Quest for Freedom Page 4

  If she gets the chance to grow up.

  The insects grew silent and the group stopped without any prompting. Vala cocked her head and extended earflaps. Suddenly, the ground trembled and the silent Earth girl grabbed Vala’s arm. Vala pulled the girl close. Krav’n clung to Janai’s waist and she placed a protective arm around him. The shaking stopped abruptly.

  “Was that an earthquake?” Lance asked, looking around. His sister, Penny, was still on his back. “I’ve heard about ‘em but I’ve never felt one.”

  “I don’t think so,” Sarah said. “We used to get them at my house, but I’ve never felt one like that before.” The girl looked nervous, more nervous than usual. “I don’t know why, but it just didn’t feel right.” She began chewing on her lower lip.

  The group looked at one another then to Janai. She nodded for Vala to continue and they proceeded on their journey. No one seemed in the mood to talk. As daylight approached, they searched for shelter again. They found another cave with the help of the map, but Vala veered away from it.

  “Vala?” Janai said.

  The Aknidean girl turned to her, yellow eyes a subtle shade lighter. Something had excited her. “Water.”

  They made for the cave anyway to hide their belongings. Afterward, they followed Vala to a stream, skins slung over their arms. Without a word, they stripped and went in, taking deep drinks of the cold, sweet liquid, and scrubbing layers of dirt from skin, hair and clothing. No one seemed bothered by the current nakedness, not even Sarah. They were too busy washing and drinking.

  Blal’k and Krav’n delighted everyone by catching several swimmers. The ability to hold their breath for extended lengths of time under the water and the speed in which they swam amazed Janai. Their webbed fingers and toes seemed to help propel them through the water. They looked quite at home in the stream, and Janai tried to envision what life was like for them before the invasions.

  The suns moved higher and Vala ordered them out of the water. Janai was beginning to find leadership sharing a comfort, despite her earlier misgivings. She had time to concentrate on what she did best, healing. Bruises, scratches and blisters called for her attention every day. Penny’s foot healed nicely. The girl limped along without crutches, when she wasn’t riding someone’s back. They slipped the skins over their naked bodies, tying them shut with vine ropes, and carried dripping clothing back to the cave.

  Vala covered their tracks as they made their way to their home for the night, or rather the day. As they settled into the new hideout, Penny let out a squeal.

  Janai grabbed up her sinsabe, ran to the rear of the cave, and grabbed Penny. “What happened? Are you all right?”

  Penny squirmed out of her grip and pointed to the ground near the silent Earth girl’s feet. “She wrote something.”

  Janai leaned toward the silent one, who grinned, teeth stark against her dark skin, and inspected the ground. The others crowded around to look at the word scrawled in the dirt of the cavern floor. Janai tried out her pronunciation of the Earth word. “Tish?” The silent girl nodded and pointed to herself. Janai laughed in relief and hugged the little one close, kissing her soundly on the cheek. “Pleased to meet you, Tish.”

  The girl beamed and made her way, with braids bouncing, to the others. Janai took in the sight of back patting, hugging, and Ronarian head-butting with the silent one, who now had a name. She couldn’t help but grin. Overall, things were going well. The stream had been a blessing for them. Plenty of fresh water to drink and bathe in. Janai relished that. But since they’d only just come upon the stream, their travels might take longer than anticipated. One runner could move much faster than an entire group of weary kids. Especially when there were injured to consider. She hadn’t thought of that until now. Evidently, neither had the runners who created the maps.

  “We need more water, Janai,” Sarah said, her blue eyes rimmed with red from fatigue.

  “Okay, but be careful. And take Vala with you.”

  While the swimmer meal was being prepared, Krav’n drew pictures that represented their journey thus far, and Tish surprised everyone when she titled each picture in a different invaded world language. Tish still hadn’t said anything, but Janai would have to wait until they were safe in the free-zone before she could diagnose whatever plagued the girl. If the condition was physical, which Janai doubted, perhaps she could heal her. Maybe she would also find out about the scars on the girl’s cheek.

