Legends Lost Tesnayr

by Nova Rose

  * * *

  Wearily, Tesnayr trudged down the blue path. Only the stars provided light. His shoulder sagged with each step he took mimicking his mood. An owl hooted in the distance. Tesnayr ignored it.

  Alone.

  Darkness surrounded him mirroring his gloomy mood. Yet, he continued.

  Turyn gone.

  A part of Tesnayr felt that he should have waited for the cat, but his rationale kicked in. He chose not to wait knowing that such a fall would kill a man let alone a cat. He had to go on. Every minute he delayed brought those waiting for him closer to death.

  Figures darted in the night. He disregarded them. Shadows plagued him, taunting him. Dark spirits his people called them. They intruded on his thoughts.

  “You killed him,” said one thought.

  Tesnayr shoved it away unsuccessfully. He felt responsible for Turyn’s absence. If only he hadn’t brought him. His heart yearned for the cat’s humming once more as it did provide company. Only now did Tesnayr realize how much he liked Turyn’s presence.

  Tesnayr walked in a fog unaware of everything around him. A chill breeze brushed his cheeks barely penetrating his senses. His feet dragged on the dirt grating the pebbles. Tesnayr didn’t care if he fell. Surrounded by “if onlys”, Tesnayr never noticed the light appearing in the sky.

  Head hung low, he continued walking consumed with his loss. A sharp pain stung the back of his head as a tiny stone bounced off it. Suddenly alert, Tesnayr’s head shot up. The sky grew brighter. All thoughts of Turyn and the night before vanished. Fearing that he may have traveled too long, Tesnayr rushed to the trees and hunkered low to the ground. The sun came into full view and the path vanished. He hoped he hadn’t lost it forever.

  Turyn hobbled through the trees trying not to irritate his already damaged paw. It had doubled in size making the slightest movement difficult. The constant throbbing wore on Turyn. He just wanted to stop and rest, but he couldn’t. Tesnayr needed him.

  The slushy snow made walking difficult, though its cold felt good on his swollen paw. Turyn hopped three legged and fell over. Gritting his teeth, he endured the pain as he forced himself back on his feet.

  Something scurried past under the brush. Turyn stopped, ears alert and listening for more. He hoped that an animal had not decided to make a meal out of him. Another rustle raced through the uncovered leaves on the ground. On edge, Turyn braced himself for the inevitable. He stood his ground waiting for the thing to show itself. The leaves moved about as something glided under them coming closer. Turyn hunkered low waiting for the thing to appear. Closer the sound came. Bracing himself, Turyn was ready to spring into action when out popped a squirrel.

  Relaxing his tense muscles, Turyn breathed a sigh of relief. “You startled me,” he said.

  The squirrel eyed him curiously. You startled me.

  “I apologize,” said Turyn. “I am looking for a man. He travels alone by night. Have you seen him?”

  The squirrel thought for a moment. I have seen a man. Strange that he travels here.

  “Where did he go?”

  What do you want with him?

  Turyn hadn’t time to explain anything to this squirrel. He was wasting valuable time. “It needn’t concern you. Please, tell me where he went.”

  Strange that a cat would pursue a man who travels the mountains by night.

  Irritated, Turyn reined in his anger. If his paw wasn’t mangled he would rip this squirrel to shreds. Forming his words carefully Turyn tried one last time. “I haven’t time to explain. The man is my friend and without me he will get lost in this forest. We were separated during the storm and I must find him.”

  Again the squirrel cocked its head and thought for a moment. A man did come through here following a strange road. He went that way. The squirrel pointed its bushy tail in a direction that led through more trees and fallen brush.

  “Thank you,” said Turyn.

  You should hurry.

  “Why?” asked Turyn.

  A bear roams this forest. It has woken from its sleep and is hungry. It has caught your friend’s scent.

  Turyn’s ears fell. He did not like the sound of this. With spring approaching many animals had woken from their winter slumber. He had to find Tesnayr and help him resume the search for the waterfall. Turyn darted off and collapsed as his hurt paw gave out under his weight. Cursing, he stood up.

  I know a short cut.

  Turyn turned to the squirrel. “What?”

  I know a short cut to your friend. He takes the long way through this forest on that shiny road. But I know a short cut through here.

  The squirrel ran off. Struggling on his three good legs, Turyn followed. The squirrel sped ahead through the soft snow and wet underbrush. It would hurry back and thump its tail impatiently as the cat limped behind. The sun rose high into the sky and then dipped lower as the two moved through the forest floor. Turyn hoped the squirrel led him in the right direction.

  The squirrel stopped. This is as far as I go. Your friend should be down there. And so is the bear.

  Turyn sniffed the air. He smelled it too. His heart leaped at the prospect of finding Tesnayr, but fell with the knowledge of the bear being there. “Than—,” Turyn started to say, but stopped when he noticed the squirrel had gone. Squirrels, he thought. He dragged himself down the small hill and continued in the direction of Tesnayr. Sniffing the air a few more times, he picked up the man’s scent. He was here. Hope drove him forward helping him to ignore the pain in his paw.