by Don P. Bick
Chapter 38
Bran was on watch in front of the stone doorway. It was midday on the second day since Druc disappeared. Hope for his return was beginning to fade. Why didn't he come back out through the doorway if he knew how it worked? Surely he knew they were all concerned about him. And he had no doubt that Druc knew that they would want to help him in any way they were able.
Bran had been unable to sleep well or eat much since his friend left. He was tired and run down. He stood there dumbfounded when Druc stepped through the stone doorway and collapsed a few feet from where he stood. When it finally dawned on him that Druc had returned he shouted and rushed to his friend's side.
Camran was carrying an armload of firewood into the cave when he heard Bran yell. He dropped the load of wood and ran toward the eagle's talon. As he approached he saw that Bran was bent over a still figure.
As Camran got closer he could see the person on the ground was Druc. Fear raced through him as he hurried to Druc’s prostrate form. He hoped he was okay, but he wasn't moving at all. Bran was picking him up.
Bran knelt alongside Druc, he looked terrible. It appeared as though he had lost about half his weight. His face was drawn and thin compared to the puffy look that was his normal state. His skin was bright red, as though he was out in the sun for way too long. He looked sunburned. There was no sun here so that was perplexing to Bran. Bran could also tell Druc was dehydrated. His skin was dry and wrinkled. But the most amazing thing of all was what he clutched in his right hand. It was a beautiful golden staff with two snakes entwined around it. It was also metal. That, in and of itself, was such a rarity in this world that it made Bran wonder what had happened to his friend after he entered the stone doorway. In the day and a half Druc had been gone, it was definitely clear he had undergone a difficult experience. Of that there could be no question.
Camran reached Bran and helped him carry Druc up to the cave. The others, hearing Bran shout, rushed outside and saw that Druc had returned and what condition he was in, then hurriedly prepared a place to lay him inside the cave.
When they had Druc inside Gena gently dabbed a water soaked cloth on his face. Squeezing a few drops onto his parched lips. She knew she needed to get liquids into his dehydrated body, but it had to be done slowly and gradually. Druc, delirious, mumbled something they were unable to understand.
Twil was mixing up a cream to rub on Druc's tender, burned skin. It hadn't blistered, which was good, but it was as close to blistering as it could be.
Uri tried to remove the staff from Druc's hand and lay it beside him, but Druc's fingers would not budge. He had a death grip on the golden rod. Uri moved the staff into a position that looked the most comfortable for Druc then helped Twil spread the greenish cream all over Druc's exposed and burnt skin.
Gena continued working on Druc with the cloth and water until she tired and took a break, then Ve-Nah took over from her. When Gena left Druc's side he had yet to respond, other than to mumble occasionally, although he did appear to be resting comfortably. The only word they were able to make out sounded like serpent. They, of course, didn't have any idea what that meant.
In an hour Gena returned to take over from Ve-Nah once more. Ve-nah said she didn't mind continuing, but let Gena resume the care. Shortly after Ve-Nah left Druc began to respond to the treatment and care he was receiving, Gena continued to moisten his lips and throat with small amounts of water. A little while later, before Gena's amazed eyes, Druc's skin healed. By that evening, although Druc had yet to regain consciousness, he looked exactly as he did before going through the doorway.
During the night Druc became conscious. He was completely alert and said he felt fine. Still sleepy from lack of sleep while he was inside the cavern was his only complaint, and also that he was hungry since he hadn’t eaten anything while he was away. None of the companions were able to believe their eyes. Just a few hours before Druc had looked more dead than alive. His recovery was nothing short of miraculous. Ve-Nah fed him a small amount of the soup she had prepared for when he awoke. He greedily swallowed it, wanting more than she would allow. After he fell back to sleep Gena commented on the look in Druc's eyes. It was one of deep peace, a peace that extended into the very depths of his being. She could also see a determination that she hadn't recognized there before.
Druc slept through the rest of the night. Each of them stayed up watching over him as he rested. In the morning Druc was fully awake. He drank some more soup and ate a couple of berries. He also drank a fair amount of water. As he lay there looking up at the others gathered around, he held the staff to his chest. He hadn't relinquished his grip on it once during the entire night.
After taking in some nourishment, Druc haltingly told what he remembered of the last two days. He explained about how he went through the doorway, confirming to the others that he was the only one who was able to pass through the door of illusion, since they had all tried the same thing. He explained about the passageways, the heat and the cold, and all the different doors he had to pass through. And the pits he had to jump. Finally, he told them how he came to a cavern without an exit, where he knew he was going to die. It was cold and dark in that cavern. There he sat down on the cold floor, and that was all he could remember.
They all wanted to know about the golden staff he held to his chest. He replied he didn't know where he got it, but he did know he had to take it to Serpent Isle, to the Vulcan, and have it re-polarized. He didn't know what that meant or remember how he knew. He just knew they had to go to the small Isle next. He also didn't have any recollection of how he could have gotten the burns. They all noticed how calm and confident Druc was compared to before the experience he had endured after passing though the door.
