The Other Child
Chapter 3
A/N: This chapter is going to be a little shorter than the rest but bare with me. I've got big things planned for this story.
"But the suns are barely past the horizon," Jeb pointed out.
"There's movement of the Longcoats just north of here," Ralph retorted. "Best to get you across before they make their way any closer. That'll allow you to cover some ground on the other side."
Jeb nodded in agreement, quickly gathering his pack and re-lacing his boots. Within moments Jeb and Adora were out the door, following Ralph into the woods behind the small cottage. They walked briskly through the darkening woods careful not to draw attention to themselves for fear that a squadron on Longcoats may be nearby. As they neared the gorge Jeb noticed the zipline and followed it back to the platform where Ralph was busy removing the branches that hid it.
"This is going to be fun," Adora mumbled sarcastically as she eyed the length of the cord.
Once Jeb had helped Ralph clear the branches from the platform he turned the older man and extended his hand. "Thank you for your help."
"And yours," he responded. "There's a cabin on the other side, no more than four miles from the edge, behind a white spruce tree. You're more than welcome to use it for as long as you need."
Adora listened intently. "Four miles you say?"
"Yes. Head southwest as soon as you cross."
"Thank you very much," Jeb repeated climbing onto the platform and turning to help his mother up behind him. "Give your family our best."
"I will," Ralph answered. "May Ozma smile upon you always."
Jeb nodded as he grabbed the handle and gripped it tightly. With on final prayer he ran to the edge of the platform and jumped, propelling across the Gorge.
The crossing had been easier than expected, strategically speaking, though it had been physically trying for both. Once both Jeb and Adora's feet were safely planted on the ground, they wasted no time in deserting the sight of the zipline and heading deeper into the woods.
They had been walking for nearly half an hour before Adora broke the silence. "Well I suppose the hardest part is through."
Jeb nodded and grunted in response, pushing a particularly large branch out of their way. In that instant Adora just had to smirk at her eldest's response because it was purely reminiscent of his father. Cain would often grunt or growl in response to a question, usually when he had nothing to say. A man of few words, people called him. It was a trait she noticed Jeb had inherited, being one to listen and observe rather than speak. He was stoic and reserved unless he was with his sister. There was something about her that brought Jeb out of his shell, made him the loving and caring individual that Wyatt had been.
Suddenly Jeb stopped as they neared a clearing. His eyes carefully surveying the scene in front of him, alert for any movement in general. After a few seconds he took the lead forward. "There's the white spruce tree," Jeb pointed out. "The cabin shouldn't be far behind it."
"Thank the stars," Adora sighed. "We can rest here for the night and set out tomorrow morning. We'll be in Finaqua before the suns set."
OZOZOZ
After a thorough sweep of both the cabin as well as the surrounding fields, both Jeb and Adora went to making the small space livable for the night. There was a small kitchen with a wood burning stove in rather rickety condition that would serve just fine to cook a warm supper. Attached to the kitchen was a small bedroom, with nothing more than a rugged mattress on the floor, and a small bathroom. Luckily the water in both the kitchen and bathroom still worked.
"I'll gather some wood for the stove," Jeb announced taking a cautious step out of the cabin. Deciding it best to stay close to the cabin, he rummaged through the underbrush that surrounded the property and carried armfuls of wood and laid them near the doorway. When Jeb was convinced that the supply of wood was enough to get them through the night, he reentered the cabin finding his mother laying out their remaining rations on the table.
"We should have more than enough to get us through tomorrow," Adora said. She rummaged through the food and found the small pack that Lorraine had been kind enough to give them. It was full of ingredients needed to cook up a meager stew, except of course meat which was becoming more and more difficult to come by in the O.Z. "What do you say to a warm cup of stew before we settle in for the night?"
Jeb smiles at his mother, the thought of her homemade stew making him salivate. He knew it wouldn't be nearly as good, but a warm meal was cause for celebration in the resistance. "Sounds like a deal." He set about building a small fire in the stove to cook with, careful to keep the flame low so as not to have it cause too great a light.
While Adora cooked Jeb did another sweep of the property stopping to stare at the large white spruce near the front of the cabin. He couldn't help but remember the tree he and his father had planted down near the lake. The tree that used to stand there was struck by lightening during a terrible storm and Jeb had helped his father uproot the dead tree and plant a new one in its place. It was such a scrawny looking thing. 'It's probably huge by now,' he thought remorsefully, longing for a moment to have his old life back. A life where he wasn't in constant fear for his life or that of his mother or sister; a life where he could have a normal childhood, go to school, grow up, probably go to the Tin Man academy life his father. But he would never have that life, Azkadellia had made sure of that much. 'She'll pay for it someday,' he vowed.
"Jeb?" Adora called softly watching her son on the front porch with that far away look in his eyes. "Stew's done."
"Thanks," he mumbled passing her in the doorway to the kitchen.
Adora stood out there for a moment longer gazing off into the same direction her son had. She couldn't wait to be rid of this place and finally on their way to Finaqua. The cottage was nice enough for the night but there was something about it that gave her a feeling of dread. She knew all she needed was to get to Finaqua and the darkness that had settled in her soul would be gone. Adora just needed to see Milenna's big smile and bright shining eyes as she came rushing towards them. 'I don't think I will ever see those eyes again,' the thought came to her. It scared her like nothing else. Pushing it to the back of her mind, Adora spun on her heal and went to join Jeb for the night.
A little foreshadowing anyone? Thanks to all my loyal reviewers for your support! Can't wait for more feedback!