Chapter 9: Golden Lands
When the noise started to fade into the distant, one by one they stuck their heads out to peer at their surroundings. Soon, the jungle held a composed atmosphere.
The group, each a little irritated in their own way, started to climb out of the bushes, onto the rough dirt ground. Buffy pulled a twig out of her hair. "Is everyone all right?" she mumbled.
The group mumbled their replies. Jana was the first to stand. She looked into the distance. "No sight of them," Jana said, shaking her head. "I don't understand- how they came-"
"How they came? They started running, that's how they came," Jack said, brushing himself off.
"You mean that they don't usually come stomping around here like that?" Jesse asked.
Harry placed his eyes on Matilda, who was frantically brushing her skirt off. He came closer to her. "You have a twig-" he reached for her hair but she immediately ran her hands through her hair.
"I'll get it out," she said gently. "Thanks." Harry merely frowned.
Jana looked around, as if trying to figure out something. "This area is a rather serene place, with few small animals, the most are birds."
"Well, other than more stampedes, we won't have to worry about violent lions and stuff," Buffy said. "I think I could handle one though- vampires are really strong and-"
"They must know about this passing!" Jana yelled immediately.
"Who?" Jake asked. "The dream catchers?"
Jana nodded. "I mean, something must have scared the animals to all run together, and in this direction."
"Do you think they are following us?" Jesse asked. At this, everyone turned their heads to look into the forest, as if they were going to find dream catchers jumping out from their hiding spots ready to attack.
"Perhaps," Jana said. "We must move quickly. Everyone up. There should be a water hole ahead." Everyone stood up, grumbling and forced their aching legs to walk more.
"It was something like gallantness, back there, when you made sure everyone was hidden safely." Matilda said, when Jesse started to walk beside her. Harry, on Matilda's other side, observed the two closely.
Jesse smiled. "Thanks. But it was nothing heroic. I live for eternity, remember? The stampede was no threat to me."
"Right." Matilda said. "That's cool."
Jesse looked down at Matilda after brushing back his hair. Matilda, at that moment, felt very short. "It's not really. It's not right to live forever, you have to die sometime, it's the natural thing. Now, I know that this group is anything but natural and normal but- you see- you all get to depart this life. You get to serve your purpose, and then you get to rest in peace. I will stay forever."
"Is it lonely?"
"I try not to think about that. I do have my family. My unordinary family. One time- there was a young girl, younger then you- her name was-" Jesse paused. "It was- uh- I can't remember. It wasn't that long of a time ago either..."
"Its okay. Continue." Matilda was implicated.
Jesse looked at her reluctantly, but cleared his throat. "I- I think I asked her to drink from the fountain when she turned seventeen and I'd come find her- or she'd come find me... yeah."
"Do you think she did?" Matilda asked.
Jesse sighed desolately.
"I'm- I'm sorry." Matilda said. "I didn't mean to start up a- forlorn conversation."
"It's all right." Jesse assured her.
The group walked closely together the rest of the way until they got to a small but flowing water hole.
"Well, get some water." Jana said.
"Is it sanitary?" Jack asked.
"Looks sanitary enough for me." Buffy said, filling up her water. The rest of the group agreed. Harry found himself getting water beside Jesse who seemed disturbed.
Harry cleared his throat. "I couldn't help overhearing the conversation Matilda and you were having earlier about- you." Jesse said nothing so Harry continued. "I- I just wanted to say that I'm sorry also. It's painful to be reminded of- all that..."
Jesse was silent for a few moments. "Winnie."
"Winnie?"
"Her name was Winnie. It didn't happen so long ago, right? But I forget her name."
"It happens," Harry said.
"It doesn't happen to me, not when it concerns her." Jesse said in a low whisper. "I never forget her name. She is always in my mind. How could I wake up one morning and forget her name like that? How long will it be until I forget her name altogether? Or what if I forget her?!"
Harry frowned. He tried remembering his friends and family. His godfather... the one that died recently... his name was... it started with an s... yes... Sar- Ser- Seri- Aha! It was Sirius. Harry at first was happy at remembering but frowned at the fact that it had taken him so long to recall it. "Oh my God."
