Here is the next chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 7
"Well, we found the meadow I dreamt of. I wonder where we should go next?" Celeste asked her companions after they've traveled for a while, pushing through what seemed to be endless bushes. As if hearing her words, a pathway suddenly cleared.
"Looks like this is it? Perhaps I should have asked sooner?" Celeste said with relief. She was wondering why Veera was leading them to all these places. Why not just lead them straight to her cottage? And when they get there, will she have answers for all the questions that are milling around in her mind?
Tawny was pestering Calaelen by jumping on his back and then quickly pulling herself up branches or vines when he tried to nip her. Celeste called her, noticing Calaelen's snort of agitation.
"You shouldn't do that, Tawny! Naughty girl!" Celeste said, as the strange cat purched on her shoulder in its unusual way, curling its tail around Celeste's neck, purring. She tickled Tawny behind the ears a bit.
"I wish we could reach the cottage already," Celeste complained after they've traveled for several hours. She was tired. Even Calaelen's head was drooping slightly. The pathway just seem to twist and turn forever. So many times Celeste was hopeful of seeing the cottage around the next corner, but instead just another section of pathway and bushes greeted them. She heard many strange and sometimes terrifying sounds as they went. Having the black horse with her, no other creatures had tried to catch or eat her again so far. She was at least thankful for that. Also to have the horse's company. She felt safe. And she had to admit that she somehow became fond of the horse, even with its strangeness.
They came to a halt when the pathway dissapeared into a wall of very prickly woody vine growing in tangled masses having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of shiny black berries. There was no way around it.
Celeste sat down on a grassy patch nearby. Calaelen joined her, and she had to grab the naughty cat to prevent it from scampering up his back again. The kitten had too much energy for its own good. Tawny changed her mind, and decided she wanted to explore the nearby stones. Celeste let her go.
When she looked at Calaelen, she noticed something shiny in his mane. It was barely visible between the tangles and twigs and whatever else was there. Curiosity got the better of her.
"There is something in your mane...may I?" she asked the horse, who had been observing her quietly, like it usually did when they rested. It nodded its head slightly.
She discovered a fine chain with a pendant hanging form it, braided into his mane. It looked the same as the one she had since she was born.
"Where…dit you get this?" she asked the horse, and wish it could talk. She wondered what it meant that they both had it? The pendant was a small green gemstone, shaped like a teardrop. Celeste had been told that hers was a gift from her father the day she was born. Perhaps she was dreaming after all, and her mind was playing tricks on her?
Just then they heard a terribly shriek. It came from somewhere inside the briars.
"Tawny!"
Celeste quickly made her way to the wall, and tried to push some of the branches aside. Instead of being pricked by the torns as she did so, it all just gave way, like mist. She lost her balance, there being nothing to lean against and tumbled forward into it. At once she was lost in a world of swirling mist. She called out to Tawny and Calaelen, but couldn't make out where they were answering from. Everything was confusing. She walked in the direction she thought she should go to get out. Then the mist formed into a landscape. She recognised it. Home! She almost shouted for joy, when she noticed her mom standing with a little girl next to her. She was wearing black, and she was crying. She remembered…when her father's body was found. Her mother mourned for weeks. Those were dark days. As a little girl she couldn't understand why her father wasn't coming home. Feelings of terrible gloom, sadness and guilt wanted to overwhelm her.
"No! It wasn't my fault!" she yelled. Later when she was older, she believed that it was somehow her fault. She couldn't explain why. She turned and ran away.
The landscape became mist again, swirling around her. Then it took shape again. She saw a carriage lying on its side next to a road. Burning. She remembered her dream. Then she noticed the armoured men fighting. Someone shouted at her to run. Again she saw the man with long black hair. He was coming for her with a sword in his hand.
"No!" she yelled, running away again. This time the man was shouting for her to stop, that he wouldn't hurt her, almost pleading with her. She couldn't see him clearly when she looked back. The mist were settling in again, but she heard the footfalls. She kept walking carefully, not wanting to trip as the mist got thicker. Then she noticed the footfalls doubled…it sounded like a horse… The neigh confirmed her suspicion. The mist thinned slightly.
"Calaelen!" she cried, and threw her arms around the horse's neck. The horse was trembling. A pathetic moan made her aware of Tawny sitting on Calaelen's back. She too was shaking like she'd just seen the devil. He horse nudged her towards his back. It lowered itself so that she could get up. Then slowly he made his way through the mist. No new landscapes formed, but there were whispers all around them. Some accusing, some pleading, some mocking. Celeste couldn't understand most of it. Then, suddenly they stepped out of the mist. It was already dusk, and would be dark soon. It was wonderful to draw in the late evening air, and to be able to see clearly. Behind them stood the wall of briars. They continued up the pathway that was seemingly waiting for them, until they were well away from the briar wall.
They found a good resting place with some trees. Tawny got all excited, and quickly disappeared up in the branches. After a while she came back with her paws or rather hands, full of nuts. She cracked one open and ate it, purring loudly. Then she offered the rest to us, before going up the tree again. She brought several more 'hand-fulls'. The shells were not as hard as ordinary nuts, which made it easy for Celeste to break it open. She broke some open for Calaelen as well. It wasn't a proper meal, but it was good to at least eat something.
"Tonight I will keep watch so you can rest," she told Calaelen as she sat down next to him. At first it looked like he wanted to protest, but then laid his head down and closed his eyes. Celeste sat listening to the night sounds. Later the horse's breathing deepened, and she knew it was asleep. As she looked up at the night sky, she saw a shooting star.
"I wish…I wish that mama is allright," she thought.
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