55 Chapter 55 A Change of Perspective (2/2)

Watching the lizard as they made their way down, she saw that the lizard was walking toe first, then heel. Did that make a difference? Was it because she was a lizard, or did it give her an advantage if she needed to spring into action?

”We will follow this ridge, along the entire valley, until we leave the mountains. It will keep us out of the deeply wooded areas, and away from the rivers that crisscross the floor of the valley. We shall be able to see anything that threatens us easier, and won't have as much issues with bugs, since your skin is so thin and fragile,” said the lizard as they all paused at a branch in the path they were following.

”That sounds good,” said Carla, scratching several bug bites she had already gotten.

”When do you think we will reach a camping spot?” asked Tom, pulling the straps of his bag tighter and looking out over the forested valley below.

”Not too much longer, I think,” said the lizard, looking ahead thoughtfully. ”There are several good spots to stop, but the one I prefer may be too far to today. We shall see how late it is when we reach the first.”

”Where are we?” asked Mikey, groggy. ”Can I get down? I need to pee!”

Gia helped Vonn quickly until the boy, and then laughed and helped him stand when his legs wanted to buckle from being tied so long.

Vonn helped him get his pants down before he wet himself, while Gia held him up, but it was all pretty funny. Even Mikey was laughing by the end, as they struggled to get his pants back up.

”Why are my legs so rubbery? It feels like they're getting eaten by ants!” laughed Mikey, as he struggled to stand.

Once he was able to stand and keep up, they resumed their march along the mountain trail, with Carla filling him in on what all had happened since he got hit in the head. When he heard that Sprout had caused him to pass out, Mikey quickly pulled the small creature out to make sure it was alright.

Reaching a clearing overlooking a large lake below them, the lizard paused, looking around.

”I think we will stop here for the night. You do not seem to have the stamina our young do, so I will not push you.”

”Thank you,” panted Tom, settling onto a rock. ”Being able to see lets me move more, and this old body doesn't seem to enjoy that.”

”Are you calling yourself old?” asked Carla, sitting down next to him after taking off her pack.

”I'll gather wood for a fire,” said Vonn, heading for a small stand of trees just down the path a few feet.

”How are you doing?” asked Gia, sitting next to Mikey. Her body was sore and tired, but she wasn't sure if it was from trying to push herself, or just from the normal walking. Was all of this even worth it?

”I feel tired, even though I know I wasn't walking much. I still can't believe I missed the waterfall! We were supposed to be able to see the world tree!” he pouted, holding his Limcheez in his hands.

”It could be from bumping your head, er, Sprouts head. And the world tree wasn't really that awesome. It hung in the sky like a giant cloud,” said Gia, trying to downplay how awesome it had been.

”A tree that looked like a cloud?” he asked, confused.

”Well, it was so big in the sky, I thought it was a cloud until I was told it was the cloud. It didn't look like a cloud, just that it filled the sky,” she said, trying to make herself clearer, and only making it worse.

”I still wish I could have seen it,” he pouted.

”Well, you can probably see it when we get out of the mountains. Until then, want to help me set up the tent before Vonn gets back?”

The grin on his face cheered her up, and Gia hoped the odd feelings she had before were gone for good.