They both sat there. "Weird, right?"
Harry nodded vigorously. "It must be the heat. We're tired. We've been in this jungle too long. But we'll be all right." Jesse nodded in agreement. "Right?!"
"Of course," Jesse said. "Nothing important. Lets not think about it."
"Yes, yes- ok."
They traveled on for what seemed like days. The weather was getting hot and humid and every step they took seemed to take all their strength. Gradually, as they went on, the Jungle got less dense and became more of an open atmosphere. They moved until they passed all the trees and flat, golden lands were ahead of them.
Matilda surveyed the scenery. "We are-"
Jana smiled. "-Out of the Jungle and into the-"
"Desert." Buffy finished. She wiped her forehead. "My question is when will we be out of this place."
"Before nightfall." Jana said sitting on the ground. The group followed her suit. She dug into her backpack and pulled out six brown sacks. "Your lunches."
Each person looked into his or her sack with disappointment. After a long morning of walking, they half expected something larger and more fulfilling. Instead, there were a couple of sliced fruits and vegetables and a small strip of overcooked meat. Jana ate quickly and noticed their faces. "Eat up, now!"
Hungry, everyone started to eat. It was silent, eating in the middle of nowhere, the sun high above the horizon, burning their faces. Matilda took the ribbon out of her hair and then tied it around all her hair, creating a small, messy ponytail.
"We've taken long enough. Up, so we can meet a town before sunset. Up."
Every stood and brushed the sand off themselves. Harry took a great sigh. "Isn't there someway we can make this part of the trip easier?"
Jana looked at him. "How..."
"Well, I have my wand and I'm sure I can think up some spell." Harry took out his wand and noticed that a strip of his wand had but cut. "Who cut my wand?!"
Everyone just looked at him. "I'm sure it still works," Jake said.
"I think it looks pretty." Jack said.
"Excuse me?" Harry said. Then Harry remembered Jack's pocketknife... "You- you did this didn't you!"
"Come again?" Jack said, crinkling his lunch bag into a ball. "I- I didn't chip your wand."
"Yes you did, with your knife!" Harry said. "You even chipped that one broad stick, before, when we were talking about leaders and stuff."
"Leaders?" Jana said. "Boys we don't have time-"
"Which, you stole by the way." Jack said.
"I stole- *I* stole?!" Harry said. "Why would I do that, why?"
"I don't know, maybe because I insulted your girlfriend or something," Jack said and Harry's mouth widened. "Look I know you took my stick, I saw bark pieces on your blanket."
"And that's how you know I took it, because of some pieces of bark? You never thought that maybe a wind came in and did that or something?" Harry said.
"Wind? What wind?" Jack said.
"Look I know that if you thought I took your stick that you would, indeed, do something bad to me. So what did you do, eh? You chipped my wand!"
"Your right," Jack said.
"So you admit it?!" Harry said, thinking he went into victory in this debate.
"I admit that I would do something bad to you." Jack explained.
"Then what did you do?" Harry said.
"I scraped up that dead bug you stepped on and put it in your shoe," Jack said coolly.
"Oh?" Harry said looking at his sneakers. "Oh! Gross!"
"At least its not alive." Buffy said.
"None of them were." Jack said. "C'mon lets get a move on."
"Them?" Harry repeated.
"I saw some squashed up mosquitoes. Put them in too." Jack said, ready to continue their walk.
Harry looked down at his sneakers.
"Oh we don't have time," Jana said. "The bugs are there and will be there until our next stop."
"Yes, lets go, I'm bored." Buffy started walking behind Jana. Matilda quickly glanced at Harry's shoes, grimaced and then walked with Buffy.
Harry started walking thinking of the bugs with every heavy step he took. Jesse and Jake walked beside him. Jack, who walked beside Jesse, looked at Harry. Harry looked at him. "Know you took my wand."
"Know you took my stick," Jack said maliciously, watching the way Harry walked. "Ass."
***************
I know my postings have not been much quicker, it is because of reviews. Anyways, thanks for all those who have kept reviewing.
