Darkmoor (5 page)

“I really hate this, Matthew,” Catherine shivered as she clung tightly onto his hand.

As the moonlight moved across the ground a tiny light flashed, then faded. Catching Matthew and Catherine’s attention, they waited for another flash to appear.

Eventually, as the moon hovered over the ground, again the tiny light glistened out. This time it seemed more powerful, coaxing Matthew and Catherine to investigate.

Moving nervously closer, the white light flashed on and off.

Twinkling in the moonlight, laying flat down on top of the mud, was a silver hoop. It sparkled like jewellery and Catherine’s eyes widened with curiosity as Matthew reached down to retrieve it.

Suddenly, realising what Matthew was about to do, Catherine shouted “Stop!”

“What!” Matthew replied standing to attention.

“Have you forgotten what happened the last time you held something?” Catherine said sarcastically. “I’ll pick it up,” Catherine smiled as she brushed past him. Then, taking a deep breath she carefully wrapped her fingers around the object.

“Hum,” she frowned, “it appears to be stuck! I think we’ll have to dig it free.”

Without hesitation, Matthew put his hands into the mud, “Well, come on!”

Kneeling down in the moist mud they started to dig. Bits of soggy mud spat up into their faces.

As they continued, they began to uncover some metal bars which extended out from the silver hoop. Finally, freeing the whole object from the mud, Catherine and Matthew could now truly appreciate their hidden treasure.

“Wow!” They admired.

Lying sideways across the ground was the silver bird cage Catherine had admired earlier at the car boot sale, and sitting perfectly still on her perch, was the dove.

Her brilliant white coat, despite her muddy surroundings, was spotless and warming. Looking up to inspect her rescuers, the dove immediately recognised the two youngsters and softly cooed graciously towards them.

Matthew carefully lifted the cage out of the mud and held it up. Dove’s glorious white light cascaded like a waterfall down from her head and out of her feathers. It fell gracefully around her delicate toes and stretched out to cover, Catherine and Matthew.

Placing the cage gently back on the ground, the dove hopped off her perch and pushed her delicate beak along the metal bars. Anxiously, Matthew turned the tiny silver door knob and placed his hand into the cage.

While Catherine held her breath, (remembering the last bird that she and Matthew had helped), the dove brushed her soft, silk feathers along Matthew’s hand.

“Come on it’s ok. I won’t hurt you,” Matthew spoke softly, reassuring the bird.

Trustingly, the dove stepped into Matthew’s muddy hand. Slowly he took his hand out of the silver cage and lowered her to the ground.

Free from Matthew’s grip, she opened up her pure white wings. They sparkled with the light of the moon and lifting herself up into the dark sky, the dove took to the air.

Dancing in the strips of moonlight, her beautiful wings twinkled like fairy dust. Awakened by the dove’s presence, tiny stars scattered across the sky line. An overwhelming feeling of comfort filled Matthew and Catherine, as together they watched her silhouette gracing the night sky.

Finally, the dove hovered above Matthew and Catherine. Sprinkling what appeared to be fairy dust upon them both, she guided them along the muddy paths. They followed trustingly behind her, hoping she was leading them to shelter, or better still, home.

Suddenly, from out of the darkness, sounded a didgeridoo. It caused the ground to shudder.

“What is that?” Catherine asked as her eyes bulged.

“I don’t know,” Matthew replied.

Just then, flaming arrows shot over the woodlands and started to set alight the dark sky.

The dove started to flap her wings faster and the two youngsters jogged on behind her.

Leading them off the river side and through a break in the trees, the bird began to coo. Another low tone rumbled and a dozen more fiery arrows blazed overhead.

“It’s ok, I can see them, they’re with Dove.”

“Seize fire!”

Pushing their way through the broken branches, Matthew and Catherine finally managed to follow the dove deeper into the woodlands. Dove began to flap rapidly forcing herself up high into the sky, until eventually she was out of sight.

