Page 28 of Searching for Thanksgiving

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“I’ve found them,” Trisha murmured into the communicator, watching the raft as it floated by her.

“Where?” Paul immediately replied.

Trisha sent the location. She sensed Kelan when he landed in a tree near her. Shifting into her dragon-form, she lifted off. He followed her as she flew high over the river.

Should we stop them? he asked.

No… not unless they get into trouble.

I’m really impressed they made it this far! They have to be a good eighty kilometers from the palace!

I wonder where they are going, she replied.

I know there is a village farther down the river. Edna and Christoff live not far from here, he replied.

I don’t think they know Christoff and Edna… or about the village, she replied.

We’ll find out soon enough. Their parents might not be quite as willing as you to let them continue on this little adventure, he replied with rueful amusement.

She chuckled. Dad would. Let the others know to meet us there. I’ll stay with them, she said.

Kelan’s dragon bowed his head before he veered away. Trisha continued following the bright pink raft as it floated down the river. She was impressed at the kids’ ingenuity and resourcefulness. Where they got the raft, she had no idea, but the bright color made it easier to keep an eye on them.

Finding them had been a combination of luck and tenaciousness. None of the others thought the kids would have made it this far from the palace. With no tracks or scents to follow, the searchers decided to spread out in all directions.

She had been about to turn around when her dragon caught the faintest whiff of sticky butter and honey. She had made enough sticky butter and honey sandwiches for Bálint to know the smell by heart. She had eventually found the spot where they had camped for the night… and the scars on the tree from a woverbear. She had taken solace in the fact there had been no scent of blood. After that, following the trail was easy. It had been obvious the kids were transporting something that was very heavy for them… and it was obvious that Leo had been very, very hungry. The trail was littered with cookie crumbs.

She had reached the shoreline just as the kids pushed off. Morah’s soft words had drifted back to her. ‘I love goings on adventures.’ Her heart melted at the joy and contentment in the little girl’s confession. It reminded her of when she was little and out on an adventure back home on the ranch.

Have your adventures, Morah. Dad will completely understand and be very proud of you, little sister, she thought.

Deep in the forest

A thin line of smoke rose from the chimney of the quaint hut nestled in the forest. There was a small vegetable and herb garden, accessed by an ornate iron gate and surrounded by a rock wall that helped keep the animals from getting to the precious bounty contained inside. A creek ran nearby, supplying water to both the garden and the resident inside the hut.

Crystal Anderson pulled the cloak off the peg near the door and pulled the heavy wooden door open. Cool air collided with the warm interior, causing a shiver to run down her spine. She grabbed the bucket next to the door and walked along the uneven rock path. She turned to the left when the path divided and headed for the enclosed garden. The iron latch felt cool under her hand as she lifted it. She left the gate open behind her as she walked along the rows of ripening vegetables.

She hummed softly under her breath as she began picking the vegetables that she would have for lunch and dinner over the next couple of days. Her mind wandered as she did the soothing chore. It was hard to believe that at almost twenty-three, she was content to live an isolated life on an alien planet.

The feeling of being watched sent another shiver down her spine, this time of apprehension. She straightened and glanced around the area. A slight movement in the shadows made her grit her teeth until her jaw hurt.

“I thought I told you to leave me alone!” she hissed.

The creature rose and stepped closer. It moved with the grace of a lion stalking its prey. A shiver of fear coursed through her, and she glanced toward the door of the hut. There was no way she would make it out of the walled garden and into the hut before the creature pounced her.

“What do you want? Why are you… why are you stalking me?” she asked in a quivering voice.

The creature didn’t answer. It simply watched her. It was massive. She didn’t recognize the shape. Spark, Christoff and Grandmother Edna’s symbiot, was half the size of this creature. Spark was also gold, as were the few other symbiots that she had seen. This one wasn’t. This one was black.

She reached for the hoe that she had used the day before to clear some of the weeds and held it firmly between her hands. Her throat tightened when the creature released a low, menacing snarl, its eyes locked on the tool in her hand.

“Leave me alone,” she said in a firmer voice. “Go on! Get outta here.”

The creature didn’t move for several seconds. Then, it began to back up until it disappeared back into the forest. Crystal remained frozen as the minutes ticked by, straining to see into the shadows. Only when the menacing feeling faded did she lower the hoe.

Her body was trembling so much that she was forced to use the hoe as a brace to keep from melting into a heap in the loose soil of the garden. She gathered the basket of vegetables she had harvested and carefully made her way to the gate. She paused only long enough to latch it before she hurried as quickly as her uneven gait would allow her back to the hut.

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