World Beside The World Beside... The Journey Begins...

By Glendanne Squyres

Amazed to find themselves staring up at two suns, four adventurous cousins realize that home is quite a ways away. Trapped in World Beside The World Beside, a realm of many worlds in the universe, marked by places where things are not quite what they appear to be, with alternate realities populated by strange creatures with amazing powers and who guide the cousins through their journeys, they challenge the cousins to complete quests that will eventually lead them back home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glendanne Squyres
• Release date: Feb 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452472751

Glendanne Squyres

Glendanne strives to live by their family motto: Love (unconditionally), Live (each day fully), Laugh (sharing joy), and Learn (something new each day). Her belief in our Lord in Heaven gives her strength. Quality time spent with family and friends is treasured. She and her beloved husband live in Carson City, Nevada with their bouncy English bulldogs. When she is not writing nor spending time with family and friends, Glendanne enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, gardening, travelling, crafting, birding, sewing, and practicing Qi Gong. Although teaching was her primary profession, she’s an experienced professional actor, model, and voice-over artist, too. The genres of science fiction and fantasy have intrigued her since she was six years old and read Wizard of Oz for the first time.

Book preview

World Beside The World Beside…

The Journey Begins...

By Glendanne Squyres

Copyright 2010 Glendanne Squyres

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords. com and purchase your own copy. Thankyou for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Prologue

In our distant past, members of the human clan transported freely through secret pathways, unmarked portals, and hidden crossroads. These unique openings led to other worlds, universes, and galaxies. For reasons unknown to us in today’s world, our ancestors stopped their travels to these astronomical anomalies. The pathways, portals, and crossroads were forgotten except in dreams. Recently, quite by accident, members of the human clan stumbled, tripped or otherwise accidently began rediscovering the pathways, portals, and crossroads. And, so, our story begins…

Chapter 1 - A Doorway Opens

Where is Mendi? Lenise demanded glaring at her cousins.

Aliens abducted her, said Kurt laughing as he easily jumped down from the tree stump. This beam of light suddenly appeared behind the waterfall and...

Stop it, Kurt! Lenise’s bright blue eyes narrowed. You know I believe in the possibility of alien life forms. I can take your teasing and badgering. Mendi can’t.

Rown raised his eyebrows, I’m not sure about...

Lenise’s eyes flashed in anger.

Ouch! Ouch! Not the blue-eyed daggers again! said Kurt pretending to swat at daggers. Aliens, take me, too, as he waved his arms towards the sky.

Kurt, you’re simply impossible! Lenise turned away from her cousins and stalked towards the waterfall. She stopped and spun around. I’m going to get Mendi and you will apologize. She is correct. The calliope hummingbird is the smallest in Nevada.

As Lenise disappeared behind gently waving willows and the waterfall, Rown stopped laughing shaking his head. "Mendi’s probably pouting while she’s sitting in Grammie’s fairy garden. She wants you to respect her beliefs. You could listen. She truly cares about our planet. A little of your teasing goes a long way for Lenise, too. This time, you’ve really made Lenise angry.

So, what else is new, cousin? asked Kurt putting his arm on his younger cousin’s shoulder. Mendaylia wants to be a powerful en-vi-ron-men-tal-ist. She has to learn to fight back

Fight you? asked Rown raising his eyebrows again. You had five older brothers, she is an only child. We’re her cousins and she looks at us like her brothers and sisters. I know your big brothers always leaned on you said Rown.

Yeah, all five of them, answered Kurt as he picked up a rock. But now I only have two. Thanks for reminding me. Kurt tossed it into the pond below the waterfall Score!

Hey, Kurt, I’m sorry I mentioned your brothers. Please try to be nicer to Mendi and Lenise. They really do care about you and…, but Rown didn’t get a chance to finish.

Kurt gave Rown a strong shove knocking him to the ground. Okay! Okay! I’ll try.

Past the waterfall, the fishpond, Grammie’s fairy garden and from behind the thick cattails and willows, Lenise shouted back to them. Kurt, where did you say Mendi went?

I saw her walk behind the willows and cattails. He looked down at Rown. But, check Grammie’s fairy garden. I still think Mendi’s in those willows, yelled Kurt in response.