  They sat around the heat rocks and ate the meal Blal’k and Sarah had cooked up. The swimmers were a nice change from jumper stew. Janai glanced around at her group as she ate.

  Sarah, who looked deep in thought, had begun to tell stories she’d heard from her grandfather. Each morning before bed she would tell a new one or continue where she’d left off the previous day. Janai wondered how much of the stories were from memories and how much Sarah was just making up as she went along. Either way, they were entertaining and, best of all, kept up spirits. Sarah seemed to enjoy being in charge of something. The girl seemed less nervous when she told her stories, and Janai was glad to see that. Sarah also surprised Janai with her talent to mesmerize her audience. She was quite an effective speaker.

  Ash kept silent most of the time and Janai watched him for signs of the mind gift. The messengers of her world usually stayed inside their heads, listening for and focusing thoughts. Ash seemed to be near his fifteenth cycle, so she would keep a close eye on him and watch for the transition. No one could help her when her time had come, and the first couple of months were rough on her as she tried to get used to the healing urges that welled up inside. Perhaps she could be of some comfort to Ash.

  Suddenly, she envisioned his arms around her and fought down a blush. Perhaps she only had those thoughts because he was the only one of her race here. And he was close to her age. He glanced at her and smiled.

  She gave a shy smile back and looked down at her bulb fruit bowl, now empty. What’s wrong with me? We’re running for our lives and you want a boyfriend?

  Unlike the females of the other races, Janai wouldn’t receive her fertile bleeding until after she fully mated, but she was old enough to begin courting. Her parents had been her age when they began the traditional Kritine courting rituals, learning about each other’s families and traditions under the watchful eyes of their guardians. She choked back a tear at the thought of her parents and focused on Ash again. He was meditating. It wouldn’t be long before he received his mind gift. Then he would be old enough to begin the courting rituals.

  Sarah motioned them that she was ready with a story and she regaled them with one about fishing. But Janai hardly listened. Instead, she took inventory of her healer supplies. Worries about their slow travel time meant she would have to restock some of the herbs she’d used. Just one more thing she had to consider. One more thing that could hinder their progress.

  Ash scooted near her. “You okay?” His eyes held concern.

  “Getting low on a few things.” She didn’t hide her worry.

  “My greatmother was a healer. I used to collect herbs for her. Tell me what to look for here and I’ll help gather.”

  His smile seemed like a light against her dark thoughts and she smiled back. “Thanks, Ash. I can use the help.” And she welcomed it from him.

  He bed down close to her.

  ****

  A hand on her shoulder woke her for the next watch, the last for the day, shoving away awful dreams. She took the cup of water from Sarah, thanked the girl, and went to the cave entrance. Dusk approached. There would be no moons in the sky tonight until very late. She wanted to be much farther along before they grew pregnant with the suns’ reflected light. Would the Morgee follow in the moonslight? Janai hoped against hope they did not.

  When the second sun’s light disappeared beyond the horizon, she awakened the others.

  Blal’k took little time getting his things put away. He would be leading them tonight. Janai put away her sleep skins and went to the hole to
relieve herself. Krav’n and Tish had made a bark sign to let the others know when the “facilities” were occupied.

  Janai smiled as she scooped it up on her way back. “Okay, let’s everybody eat and get packed. We’ve got a long way to go and it’s dark out tonight.” She turned to Blal’k. “We’ll have to memorize the path on the map for tonight. It’s too dark out to read anything. Unless you can.”

  “Maybe. But it can’t hurt to memorize it anyway.” He held out the map for all to study. “Everyone take a good look and try to keep it in your heads.” His pale green head ridges glimmered in the soft glow of the heat rocks. “We don’t want to get lost.”

  “Why don’t just we use heat stones for light?” Krav’n said as his liquid eyes glistened. His webbed hands were meticulously tying the vine around one of his shoe skins.

