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  CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

  He didn’t have time to stew on the origin of the can of peas, the footsteps were getting closer.

  “Get up! Get up! Someone is coming!” They all scrambled to their feet; Tessa stumbled trying to get her shoes on, Niko pulled Sully to his feet. Bindy sat straight up on the rock, unmoving, staring in the direction of the noise.

  "Bindy, come on!" Tessa said pulling on her left shoe.

  Slowly, Bindy whispered, "No... wait." Sully pulled her arm, and still she stared toward the ever-closing in crunching.

  "Bindy!" he whispered, urgently.

  "No... just wait." She stared off. "I think it's a shuvuu."

  Sully stood up straight, "A what?" She stood up and walked to the thick tree trunk in front of the oncoming noise. She peered around its base.

  "Grab a water." She held her hand out. Tucker set the bag down, fished out a water bottle, and discreetly placed it in her hand. Tessa inched backward, trying to get behind the group. Niko and Tucker puffed their chests; ready for anything. The crunching slowed. Bindy poured some water into a large dry leaf, creating a pool in its center. The crunching quickened. Bindy stepped back and smiled. She turned and put her finger to her lips; shushing the group. She grabbed Sullivan's hand out of pure excitement and stood next to him, staring at the water-filled leaf.

  CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

  Timidly, a yellow bird approached the water. It looked like a yellow finch, just like from Riverport, with dark brown markings on its yellow feathers. Just like a regular bird, except for the fact that its head stood four feet above the ground. It leaned down to the water, keeping its eyes on Bindy; who gave it an encouraging whistle. It then took a long drink of water.

  "A shuvuu." Bindy giggled. "I haven't seen any in months. It must be so thirsty." The bird flicked some water into the air, and let it drip down its wings. It chirped, happily.

  "Holy hell," Niko laughed. "That is a big ass bird."

  "It's beautiful," Tessa guffawed. "The bird sat up straight, the water gone. "Can I touch it?" she asked.

  "No." Tucker said, immediately.

  "Yes," Bindy encouraged. "Let me go first, though." She grabbed a handful of sweet cake and held it out in front of her body. The shuvuu backed up at the sudden movement, but soon came forward as it caught wind of the cake.

  CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

  It came closer, past the tree and into the clearing. Bindy inched her hand forward, the bird closed the gap. It shoveled its beak into her hand, hungrily.

  “Ok… slowly. Slowly,” she said to Tessa. Tessa reached an arm out, the bird flinched, but returned to eating. It was too hungry to care about anything else. Its feathers were like silk to Tessa’s hand. She hadn’t felt anything so smooth in all her life.

  “Is this happening?” She gently stroked its back, laughing. “Is this real?” The shuvuu leaned into her hand. Bindy’s hand went dry, but was replaced by another one, swiftly. Tuck had filled his hand with bread crumbs, and was offering them to the bird. He locked eyes with Tessa, who was beaming from ear to ear. The joy in her face was contagious, he let out a small chuckle.

  “It’s real.” He grinned. Abruptly, the bird perked its head up. It squawked, and then flapped its wings. Wind from its wings rustled the dead leaves. Tucker dropped the bread crumbs, and Tessa’s smiled dropped. They looked to Bindy for an explanation of the bird’s rapid departure. Her face was pale, her mouth open, arms dead at her side, and eyes huge.

  “Run,” she whispered.

  Chapter 7

  “Ah, Sherlock.” Crawford came around a tree. “I see that you’ve brought me some presents,” he smiled maliciously. “We’ve been looking for you two. You broke our carriage.” The two orange haired Lavocs followed on horse-like creatures, silver swords drawn. “It would be beneficial for all of us, if you didn’t run.” He drew his own sword.

  “Don’t listen,” Bindy warned.

  “Who is this? A traitor?” Crawford tisked. “One of our own disobeying the King?”

  “I am no Lavoc,” she seethed.

  “No. No, you are not.” He cocked his head to the side. “You are a disgrace. Helping humans?”

  “A disgrace? You are following a man who kills your kind. Who hates and tortures us. You work for a murderer! You are the disgrace.” She spat her words. She had walked to the front of the group, standing in front of them; protecting them.

