A/N - One thats a little longer...read it!
the Labyrinth
Chapter 6
Kip woke and found himself surrounded by sleeping beasts. He was curled up beside his mare, who was awake and watching the two stallions as they walked calmly around. Her hooves were set carefully away from his head, which was resting on her shoulder. None of the others were moving very much and Kip couldn't see them very well from where he was. The leader came back shortly, chirping brightly. Colours burst into Kip's head as the whole heard woke, their coats and feathers catching the sunlight. He covered his eyes for a second, to get used to the blurs. When he opened them again, his mare was looking at him worriedly. Kip smiled and got up so that she could rise.
"It's alright, I'm just not used to it yet."
The leader came up to him with a questioning look on his face. He motioned for Kip to follow him. Kip did and the leader led him to a dark spot. Kip felt around. The walls were much farther away now. He kept going. The path split into two other paths. Kip stopped and went back to the leader.
"There's a fork in the road. Which way are we going?" The leader looked down at Kip and shrugged. "Oh good. So it's up to me to decide." He went back to the fork and stood for a minute. The leader watched Kip closely and waited patiently for him. The herd was grazing behind him, the mare watching Kip as well. Finally after a long while Kip came back.
"Well, would you rather go into a swamp or a open area, more specifically a field?" The leader looked down at Kip, who stood beside him grinning. "I can smell it. I would rather go to the field but if you want to go to the swamp then I suppose we part now." The leader made that coughing noise. The other two stallions looked over in alarm. The leader stallion nodded his head one way, the field way.
"Okay then", said Kip and went back to the waiting herd with him. The mare looked at him with concern in her eyes.
"It's alright, we're going to a field." Her eyes brightened up when she heard this. Kip walked beside her for a while as they went down the path. He started to understand what Yhame had told him, to be strong and that the labyrinth would test him in every way. Kip found himself second-guessing himself as they walked. But then he'd smell the earthy, rugged smell of the ground.
Kip liked his new friends. They were very pleasant to travel with, and nice to talk to. He told the mare, and occasionally one or two of the stallions, about his trip. When he finished about that, he talked about his life, his family and where he lived. Kip was wondering if he was talking too much but whenever he looked around, all of the creatures were listening. Sometime after noon, about suppertime again, the young ones started to get fidgety again. The stallion took them up; the mare went this time as well. Kip stayed on ground with the other young stallion. Kip walked along with the impressive beast, looking at the blurred colours of him. As he traveled on, Kip noticed that he was able, even if barely, he was able to see other things, like the walls or the path in front of him. It was all very dark though and he couldn't depend on it to help him at all.
Soon after the herd had flown up, one of the older mares came back down. She spoke with the stallion for a minute then flew back up to the herd. Kip looked to the stallion. The animal was motioning for him to come closer. He pointed his nose ahead and flared his large nostrils. Kip got the idea and stayed close, not making any noise, every nerve on end.
The walls made a crazy arc away from them, revealing the massive expanse of rolling hills covered in grass. The stallion slowed his walk and kept his senses alert, head held high and eyes bright. Kip felt very small in contrast.
Nothing was there to harm them and the creature eased the tension a bit by snorting playfully and walking a little freer. The herd wasn't in sight but Kip knew that they'd show up soon. He and the stallion climbed up a small hill and had a look at the area. Kip couldn't see much further than his feet but he did what the Mystic told him to do and opened his mind. He let his senses flood information into his head, the smells and sounds, the feel of the cool breeze in his face.
The stallion turned and looked at Kip. "Do you need to go and get them now or something?" Kip asked. The beast nodded, looking somewhat concerned. Kip smiled. "Don't worry, I'll lie low." The horse/hawk seemed satisfied with this and took off, the effect blowing Kip flat on the ground. He stayed there, listening to the stallion as he flew away. Then Kip heard something else. Quiet but still noticeable. Footsteps, muffled by the long grass.
"Ho there! Are you alright?"
Kip sat up, facing the voice that was at the bottom of the hill. "Yes, I'm fine."
The man came up the hill and helped Kip to stand. "I thought you might be dead, after that Horwk flew away…my name's Lea." The man stuck out a hand. Kip reached for it, almost missed and shook it.
