numb and tense with stress. Ketzal glanced up and saw that the ledge she had landed on wasn’t just a ledge. A gaping cave loomed widely in front of her. Ketzal stared at if for a few seconds before Will fell beside her. He reached up to help Sally and James down.

But before Sally’s feet had even touched the ground, shouts started to issue from above. Snapping her eyes back into focus, Ketzal and the others dived for the cave and drew back as far as they could. Above them, someone yelled, “They must have gone this way!” They held their breath and waited for the unmistakable clunks and scrapes of the soldiers descending the bluff

to reach their ears.

But it never came.

Eventually, the footsteps receded, fading off into the distance. Ketzal let out her breath and then coughed again as the sudden movement in the air stirred up a cloud of dust. The cave smelled of dirt, musty droppings and rancid meat, all laced with decaying foliage. Ketzal covered her nose with the neckline of her nightgown and tried not to breath much. They weren’t the only users of the cave, it seemed.

Cautiously, they snuck back out to the mouth of the cave, where daylight made things more visible. They all slumped down on the floor of the cavern to catch their breath, their hearts still pounding. Ketzal gazed at Will in awe. He had saved her. He had saved them all. Ketzal kept watching as he ran his hands through his hair, trying to think. His brow furrowed a little, then he stood up and said, “Okay, I know what we’re going to do.”

“First of all,” he explained, “We don’t even know if the town is even still standing. The soldiers could have done anything to it. And if they did destroy it, we’ll have to have somewhere to come back to. I suggest this cave. It’s high above most predators, there’s cold water at the bottom, it has a roof and it’s dry, so we can build a fire, and it’s close to the village.”

“Yes”, smirked James, “But it smells so bad. Imagine trying to sleep in there!” Sally wrinkled up her nose in agreement.”

“We’ll have to make due with it, I guess.” replied Will. “Unless, of course, you have some brilliant place that you’re just dying to show us.” James mumbled a low, “No,” and scratched in the dirt with his shoe.

“That’s what I thought.” Will said. “We better start setting up and gathering stuff,” he continued, “If we want this place to be at all livable by tonight.”

It took many trips back and forth from the cave to the available bit of woods to gather enough supplies to last the night. Halfway through, Will got grumpy and disagreeable, and when James tried to talk some sense into him, Will exploded.

“Here I am, tiring myself out just for you, and you think I will be fine listening to you complain about my company? Well, if you’d rather go hang out with the soldiers, be my guest. Just don’t come running back to me when they tell you they are leaving for who knows where!” With that, he stomped off to sit alone in the darkest part of the cave.

James rolled his eyes at Ketzal, then shrugged and said “, He always gets like this. Don’t take it personally.” He grinned at her, and she returned his smile half-heartedly.

Another day passed, then another. Will’s foul mood vanished for small periods of time, and then returned at the blink of an eye. After the first night, which was wet and cold, Ketzal began to imagine a steaming pot of soup, and a nice feather bed. Her fantasies never lasted long, and in a few hours, she would find herself forcing down the atrocious concoction that James had cooked on a small campfire. Usually, their meals consisted of wild mushrooms, some meat, and a few wilted greens. All too soon, the four kids found themselves bickering relentlessly. It was about noon on the third day, and the sun was high in the sky. Ketzal and Sally had finally given up hope that James would start being more creative about their food, and decided to take over the cooking. That was just fine with James, who sat back against the wall of the cave and dozed off.

Ketzal stood up slowly, and stretched her back. She felt around the cave for any leftover scraps, and, finding nothing, left the small confines of the cave.

The day was hot and humid, and the dark sky promised rain. Ketzal climbed into a sturdy tree, and looked east, toward the soldier’s camp. The children had kept a keen eye on the soldiers, and they had not moved their camp. In fact, they weren’t even sure that any of the soldiers had moved at all except to switch a position. Ketzal noted no change in the appearance of the camp. She climbed back down the tree, and began searching for edible plants. When she finally returned to the cave, Will was in an amiable mood, playing tic-tac-toe in the dirt with Sally. Ketzal sighed, and walked resignedly over to the campfire that Will had started an hour before. It was still burning brightly, so Ketzal set the pot on the stone floor. She walked over to Will, hoping with all her heart that his good mood would last.

“Will,” she asked tentatively, “can I borrow your pocketknife?”

