| Subject: Chapter 6 |
Author:
Demora
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 22:48:00 09/20/02 Fri
In reply to:
Demora
's message, "Chapter 5" on 22:46:19 09/20/02 Fri
Chapter 6
As the days and weeks passed, Kiyum began being a bit of her old self again. Granted, she wasn't as cheery as she was, but she did gain back a little of her bounce. Kiyum never did tell the others about her past. Whenever she was asked, she would just smile and shake her head, saying, "It's not worth telling,” or “I don't want to ruin your good cheer."
Vermin encounters were few and far in between. Kiyum, Derry, and Vernan usually took care of them. Kiyum was very happy in her new home, and she put the past behind herself. The squirrel maid knew she had a family right here. Pecan was like a mother to her, and Oren like a father. Derry was like a big sister, with Vernan as an Uncle. Kiyum thought she would live here like this forever.
One day in spring, Kiyum and Pecan were tending their little herb garden, which stood to the side of the cave. Kiyum was gently patting the earth down on a seed while Pecan was fetching water from a stream. The kindly vole came trundling up the path, lugging a bucket of water behind her. Kiyum skipped down the path and took the bucket. "Here Pecan, I'll take it."
Pecan smiled. "Now there's a good dear. This water was getting awfully heavy." Kiyum was almost to the garden when she tripped on an exposed root and went flying, bucket and all. Pecan rushed over and helped the muddy squirrel maid up. Kiyum spat dirt from her mouth and smiled. "I'm all right Pecan. I'll just go and get some more water." The vole fiddled with her apron strings. "All right Kiyum. I'll plant the rest of these seeds."
Kiyum strolled down the path, gazing at the beauty of Mossflower. Birds sang and flittered from tree to tree, and a butterfly flew by in front of her. She sighed with contentment, happy to be alive on such a day. Kiyum whistled a tune, swinging her bucket as she watched, totally carefree.
But when Kiyum reached the stream, she suddenly got an uneasy feeling. A shadow had been cast over her day, yet the sun still shone. She filled her bucket and began walking back. The squirrel maid noticed that the birds had stopped singing. She quickened her pace. Kiyum kept going faster and faster, and by the time she was back, she was running.
Pecan wasn't at the garden. Kiyum thought nothing of it, until she saw that the soft earth in it had been trampled. On closer inspection, she saw the footpawprints of a large number and varity of vermin! Kiyum dropped the bucket and ran into the cave. Her heart stopped for a moment when she saw.
All of the furniture had been smashed. Vernan and Derry were dead. Pecan was nowhere to be seen, and at first, neither was Oren. A movement caught Kiyum's attention, and she saw the old otter trying to raise himself up. She rushed to his side as he collapsed with a gasp of pain. The squirrelmaid cradled Oren's head in her lap, tears running unchecked down her face. The otter groaned and blinked. "Kiyum, so many vermin. Derry and Vernan, I fought all I could. Took the food...smashed everything else. One in charge...big stoat." Oren's eyes misted over and his head lolled back.
Kiyum inspected Derry and Vernan. From what she could see, they had fought until they could fight no more. Derry still gripped the splintered handle of her dagger tightly in her paw. Vernan was holding a chair leg and a candleholder. Kiyum wiped her eyes with the back of her paw. They were all brave beasts.
Kiyum made the cave their tomb. After clearing the wrecked furniture from it, she layed the bodies neatly in. She scattered flowers around it too. After this, she barricaded it with the furniture, rocks, and dirt. Kiyum did this silently, dry-eyed. She was surprised at herself later to find that she coped with this better than the first time.
As before, Kiyum packed her weapon and some food. She would go traveling again, and maybe do something with herself. Maybe she would go to Redwall. She had been there once, when she was very young, but she could hardly remember it at all. But she knew from what others said that it was a place of peace and plenty.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 