Author's Note: The next chapter is up; I had big plans for this fan fic. Hope you all will enjoy this one.
Chapter 5: In Which Sophie was Rescued
"Sophie! Where are you?" shouted Howl.
"Sophie!" cried Martha.
"Sophie, please come out!" cried Fanny. "There is no time for games!"
It was a cold night in the forest. It's been the whole afternoon and evening everyone searched for Sophie. She disappeared mysteriously; there is no sign of her anywhere in the forest. They were thankful that there was a full moon that night to brighten the way, it was usually dark as ink here at night.
Lettie is beginning to lost hope to find Sophie. She wept a little, hoping that her older sister would be alright. Martha was beginning to feel like Lettie too if it wasn't for Michael.
"For I know, I have a high feeling that Sophie might have left behind our backs or something. She might perhaps been attacked by wolves by now, for all I know!" wept Lettie.
Wizard Suliman patted Lettie's shoulder; Lettie got quite a shock when she turned around.
"Don't worry Lettie, Sophie will be fine. She's a strong woman, she can take care of herself," said Wizard Suliman.
Lettie was calmed by Wizard Suliman's kind words and appreciate the comfort. She dried up her tears with a handkerchief Suliman gave her; she wonders why she felt much comfort inside whenever she is near him. But she snapped out of it, remembering that her sister is missing and began searching for her like the others.
Howl and Suliman tried using finding spells. It's working, but it kept leading them deeper into the forest. They began to wonder if the finding spells were working properly.
"Why would Sophie wondered this far into the forest? No one has ever venture the forest this far before" said Fanny. "You sure she isn't at the moving castle?"
"I'm sure, I checked everywhere in the castle and the flower shop, she isn't in any of them," said Michael.
"Most probably she might have got lost in here, after all it's an enormous forest," said Wizard Suliman.
Howl had to be the only one who didn't give any theories of Sophie's disappearance. He actually found those theories rather annoying. All he could think now is Sophie is alright or not. He doesn't even care if his boots were a disgrace when he stepped on mud or when bits of his suit are thorn. His mind is concentrating on Sophie only and her only.
"I dearly hope Sophie is alright. There are rumors that creatures came out in the night in this forest," Fanny said worryingly.
There were quite a lot of murmurings when Fanny said that. Martha is shivering complaining that it's getting cold and Lettie almost breaking into tears again. Wizard Suliman and Fanny tried to calm them all down. Until, Michael slipped and fell on him back claming that he saw a snake. Howl couldn't stand and watch this madness, he was about to loose it.
"Will you all be Quiet!" shouted Howl.
Everyone got a shock, but they quiet down and stared at Howl.
"I've had it with all those complains from you lot!" shouted Howl. "First of all Sophie is out there in the dark, cold and hungry. Secondly, if we don't reach her soon, there would be no telling what would happen and thirdly, if you all want to find Sophie I suggest you all focus on it!"
He tore his eyes away from them all and held him hand on a branch which was blocking his way. Until he stopped, "I'm sorry, I don't know what got in to me" said Howl.
"It's alright," replied Suliman. "We'll find her."
Howl nodded and shouted up to the sky "Calcifer, any sign of Sophie?"
Calcifer the rather friendly fire demon was taking a high view up in the sky. He too is worried of Sophie.
"No sign of her, it's too misty up here! But I'll keep on looking" shouted Calcifer.
"You do that," replied Howl.
Howl kept on walking even though his legs were sore. But he doesn't care about that either and is still putting his trust on his finding spell.
Calcifer kept his eyes peeled, like a hawk which is finding its prey. But then, the view from above began to change, the clouds of the night disappeared, even the mist below faded away. Calcifer wondered what's going on, something odd is happening. He could sense the presence of magic nearby. He noticed always the forest became misty in the night. Something must have cleared it away. Could it be Sophie, talking the mist to clear off so she can find her way? Calcifer wondered. It could be Howl.
"Howl if you clear off the mist doesn't mean you need to clear off the clouds too!" shouted Calcifer from above.
"What are you talking about Calcifer? I didn't clear off the mists, and neither the clouds. The night must have been getting to you," shouted Howl.
But then, Howl and Suliman stopped, both sensing that magic is nearby and knowing that it's not theirs, they became alert. Calcifer too became aware that the feeling of that magic isn't Howl or Suliman's it's from something else.
Suddenly from midair, something swooped past Calcifer in such speed that Calcifer almost toppled.
Calcifer quickly regain his balance. "What in the world is that? Creatures these days could be really rude!" said Calcifer. But Calcifer did catch a glimpse of what it is; he remembered whatever it is, it's white.
"Did you say something Calcifer?" shouted Howl from below.
"It's nothing," shouted Calcifer. "But I did saw something just now. Watch out for something white, I can't make out what it is yet!"
