Chapter 3

I don't know what urged me to do it, but the next day while Buck and I were walking, I started to talk about my family. And instead of being annoyed and telling me to shut it, he answered kindly and sometimes with humorous responses.

"So what 'bout yer dad and mum? Yer still pretty young, so…" I looked down as I let the tears of pain rise and glaze my emerald eyes. Buck turned, wondering why I hadn't responded. "Wha-? Did I say somethin' wrong?"

I closed my eyes and hugged myself, trying to force all the pain of my guilt to subside. But of course, it didn't. It couldn't and wouldn't ever. I knew it was my fault. If I hadn't been so stupid…

"Sit down…" Buck beckoned to a rock as he sat down on a rock next to it. I sniffed and grit my teeth. "It's all my fault that they're gone…I was playing with my siblings. I was always an adventurous little girl back then…I've changed my ways now though because of that." Buck nodded. "Tell me all 'bout it. I promise you'll feel better afterwards." I nodded.

"It happened when I was about eight. My fifth and last sibling, me being the oldest and sixth, was just born then and our parents, one of them, my mother, being a ferret and my father being a weasel, they were taking care of her. They were nearby so they could get to us if anything happened.

"Me and my older brother Nat, and two sisters Lily and Amy were playing. My siblings didn't know what danger was, so I was surprised when Lily pointed it out. A saber-tooth had been watching us play and was planning to attack. When Lily finally saw it and told me, it was nearly too late! He had already started to charge at us.

"I shouted to them to run because it was dangerous and they did. I screamed for my parents and they found us…but I didn't know that saving us would be the last thing that they would ever do for us. I remember watching the battle, completely horrified. My mother was destroyed first. She was covered in blood and I remember her eyes. They seemed to be staring into nothingness as if they were trying to see but couldn't.

"My father fought and sent the saber-tooth away, but he was too injured for us to be able to save him. He gave me the responsibility of taking care of my siblings and gave me a treasure that I always keep with me."

I took out from beneath the leaf dress, on my chest, a charm necklace with three stones. It was a sapphire in the middle with two jades on either side of it. "It's where my name came from and it was a gift my mother and father made together to show their love. I can never lose it and I will always take care of my siblings. I just hope they're okay now."

Buck stared into my watery green eyes. "I…I'm so sorry. I bet they were amazing, yer parents." I nodded. "They were. I just hope they're in heaven and are happy." Buck smiled. "I'm sure they are happy and proud of you." I looked up and smiled back, wiping my eyes. I looked down at the charm necklace and smiled and I touched each stone with one furry finger. I hugged it to my chest and looked up as I put it away again.

"Are ya ready to get goin' or do ya wan' ta stay here for a bit?" I shrugged. "I think we should get going. I don't want my family to wait for me." Buck nodded and we both got up. I looked ahead and spotted the body of water that must be Death Pond. Why was it called that? I guessed I would soon find out.

We walked on until we reached the edge of the pond. I looked into the water. It was black and I couldn't see what was below the surface. I flinched as a bubble of black goopy stuff came to up. The air that came out smelled disgusting and I covered my nose.

"So why do they call it Death Pond?" I asked, still holding my nose as another bubble came up. Buck smirked. "'Cuz if ya go inta it, you'll die. But there's no way across it except fer one. And ya have ta cross it if ya wanna get ta the other side an' on." I swallowed. "So what's the way to go?"

Buck turned and pointed the right. There was a wooden boat, on its side against a tree, waiting for us. My hands moved to my chest. "We have to take th-that?" He nodded. "Aye! It's the only way! Ya have sailed b'fore haven't ya?" I shivered. I didn't want to do this. But if this was the only way to get to my siblings, I guess I would have to do it.

I walked over and helped Buck lift the semi-heavy boat onto the edge of the water. Inside the boat was a thick, long stick for paddling. I got in first and waited for Buck. He got inside and grabbed the paddle and used it to push us away from land and toward the middle of the pond and to the other side.

