Vagabonds by Darcy Pattison

Author:Darcy Pattison [Pattison, Darcy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Preteen, animal
Publisher: Mims House
Published: 2014-08-26T04:00:00+00:00

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THE MAP ROCK

The vagabonds spent another night and day at the Twin Waterfalls, eating, resting, and debating the map rock. The map covered most of the top of the rock that made it difficult to study. Galen insisted everyone stay on the fringes to prevent any damage to the delicate lines. They crept around the edges, their tails dangling over the rock’s side.

After studying it, they shouted speculations above the waterfall’s dull roar. The map showed forests and major landmarks.

“The Eagle’s Nest is here.” Blaze hopped onto a series of circles. At Galen’s warning glare, she flapped off to the edge. “Easy to find.”

“No, not easy,” Corrie said reasonably. “If this is a Turi map, then it’s so old, things have changed. Even if we find an eagle’s nest, other landmarks could be long gone.”

“That’s the question,” Galen agreed. “Can we trust this map?” His earlier euphoria was replaced with caution.

Victor wagged his head. “I’ve never seen such a confusing map rock. Our maps at home show our Colony’s dens, along with rivers, creeks or streams. This has no dens and only one river. What is that round thing?” His disgust was obvious. “This map—if it is a map—is worthless.”

Corrie paced the rock’s perimeter, forcing the others to shift around. She studied the lines from every angle. “Not worthless. That round thing is probably a mountain. Here on the frontier, we put in geographic landmarks, not dens. Waterways, yes, but also hills, or anything that can help you find your way through a wilderness. We just have to account for the difference in years. For instance, what is that squiggle? A creek or a warning?”

“By tradition, this map rock should show the location of another map rock, but it doesn’t. Does that means we’re close?” Galen’s neck was stiff from looking at the map

“That’s the other thing,” Corrie said. “We don’t know what distances are represented. Is the mountain a day’s journey or a month’s journey away?”

Galen asked Blaze, “Do you understand these major landmarks? That mountain, the river, this map rock? By flying overhead, can you keep us going the right direction, even if some things have changed?”

Blaze tilted her heart-shaped face. “I scout. I know what to do.”

Galen pointed to a tangle of lines that matched his own confusion. “This eagle’s nest, if that’s what it is, is close to the mountain. How long to find the mountain and nest?”

“A week or two? Who knows?” Blaze said. “Corrie’s right. Map is confusing.”

Victor made the decision. “We have no choice. We’ll try to follow the map. Tomorrow at dusk, we’ll leave. This is a good feeding area, so we’ll eat first, then try to make good time.”

After the decision was made, the others had swum to shore, Galen paced the rock’s perimeter. He twisted his head right, then left, trying to ease his neck ache. Maps had to do with large ideas, big events, vast spaces. Nothing about his early life—his first den, for example—would ever be marked on any map.

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