Rain and the Seven Stones
A Short Story by Jill D'Entremont
Chapter 4
Rain had to wait until nightfall to approach her former herd’s grounds. Nestled in the forest just east of the mud pool, the herd lived in relative peace among the patches of light that filtered through the trees. Seeing the place again filled her with the nostalgia of her younger years, and her lips were pulled into a smile as she crept through familiar grounds.
She perched herself atop a high rock at the edge of the mud pool which granted her a wide view of the members she once grew up with. The herd had grown in size, as those her age were now raising children of their own; however, compared to its size before the tyrant attack, the herd was still far below the numbers it once was.
The back of a tall, red grazer stepped into her view, and she scowled as his stance alone caused the children to dart behind their mothers.
“There he is… as pompous as ever.”
Thorn thrust his hand out, and the herd reluctantly retreated to a more covered area of their grounds. He remained in place with his prideful stature, looking upon the members of his herd down the bridge of his nose.
“All these years later and you’re still a jerk. Way to go, Thorn.” Rain rolled her eyes. “Now where are you keeping the stone…”
She watched as he lowered his stance for a moment to scan the area. Instinctively remaining still and silent, she remained hidden among the tree branches that shielded her appearance at the top of the rock. With the visible area deemed clear, Thorn retreated a few feet and turned toward her to settle down in the clearing. It was then she saw a yellow stone strapped to his forehead.
“You’re wearing the stone on your head. Lovely.”
Rain shifted on her knees and rolled her neck to relieve the strain of keeping watch. Thorn was separated from the herd, but they would still be within eyeshot. She could distract the herd, but it would also disturb Thorn. And even if she could get past the herd, it would be difficult to remove the stone from his head without waking him. She needed to get him far enough away that he was out of sight, but not too far to cause members of the herd to try to go after him. When she surveyed the thick darkness that blanketed the forest around the clearing, she formulated an idea.
Thorn had just begun to rest when he heard a rustling in the trees to his right. Narrowing his eyes, he lifted his crested head and glanced in the sound’s direction. When he saw and heard nothing more, he made a precautionary glance to his left to check on the herd.
Another rustle had his orange eyes glued to the dense forest. He rose slowly to his feet and crouched with his hands on the ground.
The rustling continued, and his narrow eyes squinted to slits. He began walking to the edge of the forest but stopped before he stepped outside of the clearing. He scanned the area, but instead turned up his nose and turned back into the clearing.
Rain was lying on her stomach against the ground in order to be hidden by the thick undergrowth. She assumed he wouldn’t step blindly into the forest without reason, and she knew him well enough to give him the perfect bait.
She swung her tail in the brush to cause another rustle. “Shh—he’ll hear you!” She hissed, adjusting her voice’s pitch to sound like a child.
Thorn had scarcely knelt down when he heard the noise. “Who’s there?” He barked, startling a few members of the herd behind him.
“See?” Rain spoke lower, “He’s coming!”
“If you children are planning to disturb my herd, you have another thing coming!” The leader of the herd paced heavily toward the forest.
“Oh yeah? Like what!” She mimicked her first voice, almost laughing at herself. “You won’t even be able to catch us!”
Thorn clenched his fists so tight they began to shake. “Yes I will!!” He burst into the forest, breaking through tree limbs and underbrush in the process. “Where are you?” he growled, striking tree trunks with his tail as he blindly spun in the darkness. “I’m not about to let a bunch of children make a fool of me!”
In his thrashing, he had not heard Rain’s footsteps approaching him until he felt the stone on his forehead yanked away after the vines that held it were sliced through by a sharp rock.
“Hey!!” He bellowed, swinging his body around just as a dark shadow scampered backward. “How dare you—give that back!!”
He dove at the shaded figure and grabbed the end of a long stick. He yanked on it and pulled the creature that wielded it towards him. His grip was strong, but the foot of the creature making contact with his jaw was stronger.
He released the staff and roared in anger, his long, hollow crest amplifying the sound. He collapsed to the ground just as two other males rushed into the forest after him.
“Thorn, what—”
“Go after them!!” Thorn shouted, clutching at his crownless head and bruised jaw.
“After who—where?” One glanced into the darkness, but couldn’t see or hear anything.
Their leader could only moan, flopping his crested head onto the ground. “When I find out who did this, they—oww—they’ll be sorry!”
--
“I do believe I was right in placing my trust in you.”
In the firelight that flickered within the cave, Rain could just make out Kotah’s dark, amorphous form as it lurked in the shadows. She eyed the form bemusedly as it surrounded the faceted red and yellow stones.
“You’re pushing your way through this as if you were born to do it.”
“As much as I wasn’t expecting to admit it,” Rain smirked, “it’s actually been kind of fun.”
“You’ve already collected two of the seven stones,” the voice continued, “I’m certainly impressed.”
“I appreciate that,” Rain stifling a yawn behind her hand. “But I would also appreciate some sleep.”
“Of course. A new day of stone hunting is in store tomorrow.”
She rose and started to set her nest back in order, but she paused when she saw the dark form still resting on the floor near the stones. “You’re still here?” she asked.
“I am. Is something wrong?”
“Well,” Rain’s mouth twisted, feeling uncomfortable settling down with the amorphous form of Kotah present. “I guess not,” she lied.
“I would like to tell you of the next stones so that you will be ready in the morning.”
She sighed softly and began to remove her gear. “Sure, go ahead.”
“The next two stones are currently in the possession of one called Treeka. The Stone of Balance is a clear purple crystal, and the Stone of Contentment is a smoky pink. Treeka roosts high on the cliffs near the ocean, and the stones are two of many in her vast hoard.”
“Two in one, huh? Though getting up a cliff is going to be awfully tough.” Rain mused as she set her staff against the wall and settled into her nest. “I used to be a climber as a kid, but I was a lot smaller—and lighter—then.”
“I assume you will find a way.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, if I don’t fall to my death…”
“You’re a survivor, Rain.”
The words pierced through her and caught her breath. They were her mother’s words.
“I know you can do it. I trust you.”
Rain was able to breathe again, nodding as her eyes focused on the sand before her. She wasn’t the most comfortable with him present, but without another word, she curled her head against her arms.
The shadowed form of Kotah melted back into the ground. “Rest well, Rain. We will talk tomorrow.”