He reached down and helped Rown up. Sorry, I still get upset. It hasn’t been that long since the accident. Now, Mendi is hiding.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! The dinner bell echoed through the yard.

Lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes, called Grammie from the patio. Where are the girls?

In back of the waterfall, called Rown.

Poppa walked out one the patio. He looked at the sky, the pond, the waterfall, and the cattails and willows. A gentle breeze was blowing. He looked at Grammie. Looking back the boys he spoke, Are you teasing your cousins, again?

Rown and Kurt looked at each other.

We’ll go get them Poppa, answered Rown looking at his grandparents.

Poppa looked at Grammie. Grammie walked over to Poppa on the patio. Both of them were staring up at the sky. They smiled at each other as they exchanged a hug. A gentle breeze was blowing and the thick cattails and willows were swaying. They looked at each other. How about baking your oatmeal raisin cookies? Poppa whispered to Grammie. You’ll have time.

She laughed at him, You’re probably right.

Hugging and laughing they walked back into the house.

Wonder what they think is funny? asked Rown with a puzzled expression. He looked at Kurt. They don’t like us to tease the girls until they cry.

Who knows, grumbled Kurt. I do know I’m not going to go and get them for lunch. They could hear the bell. They’re not deaf."

All right, I’ll go. But, I’m only doing this for Poppa and Grammie. I’m not doing this for you, said Rown as he started walking towards the waterfall.

Agreed, laughed Kurt.

And, you will apologize to Mendi, said Rown.

If you insist, said Kurt.

I insist, answered Rown as he continued walking.

Kurt ran to catch up with him, I’ll walk with you to the bridge.

Rown turned to his cousin, What were you teasing Mendi about anyway?

Calliope hummingbirds, Kurt responded.

Calliope hummingbirds? Rown looked at Kurt in disbelief.

Yup, that’s all. She said they were the smallest...

She’s correct and...

Kurt punched Rown in the shoulder. Don’t interrupt me! She said it’s the smallest hummingbird in Nevada and I said it wasn’t. She threw a fit!

That’s all? asked Rown raising his eyebrows as he looked at his cousin.

Well, except for the stuff about salamanders dying because of the methane filled air caused by cows. She knows my family raises cattle!

Rown looked sadly at his cousin.

We still raise cattle, Rown! That hasn’t changed! yelled Kurt at Rown. I’m not going any further with you. I’ll wait right here. Kurt stopped on the bridge crossing the pond and folded his arms across his chest.

You saw Mendi go through the willows behind the waterfall? asked Rown.

Remember, I was standing on the tree stump. Mendi went through the willows behind the waterfall. I know she’s hiding, said Kurt.

You owe me, said Rown as he walked past Grammie’s fairy garden and into the thicket of cattails and willows behind the waterfall.

Kurt stared at the fish swimming in the pond. Hey! Wow! One of the fish had babies. There must be hundreds. They’re eating them! Yuck! I’m not joking! Mendi! Lenise! Rown! Kurt looked up. The backyard was silent except for the birds singing and the sound of the water splashing onto the rocks. He looked up the sky. Nope, no UFOs he thought to himself. He shook his head. Lenise was getting to him with her weird dreams. He crossed the bridge and began walking towards the thicket of willows and cattails behind the waterfall. He couldn’t hear his cousins. If they were laughing at him, they would pay.

Rown! Lenise! Mendi! I know you’re hiding back there! Come out right now! If I have to come back there, you will be sorry. Get out here! Poppa and Grammie want us right now! I mean it! I do! Kurt stopped talking to listen.

Again, there was a complete silence except for sounds of water splashing, birds singing, and willows rustling in the breeze. The air around him suddenly felt warmer. Kurt looked around. His cousins hadn’t walked through the arbor to Grammie’s fairy garden either. Lenise, Rown, Mendi, this isn’t funny anymore. Where are you? I know you didn’t go to the upper pond. Kurt knew there wasn’t another way back to the house. They would have to come this way. Maybe they went into the trees past the willows and waterfall. He reached down and picked up three lethal looking rocks. Slowly, he took his slingshot out of his back pocket of his jeans. Something wasn’t right. He walked forward slowly stepping on a large reddish brown flat stone. Suddenly, he felt a rush of wind hit his face and swirl around his body. His hair blew back as his body was forced forward. He grabbed his slingshot to shoot and fell forward onto the ground.

