Dawn of Eve, The Chronicles of Eve Wilder

CHAPTERS 1-5 - NOVEL PREVIEW

CHAPTER ONE

The moon was bigger than I had ever seen, and it was so quiet my thoughts seemed to be echoing through the valley. My mind was racing. I was excited. No wonder I couldn't sleep. We would reach the top of the peak sometime late tomorrow if we hustled. What would we learn? Would we find the answers we were seeking? Would we really figure it all out?

I must have finally dozed off because I was startled when I felt something brush against my forehead.

"Hi Jack," I mumbled as I opened my eyes to see the early light of dawn and my best friend and constant companion standing over me.

"My powerful protector!" I said, scratching his neck and chuckling as he began to lick my forehead and head-butt me in his affectionate way, demanding his morning massage.

"Careful! Don't knock me off of here!" I laughed as I wiped the moisture from my face and looked below my comfortable tree limb to see exactly how far I had climbed.

So long ago, when this journey began, it was just the two of us. So much had changed and so fast.

I had adopted my special friend when he was only ten weeks old and, from that moment on, he went everywhere with me, much like a dog. Funny how those memories of our hectic travel schedule and former life seemed like a dream now. Everything was certainly different then.

Since that time, he had grown into a large and beautiful feline. Although originally considered to be a common Mackerel Tabby, his markings and bone structure had become striking and his eyes were sharp and full of expression. His size was impressive too. Jack was larger than any cat I had ever seen and he could perform acts that often left me puzzled.

Although we rarely frequented buildings anymore, when necessary he could open doors with his giant paws, and his instinct was strong. He generally seemed to know what I needed, sometimes before I did. He hunted for fish and even helped us determine what water was safe to drink without boiling it. Until now I had never had a human friend I could trust as much as I trusted this strange and wonderful animal.

As Jack nudged me out of my trance once again I growled, "I know, I know, I better get back before they wake up and worry."

I could see them in the distance. The embers of the fire were still alive and provided just enough light for me to see their faces as they slept: so peaceful, yet so tired and worn. We had been traveling for quite a long time, but the last two weeks of traveling through the Rocky Mountains had been decidedly challenging.

We finally stumbled into this canyon overlook late yesterday. It was just as Aryel had described so many days before. Shaking my head and again marveling at her talent, I remembered her words clearly.

"We will follow a huge wall of rock for hours and then find ourselves in the most beautiful spot with shelter, fresh water, and a single tree overlooking a stage of beauty."

Sure enough, we were somewhere in southwestern Colorado when we found ourselves next to a canyon wall and two choices, almost like a fork in the road. Without hesitation we headed towards the rocky pathway and, just as Aryel predicted, it opened to a beautiful outlook many hours later.

The outlook had huge canyon walls on two sides, their massive structure disturbed only by the opening from which we emerged. To our backs was a flat rock overhang providing perfect shelter. To our right was a fresh-water spring bursting forth through the rocks, spilling into a natural basin before overflowing and running back into the mountainside again. To the left was a beautiful foliage-covered hillside, the next leg of our journey. It was perfect and much nicer than the campsites of the previous evenings.