Journey to Thorn Valley

chapter 5

Moving day came, and Brisby couldn't believe that this was the last time she'd see her home, the field that she had always known, and Auntie Shrew who had always been there.

Jeremy and his mate had untangled a long string from their nest and carefully tied it around his chest and one of his legs to make sure the mice had something firm to hold onto. They said it wouldn't be necessary, but Brisby had insisted on it. After all, it was going to be a very long trip.

She had also worried that their luggage would be too much to carry, but Jeremy took one look at the one big bag they got and the tiny bags each of them was carrying and assured her that he was more than capable of carrying all of it. In fact, he started a long rant about all the things he carried to his tree when they were building their love nest and Leslie agreed.

"Boy, it's gonna be a long trip," grumbled Martin. His mother shushed him, "it would be even longer and more dangerous without his help," she said, and pretended she didn't notice the pointy stick tied to his waist, wich he had added to his lugage last second. She just gestured for the kids to start taking their positions. The crow noticed and interrupted himself at last to let them all on.
Auntie Shrew sputtered.

"Make sure to tie yourselves up tight with that string! And I don't want any of you jumping or running up and down on that bird! Be good to your mother, okay?"
"Yes, Auntie Shrew," said the kids in unison. Again, "I mean it!" she said, "your mother is working very hard to take care of you, and you have to take care of her too now that you aren't so little anymore."
"Yes, Auntie Shrew," they said.

"I promise!" said Martin, standing straight, slingshot in hand like a general, before he got on Jeremy's foot and started tying the string around himself.

"Let me help you with that," she said. Martin rolled his eyes but stood patiently still as she practically tied the string around his chest like a harness.

"That's too tight!"
"There is no such thing when you are going flying with a bird like this, boy."
"I need some extra string to move around when Jeremy lands, and to tie the bag to make sure he doesn't drop it."

The shrew and him exchanged a look. She untied the string and tied it again according to his reasoning. He stood still the whole time and then said, "thank you."

"You be a good boy. You are the oldest, and you are responsible for your mother and your siblings, you hear me?"
"I know."

The shrew nodded at him with a definitive huff, and stood back to give the bird some space, looking up at the rest of the family on his back.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" asked Leslie, "and carry some of the weight?"
"No darling, don't you worry, I can do this myself! You watch the nest while I get to know the way, and when I know it we can both visit, alright?"
"Alright sweetbeak," she said, and caressed his neck feathers with her beak, making sure the red string was firm but comfy. He responded with a low, happy little chirping noise.

"And you!" said the shrew, "you... bird. You better be careful with these mice or I assure you I will know, and I'll get back at you!"
"Yes ma'am!" he said, lifting his wing in a salute, "I promise, I'll be back in no time with good news."

"You better," she said. She and Leslie waited as he casually took a bit of an impulse and jumped into the air.

As he did this without warning, the mice gasped and screamed, but as he kept flying, the sound turned into childish laughter in the distance.

Brisby held on tight and closed her eyes, but her children looked in awe as the floor became more distant and everything on it turned small, like a spell. Within just a few seconds, with no effort at all, the farm was left behind.