Unlikely Heroes: Chapter One - Part One (A Children's Story)
"Oh! I see an owl, Da!" the small girl said.
"Where?" the man next to her looked where she was pointing, "Yes, yes it is! Very good, Aryssa! That is... a Spotted Dakamon Owl." Squinting hard to see through the trees to where the animal stood.
The pair, father and daughter, wandered through the forest on their way to town. Aryssa Forester shared her fathers love of woodcraft and animals. He once wanted a son to carry on after him, thinking only a boy could do his work and love it as well. But since her birth he had discovered how well she filled that empty space. She not only had a deep desire to learn all there was to learn about the woods and its denizens, but ,surprising enough, what she lacked in strength she made up for in endurance. She could not lift a heavy log, but could drag a medium one as long as she cared to do so. The father was old now, past his fortieth year, soon he would be no good for this work. He would have to retire from his love, and instead take a seat on the council, if they would have him.
"After all, isn't that what one does when they become an 'Elder'?" he thought to himself, smirking cynically.
Aryssa looked up at him, sensing he was not himself, "Da, what's wrong?"
"Nothing baby, let us keep walking, we are almost there..." he let the conversation drop as he started off. She stared after him for a few moments, then hurried to catch up.
To the west of their small cabin in the woods stood the village proper about two miles away. Even at that distance, the smell of freshly baked bread would wind its way to their windows. Every morning, they would walk that two miles to town, checking the roads as they went for hurt animals or people. If either were found, they would give aid with poultices they had made from the local plants that were found all throughout the forest. The care and protection of the woods fell to her father and the three other Foresters.
In town, they would buy whatever food and tools they may need, whether for the day or if they ran out of longer lasting provisions. Afterwards, they would check with the local garrison of the town for any unusual people wandering about. It was a common occurrence to find hunters nearby, and it was the Forester's responsibility to ensure that they were not going to cause harm to the woods or overhunt the area. In the village tavern they would grab a quick drink before starting off back to their cabin.
This was the way the day went for them this day. At the cabin, they set about storing their groceries and items where they should go. Aryssa would head out back and feed the animals they kept, while her father would make a small meal for them. Then, she would come back inside and they would say a small prayer before eating.
Several moments passed in silence as they ate. Her father just stared at his plate. "Something is wrong." she thought to herself, "Why won't he say anything to me?" She began to think that something must have made him think of her mother. They had not seen her in several years, not since the riders had come and taken her away. He had searched all of the forest and everywhere around town, but no one had heard anything about her or the riders.
"Aryssa, when we are done, I need you to go the south-end and gather elderberries. While you are there, check the bridge and see if it needs repaired." His sudden talking made her jump.
Coming back to herself, she nodded, "Yes, da, I will get them"
They finished eating, and she headed south down the hill. She was still lost in her thoughts, and lost track of time. There was a bright flash ahead of her down near the bridge, but she didn't notice. She was still trying to figure out what was wrong with her father. She began to pick the berries without even thinking about it.
Once her basket was full, she headed towards the bridge. Only then did she hear the voices.
"I'm telling you, Axe, I sensed no wards or spells in the area!" a tiny voice cried.
"So, what you mean, is that you're an inept wizard? Is that it?!?" this one sounded like a thug, but with a higher-pitched sound.
"While you two bicker, I'm hungry, either of you happen to have seen our bags? I managed to steal away some mutton at that feast they threw for us." another tiny voice, but somehow it sounded creepy, like a street peddler.
She squatted down and crept towards the voices. They were coming from under the bridge. "But that cannot be, the bridge is barely big enough for a horse to cross. How is it that there are three people underneath of it?" she thought as she peered through the bushes in front of her.
"Be at peace, all of you. Have any of you noticed something about our surroundings?" That voice sounded like a noble.
"Ok, now there were four people hiding under that tiny bridge?" She thought. She could not remember eating any berries, but if she had, and one was not an elderberry... being poisoned may explain a great deal right now.
"Well, we appear to be inside an extremely dark, wooden shed built into two opposing hills." The first voice again.
"Yeah, and there's big trees everywhere." The dumber sounding one muttered.
"Hey, guys, why is there a river running through this shed?" sounded the third.
"Exactly my point, you buffoons! Does it not seem odd that there is a 'river' running through a 'shed' with no back or front? What about these 'trees' as you call them? Notice the leaves? Also, note the color of the petals at the tops of them? They are not TREES! They are FLOWERS!" He began to yell, but sense the sound was so tiny to start with, it only managed to become small. Aryssa began to giggle at the ruckus they were causing, but must have been overheard.
"Quiet you guys, You hear that? I think you woke a giant or something!" The creepy one said in a whisper.
"You still have not gotten it yet have you? Did all those years on the streets eating moldy bread finally do permanent damage to your already weak mind?" the noble said, loudly.
"Sir knight, I do believe our legally-challenged friend is correct. What the rogue hears is coming from over there somewhere. I would cast a spell of light, but for some reason, that I am unable to ascertain, cannot seem to do much with my hands at the moment." The first one seemed to use a lot of confusing words.
Figuring that her cover was blown, she stood up and walked gently towards the bridge. She still could not see under it, as dusk was setting in and the bridge faced the rising and setting of the sun so it was nearly pitch black underneath of it.
"Ready yourselves, men! ...and woman." The noble shouted. Aryssa had not heard anything that sounded like a woman yet, so there must be five of them. Listening to the noble's words, she readied herself as well for whatever she would find.
She grabbed at some brush laying dead and dry on the ground nearby, and flicked her flint and steel against it. The dried needles burst into fire. With her other hand she grabbed the edge of the bridge and leaned down with the makeshift torch. Underneath the bridge she saw something that she could not believe. Before she had time to register it, she was on her back and defending herself.
First, a goat ran from the darkness and rammed her leg. Then, a rooster jumped on her chest and started pecking and raking. From somewhere under the bridge she heard the first voice start chanting in a strange foreign language, as a rabbit began gnawing on one shoulder, then running to the other shoulder before she could swat it. She would have laughed if it weren't for the panic of it all. Then, the unbelievable happened, the goat spoke!
"Steady men! We have the giant right where we want it!" The goat was the noble? How can that be? It was not as if she had not heard animals speak before, but they never sounded like... people! They only had thoughts, very simple thoughts of food and shelter. This one sounded as if he had been born and raised in a castle!
She quickly rolled over and over until she was out of the fight. Quickly, she jumped on top of the bridge to give herself some room and height away from them.
"I mean you no harm! Honestly!" She cried as fast as she could.
"Uh huh, you giants is known for being peaceful, right?" the rooster crowed thuggishly.
"No, I am not a giant! I am a peaceful forester's child. How is it that animals can talk like you?" She asked. The animals looked up at her in confusion.
"You... are animals, right?" She asked them slowly. Then, they began to look at each other.
"What is the matter of this trickery?" the goat bleated.
"I was wondering why I had an urge to eat the 'trees'." The rabbit chittered in that creepy peddlar voice.
From under the bridge, a duck poked its head. It looked upon the others with interest, then up at her. "Miss, I see that you are correct in your claim. But one question if you permit. How is it that YOU understand US?" So the duck was the smart one that used big words.
"My mother gave me an amulet before she... well, she gave me an amulet, it allows me to understand animals. But I have never heard any animals talk like you do."
The duck pondered this for awhile, then replied, "That is because we are not animals... We are mighty heroes!"