After telling the others his story he went back to sleep. It was a sound, comfortable, deep sleep. He was safe once more and back with his friends. He also felt more confident about his future than he ever had before.
Later, when he awoke, he was starving. He had eaten virtually nothing in the past couple of days. Gena fixed him some cooked vegetables, berries, and he had some more soup. He spent the remainder of the day visiting with the friends he thought he had lost, and just enjoying being back in their company. He was fully recovered and felt fine. No one believed him and wouldn't let him walk around much or do anything too strenuous. That evening Bran asked him if he felt up to walking the short distance down to the stream where he intended to catch some fish for their dinner. Ve-Nah told Druc Bran wouldn't fish while he was gone and was probably going through withdrawals. Druc said that he indeed would like to go down to the stream and do a little fishing. Bran said the fish weren't large enough to pose a great difficulty, besides, we can always leave the bait off, he added. They both began laughing about their private joke.
Bran tried to help Druc walk down to the stream but he didn't need any help. He seemed completely normal to Bran. With the staff lying between them, they sat side by side enjoying the company of one another. Neither of them spoke. They didn't need to. It was enough they were together again doing what they both shared and enjoyed.
Druc hooked his second fish before Bran caught his first. As he did with the first fish, he turned and threw his latest catch up on the grassy bank behind him. Then he returned his line to the water.
Startled, a noise from behind brought them both to their feet. Druc grabbed the staff first and then reached for his knife. Bran was unsheathing his sword. Up on the bank behind them was another bird, he was gulping down their fish. Bran jumped in front of Druc to protect him from the winged creature. Druc prepared to throw his knife.
"Wait a minute," said Druc. "It's just a baby." Sure enough it was a baby bird. It must have been in the nest when they killed its parents. It was probably about ready to fly and got himself up on the edge of the nest, then somehow down to the ground. It was no doubt hungry.
"It doesn't mean us any harm," Druc continued. "Look, it doesn't even look dangerous. It just wants to eat."
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nbsp; Sure enough the bird went about eating without so much as paying any attention to them. Even though it was a baby, it was about three and a half feet tall. And his wingspan was probably already ten feet wide.
Druc re-sheathed his knife and started toward the awkward looking creature. The bird finished swallowing the second fish and stood there staring at the approaching man. He didn't move. Druc waved his arms to scare the bird away. It held its ground.
"Stubborn, aren't they?" said Druc, while Bran readied himself to attack if need be. The bird may be young but he was still big and strong. Bran didn't think his friend was in any condition for hand to hand combat with this bird, baby or no baby.
At that moment Bran's pole started toward the stream. Being the fisherman he was, Bran's reflexes caused him to grab the pole. Then he shrugged his shoulders and continued to bring in the fish.
"Let me see it," said Druc, his hand held out for the fish. Bran reluctantly gave it to him. He was picturing the fish in the cooking pot. They hadn't had any fish to eat the past couple of days. He suspected what Druc was going to do with his fish, and sure enough he did. Druc held it out so the bird could reach it. The bird reached up and took it from his hand, almost taking part of his hand in the process. In a couple of gulps the fish was gone.
The third fish apparently filled the bird. He turned and half hopped, half flew, away into the woods. Druc smiled and returned to the stream and picked up his pole. Bran stood there not believing his fishing buddy had just given his fish to a bird.
They fished for a while longer, catching another three fish between them. With dinner restored, Bran was in a forgiving mood regarding his lost catch. He told him if he ever did that again he would no longer consider him his fishing friend. Some things are sacred you know. While he said that he had his hand placed on Druc's shoulder in a gesture of friendship.
The baby bird was nowhere to be seen as they walked back to the cave.
For the next two days Bran and Druc fished each evening. The baby bird would show up, eat three fish, and then leave. Druc would give the bird only his catches, except the second night when he hadn't caught any by the time the bird showed up to feed. With a disgusted look on his face, Bran handed over his two fish for Druc to feed the thing.
The others kept hearing the stories of the bird from the two fishermen. On the second day the bird followed the two back from the stream to the cave. He kept his distance and eventually parked himself on a rock about fifteen yards from the cave entrance. He was still there in the morning. Druc went for a walk each morning, meditating and strengthening his legs for the coming journey. He was nearly ready to travel. During his walk that morning the bird followed him, partly flying and partly hopping. He stayed a few feet behind but kept pace with Druc the entire walk. That night he followed Bran and Druc down to the stream, ate his three fish, and then returned to the cave with them. While they fished that evening Druc named him Eagle. Bran wanted to name him Fishbelly.
The others were becoming used to seeing the bird at dinner time. At first they were weary of the creature, especially Gena. After dinner, their last night at the cave, Gena went out and fed the bird the leftover scraps. She was finally getting over her nightmarish thoughts about birds. Ever since she had been attacked she hadn’t been fond of flying things. Besides, as she tried to justify her actions, they would be leaving in the morning and she wanted to make her amends with the creature before they left.
Eager to be under way, early the next morning they started back toward the pass, and once through the mountains would be on to Serpent Isle. Behind them an ungainly awkward baby bird hopped and flew, always keeping the party of seven within sight.
PART III
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