Cumberland (Not A Dream Book 1) (12 page)

We came to the end of the tunnel, and seen vines coating the walls around the new opening.

              “The vines kind of look like a ladder,” Olivia pointed out.

              I looked at the vines closely, and saw them form a pattern of crooked diamonds. Jack was the first up the vines, he said, “I am going to test the strength of these.”

              I watched as he climbed effortlessly up the pattern of vines. He grunted a few times, as the weaker ones broke. Olivia followed after him, and then my grandpa.

              I looked at Mason and asked him, “Do you want to go first?”

              “No, I want you to, just in case you fall. I want to be there if you fall,” he gently answered.

              “Are you sure?” I chivalry asked.

              “Yes, please. I want you safe,” he said with a silvery tone.

              “Okay,” I smiled.

              I blushed, as I turned to face the vines, and climbed up the pattern next. The vines were hard in my hands, but obviously dead. The dirt dug under my nails, as I grabbed each vine. I felt disgusted, but relieved to get out of the creepy tunnel.

              I looked down at Mason, as he followed behind me, and he nodded to usher me along. I used my strength to quicken my pace. I did not know how strong these vines were, or how long they have been grown to last.

              After we met at the top, I noticed the centaur didn’t seem to coming up anytime soon. I looked down and saw him standing there looking up.

              I asked him, “Are you coming yet?”

              He shook his head, letting his hair shake back and forth. His smoky eyes became clear and human-like as he spoke, “I cannot go. I have things to do.”

              He started to walk away and I stopped him, “I didn’t catch your name!”

              He turned back and eyed me, “I do not have a name,” he solemnly added, “I do not need one.”

              “Are you sure?” I questioned him.

              He nodded and disappeared into the darkness after throwing up the light, I had handed him to get up the vines. I wanted to talk more to him, but he was too quick.

              We turned around and saw the mountain just a few feet away. I walked up to it, and asked everyone, “Ever rock climbed before?”

              Olivia sneered, “Yeah, but with ropes and hooks.”

              I giggled, “My dad and I used to as well, and I always slipped up.”

              Jack hastened, “Well, everyone be careful.”

              We each picked a side to climb. I was behind Olivia, and she followed Jack. Mason led my grandpa behind me. The stones were dusty, and I feared of what may come. I looked down at Mason and he yelled, “You’ll get vertigo. Don’t look down!”

              I nodded and agreed.
The last thing I need is to be dizzy while just starting to climb. I don’t need to develop a fear of heights
.

              We were quick to be climbing further, and did not look down. It wasn’t too long before we became half way up the mountain. The dirt under my nails started to hurt my fingertips, with each grip I placed on a stone.

              I reached up to grab the next rock and it did not seem too sturdy. I went ahead and grabbed another and they both let free from the wall. I began to fall back and was quickly stopped as Mason grabbed my hand. He pulled me on his back and concluded, “You better just hold onto me, for the rest of the way.”

              I let him carry me up the mountain wall.

              I asked him, “Will you be okay?”

              “Yes, I will be fine,” he answered.

              My grandpa added, “What happened up there?”

              “Nothing, just tried putting my weight on unstable rocks.”

              He made a tisk noise with his mouth and curled his lips, “Can’t always trust a rope to catch your fall.”

              “No, but I can trust Mason to always be there to break my fall,” I swore.

              I could feel Mason’s face smile, as I rested my head on his shoulder.
The smell of Cumberland had done his masculinity well
, I kept to myself.

              I looked up at Olivia, and witnessed her begin to climb faster than Jack. She yelled down, jokingly, “Hurry up you old geezers; I am almost to the ledge.”

              We were not much further away from a ledge
. This was easier to climb onto than up the mountain.
Mason effortlessly lifted me up on the ledge and easily hopped up to his feet just using his arms. I felt impressed with how much upper body strength he had.

              We arrived, to what looked like the top of the mountain, and saw the view it had to give. Clouds formed in lines, and the sky glowed orange. I was able to visualize what it must have been like to see the aviary creatures free to spread their wings and fly.

              Even though we were just on a ledge, a distance away, I could see part of the Waterfall that was made up of liquid Onyx. I was amazed by the beauty it held.

              The height of the ledge showed the sea and all the tops to the trees. Staring down at the Path of Knowledge, made it possible to view every booby trap there was.

              I asked Mason, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

              He nodded, “Yes, but right now is not the time to be sight-seeing.”

              I agreed, and slowly turned around, trying to capture the image in my memory.

              As I turned my head, Olivia had shouted, “Milly! Over here! I think these people are your parents.”

