Child of Zutah – Chapter 2
(Please note that this is an early look at the story, and may be subject to change)
Wes shook Lily and Reece awake.
‘Woah there, champ! Careful with the merchandise.’ Reece rolled away from Wes, then slammed into the floor.
‘Ugh.’ Wes slowly craned his head back. He wanted to make a joke incorporating the fact that his brother looked like a ferret, but didn’t have the time.
‘Monster?’ Lily whispered.
‘Yeah.’ Wes found his bag and searched through it, pulling a small wooden baton from it, barely half the length of his arm. Perfect–no weapon could compare to his beloved bat. It had served him well for years.
‘Excitin’. I’ll make us a real big cutlet from it.’ Reece retrieved his tiny knife once again.
‘We’re not killin’ it.’ Wes made for the door without another word. He wasn’t sure if he said that because he didn’t want to, or because he was afraid they wouldn’t stand a chance against it.
‘Wait,’ Lily stopped his hand from moving the locking plank. ‘Should we wait it out in here?’
‘Maybe,’ he said. Maybe if he just went back to sleep, it would be all over with. Couldn’t this just be a dream?
‘Nah, we gotta drive it out.’ Reece boxed the air. ‘We can’t let it be comfortable comin’ to a post.’ He swung the locking plank off and beckoned for the other two to follow him outside.
The smell of the burning coals stung Wes’ nose. He cursed under his breath. How did he forget? The fire’s embers continued to smoke and popped like loud crackers.
He wound his way to the back of a large tree, making sure he kept only a small distance from the house. The other two raced behind trees nearby, and then they waited.
The snorting noise resounded once again, and this time, much closer. That constant grinding sound became louder and louder. Then, the heavy footfall of something just on the other side of the small campsite signalled its arrival.
Wes peered around the tree. Through the small corner of vision, he could see a large yet sleek paw. Unlike any other creatures Wes had seen, this particular one didn’t have a point where its claws separated from the foot. It looked like its claws and skin had simply become the same thing. A faint scent like rotted meat filled the area, and the creature’s slender canine snout came into view. Its hairless body revealed four muscular legs, skin tanned brown with patches of black. This large and hairless hound strode to the front of the cabin. It lifted its nostrils into the air. No doubt it caught the smell of three humans. Its snarling jaws smiled in the fading glow of the coals. It definitely knew.
Wes hissed. He tapped the tree with his baton. His noises attracted the creature towards himself, and so he braced. The sound of scraping resounded with every step the beast took. Its claws ground together to produce that horrible noise. It sounded worse than Reece singing, and that was saying something.
‘Caw,’ Reece hollered, ever so subtly. Wes could hear him scrambling up the side of his tree. He had caught the curiosity of the beast.
Wes noticed Lily trying to climb her own tree, and attempted to get her attention. Isn’t it a pack animal? he mouthed to her. Lily shrugged, watching on as the hungry predator approached Reece.
‘Hee!’ Lily screeched. She rattled some branches and stomped on the tree’s trunk, pulling the creature’s attention away from Reece. It picked up its walking pace with eyes that craved a kill.
‘Coo!’ Wes called. Coming up with dumb noises wasn’t exactly his forte.
This time, the creature didn’t turn. In fact, it picked up its pace and ran for Lily. She barrelled out of her hiding place, leading her pursuer around the campsite.
‘Reece, do a thing!’ Wes cried. He scampered out and after the beast, clutching his baton in both hands. This would be a great time for his brother to come through.
‘As they say on Earth–bombs away!’ Reece launched himself through the air, gliding towards the back of the beast. He landed gracefully between its shoulder blades. A low lying branch immediately struck him in the chin. He hurtled off the creature’s back, barely missing Wes.
Lily made a sharp turn, rounding a tree and slipping past the monster. It reared around and pursued. Wes’ wooden baton met it before it could give chase.
