Je Suis Prest – Brom
It wasn't dark but it was going to be soon. And it had started to rain. Fred sat huddled under a bush for shelter. Pat, pat, patter, pat played in his ears as the rain hit the leaves above his head. He was wet. He did'na mind rain though he liked snow better. He liked to throw balls of snow at his da's coo's. His big brother Rabbie taught him how to do it. He smiled.
The light was just disappearing. He would have to start for home soon. He was suppose to be in before dark. He did no think he could get home before the light was gone, even on his bike, pedaling as fast as he could. He fed the puppy more of his sandwich as it whimpered and wiggled inside his shirt. Puppy was as hungry as he was. They would share his food and then he would go home. Take the puppy home to Thispod and have supper.
Suddenly there was a bright light, like the sky was on fire. He hunkered down, afraid, folding himself around the puppy, protecting him. Then he counted, like Jane had taught him... One, Two, Three, Four and then a huge BOOM, reminding him of when Father Brown had fired the pistol at the clouds to start the running race at the fair. Tomas did'na win, Duncan did. He smiled again.
He needed to leave. He fed the puppy the last bit of the meat and bread then tucked him tightly into his shirt and buttoned his jacket. He started to crawl out from the bush when the Roaring began. Again. Someone was coming. The stones did not roar unless someone was visiting. He ducked back in and crouched down in the bush again. Hidden. Frog always ribbit to hide when stones screamed. Fred should only be seen at stones by frog. Danger, frog had ribbit.
"Shush, Brom. No woof. Stranger come. Must no ken we here. Shush." The puppy instantly stilled.
Fred watched the stone, the one in the middle with the crack. The door. The one people came out of. The one frog used tonight. Before the rain came. Frog brought him Brom then left. "Watch Jam fer me" frog ribbit and handed him the small ball of brown and black fur. Brom keep Fred safe and to remember to watch wuff. Wuffbed. He needed to help keep chair safe, though frog did no ribbit which chair. His da's, Fred supposed. It was the biggest. No one sat in it but his da.
He pulled the hood up over his head, pulled the string tight and tied it. Only his nose and eyes showed out the small hole that was left. He did'na like the Roar. Loud. He could'na cover his ears. He needed to hold his belly. Keep Brom safe. He would. Wuffbed. The water from the rain was running off his hood, wetting his face. Water in his eyes, he could'na see. With one hand holding the puppy, he used the other to wipe his eyes. One blink nothing. The next blink there was a big, tall man. Bigger than Mr. MacLeod, the man that came to ThisPod and cut the coo's toenails. Fred liked him. He always brought Fred a sweet and sometimes he let Fred help catch the coo's.
Suddenly the stones stopped screaming. Fred only heard the sound of the rain. No Roar only Pat, Pat, Patter, Pat. He looked up.
The Giant man walked a few steps from the stone and stopped, sniffing the air. He immediately turned and looked directly at Fred, still cowering in the bushes. Silent.
Fred stopped breathing as the man raised his face to sniffed the air again, tracking the unknown scent. His yellow, searching eyes seemed to find him in the faded light, almost as if the man could see him through the brush. Or rather, smell him. The man took a step toward Fred's hiding place, the yellow eyes never wavering from the boy's location.
Fear prevented Fred from bolting.
Suddenly a deer bounded out from behind Fred, leeping completely over the bush and coming between the man and boy. Fred's view was momentarily blocked, only the red deer could be seen. It's antlers sharp and threatening, prepared to fight. The large buck paused and smelled the air, much as the man had, as it's red furred skin rippled with the danger it sensed. The buck turned an ear to Fred, stamped it's foot in a command to stay, then, bounded away. Away from the path. Away from the road. Into the woods. The man turned and took a couple of steps, to follow the deer, when he suddenly stopped and looked back at the bush and Fred. He smelled the air once more. Fred wiped the water from his eyes and when he looked again, there was a wolf, a large black wolf snarling at him. A mouth full of menacing teeth.
"Fred?" A voice called out from the down the path. "Fred? 'Tis Father Brown and ye brother Rabbie. Are ye up here? We found ye bicycle on the side of the road. What do ye think ye are do'n up here at this hour? Come on down 'oot of this rain and we'll take ye home, lad... Fred?" He heard the noise of people making their way up the path.
The wolf turned toward the path, his lip curled, exposing a large cainine. The noise the black beast made was more than just a growl... a more foreboding noise was never made.
