Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.
Chapter 5: Family Confession
This woman stared at us, as she started to gesture us closer. She wore an old dress, black as night. Her hair was covered by a hat that managed to cover most of her short silver hair. She gave us a warm smile. Well, it might have been warm if her teeth hadn't been mostly a dull gold. As it was, Genny looked slightly revolted. We all tried to smile back.
"Why, hello, dearies," the woman said, reaching out for us. As we drew closer to her, we saw her eyes were the color of molten amber. "What are you doin' all the way over here?"
"Um…" Lottie said cautiously. She glanced at me, and I gave a small shrug. Genny, of course, couldn't keep her mouth shut. "Oh, our captain is here, looking for something- OW!!!" She glared at us rubbing her sides, while we tactfully retracted our elbows.
"Oh, dear," she said, walking toward us slowly. "You Young'uns look famished," she cooed.
"Well." Genny started again, "I most certainly am."
"Just follow me, and I will fill those fine tummies." the woman turned and started to walk away, keeping a one-sided conversation all the while.
"My name is Orenda, Orenda Shammers. Don't normally see company all the way out here on the Isle of the Sprites." We nodded our agreement, trailing along behind her. "I moved out here for some quiet after my granddaughter Isis grew up." she paused and looked back fearfully. When she saw our blank expressions, she asked, "Are those your animals?"
"Yes, well, they are our responsibility." I said feeling slightly wary of this odd old woman. "How far away do you live?"
"Oh, not to far, about a forty-five minute walk." we almost fell over. Forty five? Even Cian seemed appalled as he made a most ungracious sound. The three of us (plus the animals) trudged along behind Orenda who seemed too happy to be living out here. She peppered us with questions, most of which Genny answered, glad to have another human being to talk to.
Suddenly, a sight in the forest caught my eye. Genny was to caught up in whatever Orenda was saying, so I grabbed Lottie. I pointed as I saw the shadow move again. In an unspoken agreement, we slipped away from our host and into the woods.
"I don't see anything," Lottie whispered as we pressed farther and farther into the woods.
"I know," I responded, "But I know I saw something."
Then we both heard the branch snap, only a short distance away. Terrified we clutched each other tightly. "Gemma…" Lottie whispered a warning into my ear.
"I know," I whispered back. I was so terrified, I was sure I would faint right there. Then we heard voices.
"Cap'n, we been wander'n for hours!" Pintel complained, stomping loudly through the brush.
"hmm." replied my father, looking slightly annoyed. He hastily cut a notch into a tree to the left of him.
"And we haven't even found the beasties yet!" Ragetti added, jumping over a log, just to trip over Marty, into Pintel. Pintel gave him a dirty look, but then helped him up.
"Why don't you use that compass, Cap'n?" Ragetti asked. I knew of that compass, the one that showed you the way to your hearts desire.
"I don't use it anymore."
Pintel and Ragetti looked at each other confused. "Why not?"
"It only points to Nettleton."
" To Elizabeth's home?"
"Yes, to my daughter."
I felt the air come whooshing out of my lungs. Lottie had to hold me up, lest I fall on to the ground. I was just about to come out of our hiding spot when I heard an unearthly scream. Everyone turned toward the sound.
"Gem! Lottie! Run, run!" screamed Genevieve as she raced through the woods, a black jaguar racing close behind her. On its back, Gris was desperately trying to bite it without falling off. Cian hopped off my shoulder, where he had been quietly dozing this whole time, and tore at his hood. Frantically I pulled it off and off he flew attacking the jaguar with his talons.
We all bolt in the opposite direction, running into the rest of the crew.
"I thought you were suppose to keep a look out!" Father yelled as we continued to scramble past him.
"Yes, well, things change." Lottie panted as she helped pull Genny over a root she was tripping over.
"Gemma!" she screeched in my ear as the jaguar's claws scrapped over her leg.
"Hurry!!" I said as I reached for a branch and use it to hit the big cat on the nose. The cat yowled and pawed at his bleeding muzzle.
"Ha!" I cried triumphantly, and I dropped the branch and ran faster than I ever could.
I could see the group huddled together ahead of me. I caught up to them and asked, "Why did you stop?"
Lottie pointed her finger at the long rock face staring at us. I gasp as the jaguar slinked toward us. When it caught sight of the wall, it seemed to smile at me.
"Gem, I don't think you should have hit it on the nose." Genny scolded.
"Right, next time I'll let it eat you." she seemed to not like that idea, and showed it by huffing and turning a different direction.
The jaguar did not charge toward us. Instead, it walked deliberately over a small wire, barely visible over the greenery. Before I could blink, we were all caught up in a horrible net, with Orenda smiling wickedly at us from where she sat on a stump, not two steps away from the now purring jaguar.