  Janai smiled. The boy had recently learned the skill of tying and wouldn’t allow anyone to assist him. Until after his shoe skins slipped off a few times.

  “Because we can’t take a chance on being seen,” Vala said, adjusting the bow on her back. “Heat stones would make us a moving target.” Krav’n seemed satisfied with the Aknidean girl’s explanation.

  They stuck especially close to one another in the dark. Janai could make out shadows here and there from the starlight, but only if they were very near. Vala, who was directly behind Blal’k, stopped. The others nearly fell over one another in the shadowy darkness.

  Janai didn’t like the girl’s worried stance. “What is it, Vala?”

  “The sounds we’ve been hearing are close now. In daylight, we’d probably see something.”

  “But there’s nothing on the map.”

  “Yes. And I know we’ve been following the map. There’s the runner’s star.” Vala pointed to a large, bright red star, like the one drawn on the map, in the sky directly over the treetops. “But there’s nothing on the map to show where this rumbling noise is coming from. Whatever it is must’ve come here after the runners passed through.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” Blal’k said as he studied the map. The way he moved it toward his face and back again told her it was dark even for his excellent eyesight.

  Janai thought on the problem a moment. “I think we should hide out until first light and send someone to find out just what it is that we’re heading toward.”

  “The map showed a rock overhang hidden by thick brush,” Sarah said. “It was near two large, intertwined trees.”

  “She’s right,” Blal’k said. “If we find the trees then we can find the hiding place.”

  Sarah sniffed and rubbed at her nose. “They’re right along the path we’re following on the map. We should be able to find them even in the dark.”

  The group trekked along a few hundred feet, gripping trees along the way, when they found the intertwined ones. Blal’k had smacked right into them, giving himself a stubbed toe. The overhang was fairly easy to locate after that, even in the darkness. It wasn’t much, but with strategically placed shrubbery, it should shelter them once the suns once came up.

  They huddled together, hiding heat rocks inside leather pouches so they could stay warm, without giving themselves away, and waited for first light.

  7 ~ Scouting the Area

  When morning came, Lance offered to scout but was voted down in favor of Vala. The Aknidean girl was swift and quiet with more scouting experience. The larger of the two suns had scarcely moved in the sky when she returned.

  “What’d you find?” Janai said. She was tugging at her white curls, trying to get the tangles out. She gave up in frustration and tied her hair back with some vine.

  Vala lowered her bow to the ground. “We’re close to the sound but the brush is too thick and too tall. I couldn’t see through it or over it. I’ll have to see if I can get closer another way.”

  Janai shook her head. “No, that’s too dangerous.” A haunting whistle caught her ear and she looked up at a flier that was nesting in a nearby tree. The flier gave her an idea. “Are we close enough to see from the top of the intertwined trees? They’re the tallest in the area.”

  “Maybe. But my people are ground hunters. Not good at climbing trees.” Vala gave her an apologetic look. Well, for an Aknidean anyway.

  “Penny can climb,” Lance said. His freckles seemed to dance with the movement of his face.

  Janai studied the little girl. “Her foot isn’t healed completely. And she’s too young. She could get hurt.”

  “We don’t have much choice.” Sarah said. “She’s the only one small enough to climb onto the top branches.” Those blue eyes tolerated her stare for a moment then looked away.

  Janai didn’t like girl’s reasoning but she was right. None of the others could expect the branches to hold their weight, not even Krav’n. She studied Penny again and placed a hand on the girl’s bony shoulder. “Think you can?”

  Penny’s green eyes brightened. “Sure. I’ve been climbing trees since I was little.”

  Janai chuckled. “Okay, but I want someone with me to watch her, just in case.”

  Penny was quick making her way up the twisted trunks. Definitely a climber. She slowed as she reached the top, carefully testing each branch before putting her full weight on it. She stopped and looked down. Lance motioned for her to look out toward the rumbling. She scanned the distance for a couple of moments. As she began to climb down, a twig snapped out from under her, and she yelped when she lost her footing. Janai sucked in a breath. The little girl dangled for a brief time before swinging her legs up onto a nearby branch. Penny paused for a moment and continued down with no further incidents. Janai relaxed as the girl set foot on solid ground. They raced back to the hideout, brushing away their tracks.

