Chronicles of Eden - Act III (39 page)

The ant girl squeaked and shook her head as she tried in vain to push the ride back, her feet unable to get any traction on the boulder as she inched towards its edge. Suddenly the caravan rocked as Alyssa held her staff out towards it, the witch creating a tangled mess of green vines that quickly tried to latch onto the wheels and undercarriage of the wagon. A few of the vines snapped while the witch focused her magic to try to keep the ride from rolling over with her friend, with Triska struggling to hold on as the caravan rocked to the side again.

“Forget it, Squeak, it’s going over!” Triska called out.

“It’s not going to hold,” Falla said shaking her head as the vines started snapping away. Alyssa and Specca watched with wide eyes as Daniel kept trying to reach for the ant girl.

“Squeak! Please, come back!” he cried out.

The ant girl shook her head while trying to push back on the ride still, struggling to get a footing on the boulder before the tree next to her cracked apart. The trunk snapped and bent outward while the roots under the caravan tore apart the ground as they were ripped up from the ground.

“Get away from it!” Specca yelled as she grabbed Daniel and yanked him back, the two stumbling away from the caravan that dropped down over the edge with the ground under it giving away. Alyssa swung her staff back and yanked Triska off of the front seat with a magical force before it went over the edge, the teen flying over and tumbling onto the trail as the wagon dropped out of view over the incline with a loud rumble.

“Squeak!” Daniel yelled out. The group rushed over to the edge of the cliff to see the caravan sliding down the slope with dirt and rocks rolling along with it like a wave.

“Oh god, Squeak!” Triska cried out.

Slowly the ride stopped moving as the loose debris rolled down and off a steeper cliff towards the rocks further below. The group stared with surprise as the caravan rocked to the side on two wheels away from them, and then slowly touched back down on all four before remaining in place.

“What happened?” Falla asked.

The wagon rocked forward slightly, then again, and then again. Everyone watched as the caravan slowly started rolling up at an angle along the slope, the wheels moving very slowly as the ride seemed to drive itself gradually up the incline.

“Alyssa?” Specca asked glancing to the witch. Alyssa merely shook her head as she watched her caravan slowly moving by itself and inch by inch making its way up towards the trail further ahead of them.

“I’m… not doing that.”

Triska looked at the ride with disbelief then glanced to where the rolling dirt and debris had dropped down into the gorge.

“How…”

Falla watched the sight with a confused expression then fluttered her wings before taking off into the air, flying over towards the caravan and seeing it actually rolling up the hill at a very slow pace without a horse pulling it. When she flew over it however she then saw how it was moving, an impressed smile coming across her face as she saw Squeak pushing the caravan from its side, the ant girl’s hands having dug into the wooden boards to give her a grip while she showed a focused expression, using all her strength to bring the ride back up. Falla tilted her head then looked to the others with a wave.

“Holy crap, what are you feeding this girl?” she called out with a laugh.

The others looked at her bewilderedly then to the caravan as it started to get closer to the trail again. Daniel blinked then jumped a bit with surprise.

“Squeak?” he asked with disbelief.

“No way,” Specca said shaking her head. “She couldn’t be doing this. All by herself?”

The group ran over to where the caravan slowly rolled up onto the level ground, first with its front corner wheel, then two more, then the last as everyone stared at the sight with wonder. Falla flew over and landed down next to them as they all saw Squeak slowly moving step by step to push the ride.

“I don’t believe it,” Triska said with awe.

“She… she
stopped
the caravan and then
pushed
it uphill? All on her own?” Specca asked with wonder.

Daniel stared at Squeak with amazement, watching as the ant girl pushed along the caravan with a stern expression on her face. As he did he saw the raw determination in her eyes, the sheer strength she really had, and her thighs which although were using more muscle power than any human he knew still looked slender and fit like a young woman’s. He then noticed that he couldn’t take his eyes off her legs or rear, which he could see what with her leaning forward and pushing along the ride and her abdomen sticking out which pulled her tunic up behind her. Her ass cheeks were taught with each step she took, with Daniel seeing her hips swaying gently each time as the ant girl’s well-toned body didn’t give enough credit to the mighty strength she had. If it wasn’t for her dark panties which were pulled up between her cheeks Daniel knew he would be staring at her bare ass regardless like this, since even though he realized he was ogling her he couldn’t stop himself. The girls however didn’t notice that he was as they too were watching Squeak with amazement as she singlehandedly pushed the caravan back onto the trail before she dropped down next to it breathing and squeaking heavily.