“What do you need my pocketknife for?” he asked, curious.

“To stab James in his sleep.” Ketzal joked.

“No, really, why do you need it?” Will asked, searching her face for an answer. His dark eyes glistened with expectancy.

Ketzal found it hard to speak. When she finally found her voice, Ketzal explained her idea.

“Well, it’s been a little while since I had a descent meal, so I thought I might make a small meal,” Ketzal said resignedly, emphasizing the last word. Will looked confused.

“But where will you get the supplies,” he inquired. Ketzal sighed with relief. Will’s good mood had lasted.

“Oh, I have my ways.” Ketzal smiled her special smile that she usually reserved for her sister’s birthday. Ketzal pushed the distressing image of Lisa’s big, blue, frightened eyes out of her head. It wasn’t the time to be thinking about that now.

Ketzal’s hands worked quickly, chopping the leafy greens into small pieces. James had caught a few rabbits the day before, so she added some of the meat to the meal. The whole production must have taken about an hour, and by the time she was done, the skin on Ketzal’s hands were raw and dry.

She divided the portions evenly then called for Will, Sally, and James. They came quickly, eager to discover the source of the delicious scents that had drifted to them from the fire. The four children ate in silence, devouring the food within minutes.

When they were all finished, James lay back against the cave wall and gave a deep sigh of contentment. Rubbing his belly, he dozed off once more into peaceful slumber, only to be woken seconds later by an extremely annoyed Will.

“What? Can't a man get a moment to sleep?” asked James, also getting annoyed.

“Not when there's stuff to do," replied Will. "You’ve been sleeping all day.”

“Well, it didn’t seem to bother you before,” James explained. Ketzal took Sally’s hand and started to lead her away from the two arguing boys. They played a game with some

sticks for a couple minutes. When Ketzal finally looked up, Will and James were both on their feet, and Will looked murderous.

“Ketzal,” he suddenly ordered, “clean up lunch.”

“Don’t order her around, too,” James spat at Will.

“James, calm down,” Ketzal said calmly. “Will, you too.

Now listen to me, both of you. There is no need to get mad at each other yet.” Will was about to object, but Ketzal held up her hands to stop him.

“Let me finish,” she ordered. “Will, you need to be more patient with all of us if we are ever going to survive out here.

We are all trying our best to cope with our displeasure right now. I think Sally and I would have to agree with James on this one. He’s right; you need to calm down and try to compromise.”

“What are you, my mother?” mumbled Will, glaring furiously at Ketzal, who stared back into his deep, brown eyes.

“No, but seeing as I’m a witch, you’d better not argue with me,” Ketzal declared.

Will gasped in astonishment. Apparently, she had done a good job disguising her eyes. Will was speechless. When Will finally found his voice, it was full of disloyalty and repulsion.

“Why are you here? Why did you not turn yourself in and save us all from your evil deeds?”

“Do you really believe that nonsense? I have never done any magic in my life, nor do I worship Satan,” Ketzal said, offended.

“Why do you always side with James? It’s not fair.”

“Because he has a point.”

“I do too!” Will objected.

“If that’s what you want to think, then that’s fine with me. Just remember what I said before.” Ketzal reminded him.

“Maybe once you think that over, you will see what I mean.

Why I know that what you are saying is wrong,” Ketzal finished. Then, she stalked off toward the back of cave toward Sally, who was just sitting there, looking cross at being

abandoned. Ketzal hoped she hadn’t caught the gist of the conversation.

“Yeah, Will. Quit being a grumpy pants,” she said loudly, pouting. So she had been listening. Ketzal supposed that it was hard not to hear the conversation.

Will, looking murderous again, plopped down on the cave floor where he was, and put his head in his hands. He was shaking hard. Ketzal couldn’t tell if it was from anger, tears, or a combination of both. She looked away. Ketzal was suddenly shivering, too. Will saw her shivers, and threw his jacket at her.

She acknowledged his kindness with a nod, and curled up under the jacket. Ketzal could feel eyes boring into the back of her head, so she looked back at Will.

She recoiled immediately from the glare and the waves of hostility that seemed to emanate from him. His glare was piercing, but pained at the same time.

As Ketzal watched, a single tear escaped from one of his eyes, and made a watery track down the side of his face. This single tear was followed by many more. Ketzal looked away out of respect.

