Sing Your Way Out
Chapter 16: Yew Berries
Cj POV:
The next morning, I was woken up early by Swan.
"Come, lets eat before we get going." Swan said
"And meet Daisy!" I said
"That's going to be interesting!" Swan chuckled
Minuets latter, we were sitting in an alcove in the entrance cave. Ian and Roark joined us. Joy came past, but quickly left, saying she had to finish packing. All the caves were eerily empty. Everyone was outside, fighting a losing war.
"Do you think we will find civilization?" Ian asked.
"We have to. There isn't a choice, either we find civilization out there, or we die trying." Swan said
"Whoa, we don't all live in your world. Some of us don't want to die!" Roark said with a laugh.
"Isn't that the truth!" Harv said, walking over to us.
"We should get serious!" Jay said, walking over
"Sure, as soon as you learn to laugh!" I scoffed
"She has a point you know!" Swan said, laughing
After all that, we got to business. Swan and I went to our room to change, and grab our packs. We met everyone in the main cave. In the corner, stood a small girl. She looked terrified of even her own shadow. That must be Daisy.
"This is Daisy." Harv said
"Hello." She said in a curt voice.
"No time for introductions, we need to get out there while the morning is young, and the fighting isn't over." Jay said.
"Let's get going!" Ian said
We spilled out into the dark of the forest. With a howl from James, guiding us, we were on our way. We walked stumbling over the thick undergrowth. We keep walking for what seemed like hours, until we reached the wall. We slipped out a hole near the bell. We were on our own. No going back. We needed to get this job done. We passed a small stream, and paused for a drink. James went first, and jumped away from the water as if it had burdened his skin.
"Let's not drink here." James said.
"Why not?" Susan asked, sensing something wrong in her brothers voice.
'This stream is filled with water snakes." James said, glancing sideways at the stream.
"We can drink later, it's not worth the injury." Jasmine said with a fearful look at the stream.
"Let's keep going." Ork said, glancing around
We continued on our way. We walked past a giant gnarled oak, that reminded us all of command. We came to a area of sheltered bushes at about midday. We all sat down, and munched on whatever food we had had the mind to bring. It was no surprise that all Gabe brought was junk food. I took out a small pack of dried strawberries, and drank some water. After we all finished we talked about our route.
"We have walked this way, past, the wall, up into this cluster of trees. If we head west, we should come out to the ocean, and then continue north." Ian said pointing the map.
"You do notice that since we have walked north for such a time, now it might take us a day or two t get to the west shore." Jay said, pointing to the map key.
"We should walk in a slanted direction, thus to get to the shore, and closer to our destination." Swan said.
"Okay." Roark said, not even looking at the map.
"We should walk through the night." Tiki suggested.
"She has a point, who knows what lives here during the night? Better not really rest until we get to the shore." Roark said
"Let's get going then!" Daisy hissed, a surprised to all of us.
We walked until night fall. We found a small meadow filled with boulders of all sizes. We found the best stones possible and slept for a little over a hour. When we woke up, we grabbed our packs, slipped on our jackets, and continued on our way. We walked forward, trying to ignore the bone chilling cries of the native creatures. We continued until Jasmine sat down, and refused to go on if we didn't have a rest. We all gathered around, sitting on the dry, cold ground. We sat until sun rise, until the wind urged us forward. We walked, seeming-ling, half dead, towards where the shore. We stopped at half day to rest, and discuss the map further.
"We should be no more than a few hours walk now." Harv said
"We should reach shore by night fall!" Tiki said, taking the map from Ian.
"We can create a fire, and sleep comfterably for the night." Roark said.
"Sounds like a plan, let's get going." Ian said.
We walked until the sun started to fall. Shadows crept out of hibernation, and little by little over took the path we were walking on. The sun was almost gone, when a cry of joy filled the darkening air.
"THE SHORE!" Tiki screeched with joy.
"I can't believe we found the shore!" Suki said
"I can't believe it either, but at least, now we can rest." Joy said with a weak smile.
"What a precious leaf this is! It is so nice and green." Daisy said from behind. Apparently she was half crazy.
"Suki, Tiki, Susan, can you please go look for a shelter for the night?" Jay asked
"James, Joy, Cj, can you please go look for anything that can be used for a fire?" Jay asked.
"We can try." Joy said
With that, James was gone, leaving crushed undergrowth in his wake. Joy, sighed, and followed; I had no choice to follow. I found both of them in a small meadow, picking over fallen branches. Once we had gathered enough, we were on our way back. We deposited our branches near a cleared out area near as base od a tree, that was surrounded on one side with bushes.
"FISH!" Came a cry from further down the shore, and looking over I saw Jay caring a fish. Emotions of joy and pride crossed his face, even if the was trying not to show them.
"Great! Let me just start the fire, and we can start cooking a fresh meal!" Tiki said, taking out a pack of water proof matches out of her pack. She quickly started the fire, and put the fish in, slowly moving it around in the flame with a stick.
"I found a bush of black berries!" Joys voice rang out in the now dark sky.
"Lets gather around then!" Jasmine said with a joyful squeak.
We all sat around the fire, and ate the berries and fish that was passed around. After that, we all settled down. Everyone had ended up bringing there own blanket. The last I saw was the flame dancing against the darkness.
"Cj!" Came Tiki's urgent voice.
"What now Tiki?" I asked, annoyed.
"Its Gabe, I can't find him anywhere!" Tiki hissed in panic.
"GABE!" Came Suki's scream from further down the shore.
"Who did what?" Ian said, sitting up, obviously woken by the scream.
"Gabe?" Harv said, standing up.
"Gabe…" Ian said slowly
"Gabe?" Jasmine said, glancing around with tired eyes.
"GABE!" Ian shouted as the realized what was happening. He quickly jumped up, and raced down the shore.
"I hope he is okay." Harv said
"We can't go on without him." Tiki said
"No we can't" I said in agreement.
"Quick! Make room! There bringing him!" Tiki said
'I'll get Joy!" I said, walking about five steps over to where she was.
'Joy…" I said softly.
"Joy…"I repeated when she keep on sleeping.
"JOY!" I said loudly into her ear.
"What!" Joy asked, obviously annoyed.
"Its Gabe, something's wrong!" I hissed
"What! One second!" She said, jumping up, and getting a small package out of her pack. I turned around and saw that they had brought Gabe. He was very pale, a streak of blood covered his hand. Joy rushed over.
"Okay, what happened?" Joy asked.
"I found Gabe, and he had a handful of these berries in his hand." Suki said
"Throw those away, there yew berries, extremely poisonous. I need for him to throw the stuff back up. If you want, you can leave." She said, looking at Harv's pale face.
"Just make him swallow this…. Now back up a little, the berries will be back soon enough." Joy said. The berries did come back, and all over Ork. He was sleeping right next to Gabe.
"EWW!" Ork screeched, waking up anyone who wasn't already awake.
"Nice scream Ork!" Harv said, laughing.
"You didn't get thrown up on!" Ork yelled back. He had already slipped into ocean, a few yards away.
"You have to admit, it was funny." Swan called over to him.
HEY! I'm back, again… Well, how do you like it? Please Review, I write longer chapters. I am announcing, a CONTEST, if you can tell me how to tell if an animal is poisonous out in the forest. I am looking for a certain thing. If you win, your screen name will be put in the next chapter! The first person to get the answer, wins! Any suggestions for the next chapter also greatly appreciated. Till next time!