Cealania

Chapter Three

We've been walking through the woods for about an hour now. Which isn't good being that I wasn't aloud too far from the house. I am really out of shape. We don't have a car so we cant drive. And there isn't a path to drive on anyway. The trees are really thick, healthy trees. Making it all the more annoying, having to walk around them. My legs have grown heavy, making it harder to lift them with every step. Since my parents are so much taller than me I have to jog to keep up. My sides are cramping but by now it has become a numb pain. And the annoying sounds of the birds and bugs have my ears ringing.

I want to moan and groan and complain to my hearts content. But we haven't really spoken this entire time. They've been so focused on getting to wherever we're going, that a conversation never brewed up. I want to ask if we're almost there, but I'm afraid they'll get upset at me for ruining their concentration.

After another half an hour of walking my backpack, that is only filled with clothing, feels like a boulder on my back. But luckily for me my parents finally stop. My knees waste no time in falling to the ground. I don't even care that I landed on some branches. My parents slowly sit on the ground, obviously not as tired as I am. I take a look around from where I'm sitting. we're still in the middle of the forest. I'm assuming we're just taking a break but of course I have to ask.

"Why did we stop?" I ask. Don't get me wrong. I'm grate-full for a break. But after everything they've told me, and walking through the woods for an hour and a half. Maybe there is a reason for stopping here.

"Because we're here." Mom answers.

That was not the answer I was expecting, it just doesn't make sense. I take another look around, but we're still surrounded by trees. I look up looking for a treehouse or some sort of shelter. I find nothing. "Are we going to sleep outside? Are we going to live in a tent?" I wine. Hoping! Praying! That the answer isn't yes.

"You'll see." She says, sharing a look with Uncle Jeff. Leaving me in a state of frustrated curiosity.

Mom passes me some water that I immediately consume. She then passes me a protein bar, which slightly fills the void of hunger in my stomach. The three of us sit for a while restoring our energy. Which didn't take long for Mom and Uncle Jeff. As soon as I felt somewhat rested we got up and grabbed our backpacks. Then Mom motions for us to follow.

Now I'm confused, I follow them to a nearby tree. At first I thought we where stopping for a bathroom break. But then they both place their right hands on it. Which is just strange. I end up staring in amazement as the tree trunk splits in half, spreading out until its wide enough to walk through. And any doubts I had about them being witches, washed away in that moment.

When I walked through the tree my eyes stayed wide in fascination of my new surroundings. Either I shrunk or the forest grew, because the trees surrounding me now are not the trees that where surrounding me before. These trees are ten times the height and width of a normal tree. Standing beside them is like standing beside a bunch of buildings. When I look up the sky is covered by the most beautiful, gigantic, luscious green leaves. They glowed from the sunlight above them lighting the forest beautifully. I take another look at the trees and notice that each tree has a large round dark wood door on it. All the doors facing the long path that I'm standing on. Which means that people must live in them, right? Which also means that we wont be sleeping outside!

I turn around to catch my parents watching me. Watching my reaction to this probably. "What is this place?" I ask in wonder.

"This is where the Centaurs live." She answers like I know what they are.

"What are Centaurs?"

"Centaurs are half human and half horse, magnificent creatures." Uncle Jeff answers. And I don't care what anyone says, that does not sound magnificent. "They, like us, are from Cealania." He continued.

"But if they're from Cealania, then why are they living here?"

Now Mom answers. "You see, every individual species in Cealania has their own leader or leaders. For example Witches have our Elders, Elves have their King, Dragons have their Breeder, Centaurs have their leader, and so on. But all these leaders answer to the Counsel of Cealania.

"The Counsel are the true leaders of Cealania. Each species has a chosen representative on the Council. And while many love the rule of the Counsel, many hate it. For those who hated the strict rule of the Counsel, escaped, and came here. They set up hidden locations where they can live peacefully."

"So each and every species from Cealania has a hidden location here?"

"Not necessarily all, but yes the majority do." She answers. "But enough questions for now. I think its time you meet Ceaser, leader of the Centaurs."