Lyndsey's Family
Day arrived at the cottage first and knocked on the door. Then she stepped back, waiting for it to open. Lyndsey and Night stood at her sides, and Grundy was behind them. Lyndsey was still holding Guinever.
The door opened, and Seline peeked out. "Oh, good morning, girls!" she said happily. "Hello to Grundy and Guinever, too," she added. "Do come in." Then she stepped back, and gave them room to entre. They did.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" Seline asked, gesturing for them to sit down at the table.
"Actually, we have," Day said.
"Sorry!" Night added.
"We were really hoping to see the village," Lyndsey said.
"Of course!" Seline said, smiling brightly. "Maximus is still sleeping, and I have chores to do around the house. But I'm sure Raven will be more than happy to show you around." That brought smiles and blushes from all of the girls. "I was wondering," she continued, "what are you going to do once you are done here?"
"We're going to see our home village," Day said. "And then back to the Good Magician's castle."
Seline looked thoughtful. "Do you think…" she paused. "You see, Raven is in need of an adventure. I was wondering if…" She stopped talking. But the girls knew what she was asking, and were more than happy to comply.
"Of course he can come!" Day exclaimed, clapping her hands.
"We'd love to have him along!" was Night's reply. She was smiling.
"It's the least we can do," Lyndsey said, looking excited.
"Oh, wonderful!" Seline said, smiling so much the girls' thought her face might burst. "He can show you around the village, and then you must come back here before you leave. I'll have a pack ready for him!" She was so excited that she jumped up and left the room. Grundy and the girls presumed she was going to get Raven. They were right.
"Good morning," Raven said a moment later, stepping into the room. "My mother is going to wake my father, and tell him the news. I'm glad you decided to take me along." He was smiling. The girls, dazed by his smile, were unable to reply.
"It's no problem," Grundy said, even though he wasn't sure he really wanted Raven along.
"Thank you," Raven said to Grundy. Then he turned back to the girls. "There is not much to see in the village," he said, "so shall we just go straight to see your brother and sister?" This question was pointed at Lyndsey. She nodded.
"Yah. I'd like to meet them." She paused. "Do you know when my parents will be home?"
"They may be home now," Raven replied. "If not, they should be home later in the day, or early tomorrow."
"Ok," Lyndsey said. Then they were all quiet.
"Let's get going," Day said. Silently agreeing, they walked out of the house. Night had picked up Grundy and placed him on her shoulder.
"Their house is a little ways out into the forest," Raven said. "But it is not too far."
"Sounds good," Day said, stepping up beside him.
"Show us the way!" Night said, also stepping up. She wasn't going to let Day have the upper hand. Lyndsey, distracted, followed silently behind.
Raven led them through the trees. There was no path to follow, so they had to step carefully. It wasn't really hard walking- just stepping over the occasional branch or rock. Day and Night had to move so they were following Raven, though, as there wasn't room for three to walk beside each other.
Soon enough, they reached a little clearing. In the clearing was a small cottage. It was completely surrounded by trees. The cottage was very cozy looking.
"Home," Lyndsey whimpered, tears welling in her eyes. For the moment, Day and Night forgot about Raven, and came to stand beside her. Day took Guinever, and Night put her arm around Lyndsey. Grundy sat still on her other shoulder.
"Are you ready to go in?" Day asked gently. Lyndsey closed her eyes, and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm ready," she said. She walked silently towards the house, and the others followed her, quiet as well. Lyndsey stepped up, put Guinever down, and knocked on the door. They heard rustling within.
"Mama, can I answer the door?" they heard a little voice call.
"Just a moment," was the answer.
The door cracked open, and a middle aged woman came out. She was petite, and pretty, with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She looked at the group of them.
"Who's there?" she asked. She squinted her eyes at Lyndsey. "Is that-?" she paused. She sucked in her breath. "Lyndsey?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes filled with tears. "Baby girl?"
Lyndsey was having a similar reaction. There were tears streaming down her face. She nodded. "Mom!" she cried, throwing herself into the woman's arm. She grasped her tightly. They clung to each other for quite a while, before breaking away.
"My girl," the woman said, brushing Lyndsey's hair off her face. Their eyes were red and puffy. She shook her head. "But where are my manners. Who are your friends?" she asked.
Lyndsey smiled. "This is Day, Night, and Grundy. They rescued me. And this is Raven, we met him in the village. And this," she said, grabbing Guinever's hand, "is Guinever."
"Pleased to meet all of you," Lyndsey's mom, Seven, said, regaining composure. "I- please do come in. We have so much to talk about!" Her eyes were going teary again. Lyndsey and the others all followed her into the house. They were met by two excited little children.
"Who is it, Mama?" the first one asked. That was the girl. She had black hair, that had a greenish tinge to it. It was wild, and frizzy. Her cute little button nose was littered with freckles, and her sapphire green eyes shone brilliantly.