“Squeak!” Alyssa called out as the girls ran over to her, with Daniel then snapping back to reality before running after. Squeak slowly stood up and leaned against the caravan while trying to catch her breath as everyone rushed over to her.

“I don’t believe it!” Triska cheered. “That was amazing, Squeak!”

“I had no idea ant girls were
that
strong,” Specca agreed with a curious smile. “That was simply unbelievable.”

“You had us worried to death about you,” Alyssa said hugging the ant girl. Squeak held her with one hand and a weak smile before looking to seeing Daniel smiling at her with awe.

“Squeak,” he said looking to the caravan then back to her. “That… I don’t know what to say, you really saved the day there.”

Squeak nodded with a squeak as Falla looked at the ant girl curiously.

“That was impressive and all,” Falla mentioned. “But why would you risk your life all for this thing?”

Squeak looked to her with a small smile and squeaked something to the girl, with everyone just staring at her as she gestured to the caravan then waved her hands around. After she finished her speech the group looked to Falla.

“What’s she saying?” Daniel asked.

“Gee, I don’t know,” Falla said dryly. “She could have been saying anything while I’m standing
over here
.”

Squeak glanced around at the group then smiled weakly and shrugged before Falla walked over to her.

“I don’t understand squeaks, remember?” Falla said before she held the ant girl’s head and touched their antennae together. Squeak started squeaking again while the group watched them curiously, with Falla listening with a blank expression as the ant girl gestured to the caravan then over to Daniel. After Squeak finished Falla just looked at her with confusion.

“That’s seriously worth risking your life for?” she asked skeptically.

Squeak merely nodded at her, with Falla then looking over to Daniel curiously.

“What did she say?” Daniel asked.

“She said this ride is needed to complete your quest, that you need it,” Falla answered. “Without it you might fail your mission, and that’s reason enough to risk her life for it.”

The group looked at Squeak with surprise as the girl smiled and nodded at Daniel. The boy blinked then shook his head with disbelief.

“Squeak, no, that’s not true,” he argued. Squeak looked at him curiously as the boy held a hand to his head. “This ride is important and useful to us, but we shouldn’t risk our lives for it like that. If we lose it we’ll find another way to travel in the world. Squeak, it was amazing how you saved it, and I am grateful for your efforts, but I don’t want you doing anything so foolish ever again.”

Squeak looked at him with concern then around at the others.

“We’d much rather lose the caravan than lose you,” Specca said shaking her head. “Don’t ever think otherwise.”

“Next time this happens, just let it go,” Triska agreed. “We can find another ride out here, we can’t find another you.”

“If you ever risk your life over something so trivial such as this again we’ll be mad at you,” Alyssa scolded. “You had us scared to death we lost you.”

Squeak showed a worried expression then looked to Falla, the butterfly girl shaking her head as she backed up.

“You may be strong, but not too bright. Dying over a wagon would be a horrible waste of a life.”

Squeak looked down with saddened eyes and squeaked before Daniel walked over and hugged her, the girl then holding onto him with a quiet squeak.

“We’re just so glad you’re okay, Squeak,” he said gently.

The girl nuzzled her face in his shoulder before looking to him with worried eyes. The boy smiled a bit then looked at the caravan, the ride once again back on the trail and in one piece.

“Still, that was simply amazing how you could move that all on your own.”

Squeak smiled a little then dropped in his arms, the girl showing a weak smile before closing her eyes and holding onto the boy while breathing softly.

“Squeak? Are you okay?” he asked worriedly.

“I think that little stunt really drained her,” Triska reasoned.

“I don’t think she’s up for doing that again anytime soon,” Specca mused with a small smile.

“Well, I’ll go find Lucky,” Alyssa said looking around. “He shouldn’t have gone too far. Get her inside the cabin to rest in the meantime. She’s already done more than enough for today.”

Triska walked over and helped Squeak stand up against her, the ant girl glancing to her briefly before closing her eyes again. Daniel smiled at Triska as she helped Squeak over to the ride while Specca followed after, and then glanced to see Falla watching Squeak with a puzzled expression.

