Chapter 25: A Kind Stranger
Ducky felt her hope return in wave that brought warmth to all her body. Her mother was still alive. She kept on repeating that thought in her head as if it was the only thing that prevented her mother from dying. "Perhaps she could be saved" thought Ducky hopefully.
She walked beside the old Swimmer who was carrying her mother on his back, he was straining with the effort of holding her up but they still made fair progress.
"Where are we going?" asked Ducky curiously.
The old Swimmer stopped, panting with exhaustion and he turned to her "We are going to a my nesting site" he said.
Ducky nodded and continued to follow the Swimmer. Soon after a short walk they sighted the Big Water. While Ducky had seen the ocean before she was always amazed by the sheer vastness of it whenever she came to it's shores. The Swimmers walked along the shore. Ducky waded in the shallow water and let the waves bring cool water over her body. It felt very refreshing to her but if only her mother could join in with her. Ducky sniffed and looked down at the thought.
The old Swimmer noticed this "Hey now, we'll have none of that" he said in a resolved voice "Your mother will be fine and that I promise you little one".
Ducky nodded and continued the trek along the shore until the Swimmer's came to a large cliff and the shore became covered with smooth rock. Ducky followed the older Swimmer as he climbed up a small path that turned into an opening in the rocky wall. She then entered a large cave that was bathed in moonlight from the entrance and a small hole in the ceiling. Ducky observed a small nest in the centre of the cave and inside was a baby Swimmer, a girl with the same colouration as herself was sleeping in a bed of leaves that lay scattered on the bottom of the nest but upon arrival of her, Sura and the old Swimmer, she woke up.
The baby squealed in excitement at the new comers, she wagged her tail, but did not get up. She evidently could not walk yet which implied that she was only a few days old. The old Swimmer placed Sura down at the cave wall and inspected her injuries. Ducky spotted a small spring with a ground star plant growing next to it. She wondered over to it and took deep sips of the cool refreshing water.
The kind old Swimmer came up to her. "I think that I can stop the bleeding but the rest will be up to your mother dear" he said. "Now eat up it's late and your are tired and hungry. I must go and fetch some herbs for your mother so I will be gone for a while and if you want to know the hatchling's name is Jane".
Ducky nodded and started munching on some of the ground stars while the old Swimmer left the cave. She ate a lot of food due to the exertion that the days events had on her. Jane watched her curiously from the nest. She gave a small squeal when Ducky went to grab more food. Ducky turned to Jane. She saw that the baby was looking eagerly at the ground stars.
She held up a ground star "Do you want one?" she asked. But the baby did not really understand what she said but she held out her arms to the ground star. Ducky walked to the nest with a few ground stars and shared her dinner with Jane. The two ate in silence. Jane was looking at Ducky curiously, she touched her hand. Ducky knew that Jane was just a Hatchling and was hence very curious about her new world. Jane turned her head to Sura.
She pointed to Sura then to Ducky and said "mama?" curiously.
Ducky, thanks to the experience she had in understanding Spike and baby language that she had once shared with her siblings, knew that Jane was asking if the Swimmer was indeed the mother of this new young Swimmer that had stumbled into the cave. Ducky nodded. She looked at her mother and sighed, looking sad.
"My mom is hurt" she said sadly.
Jane looked sympathetic, she may not of understood what Ducky had said but she understood that Ducky was feeling sad from her expression and body language. So she embraced her in a loving hug as if it was the cure to all ills. Ducky gladly returned the hug.
Ducky pointed to herself and said her name to Jane.
"D...D...Du...Du...Duck...Ducky?" asked Jane slowly as she tried to pronounce Ducky's name properly.
Ducky nodded and smiled. Jane grinned, she had met her first friend.
Just at that moment the old Swimmer entered the cave carrying lots of different plants in his arms which he laid down beside Sura. He smiled when he glanced at Ducky with Jane.
"Looks like you've made a friend dear" he chuckled.
"Will that stuff help" asked Ducky, pointing at the pile of plants.
