31 Chapter 31 Mapping Their Route (2/2)
”So far still to go,” said Carla with a sigh.
”There isn't anything dangerous along all that way, except the lizards in that one valley, right?” asked Gia.
”There's plenty of dangers,” laughed Kilyn. ”Wild beasts that are hungry and looking for a meal, not so wile creatures that would see you as an easy target, and I'm sure there are people of one kind or another somewhere along there, that we elves don't know about. We haven't had scouts down that way in several hundred years.”
”What?” said Vonn in dismay. ”Then everything you've just told me could be completely wrong!”
”Technically, the mountains haven't moved,” said Llewel, pointing to the tree canopy above them, as if they could see the mountains through the tangle of branches.
”We have no choice,” said Tom, standing and putting his bag on that Carla had just handed him. ”We at least have an idea of where to go and what to expect on our trip back to the human lands.”
”I suppose,” murmured Vonn, putting his bag on as well.
Gia grabbed the last of the meat up by the stick it was tied to, and wrapped it in the hide of the deer. Throwing it over her shoulder, she stepped in behind the others as Kilyn made sure the fire was completely out.
”We'll escort you to an older village that's along your route,” said Llewel as he stepped in line with them. ”It will provide you with some protection and decent rest for as long as you want to stay while we make arrangements for someone else to travel with you the rest of the way through our forest.”
”Is that so we don't get lost?” asked Mikey, walking carefully with one hand over his pouch so it didn't bounce so much.
”Our forest can be rather hard to traverse if you don't know the right routes,” said Kilyn, catching up with them. ”It would be easier on you if we showed you the quickest route.”
”We thank you for your hospitality,” said Tom. ”I'm not sure how we can repay you for your kindness.”
”It's our job to keep an eye on the forest and deal with anything we come across. Following along with you all gives us something exciting to deal with, instead of the boring same old stuff,” said Llewel.
”Some of the things you need to go across might be difficult without sight,” said Kilyn, looking at Tom thoughtfully.
”What sort of things?” asked Gia, her stomach churning as images of craggy pits and rushing rivers entered her mind.
”Well, we're about to encounter the first of them,” said Llewel, pointing up ahead.
The soft sound of water trickling along stones came to their ears in the following silence, as they continued walking forward. The trees ahead of them thinned, letting in more sunlight. The river was wide and slow, skipping and dancing over the rocks that had been washed down from the mountains and tumbled until smooth and round. It was a beautiful blue green and clear enough to see each pebble and rock. Placed in a curving path across the water, was a collection of boulders that had been ground smooth on the top, to allow easier walking across them.
”Stepping stones!” cried Mikey in glee, starting to jump up and down in excitement, then holding his pouch carefully, he looked up at Llewel. ”My little sprout can't get wet, can he?”
”Sprout? Is that what you named your Limcheez?” asked Llewel with a laugh. ”No, you shouldn't let it get wet.”
Nodding, Mikey got a look of concentration on his face and started across the rocks, making sure he took each one carefully, so as not to lose his balance and fall into the water. Gia was impressed and relieved. She had been worried the boy would get to excited and rush off, getting soaked. Perhaps this tiny creature he had gotten as a pet would be a good influence and keep him out of trouble.
”Are you ready, dear? We'll take one step at a time,” said Carla.
”I'm right behind you, in case you misstep and start to fall,” said Vonn.
Tom nodded and using his walking stick, felt out each stone before carefully positioning himself on the edge each one and stepping across. It took forever, in Gia's opinion, but she didn't mind. Her father was actually making it across on his own. Once he made it across, she let out the breath she had been holding and smiled. While it wouldn't have been deadly if he had fallen, it would have slowed them down tremendously while they dried his clothes off to be able to travel again. He had extra clothes he could have changed into, but the cold wind would have been even colder while wet, and she didn't want him to get sick.
”That was nothing. When we get to the village, you're going to have to walk along winding tree branches that are high off the ground,” said Kilyn with a grin. ”That's when the fun begins.”