The New Terra Sagas

Chapter 4: A New Path

Katreena saddled her Kanis-steed Juniper and made sure he was prepared for a long days ride. His once puppy-like enthusiasm had been extinguished by weeks of sadness and loneliness. He had become accustomed to pining away and wasn't interested in going back to the normal. It took some coaching to get him out of the stables. Katreena whispered in his ear as she patted his neck and gently pulled on his bridle. "Come on boy; it's a beautiful day, and if anyone wanted you to enjoy a day like this it would be Popple. Come now."

As Juniper and Popple had grown up together, Juniper had become less dependent on Popple, but only so long as they were together by the time the suns went down. As Juniper got older, he was willing to take overnight trips without her by his side. Eventually, he was alright with King Timothy taking her out on week-long hunting trips. Yet Popple didn't come home from the last trip. She was lost in the same flash flood that took Katreena's father and husband.

When Katreena got the news, the first thing she did was run down to the stables. Her tears and sobs were all Juniper needed to understand that something horrible had happened. Expecting all would be well once the King returned on Popple he waited at the stable door until the suns had long set. Instead of returning to his own stall he would sleep in Popple's hoping she would wake him if she returned during the night. The following morning he would rise, eat and take his spot at the stable door and wait. The practice went on for five days until Katreena came to saddle him up for the funeral procession. It was then that he knew exactly what was happening, and that he needed to be strong for her. Katreena wore a black dress that she only wore to honor the dead and put the traditional black draping on Juniper. He carried her with the best pride and dignity that he knew despite the pain in his heart as the reality became clear. The ones they loved were not coming home.

After the duties of the funeral, there was nothing left to do but go back to the stables until called upon. The days passed slowly with nothing to do but exist. The stable master tried to care for Juniper the best he could. He fed and watered Juniper, brushed him and even tried to walk him for exercise, but Juniper had little interest in any of it. Katreena had kept herself secluded between duties and obligations since then, never visiting the stables nor doing anything that had once brought her any joy. Juniper just waited until he was needed not hoping or longing for anything, only existing for the day his Lady would need him again. With each day his sadness grew into apathy and defeat. When Katreena arrived at the stables that day, Juniper stood tall and still, waiting for his bridle and saddle. She knew the trip would be as important for Juniper as it was for her.

