Chapter Six
John and Frito had decided to travel in woodland for most of the journey, less they be spotted. Though Frito pulled off the old grandma act magnificently, they still felt it was best they stay hidden, out of the way.
It wasn't too bad, actually. They had an okay store of food, their clothes where still slightly damp, which kept them cool, and all in all, the October air was actually quite warm, with only a cool gentle breeze.
"This isn't to bad, actually," John announced to the still grumpy Frito.
The elf hitched up his dress as he stepped over a log, and didn't answer.
"Oh come on, Frito!" John sighed. "Cheer up! We'll be home before you know it!" The elf just furrowed his forehead, and then suddenly let out a shriek. He found himself flying through the air, then suddenly found himself on John's shoulders.
"Now, you're not staying up there the whole trip," John told him, and they continued on their way.
The weather was still fair as they made their way onward to Hogsmeade. It didn't take long for John to become bored. Every where he looked, there was nothing but trees, and shrubs. John thought about waking Frito up, just to have some one to talk to.
John wished he would have bought a watch when he had the chance, for he couldn't see the sun's position from where he stood under the canopy of the trees.
It was while he was staring up at the green ceiling, that he first saw it. As he walked under a small break in the trees, the sky became visible, and looking strikingly odd against the blue and white swirls was a streak of grey. Smoke. John stared close at it, and came to the conclusion it was coming from where he and Frito were heading.
Not good.
John didn't want to risk straying to far from their original path, but he wasn't sure if he was willing to risk walking through a settlement with a house elf attached to his back, even if it was dressed up as a Great Grandma. In the end, John decided to wake up Frito, and to go through the area where the smoke was billowing up from.
Even with the sky blocked from view, John could tell it was nearing night. The sound of crickets chirping could be heard along with the rustling sounds of nocturnal animals awakening from their daily sleep.
Yet, still, the two trudged on. The journey which had started out well, was now turning the exact opposite. The cool breeze that had blown across their faces at first, had turned into a bone-chilling gust that whipped their noses and cheeks by the next morning.
By the following night, the two had still not found any settlement or other source that could have created the smoke. John was about to give in to the possibility that he had imagined the grey patch in the sky, when his foot collided with a something metal.
He looked down to see a small frying pan laying on the soft, dark ground. John peered around and realized he had just came upon a camp. Though it seemed who ever had set it up had been away for some time.
Their where tents set up in an arc around a camp fire, which was now nothing more than a pile of steaming ashes. Steaming…
That meant someone had been here. Not long ago, but just long enough for the fire to have died down. John decided, against his better judgment, to examine the tents contents. Not only would he be able to "borrow" some of their supplies, but he might be able to find out what kind of people lived in this place.
John entered one of the shabby tents, and almost popped his eyes from their sockets when he saw what was inside.
There was a working kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Not to mention room for several extra beds. John and Frito then continued to check the remaining tents, and found similar set ups there as well.
This meant only one thing to the pair. This was a wizarding settlement.
"Frito," John said, when they had finished looking in all the tents, and were snooping around in someone's fridge for spare food. "Why do you think who ever was here would just move off and leave all their stuff behind?"
John ripped open a packet of sliced turkey and shoved a few pieces into his mouth.
A voice answered, but it lacked the high pitched squeak of Frito's voice. Instead it was rough and deep.
"Maybe, who ever lived here, left all their stuff behind because they were planning on returning soon…"
John turned around and chocked on the turkey, causing some of it to dangle down onto his chin in thin strands.
"Whoof aw youf?" John asked in surprise, spraying the new comer with bits of food.
The man wiped the spit from his face and thinning grey hair. "Who am I?" He repeated John's question, disgusted. "WHO AM I?! I am the owner of this tent, and head of this settlement!"
Though John could tell that the man was well into his fifties, there was an air about him that caused John to involuntarily stand up straight.
The man stared suspiciously at John for several silent moments before finally breaking the quiet.
"Who are you?" He raised one of his eyebrows so high it disappeared underneath his hair.
"Um…" John thought fast. He'd learned long ago that the S.M.B.'s had secret connections and followers everywhere, which meant it wasn't wise to reveal who he was.
He breathed in deeply before saying, in the deepest voice he could muster, "My name is not of the essence."
The man snorted, and turned away slowly. John let out a sigh of relief, but then quite suddenly, the man whipped around sharply, with his wand arm out straight. Within seconds John found himself against one of the tent's sides with a long wand being held a few centimeters from his neck.
"If you pan to live, you will tell me your name," the old man growled.
"Kevin. Kevin Draconian," John answered quickly. He smiled nervously. The man didn't return the gesture.
"Come on. Outside with you."
John just stared at the tip of the long wand.
"NOW!" The man ordered. John moved slowly out the tent, Frito clutching to the back of his robes, and the old man now behind him, prodding his back with the wand.
John stepped out of the tent, and had to immediately squint, as his eyes were forced to meet with the bright light of a burning, ember fire. As John walked more out into the open, he let his eyes gradually adjust to the brightness, and he was surprised by what he saw.
The once empty camp site was now bustling with activity. People were roaming in and out of their tents. Eating, talking, exercising. There were men, women, even a small group of children.
"What is this?" John asked, more to himself than the old man.
"That's none of you damn business, now is it?" The old man replied, coldly.
John just grunted, as the old man continued to push John and Frito through he camp site. A moment later, the old man had forced the two in front of the fire, and turned to the crowd that had gathered to see what the Head of the Settlement was doing.
"Listen, my dear friends and family!" The old man yelled to the crowd which had just doubled when he began to speak. "I have reason to believe…" He pointed to John and Frito menacingly. He let out a low shallow breath before finishing.
"I believe that these two strangers, are spies. Spies for the S.M.B.'s."