The Book Of Timendra

Chapter 11: The Rescue Mission Part 2; Claudia Selene

Upon exiting the cave, I soon realized that I had lost both Amber and Eve.  I pull out my map, and scoff in frustration. It's too complicated!  The map had drawings of every single tree in the forest, and Eve's path zigzagged randomly between them.  I had no idea which way to go. I had to find an open space. I walk for a long time, and eventually realize that all trees don't look that much alike, and that I must be going in circles. I walk for a few minutes until I get to the big rock for good measure. I pick up a medium white stone, and roll it in between my fingers. I have an idea, and I plant it firmly in the soft earth. I continue walking, and making a path of stones, and eventually I reach a path. Unfortunately, the path reeks, and I recognize it immediately, as ogre stench. I turn around, and end up face to face with a teenage ogre. Probably my age, maybe a little younger. The ogre's huge ham hands are full of stones. My stones! "Duh... I think you dropped these..." He grunts. I wanted to yell, but that would get me killed. This one was docile at the moment, but ogre's are known for their explosive tempers, and the tendency to smash things.

"Why thank you! I'm ClaudiaSelene. And you are?" I say sweetly instead.

"For now, I'm Grunge. I'm only twelve. My naming ceremony will be my 13th birthday." This ogre is relatively intelligent as well. Well his grammar was fine at least.

"Nice to meet you Grunge. Do you know of any clearings near here? I'm lost."

"Is that what the rocks was- were for? Sorry." I couldn't believe it. This ogre might have been smarter than some of the boys at school! "The closest clearing is. That way." Grunge points up at an angle.

"It's in the sky?" Grunge laughs, and I am starting to think he wasn't an ogre.

"It's on a hill."

"Oh! Now I get it. Can you lead me there?"

"Okay." Grunge takes of towards the ogre path. I follow, a bit slower, pushing branches out of the way, and stumbling over rocks.

"So, Grunge. Don't answer if I'm rude, but what sort of ogre are you? You're pretty smart."

"All ogres are pretty smart. I am just a genius." I want to laugh, but I think he's serious.

"What?"

"Other species think we're dumb, only 'cause we don't speak English." His grammar was getting worse.

"Sorry, I got distracted. English is not my first language. Trolls, giants, and ogres, all speak a totally different language than English. That's why humans think we have bad grammar, and pronunciation."

"Really? And you've learned English?"

"Yes. Now tell me something about you."

"Like what?" I ask, carefully stepping around a bush of poison sapwood.

"Like, what is a Timendra witch doing in the Forbidden Forest after curfew, and what's stopping me from telling RubySunShine?"

"Who?"

"Your headmistress. That's her first name."

I gasp, and Grunge laughs. "I'm just kidding. But really. What are you doing out here? This is a double offense.

"My English teacher stole my cat and abandoned her out here."

"What?!  That's crazy!  Who is your English teacher?"

"Mrs. Wordsworth. But we witches don't go out here, so you probably don't-"

"DiamondSunshine?"

"That's her name? It's awfully similar to the headmistress' name."

"Well, that'd be because they're sisters."

"Oh my Timendra! I can't believe the two people I hate the most- Wait. You're not joking again, are you?"

"Serious as a shining snuffler bite."

"And you're not lying either."

"The truth, and nothing but it. Glarfkin Scouts honor." Grunge said, placing a hammy fist over his heart.

"You're a Glarfkin Scout?" I ask, shocked.

"Nope. How about this. I swear it on my pet shpoofily, Poof's grave. Your English teacher, and your headmaster are sisters."

"But you never had a pet shpoofily, named Poof, did you?" Grunge grins.

"Nope." I laugh, and hop over a fallen combustwood tree. A burst of flames scorch the air behind me, before quickly fizzling out. "How about this. I'll say it in Verumian."

"Ohh, you're serious now. You can't lie in Verumian."

"Καθηγτής Αγγλικών σας είναι η αδελφή του διευθυντή σας."

"That's not Verumian!"

"Okay, okay. Soror sororum tuarum anglicus Scholae magister vester." Grunge replies laughing, and finally answering with total truth.

"You're quite the jokester, aren't you." Grunge shrugs, and banishes his grin, but his eyes are still twinkling. 

"Here's the clearing."

"Thank you Grunge."

"You're welcome, little Claudia."  I wanted to protest, but compared to him, I was tiny, considering I was already short even by witch standards.  I hopped onto my broomstick, and prepared for take off.

"Bye Grunge.  I'll see you!  How about tomorrow night we meet by the exit of the cave!"  I called to my new friend.

"Goodbye little Claudia.  I will meet you there."  Once I was high enough, I circled twice, and then jetted off into the night sky.  I hovered near what could be the path, and checked it to the map.  I decided I was in the right place, and landed.  It wasn't a good landing as I didn't have much space.  The path that had looked flat when I was in the air, was actually on a decline.  As I land flat on my *ss, I lurch forward, sending myself rolling down the hill into a muddy puddle. 

"Great!  Fiona is so f*cking  lucky to have me as an owner!"  I growl, picking myself up, and wiping as much slimy muck off as I can.  I storm angrily up the hill to retrieve my broom, and stomp right back through the mud, because it's too late to jump over it now. I storm through the forest, and barely stop in time when I come face to face with a troll. 

"You can pass if you-"

"Can it and step aside!"  I yelled shoving him off the path into the reach of a hungry maneater tree.  The troll screamed, and stabbed at the tree's tentacles, in an attempt to escape.  I considered helping him, but he had a knife.  I was sure he'd be fine.  Plus, if I went over there, the tree would eat me.  I kept on the path, and after pushing that troll to a pretty much unescapable death, my anger was gone.