“Falla? What’s wrong?”

The girl glanced to him then shrugged while watching Triska and Specca assisting Squeak into the cabin.

“Just surprised that she would be willing to die so easily for you. Not a very bright girl.”

Daniel showed her a dull expression then looked towards the caravan.

“Her bravery and devotion to this journey are not to be underestimated, nor taken for granted. She’s the kind of girl that would risk her life for those around her without second thought.”

Falla looked at him with a raised eyebrow as he walked towards the caravan then rolled her eyes and looked off into the horizon to the side.

“I can think of another who’s just as foolish, I just hope her stupidity hasn’t gotten her killed,” she said softly, her solemn gaze doing well to mask her concern for her sister.

*****

Sitting down in the shade under a tree Emily was eating a red apple while she rested against the base of the trunk. Lying next to her were a few more apples that had fallen from the tree above, the girl enjoying the tasty fruit while Luna was enjoying a lovely meal of her own.

“I’M GOING TO EAT YOU UP, YES I AM! HAHAHAHA!” Luna laughed wildly while her head was inside the tree, the butterfly girl holding onto the bark while her wings fluttered wildly behind her.

Emily looked up towards the sound of her voice as the monster had found a nest of beetles and honeydew grubs, both of which she had opted to try and devour in a frenzy with her face alone after she had shoved her whole head into the side of the tree through some frail bark. Emily giggled as she heard her friend enjoying her food.

“Are those things really so good for you?”

Luna leaned back and looked down to the girl with a serene, warm smile while there were some insect legs and flakes on her lips.

“Oh yes, and how are those apples?” she asked while chewing her food. “Is that going to be enough to hold you over?”

“Yeah, they’ll be fine. It’s like that nice boy said last night. Out here we need to eat to survive, not for pleasure. These aren’t anything special, but at least they’ll stop me from being hungry,” Emily reasoned before taking another bite of her apple. Luna nodded then looked up at the sky with a gentle gaze.

“As soon as we get you to a human village I’m sure you can get something much better to eat then. Just hold on a little longer.”

She then glanced to seeing a beetle scurrying out of the nesting hole. Her eye twitched a bit before she violently chomped down on the bug and ate it along with some of the bark, the girl then shoving her head back into the hole and laughing while snapping at any of the insects she could.

“YOU’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE BUT INTO MY BELLY!” she screamed before laughing out of control.

Emily giggled and kept eating her apple, finding only amusement in Luna’s behavior rather than concern or even fear. As the butterfly girl happily and crazily ate her food the human child closed her eyes and rested back against the tree with a gentle sigh.

“I hope you can stay with me even then, Luna,” she said quietly, her words not being heard by the butterfly girl who was laughing and munching loudly in the tree.

*****

Rolling across the trail once again Lucky was pulling the caravan along while small hills and trees passed by on either side. Sitting at the front of the caravan Triska and Alyssa were keeping a sharp eye out for any sign of Luna or the human child, both wanting to help save the human girl and also get Falla to leave before nightfall. The sun was starting to descend in the sky as day was turning to dusk and there was still no clue or lead as to where the two lost girls were.

“Dammit, where could she be?” Triska muttered.

“We’ll be lucky to find them at all, let alone tonight,” Alyssa grumbled. “Luna could have flown anywhere if she was running away from something in a panic.”

Inside the cabin Squeak was curled into a ball and sleeping in her usual spot by the doorway, her pickaxe resting against the wall behind her while a blanket was set over the ant girl. Sitting across from her Falla was looking out the doorway at the sky above with a blank expression, remaining silent as she had ever since boarding the ride again. Next to her Specca was calmly reading a book while her tail gently swayed about on the floor beside her, eyes gently darting side to side as she read with a quickened pace about a human knight on a quest to rescue his beloved from a wicked demon. Across from her Daniel was looking in his monster book while leaning back against a pillow, rereading the entry about the ant girls again as he was thinking about the one he would be spending the approaching night with. He glanced to Squeak as the girl was still sound asleep after exerting so much energy earlier to stop the caravan from being lost. As she slept, with one antennae sticking out from under the blanket and making soft, quiet squeaks with each breath she took, Daniel found himself growing more curious about the silent and strong monster.