Took you long enough, said Rown reaching down to help Kurt up.

This is exactly like one of my dreams, said Lenise looking from one cousin to another. I dreamt of this very place! she said twirling around in circles.

At least I still have my slingshot, said Kurt looking down at his hands. He looked from Rown to Lenise to Mendi. And, where exactly are we?

We’re not in Carson City, Nevada, United States of America, anymore, said Mendi as she pointed to dual suns shining in a bright teal blue sky.

Chapter 2 - Where Are We?

Let’s just go back home, said Kurt as he quickly jumped to his feet and brushed the dirt off. He shoved his slingshot back into his pocket.

It’s not that easy, answered Lenise.

Don’t you think we’ve already tried that, Rown replied leaning against the huge granite boulder. He pointed up to the dual suns in the teal blue sky, We’re obviously on a different world than Earth.

Believe us, Kurt Mendi pleaded, We have tried! All of us have tried!

Watch how it’s done, Kurt said looking at his cousins. He stood up and backed away from the granite boulder. His cousins simply looked at him. They knew Kurt. Kurt was a cowboy…a real cowboy. He was a nationally ranked rodeo rider and roper in his age group. His height and physical strength earned him respect from everyone at school. No one teased him about being a cowboy. He was proud of it. He wasn’t afraid of bucking broncos nor range bulls.

Be our guest, said Rown moving away from the huge granite boulder. This rock, Rown patted the huge granite boulder, is what we fell through!

Someone is watching us, said Lenise. I feel it. She stared up at a swaying maple tree with its sparkling green, orange and red leaves. That tree would certainly camouflage anyone.

That’s like our climbing tree at Poppa and Grammie’s, said Kurt as he turned to look at the tree.

Except for the small fact those leaves don’t glitter, retorted Mendi

Very funny, Mendi, said Kurt glaring at his younger cousin. It’s your fault that we are here."

Stop it! demanded Rown raising his eyebrows at his cousins. And, Lenise, you’re not funny. Quit trying to scare us. We need to figure this out.

I’m not trying to scare anyone. And, I’m not trying to be funny, Lenise retorted. Someone or something is in that tree.

That’s it! I’m out of here, replied Kurt as he started running toward the granite boulder. And so are all of you! Follow me!

KATHUNK!!!

Kurt! yelled Rown as he ran towards his fallen cousin.

Kurt was motionless on the ground. Rown knelt down beside his cousin and tried to lift him up but he couldn’t. Kurt’s six-foot tall muscular frame made him difficult to lift.

He’s dead! Mendi cried out as she started sobbing.

He’s breathing! Rown exclaimed looking at Mendi and Lenise. Wake up, Kurt! Rown grabbed his cousin’s broad shoulders and began shaking him.

Stop it, both of you, Lenise said as she knelt down beside Rown. She grabbed Kurt’s wrist and took his pulse. Quit shaking him, Rown! Mendaylia, stop that crying! He never believes us! You know that he doesn’t.! Lenise took a deep breath. He always acts like our big protector. He tries to protect us even more since his family’s horrible accident. She patted his hand. Kurt’s simply knocked himself out.

Okay, you’re right, said Rown as he slowly lowered Kurt’s shoulders and head back to the ground.

Mendi, stop crying! demanded Lenise.

I’m trying to stop, sobbed Mendi.

Rown and Lenise exchanged glances. Mendi was two years younger than they were. They were two years younger than Kurt was. Kurt was fourteen.

Kurt thinks he has to be super-human. Our big, strong protector..., but Lenise was interrupted.

Oh bother, I suppose I should have stopped him. He was so determined. Ruljecks always are...so determined I mean.

Mendi ran to the tree and threw her arms around it. A talking tree...isn’t this wonderful?

Oh bother, the tree isn’t talking, I am, said a voice from within the tree.

Rown, Lenise and Mendi stared up into the tree.

I told you someone was watching us, whispered Lenise looking at Rown and Mendi.

