Chapter 10
The Forest Owned Her
Isla dove beneath the large fern. Her heart pounded against her chest as she struggled to hide from view. The cool moist ground kissed her cheek, stained her bare feet and knees, and soiled her clothes, but she didn’t notice. She waited here to catch her breath before setting out again for the safety of the great oak.
A bird screeched high above in the canopy of the trees. Eight, nine, ten. Isla slipped from beneath the fern and wove around a boulder in her path. The great oak grew nearby. Her eyes darted left and right, looking for the hunter. If he found her…she shuddered at the thought.
Suddenly, a shadow leapt from the depths of a leafy bush, driving Isla into the soft moss. The two rolled several times before crashing into the trunk of a tree. Isla lay on her back, gasping for breath and realising once again today, she had lost.
Liam lay beside her, wearing a big grin. “That makes two weeks’ worth of oatmeal raisin cookies!”
She laughed and slapped her friend in play. “I’m taking to the trees the next time.” Liam had grown faster, stronger. Alaura said he would, being a boy, but Isla still had a few tricks. It pleased her that his meeme had allowed him to join her and Alaura at Moon Meadow after the session hall closed for the day. Out here in the forest, they ran and played freely without the watchful eyes of adults. At twelve, she didn’t need constant supervision.
“You should be sneakier, less honourable,” said Liam.
“Sneakier, yes, but less honourable is not an option.”
He grinned at her. “At times life, not the person, dictates the level of honour. No use being honourable and dead.” Liam jumped to his feet and put out a hand to help her up. “Let’s cool off in the pool.”
“I’d race you but you’ve had the rest from waiting in the bush.” Isla playfully pulled on his shirt. “You’d win, and I’ve lost enough today.”
The two hauflins had known each other for about seven years, since Bronwyn hired Liam’s meeme, a former teacher, to tutor Isla. Since then they’d become best friends.
They made their way along the thin trail towards the river and their favourite swimming pool. Within minutes, they dove beneath the cool water. After splashing about, chasing an otter and scaring a mother duck, the youths climbed onto the grassy bank to dry.
Isla lay on her side, watching clouds drift by. Her gaze fell upon the calm water of the pool and skipped across the surface to where the shortest of the waterfalls cast rainbows into the air. Beathas’ home grew on a ledge surrounded by several waterfalls of various heights. Green outcrops of ferns, bushes and blossoming trees, that reached out to catch the rising mist, divided the walls of water. A narrow but sturdy bridge joined the jut of land to the forest. If not for the bridge, the journey to Beathas’ would be both wet and dangerous.
Beathas had once said the forest owned her home and by its grace, permitted her to dwell there. Isla believed her. The forest grew around the wooden structure, cradling it in its arms as a meeme would embrace a newborn. At certain times when Isla looked for the cottage, she couldn’t see it; the lush foliage and rich colours that painted the seasons fooled the eyes into believing it didn’t exist. During these times, she found her way from memory, surprised each time she stumbled upon the bridge which seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Isla sighed, closed her eyes and rolled to her back. She felt at home here, nestled in the heat and humidity of the forest. The smell of dampness and green growth filled her pores. If not for returning to Maskil soon, she’d have dozed off. Hearing Liam rustle the grass beside her, she opened one eye. He dug for her leather pouch, the same one Alaura had given her years ago.
“Any cookies left?” He unfastened the clasp and looked inside.
“A few,” she said. Liam always felt hungry these days. I’m a growing boy, he often said when she rolled her eyes at his need for extra food. Isla disagreed. He simply loved oatmeal raisin cookies.
“What’s this?” Liam pulled a small leather-bound book from the pouch and read the title, “A Trail of Hope.”
“Alaura gave it to me.”
“What’s it about?”
“This girl gets lost in the forest, and all she has to mark her trail are the pages from the book she’s reading.”
“Sounds silly.” Liam found the sack of cookies. Only two remained. He lifted the secret flap on the bottom of the pouch to see if Isla had hidden any there. None—only the special stones she took everywhere.
“Actually, it’s pretty good. There are dragons, pixies and crazy brownies in the water. I’m at the part where she has only one page left. She can’t decide if she should use it to mark her trail or carry it with her.”
“Why would she carry it with her?”
“She thinks there may be an important spot further along the trail where she could use it. She also thinks since it’s the last page she should keep it; it’s the only thing to remind her of home and the book she loves.”
“Is anyone following her trail?” Liam finished the first cookie and started on the second.
“Her das and older brother.”
“Then why doesn’t she go back and pick up all the pages. Eventually, she’d find them.”
“But she doesn’t know they’re following.” Isla put out her hand. “Can I have the last bite?”
Liam took a long hard look at the small chunk of cookie then placed it in her hand. “If you need it. You know, I’m a growing boy.” He leant in close to watch her pop it into her mouth.
Isla smirked and ruffled his hair. “You know I’d do the same for you.”
He smiled wide. “Even if you were starving?”
She nodded and watched his gaze sweep across her face. He was a handsome boy, and she knew he thought her to be beautiful though she believed otherwise. He’d let his secret slip one day after he had tackled her in the snow. All the same, she wouldn’t tell what she thought of him.
Liam rolled to his belly and propped himself up on his elbows. He pulled two thick blades of grass from their roots and tried to make a horn sound by blowing on them while pressed between his thumbs.
Isla watched. His most recent challenge included grass blowing. Last week, whistling with two fingers pressed against his tongue had been his obsession. He failed at it, too. The deep blue stone swinging from his neck reflected sunlight into her face. Isla had fashioned a necklace from the translucent cube years earlier. Since then, Liam always wore it.
After Isla heard enough raucous sounds from the grass, she sat up and gathered her things. “We should return to the cottage. Alaura will be looking for us.”
Liam stood. “Are you coming again tomorrow?”
“No. Alaura won’t be able to bring me.” Isla made her way along the edge of the pool towards Beathas’ cottage. “But I’ll be here all the next day. Ask your meeme if you can come, too.”
“I will.” Liam followed her through the undergrowth along the water’s edge. “Do you think Alaura will let us ride Clover?”
“I’m sure she will.” As long as they stayed within the perimeter of Beathas’ covert they remained safe. Though Beathas had never explained, Isla knew forces other than the breath of nature made the wind chimes hanging near her cottage door sing. She believed they alerted Beathas to approaching danger.
Isla climbed the ridge until she could go no further by herself. Liam hoisted her up to the next level. Once there, she pulled up him.
Before long the hauflins crossed the wooden bridge to Beathas’ dwelling. The cottage, speckled with dandelion yellow, lilac purple and rose red hues, blended in with the blooming foliage surrounding it. The warming season neared and every plant wore its formal attire.
Alaura looked up from the basket of herbs on her lap when she heard them approach. “Goodness, look at you both! Did you roll in mud?”
Isla and Liam grinned. Although they appeared in their usual state after a day at Moon Meadow, Alaura seemed surprised. Isla guessed adults had to express such
thoughts this way.
“Go put on fresh clothes. If I take you home looking like this, your parents will never let you come again.” Alaura shook her head as she watched the hauflins enter the cottage.