Bond and Free

Love has earth to which she clings

With hills and circling arms about-

Wall within wall to shut out.

But Thought has need of no such things,

For Thought has a pair of dauntless wings.

"Challenger, why are we re-mapping the valley? And why not from that taller hill over there?"

"Finn, maybe we should leave Challenger alone. C'mon, I'll take you down to the lake."

"But what about Challenger-"

"I'll be fine, Finn, you go with Veronica," the scientist said quickly, hoping for some peace and quiet.

"Ohhhhkaaay," said Finn dejectedly.

They walk through the familiar woods down to the familiar pond, just as they had so many times before. They are so absorbed in the ennui that they don't notice the mimic vine that they walked under. It whistled at Finn, who stopped momentarily. Veronica's eyes grow bigger in horror as she remembers the sound, "FINN! DON'T STOP!" She whirls around at Finn's scream to see that the carnivorous plant has already taken her in its death grip, her crossbow lying disused on the ground.

26 miles away, Ned Malone finishes his raptor meat and pear lunch and continues on his journey

On sand and snow and turf, I see

Where Love has left a printed trace

With straining in the world's embrace

And such is Love and glad to be.

But Thought has shaken his ankles free.

Veronica and Finn are playing in the pond, splashing water and chasing each other. The mood is shattered when Finn notices an odd carving in a tree. It is a large 'V' with two vertical lines extending downwards from either side of it.

"What's that V?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

23 miles away, Malone trips on a tree root, his feet entangled. A young hunter comes across him and carries him back to the village.

Thought cleaves the interstellar gloom

And sits in Sirius' disc all night,

Till day makes him retrace his flight,

With smell of burning on every plume,

Back past the sun to an earthly room.

"So you're Malone," said the young man, holding a unique staff.

"And you must be Gideon. And that must be the Star of Hope."

"Yes it is. Please, come to the circle; we're telling stories and from what I've heard, you have some good ones."

Ned captivated the younger hunters, who apparently were on an extended journey. They were seeking the annual Tentosaur migration. They talked through out the night, and those who had to sleep did so reluctantly until Malone went to sleep. When he awoke, he silently set out towards the Treehouse, trying to return after all those months away.

His gains in heaven are what they are,

Yet some say Love by being thrall

And simply staying possesses all

In several beauty that Thought fares far

To find fused in another star.

Distance from Treehouse: One mile. Ned locates Veronica and another young woman swimming in the pond, just as they had the day before, of which he has no knowledge. He looks on at them for minutes upon minutes before moving on. Suddenly a thought hits him.

*Veronica has a sister!?*

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End Note: Third chapter is finished. The next one will be my last, unless I can either A) Find another RF poem for N/V, or B) I get people threatening to kill me if I don't continue.