              I looked over to an opening in the side of the mountain, and saw two people struggling to get free. It wasn’t even closed off with a gate, and they were strapped down onto chairs.

              I yelled out, “Mom! Dad!”

              They looked up, and I was able to see their mouths were covered with a tape. It wrapped around their heads, only letting their noses breath. They saw me and tried to shake their heads.

              I ran up to the opening and walked through it. I walked up to them and hugged them both tightly, “I promise I will get you free.”

              I turned around and saw the rest of the group behind me. We acted quickly to get them free. The metal bars around their legs and wrists were pried off with thick flat stick. The tape was taken off by my parents.

              We turned around to get out of the cave, and a gate shot down out of the top. It slammed to the ground, trapping us inside. I tried to shake it free, but it wouldn’t budge. Mason tried to punch it open, and wouldn’t break.

              I turned to my parents and they squeezed me close. My fathers’ scruff tickled my cheek and my mothers’ red curls blended with mine. I didn’t want to let go, but knew I needed to keep my promise to them.

              “What do we do?” I stressed.

              “The gate can only be broken from the outside,” Jack stated.

              “How do you know for sure?” my dad questioned.

              “I built this,” he regrettably admitted.

              Olivia gripped the gate with her fists and began to yell out, “Help! We are trapped-.”

              Jack placed his hand around her mouth and demanded her to stay quiet, “Someone we do not want to hear us, might hear you and lead them to us. Understand?”

              She nodded carefully and pulled his hand away from her mouth, “Yuk! I don’t know where your hands been!”

              Her seriousness was too quaint to be taken serious, which made me giggle at her wide eyed expression, and slack jawed mouth. She was much too small to not want to pinch her cheeks.

              “Well, what do you suppose we do, dad? Just wait here, locked away in a mountain, hoping for our knight and shining armor to rescue us?” Olivia sneered while eyeing Jack cautiously.

              “Well, I don’t know about knight and shining armor, but what about nameless centaur?” I turned around and looked at the centaur in surprise.

              I quickly asked, “What.. Where.. How did you know?”

              “After finishing my tasks, I took a walk through the forest. I heard a plea, and had to follow,” he answered.

              Jack approached the gate and asked, “Do you think you can help us out?”

              “How?” the centaur asked.

              “It can only be broken down from the outside,” Jack explained.

              “Okay, stand back,” the centaur requested.

              We did as he told us, and took a few steps back as well. He lowered his head, exposing his horns, and began to run fast towards us. He came to the gate and made a cling noise as his horns came into contact with the metal bars. They tumbled down, breaking us free.

              We hollered in excitement and I asked him, “How could we ever repay you?”

              He paused, holding his chin. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do you still have a name in mind for me?”

              I nodded and answered, “Reginald the Centaur.”

              He smiled, and said, “That sounds perfect.”

              “What were your tasks, if you don’t mind me asking?” my dad asked.

              Reginald the Centaur sighed, “No problem. It is just, the aviary creatures are dying out.”

              I exchanged looks with Olivia, Jack, my grandpa, and Mason, all at once. We knew what had to be done.               I looked at Reginald, “We will do everything in our power to help them.”

Reginald left the group once more, and pointed to the second, and last, ledge the mountain had. He smiled, before disappearing at the bottom of the mountain.

              On the last ledge, the electric cages dangled, in the air, all connected to a thick black wire. The other side was only connected to a tree. The trunk was bent, from all of the heavy weight.

              The ledge was only five feet high, and easy to climb. I grabbed hold of steadier rocks, and pulled myself up smoother than before. There, I met Jack, and could see the wheels turning in his head.

              “There are latches on the top of the cages,” he pointed out.

              I studied the latches, and saw they could easily be opened. I asked, “How do we open them?”

              “All at once,” he concluded.

              “Yes, but how?” I pressed.

              “We will use this,” he issued, while pulling out a thick roll of twine. He quickened to add, “We will loop them through the holes of the bars, which keep the latches shut.”

              “That means,” Olivia hesitated, “More heights?” she questioned with a gulp.

              “Be more positive!” my grandpa exclaimed.

              “Yeah, it is just like tight rope walking,” my dad added, with smile.

              I looked at my mother and saw her grin, as she reached for my dad’s hand. He turned to her and asked, “You ready?”

              She nodded, and Jack rushed, “No time to waste,” while tapping the watch on his wrist.

              We each began to pick a cage, except for my dad, and climb the rope towards it. I tried to be careful, because one slip would electrocute my entire body. I knew I was slowing down Mason, but he didn’t seem to mind too much.

