Flight to the Forest
PART IV
The sky grew dark, and the moon began to rise, taking its position high in the sky. The cubs had long since returned home, now in bed fast asleep, except for one cub, who had just finished been questioned by Sir Blastus and Sir Gumlittle, as to how he learned that special technique.
Now walking along the castle walls again, having left the training grounds, he walked his way to his supposedly new home, to where he was told to stay, but he never reached there. Stopping in his tracks on the castle wall, he climbed up on the castle wall, and resting his paws on the wall, he gasped at it's coldness.
Comfortable and sure he wasn't going to fall off, he looked up at the full moon in the sky; it's light reflecting in his eyes, and illuminating the castle grounds. He smiled at seeing the moon, one thing he was familiar with again, seeing the moon every night if it was there, whilst playing with his friends in the forest.
But here he had no friends; he was not in the forest, only trapped in the castle, which he called a prison that kept you inside. Oh, if only he could return, then perhaps things would return to the way they were.
Wesley seemed just to freeze, but his eyes were of deep concentration as if thinking about something deeply important, which in his case, was.
*Return to the forest and things will return to what they once were* he thought.
He knew that Gummadoon would vanish shortly, he heard that they vanished at midnight, and it was only a few hours off to midnight, now, then once vanished he could continue living the way he wanted too.
Standing up, Wesley sniffed the air, then looking down below, he decided here was not a good place to jump. Looking around he saw that just a little further up there were a few trees near the wall, which he could latch onto. Jumping down from the wall, he then ran along the path of the castle wall, until he neared the end, where he climbed up the wall again, and then looking down, he jumped from the wall.
Wesley
I fall through the air, and feel the cool breeze on my face. Refreshing is the breeze, I keep my eyes open, and my arms outstretched and grab the branches as I near the forest ground. Jumping from tree to tree, and climbing up them, I begin to laugh, as I journey my way back to the centre of the forest, only too happy to feel the wind in my hair again, and to have my freedom back.
***
Meanwhile back in Gummadoon, Thistle, Wesley's guardian sat rocking in a chair, worried, and concerned as to where Wesley was.
Moving a lock of her red rose hair out of her face, revealing her sparkling blue eyes, and salmon pink fur, she furrowed her eyebrows.
Right that's it, she was going to tell the knights, as Wesley's guardian it was her responsibility to make sure he was all right, and now he had disappeared for a good few hours, past the expected time she wanted him in, she could stand it no more, she was going to look for him.
Letting her mate know where she was going, Thistle left her room, in search for the gummi captain, Sir Plucki, to let him know of the situation.
Walking outside she gasped as the cold air hit her, making her inwardly shiver. Rubbing her arms, she marched down the corridor, towards the training grounds, where the knight's headquarters were located.
Going into the training grounds, she viewed the beams and other equipment in the training ground before then reaching the doors to the knight's headquarters. Raising her paw, and forming it into a fist, she banged on the door, and heard the noise from within the room; quieten down significantly, before it was then opened, by Sir Plucki.
"Is there something wrong?, M'lady" he asked seeing the worried expressions on her face.
"Yes, it's Wesley, he's missing, and has been for several hours now" she replied concerned.
Sir Plucki looked to be in deep thought for a moment, when he said
"Where did you last see him?" he asked.
"He said he was going out to explore the city, and so I let him, and he never returned" she said.
Again the captain looked to be in thought when one of knights, interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir, I've seen the cub, when he was sitting on the edge of the wall, above us, and then he went to play with the other cubs" said the knight who had spoken to Wesley earlier on.
"But has anyone seen him since" he asked himself.
"Mon ami, we spoke to him, only an hour ago, then he went home" said Sir Blastus.
*Yes, but only he didn't go home* thought Sir Plucki.
"He's returned home back to the forest" said Sir Plucki.
The other knights seemed to understand the situation and stood by waiting for any orders, but none were given instead Sir Plucki, left, telling them to ready their unicorns, whilst he told the councillors of the situation.
