The Children of When (Complete)

Chapter 23 - The Call

Leah shivered, whether from the cold seeping into her bones from the early morning frost, or terror at the journey ahead of them, she didn't know. She still couldn't believe Madame Persimmons felt they'd be safer in the forest than here at the school.

Their cloth bags containing the pieces of the amulet had been attached to leather thongs and hung around their necks, safely tucked away under their shirts. They had decided to walk, rather than fly, to the Forever Forest, all agreeing it would be safer, and hopefully draw less attention. Looking around at the outwardly calm faces of the others in the group, Leah wanted nothing more than to scream, and then find a hole to crawl into somewhere.

Belle and Leah were both dressed as boys. Tyranius and his spies would be looking for two girls and a boy, so three young boys travelling with a dwarf and a coblynau should be less conspicuous. Leah sucked in a huge breath as they said their goodbyes, pasting a smile on her face as they headed off down the road leading to the Forever Forest.

It wasn't long before they left the road, and headed into a forest filled with the tallest trees Leah had ever seen. In some places, they cut out the view of the sky completely, forming a canopy that was perfect for hiding them from any prying eyes above. She shuddered at the memories of the last time they were under a canopy of trees, but this was different. The canopy was so high up, it didn't create the same sense of closeness the other horrible place had done. Even Belle seemed unaffected by it.

They walked for about an hour, the only sounds those of the leaves crunching underfoot and the cries of birds from the trees up above. Leah was happy not to talk, walking beside Solange and using the time to try and come to terms with the thoughts racing through her head. Was it really only a week ago she'd stood in her room in Naissance feeling sorry for herself? And now here she was, involved in an ancient prophecy, and running from someone trying to kill her!

She smiled at the fierce look on Dub's face. He certainly looked ready to take on any creatures that made the mistake of crossing their path. Their eyes met, and he winked at her, knowing what she was thinking and giving her a thumbs up in reassurance. She smiled back at him, grateful she wasn't going through this alone.

Dominic's face was a mask of concentration, so intent was he on keeping them heading in the right direction. People had been known to get lost in the dense forest, wandering around for days, only to find themselves back at the same place they had entered.

And Raff? She laughed softly to herself. He was over the moon about embarking on a far greater adventure than he'd ever thought possible. His eyes darted everywhere as he walked, and he kept whispering his thoughts into Rogue's attentive ear.

Where was Belle? She'd been so distracted by her own thoughts, she hadn't noticed Belle had fallen behind. She nudged Solange to a stop and waited. Belle was frowning, and looking wildly around her in confusion. Seeing Leah waiting for her to catch up, she clucked to Midnight and increased their pace.

She looked really worried. "Can you hear that?"

"Ummm... hear what?

"A woman's voice; I've been hearing it for the last ten minutes or so."

Leah stopped, listening intently. "Nope, I definitely don't hear a voice."

Belle sighed "Then I must be going nuts, because I can definitely hear it! It's why I stopped, so I could try and work out where it was coming from."

"Ok, so did you?"

"Well, it sort-of feels like it's coming from me! Like it's following me!" She rubbed her little book, looking around nervously.

A look of horror flashed across her face, and she dropped the book as if it had burned her. As Leah bent to pick it up, Belle grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Don't!" she almost hissed. "The voice... it's... it's coming from the book!"

Leah was about to call Dominic, Dub and Raff back, when she realised Raff was already looking back at them, standing with his hands on his hips tapping his foot.

"Hurry up you pair, we'll never..." His words were cut off when green figures began dropping from the trees all around them. Five of them had landed on Raff, Dominic and Dub, resulting in a kaleidoscope of struggling bodies wrestling and grunting on the ground. After an impressive tussle, Raff, Dominic and Dub were finally subdued, left lying on the ground licking their wounds, while the green clad figures Leah now recognised as elves held swords pressed to their chests.

Leah had a sneaking suspicion she knew what would come next. As if on cue, the elf who'd been holding the sword to Raff's chest was flying backwards through the air like a rag doll. Raff was up on his feet, his knife in his hand, ready to take on anyone else who wanted a piece of him. The elf lay sprawled in a crumpled heap at the bottom of a tree nearby, and Leah knew it was only a matter of time before the elves threatening Dominic and Dub joined him.

"STOP IT!" Leah cried, not sure whether she was talking to the elves or Raff or both. At this, a tall slender elf, dressed in green from head to foot, stepped up to Belle and Leah. He bowed from the waist in front of them, his long honey-blonde hair falling forward over his shoulders.

"Please excuse our late arrival. We came as soon as we heard the call."

"What call?" Leah asked irritably. "Look, just let our friends up, and stop that ridiculous bowing!"

The elf looked from Leah and Belle, to their friends, and back again, in confusion. Leah tapped her foot impatiently, having visions of more elves flying through the air like rag dolls, and Raff's enjoyment as he watched his handy-work. The elf in front of her finally nodded and waved his hand. Instantly, the elves guarding Dominic and Dub melted back into the trees around them.

"I am Lyricus. Please accept my humblest apologies for my error. I thought they must have been trying to harm you, and that was why we received the call."

"WHAT CALL?" Leah and Belle both yelled in unison.

The elf looked startled. "The call of Serena, the great Mother Elf. We have been waiting for generations to hear the call and respond, as the Oracle said we needed to."

Raff was scratching his head, totally confused by the whole thing. Dominic and Dub were grumbling, and sending death stares at the elves all around them.

"Have you guys got any idea what he's talking about?" Raff indicated to Rogue to wait with Dominic, and moved to where Belle and Leah were standing.

Belle and Leah looked at each other, and then at the small book that still lay on the ground at Belle's feet.

"Nope," said Leah, bending to pick up the book "But I think it might have something to do with this."