Hello, From the Edge of the World

Chapter Seven: "The Sky Ships"

Chapter Seven

"The Sky Ships"

I awoke to the sound of seagulls flapping their wings, and the feeling of Twig, who was shaking Nicole and I awake. "Wake up, you two!" he yelled, as I opened my bleary eyes to see several grand ships docked at a cove. "The Sky Pirates spotted us from their ships, and they agreed to give the three of us a lift. We're going home." said Twig. Nicole finally sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Where are we?" she asked. Out of the blue, there came the clicking of leather boots, which belonged to a tall man with dark hair, a sharp chin, and black eyes. "You are on board one of the finest sky ships in all of the Stone Gardens and are set to leave this world. Your tasks in this story now over—the Gloamglozer had been defeated—and the dominion of men must be passed to other creatures." Said the captain. I could see the other pirates preparing the ship for the journey back to our world.

Twig looked at Nicole and I with watery eyes, and took both of our hands in his. Although I felt happy to be returning to the real life, I could sense a tinge of mutual sadness between the three of us. "Thank you, master Elspeth and Master Nicolaus," said Twig. "I am truly grateful for your fellowship. However, my destiny lies above the clouds—with the sky pirates—to help serve the people here in whatever way possible." He said, wiping tears away. "I do not know when I will see you again, but I want you to have this as a reminder of our adventures throughout and beyond the Deepwoods." I pressed my forehead against his, and Nicole wrapped her arms around the both of us. I could feel her trembling in our embrace. "I promise I will not forget you, Twig. And if you are ever passing through our world—tea is at 4 o'clock at the college library—you are welcome anytime." I said. Nicole nodded, and unsheathed her short sword. "I am sorry for what I said when we first met. I want you to have this blade—it came to me in the Gyle Goblin's colony, and its light brought me to the right path—it led me back to you and Elspeth." She said, handing him the curved sword, which glimmered in the golden light. Twig grasped his gift in his hands and stared at its blue glow in sheer awe. "Thank you, Nicolaus, for the token of our friendship. I will never forget you." Said Twig.

As we walked towards the loading dock, which was now fully prepared for takeoff, I took one last look at the dense, green woodlands. Despite every bit of chaos the three of us experienced in the Deepwoods—between the Gyle Goblins, the Termagant Trogs, the Skullpelt, and the Tree-giant—there was something that always felt like home when I returned back to the wild. It almost felt comforting to know that there would always be another world out there, but despite all of the twists, turns, and problems, I would defeat it side-by-side with my friends. But I knew that the captain was right—the journey was never really over yet—there would always be more adventures that lied ahead of me, I only needed to stop and look for them. I felt the ship lurch forward as it rose into the air, and watched as the silver misting clouds pulled back to reveal a brilliant golden light at the front of the figurehead. And in that moment, as the ship passed into the curtain, I knew we were going home.