Feeling completely alone, Matthew and Catherine tiptoed further into the forest. It wasn’t long before they discovered the true reason the dove had brought them into the forest.

Towering high into the sky were two thick wooden gates, held in place by two solid pillars which stood tall like candlesticks. Dazzling, fiery bright amber light flickered out from the tops of the pillars.

“Oh my,” Matthew gasped.

“What the,” Catherine stuttered.

Stepping closer, Catherine noticed something was engraved in the withered wooden gates. Nervously, Catherine placed her finger onto the etchings. At first she flinched and pulled her hand back, but then regaining her original stance, Catherine once again placed her fingers back into the carved out wood.

Twirling them around, she spelt out the letters in her head.

“What is it, Catherine?” Matthew asked.

“There’s writing on the gate,” Catherine answered pointing towards it, offering Matthew to read it for himself.

Intriguingly, Matthew started to slither his fingers across the slimy, moist surface, before sounding out the words.

“The forgotten”

“What do you think that means?” Matthew asked Catherine, wiping the slimy goo on his jeans.

But just then, the heavy wooden gates started to creak. Taking a step back Catherine whispered, “I think we’re going to find out.”

As the doors began to open, a burning light filtered out through the narrow gap and an aroma of burning logs surrounded them. Matthew and Catherine basked in the heat of the fiery warmth. The didgeridoo rumbled once more and finally the gates opened wide.

Orange, red and yellow flames climbed up into the night sky, accompanied by the sound of the wood cracking under the fires intense heat. Together they walked towards the giant camp fire, and anxiously entered the land of ‘The forgotten.’

Chapter Six

The Forgotten – Part 1

The heavy wooden gates slammed shut. A shadow emerged from
the smoke of the fire, and excitedly trotted towards them.

“Hi, you made it,” said the young man who was approaching them.

Matthew and Catherine stood there bewildered as the young man continued, “I’m Nathan and you are?” he asked trying to engage them into conversation.

“Oh sorry, I’m Catherine and this is Matthew.”

“Well we’re all glad you’re here, follow me,” Nathan smiled.

Nathan’s sandy blonde hair rested upon his shoulders. A thick wavy beard came to a point off the end of his chin, and his piercing blue eyes smiled comfortingly towards Matthew and Catherine.

Surrounding the fire was a carpet of mud, and piles of wood were scattered around. Five circular shelters surrounded the camp fire in a horseshoe shape, and each one appeared to be hand made out of hardened mud. Individual wooden doors and small gaps had been created to allow some light in. Broken tree branches entwined together sat on top of the mud huts, acting as roofs. Raindrops dripped down from the roofs and formed puddles, which ran around the huts like moats.

High upon the perimeter wall, which encapsulated the camp, sat three human figures. All three were armed with bows and flaming arrows, apparently guarding the ‘forgotten.’

“There are ten of us here now,” Nathan commented in a matter of fact manner. Nathan continued by rhyming their names off, “Andrew, Claire, Jasmine, and not forgetting our most recent, Thomas and Isabella...”

“Wait, who?” Catherine asked interrupting Nathan.

Nathan slowly repeated, “Thomas and Isabella. They arrived about-”

“Two weeks ago,” Catherine said quickly finishing Nathan’s sentence.

Catherine stared into the fire. She watched the flames dancing to the tune of the wood crackling. Her legs turned to jelly causing her to fall down onto her knees. Placing her head into her hands, Catherine wept.

Shrugging his shoulders, Matthew turned to a bewildered Nathan.

“How do you know that?” Nathan asked Catherine calmly kneeling down next to her.

“Because, I know them,” Catherine sobbed.

Nathan stood up, scratching his overgrown beard he turned and walked towards the muddy shelters.

“Please,” Matthew spoke grabbing Nathan’s arm, “please tell us what this place is and how we can get home?”

Turning back to face Matthew, Nathan’s eyes softened, placing his hand upon Matthew’s shoulders he said, “I will, I promise, but first I have to tell the others you’re here.”