When the noise started to fade into the distant, one by one they stuck their heads out to peer at their surroundings. Soon, the jungle held a composed atmosphere.
The group, each a little irritated in their own way, started to climb out of the bushes, onto the rough dirt ground. Buffy pulled a twig out of her hair. "Is everyone all right?" she mumbled.
The group mumbled their replies. Jana was the first to stand. She looked into the distance. "No sight of them," Jana said, shaking her head. "I don't understand- how they came-"
"How they came? They started running, that's how they came," Jack said, brushing himself off.
"You mean that they don't usually come stomping around here like that?" Jesse asked.
Harry placed his eyes on Matilda, who was frantically brushing her skirt off. He came closer to her. "You have a twig-" he reached for her hair but she immediately ran her hands through her hair.
"I'll get it out," she said gently. "Thanks." Harry merely frowned.
Jana looked around, as if trying to figure out something. "This area is a rather serene place, with few small animals, the most are birds."
"Well, other than more stampedes, we won't have to worry about violent lions and stuff," Buffy said. "I think I could handle one though- vampires are really strong and-"
"They must know about this passing!" Jana yelled immediately.
"Who?" Jake asked. "The dream catchers?"
Jana nodded. "I mean, something must have scared the animals to all run together, and in this direction."
"Do you think they are following us?" Jesse asked. At this, everyone turned their heads to look into the forest, as if they were going to find dream catchers jumping out from their hiding spots ready to attack.
"Perhaps," Jana said. "We must move quickly. Everyone up. There should be a water hole ahead." Everyone stood up, grumbling and forced their aching legs to walk more.
"It was something like gallantness, back there, when you made sure everyone was hidden safely." Matilda said, when Jesse started to walk beside her. Harry, on Matilda's other side, observed the two closely.
Jesse smiled. "Thanks. But it was nothing heroic. I live for eternity, remember? The stampede was no threat to me."
"Right." Matilda said. "That's cool."
Jesse looked down at Matilda after brushing back his hair. Matilda, at that moment, felt very short. "It's not really. It's not right to live forever, you have to die sometime, it's the natural thing. Now, I know that this group is anything but natural and normal but- you see- you all get to depart this life. You get to serve your purpose, and then you get to rest in peace. I will stay forever."
"Is it lonely?"
"I try not to think about that. I do have my family. My unordinary family. One time- there was a young girl, younger then you- her name was-" Jesse paused. "It was- uh- I can't remember. It wasn't that long of a time ago either..."
"Its okay. Continue." Matilda was implicated.
Jesse looked at her reluctantly, but cleared his throat. "I- I think I asked her to drink from the fountain when she turned seventeen and I'd come find her- or she'd come find me... yeah."
"Do you think she did?" Matilda asked.
Jesse sighed desolately.
"I'm- I'm sorry." Matilda said. "I didn't mean to start up a- forlorn conversation."
"It's all right." Jesse assured her.
The group walked closely together the rest of the way until they got to a small but flowing water hole.
"Well, get some water." Jana said.
"Is it sanitary?" Jack asked.
"Looks sanitary enough for me." Buffy said, filling up her water. The rest of the group agreed. Harry found himself getting water beside Jesse who seemed disturbed.
Harry cleared his throat. "I couldn't help overhearing the conversation Matilda and you were having earlier about- you." Jesse said nothing so Harry continued. "I- I just wanted to say that I'm sorry also. It's painful to be reminded of- all that..."
Jesse was silent for a few moments. "Winnie."
"Winnie?"
"Her name was Winnie. It didn't happen so long ago, right? But I forget her name."
"It happens," Harry said.
"It doesn't happen to me, not when it concerns her." Jesse said in a low whisper. "I never forget her name. She is always in my mind. How could I wake up one morning and forget her name like that? How long will it be until I forget her name altogether? Or what if I forget her?!"
Harry frowned. He tried remembering his friends and family. His godfather... the one that died recently... his name was... it started with an s... yes... Sar- Ser- Seri- Aha! It was Sirius. Harry at first was happy at remembering but frowned at the fact that it had taken him so long to recall it. "Oh my God."