  “Collect the humans.” Crawford directed his men. “And kill her.” The two men stomped forward.

  “Run!” Bindy shouted; making sure the others were in front of her. All took off running toward the mountains. The Lavocs followed closely. Tucker zipped up the pack as he ran, and tossed the other to Sullivan. Tessa ran with one sneaker in her hand and the other on her left foot. The ground reopened the wounds on her foot from Riverport. “Go! Follow the map!” Bindy yelled to Tucker, just as they reached a small drop off. All five jumped down the five foot edge, and put their backs to the dirt wall. They heard the stomping feet of the horse creatures above them. “It’s straight that way.” Bindy pointed toward the mountains. “It’s small. It’s covered by a rock shaped like a face. You’ll see it.”

  “What? Where are you going?” Tessa asked.

  “I’ll lead them away.” She peaked over the edge.

  “No!” Tessa said angrily. “We can all make it! Together.” She demanded.

  “You don’t understand. They will find us. They are hunters.”

  “No. We can do this,” Sully pleaded.

  “I know the woods. I’m fast. I can lead them away and hide.”

  “No, this isn’t right. We have to stay together,” Tessa whispered.

  “Please. We will find one another, again.”

  “No,” Sullivan pulled her arm, asking her to stay.

  “In the stone city. I’ll meet you there.” Bindy turned to go.

  “I’ll go with you.” Sully grabbed her arm.

  “Absolutely not,” Tuck said.

  “No way,” Niko agreed.

  “Yes, I’ll go with her.”

  The horses searched the small ravine, coming closer to sniffing them out.

  “Sherlock!” Crawford shouted.

  “We have to go, now.” Bindy pulled him. He went, willingly. Tuck stopped them by grabbing his shoulder. He pulled Sullivan into a hug. It was quick and familiar. And then they were gone; loudly snapping twigs and crushing leaves. Tuck watched as his only brother, his best friend, disappeared into the forest. He was terrified this was the last image he would see of him; running with an over-sized back pack on his back. It reminded him of the first day of school. Sullivan was surprisingly eager to start the years of education he had ahead of him, that day. Tessa reached down and intertwined her fingers in Tuck’s.

  “We have to go.” Niko urged. Tucker stared, watching Sullivan run past the trees, following a purple haired girl with unusually small feet and agile movements.

  “Tuck, please.” But, Tuck would not move until he could no longer see his brother’s blonde head.

  “Tuck,” Niko whispered.

  Sullivan was gone. Lavocs behind him.

  Tucker took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. He turned; keeping his hand interlocked with Tessa’s and ran. They reached the base of the mountains much quicker than expected. The mountains were so tall the clouds almost blocked them out. The base was surrounded by hundreds of small boulders of various shapes and sizes.

  “She said it looked like a face,” Niko gasped for air.

  “There’s hundreds of them. Which one is it?” Tessa breathed heavily. Niko flung over the smaller rocks at the front, searching for a face shaped rock.

  “Do you think they are following?” Tessa stood with her back to the mountain, looking out into the trees.

  “I haven’t heard anything,” Tucker replied.

  “I’ll watch out, and you look through the boulders.” Tessa released his hand. Niko and Tuck lifted rock after rock. A loud clunk came after each one a
s it hit the dry dirt. No sounds came from the forest, but Tessa continued to keep a sharp eye, nonetheless.

  “Help me with this one,” Niko asked Tuck. Tessa heard them grunt together as they lifted a large boulder.

  “Nope.” Niko said, as Tuck threw it to the side. “What about this one?” he pointed. Again, not a face-shaped rock.

  “Tessa come help. No one is following us,” Tuck urged her. She took one final look into the trees and then turned to help with the rocks. She stepped over rock after rock, closely examining them for any inkling of a face. Tuck and Niko continued tossing boulders behind them, as they rifled through the endless amount of rocks. Tessa came to a boulder at the very base of the mountain and noticed a sliver of an opening behind it.

  “Guys!” she pushed on the five foot tall rock, it did not move, “Guys!” Tuck heard her, and tossed the rock he was holding at the sight of her leaning all her weight against a rock. He jogged to her side and joined her. It moved to the side a few inches. A small opening about three feet high revealed itself.