Fred placed his hand on the ground to steady himself. What to do? RUN. Tell Rabbie and Father Brown. Wuffbed. He wiped the water from his eyes once more, just in time to see the wuff turn and leave the stone to chase after the deer. His yellow eyes did not look back. His movement made no sound.
Fred jumped up from the bush. "WUFF! Wuff, Rabbie. RUN! Fast, Father Brown." He cried as he hurried down the path right into Father Brown. "Home" he stuttered. "Thispod, mam, Jane, pea's." Fred pleaded as he pushed away from Father Brown and lept into his brother Rabbie's chest, burying his face in his brother's neck.
"Aye! Fred, what's up? Somethi'n scare ye? Are ye alright?" He asked as he adjusted Fred to rest at his waist and tightened his grip on his baby brother. What was he do'n all the way out here at the Fae Stones and on a night like this? Good thing his mam had called Annie, told them Fred was missing and where to look. He'd have never thought to come up here to find him. Lucky too that Father Brown was visit'n and had stayed for tea. Annie only had the one vehicle and her husband used it to drive to work every day. Without the Father's truck, they'd have had no way to get up here.
There was a sudden movement, squirming, between them. "What injured beast do ye have tucked in ye shirt now Fred? Is that why ye all the way out here? Save'n fae are ye?" and he laughed, turned and walked back down the hill to the truck. "'Tis a good thing Father Brown was here Fred, or ye'd be stuck ride'n ye bicycle home in the rain."
With one hand Rabbie lowered the trucks tailgate and set Fred down on it. He put Fred's bicycle in the back of the truck and then wrapped Fred in the blanket Father Brown handed him.
"Sack" Fred demanded as he leaned back in his brothers arms and tried to grab an old flour sack that had fallen from the bike's basket when Rabbie had placed it in the truck.
"I got it, ye squirm worm" and he grab it as he carried his brother, moving chest and all, to the truck door. Father Brown opened the door and Fred climbed into the truck cab, scrambling to the middle of the bench seat. Rabbie slipped in beside him and closed the door as Father Brown walked around to the driver's side of the truck and climbed in behind the wheel.
"Alright Fred, lets see what pur creature you've gone and rescued now, aye?" Rabbie requested. "Ye do'na have enough helpless animals at home already?"
A "Woof, woof" was heard as Fred's chest was a sudden flurry of movement.
Both Rabbie and Father Brown just stared as Fred's chest came alive. Fred just smiled. He untied the string and pushed his hood from his face. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his jacket and the puppy's face came bursting out and started to lick Fred. "Yes, Brom. Happy we safe too." he said as he petted his new friend.
"Now what in the world de ye have there, Fred?" Ask Rabbie, as he reached out to scratch the puppy's head.
"Brom. 'Tis mine frog ribbit." and Fred nodded his heid.
Rabbie laughed. "You and yer critters, Fred..."
"Frog eh?" Father Brown said as he started the truck, pulled off the shoulder and onto the road. "Ye best hope yer mam and da say he can stay then, since the frog ribbit."
Both Father Brown and Rabbie laughed.
As the truck pulled away, Fred looked passed his brother and out the window at the wuff, standing on the path watching them drive away. At his feet, Fred could see the large mound of the red buck. It's antlers not longer sharp and threatening. Fred could swear the black wuff was smiling.
"What in the world are ye doing way out here by Craig na Dun, Fred?" The Father turned and looked at Fred, worry etched on his face. " 'Tis a bad night fer ye to be so far from home. How did ye mam ken ye were all the way up here, any'hoo?"
Fred opened the brown sack he placed on the floor of the truck before climbing in. Father Brown looked and inside lay four beautiful speckled trout, all of fairly good size.
"Ye come all this way to catch fish, Fred?"
"Special for mam. Friday Fish." the boy said with an aire of angelicness.
"Well, Fred. They must be somethi'n special at that. Come all this way and it be rain'n 'n all. Guess it was divine providence I was here te visit ye sister Annie. Ye'd been half drown'd if ye tried to ride yer bicycle all the way home." and he tossled Fred's hair. "I guess I ken what The Macvey's are hav'n for their supper tonight." he said and smiled at Fred. "De ye suppose yer mam will ask me to stay as well? I sure like fish for Friday night supper too."
And Rabbie started to whistle Sing'in in the Rain as the truck drove down the road toward home.
Through molten golden eyes, the black wolf watched the truck carrying the boy, drive away. It tipped his head back and let loose a Howl. Long. Throaty. Deep. He would take the stag back into the brush and feast. He sunk his teeth into the freshly caught buck, it quivered and kicked weakly as he dragged it away.