"It will dear, it will help heal her wounds and prevent infection the rest will be up to your mother" he said and he began crushing several herbs onto some plants which he then used to clean Sura's wounds. Then he mashed up lots of different herbs together and poured the mash onto a few large leafs which he used to bind the wounded areas tightly. Lastly he smudged the remaining herb onto his hands then cupped them. He then proceeded to fill his cupped hands with water from the spring and then pour the mixture into Sura's mouth.
"There" he said when he finished. "Now all we can do is wait and hope".
Ducky sighed and raised herself and was about to exit the nest when Jane gave a sad cry as she started to leave. Ducky looked back and saw the tears in Jane's eyes. Ducky laid down beside Jane and put a comforting hand on her back. The baby Swimmer smiled and curled herself up beside Ducky's belly and fell asleep, as if Ducky was her mother. Ducky smiled lovingly at the cute little Swimmer, now asleep beside her. She was amazed at how much trust Jane put in her when they had only just met. She curled her tail around the baby Swimmer, who was no bigger then her thigh.
"She really likes you" commented the old Swimmer "Jane is luckier then most".
"Are you her father?" asked Ducky.
"No I am not, I'm her Uncle. Her family was killed by Sharpteeth a day after she had hatched and for the next three days she was alone until I found her and took her here, where she has been for two days now". said the old Swimmer.
Ducky looked at the baby Swimmer in shock. She had lost her family to Sharpteeth and somehow managed to survive three days in the wilderness. Just like her when she was separated from her family in the Great Earthshake. Ducky sighed sadly. "That is sad it is it is" she said mournfully.
The old Swimmer nodded then addressed her again. "But what are you doing out here alone?" he asked Ducky.
"We came from The Great Valley" said Ducky.
"The Great Valley huh? I haven't been there for a very long time. But that makes me wonder even more about what you guys are doing way out here in The Mysterious Beyond and without a herd" said the old Swimmer thoughtfully.
"Mama and I left the Valley to find a Swimmer who has survived The Trial of Destiny. I do not remember the name though" replied Ducky, shaking her head as she unsuccessfully tried to recall the name of the Swimmer that they were searching for.
The old Swimmer's face took up a grim frown. "So Sculra is still making the poor younglings take that Trial" said the old Swimmer in a low voice.
"I do not like the elder Swimmer nope nope nope" said Ducky shaking her head vigorously "She hurt me she did she did".
"She hurt you!?" asked the old Swimmer in astonishment "Why would she do that, what have you ever done to her?".
"I ran away from home and when I came back she hurt me for running away and I have never done anything to her but my mama said that she does this because she does not like my mom" said Ducky slowly.
"I understand now" said the old Swimmer "but why did you run away?" he asked.
Ducky trembled and looked down, tears formed around her eyes. "I was so scareded I was I was".
"Scared of what?" asked the old Swimmer in a soft voice, he could see that he was touching a sensitive subject here.
"I was scareded of The Swimmer Trials" said Ducky tearfully.
"But why? Why would you be scared of the Trials you have no need to fear unless...oh" the old Swimmer looked at Ducky with understanding and regret. "I am so sorry" he said. He bent down and gave her a comforting nuzzle. "So that is why you are out here" he said quietly.
Ducky nodded. "We need to find a Swimmer who has survived the Trial to train me" she said. "And can I ask what is your name?"
"My name is Cyrest" said the Swimmer.
Ducky gasped, then grinned happily. "Your the Swimmer we have been looking for and we founded you we have we have" said Ducky in joy.
"So you were looking for me then, who told you about me and how did you know I was here?" asked Cyrest in shock.
"A Longneck told us where you lived and Swayer told me about you" said Ducky.
"Swayer!" said Cyrest sharply.
Ducky was startled by the sudden explanation, but she nodded her head in confirmation.
"How do you know Swayer?" asked Cyrest in a shocked voice.
Ducky looked a little taken a back at Cyrest's reaction. "Did you know him?" she asked. Ducky was astonished when she saw a tear fall down Cyrest's cheek.
"Swayer was my only son" he said in a pained voice.
Ducky felt like a large weight had fallen in her stomach, her mouth fell open in numb shock and tears filled her eyes. 'He was your son?" she said slowly.
Cyrest nodded. "His egg was the only egg that survived but when he hatched his mother was-"
"Already dead" finished Ducky before Cyrest could say it.