It was a few hours later that she woke, unaware that she had ever fallen asleep. She sat up, listening carefully for any small sound that Sally had woken too, but Sally wasn’t beside her. She was still sleeping beside Will. Outside, the sky was dark.

Rain was pouring down relentlessly, and the nearby river was rushing along at a furious pace. A slight snuffling caught her attention, and, looking around found the source. Sally had sat up, waking up Will in the effort. Will whispered soothing words to her, and kissed the top of her head. James snorted, and Ketzal realized that the rain had woken him too. Silence fell, and continued for many more minutes. Finally, Sally’s breathing evened out, and she was asleep again.

Ketzal watched Will carefully, hoping that James wouldn't catch her looking. Will looked tired and worn out, like an old scarf that had been worn much too many times. He was still angry with her, she could tell, but he had a kind of brightness to him, even now. Ketzal had noticed that his eyes were a deep, dark chocolate brown, a color she had never seen before. All of her family had either blue or green eyes, and she had only been into the village center twice.

The thing that had caught Ketzal’s attention was Will's hair. It was dark brown, like his eyes. It was slightly wavy, and its length was such that it could brush the bottom of his ears. In the light, Will’s hair seemed to gleam and shine like a pool of sunlight glinting off of freshly fallen snow, or a beam of light reflecting off of a shiny, new, copper pot.

Ketzal decided that he was perfect in every way. Not only was he strikingly handsome, but he also took care of Sally with the most love that Ketzal thought she had ever seen. Ketzal imagined him with the rest of his family, laughing and playing around. Maybe he even wrestled with his older brother sometimes. Ketzal’s fantasies ended when Sally barreled into her from behind, to demand a drink of water.

As she poured the water for Sally, Ketzal peeked once more at Will. She saw again his gorgeous features, and sighed deeply. It would take a while, but he would warm up to her eventually. At least she hoped he would. Ketzal couldn’t predict the future, but of one fact she was certain; she was positively, absolutely, unquestionably in love with Will.

A growl came from the outside Will and James looked everywhere but could not find the beast that could have snarled.

Quick glances shot around the cave everyone moved further down into the cave. Ketzel noticed that James didn't speak didn't moved just sat there curled in a ball she actually thought he seemed scared she moved over and he just seemed to ignore her. Ketzel open her mouth to speak but instead kept the silence.

Everyone drifted off and through the day they slept waking for moments at a time but for the first time they slept, slept to the best of their ability.

The next morning, Sally woke up to the sound of birds singing. She wandered towards the small path. As she walked the sounds of the creek and the sound of the trees whooshing made her feel at home. Home, she thought.

She thought of ma and papa looking for the lost kids. A tear slipped past her cheek. How long were they going to stay out here?

Something startled her. But she almost forgot about the strange noise because the sights of big, wild blueberries made her frown go away. They smelled so fresh that it made her mouth water. She ran as fast as she could to go tell the others. A large tree root caught on her boot and she tripped.

Blood trickled down her fore head as Sally tried to push herself off the

ground. Sally sat there helpless and tired. Hoping Will would come to the rescue. Eventually she started falling asleep.

Back at the camp Ketzal and James woke up and found Sally gone.

They rushed to the path. The tall trees passed them as they took steps closer.

Breathing deeper as they got more near to Sally.

“There’s Sally! I see her!” James yelled to Ketzal. He bent over to examine the cut, “Its not to bad. I think she might be sleeping. I’ll carry her back to camp.”

Ketzal didn’t know what to say. “Oh, yeah and why don’t you look for some breakfast. You’re the woman aren’t you?” James challenged.

“Just get her back to camp. And get Sally cleaned up.” She replied.

The forest seemed to have gotten bigger as Ketzal walked along the narrow path leading to the wild blueberries. She got angry thinking about the fight with James and Will. She thought about the night the solders attacked.

About leaving her family and friends.

Will came into sight. Then James and Sally with three huge baskets.

“We are almost to the blueberries!” she heard Sally yell excitedly.

It was silent as they picked the blueberries from the big bush.

As the four of them calmly plucked the blueberries from the brush: ignoring whether they were ripe or not, bruised or swollen, or if they had any defection of any kind, the strange noise that had sounded earlier reoccurred.