"Yeah, who is it?" the second child asked. This was the boy twin. His hair was the same as the girls, only it had a blue-ish tinge. It was cut a bit shorter, and it jutted out in every angle. His eyes were bright blue, quite the same as his mothers. His face was quite similar to the girls, cute and pudgy. They were about six.
"It's…why, it's your sister," Seven said. "Your sister Lyndsey."
"Our sister?" the two little voices echoed. "We thought she was gone." They both looked up at her.
"Hi," Lyndsey said shyly, giving them a little wave.
"Sweetheart," Seven said, putting her arm around Lyndsey, "This is Soda, your little sister. And this is Fizz, your brother." The twins smiled up at her mischievously. "Soda, Fizz, this is Lyndsey."
"Hi Lyndsey," they said in unison. Looking more closely at them, Lyndsey could see where they got their names from. Their wild hair quite resembled tsoda popka, after you shake it, and it sprays out everywhere.
"Hi, guys," she said, smiling at them. They smiled back.
"Now, just wait one moment while I go get your father," Seven said, looking like she didn't really want to go anywhere.
"Ok," Lyndsey said. Her mom ran out of the room, and returned a moment later, being closely followed by a man. He was taller than she was, but not that tall. He had brown hair also, and it seemed Lyndsey had inherited her eye colour from him, as his were also a dazzling violet. There was no mistaking they were father and daughter.
"Lyndsey?" he said, staring at her in disbelief.
"Dad," Lyndsey said. She walked slowly up to him.
"Lyndsey!" he said, pulling her in for a hug. Tears were streaming down his face, now, too.
"I just can't believe it," her mom was muttering. "Back after so long! It's just so wonderful!" And then she was hugging Lyndsey, too.
"We've missed you so much!" her father was saying. "It was just such a shock when you disappeared! We were so grief stricken that we moved away from the village. But not too far. We always hoped you would come back, and you'd find us here. But after so long- wow!"
"Don't misunderstand," her mom said quickly. "This is the more wonderful thing that could ever happen. We're just shocked! We thought you were gone." Her eyes were misty.
"I guess I should tell you what happened," Lyndsey said. Her parents nodded, taking her hands.
"We love you, Lyndsey," they said.
"We love you too!" the twins echoed. Lyndsey smiled.
"And I love you," she said. Then, she told her tale…
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Day arrived at the cottage first and knocked on the door. Then she stepped back, waiting for it to open. Lyndsey and Night stood at her sides, and Grundy was behind them. Lyndsey was still holding Guinever.
The door opened, and Seline peeked out. "Oh, good morning, girls!" she said happily. "Hello to Grundy and Guinever, too," she added. "Do come in." Then she stepped back, and gave them room to entre. They did.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" Seline asked, gesturing for them to sit down at the table.
"Actually, we have," Day said.
"Sorry!" Night added.
"We were really hoping to see the village," Lyndsey said.
"Of course!" Seline said, smiling brightly. "Maximus is still sleeping, and I have chores to do around the house. But I'm sure Raven will be more than happy to show you around." That brought smiles and blushes from all of the girls. "I was wondering," she continued, "what are you going to do once you are done here?"
"We're going to see our home village," Day said. "And then back to the Good Magician's castle."
Seline looked thoughtful. "Do you think…" she paused. "You see, Raven is in need of an adventure. I was wondering if…" She stopped talking. But the girls knew what she was asking, and were more than happy to comply.
"Of course he can come!" Day exclaimed, clapping her hands.
"We'd love to have him along!" was Night's reply. She was smiling.
"It's the least we can do," Lyndsey said, looking excited.
"Oh, wonderful!" Seline said, smiling so much the girls' thought her face might burst. "He can show you around the village, and then you must come back here before you leave. I'll have a pack ready for him!" She was so excited that she jumped up and left the room. Grundy and the girls presumed she was going to get Raven. They were right.
"Good morning," Raven said a moment later, stepping into the room. "My mother is going to wake my father, and tell him the news. I'm glad you decided to take me along." He was smiling. The girls, dazed by his smile, were unable to reply.
"It's no problem," Grundy said, even though he wasn't sure he really wanted Raven along.
"Thank you," Raven said to Grundy. Then he turned back to the girls. "There is not much to see in the village," he said, "so shall we just go straight to see your brother and sister?" This question was pointed at Lyndsey. She nodded.
"Yah. I'd like to meet them." She paused. "Do you know when my parents will be home?"
"They may be home now," Raven replied. "If not, they should be home later in the day, or early tomorrow."
"Ok," Lyndsey said. Then they were all quiet.
"Let's get going," Day said. Silently agreeing, they walked out of the house. Night had picked up Grundy and placed him on her shoulder.