Walking along the familiar corridor, and going up several flights of stairs, he finally came in sight of the Councillor's Tower, where he entered and stood before the Council.
"Wesley's missing" he said. "He's returned back to the forest"
The Council, said nothing at first only remained quiet, letting the news sink in, before they stood, and said
"And you wish, to bring the cub back" they said to which the gummi captain nodded, and another councillor said,
"We'll cancel the spell for now, but if the humans come in sight, we shall disappear again".
Sir Plucki nodded understanding what was said, before then leaving the Councillors Tower, in search for Wesley. Gum above, of any other time to pick, Wesley had to pick it now, when they were about to vanish. With the spell about to be performed and cancelled, Sir Plucki mounted his unicorn and joining the rest of the knights, he guided the group out the castle gates, before they all split up and went their own separate way into the forest, to try and find the cub, only to return at dawn.
***
Meanwhile, however Wesley was having the time of his life again, running around and playing with the animals, and copying their movements. Calling and speaking in a deer's language, he called forth the deers, and they responded, and began to chase each other.
From spending nearly an entire day in the city of Gummadoon, he felt like it had been an eternity, and was glad to be among his friends again, back in the forest where he belonged, and so playing with the animals for most of the evening, he then left his friends, and returned home, where he collapsed on his bed and fell asleep instantly.
***
AN HOUR BEFORE DAWN
Having searched the forest all evening, and dawn approaching, Sir Plucki sighed in frustration. Where was that cub?
He and the other knights had been searching the forest all evening, and so far they found nothing, not one trace that the cub had been here. Riding along, carefully searching the bushes, and the trees, he knew soon that he must return.
Continuing to search, he then halted his unicorn in its step hearing something sound very much like childish laughter. Dismounting his unicorn, he hoped that he found the cub at last, and that it was not some human nearby.
Holding his staff in one paw, he held the unicorn's reins in the other, and using his staff he pushed aside the bushes, as he drew closer to the sounds of laughter.
Gradually getting closer, he knew he was only a matter of metres away from the cub, and so slightly pushing aside a bush, he was surprised at what he saw.
In the centre of a clearing, Wesley was crouched down on one knee, and seemed to be talking in an unknown language towards the gathering of all the animals around the young cub.
Surprised at the sight, he stood forward letting himself be known to the cub, and immediately noticed all the wild animals run from sight, until only the cub and himself remained, Wesley he noticed did not look happy to see him.
"Wesley" he said.
"Why are you here?" Wesley asked, as he began to walk away.
"I've come to take you home" replied Sir Plucki, following after the cub.
"My home is here" stated Wesley now climbing up a tree to his home.
Sir Plucki watched as the young cub climbed up the tree with ease, with only the branches to help him, and then noticed for the first time, a house built on the top, though hidden by leaves.
"But your unprotected here, lad"
"I know how to protect myself, I've been here for six years" Wesley replied.
"Lad, why don't you return to Gummadoon, then perhaps we could discuss this" he said.
"No" Wesley replied "I hate that place, I don't have any friends, and I'm all alone there"
A moments silence was heard when Sir Plucki said.
"Okay, I'll leave you, for now, lad, but I shall be checking on you" he said.
Mounting his unicorn again, Sir Plucki saw Wesley, looking out from his doorway, sadness reflecting in his eyes. Nodding to the cub he left, to reunite with the other knights.
***
Meanwhile, back in Gummadoon, someone was following the councillors. Hiding in the shadows, as not to be seen, she followed them through the corridors, and to the Tower, and watched as they sat down in their seats.
Deciding now was the best time to reveal that she was here; she stepped forward into the light, immediately gaining their attention. Walking forth, until she stood before them, she then spoke,
"I know who that cub is"
"How?" they asked.
"Because I'm his aunt" she replied.
TBC...
End Of Part IV
PART V COMING SOON!