‘Sorry!’ Wes cried as he bludgeoned the creature directly on its snout. A loud and solid whacking noise shook through Wes, and he quickly turned to run from the beast. Now, take a hint and leave us alone. The creature stood still, shell-shocked for a split moment, but howled and followed after him. It really didn’t know what a hint was.
A small gust of wind blew as a spry Reece burst past Wes. ‘Let’s try this again!’ Reece shouted, his dagger catching a small glint of light from the red coals of the fire. He wound himself past the beast as its jaws snapped for him in a confused rage. Reece took the opportunity to strike, making a cut in the side of the wolf. With some blood seeping through the wound, Reece retreated.
‘I said not t’ kill it!’ Wes cried. The beast might have been a predator, but it didn’t deserve to die.
‘It’s just a li’l flesh wound,’ Reece argued. ‘I ain’t Fen.’
‘Should we run?’ Lily gestured to the monster as it stood in a daze–an angry daze, if that was a thing.
‘I don’t wanna be tracked by a fleshy dog all night,’ Wes groaned. He spun his baton about, approaching the hound. What was the best course of action here? Was Reece right? No. No killing.
He let it act first. It chose to take a bite at him. The teenager thrust his baton forward, not wasting an opportunity. The weapon lodged into the creature’s mouth, then throat, until only the very tip of the hilt could be seen. Wes grimaced, forcing back the thought of what that must have felt like. He left the bat in there and pulled away.
‘Weewoo!’ Reece found his way onto the back of the creature, grabbing its pointed ears and yanking them taut. The beast clearly didn’t enjoy this game of horseback, tossing and turning to be rid of the noisy human. Reece simply shouted more cheers and clung tighter.
During the chaos and absurdity, Lily made her move. She pulled a flat stone cooking plate from her bag. With little effort, she slammed it across the monster’s head. ‘Hup!’ She crouched, then leapt up, bringing the plate to meet the lower jaw of the beast. Crunch! Wood splinters scattered from the monster’s mouth.
‘Aw.’ Wes hung his head as the monster struggled to spit out the pieces of broken wood–the remnants of his baton. The creature reared back in pain and anguish, then turned to the depths of the woods.
Wes crumpled to his knees. ‘Finally. Guess enough is enough.’
Reece tumbled from the monster’s back, landing on the ground like a graceful dancer.
‘Well, that could have been worse,’ Lily remarked, checking her plate for any damage. ‘We’re a solid team, as always.’
‘We got lucky.’ Wes caught one last glimpse of the hound’s fleeing hindquarters before it trampled its way back into the dark forest. ‘That’s definitely a pack animal, from memory. Something separated it from the rest of its kind. It was desperate fer food.’
‘But not desperate enough t’ risk bein’ bashed by a girl with a pan again.’ Reece wiped his bloodied blade with a cloth, keeping his back turned to Wes until it shone a metallic glimmer again.
‘Did it get either of you?’ Lily asked. Wes shook his head in response.
‘Oh yes, so badly!’ Reece cried. He pulled a grim expression and turned with the bloodied cloth in hand. He pretended to cough blood into the material.
Lily ignored Reece.
That was the other thing Wes failed to understand about Reece, he really enjoyed all eyes being on him.
‘Okay, good.’ Lily showed more concern for Wes. He stared at nothing in a complete daze. ‘Hey, is something the matter?’
‘Just my bat,’ Wes said. It really stunk. That thing was the only weapon he’d ever liked.
‘It’s okay, we’ll get you another one.’ Lily patted Wes on the back.
‘It just won’t feel the same,’ Wes began. ‘I’ve made an effort t’ take care o’ this weapon, and now I’ve gone ‘n’ broken it.’ He scooped the splintered grip of his weapon and shook his head at the fragmented end that was once the main part of the baton. He tucked it under his arm. This was going to look really bad when his sisters found out. He jabbed a toe at the loose chunks of bat, scattering them across the dirt.
‘Oh, this is a pride thing.’ Reece covered a smile. ‘You’re still proud to be the only one of us who hasn’t lost or broken a weapon. Welcome to the club,’ he taunted.