They both sat there. "Weird, right?"
Harry nodded vigorously. "It must be the heat. We're tired. We've been in this jungle too long. But we'll be all right." Jesse nodded in agreement. "Right?!"
"Of course," Jesse said. "Nothing important. Lets not think about it."
"Yes, yes- ok."
They traveled on for what seemed like days. The weather was getting hot and humid and every step they took seemed to take all their strength. Gradually, as they went on, the Jungle got less dense and became more of an open atmosphere. They moved until they passed all the trees and flat, golden lands were ahead of them.
Matilda surveyed the scenery. "We are-"
Jana smiled. "-Out of the Jungle and into the-"
"Desert." Buffy finished. She wiped her forehead. "My question is when will we be out of this place."
"Before nightfall." Jana said sitting on the ground. The group followed her suit. She dug into her backpack and pulled out six brown sacks. "Your lunches."
Each person looked into his or her sack with disappointment. After a long morning of walking, they half expected something larger and more fulfilling. Instead, there were a couple of sliced fruits and vegetables and a small strip of overcooked meat. Jana ate quickly and noticed their faces. "Eat up, now!"
Hungry, everyone started to eat. It was silent, eating in the middle of nowhere, the sun high above the horizon, burning their faces. Matilda took the ribbon out of her hair and then tied it around all her hair, creating a small, messy ponytail.
"We've taken long enough. Up, so we can meet a town before sunset. Up."
Every stood and brushed the sand off themselves. Harry took a great sigh. "Isn't there someway we can make this part of the trip easier?"
Jana looked at him. "How..."
"Well, I have my wand and I'm sure I can think up some spell." Harry took out his wand and noticed that a strip of his wand had but cut. "Who cut my wand?!"
Everyone just looked at him. "I'm sure it still works," Jake said.
"I think it looks pretty." Jack said.
"Excuse me?" Harry said. Then Harry remembered Jack's pocketknife... "You- you did this didn't you!"
"Come again?" Jack said, crinkling his lunch bag into a ball. "I- I didn't chip your wand."
"Yes you did, with your knife!" Harry said. "You even chipped that one broad stick, before, when we were talking about leaders and stuff."
"Leaders?" Jana said. "Boys we don't have time-"
"Which, you stole by the way." Jack said.
"I stole- *I* stole?!" Harry said. "Why would I do that, why?"
"I don't know, maybe because I insulted your girlfriend or something," Jack said and Harry's mouth widened. "Look I know you took my stick, I saw bark pieces on your blanket."
"And that's how you know I took it, because of some pieces of bark? You never thought that maybe a wind came in and did that or something?" Harry said.
"Wind? What wind?" Jack said.
"Look I know that if you thought I took your stick that you would, indeed, do something bad to me. So what did you do, eh? You chipped my wand!"
"Your right," Jack said.
"So you admit it?!" Harry said, thinking he went into victory in this debate.
"I admit that I would do something bad to you." Jack explained.
"Then what did you do?" Harry said.
"I scraped up that dead bug you stepped on and put it in your shoe," Jack said coolly.
"Oh?" Harry said looking at his sneakers. "Oh! Gross!"
"At least its not alive." Buffy said.
"None of them were." Jack said. "C'mon lets get a move on."
"Them?" Harry repeated.
"I saw some squashed up mosquitoes. Put them in too." Jack said, ready to continue their walk.
Harry looked down at his sneakers.
"Oh we don't have time," Jana said. "The bugs are there and will be there until our next stop."
"Yes, lets go, I'm bored." Buffy started walking behind Jana. Matilda quickly glanced at Harry's shoes, grimaced and then walked with Buffy.
Harry started walking thinking of the bugs with every heavy step he took. Jesse and Jake walked beside him. Jack, who walked beside Jesse, looked at Harry. Harry looked at him. "Know you took my wand."
"Know you took my stick," Jack said maliciously, watching the way Harry walked. "Ass."
***************
I know my postings have not been much quicker, it is because of reviews. Anyways, thanks for all those who have kept reviewing.