d9 Chapter 4b

8/14/2019 d9 Chapter 4b

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8/14/2019 d9 Chapter 4b


Chapter 4b

“Oh, you’re taking requests? I’ll take a bowl of fish soup. A big bowl, reallybig,” I said, stretching out my arms as far as I could so it would know justhow large I meant. “Can I get that with honey walnut bread and smokedblackberries, too?”

I looked up at the wolf, and it looked like it could understand me. It openedits mouth, and for a brief moment I was half expecting all the food that Iwanted to fall out of its mouth into my lap. I think I would have beencompletely happy if it did that.

Instead, the wolf did something completely unexpected.

It spoke.

“I don’t have any food, but I do know where there is water,” the wolf said.

I sat up and stared at the wolf again, waiting for it to speak, but it didn’t looklike it would say anything to me until I spoke. So I finally said something.

“You know where there’s water?”

Of course he knew where water was; he just said that. It didn’t matter to methat I had just stated the obvious. It had been too long since I had lastspoken to someone, and I needed the company. I was so desperate forconversation that I was settling for talking to animals now.

“Yes,” the wolf said. “If you’ll just follow me.”

I watched as the wolf moved its jaw to speak. Despite all of Matza Pira’sstories of animals that spoke to people to guide them in their time of need, Ihad never once encountered a talking animal.

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I stood and followed the wolf through the dry land just a little bit further, andwe ended up at a wet land. The land was chilled and darkened with theshade of lazy trees that dipped to brush the tips of their leaves against thesoil. The wolf walked to the edge of the water and stopped just beforedipping its tongue into the water.

It looked up at me and said, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you thirsty?”

“Yeah.” I left my big, bulky pack leaning against a tree and went to thewater. I dipped my hands into the water and tried to drink from my hands asquickly as I could before all of the water seeped between my fingers.

The wolf laughed at me before it dipped its head back into the water to lapup more water.

“You know, this would be a lot easier if I had my container. I know it was youwho stole it.” I tried to get more water, but I could barely get anything beforemost of it escaped.

“Sorry about that. I was just trying to get your attention. I wanted you to

follow me.” The wolf swallowed and said, “I was certain that you wouldchase me out here.”

I eyed the wolf and tried to frown at him. “Why did you want me to followyou?”

“It’s my job,” he said matter of factly.

“Your job? Who are you?”

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that question all day. My name isCerulian, and you are Rabbit. It is an honor to meet you, Miss Rabbit. Iwould shake your hand, but you know.”

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Chapter 4b

I jumped up and moved away from the wolf even though I was still verythirsty. “How did you know my name?”

“I will be your guide on this journey. We are supposed to work together.”

“My guide? You mean you know the way, and you’ll show me?”

“Not exactly. I am your guide in the sense that I am to provide you withguidance and wisdom during the journey.”

“Oh,” I said and went back to the water to drink.

“Don’t sound so disappointed, Miss Rabbit. I am at your service, and I willassist you in any way that I can. Please do not hesitate to rely on me. Isthere anything that I can do for you, Miss Rabbit?”

I laughed and said, “First you can start by not calling me ‘Miss Rabbit’.”

“Then how would you like to be addressed?”

“Just Rabbit is fine.”

“All right then, Just Rabbit.”

“Not ‘Just Rabbit,’ it’s Rabbit.”

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Chapter 4b

The wolf laughed a hearty laugh. He threw back its head, catching a fewlines of sunshine in its coat. “It’s just a joke, Rabbit. I thought I could cheeryou up. It is quite lonely here in the desert.”

“The ‘desert’? That’s what you call this terribly hot place?”

“Yes. Have you not seen this or sand before?” He asked, putting his noseinto the soil to indicate that it was called sand.

“No,” I said, picking up clumps of wet sand. It stuck to my hand, and it wassoft and cold. I liked it better wet. “I don’t like it, but being in the shade isnice. Thanks for bringing me here.”

“It was my pleasure,” the wolf said, bowing his head so low that it touchedthe wet sand.

“What was your name again?” I asked. By then, I had given up on trying todrink water from my palm and leaned back against a tree, my head tiltedback deep into the shade.

“I would be honored if you would call me Cerulian.” He walked towards mecarrying something in his mouth and put it at my feet.

“What’s this?” I looked at the object that had a few teeth marks on bothsides of it.

