The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Heaven's Light

The Burrowers

The little one kept his head low as he followed his guardian whilst he was smelling the tree trunks that may had been touched by their familiar humans. Yet, he had his eyes locked on the clawing limbs of the canopy. Ignoring the fact that his young was skittish, Djali was on the verge of running, to and fro. Suddenly, in the distance, they both heard something move in the bushes. The bush, indeed, did move, but there was nothing there. Lowering his head, ready to defend, Djali crept slowly passed that bush. What he saw was nothing but a mass of loose ground and fallen leaves. Edgy, he took a step forward onto the loose ground.

The babe was startled when he heard Djali give a short bray and heard him fall and hit something soft. Frightened, the babe ran behind that bush and nearly got himself caught as well. There was a mighty hole, great and deep. Truly beckoned to leap in, he ran to each side of the trap, braying with worry. Djali shook himself and gazed around to see that he was on a thick bed of grass and leaves. Lastly, he looked up, confused.

His young one was in a panic! How was Djali going to get out of this pit?

Djali began to bleat meekly at the babe to flee, but he wouldn't have it. He wasn't leaving his father behind.

There was only one way and that was to leap as high as he could to get out. Even though, his legs were sinking deeply into the pile of leaves and grass, Djali took steps back before springing into a high jump. The baby only watched on as Djali was running along the dirt wall to get up, but the trap was too high for him. He kept trying.

Frightened, the younger goat gazed further into the hole, but his hoof slipped, having him fall into the trap as well. Djali watched in terror as his young one fell and disappeared in the pile of leaves. Now they were both trapped. Just then, to make their fears worse, torch lights lit up the dank darkness above them and they overheard voices. The kid remained under the leaves.

"I think we've got something!" called a spry young girl in her thirteenth year.

Suddenly, that girl pointed her torch down into the pit and there she spied a white and gray goat.

"Well, what a lucky morn, this is." she smiled at the shocked male goat.

A boy, who was the same age as her, came up to her side and spotted another emerging out of the leaves. "Oi, another one!"

Apparently, this was an issue.

*

For the good of all, he had to be careful! If anything should happen to her, he would never forgive himself. Hastily running through the trees, Quasimodo was in a complete state of worry.

Why would she just run off? I don't....

He searched through the trees and bushes. Soon, he came upon the creak and across from it was the camp. Unsure, he hid behind a tree, out of sight. Worried, Quasi ran his hands over his face. Rose meant so much to him and yet she meant so much to all of France. But then, there was a sudden rustle in the trees. To his surprise, there peeked out Laverne. Quasi was all the more shocked.

"L-laverne...it's.... Is that truly you?"

"Quasi! Our boy!" the old gargoyle smiled as he came and gave her a hug. "Oh, Quasimodo...."

"I thought I'd...." Quasimodo trailed off before he looked and saw Victor and Hugo. "...I thought I lost you...."

"Naw, we'd never leave ya, buddy." Hugo warmed, hugging the hunchback.

"It's going to be all right, Quasi...." Victor joined in.

"Rose.... I don't – I don't know where she's gone...." Quasi then grew frantic again.