Who are you? asked Rown.

What are you? asked Mendi.

Why are you watching us? asked Lenise.

Oh bother, Human Clan is always asking so many questions. Let’s see. My name is Leafin the III. That’s who I am. I belong to the Delfin Clan. Delfins are official guides for the Protectorate in World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever, so, I’ll stop there. That’s what I do. I’m a guide. I was waiting in the tree for you because Brawgs like to eat Delfins. Leafin the III jumped down from the tree. He was three feet tall with bunny-like ears. His skin was greenish and his feet were extremely large. He was wearing a brown jacket and pants with a green shirt that was almost the color of his skin. He picked up his cap and dusted it off and shoved it on his head. His bunny-like ears poked out of holes in his cap.

You look sort of like a gnome, said Mendi laughing.

Mendi, Rown said raising his eyebrows, be polite.

I’m sorry, Mendi said, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You are so cute!

Oh bother, thank you, I think. Lady Anne says we’re cute, too. My grandfather, Leafin the I, guides her and Lord Weston. They are Human Clan. Do you know them?

No, I’m sorry we don’t, answered Rown looking at Lenise.

Why were you waiting for us? asked Lenise

Oh bother, more questions to answer. I was waiting for you because you are my very, very, very first solo assignment, Leafin the III answered as he folded his arms across his chest and lifted his chin and smiled showing his sharp bright blue teeth.

Lenise, Rown and Mendi looked at each other.

Mendi whispered to her cousins, He reminds me of that scary movie… Lenise put her arm around Mendi.

But Rown didn’t let Mendi finish, Exactly why are we your assignment? asked Rown.

Oh bother, I answered your question. Yes, I’m your guide for your very, very, very first quest. This is sooooo exciting. Your first quest and my first solo assignment will begin soon! Leafin the III clapped his hands in pure joy as he jumped up and down.

Wow! That was harder than hitting the ground after being bucked off the back of a wild mustang. My head hurts. Kurt’s stare went from Leafin the III to his cousins and back to Leafin the III. Who is that! Kurt shouted.

Well, Kurt, you know those alien lifeforms you tease me about..., but Lenise didn’t get to finish her sentence.

Oh bother, we’ve been through all of that...

Kurt struggled to his feet. He reached for a lethal looking stick and started to swing it. Rown grabbed Kurt as Leafin the III bounce up into the tree.

Stop! yelled Lenise and Mendi together.

He isn’t going to hurt us Kurt, said Lenise.

He’s our guide, cried Mendi. Don’t hurt him, Kurt. He’s friendly.

I’m having a nightmare! exclaimed Kurt. That’s it. That explains everything. Ouch! Why did you pinch me?

Because you are awake, Kurt, said Lenise.

We seem to be in some type of parallel universe connected to our universe, said Rown. He calls it World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever.

He? asked Kurt.

He, answered Mendi pointing to the tree.

Come down here right now! demanded Kurt walking over to the tree and looking up.

Leafin the III peeked out of the leaves. "Oh bother, you sound like a Ruljeck...an angry Ruljeck. I’ll just stay up here until you calm down. Yes, that would be best. It’s not good to be around an angry Ruljeck Warrior, no it’s not...

Lenise glared at Kurt. Stop shouting at him! You’re scaring him. Let me talk to him.

Kurt bowed to Lenise. As you wish, princess, I’ll allow you to coax him down. Kurt muttered to himself as he walked back towards the rocks, This is one crazy nightmare.

He still thinks he is dreaming. What are we going to do? asked Mendi looking at Rown.

Nothing, said Rown shaking his head. Let’s see if Lenise can get Leafin the III to come down from the tree.

Please come down from the tree. We really, really need you to explain World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever to us, Lenise said smiling her best smile. The same smile usually got her out of any kind of trouble.

Leafin the III peeked out of the branches. Oh bother, but first you must promise that warrior won’t hurt me, said Leafin the III pointing to Kurt.

They looked at Kurt.

I won’t hurt you, Kurt replied as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the granite boulder. I want to wake up.

Leafin the III peered out a little further, Oh bother, say Warrior’s Word.

