Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 30

The man opened his eyes and focused on the smudged face that peered down at him. The girl had bright hazel eyes and brown and yellow striped hair that went to her chin. Her face and hair could easily fool someone to believe she was a boy, but her ragged, green clothing did not do much in the way of covering her, thus making apparent, her true gender.

The man looked down at his own form and studied his hands, torso and limbs. He wore a brown tunic that left his arms and legs bare. He had a large scar down his right leg. He had no memory of getting this wound. He had no memory of anything, not even who he was. Perhaps the girl knew.

"Who am I?"

"We've named you Kipp. You look like a Kipp. It's a good name," the strange girl said.

"We? Are you my family?" the man asked her.

"Wimmy, is he awake?" a female voice called out from the other side of the darkened room.

The girl turned her head in the direction from which the voice came. "Yes, Fippa."

A second face came into the man's view. She looked identical to Wimmy, except her rags were both green and brown.

"It's about time. You have been sleeping for five days. Zorsha's healing spell worked a little too well for you," Fippa said with a huge grin.

"Where am I? Who's Zorsha?" the man asked.

"You're in Whopping Forest. Zorsha is a magical giant. No worrying yourself. She's nice, as long as you don't try to wander off," Fippa said.

"Or if you try to steal from her. She does not take kindly to thievery," Wimmy added.

"Oh, and you must not complain. She'll put you in a cage for murmuring about this or that. Zorsha gives us all that we need, and we should be happy with what we have," Fippa instructed.

The man sat up slowly. He found himself on a bed made of massive dried flower petals. He looked around the room. His eyes caught several more items that wouldn't normally furnish a house.

To his left, a few boulders, arranged to resemble a table and chairs, sat near an open window that used giant leaves for drapes. Across the room, was a window that had a large plant stem acting as an aqueduct of running water that emptied into a water turbine made of huge chunks of tree bark.

A narrow stream ran along the side of the room and into a small pool in the corner. The outlet of the pool water led under the floor and outer wall to be carried outside the home.

"Where did I come from, if I am not from here?"

"You came from the caves. Zorsha found you. Well truthfully, her wolf found you. He brought Zorsha to you. She healed the gash in your leg. Now you're here for us to care for you. When you regain your energy, you will join the rest of us. We shall give you a welcome ceremony," Wimmy explained.

"You must fully recover before the bridal run in two days so you may participate in the chase," Fippa encouraged.

"I came from the caves? Bridal run? Chase? I am quite confused. May I speak with this Zorsha, please?"

"Certainly, Kipp. I shall take you to her if you are able to walk," Wimmy said.

Kipp, as he now was called, turned his legs to position his feet on the wooden floor. He pushed himself up and steadied himself. The twins watched him as he carefully took a step and paused. "Lead on, Wimmy. I am more than capable of walking."

"Very well. Fippa, do you wish to join us?"

"Of course," Fippa straightened her shoulders and followed them to the door made of bark that used vines as its hinges.