  “Niko!” Tuck grunted. Niko stood a few feet away looking at the boulder, “Niko!”

  “It’s a head!” Niko exclaimed. The rock resembled a Michelangelo sculpture. A man’s head with perfectly chiseled hair stared at Niko with cataract-like eyes. Its lips were slightly parted, and other than a missing ear and a scathed eyebrow, it was in pristine condition.

  “Help us!” Tessa shouted.

  “He’s so handsome.” Niko laughed and came to their assistance. They all leaned into the rock, and slowly the head slid over, making a mound of dirt at its side. Slowly, a hole in the wall, three feet high and two feet wide, emerged. “Well, that’s gotta be it.” Niko gestured toward the opening. All three bent to their knees and peered through. Nothing could be seen in the dark cave, except for a light near what must have been the roof of the cave. A single beam of light shone down on the rock wall to the right of the opening. Tucker and Niko sat up on their knees, threw out their fists, and placed them in the opposite palm,

  “Rock, Paper, Scissors…”

  “Oh, for the love. Stop it,” Tessa interrupted. She crawled on her elbows and knees toward the opening.

  “Woah. Woah!” Niko said, while Tuck grabbed her ankle, pulling her backwards.

  “I’ll go first. What’s the big deal?” she asked, kicking his hand off and continuing.

  “You’re a girl,” Niko scoffed. Tucker looked down, shut his eyes, and clicked his tongue. Tessa stopped abruptly, and turned,

  “What did you say?” she gawked. Niko looked to Tuck for backup, but he avoided eye contact.

  “I just meant… you know… that you should let one of us… men…. protect… strong man…. Just that… we have… testosterone…” he stammered.

  “Okay… good points. Very good points.” She said as she crawled forward. Niko looked at Tucker, hoping for affirmation. He shook his head in reply as Tessa disappeared. Tucker knelt to follow.

  It was much darker than Tessa had expected. Although, she didn’t know exactly what she expected; after all, it was a cave. She took a deep breath and continued forward.

  “Aye.” A deep raspy voice came from the woods, close to a growl.

  “What?” Tessa echoed from the cave. Tucker spun around, followed quickly by Niko. “What did you say?” Tessa poked her head out, Tucker put his hand over her face and gently pushed her back through the hole.

  “What have we here?” a man grumbled.

  He had greasy black hair pulled into a low ponytail with a torn strip of red cloth wrapped around his forehead. His skin was yellow and his eyes were sunken back into his skull. He wore a blue calf length suit coat, with a long rusted sword tucked underneath.

  “Hidin’ sometin’?” he placed his hand on his sword, grinning. His teeth matched his skin. “Tut, tut… allow me to introduce meself.”

  He shuffled his feet, and cleared his throat. “Me name is Cut Throat Theo.” He bowed his head, “But, me mates call me Theo.” His accent was thick, making his name sound like ‘Teo’.

  “What have we got back there?” he pointed towards the cave. Niko and Tucker took a step toward one another, creating a barrier between Theo and the cave. Theo came forward into the sunlight.

  “No sharing, eh?” Theo took his sword from his waist band and held it out in front of his body. “Bring the other one out.” He demanded. Tessa stayed tucked against the wall inside the cave. “Don’t make me get her meself” Theo threatened.

  There came a rustling from the left and the right of the cave. “Please.” He crooned. A second man jumped atop the head of the statue, and a third came to Tucker’s left, swords drawn. Both had equally yellow skin and teeth, but to the surprise of Niko and Tuck, their hair was not a vibrant color.

  “I don’t want to cut yer’ throat, but you can assume from me name, I will.”

  At that threat, Tessa emerged from the cave with her chin high. “There we are. Pretty one, aren’t ya?” Theo sauntered to the group. His hips were wide set, giving him a cocky strut. He returned his sword to its home and examined them. Just then a whoosh went over head. Theo looked up, revealing a giant scar from ear to ear on his throat.

  “The Lavocs are excited. Did ya take something from ‘em?” Theo locked eyes with Tessa. “Gold? Lubbies? Jewels?” His breath was hot on her cheeks, smelling of alcohol and chocolate. Tessa turned her head. “Such pale skin.” He said reaching out to touch her neck. Tucker swatted his hand back.