Kurt sighed and rolled his eyes, Warrior’s Word...I won’t hurt you.

Leafin the III jumped down. This time he held onto his hat. Oh bother, you really don’t know anything about The World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever?

All of the cousins shook their heads no...even Kurt.

Leafin the III took a deep breath. Oh bother, I’ll just recite the short version, he said in a solemn voice putting his arms down to his side. Each world in World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever has six sides. At each point there are crossroads, therefore each world has six crossroads. There are eighteen portals between each set of crossroads. There are countless pathways between each portal; however, only the Enchanted Ones and the Delfin Guides know all of the pathways. Some clans have their own worlds. Other clans share a world. All known clans share Centeria. You entered World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever forever through a pathway. Your pathway is located in the Murky Middle of Centeria. There are three different types of worlds. Worlds are positive, negative or blended. Your Earth is a blended world. Blended worlds are both positive and negative. Centeria is a blended world, too. Centeria is divided into three definite sections: the Protectorate controls the positive section, clans living in the Murky Middle control the blended section, and the Destroyate controls the negative section. Leafin the III looked at the cousins and sighed. His voice returned to normal. It’s really quite simple. Sir Weston said it reminded him of a soccer ball or a honeycomb. Maybe that will help you understand. I know you have questions. Human Clan always has questions.

That’s one way we learn, said Rown smiling. How many worlds and how many clans exist?

Oh bother, there isn’t a number because World Beside The World Beside goes on forever and ever. Therefore, there isn’t an ending. There are worlds and there are clans living on the worlds. It’s World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever…

We get the picture! roared Kurt holding his head.

Kurt, please calm down, he’s trying to explain where we are to us, said Lenise in her calmest voice. Does your head still hurt?

Yes! Kurt answered holding onto his head.

Rown turned towards Leafin the III. I think I understand, he said. Rown began drawing in the dirt. Each world is shaped like a hexagon with the sides fitting together like the pattern on a soccer ball or a honeycomb. Rown looked at his cousins. Forget all about the universe as we know it. In this plane of existence, Earth shares two crossroads, eighteen portals and who knows how many pathways with Centeria. So, we’re linked together. One of the pathways to Centeria is in our grandparents’ backyard. I guess wormholes in space are a reality.

Leafin the III began jumping up and down clapping his hands in excitement. Oh bother, you do understand!

I guess reading science fiction and fantasy finally paid off, Rown said laughing.

They fit together like a puzzle, said Mendi as she and Lenise stared at Rown’s drawing in the dirt.

Someone’s coming, said Lenise looking up from the drawing.

What! Now who is coming? asked Kurt.

Calm down Kurt! exclaimed all three cousins together.

This is one weird nightmare, said Kurt shaking his head.

He still doesn’t realize this is really happening, Mendi whispered to Lenise.

I know, answered Lenise, won’t he be surprised.

Mendi nodded and giggled.

Oh bother, you say someone is coming, but where is she? Olena is late meeting us. She is so very, very late. Olena is never late. He began to pace back in forth in front of the tree. His large feet made slapping sounds as he walked.

Who is late? asked Rown.

Oh bother, Olena is late. Olena is our Mover and she is late.

Leafin the III began to frown as he continued pacing.

Chapter 3 - First Journey

Oh bother, she is late. She is never late, said Leafin the III.

You said Olena was a Mover, said Rown. What’s a Mover?

Who is Olena? asked Mendi.

Why do we need a Mover? asked Lenise.

Oh bother, Human Clan and your questions are quite frustrating to me, said Leafin the III with his hands on his hips. He sighed. Olena is her name. She is a Mover. She is a member of the Mover Clan. They live on Centeria. Olena is one of the very, very, very best Movers. Everyone wants Olena. She was assigned to us, he paused to stare at all four of the cousins. He waved his hands towards them, she was assigned to you, and he hugged himself, and to me! He stopped speaking once again. Don’t you understand? he asked. Imagine, Olena being assigned to me for my very, very, very first guiding assignment. I can tell you, my friends were really jealous."

You must have earned that honor, said Rown seriously, but we still need you to answer Lenise’s question. Why do we need a Mover?

