Following the River

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The full moon rose gently in the night, casting dim shadows on the two figures that sat side by side at the lake’s shore that lapped steadily at their feet. The first figure pawed at a minnow with an outstretched claw, growling in frustration.

The second figure rocked back and forth without patience and flapped its wings when the cat didn’t acknowledge her. “Zora, for crying out loud what were you thinking today?!” The bird’s crystal blue eyes challenged the black lump of fur that slowly straightened itself.

“She’s not the one!” Zora spat viciously and the bird squawked with annoyance.

“So you have come to the conclusion on the first day, huh? Let me do the job to bring her here! You completely failed!” The raven hung her head and clawed at the sodden sand. Zora moaned with regret and slowly met the raven’s defeated gaze.

“Aira, you can come with me tomorrow, but I promise I won’t mess up again. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Aira sighed and bowed her head. “Very well, Zora.” Aira flapped her delicate wings and took off over the dense forest soundlessly.

Zora got to her paws and slowly padded away, following the narrow river which widened as it came to the mouth of the cave. The familiar blue haze flickered soundlessly onto the cavern walls. Zora bowed her head once she arrived at a dead end.

A door swung open in front of her and away she went into the familiar unknown. The only trace that she had been there were the lone paw prints embedded in the sodden earth.

♥

Hailey awoke when she heard a knock at her bedroom door. All was silent except for the chattering of a finch outside her window. Hailey arose and softly murmured, “Come in…”

The door swung open with a creak of the hinges; the figure in the doorway was Linda with a tray of food in her hands. Slowly she knelt down and placed the food on her bed asking, “Are you feeling better?”

Hailey tilted her head with confusion, “I never knew I was sick.” Linda looked puzzled for a moment, but nodded slowly.

“You should eat something. Sarah said that you-”

“Sarah said I was ill?” Hailey interrupted, sitting up. What is this kid playing at?

Linda nodded, but in Sarah’s defense said, “She was only making sure you were okay, you know.” Hailey dipped her spoon into the chicken broth and let the soup warm her body.

Linda’s phone began to buzz. She pulled it out of her pocket and Hailey grumbled when the name on the phone had quickly vanished when she put it up to her ear. A familiar voice spoke through the speaker. Linda smiled saying, “Yes, hold on a minute.”

Linda held out the phone for Hailey to take. The name had been Sarah, and with caution, Hailey answered. “Hello?”

“Hailey! Would you want to hang out today?” Sarah’s voice“Hailey! Would you want to hang out today?” Sarah’s voice echoed loudly in her ears. Linda nodded, giving Hailey no choice but to say “yes”.

“Uh, yeah, what time?” Hailey saw that her clock was blinking, indicating that it was a new hour: 9:00 A.M.

“I’m already here.” Sarah’s voice sounded embarrassed. Hailey’s eyes widened with confusion. What the…

“O-okay, I’m coming down.” Hailey handed the phone to her mom’s outstretched hand and thundered down the narrow steps. She skid to a halt when she saw Sarah standing at the backdoor with another girl at her side. The girl’s long, light brown, and wavy hair skimmed all the way down to her lower back, her pink tank top loose around her skinny waist.