  “Sensitive boy.” Theo glared.

  “We don’t have anything.” Tucker returned his glare.

  “Look in the bag.” Theo directed his men. The two rifled through the bag, tossing what little supplies they had left to the rocks.

  “There’s nothing in those… Lavoc.”Tessa said, trying to distract Theo.

  “Lavoc?” Theo huffed. “We are no Lavocs.” He laughed. He backed up two feet, and took another bow. “We are pirates.”

  “How can you be a pirate with no ship?” Niko asked.

  One of the pirates tossed Theo a half empty bottle of water. His eyes bulged and mouth opened. His eyebrows furrowed and he grumbled, angrily,

  “Where did you get this?” He shook the bottle in Niko’s face, “Where?!” he opened it and took a whiff before glugging it down. It dripped from his scruffy face, and gasped for air as if his throat was being baptized in holy water. Another Lavoc carriage rushed overhead. The wind blew the empty bottle from his hand, and his red bandana batted back and forth.

  “You’re humans!” he shouted.

  “Shh! Please, please!” Tessa quieted Theo. “Please be quiet!” In the distance, horse paws could be heard crushing dry leaves.

  “They’re humans! The Lavocs are looking for you!”

  “Please, be quiet. You can have the water, you can have everything. Please just let us go.” Tessa had his blue coat in her fists as she begged.

  “Give ‘em their bags.” He ordered his men. The two of them tossed the bag to Tuck who caught it and put it on his back, confused.

  “Thank you! Thank you!” Tessa exclaimed, just another carriage flew by.

  “Go!” Theo urged them, but then quickly grabbed the wrist of Niko. The footsteps grew closer. Theo pressed a folded up piece of yellowing paper into his palm. “You have his nose.”

  He pushed him away again. The three pirates got onto the opposite side of the giant head, ready to push. Tucker gave them a nod as he slipped through the opening behind Tessa and Niko. Theo and the pirates groaned as they shoved the rock with all of their body weight. Just before the cave was concealed, Crawford’s voice could be heard,

  “Pirates…” he said, defeated.

  It was as dark as death’s front door inside the cave.

  “What? Whose nose?” Niko asked the musty air. Tessa looked up at the small beam of light coming down, focusing on it. She could feel the terror crawling up her throat. She felt fear’s hands upon her shoulders. She spoke to herself angrily, demanding that she
focus not on the dark but on something else. She noticed something silver and shiny at the end of the beam of light.

  “Guys?” Niko asked again.

  Tessa put her hands in front of her and felt the cool wall to her right. She dragged her hands along, all the while keeping her eyes on the small silver item in the corner. Her eyes began to adjust and she noticed Tucker close behind her; watching her, following her. It comforted her. Niko stood near the mouth of the cave, hands out stretched in front of his body. “Hello?” he asked.

  Tessa reached the silver item and noticed it was a small foggy mirror, with small pebbles lining it. So small, it seemed like dust. She thought it was odd for a mirror to be in a cave, but then again, nothing seemed odd here. She tried to pick it up, but it wouldn’t budge. It was either too heavy or bolted to the rock.

  “Let me try.” Tucker offered. He, too, could not move the mirror. Tessa cocked her head to the side, trying to think of a purpose for a mirror in a dark cave. She put a hand on either side of it, and faced it dead on. The light from the roof directed itself into her eyes. She squinted and moved the mirror down.

  “I don’t get it.” She said to Tucker, as she moved her head out of the light. Suddenly, the light reflected to a second mirror across the cave that they hadn’t seen earlier; then, to a third, and a fourth. The light jumped like fireflies at dusk. Almost immediately, the entire cave was lit up. This was the first time they were able to see the entirety of the monstrous cave. It was enormous with mirrors strategically placed to perpetuate the light. The ceiling was at least three stories high and speckled with stones of all colors, like stars. Four feet in front of the mirror was the beginning of an ice blue, slow flowing, underground river. Niko came forward, and the three stared into the endless cave.

  Chapter 8

  He remembered the paper in his hand, and slowly unfolded it to see five lines of words in red ink,