Chapter 9: Holly (Part V)

Are we there yet!

     “It’s not long now princess, we have crossed the Equator -they would have given up by now.” He said staring out into the night. I knew we had to ride on even though it would cause Sergeant pain. I knew that the longer we rested the longer the horses would go without food and water, the thought of that heart wrenching. I so dearly loved all living things, their pain was mine. I winced but managed to mount again. The stranger was now looking unfazed by what we had just endured; he remounted and walked ahead. I followed obediently. The horses eventually came to a bit more and found what little energy they had left. They broke into a canter at the smell of dirt and crisp land. They noticed it before we did and as soon as the moon lit up the land I was grateful, something to aim for. As soon and we touched solid ground I dismounted and led Sergeant through the forest in search of food. The stranger’s voice was quiet but I could decipher the mumbled words he spoke. He told me to be careful and that he would go find water and start a fire. The forest is eerie, the trees tall with small branches that harvest no leaves. The ground is covered with dirt and moss and not much else. Not a berry tree in site. I continue to trek through the forest hoping to find a village of some sort.
     “Hello!” I start to yell, the adrenalin has worn off and I’m left tired as normal if I was wake at such an hour. A hand covers my mouth before I can scream.
     “What do you think you’re doing!” the stranger yells in a hushed tone. I brush him off and just look at him. He sighs, realising I wasn’t going to ever speak to him �"well I hope by now he’s got the message.
     “Come on.” He says like I’m some pup that can be beckoned. I followed him anyway -out of the wellbeing of the horses. He led us to a village as if he knows the forest like the back of his hand. I still don’t know anything about him, except the fact we are going to Russia where I presume he originated given his physical features. I have no idea what his life has been like, where he’s been, if he has a family and most importantly how he met my Nan and his relationship with her. I also know now, due to recent observation, that he can speak traditional Chinese, English, Russian �"I presume- and German. He must have travelled to speak these languages with such ease and precision. He sounds like a local and I am awestricken by it. I would love to one day be able to speak all languages; expect Latin of course, the devil’s language. It is presumed to be spoken only by Siberians. 2^nd generation explorers found cravings in caves and the language engraved into the trees. They -might I dare say, barely escaped with their lives. It was so lucky that they lived to tell of the horrors but so reckless of them to even trek into that direction in the first place.
     The stranger shakes my shoulders in the early hours of the morning. I groan and fuss and he just throws me over his shoulder like I’m nothing and slumps my on Lacy’s back. He mounts and his arm around my waist is the only thing that is keeping me from sliding off. Unfazed really by the situation or maybe not fully aware of what is going on, I fall asleep once more. Distant whispers awaken me. I open my eyes and sit upright.
     “Watch it!” The stranger yells as I narrowly miss a head on collision. I fuss, fully grasping the situation and the fact I decided not to get close to him. I squirm and he just lifts me up and places me on the ground.
     “Good, you’re awake. Ride your own horse.” He speaks as if I was enjoying it and brought him annoyance -which was totally the opposite in reality. I mount Sergeant tired and pouting. I look around where were we? It looks like the land of milk and honey with huge dome shaped buildings that spiral up to the sky; towers with golden marshmallows resting on top. They were all the oddest of colours, pink, green it was quite unusual but also very beautiful. I looked back on where we had come from. It was dense forest filled with wooden cottages and woman walking around in huge dresses with aprons around their waists. We ride on slowly.