"Mine's Kip." They didn't say anything for an awkward minute. "I'm sorry but you're the first actual person I've seen so far since I've been in here", Kip said.
Lea grinned, "Really? That's probably a good thing actually. Here, come to my cabin, it's getting dark out." Just as they started down the hill there was a terrifying scream from above and the mare landed between Lea and Kip. The stallion landed soon after her behind Kip, teeth bared and ears back. The mare was equally as frightening. Lea didn't even pause as he pulled out an arrow and aimed at the mare.
"No! Stop, don't shoot!" Kip yelled and threw himself between the Horwks and Lea.
Lea lowered his bow, grinning. "Friends of yours? Well I would love to be introduced."
The two Horwks had also lowered their defences and were looking from Kip to Lea. Kip turned to them first. "This is Lea. He doesn't mean any harm to you or me, he was just inviting me back to his cabin for the night…" Kip turned to Lea and smiled.
"These are…well I don't really know their names. I just call her the mare and him the leader. I don't know where the rest of the herd went – "
Lea guffawed. "There's a herd of them! Amazing!" Just then, the leader stallion raised his head and gave a long, low whistle. The reply came almost immediately and the whole herd, led by the other two stallions came gliding through the air, landing not far from them. Lea stood in awe of the beasts as they came up to Kip, giving him affectionate nudges and nips. A few of the bolder ones went to see who Lea was. The man stood perfectly still as one of the older ones looked at him in the face. He smiled.
"These are truly fascinating creatures are they not Kip?" The Horwks all looked very smug then.
"And I truly would love to stay here all night with them but the nightime here brings dangerous things and we'd best go to my home." He paused. "You Horwks could come as well. It's a very nice little place, set beside a small river, lots of hunting to be done…" The two younger stallions looked to their leader who was looking right back at Lea. He gave a nod and the whole herd was off, half jumping half flying. Kip walked with Lea and the mare.
"I don't mean to be rude but I notice something different in you Kip."
"How could you guess?"
"In the way you move, it's more fluid and sure of what you're doing, except for things that you can't hear…"
Kip glanced over at him. He couldn't yet see more details like with the still blurry Horwks but there was a shape there. "Yes, I'm blind."
Lea grinned to himself. "Ahh… I was wondering. I knew a blind person once." Their conversation stopped there until they reached Lea's house. It was a cozy little place nestled in a glen, the forest behind it. They walked down the slope to it. Kip could smell the wood fire that was burning. Some of the Horwks in the herd started to hunt the mice in the tall meadow grass. Lea and Kip left them alone for the night and went inside. Lea put some new logs on the fire and moved about, getting something to eat ready.
"I hope that you're hungry there Kip."
"Oh yes thank you." Kip sat himself in a chair that faced the window. He gazed through it to the darkening land outside. He couldn't see too much though, the occasional Horwk bounding by, the light fading away.
"So what's your story Kip? You seem a pretty interesting person." He sat at the seat across the table from Kip, placing a mug of hot tea close to his hand.
Kip felt the warmth against the back of his hand. "The evil sorcerer stole someone I care for."
"Care for? I think you more than care for this person…she doesn't happen to have long blonde hair? Oh how stupid of me! I mean does she have long hair? Soft skin, fair voice?"
"You've seen Ellen! When? Where?"
"Not four days ago. She was with him, not looking very happy."
Kip sat for a minute, stunned. Then he jumped up. "I must leave, I have to go after them." He tripped over a stool and caught himself on the edge of the table.
"Whoa there friend! You can go nowhere without some food and rest." Lea went over to him and helped him up. "You will also be needing some help I think. I will come with you."
Kip knew that he needed help to get through the labyrinth. He swallowed his pride and smiled at his new friend. "Alright then. As soon as we can tomorrow morning."
Lea grinned and smacked Kip on the back. "Right on my friend. I've always wanted to go through the labyrinth."
"Why haven't you?" asked Kip as he sat back down.
Lea moved about the cottage, getting things ready. "Well I haven't ever really had a reason to, except my own curiosity. That alone took me around this huge field." He paused for a second. "You should get some rest Kip, it's a lot of walking. Here, use my bed for now."
"But what about you?"
Lea grinned. "I'm way too exited to sleep now! And if I do tire, a will just sit in one of my very comfy chairs."