Some Try, Brisbys Do

Justin

Kristy cried as she ran through the fields of the farm. Jonathan was dead and Mr. Ages gave no explanation as to what happened. The only thing he mentioned was that Dragon had killed him. She sighed as she approached the rosebush in the garden by the Fitzgibbons' house. Kristy crawled through the opening and entered the bush.

She looked around the entrance nervously. Brutus was the guard to the rosebush, and although she knew him, he was still very scary to her being three times her size.

"Brutus!" she called out. "Brutus, it's just me, Kristy! Please don't jump out and scare me, I'm having a really bad day."

Kristy walked in silence through the rosebush. She saw Brutus and luckily he didn't do anything to scare her. He just bowed his head in respect.

"Do you know where Justin is?" Kristy asked.

"Just down the path", he answered. "I'm sorry about Jonathan."

She nodded and continued down the path. She needed to see Justin. He was her most trusted friend... her best friend.

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Kristy was hyperventilating as she and Jonathan were brought to some sort of laboratory. The humans placed them with the new arrivals that have been brought in that night.

"Kristy, calm down", Jonathan squeaked. "Everything will be okay."

"Calm down?" Kristy gasped. "How do you expect me to calm down? What's going to happen to us?"

Jonathan looked around the laboratory to see other animals. They all looked scared and upset.

"Hey!" he squeaked. "Hey! Do you know where we are? Can you help us get out?"

The animals all just looked away sad. Kristy looked about ready to cry. She didn't know what was going to happen to them, but she knew it was not going to be good. A human brought in another cage and set it down next to theirs. Inside were a bunch of rats. Kristy watched as some of the rats tried to break out of the cage anyway they could.

"Hey", one of the rats said looking at her.

"Me?" Kristy squeaked.

"Yeah. Where are we?"

"I don't know", she sighed. "I honestly don't know."

"What's your name?"

"Kristy. Kristy Brisby. Who are you?"

"I'm Justin."

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Kristy looked around. Justin should be in this area somewhere. She gasped and nearly screamed as she felt a pair of arms grab her and lifted her off the ground.

"Reveal thy name..." a voice whispered

"Hey, it's just me, Kristy!"

"I knew it was you", Justin said with a smile.

He set Kristy down and hugged her.

"Where have you been?" he asked. "It's been weeks since I've seen you."

Kristy looked down sad. She would've loved to explain to Justin why she hadn't come to visit, but it just brought back memories she didn't wish to discuss at the moment.

"I'm here to see Nicodemus", she said.

"About what?" Justin asked.

"Jonathan. I know his death had something to do with you guys."

His whiskers drooped as soon as she mentioned the name. Justin wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

"I'm sorry", he said. "I didn't know how bad you would take it if something ever happened. That's why no one told you."

"He was my brother", Kristy said. "I don't think I would've let this happen so easily."

"Jonathan wouldn't have let you stop him. He would've done anything to help Nicodemus."

Kristy nodded as she looked down.

"Is he busy?" she asked. "I need to know why this happened."

Justin led her through the rosebush. They said nothing as they took the lantern through the water where their homes were.

"How are you handling this?" Justin asked wanting to break the silence. "I know his family must not be taking it well."

"Elizabeth's been crying ever since Mr. Ages told us", Kristy said. "The children want to know why their father died. We all know to stay away from Dragon. It doesn't make any sense to them."

"Nicodemus will tell you and you can just tell the children he was getting some food and Dragon found him."

"I suppose."

Justin led Kristy to the door to Nicodemus' room. The door opened with a flash of light and a gust of wind allowing them to come inside.