“It’s your container, the one you had water in.”

“Oh. Thanks, I guess.”

“There’s water inside.”

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I sat up. “Really?” I asked and picked up the container. When I shook it, Icould hear the water sloshing around inside.

“Yes. Drink and rest. You must be very tired after a day’s journey.”

“You’re right, Cerulian.” I took the top off the container and drank the water.It was cool in my dry mouth that felt more like an animal’s fur dried in thelate afternoon sun. “Thanks.”

“It was my pleasure, Rabbit. Have you decided what you will do next?”

“Not really. I have a confession to make, Cerulian.”

“What is it, Rabbit? You can tell me anything.”

I sighed, took a drink of water, and said, “I think I’m lost. I honestly don’tknow where I’m going to go after this. Can you help me?”

“With pleasure. You must be tired. Why don’t you rest?”

I covered the water container and put it deep into the wet sand beside me.“What do we do after that?”

“We wait until dark, when it’s cooler to travel, and then we can go to theclosest place for clues.”

“Sounds good,” I said and lay in the wet sand under a low lying tree. I closedmy eyes and felt the cold air rush over me. In the shade, the air was muchcooler than under the sun, and the moist sand was like lying on soft bed of feathers.

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I could hear Cerulian taking cautious steps closer to me, and I opened myeyes and saw him stop in his sticky, sandy tracks.

“May I join you, Rabbit?”

I smiled at him and patted the area in the sand beside me. “Come on.”

Cerulian all but ran to my side and lay in the sand. Clumps clung to his furwhen he rolled over.

I chuckled and closed my eyes. I had hoped to dream of everyone backhome. When I opened my eyes, it was pitch black, blacker than the center of a poppy in full bloom. I couldn’t remember anything from my sleep exceptseeing everything as dark as the sky that was stretched out before me.

A few stars winked at me, and I looked around for Cerulian, but I couldn’t findhim.

“Cerulian,” I said his name quietly. For some reason, I was afraid thatsomeone dangerous would hear me calling for him. “Cerulian, where did yougo?”

“I’m right here,” he said from behind me.

I turned around and said, “Where were you?”

“I got a little thirsty. I apologize for leaving your side. Did you needsomething?”

“No, not really. It’s dark now. Should we leave now?”

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“Yes. Let us make haste. There is a desert market nearby.”

“There is?” I ran to get my pack, and I already had it on my back. “What’s itcalled?”

“It is called Zoarr. It is a very exotic place with lots of smells and all kinds of people. I am sure that you will love it.”

“Let’s go,” I said, certain that my eyes had more sparkle in them than thestars.

“Follow me,” Cerulian said, running ahead. His tail bobbed up and down ashe ran.

I ran after him, and he led me down a deep hill of sand where a large cityilluminated by fire sat. It was noisy, and all kinds of smells drifted up fromthere in the cool night breeze.

We both slid down the hill, making a curved trail behind us. We ran into themarket which was much like a city unto itself. Never had I seen so manypeople happily crowded into a single place.

On all sides of me, there were covered stalls and booths the same color asthe sand. There were lots of different people selling all kinds of things. I sawfruit, food, pottery, jewelry, and lots of wonderful things that I had neverseen before.

Cerulian stood beside me as I looked on. People pushed past us, busy tryingto sell their items or taking items back from the market.

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I stopped at a vendor’s stall that was selling shiny stones. Looking into themreminded me of the one that my father had given me before I started my journey. I touched it and thought of my parents who I knew were thinkingabout me.

The man standing behind his table of goods looked up at me, and then hesaw the turquoise stone around my neck.

“That’s quite a beautiful stone, Miss. Would you care to sell it?”

Before I could refuse, someone bumped into me. I looked up to see a largeman in a beige shirt and red pants tied with a black belt.

He frowned at me and said, “Watch it, kid.”

I turned to face the jewelry seller and said, “No thanks. It was a gift from myfather.”

“Shame. I could have given you fifteen silver pieces for that. Are you sureyou don’t want to sell it?”

I shrunk away from him, clutching the stone. “I’m sure.”

“Your loss,” he said, shrugging his large shoulders.

I started to walk away, but I stopped. Something didn’t feel right.

“Is something the matter, Rabbit?”

I felt for my pouch, but it was gone.

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Chapter 4b

“It’s the seeds, Cerulian. They’re gone.”

d9 Chapter 4b

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