As they walked towards the stable door Juniper's eye caught a glimpse of Popple's blanket. It stopped him cold, and he began to whimper like a puppy. "Shh," Katreena said, as she stroked his nose trying to distract him from the sight of the blanket. Then she started to hum a song her mother had taught her. It had always made her feel better on stormy nights, and it had the same calming effect on Juniper as he followed her out of the stables. She kept humming the gentle song as she climbed up on the saddle and they headed down the road.

~~~

The suns were well past their zenith and Katreena was still a few hours away from the cottage, but she was in no hurry. The ride had brought back good memories, and she felt less sad for the first time in weeks. The air was warm, and the forest was alive with wildflowers, along with the sounds of birds and brooks. It felt to her as if the whole world was healing and starting anew, and something else. Deep inside of her, she had a faint sense of inspiration. It was as if she knew the day was going to bring something new.

Suddenly a c***k of thunder rolled through the forest startling Juniper. "Easy boy, easy," she said, as she pulled back on the reins to steady him. They stopped, and Katreena looked back at the sky, but there were no storm clouds. Then they both heard a distant roar like a great fire coming closer and closer. From over the hill behind them, an object flew over trailing fire and smoke and then disappeared over the opposite hill in the direction of Lake Windrock. Katreena usually looked before she leaped, but her curiosity got the best of her, and she squeezed her legs to direct Juniper to go. In a gallop, they quickly charged up the trail in the direction of the object. They ran as fast as Juniper could take them, but by the time they got to the top of the hill, there was no sign of the flying object.

"What do you think it was?" Katreena said to Juniper, with an excitement she had not had in a very long time.

Juniper gave out a happy bark sharing in her enthusiasm and taking joy in pretending they could talk to each other.

"You want to go and see?" she asked in an almost playful tone.

Juniper barked again and headed in the direction his lady indicated. Taking the only trail down the other side of the hill they moved down at a steady, but cautious pace. She hoped a clue to the direction of the object would reveal itself, but there was nothing. At about halfway down the trail, they came to an opening in the trees that overlooked the entire lake. They stopped, and Katreena studied the landscape looking for any sign but saw none.

"It must have flown away," she said to her Kanis-steed. "The river is just a bit further down this trail. Let's stop for water and a rest once there, alright?"

Juniper barked in reply, not really understanding her words, but responding to the confident sound of her voice. The trail led down the mountain range below the great crater that made up the lake. The trees got thicker and the forest floor darker as they headed towards the river that led into a long, but shallow canyon. Katreena had been down the path many times before, but there was something odd about it on that particular day. The forest grew still and silent as if all the animals had gone into hiding. Juniper could sense it too as he took each step with caution. The forest could present many dangers, so they forgot about their quest and proceeded along the path. The trail continued down with the only sounds that of her steed's hoofs on the ground. The sound of a horn crane broke the silence, and a family of tree mice jumped out of their hiding bush to run up a nearby tree. Katreena smiled as it no longer felt like the forest was holding its breath. Then suddenly she had an uneasy feeling from within. It was a feeling she would get when someone nearby was ill or hurt which was part of the sensitivity of a healer. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a rough stone with a chip out of one end. She held it out and then it hovered in the air. The stone wobbled for a moment and then when it stopped the chipped side pointed southwest, down the trail, in the direction of the person who needed her help.

The path took her down a trail by the river. As she got closer the feeling in her gut became stronger. She knew there was someone in great pain very near. The sensation got stronger at a much quicker rate than they were moving as if the person in distress was coming towards them. Juniper started to huff and whinny. Something he would do when he smelled something unfamiliar. As they came around a bend, Katreena saw a man on the edge of the river bank. Quickly she dismounted and knelt down beside him. She was a bit taken aback by his unique clothing at first, but she didn't hesitate to help him. Reaching into her pouch, she pulled out three stones. The first was the pain stone. She put it in one of his hands and then held it between her hands. The pain stone would show her where and how hurt someone was by making her feel their pain. As she concentrated, her skin glowed green on her in the places he was injured, first in the left arm, then where his right leg was broken, and then the three broken ribs followed by the swelling around his left eye. The pain was so great she could only hold on for a few moments. The second stone was a healing stone. She held it over him and stilled her mind. Slowly energy passed out of her and into the man's body which accelerated his healing. She focused on the most life-threatening injuries as she could not heal them all in one treatment. Clenching her jaw and bracing every muscle she did all she could do until she fell over, nearly passing out. He let out a gasp as he took in a lungful of air and a moan of pain as he exhaled. It was a good sign, the treatment hadn't entirely cured him, but it had healed him enough to keep him from dying right away.

Katreena felt extremely weak as she struggled to sit up. Feeling around in her bag she grabbed the third stone, which was an energy stone. After a minute of it clinched in her hand, it helped her to replenish a little of what she had given to the stranger. His injuries had taken a lot out of her, and the man would need much more if he were to live. Katreena didn't know if she could save the man, but she knew she had to try.

Juniper relaxed as he could see the urgency leaving his ladies demeanor. Crossing over to the river's edge he lapped up a belly full of water with his massive tongue. Katreena sat for a few moments studying the man. He was dressed oddly and had no facial hair, which was strange in such a mature man. She wondered how he happened to find himself injured and alone in the thick woods. It was clear to her that he was alone. Her sensitivity was acute enough to know when other people were nearby and she sensed no one. Juniper could detect the presence of other animals. He suddenly stopped drinking and sniffed the air. The low, guttural growl that he vocalized was directed into the woods. Katreena knew it meant that he sensed another large animal. There wasn't any time to waste. She gathered up her stones and got to her feet. Taking a couple of long tree branches, she laid them out in a Y, lashed them together and used her cloak to fashion a stretcher that she could put the man on and drag behind Juniper. She knew she could count on her Kanis-steed to stand guard while she worked and kept his nose to the scents in the air to keep track of any predators. By the time she completed the stretcher, there were only a few hours of daylight left. There was not enough time to take the man back to the kingdom, so she decided to continue to the cottage.