Two Worlds

Curious questions

    Three blissful days passed, and in that time Ky managed to walk and run along side his mother. He released such a great and happy energy, River had forgotten about all her troubles and learned to smile again. Being happy lifted her spirit. It made her want to leap and skip alongside her fawn.
   My, being a mischievous boy, was curious about everything. He asked questions about everything such as why the grass is green and why the Birds feel such an urge to break out in song. But most of all, key liked to ask questions about unknown objects.
   "What's that Momma?" He asked, motioned to a large striped squirrel dozing in a shaded spot. "That, my dear, is a raccoon." She answered softly. "Why's he sleeping?" Ky questioned. "He must be tired! Just like you sleep at night, he sleeps in the day."
   "Oh!" He exclaimed, now understanding. He repeated what she said, in his mind, and stored that knowledge away for later. Then came another unknown object that snuck up on Ky. He leapt in the air and gasped. "What's THAT?"
   It moved quickly, babbling and gurgling as it went. It never stopped moving, as if it were always in a rush to be somewhere else. As Ky came closer, he could see another fawn, like him, trapped in its surface. "Mother?" He called timidly.
   "Don't worry, Ky. It's just a small stream." She answered simply. "Small stream?" Ky repeated. He wasn't satisfied with this "small stream" yet. So he decided to ask another question.
   "Is it dangerous?" He asked taking a baby step back. "No." River replied, walking across its surface. As she did so, she shattered and broke small stream's face, causing endless circles to grow, and soon evaporate back into the water. Ky shook his head. "I don't think I like small stream Mother." Ky murmured.
   This made her laugh, in a way that made Ky embarrassed and confused. "It won't hurt you Ky, I promise." He perked his ears and faced the water more confidently. His mother promised his safety, and promises were always good. Except in this occasion.
   Placing his hoof in the water, Ky made two discoveries: small stream was cold, and seemed to be happy when Ky placed his hoof in the water. Because it jumped up to meet him.
   My began thrusting his hoof in the water, making the small stream happier and happier. Jumping and bucking made it happy too, in fact it jumped higher the harder he put his hooves in the water. Silver water droplets flew everywhere, and sprayed passing animals and tall grass. "Keep your fawn under control!" A furious, soaking wet mouse screamed. River tried to apologize, but the wet rat mumbled under her breath and went on her way.
   "Come along, Ky. There's other places we need to visit as well." She was eager to move along, hoping Ky wouldn't upset anyone else. As she continued into the forest, she realized Ky wasn't coming. "Ky!" She called once more.
   Her tone was harsh. Ky had never heard her raise her voice, and it startled him. He quickly sprang up the water and raised to his awaiting mother. But the rocks around the riverbank were very slick and hidden. Before he knew it, Ky was back in the water on his side. He yelped a little as he tried to stand up, and River rushed to him. "Stupid small stream. Why do you have to get me in so much trouble?" He mumbled. The River didn't answer though. It continued rolling through the forest on its stupid bubbling way.

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   Unfortunately the rest of the forest wasn't nearly as exciting as small stream. Every time Ky tried to pounce and make the grass spring up, crickets and frogs would arise in agony and curse his name. He was also very tired of seeing green, which was everywhere. Green grass, green leaves, green grasshoppers, green thorns, green vines, even his mother appeared green from the green light the forest had.
   That and he was horribly lost. Ever tree and rock seemed the same to Ky, no matter which way they went. And to make matters worse, he was famished. "Mother, where are we?" He whined. He could see her ears flick back in annoyance, yet she still carried a sweet smile and tone. "We're in the forest" she replied. "Where in the forest?" He wanted a more detailed answer.
   "I'm not sure."
"So we're lost?"
"Well, no. I'm following a path."
"What path? All I see is green stuff and dirt."
"That is the path"
"Mother my head hurts."
   River silenced him and kept walking forward, following her invisible path. As Ky followed behind he remained silent, and ceased asking questions. The trees above became more generous, and shared the bright light with the forest below. Ky was beyond excited that it wasn't green anymore, but more of a light yellow.
   Up ahead was a doorway of light leading out of the forest, that beckoned Ky forward. "Hold on Ky." His mother placed herself in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. She'd been doing that a lot lately: Slow down Ky, hold on Ky, be careful Ky. All he wanted to do was run, and jump, and play, but his mother insisted on him going her pace. It upset him that he was being held down, but he didn't wish to upset her. So he followed her commands and orders, like she wanted.
   "What's wrong?" He questioned. When he received no answer he asked again. "Stay behind me" she commanded. Her tone was both stern and worried, which made Ky worry. He trembled a little as he followed her to the forest doorway. But what he saw wasn't dangerous.
   It was a clear open area, with no trees, or birds, or bushes. Without any trees, Ky could finally see the wide open Sky. Everything his mother told him was true: it was as blue as a robin's eggshell, with enormous fluffy rabbit tails floating in mid air. It was so bizarre, Ky wanted to get closer.
   "Ky! No!" His mother stopped him, and pointed to the ground below. Small clusters of Emerald green bean plants dotted the strange land's surface, and seemed to go off far beyond the horizon. When he looked closer, he could see heavy curved beans clinging to leaves, and dangling inches above the ground. The greens here were definitely peculiar, but he was pretty sure mother could walk across without a problem. If they were anything like the stuff in the forest, Ky was positive even he could make it across. So why was his mother treating it like a brick wall?
   "Momma, can't we cross?"
"No Ky, we have to go back."
"Why? I don't think it'll hurt us, here I'll show you!" With his tiny hoof he trampled a bean plant and crushed it into the ground. Beans burst open and spewed seeds and juice into the dirt, then became green pulp with everything else. "See Momma? They won't do anything!" And she did see, but she was horrified. "KY!" She screamed, pulling him by his scruff back into the forest's suffocating embrace.
   "Don't EVER do that again! Do you understand me?" Ky didn't understand at all. His face dripped with tears, and his hoof dripped with bean blood. "What did I do wrong? W-why are you s-so mad at me?" Perhaps she was mad he killed the poor plant, and Ky began to feel guilty. "W-was it because I killed the green stuff?"
  "What? Oh no, no, no, no, no! Not at all Ky!" He gasped hysterically for air and let his tears splat the earth. River realized it was all her fault, she shouldn't have barked at him so roughly. "Ky," she whispered cuddling him closer. "I'm not mad at you, no."
   He sniffled then looked into his mother's deep, brown eyes. "I was scared." She replied. "Scared that we would get hurt or taken away. "By what? Plants?" Ky asked. He laughed a little. "Believe me Momma, plants can't do that."
   She smiled and kissed his forehead. "I know." Her smiled slipped when she looked back at the forest doorway. "Hey, mother?" Ky looked up at his mother. "I've never seen those plants before. Where did they come from? And what happened to the trees? And birds, and flowers, and grass, and chipmunks, and small streams, and-" his mother cut him off with her harsh tone. But it wasn't directed towards him, but towards the clear area and its countless rows of bean plants. "Man happened." Her face was sullen, and depressed as she glanced at the ground below her. "Man always happens."