Unfamiliar Territory [Book One]

Chapter Three | The Dead Tea Drinkers, Part Two

After a few minutes of walking, Kat and Mr. Mallard came to a stop on the gravel path we had been trekking between the gravestones, which caused the rest of us to stop as well. Mr. Mallard turned and pointed back at a small hill that lay ahead--just off the path. It had a series of gravestones running up alongside it with a few taking residence at the top.

"What do you think, everyone? Does that spot look alright?" he asked.

"Perfect!" Mutt exclaimed. Without waiting for anyone else, he took off towards the hill. He put distance behind him consistently easy. I had to wonder if it was from years of running from tormentors.

"Looks good to me," Stallion said. Kat shrugged. Did I look even a fraction as cool as her when I did it?

"Well, young lad, how about you?" Mr. Mallard asked me. I blinked. He, Stallion, Kat, and even Mutt--who stopped halfway up the hill--turned their attention to me.

This was it--Mutt was just a test run. Now was my moment, my time to show them. I struggled for the right words--the perfect words. This was my chance to show them how cool, level-headed, and totally not annoying I was. They waited patiently for my answer.

"Sure, sounds good."

"Yes! Tea time!" Mutt turned back and ran the rest of the way up the hill at break neck speed.

"No, no, Mutt, first we do the rubbings, then the tea," Mr. Mallard called, making his way up, although at a much slower pace. Kat helped support him as they followed after Mutt.

I had to be at least twenty pounds lighter. No voice cracks, no stuttering. Perfect.

I followed up after Stallion, resisting the urge to let out a happy hum. I tried to peek around him. Was Kat starting to see me?

When we were all at the top of the hill, Stallion and Mutt set down their burdens. Kat set her backpack down and was unzipping it when Mr. Mallard placed a hand on her shoulder. It looked gentle enough, but Kat froze up. The plump old man turned to the rest of us with a pleasant smile. "You all know what to do. Grab paper and charcoal and find some good gravestones; I want at least five done before you return. And don't just look around this hill, there's at least an entire acre of good material to sift through--so get to it."

Mutt and Stallion were already gathering their supplies and had practically left by the time Mr. Mallard had finished speaking. I met his bright blue eyes and he was prepared to say something when Kat spoke up. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay and help?" she asked, not getting up from the ground.

"I'm not too old to make tea, my dear," Mr. Mallard said with a gentle smile. "Please, join the others. In fact..." he gave me a sideways glance, "...why don't you show our new initiate here how it's done? I'm sure he would be grateful for the instruction."

I tried to smile in a grateful sort of way as Kat eyed me as well. She stood up from the ground and walked over to the stack of paper and the now opened pencil case, grabbing paper and a single piece of charcoal before stalking off back down the hill. For a moment I stood there, watching after her, until she called out: "Hurry up or I'll do all of them by myself."

I wasted no time grabbing my own paper and charcoal. I whispered a quick thank you to Mr. Mallard before descending the hill after Kat.

"It's simple," she said as I caught up. She was kneeling down before a tombstone. I watched as she placed a sheet of paper against the words carved into the stone. With quick, smooth motions of her hand, she rubbed the charcoal against the paper. "You probably did something like this in grade school."