"Their house is a little ways out into the forest," Raven said. "But it is not too far."
"Sounds good," Day said, stepping up beside him.
"Show us the way!" Night said, also stepping up. She wasn't going to let Day have the upper hand. Lyndsey, distracted, followed silently behind.
Raven led them through the trees. There was no path to follow, so they had to step carefully. It wasn't really hard walking- just stepping over the occasional branch or rock. Day and Night had to move so they were following Raven, though, as there wasn't room for three to walk beside each other.
Soon enough, they reached a little clearing. In the clearing was a small cottage. It was completely surrounded by trees. The cottage was very cozy looking.
"Home," Lyndsey whimpered, tears welling in her eyes. For the moment, Day and Night forgot about Raven, and came to stand beside her. Day took Guinever, and Night put her arm around Lyndsey. Grundy sat still on her other shoulder.
"Are you ready to go in?" Day asked gently. Lyndsey closed her eyes, and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm ready," she said. She walked silently towards the house, and the others followed her, quiet as well. Lyndsey stepped up, put Guinever down, and knocked on the door. They heard rustling within.
"Mama, can I answer the door?" they heard a little voice call.
"Just a moment," was the answer.
The door cracked open, and a middle aged woman came out. She was petite, and pretty, with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She looked at the group of them.
"Who's there?" she asked. She squinted her eyes at Lyndsey. "Is that-?" she paused. She sucked in her breath. "Lyndsey?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes filled with tears. "Baby girl?"
Lyndsey was having a similar reaction. There were tears streaming down her face. She nodded. "Mom!" she cried, throwing herself into the woman's arm. She grasped her tightly. They clung to each other for quite a while, before breaking away.
"My girl," the woman said, brushing Lyndsey's hair off her face. Their eyes were red and puffy. She shook her head. "But where are my manners. Who are your friends?" she asked.
Lyndsey smiled. "This is Day, Night, and Grundy. They rescued me. And this is Raven, we met him in the village. And this," she said, grabbing Guinever's hand, "is Guinever."
"Pleased to meet all of you," Lyndsey's mom, Seven, said, regaining composure. "I- please do come in. We have so much to talk about!" Her eyes were going teary again. Lyndsey and the others all followed her into the house. They were met by two excited little children.
"Who is it, Mama?" the first one asked. That was the girl. She had black hair, that had a greenish tinge to it. It was wild, and frizzy. Her cute little button nose was littered with freckles, and her sapphire green eyes shone brilliantly.
"Yeah, who is it?" the second child asked. This was the boy twin. His hair was the same as the girls, only it had a blue-ish tinge. It was cut a bit shorter, and it jutted out in every angle. His eyes were bright blue, quite the same as his mothers. His face was quite similar to the girls, cute and pudgy. They were about six.
"It's…why, it's your sister," Seven said. "Your sister Lyndsey."
"Our sister?" the two little voices echoed. "We thought she was gone." They both looked up at her.
"Hi," Lyndsey said shyly, giving them a little wave.
"Sweetheart," Seven said, putting her arm around Lyndsey, "This is Soda, your little sister. And this is Fizz, your brother." The twins smiled up at her mischievously. "Soda, Fizz, this is Lyndsey."
"Hi Lyndsey," they said in unison. Looking more closely at them, Lyndsey could see where they got their names from. Their wild hair quite resembled tsoda popka, after you shake it, and it sprays out everywhere.
"Hi, guys," she said, smiling at them. They smiled back.
"Now, just wait one moment while I go get your father," Seven said, looking like she didn't really want to go anywhere.
"Ok," Lyndsey said. Her mom ran out of the room, and returned a moment later, being closely followed by a man. He was taller than she was, but not that tall. He had brown hair also, and it seemed Lyndsey had inherited her eye colour from him, as his were also a dazzling violet. There was no mistaking they were father and daughter.
"Lyndsey?" he said, staring at her in disbelief.
"Dad," Lyndsey said. She walked slowly up to him.
"Lyndsey!" he said, pulling her in for a hug. Tears were streaming down his face, now, too.
"I just can't believe it," her mom was muttering. "Back after so long! It's just so wonderful!" And then she was hugging Lyndsey, too.
"We've missed you so much!" her father was saying. "It was just such a shock when you disappeared! We were so grief stricken that we moved away from the village. But not too far. We always hoped you would come back, and you'd find us here. But after so long- wow!"
"Don't misunderstand," her mom said quickly. "This is the more wonderful thing that could ever happen. We're just shocked! We thought you were gone." Her eyes were misty.
"I guess I should tell you what happened," Lyndsey said. Her parents nodded, taking her hands.
"We love you, Lyndsey," they said.
"We love you too!" the twins echoed. Lyndsey smiled.
"And I love you," she said. Then, she told her tale…
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