Song of the Firebird

Forty Seven

'LOOK OUT!!'

...

'Watch where you're going! Had you jumped in a few seconds later, you would have been a lifeless heap by now. And I will be sentenced for murder!'

'I'm sorry. I didn't intend to take my life at this time.'

'Are you lost?'

'Most likely. Can—Can you please offer me a ride back to town? I will be grateful for your help.'

After a moment of silence, 'Hop in. I am leaving for that ruddy little town, anyways.'

'Ruddy little town?', thought Ivy and nodded at the woman with short blonde hair as she hopped inside the blue truck. She cast a long look at the boot of the almost empty truck except for some woven baskets, before she turned to look at the woman behind the wheels. It became difficult for Ivy to deduce her age since there were no signs of basic make up. The hands on her wheels sported the leather gloves. The woman reeked of fresh scent of screw pines and Ivy was pulled into such an intoxicating fragrance, involuntarily. As far she had known, no ever perfume on the market smelled that way.

Whispering a polite 'thank you', Ivy studied the scene unfold before her. She contemplated whether to ask the woman about what town was nearby. She felt that it would stir doubts and she didn't want a stranger to know of the gang or her escape from them. It would involve the stranger into a dangerous position and she felt that that would be the last thing that she would ever want.

The stranger sighed. 'My name is Rosie. We might have to get acquainted since we have a long way to the town.'

'I'm Ivy.'

'Are you one of the young people going on a trek in the woods? You lost them?' Rosie shook her head, 'How many times should we have to warn you folks that there are wild animals in this forest and it is not recommended to come as a group for such activities. Two nights ago, my cousin crossed paths with a cougar and he was in a horrible state. You must be lucky to come out alive.'

'That is horrible, though. One of my crew cleverly beat up a wild cat, a few moments I got lost.'

Rosie stepped on her brake. 'Are they still out there? Did you abandon them?'

'I– No. I was doing research for my study and I told them that I would meet them back at our lodgings in the town.'

'Well, that's quite brave of you.' Rosie started the car and focused on the short road. She continued, 'You should worry about yourself first, Ivy. This place is far more mysterious than you think.'

'Yeah, I witnessed it late.' Ivy slouched into her seat since she figured there would be no need to press the tracker since she had done it for the second time, a couple of minutes before falling in front of the truck.

The last hour had been rough. After gorging up the pancakes, Natasha kissed her goodbye with hope evident in her eyes. The echo of '"godmother'' was drumming throughout her mind in Natasha's soft voice. One part of her mind was not at peace while she had no other choice to leave Natasha out there with the men.

Though there were not even ten men in their four–cabin premises, they seemed quite sturdy and armed. She could only make an assumption while she didn't have enough time to clearly assess her predictions. She studied the armed weapons, mostly guns, under their possession. It was a miracle, she considered, that she came out of their surveillance unnoticed. Moving stealthily around the aspen trees, she inwardly thanked the fog that helped her more than her tip-toed movements.

Ivy's legs picked up full speed when she was out in the woods. Without changing directions, she moved in a straight path that only carried her deeper into the woods. She could not stop thanking heavens when she confronted Rosie. She stretched her legs, letting them take the rest that they deserved. She rested her head and closed her eyes until she heard Rosie speak up.