The Four Dimensions of Corey Emerson

Falling Pines

           Bran didn't speak to me until we were back outside, and saying goodbye to all the nymphs.

            As Winter had predicted, Christopher refused to offer Bran and I any sort of troops with the war, but I knew that he wouldn't side with Emerson (or whoever I was against) either, so I wasn't really worried.

            While the little nymph children were petting Bran and there were bells everywhere, I looked to find Juniper and say goodbye. She was the kindest to me out of everyone that had come to mind, yet she had never spoken single word and I’d only known her for… a day.

            “Sigurd!” I heard the little voice behind me followed by silver bells.

            I turned around and saw Juniper fluttering towards me and landing in my arms as a hug. I was shocked; I didn’t know she could talk.

            “I don't want you to go,” she said, grabbing onto my legs like a small child.

            “I have to go... well... save you guys.” I laughed, tickling Juniper so she would let go.

            Juniper giggled and released, fluttering back so she could look at me. “Father told me nothing of what happened when you spoke to him and the Presidents.”

            I nodded, biting my lower lip in disgust. “He has a reason to; he's probably ashamed...”

            Juniper looked confused. “Why?”

            “Christopher said he wouldn't help us with the war...”

            Juniper looked like she was going to burst into flame. “You couldn't convince him??” I shook my head. “Well, did you get any of the Presidents to go for your cause?”

            “One...” I told her all about Winter, and what he'd told me -leaving out the part about giving me a place to go.

            Just to talk with Juniper seemed like a blessing. I had to leave her because Bran was calling for me, but if I could have spent the rest of my days sitting in the garden and talking to Juniper, listening to the little bells behind her voice, I would ask for nothing more.

            “Alice!” It was Bran. I was shocked; he always called me ‘Sigurd’. “Alice, we have to talk,” he cawed, flying to me and guiding me towards Adophin and Fletcher who were heavily conversing with one another. “Alice,” Bran continued, “do you remember when Emerson told you that the Elves were angry when they found out you left?”

            I nodded.

            “Well, it’s worse than we thought,” Adophin pitched in. “They were already rioting before I left to catch up with these guys… Pillaging and burning everything… We didn’t want to tell you until after you spoke with your uncle.”

            My knees began to shake.  “What about Anthony and Athos?”

            Fletcher scoffed. “They’s prob’ly dead, ter beh quite honest…”

            I scowled at Fletcher who was feasting on a weird paw-looking thing that fit in both his hands.

            “I don’t know what happened to Anthony and Athos, but before I left, Little Pine seemed pretty torn up when he saw that Knox was gone,” Adophin added.

            I was getting anxious. I had let Knox out… I hoped it wasn’t him leading the mutiny… “So, what are we supposed to do?!  If we lose the Campers as our allies, because they’re too busy fighting each other, then how are we going to get elves on our side?! We need them!”