From below, the women are getting tired. Not to mention, Michael had been stung by a few insects and is now itching his hands and legs. It's becoming darker as they kept on walking deeper into the forest. Howl magically kindles a flame between his fingers to give a little more light.
"Ah!" screamed Martha suddenly.
Everyone was shocked, they looked at Martha and found her on her knees, screaming then sobbing with a pair of shoes in her hands. They could hear a few words from her sobs, that these shoes were Sophie's. Lettie recognized them too, and began to feel down again. Howl didn't believe it at first, but when he took a closer look, he wished he hadn't seen them.
Howl walked a bit further away from the others, leaving them to think they had lost Sophie. Howl isn't sure what to believe, he is so upset that he began kicking the pebbles on the ground. She couldn't be dead! He kept on saying in his mind, it's not yet her time.
"Follow me……" a voice lightly echoed.
"Who's there?" asked Howl.
Howl look up, he could have sworn he heard something. Thinking that it's the wind he kept on walking.
"Sophie!" shouted Howl. He hoped to hear her voice, there maybe still a chance for her.
"Follow me……" the same voice echoed again but louder this time.
Howl jumped and looked to his right. There sitting on a large rock was a creature he had never seen before. It was a creature shaped like a tiger with no stripes, yet, its size is smaller and its entire body was dim white, only its eyes shone brightly white.
Howl stared at the creature, unlike anything he ever encountered he has no idea what to do. The creature got up on all fours, Howl backed a murmuring counter spell in case. But the creature didn't attack him at all. Instead, it seems that it's trying to interact with Howl.
"Follow me……" the creature said.
Then, it jumped off the rock and ran deeper into the forest.
Howl didn't believe his eyes. What is that thing? He thought.
"There you are Howl!" said Wizard Suliman suddenly.
Howl jumped, he turns to the back and saw Suliman and the rest of them.
"Did you all heard that?" asked Howl.
"Heard what?" asked Suliman.
"The voice, there was a creature, it spoke," said Howl.
"I didn't heard or seen anything," said Suliman doubtfully. He is beginning to think that Howl might have gone mad.
"It asked me to follow it……" whispered Howl.
"Excuse me?" said Suliman. Suliman isn't sure what is going on with Howl, thinking that maybe he had became a bit of a lunatic because of Sophie.
"Howl, I think you should rest," Suliman said.
There was a sudden flash of white light from afar, Howl quickly got on his feet and ran to where the light is.
"Howl!" shouted Suliman. "Where are you going?"
Howl didn't reply, he is neither sure if it's wise to trust that creature. His instinct is somehow telling him to follow that mysterious creature. He kept on running pulling down vines to clear his path.
"Calcifer, follow a white creature! You may be able to see it up high!" shouted Howl.
Suliman could hear Calcifer from below, complaining a bit before agreeing with Howl. Suliman sighed. "Come on, we better follow him"
"What is actually going on?" asked Lettie.
"Don't know, just follow him. Make sure he doesn't get into trouble. We have nothing to loose" said Suliman.
The others followed Howl, catching up with him as fast as they could. Fanny panted saying that Sophie couldn't have gone this far. Suliman isn't even sure if listening to Howl is the right thing to do, it seems a bit pointless if you don't know what's going on.
Howl stopped at the edge of a pond, on the other edge, he saw the creature again. It looked at him, it walk near a rose bush, and then it ran away again. Since it is a bit of a drought at Market Chipping, the pond water is really shallow; it only reaches to the foot. Howl ran across the pond, when he reaches to the other side, he caught his eyes on a piece of cloth dangling in a rose bush. He reached out his hand to untangle that piece of cloth, not worrying of the thorns that might be able to poke him. He looked at the torn cloth, recognizing the grayish color. He came to a conclusion that Sophie came by here.
Having faith in the creature is helping him, he ran further into the forest. He lost sign of the creature, but he did hear the other's voices catching up from behind.
"Calcifer, did you see that creature!" shouted Howl.
"Honestly Howl, I don't know what are you so interested in that thing," shouted Calcifer.
"This isn't a good time Calcifer! Just tell me if you see it!" shouted Howl.
"Oh, alright!" shouted Calcifer. "Humans, they always get up on the wrong side of the bed…… I see it! That thing is fast, it's a great deal further away from you!"
The others caught up with Howl, panting and groaning.
"What's going on Howl?" asked Michael desperately.
Howl didn't answer again. "Suliman, we have to raise a wind!" said Howl.
"Whatever for?" asked Suliman.
"For Sophie, that thing is going to lead us to her," said Howl.
"What thing?" asked Fanny. "How would know?"
"Just a wild guess." said Howl "Suliman, please."
Suliman nodded. Howl grabbed Michael and Martha's hand, while Wizard Suliman held Fanny and Lettie's. Both of them raise a wind, they are lifted up, and is now traveling in an amazing speed. Everything became blur, even the ground, it was like traveling through a portal.