              I looked to see the last creature I had to use string on, and saw it was a Blue Crow. It met my eyes, and I could tell it felt sad. I watched as it lifted its wing revealing baby Blue Crows.

              They seemed to be lifeless. I looked to Jack and asked, “This Blue Crow is a mother, but something is wrong with the babies.”

              “They missed the feeding time. Baby Blue Crows are supposed to be fed, right after they are born,” he solemnly answered.

              I looked at the giant bird once more and tried to look apologetic. Her saddened nature, made it impossible to not cry. Tears dropped down on my cheeks, as I said, “I can help you.”

              I looped the twine through the cast iron hole, and tied it tight. I lifted up a thumb to signal it had been done. My dad stayed on the ledge, holding the end that would free them all. I watched as he held up the twine, wanting to pull the latches free.

              Everyone else, including my mom, was ready. She eyed me dolefully, and watched the Blue Crow carefully. I wasn’t for sure what was on her mind, but we both had caring expressions on our faces. I could feel mine, mimic hers unconsciously.              

              The Blue Crow began to squawk and growl. She would flap her wings vigorously to the side, and started to shake to cage. The movement caused the wire to bounce. I gripped on tightly to the wire, trying to not fall.

              I looked up and saw Mason dangling from the wire, as he caught himself from falling. I looked at Olivia and pleaded, “Help him!”

              She rolled her eyes, but started her way to him. I looked down and saw a small geyser hidden beneath bushes. Mason hung right above it. The Blue Crow continued to move the wire, causing him to swing back and forth. As he swung, his body got closer to the electric bars.

              I squealed each time he inched closer. Olivia shouted, “Calm down, I am getting him!”

              “I am trying to calm down, it is just really scary,” I admitted.

              Olivia made it over to him, and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pulled him up. I grimaced at her rudeness, but didn’t argue. I just felt grateful he was alright.

              My dad pulled at the twine, releasing the aviary creatures. The cages electric bars disappeared, only to reveal four single bars around the edges of them, which connected the top and bottom metal plates.

              The Blue Crow spread its wings and she flew away. I looked down inside her cage and noticed she left behind her babies. I hopped down into the nest and pulled out three baby Blue Crows. I looked up and saw everyone heading back to the ledge.

              “I have to get that geyser!” I yelled out while pointing to the ground.

              They stopped and turned back around. Jack came in last, pulling the twine out of the loops. He said, “We can use this twine to drop down to it.”

              “Why do we need to go there?” Olivia asked.

              “Trust me,” I demanded.

              I took the birds in one arm, and used the other to pull down to the ground. I made it the bottom and quickly ran to the geyser. It steamed with warmth, but still it was the water inside it, I was looking for.

              Everyone looked at me with confused expressions on their faces. I tossed a rock in the geyser, and didn’t notice anything that would ever come up and scare us.

              I placed a foot in to test the depth, it was a small depth, but it worked. I sat down in it, and watched as my feet turned into fins. My parents seemed confused, so I answered, “We took some pills Alistabella the Nix gave us. Now, every time we get in water, we turn into one.”

              “What are your plans with the birds?” Olivia questioned.

              “Murphy the Nen taught me a trick,” I chided.

              I grabbed a handful of dirt from the geyser and explained, “Only a sea creature has the power to heal.”

              Olivia raised an eyebrow to me and smiled, “Just watch.”

              “Wait! How do know it will work?” Mason asked.

              “I don’t,” I admitted, “but it might.”

              I felt all eyes on me as I focused on healing the Blue Crow babies. I laid them down on the ground and picked up some dirt. I closed my fist around the dirt, and made the tiny tornados on top of them, as Murphy had done.

              I watched as life slowly invaded their bodies. They glowed brightly, and then faded instantly. They opened their eyes, and quickly hopped to their feet. I smiled at everyone and they each had an awe-like expression upon their faces.

              “I have some bread crumbs,” my grandpa offered. He fed them to the babies, and petted their heads gently with one finger.

              I started to hear rustling in the bushes, and looked up to the giant Blue Crow, that was their mom. She approached us slowly, as we back away at the same pace. She sniffed the baby Blue Crow’s and nodded.

              We smiled at her, and she took the babies to fly away.

              “Looks like we have company,” Jack announced.

              My grandpa looked up and said, “We need to get Ben and Lillian safely up in the Blue Crow’s nest. They can hide under the shell the babies were born under,” while pointing at my parents.

              We nodded in agreement.