Faithful Pebble
Part Forty-Six
The child wiped his nose and snatched the revolving morsel from the wanderer's hand. He plopped down next to him cautiously nibbling on the soft cotton like tidbit, trying in his haste to find another way to warn the wanderer about the forest and its ghost. Chewing the bread thoughtfully, he frowned. He didn't want to seem like he cared (because he didn't) nor worried about the wanderer's safety (because he wasn't) or—he still didn't know whether he should rat the man out, either. He had seen them, the kitten and his friends. They were in the alley and saw first-hand the tussle between the man and his hero. He didn't like it nor completely understood it. Yet, he knew for certain that it didn't sit right for some reason. That it made him uncomfortable. That wasn't what a hero did… or should do… was it?
The kitten narrowed his eyes watching the wanderer chew his food and then stand to his feet. The wanderer brushed his pants a little as he stared up towards the mountains, the forest and the well lost somewhere in the midst of it.
The wanderer frowned. "The woodcutter said that Pebble's well was located across the stream and over the hill." He gathered his sac once more and subtly patted his pockets to feel for silver and light, the tick tick ticking that nary escaped his notice. Once more, he regarded the little boy, the one who silently nodded.
"It's before the entrance to the forest," the child whispered.
"The entrance? I see." The wanderer adjusted the sac, the basket and the rope wrapped around his shoulders. "Thank you for telling me." As he moved towards the hill, the boy interrupted him.
"What will you do?" the kitten asked suddenly, finally getting to his feet. Nervously, he pulled his cap from his head releasing red unruly curls that bounced and swayed in the wind. It made the wanderer smile.
"Hmm…" he said. "You are referring to how I will attempt to rescue this mysterious rock-named maiden from her deep dark well, correct?"
The boy subtly nodded.
The smile on the wanderer's face deflated a little. "Well," he said.
New Cover, might change it. Not completely happy with it. If you are curious... Calla