  “What’d you see?” Vala asked when they returned.

  “A big rock with holes.” Penny stretched open her arms in an attempt to reveal the rock’s size.

  Blal’k scratched at his head ridges. “Why isn’t it on the map?”

  The others began asking questions all at once.

  “Wait, wait.” Janai motioned for silence. She knelt down in front of the little girl. “How big of a rock, Penny?”

  “Well…” She thought a moment. “It was taller than those big bushes we’ve been going through.”

  “The ones with the large mender-leaves?”

  “Yeah, those. There were bushes next to it, and the rock was a lot taller.”

  “Think you might be able to draw a picture of it?”

  Penny shrugged. “I could try.”

  Janai turned to Krav’n. “Bring me your bark and berry stain.”

  The little Ronarian boy scampered off and was back in a few seconds with the drawing materials. Janai sat on the ground and motioned for Penny to sit next to her. She dipped the wooden stick in the berry stain and handed the tool to the girl. Then she placed a piece of dried bark, smooth side up, on the ground in front of Penny.

  “I can’t draw with everyone looking at me.” The little girl pouted.

  Janai scanned the group. “Don’t you have chores to do?” They sauntered off in different directions. Looking as though she’d just sent them to the tunnels. “Okay.” She turned her attention back to the little Earth girl. “Just do the best you can and draw what you remember.”

  Penny stole a look at the others before dipping her stick into more stain. Her small hand drew a rough outline of a dome-shaped structure with two arched openings along the bottom. She dipped the stick once more and drew a bush beside it. After placing the drawing stick on the ground, she put her hands in her lap. “That’s what I saw.”

  “That’s very good.” Janai motioned for the others.

  “It looks huge,” Vala said, her yellow eyes glimmering. “What are the arched things? Entrances?”

  “Maybe it’s a castle of some sort,” Lance said, hopefully. “Or a cavern?” he added when Janai gave him a curious glance.

  Janai hid a smile from the freckle-faced Earth boy. “Maybe a cavern, except i
t stands alone. Penny, was there a hill behind it anywhere?”

  “No.”

  Janai placed her hand on the girl’s thin shoulder. “You did very well.” Penny beamed. “I don’t know how a runner could miss that and not put it on the map.” She held her hand out toward Blal’k and beckoned with her fingers until he gave her the map. She placed the map on the ground and smoothed it out. The skin was soft now from handling. “Whatever it is, we’re headed straight for it. It’s right in our path.”

  Sarah stepped closer, chewing on her lower lip. “What’re we going to do?”

  Blal’k pointed to the map. “We could try crossing these hills and go around the domed thing.”

  “Those aren’t hills, Blal’k.” Janai looked to the boy. “They’re mountains.” She pointed out an animal image drawn above the ridged lines. “And that means there are hunting animals in those mountains.”

  “We could use more hunting animals.”

  “We don’t hunt them.” She met his eyes with a steady gaze.

  “Oh.” His vertical eyelids blinked hard before he turned back to the map.

  Janai studied Penny’s drawing again. Maybe it was a building. But how in three moons could anyone miss that thing? It was huge. “You sure it looked like a rock, Penny?”

  “Uh-huh. A really big rock. Biggest I ever saw.”

  Lance held up his sister’s bark. “Maybe it’s a cave some runner built as a hideout?” The others stared at him. He blushed. “Okay, okay, so that’s probably not it. But can’t we at least find out?”

  Vala swatted at a tiny insect near one of her earflaps. “Blal’k and I could scout it out.”

  “No,” Janai said.

  “Somebody has to go,” Blal’k said. “We don’t have any way around it except those mountains. And I’m in no mood to be some animal’s breakfast.”