As Sally jumped, startled, she bumped into Ketzal, who, while falling, managed to spill part of the bushel of berries.

Will started screaming. The other three weren’t sure whether it was the sleepless nights, all of the emotional tension, or the fact that his patience with others had been stretched so thin, that he could snap at any moment.

James, who was used to this outburst, listened more carefully to the noise. It was getting closer, and as it did, it became more distinct. It sounded now as a rustle, like the very noise they were making themselves, but further off.

James motioned to Ketzal and Will to stop bickering and to come closely.

When Ketzal turned around her anger turned to panic. She now heard the rumbling to, but what disturbed her most was that she could only see James and Will. Where was Sally? Frantically, she turned around in a circle yelling Sally’s name. After she came to a halt, James motioned her to be silent.

Calmly, Will led them towards the rustling, with Ketzal in the rear.

A few minutes passed and they were coming closer to the noise. Will stopped, cocked his head to one side, and listened. The voices were low and muffled, but familiar.

“Don’t you hear something Bill? It sounds like a giggle of laughter, mixed with sadness.” Ketzal gasped.

“Honestly Pete, I think this killing stuff has gotten to you. A giggle, with sadness? C’mon, that’s not reasonable. You’re hallucinating.” Bill chuckled.

“I guess you’re right Bill…wait there it is again. I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m following it.” He stormed off.

“C’mon Pete, were a team. You can’t go. You’re just mad about the children escaping…Pete, Pete wait for me.”

As Bill scampered off, a realization hit Ketzal.

“It’s Sally,” She screamed, “they’re going after Sally.” She tore off deeper into the forest, leaving the others no choice but to follow.

As Will ran he thought, why are we always looking after Sally?

When the two soldiers came in sight Ketzal slowed. When will and James approached, she held a finger over her lips initiating silence. As the three crept closer, something appeared out of the corner of James’ eye. It was a little girl, with her face and hands all covered in blueberry. James motioned for Ketzal and Will to come closer, and as they did, they two realized what James had seen. Ketzal tried to scream, but Will covered her mouth which allowed only a muffled shriek.

Pete turned around.

“What was that,” he asked?

“What was what? A giggle of laughter, with a trickle of sadness,” replied Bill?

Tired of the backtalk, Pete bludgeoned the back of Bill’s head. Bill responded by cuffing Pete on the ear.

“Owwww!” Pete screamed as he went for Bill’s stomach. As the pair was fighting Will, Ketzal and James slithered closer and closer until Sally was just a few feet away. Will spoke up, “I’ll grab Sally, and we’ll scamper to that tall tree over there. the one with the gash at the trunk.” James piped up, “You mean the Sycamore?”

“Whatever,” replied Will, rolling his eyes. “On three, one, two, thr–… as Will was about to issue the command, a gruff voice behind them growled “Three.”

Pete grabbed the scruff of Wills neck while Bill taped Keztal and James’ mouths shut with his hands.

In a desperate attempt of escape Ketzal bit down on Bill’s hand, “Ouchhh! She bit me!” Said Bill Ketzal, Will, James and Sally all ran as fast as they could but Pete and Bill were not far behind. Will was in front darting past trees and maneuvering past bushes; Bill and Pete were luckily not as quick on their feet as these four children. Ketzal looked back to see how far ahead they were, while she was not paying attention she tripped on a root sprawling onto the ground! Will veered around and grabbed Ketzal and sprinted away from the soldiers.

Ketzal’s leg got cut open on a rock when she tripped over the root, making it very hard to keep up with the rest of them. She couldn’t help it, she had to say something about her leg, “Guys, I hurt my leg pretty bad back there! I can’t keep up anymore!” Will ran back and lifted her up and sprinted away. Yet again Will saved Ketzal from the soldiers, making Ketzel even more attracted to Will. The soldiers were closing in on them and Ketzal slowed them down. Pete was furious at Bill he yelled, “Good job Bill! Now because of you we are chasing a bunch of kids through the woods!”

“Sorry Pete! Now pick up the pace instead of yelling at me!”

Fortunately Bill and Pete had fallen behind Ketzal, Will, Sally and James and now they were safe, but they had no camp, no food and no water. They would have to start over and this time, they would need to be much more cautious…

After a few more minutes of running, the children slowed to a brisk walk. The sounds of Pete and Bills’ arguing was now far behind them, and they were not in any immediate danger. Now their only problem was to find a hidden spot where they could hide. It was a pity that they had to leave the old cave, but soldiers were sure to be

patrolling it, making sure the children didn’t return. They kept walking, looking for a place where they could rest easy, without fear of discovery.

