The Long Road Home

Chapter Forty-Two

'I want to go with you.' Kidd signed to her before she could set him on the cart. 'I want to meet this areas halflings. They are cool.' Page smiled to the boy in her arms. Seeing the color back in his cheeks and the excitement in his eyes brought her a peace she had not felt in the week since he was shot.

'Okay little man.' She told him and looked back to the woods. The two were ready to leave, but as they were packing, Page had spotted two halflings in the trees near the stone base. Page then looked back to the entrance of the base. Martian and a few of his people were watching the woods looking nervous. She hoped these people took to heart everything Mouth told them. They would benefit greatly by having both the halflings and a behemoth in the area. 'Keep back.' She warned. 'They are friendly, but skittish. If you do not approach them right, they will run off.' Page turned back to the woods and moved forward careful not to move to fast or to jostle Kidd in her arms. Dogg stayed right by her side just as she had been training him too.

'Hello,' she greeted the two in the tree. Page stopped when the two stiffened. They were not watching her however. They were both focused on the base and the people watching. 'It's okay.' Page assured them. 'They will not hurt you.'

'Ttthhhhey ccchhaaasssee.' The one with black fur whispered frightened. 'Ggguuunnns bbbbbaaaannnnggggg.'

'They were scared.' Page sighed. 'They didn't know you were good.'

'Knnnnnoooowwwww yyyyoooouu.' The second one said moving forward. 'Yyyyyyooooouuu aaaarrreeee ttthheee Gggggaaalllllaaagarrrrr.' The first ones eyes widened and he bounced a little.

'Gggggaaalllllaaagarrrrr!' He said excited and then let out a behemoth like song but much quieter. 'Wwwaaaiiiittttt. Uuuuullllyyssseessss.'

'Oh boy.' Page said worried. She looked to the group at the base. They were watching fascinated, but some of them had guns. 'Martian.' She called getting the man's attention. 'The behemoth is coming. Do not let your people shoot at him.' His eyes widened but he nodded.

'Hhhuuuurrrrttttt!' The first halfling said worried pointing at Kidd's arm, which was in a sling.

'He is.' Page said. 'But he will get better. We have some bark one of yours gave us back at treetop.'

'Nnnnniiiiggghtttt.' The second one said surprising her. By the look on Kidd's face, he was just as taken back as she was.

'You know Night?' She asked and he nodded.

'Wwweeee knnnnooowww aaalllll.' The halfling said 'Wwweeee aaarrrreee ooonnnee.' The statement was confusing and Page was not sure she heard him right. Before she could ask, a behemoth's song tore through the air. It was deep like Romeo's song, but much more powerful. She understood the moment Ulysses came out of the woods. He was huge standing an easy twenty feet tall and much thicker built then Romeo was. Ulysses came forward glancing at those at the base. He knelt down next to the tree the halflings where in. The first halfling let out a song similar to the behemoths. Ulysses smiled to Page and Kidd singing his song. He touched his chest where Romeo had been wounded.

'Hhhhheeee thhhhaaankssss yyyyouuu.' The first halfling said. 'Wweeellllcommmees yyyyouuu.'

'Thank you Ulysses.' Page said reaching up and touching his cheek. 'I also want to thank you for letting us stay in your territory where we are all safe from the rippers.' Ulysses let out a deep snort and she did not need the halflings to tell her he did not like rippers. 'Yeah buddy, none of us like them.'

'Ttthheeyy bbaadd.' The second halfling said before shivering. Page nodded and sighed.

'Look, I need to talk to you three about these people.' She motioned to those at the base. 'They are not like the others in the settlements in the area.' Ulysses cocked his head confused. The first halfling sang to him and he nodded. 'They are like babies that know nothing about this new world we all live in.' Page was happy that the little halfling continued to translate for her. 'They were shooting at you because they were scared and did not understand that you and the rippers were different. I have worked to make them understand and they should not bother you anymore.' She looked back to Martin and motioned him forward. The look on his face was comical. Even Ulysses thought it was funny because he let out a deep huffing laugh as the bases leader approached cautiously.