The Earthkeepers by Shawn Underhill

Author:Shawn Underhill [Underhill, Shawn]
Language: nld
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-02T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

It must be getting late, is what I said next. Maybe it was the weighty feeling of responsibility I felt on my shoulders. Maybe it was the thought of the long walk that was ahead of me, and the fact that my feet were beginning to feel a little numb and stiff from the cold.

“Do you regret your involvement?” Lobo asked, clearly seeing my anxiety.

No, I told him. No, I’m happy to have met you all tonight. I’m thankful you’re here to help us, Lobo. And I do want to help. I just wish there was some way of knowing that everything will turn out okay.

“Uncertainty is never comfortable,” replied the wolf. “But take comfort, my young friend. You are not alone in your uncertainty. As you said, you have made many new friends this night—friends that are both depending on you and rooting for you. But now direct your energies away from your worries. Focus on getting yourself home and getting what rest you can. Tomorrow may well be a very eventful day.”

Thank you, Lobo, I said.

“No need,” he said. “Now, I and my pack will take our rest. Come morning, we will be waiting near your home, waiting for word from you, and hopefully from your father. I eagerly await the chance to speak with him.”

I nodded to the great wolf and then looked down at Ginny.

“We have a long walk ahead of us,” she said. “The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll get home.”

“Hmm-hoom,” groaned Stomper. “Long walk? Not as long as it could be. Move aside, everyone. Let me get down so that the Ethan may climb up. He is small, remember, and probably well worn out from his travels. So, I will save him as many steps as I can.”

“You are a good bull,” said Lobo. “There are few as great as you, who would stoop as a domestic animal to carry a human child. You have my deep respect.”

“M-hmm,” groaned the moose as he lowered himself carefully to the ground. “I am a proud bull, but only in the face of enemies and unruly creatures,” he said. “It warms me to have made a friend such as Ethan, and to carry him is surely no burden to one as mighty as me. Climb on, little calf, and let us be on our way.”

I went through the same routine as before, removing my mittens and carefully climbing up onto Stomper’s massive shoulders. Again there was the same feeling of warmth emanating from his huge body, the same thrill as he stood up and I held on tight to his antlers, and as he turned to retrace our steps across the swamp, all the other animals around us began to cheer and offer their farewells.

Good night, everyone, I called. But I didn’t quite dare to remove a hand to wave. Then I looked down at Prowler, Twitch, and Barkrunner—who had only come down from his hiding spot in the tree as the meeting reached an end.

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