‘Shove off.’ Wes pushed Reece back, stifling a grin of his own.
‘The Dealer will have something for you,’ Lily assured Wes. ‘He’s been wanting to get you something better for months now.’
‘But I don’t need a weapon more dangerous than my bat. I won’t kill these animals.’ Wes folded his arms.
‘I know, I know.’ Lily rolled her eyes. ‘Let’s just decide whether we want to move again, or stay.’
‘Stay.’
‘Stay.’
‘Okay,’ Lily lifted her hands in defence. ‘You’re on watch again, Wes.’
•••
The next morning came, bringing faint glimmers of light through the treetops and the loud clang of a pot Reece intentionally kicked. What a lovely way to start the day.
Wes made for the door, welcomed by the greenery which became overshadowed by the bright morning sky. The final stars had disappeared, and the deep night had turned to the light blue of daytime. Being still early, the three took their time to wash their faces, eat the remainder of the previous night’s meal, and pack their things up. Reece carved the words, no skin wolves allowed, on the cabin.
They made their way onwards, trudging deep into the forest.
The morning insects chirped as birds filled the air with a new song. Greenery brushed past, each plant sporting its unusual features. Some even had blue stalks or leaves shaped frighteningly similar to Reece’s dagger.
‘Anything happen on yer watch, Reece?’ Wes asked.
‘Not really. There was a time that I thought there was a red light outside, like a li’l dot movin’ through the dark, but then I realised that it was the coals still burnin’. So, I guess that’s kind o’ weird.’ Reece picked up a broad fallen leaf and fanned himself with it.
‘We really didn’t ever think to make an effort and put that out,’ Lily remarked.
‘Mmhm.’ Wes trudged ahead, choosing to think more about the peaceful morning. A small furred critter ran across their path, chasing after an even smaller hairless mouse. He imagined the creature from the night before. What kind of beast or force could drive it away from its own pack? It wasn’t scarred or hurt, just on its own. The idea of something bigger breaking up the beast’s pack frightened Wes. Maybe, with some luck, he would never have to meet it, but this island was pretty small. The ideas shrouding and swirling in his mind clouded his vision, cutting him off from reality for a moment.
‘Wes.’ Lily’s voice sounded muffled by this new cowl of broodiness.
He didn’t feel like having a conversation right now, and so pretended he didn’t hear. It worked. Like a planned distraction, several pretty flying insects raced past. Their wingbeats made subtle hums as their brightly coloured bodies reflected sunlight amongst the greenery.
This moment of tranquillity was smothered by the sound of Reece vibrating. Somehow, he managed to sound like the hoarse buzzing of a bee, which turned out to be his idea of humming a musical tune.
‘Reece.’ Lily grimaced and cupped a hand over her ear.
‘Yes?’
‘Stop.’
‘Okay.’
‘Get lessons.’
‘Understood.’
Midday neared when the group picked up their pace, finally nearing home. The sun waxed high, beating down as a harsh oppressor and taking up a large portion of the sky. The trees somehow made everything better. They stretched much higher into the air in this part of the forest, like spiralling towers. Each tree was branchless except near the very crowns.
Wes searched ahead for any sign of his home. Within a few minutes, spotted the entrance–a stairwell leading around the thick trunk of one massive tree. He’d never tried to measure it before, but guessed it had to be nearly eighty meters tall.
‘We did it–we’re back!’ he cried out to the massive tree–the Hometree. His eyes followed up the wooden stairs, strung around the tree by rope and bars of timber. The path even passed directly through the center of the tree at one point, then continued reaching all the way up to the base of a wooden treehouse. Several other treehouses hung amongst the treetops, linked together by bridges of rope and timber boards. The trees above them came alive with shouts. Bodies leapt, swung and strolled into view.
‘Hello and goodbye!’ One young girl shouted as she shot from amongst the shrubbery nearby. She made for Reece, threatening to knock him down with a punch. He instantly reacted, reaching a hand out to catch the punch. She quickly withdrew her fist. A split moment passed before she kneed Reece in the gut. Poor silly Reece.
