I quietly pad through the dark, lush forest, making no sound. I secretly am very pleased with my ability to be so silent when I want to, but I will never admit to it. Of course, my stealthiness is ruined by the loud crunching and crashing of feet coming from the girl behind me, not to mention the constant stream of words coming from her mouth, my sister's, that is.
"So then she said, Leda, if you come back next free-day, I will teach you the names of the fish by our stream and so that's why I'm excited to go to Ena's house today because she's going to teach me about fish and I love fish and Ena's really smart so she will know all about them and-" I swear, that girl could talk for days and never get tired. I sometimes wonder how in the world she never runs out of things to say, but such is the 7 year old mind of Leda.
"Eli, are we there yet?" Leda suddenly asks and waits for my answer making there a beautiful silence. I ponder whether I should just not answer so the silence can stretch on, but I know she will just ask again.
"Almost there, just around the bend." I answer my deep voice adding a sharp contrast to her high one. Leda continues to chatter, her voice gaining an even more excited tone. I look up at the treetops when there is suddenly a loud crack. Quickly, I grab Leda around the waist and dive to the side of the dirt path landing hard on my shoulder. A large tree branch falls from the sky and makes a large boom, as leaves and birds fly up around it.
There is a startling silence before I hear Leda from under me squeak, "I didn't do it this time, I swear." I look down at her small dirty face seeing that her muddy eyes, my mother's eyes, are filled with tears.
"Hey, it was an accident, probably some squirrels getting into a fist fight." I say while we stand and I dust her off, earning a small smile. I smile back, grabbing her hand, and we continue down the path. Inside, I can't help but be worried. These "accidents" have been happening a lot more lately, and Leda always seems to be around when they do. I know there is no way that Leda could have made that branch fall, but as I look down at her short blond hair, completely tangled and unmanageable, I can't help but wonder.
"Ena! We're here!" Leda yells as she bounds into the small brown cottage situated like an island in the middle of the forest. I smile, and want to run as well as I see a familiar mane of dark hair peak out the door.
"Leda!" Ena shrieks as if she didn't know we were coming. She then proceeds to pick up and swing Leda around in a big bear hug. I laugh at the familiar scene; since they happen to do the same thing every free day. Ena finally puts Leda down and looks up at me. I smile at my best friend, who I have known since Leda was born, and I can't help the small leap in my stomach. It has come on slowly, this feeling. I have known Ena since we were 9, so she was always just a best friend and playmate to me. Then, just about 2 years ago, I seemed to notice how pretty her laugh was, how soft her hair seemed to be, how interesting her ice blue eyes were.
"Make haste Eli! I found an animal's hole just down the path and we're going to watch it!" I hear Ena call from the cottage; jerking me from my thoughts and making me go red as I walk quickly to see what new adventure my girls were planning today.
Ena and Leda lay flat on their stomachs next to me, Leda's expression set and determined as she watches the small hole in the ground in front of them.
I can tell that Leda is dying to squirm and talk, but she is being very good, something she never does for me, but always for Ena. Ena has a small, slight smile on her face, as she always does when she's teaching. From the minute Leda was born, she became Ena's little pupil, hanging on her every word and following her everywhere. Ena loved, still loves, to teach her endless knowledge, and the two of them were always going off into the woods to explore. I, of course, followed blindly because, not only were they my only playmates, but Ena really did make everything fascinating. She could talk forever while watching a small colony of ants, and we would listen like they were the most enthralling creatures, because she made them that. I know Ena is also a natural caretaker, and because Leda and I don't have a mother figure, Ena took over the spot for Leda. On her little adventures, she always tries to impart some sort of important life lesson for Leda. For example, today it was probably patience because of all the waiting around for something to happen. I don't mind though, because I love to be with my girls.
"Ena!" Leda whisper yells at Ena, pointing frantically at the hole. Ena silently puts her finger to her lips as she nods her sharp, ice blue eyes pointed at the ground. I tear my gaze away from Ena, as I realize I had been staring at her for too long, and watch the ground. Suddenly a large snake with dark zigzags slithers out of the hole and towards our little watching party.
"Wow!" I hear from Leda, and I turn to see her face is open in excitement and amazement, as her good patience has paid off.
"Woops!" Ena exclaims as she jumps up and drags Leda back. "Not good. That there is an adder, lucky us we come across the only poisonous snake in Glen. Might as well head home anyways." Ena says looking up at the sky. Seeing the look on Leda's face, she quickly adds, "But of course we'll look for a safe snake another day and maybe we can collect leaves on our way home."
Leda's smile returns as she grabs Ena's hand and starts down the path. I can't help the swooping in my stomach again, this time not for Ena, but for the feeling of family. I love our little group of three, sometimes I wish we could just leave our parents and find a new life; One where Ena didn't have to constantly look after her ailing mother and I didn't have to protect my sister from my father's blows. I sigh as the feeling of euphoria soon leaves and I am stuck with knowing that I have to go back to my house, not my home. Nope, definitely not my home.
"Eli Doons, stop moping and come walk with us!" Ena sternly yells from in front of me on the path. I laugh at the small smile she is trying to hide and hurry to catch up."
I poke Ena in the stomach when I get to her. "Hah! Don't know my middle name do you?"
"Of course I do," she says, her nose stuck in the air. "You don't have one." She looks up at me with a smirk and a twinkle in her icy eyes. She barks a laugh, "You do remember my mother was your mother's midwife, right?"
"And of course I forgot you remember everything!" I laugh again.
"I have a middle name!" Leda pipes up, grabbing my hand so she is now in between Ena and me.
"And a very pretty one at that, Leda Mae." Ena affectionately ruffles Leda's hair.
I suck in a small breath as there is a sharp pain in my chest from Leda's middle name. I quickly let it out again in frustration when I see Ena's cottage come out from around the corner. What was wrong with me? I should be happy for the amount of time I get out of my house. But no matter how many times I tell myself that, I can't help but hope, pray, for something to change. For me to be able to finally go home. And home is when I am with my sister and Ena Ravenclaw.
