The Fragile Forest

Chapter Four

“Come on,” Calla muttered, and began to walk into the darkening forest of Gonala.

They started into the forest at a slow pace, but the screams of the Gonalians blew them faster like leaves in the wind. Even when they were too far to hear the Gonalians, it always seemed like something was preventing them from slowing down, as if they were running from their past, positive that the faster they walked, the faster their past would leave them.

Calla stepped a few feet in front of them at all times, and Bris kept Elliot well away from Miro. The silence swallowed each of them, letting them only speak with their eyes. Even the air gave off the sense of hopelessness.

Suddenly, there was the sound of shattering glass and shards of black crystal tumbled down the slim hill in front of them. Calla bent down on her knees, scooting closer to the couple of trees while Bris and the triplets stood frozen. Then, from under the trees, two girls came spilling out pulling at each other’s hair and dresses.

“Melody? River?” Bris asked in surprise as Calla got up.

The two stumbled up and helped each other dust themselves off. They nodded at Bris in sync and stood plainly for a second, then tackled each other again. Bris laughed and ran over to the girls, separating them then hugging them both. Elliot rushed over as well to join their little group hug and Calla stood watching with Miro and Asa, a small smile tugging at her lips. The four pulled apart, laughing and grinning joyfully at each other.

“What were you two fighting about this time?” Bris asked, still smiling. Elliot snickered.

“We weren’t fighting, I was doing justice! Melody stole my mushroom,” River accused.

“There were tons more of them, River. Get over it!” Melody said, nudging her sister with her elbow. Melody began picking grass from her strawberry red pixie cut.

“Well, that was the last blue one, you know how much I like the blue ones!”

“Stop being so picky, Riv,” Melody stated. The two sisters started their way back to the castle, nudging each other repeatedly.

“Better have been a really good mushroom…” River muttered.

“Oh, don’t worry. It was,” Melody laughed.

“Uh, guys? Where are you going?” Elliot asked.

“Back to the castle,” the sisters said together. They glanced at each other and rolled their eyes. Melody held up a grey sack, obviously filled generously with mushrooms.

“Gotta get these to the kitchens,” River explained.

Bris and Calla exchanged a nervous glance and Miro and Asa smirked at each other. Miro stepped toward Melody and River boldly with Asa trailing behind him.

“Don’t you know?” Miro teased. Melody glared daggers into him, simply making his smirk grow.

“Know what?” River dared to ask. Asa and Miro smiled at each other. They didn’t like what had happened to the castle, their queen, their people, and their planet, but they did like their little game.

“Cut it out, Miro,” Calla warned. Miro threw his hands up innocently.

“Okay, okay,” Miro said, flashing a grin at Asa. Asa understood quickly and finished the job.

“I apologize for Miro, sister, but I think he just wanted to make sure our cousins knew that while they were off looking for mushrooms the whole castle was being over thrown.”

Miro smirked devilishly and glanced approvingly at Asa. Melody dropped the bag, letting the colorful mushrooms spill out. Everyone was silent.

“Is this… Is this true?” Melody whispered to the forest, words flowing perfectly from her mouth. She touched the black crystal leaves of the trees. “Is this why the trees are black?” Melody stared into Miro’s ruthless eyes and he was suddenly quiet. He saw how his game had hurt her. Miro never liked to lose at his own game, but as he saw the heartbreak in Melody’s eyes he wish he had.

“I…” Miro started. Again he was silent. He saw his family’s faces full of grief and desperateness. His game had brought each of them to the breaking point. Again it hit them. Nothing would ever be the same after this ended, if it would ever end.

Only Miro realized this was just the beginning.

They stayed in that narrow path for what seemed like hours, stealing forbidden glances at each other. Melody sat with her back facing her family, where she could put each hand on two trees and lean her forehead against another one. Those three trees where the last to turn completely black. Bris sat with Elliot, arms wrapped around him as if they would protect him from the rest of the world. Calla leaned against a large boulder with Asa, staring into the forest and muttering to him, scolding him for going along with Miro’s game. Asa only nodded, not caring about what his older sister had to say. Soon, Elliot pried himself from Bris’ arms.

“I need to go for a walk,” Elliot told Bris quietly.

“What? It’s dangerous,” Bris stated. Elliot didn’t listen. He could only hear the silent cries of the trees. He kept walking, as if he believed he would find an answer to this chaos in the dark crystals. Bris looked at Calla urgently.

“Let him go, we’re far enough,” Calla said, starting a small fire.

Even though they look and feel like glass, the trees of Gonala can be used in the same ways the trees of Earth are. When you burn them, they create heat, but the flames are white with a green tint. Some of the trees you could drill a hole into and an edible sticky substance would flow out, just like the maples of Earth. And if you found a tree shaped in the right way you could possibly climb it, if you were careful not to cut yourself on the branches.

          As this hunter stared down sneakily at his prey, he notched a warning on the bowstring, a warning that also brought a choice to the surface. This warning took the form of an arrow. The deer’s blue eyes never once caused him sorrow, for the life he was going to take would serve him well. His new king would reward him greatly.

          He felt the black bark of the crystal tree. Moving his fingertips across the thick branch in coordination with his feet allowed him to feel the heartbeat of the tree. The bowman could never before feel the trees’ heartbeats, not until today. Confidence bubbled up inside of him as the tree’s heartbeat thumped louder; the tree was willing him on, it was on his side.

          The bowman smirked, eyes gleaming. He waited for the deer to notice him. He wanted to see the fear in its eyes. Eager to pull it back, the hunter tapped his fingers on the bowstring. He sighed quietly, growing impatient, and stuck his hand into his pocket and drew out a dull purple paper fish. He closed his fingers around it. It was the emblem of Gonala. The deer finally turned, and was so frightened of the bowman it collapsed on the white grass from shock.

          “Get up, foolish boy,” growled the bowman, drawing the arrow. “Face your fate; it’ll be the last thing you’ll have the opportunity to accept bravely.” The innocent deer stood up, shaking and afraid, eyes sewn shut.

          “Have some honor and open your eyes,” the bowman ordered. The deer opened his eyes.

          The deer took in his surroundings, and along with that he accepted his fate. He glared into the hollow eyes of death and felt overwhelming courage and exhilaration. That is something an innocent deer is incapable of, yet this boy was slaughtered like one. His gift left him in his last breaths and was replaced by the one he’d always wanted; bravery.

          The bowman left the paper fish with the boy. Perhaps he did this to show that this was Gonala now, and no one was safe. Not even the most cared for or the most protected. No one.

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A/N: Why so quiet guys? Sorry for the wait, but I really hope you liked it! And please, don't tell your friends about this because I DEFINITELY don't want to get more reads on this. Please note the sarcasm there. ;) Anyway, I'll be back soon and remember to read Octavian Bennet by FirstStar2TheRight!