"How did you know that?" demanded Cyrest.
"Swayer told me" said Ducky in a small voice, she did not know if Cyrest would believe her. She looked up into the face of the elder Swimmer and saw a look of puzzlement on it.
"How could Swayer have told you? You never met him" said Cyrest, eyeing Ducky closely.
"I saw him in my last few sleep stories, he says that he wants to help me survive the trial he does he does".
"Hmmmmm" said Cyrest thoughtfully, he was not sure whether he believed Ducky but she did know facts about Swayer that only a few people knew.
"I thought that he would be able to complete the Trial because I survived it, that's why I was not badly affected when Sculra chose him but on the day of the Trial, the river turned red and I never saw my son again" said Cyrest in a trembling voice, his expression showing all the pain that he still felt over the loss of his son. He looked down at Ducky and saw the fearful look on her face and decided to change the subject as the conversationalists were moving into an awkward silence. "So how is life in The Great Valley" he asked.
"It was great until I found out about the Trial" said Ducky. "I would play with my friends and go on adventures with them and my little brother" Ducky smiled at the fond memories that she had of The Gang.
"Sounds like a nice place to live and it sounds like you have many friends" commented Cyrest.
"Oh it is a great place to live yep yep yep and I love being with my friends I do I do" said Ducky.
"The Valley must have many good Swimmers for you to play with" said Cyrest thoughtfully.
"Oh there are many Swimmers but I don't play with them nope nope nope" said Ducky as matter of fact.
Cyrest looked curiously at Ducky "But then who do you place with if not Swimmers and how many fiends have you got?" he asked.
Ducky told Cyrest about her friends and all the different kinds. He was appeared surprised when she said that Spike was her brother and even more surprised when she mentioned that she did not play with any Swimmers but the surprise turned to astonishment and worry when she talked about Chomper.
"Your friends...with a...Sharptooth" he said in shock.
"Oh yes yes yes" said Ducky "Chomper is a friendly Sharptooth he is he is" Ducky said the last bit with firm resolve.
"I would advise you not to play around with Sharpteeth but you appear to get along very well with your friends" said Cyrest calmly, his expression blank.
Ducky headed for another subject as she did not like where this one was going. "My mom tried to teach me the Swimmer Wisdoms but she could not so we are hoping that you would help me we are we are".
Cyrest looked at Sura. "She must really love her daughter to try this" he thought. "Well those Wisdoms are not learned in a day" he chuckled "And I certainly will help you, I can't let a kind young child like you take such a Trial" said Cyrest.
Ducky's face split into a grin. "Oh thank you thank you thank you!" she cried gratefully. She was so loud that Jane stirred in her sleep. Ducky hushed herself and Jane snuggled back up to her and drifted back into a comfortable slumber.
Cyrest smiled as he watched this, he was glad that his niece had a friend now. "I think that is time that we got some sleep Ducky" he said quietly.
Ducky nodded and gave a long tired yawn, her eyelids suddenly becoming heavier. "Okay" she said in a tired voice. Ducky proceeded to lay her head down but Cyrest still had one more thing to say.
"I would recommend that you sleep with me Ducky and not with Jane" he said calmly.
Ducky looked a little hurt. "Why? I have not done anything wrong have I?" she asked.
Cyrest laughed richly "of course you haven't done anything wrong. It's just that Jane is a newborn hatchling and you know what that means when it comes to the babies relieving themselves, I just wanted to spare you the trouble" said Cyrest.
Ducky understood what Cyrest meant but she looked back at Jane sleeping soundly against her belly. She appeared so innocent and happy. "just like me" thought Ducky. "I will stay with her tonight, I don't care if she wet's the nest, she needs me she does she does" said Ducky.
Cyrest nodded "Okay Ducky, if that's what you want. Goodnight and have a good night's sleep" said Cyrest before turning in.
Ducky yawned. She turned to her mother and let out a trembling breath. "Please be okay" she whispered to her mother before she curled herself around Jane just like her mother did with her, she then placed her head on the ground and was soon fast asleep. In her heart Ducky hoped beyond all hope that her mother would survive her injuries.