‘Oof.’ Reece stumbled backwards, struggling to hold in his breakfast. He belched and doubled over once more.
‘Mia!’ Lily folded her arms. Wes did his best to hold in his laughter at the crumpled figure of Reece.
Mia simply shrugged, combing her fingers through her shortly cropped hair. The haircut was new. Mia always talked about changing it, but Wes didn’t expect her to go through with it.
‘My dude!’ another new feminine voice shouted.
‘Bro!’ a boy wailed. A girl with long and wild dark brown hair and earthy brown skin came running alongside a pale skinned teenage boy, slender with short golden hair. They pressed past Mia to help Reece stay on his feet.
‘Ron, Kirralee–my retainers,’ Reece mumbled with an excessive amount of dramatic flair.
‘What happened?’ Ron asked, tears like glittering silver rolling from the corners of his bright blue eyes. He had always acted like an overgrown baby, and now he kind of looked like it.
‘My mission was treacherous and has brought me t’ this state of weariness. Please, take my things and distribute ‘em fairly between everyone.’ Reece threw his head back with a pronounced sigh.
‘No, my lord!’ Kirralee grasped Reece under the arm. As usual, she was the most enthusiastic of the three. There wasn’t a single Reece shenanigan she wouldn’t join. ‘We must return you to your chambers–there you shall rest and recover the great power you once had.’ With Ron’s help, Kirralee heaved the fallen Reece above their heads, and they carried him to the base of the staircase.
They passed by two new figures, who completely ignored the absurdity and made for Wes, Lily and Mia.
One, a teenage boy just a little younger than Wes strode up. His black hair was cropped to the side, and he had pretty hazel eyes that pierced right through Wes. Of course he had to show up. He spoke first, saying, ‘saw that hit, Mia–solid.’
‘I’ve yet t’ fail.’ Mia pressed a fist into her other hand. ‘I’m the best.’
‘You didn’t have t’ hit ‘im to make that point.’ The other new figure, a girl not even ten years old, walked to Mia’s side.
‘Erica, when yer my age, you’ll understand the need to make such a point,’ Mia leaned on the girl’s shoulder.
‘Right.’
Wes frowned. ‘Ye know you’re not much ol–’ Mia hushed him with a gentle pat on the head. That was probably the scariest thing she could do.
‘Kails are weird,’ the pretty eyed boy remarked to Lily.
‘I would call them a mixed bag,’ she responded. ‘You’re one to talk though, Fen.’
‘I wouldn’t go sayin’ that stuff about my sisters.’ A sudden hushed rage sullied Wes’ tone. He approached Fen, blocking the way to Erica and Mia. That was about all he could take from that guy. Fen was easily Wes’ least favourite person. Wes forced Fen to step away. Few things gave Wes the same buzz as making Fen back down.
‘It was just a harmless comment. It’s true, too–you’re all a bit weird.’ Fen took another step back, chuckling. His heel found the bare toes of a taller person. ‘Oh, sh–sorry.’ He sheepishly stood aside as a taller woman now found herself in the center of the group.
Her long brown hair reached to the small of her back, streaks of grey running through it in places, despite her being quite young. Her sharpened gaze entranced the group for a moment.
The leader had arrived.
She wore protective leather gear over plain black and yellow clothing. A long double-edged blade slung loosely over her back. Its shining silver metal made for a striking offset to the colours. The pommel reflected the image of Fen’s sweaty forehead.
‘Hey, Cadie,’ Wes said, voice a little smaller than usual. It wasn’t that he was scared of her, it was just that he never knew what she was about to do.
‘Mornin’,’ Cadie responded. She reached a hand over her shoulder, clasped the grip of her sword and swung it through the air. The blade faintly whistled like no weapon any of the children had otherwise known. She pointed the weapon towards Wes, an intense gaze in her eye. Cadie Kail, the oldest under the Hometree, lifted her chin at Wes. She had that look about her. Every child beneath the tree knew what that smile meant all too well.