Turtles

Where did all the black turtles go? They used to be all around the Unknown. Lorna was quite skilled at spotting them by now and yet she hadn't found any in quite a while. They had left the area. Even Auntie Whispers didn't understand.

The teenager was determined to find out where they had gone and bring some to the old woman. It was the least she could do.

She couldn't remember venturing that far from her adopted aunt's house before. And the sun was setting on the forest : it was best to head back home immediately.

However, right as Lorna was about to go back the way she came, she spotted one of the creatures she was looking for. She smiled but didn't pick it up right away, as she needed to see where the animal was going. If it could guide her to wherever the others were…

To the girl's delight, it did. To her confusion, she found hundreds of little black turtles huddled up in the same spot on the forest ground. Lorna had never seen anything like this before.

She decided answers, if there were any, would have to wait : Auntie Whispers was certainly worrying about her right now and the teenager therefore couldn't linger here any longer. She could always come back later to investigate.

She picked up just enough turtles to fill her basket and promptly headed back home.

Lorna came back where the black turtles were a couple of times but still couldn't quite understand what was so special about this particular spot. Also, to add to the mystery, Auntie Whispers claimed that they tasted different than before, "like something was missing." And lastly, the girl had found a second, smaller group of these creatures further into the woods.

The turtles were looking for something, but what?

If whatever attracted them here wasn't visible on the surface, maybe it was hidden beneath it… She would have to move them out of the way and dig. No, she needed a shovel first, that would make things easier. She could find the closest house and ask if they had one. Wait, wouldn't they wonder why a stranger asked them a shovel? She would have to explain everything.

It took Lorna a while before finding a cabin in the woods. Next to it, two people were planting something into the earth. She recognised the two girls she met at late Adelaide's house. She could ask them for help!

"Hello?" she said as she approached.

The brunette stood up, leaving the seeds uncovered, while the redhead planted the shovel into the soil firmly. Both said hello back in perfect unison.

"I… I need your help for something", the girl with the bonnet said.

The other two glanced at each other, surprised. They obviously didn't expect her to visit, even less to ask them a favour.

"What's your problem?" the brunette asked, wiping her hands on her skirt.

Telling the truth seemed to be the best solution.

"I'm trying to figure out why are the black turtles all gathering in the same places over there and… I need your shovel."

"Wait, where did you say the turtles were?" the redhead enquired. "Can you show us?"

Lorna, Beatrice and Clover (who was now carrying her father's shovel) arrived where most of the critters were gathered. The former witnessed the other two gasp as they recognised the place.

"We mustn't dig here" the Woodsman's daughter stated, taking a step back then turning around to leave the place.

"She's right", Beatrice agreed while gently grabbing Lorna's arm. "Come with us. Where did you say your house was again?"

"What's going on?"

"Long story short, this is where the Beast is buried" the redhead explained. "Do I really need to say more?"

As soon as they caught up with Clover, the latter said :

"You have a beautiful soul, Lorna : I wouldn't want to see it corrupted like… like she was."

Lorna had so many questions to ask she didn't quite know where to even start. However, there was one thing she did know : these two knew more than what they were willing to share. About the turtles, about the Beast… and maybe even about whatever happened to Auntie Whispers' sister. And she would get to the bottom of it one way or another.