Calcifer flew as fast as he could, catching up with them hoping that Sophie would be alright. After all, who is going to pass him logs if she's gone.
The wind roared it's much faster when two of them combined. Howl could see a small flash of light in front of him. Knowing that they are closing in on the creature, both he and Suliman slowed down, leaving a smoky trail behind them. Howl let go of Michael and Martha's hand and ran to the creature.
He pushed away the leaves blocking him and eventually made a path through. He was stunned when he saw the creature circling a person lying on the ground. The creature spotted Howl, it quickly leaped up to the nearest tree and faded away. Howl thought perhaps all this time the creature was a ghost of some sort. Howl walked closer to the person, he recognized the person's red gold hair.
"Sophie!" Howl shouted.
He ran to the fainted woman and held her in his arms. She is still breathing, she's still alive, thank god, Howl thought. Sophie looked awfully pale, she is even cold. The others ran into the scene, all excited. Calcifer flew down and Martha was so happy that she cried. They crowd around Sophie hoping that she isn't hurt.
Sophie recognized the familiar voices calling her; she tried really hard to open her eyes. She managed to open them slightly until she fainted again. Lettie and Martha panicked at the scene; Howl picked her up from the ground and began to raise another wind to bring them back.
Even thought Sophie couldn't open her eyes, she could feel the wind blowing at her face. She remembered Lettie and Martha's voices begging her to wake up. The last words she heard were when Howl whispered to her that she would be fine. But then, she could not hear anymore.
Sophie opened her eyes, everything was slightly blurred, but she could see someone in front of her. She felt warm in here, wherever she is. She felt a whole lot of comfort in here too. Her vision cleared, she saw Howl is front of her, she then noticed her surroundings. She realized that she is in her chubby hole under the stairs, knowing that she is in the moving castle, she was relieved.
"Are you alright Sophie?" asked Howl worryingly.
She looked at Howl, she could tell he was so worried about her, even though he is smiling at her now.
"Yes……" Sophie replied softly.
Sophie could tell he didn't believe her, she could tell that he has been through a lot by just one look at his face.
"You wait, I'll get you a hot drink," said Howl as he went to search of a cup.
Sophie groaned as she sat up, she saw Calcifer grinning at her.
"You caused lots of trouble for us just now," said Calcifer. "What bothers me is how you managed to get lost so deep in the forest."
Sophie was quite, she couldn't remember what actually happen before Howl or the others came to her rescue.
"I raised a wind," replied Sophie.
"You, raised a wind? Now that I got to see for myself," Calcifer sniggered.
"Don't bother her already Calcifer. She's had enough," said Howl.
Howl balanced a pan of milk on a log in the hearth, Calcifer have to move away a little to make way for it. It reminds Sophie of when Howl was covered in green slime. When the milk is warm, he gave Sophie a cup of it.
"Where's Michael?" asked Sophie.
"He went to send Martha back to Cesari's. He'll be back in a while," said Howl. "Now you need to take a rest"
"What happened just now? How did you find me?" asked Sophie.
"You just fainted in the forest," said Howl. "We used a Finding spell to track you down."
"Come off it Howl, she can handle the truth. It's not like as if she is going to jump up to the roof out of shock" said Calcifer.
Howl glared at Calcifer, but he gave in. "The Finding spells failed, there is something about that forest which jinxed them, we followed a creature of some sort, it leaded us to you." said Howl. "We aren't sure if the creature is on the good or bad side. Suliman and I looked through a few books just now. We think it might be a soul eater."
"A soul eater?" Sophie wondered. "As in those things could have eaten my soul?"
"Exactly, although we aren't very sure, chances are that it might be one." said Howl. "But yet it couldn't be because it leaded us to you."
"I don't think it is," said Calcifer. "Soul eaters will directly suck out one's soul if they saw anyone unconscious, that one didn't. Plus, soul eaters are slow creatures, that one is much too fast. I must admit, it is fun to see Howl carried you all the way here."
Sophie wondered if this is true she looked at Howl, Howl nodded to her. To think that Howl actually carried me all the way from there to here, she thought. She saw one of his suits on the table; it was as torn as her dress. How can Howl let his suit become like that? He must be mad, thought Sophie.
"It's getting late Sophie," said Howl. "You better get some rest."
"But I'm……." Sophie was cut off when Howl hugged her. At the same time, Michael came in. She could see he was shocked. Sophie actually enjoyed that hug even though it lasted for a little while.
"Good night," said Howl. Howl spotted Michael, still quite shocked from what he saw. Howl smiled at him, and then went to his room.
"Well isn't that sweet," laughed Calcifer. "Now I have to be the luckiest fire demon to witness this."
"Oh be quiet Calcifer!" cried Sophie.
"Uh…….I'll be going to bed now," said Michael.
By Celtic Angora
Author's Note: What you think? Please review. And thanks again to those who have reviewed to me, thanks a lot. Hopefully, the next chapter is going to be up soon.