The Gathering of the Clans Book 2

The Gathering of the Clans Book 2 Chapter 1

The Gathering of the Clans

Book 2 Chapter 1

<<<Ian and Kyle's Place >>>

The shining tip of the willow's branch touched Ian's forehead and images of the Draconids meteor shower appeared in his mind. Three of them crashed in their area. The first landed in Kepatchy Lake. The second landed in Wolf Lake with the third landing in Rice Lake. He watched the meteor in Wolf Lake sink to the bottom of the lake. When it sank to the bottom it cracked open. The virus and something else was released into the water. The virus floated away attaching itself to any lifeform it reached. Plant, or animal, it didn't seem to matter to it. It seemed like the virus thrived in the water. It divided again and again repeatedly in the water. Traveling into the rivers and streams. Infecting everything it came into contact with along the waterways.

Ian recalled the strange fish kills that had been happening in the rivers and lakes over the spring and summer seasons. The DNR had never been able to explain why the kills had occurred or the abnormal and erratic behavior of the fish and other creatures that lived in and around the water. The kills weren't enough reason to shut down the beaches for the tourist season. The kills were quickly cleaned up and the beaches were kept open. The investigation into the reason behind the kills was quickly forgotten with the beginnings of the Sickness. Ian felt the willow's pride in his acceptance of the information being shown to him.

The images flashed back to the meteor cracking open and the two things coming out of it. The first was the virus. Now the images focused on the path of the second thing released. At first, he thought it was large flecks of glowing gold paint in small clear globules. These globules seemed to swim to and cling to various plant life along the shore. They even glided from plant to plant seemingly choosing the ones that offered the best opportunity out of the water. Once free of the water the globules changed form slipping from plant to plant. This one chose his willow tree to inhabit.

Ian swayed with weariness as Aledrin, that was the name of the Iselli inhabiting his willow tree, stopped talking to him, and the branch retracted. Mason and Dan held him steady, the small boy he had picked up from under the tree still clasped in his arms. "Ian! Ian! Dan grabbed Ian's face between his hands and yelled into Ian's face. The small boy started to cry in fright. Ian smiled tiredly. "No need to scare the boy Dan. Aledrin is done talking now, so let's get into the house. Rai here is chilled." Dan smiled. "Oh sure, scare the bejesus out of Mason and I but don't scare the kid. You are so explaining this when we get you inside."

Dragging him and the small boy into the house, the back door was slammed shut and locked. Vance grabbed the small boy and tucked him into a soft quilt. rubbing his arms. "How did you find such a small child out there under that tree Ian?" He's too young to have walked there." Ian smiled. One of the Iselli helped to bring him to Aledrin. He called to me to come to get him out of the cold. "Who the hell is Aledrin and what are the Iselli!" Ian sat at the table as Mason grabbed the quilt from Shane and wrapped Ian in it. Samuel placed a cup of hot coffee in front of him.

"No need to panic guys. You know that hallucination everyone has of the trees talking?" Samuel nodded. "You mean the ones the boys keep going on about?" Ian nodded. "Well, it's true they are talking to us. Well, not actually the tree but the Iselli inhabiting the tree." Vance handed Rai over to Nathan and started assessing Ian for fever or madness. Ian brushed Vance's hands away. "I am not sick and I am not mad from the Sickness Vance. All of you saw the willow tree light up. Well, the Iselli inhabiting the willow is called Aledrin. Mason, Dan did you two get any of what he told me?"

Mason and Dan nodded. "We heard it and saw it too." Masonshivered. "It felt so warm and safe under there as if I was a small child in my father's arms." Dan nodded. "Did any of you guys in the yard or on the porch catch any of it?" Nathan and Shane nodded. Joe pointed at the men in the dining room that had not been there before. "It was felt and seen at the Swanhewplace too. Ethan ran over and got Rod and the scientist guys into the house or they would have been out there unguarded."