The Mind Behind The Beanie || ✔

Preparations for War

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I was explaining what I knew about the Land of Stories to Emmerich when I saw something in the sky. It swooped and swerved around us. I was immediately scared, but when I saw it was a giant goose, like the one Conner had told me Mother Goose had, I wasn't afraid anymore.

Emmerich shivered beside me and hugged onto me. When he realized I wasn't tense he looked up and squinted at the goose. He squinted his eyes more and then when he saw what it was, he let go of me.

I watched in wonder as Mother Goose and her goose, Lester, came flying down onto the forest floor. They landed roughly, spraying mud and branches everywhere. After Mother Goose had straightened herself, she climbed off Lester.

"What did I tell you about making a good impression on the youngins'?" she asked Lester in annoyance. "You never get them landings right."

She sighed and then walked over to us.

"You the youngin's from the Otherworld?" Mother Goose asked us.

Emmerich was so shocked that it seemed all words had escaped his mouth. He nodded shyly and then stared in awe at Lester. Lester flapped his wings, obviously happy that someone was paying attention to him.

"Yes," I replied, but my attention was on Lester. Even though Conner had told me how big he was, it still was awesome to see him in front of me. He was extraordinary.

"A-Ahem" Mother Goose cleared her throat, pulling Emmerich and my attention away from Lester. "We have to get going or otherwise we might get trampled by the army."

I think she expected us to be surprised by that, but I wasn't dazed. Emmerich on the other hand, was shaking just by the mention of them. He quickly ran over to Lester and climbed onto his back, clinging on for dear life.

I laughed a slightly nervous laugh and walked over to Lester. Mother Goose was already over by Emmerich trying to get him to move so everyone else could get on.

"Hey," she said a little nervously. "Could you move, we need to get on as well. Plus, you don't even know how to drive that thing. And, his landings are the worst without good control over the reigns."

This just scared little Emmerich more. His eyes grew two times larger, and he buried his head into Lester. He shuddered and clung on harder.

^Seriously Mother Goose?!? Do you not know how to talk to children?^

Mother Goose was trying to pull him off, but that just made him cling on more. Lester rolled his eyes, and I joined him. This was funny. But I had to step in, or otherwise, we would be trampled by the army soon enough.

"Hey, Emmerich," I said soothingly. "We need to get on the goose, too. You wouldn't want us to be trampled by the army, would you?"

That did the trick. Even though I thought it wasn't possible, his eyes grew larger and he moved back on the goose. I climbed on and then with a roll of her eyes and an exasperated sigh, she got on in front.

Mother Goose cracked the reigns, and of Lester went into the sky. At first, Emmerich clung onto my waist really hard, almost suffocating me, but after he got used to it, he let go.

The Land of Stories was beautiful from above. Conner knew that since he had been in the flying boat the other year, but he didn't really describe the beauty of it.

It was a sea of beautiful buildings and landscapes. I could see the mountain of rocks that meant the troll and goblin territory, and the rolling hills of the Eastern Kingdom. Each was a different kind of beautiful in its own way.