It wasn't very long before I heard a weird popping noise. I looked around at the water. A little ways away, a couple bubbles had just surfaced. But those didn't seem too natural like before. Or were none of the bubbles natural. Buck had said that you could die in these waters. But just because we would, did that mean others didn't. Could it be that there were deadly creatures in this pond?

I sat down, trying not to think about it. But that was no use as a low growl erupted from outside the boat. "We better get there fast!" Buck muttered half to me, half to himself. But it was no good trying to get away from whatever made that low growl. We were near the other side when the water began to move unnaturally.

"Take this!" Buck handed me the paddling stick and picked up his knife. "We're 'bout ta be attacked. Ya need ta paddle as best ya can, okay? Don't worry 'bout me! I'll be fine. Jus' keep paddlin' whatever ya do!" I nodded. And began to paddle as hard as I could. Then it happened.

A large black tentacle rose from the depths of the pond and began to attack. I could only paddle as Buck fought bravely against the tentacles. I didn't look at the tentacles as the fight continued. I kept paddling until I heard a gasp and had to turn. I watch horrified and the tentacles grabbed Buck. All I heard was a quick, "Keep going!"

I was afraid but I kept paddling. As soon as I got to the edge, docked, got out, and pushed the boat away from the water, I began to watch, hoping with all my heart that Buck would be okay. After about sixty seconds, I got worried. I looked around and found a vine. I ran and grabbed it and got a long piece, throwing one end into the middle of the pond. I watched it sink. I tied the other end around my waist.

Another ten seconds passed and nothing happened. Tears came to my eyes. I began to shake violently as the tears dropped. But then I felt a tug on the vine. I looked up as whatever it was tugged harder. I gasped and pulled the vine so whatever it was would come towards me. Finally the thing surfaced!

It was Buck!

I nearly screamed as I pulled as hard as I could and brought him to the edge where I pulled him fully onto the shore. I shook him as hard as I could. "Buck!" He was drenched in water and goop and he wasn't breathing; yet he was still holding his knife. But if he wasn't breathing how could he have grabbed the vine and how could he still hold the knife.

I pushed on his stomach and soon water came up out of his mouth. He coughed and opened his one eye and looked at me. "Thanks mate." He said softly. I sniffed and brought him into a tight hug. "I'm so happy you're okay! I thought you were lost! Oh my-! You are so lucky! Thank goodness!" He didn't say anything. I broke away and looked at his stunned face.

"What?" I asked worried. I looked around to see if there was more danger. But there was nothing. I turned back and his expression was a mixture of blank and normal. I looked down at his wet fur. "You're drenched. We need to clean you off!" He was about to protest, but I wasn't going to take that. "NO! You need to clean up. I won't have it! I grew up from age eight, raising my siblings to be nice and clean. Now let's get you dry and not covered in black goop. Is there a stream or anything with clean water around?"

He pointed to a clearing up ahead. I nodded and helped him up. With his knife in one hand and his other arm on my shoulder, I guided him to the clearing and to clean water. It was in fact a stream and no one was around.

First I removed the black goop and then, with his help and with a few more protests, I helped him wash and dry till he was completely clean and had a better appearance. We made camp there and took turns gathering food. When we had finished eating, it was dark. We made a fire and told stories. I hadn't known how he had gotten the knife and what happened to his eye, so I was really excited. It was an exciting story and I couldn't help but be awed by it. He told the story with so much enthusiasm and pride that it would be impossible to fall asleep even if I wanted desperately to or if I hadn't in days.

"An' that's basically the story!" I clapped. "Amazing! Wow! I've never experienced anything like it!" He chuckled. "Probably not…but you should always be alert! You'll have to be around here!" I smiled. He looked at me, his eyes shimmering. He was quite the adventurer and he was definitely nothing like I had ever experienced before…

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