With that, Nathan walked off into the mud huts reassuring the others that it was safe to come out. One by one the camper’s emerged, reluctantly at first, but eventually they made their way towards the two new arrivals.

Nathan looked up towards the three soldiers and shouted, “Olli! Claude! Reuben! Come down and meet our latest recruits!”

Upon hearing Nathan’s orders, the three soldiers’ gave him the thumbs up in unison. Dipping their flaming arrows into buckets of water, they began making their way down towards the centre of the camp.

Matthew helped Catherine up from the dirt. She had just about managed to stop herself from crying, when out of the first mud hut two small children charged towards her.

“Cathy! Cathy is that you?”

“Cathy! Cathy!”

Immediately Catherine recognised those tiny voices. Opening her arms wide she called back, “Thomas, Isabella!”

Rushing into Catherine’s open arms, Isabella and Thomas giggled with glee. Catherine’s eyes filled with tears of joy.

“It’s so good to see you both, how did you end up here?” Catherine asked pulling herself away from their warm hug.

“Come and sit next to the fire,” Isabella said holding Catherine’s hand. Pulling her closer to the roaring fire, Matthew followed. Catherine and Matthew sat down on a couple of tree stumps which circled the fire.

“Well everyone, this is Matthew and Catherine,” Nathan introduced them and a bunch of strangers smiled sympathetically towards them.

“Hi,” they said in return, shyly waving their hands.

Nathan asked every one to take to their stumps, “Ok, so you already know Isabella and Thomas.”

“Get off Nath Nath,” Isabella chuckled as Nathan squeezed her chubby rosy red cheeks. Isabella had beautiful golden curls which flopped wildly around her face and as her big brown eyes looked up towards Nathan, he couldn’t resist bending down and hugging her. Isabella chuckled even more, which soon became an infectious laugh around the camp.

“Oh you are a cutie Issy busy!” Nathan gave her a final squeeze then, as he walked past Thomas, ruffled his hair which caused Matthew to reminisce.

“It’s ok” Dad said as he ruffled his fingers through my hair, “lots of girls giggle at our Matty, don’t they son!”

“Give over Dad!” I said shoving my Dad’s hand away...

“Matthew! Matthew! Are you ok?” Catherine’s faded voice brought Matthew round from his daydream.

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Matthew whispered as he brought his attention back to Nathan.

Thomas grinned. Placing his tongue between the gap, where two front teeth were missing, Thomas wiggled his tongue towards Nathan.

“Oh you cheeky monkey, I’ll have that Tommy tongue next time,” Nathan said snipping his fingers like pincers towards Thomas.

Next to Thomas was another young man, probably in his late twenties.

“Hi I’m Andrew,” Andrew stood up and walked over to shake Matthew and Catherine’s hand. Then he returned to sit back on his stump.

Next to Andrew was Claire and Jasmine. Nathan smoothly kissed the back of their hands whilst introducing them.

“Oh Nathan! Get off,” Jasmine said wiping the back of her hand down her pants.

Claire didn’t seem to mind his affection. Her eyes lit up to his tender touch. Winking towards her, Nathan then carried on around the circle.

The three soldiers had now taken to their stumps.

“And these three,” Nathan said as he pointed towards the three African boys, “are Olli, Claude and Reuben.”

“Hi I’m Reuben,” the oldest of the three said and lent over to greet Matthew and Catherine, “this is my brother, Olli-”

“Hi,” Olli said and waved towards them.

“And this is my other brother, Claude.”

“Hi,” Matthew and Catherine said in unison.

Catherine asked, “Are you triplets?”

“No!” Claude said abruptly.

“Oh I’m sorry, it’s just you all look so alike.”

“It’s ok, Catherine,” Reuben said, “I am the oldest, then Claude, then our Olli.”

Catherine couldn’t help but stare at their amazing hair styles. They all had the biggest Afros she had ever seen.

“Our hair wasn’t like this when we arrived,” Reuben commented.