Suddenly James heard a crash, and Sally screamed. He looked Back to see one of Sally’s small legs sticking up out of some brush at the base of a large rock. Will laid down Ketzel, while he and James rushed over to pull Sally out. They grabbed her flailing leg and, with a mighty tug, pulled her out. Sally’s face was smudged with dirt, but she was otherwise fine. While Will made sure she was okay, James leaned over were Sally had fallen and examined it. Pushing aside the bush, he saw an opening in the ground, large enough for someone to crawl into.

That must have been what Sally had fallen into. Out of curiosity, James picked up a rock about half the size of his fist and threw it into the hole. Surprisingly it didn’t make the short smack he had expected, but a long, hollow note reverberated out of the cave. James straightened up, shocked.

“Hey guys, I think this hole goes deeper, it sounds really big,” he said. The rest of the group crowded around him, intrigued.

“Maybe it’s big enough for us to stay in,” observed Ketzel, from her place on the ground.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” said James. “Who’s going in?”

“Noseys!” shouted Sally. Will, who had been looking into the hole, spun around to find the three other children with their fingers pressed firmly against their noses.

“I hate noseys,” he muttered as he turned back to face the cave.

He got down on his stomach and began to crawl into the darkness.

Once he passed the bush he slid about five feet down onto a gravely floor. Looking around, he found that it wasn’t as dark as he’d expected.

A crack in the ceiling dropped a ray of light into the cave, illuminating a circular room about ten feet across and six high. The floor was amazingly flat, and when the bush that blocked them from view was put into place, the entrance was practically invisible.

“Come on down guys!” Will called up to the others. “This is amazing!” Soon Ketzel, Sally, and James came sliding into Wills view.

With sounds of awe, they examined their new home.

“It’s perfect Will,” cried Ketzel, looking at him as if he were made of gold.

The children settled in quickly. It was perfect for them. To further their joy, Sally found a stream running less than a quarter of a mile away, while James discovered a massive deposit of dead trees, whose branches burned like they had been soaked in oil. They didn’t need to worry about the smoke, either, because it merely trickled past the bush and out of the entry way. Will helped them by stripping moss from boulders and laying it on the floor to imitate a fairly comfortable bed.

All of this meant that they could go to bed, clean and refreshed on a soft bed, with a fire blazing between them. That night they went to sleep without one thought of Bill or Pete, and slept the best they had in a long time.

Will awoke to the sound of scratching up above him. He guest it was just a small rat or mouse. Just to make sure he woke the others. He clambered out of the small opening in the sealing of the small cave.

When he had fully gotten out of the hole he turned around to see a little bear cub scratching the side of a cliff with its miniscule claw. Will’s first thought was ahh that’s so cute, but then he thought if there is a cub there must be a mother. By that time Sally, Ketzel and James were out of the hole and looking at the little bear cub. Sally looked up at Will and asked “Will can I go and pet it” Of course Will being a protecting brother and all said “No. It could be dangerous” “But Will…”and that’s all Sally had time to say when a giant grizzly bear jumped out of the tree above them and knocked over Sally with its gigantic claw. Will exploded with anger at the sight of his sister getting hurt and pulled out his knife in a matter of seconds.

Ketzel acting quickly grabbed Sally and started for the little entrance of the cave. But right as she was going to jump into the hole the bear grabbed the two of them and threw them over the nearby cliff.

Will Screamed “NO” and ran towards the edge of the cliff and almost

fell off himself. He looked over to see Sally and Ketzel riding on a giant bird type creature. It appeared to be a falcon but it had a rounded beak like a puffin. It also had the feet of a white tiger. Its wings were longer than a small sapling is tall. It flapped once and landed on the top of the cliff. To Will’s astonishment the creature started to talk to him. It said, ”I will help to rid you of this great beast that has bothered you this day.” At that the creature sprang into the air at the now charging bear.

They slammed into each other, but the bird like creature came out with the bear in its claws. The creature flew very high up and dropped the bear on its head and it died immediately. Then the creature landed next to them. It had suffered no injuries.