Leafin the III stared at Rown in disbelief. Oh bother, why? You ask why? She will Move us from here to the Designators Assigning Platform. He sighed and took a deep breath. It’s one of the ways we get to one place from another place in The World Beside The World Beside going on forever and ever. We call it Moving and that’s what the Mover Clan does. They Move us.

You mean Olena will come and ‘poof’ we’ll be at this Assigning Platform, Mendi said frowning.

Oh bother, no, no, no…she’ll Move us to the Assigning Platform. She’ll not ‘poof’ us because only Loxians can ‘poof’. Hmmmmm, he stared at Lenise and tilted his head to one side. Are you a Loxian? You have bright blue eyes and you knew I was in the tree.

No, I’m not a Loxian. At least I don’t think I am, answered Lenise.

What! yelled Kurt, you’re my human cousin!

Calm down, Kurt, said Mendi patting his arm.

Nightmares muttered Kurt, Mendi, I’m never going to tease you about hummingbirds again.

Mendi smiled sweetly at her older cousin, Thank you, Kurt.

You said that we’re here to go on a quest, said Rown.

Oh bother, yes, yes, yes...a quest...it will be your first quest, answered Leafin the III.

This will be our first quest? asked Rown. That means there will be more quests.

Oh bother, I’ve already explained all of that to you. We’re together for life, answered Leafin the III.

For life! exclaimed all of the cousins looking at each other.

Oh bother, yes, we’re together for the rest of our lives, stated Leafin the III in a determined voice.

Nightmares, Kurt muttered again.

Okay, this is getting weird, said Rown. And, I actually enjoy reading and watching science fiction and fantasy. We don’t know anything about anything in this place except what you have told us. Our grandparents are going to get extremely worried about us.

That’s right! Now someone is making sense, said Kurt as he slapped Rown on the back. Time to wake up! The real Lenise will be surprised when I tell her about you, said Kurt leaning down and playfully punching Leafin the III in the shoulder.

Oh bother, ouch! Why do warriors always play so rough? said Leafin the III as he picked himself up off the ground.

Kurt laughed. Lenise will really think...

Lenise thinks you had better realize you are awake! she screamed in Kurt’s ear.

Kurt clapped his hands over his ears. I’ve never had a nightmare like this. It’s all Mendi’s fault. I just know it!

My fault, Mendi began. She stopped and pointed to the horizon.

A mammoth dust devil was spinning towards them. Oh bother, that must be Olena! exclaimed Leafin the III.

Running out of the swirling dust cloud were four horselike animals pulling a carriage with a female driver holding the reins. The cousins were speechless staring at the spectacle in front of them.

Oh bother, that’s Olena! yelled Leafin the III. Get ready!

She is being chased! cried Lenise.

Oh bother, you are a Loxian! Leafin the III exclaimed looking at Lenise. I knew it! Something must have happened. We must be ready. Everyone stand right here. We must be ready. Yes, we must. Warrior, I need you to come here with us. Please, please hurry, we must be ready!

Rown, Mendi and Lenise moved to stand besides Leafin the III. Kurt wasn’t moving. He was ignoring Leafin the III.

Kurt, come here, ordered Lenise.

Kurt just leaned against the large granite boulder and smiled.

Please Kurt, come here, pleaded Mendi.

Kurt didn’t move. Rown looked from Leafin the III to the girls to Kurt. I think I know what will work, Rown whispered. He looked at Kurt, Hey, Kurt.

Kurt looked at Rown.

Don’t you want to know what happens in this crazy nightmare? Rown asked.

Yeah, I do, answered Kurt.

Come over here with us and you’ll find out, said Rown.

The dust swirled around them. They could hear the wheels of the carriage and even the animals’ hooves hitting the hard dirt.

Might as well, answered Kurt. I can’t wake myself up. That’s a lot of dust! Kurt exclaimed. Looks like when we have races on our ranch with the exception that our horses don’t have triple spikes on their heads and they’re not green and brown stripped. What are they called? Kurt calmly asked Leafin the III.

Oh bother, more questions...those are rorses. Those rorses belong to the Brawgs. The Brawgs don’t like to share. No, they don’t, Leafin the III said shaking his head.

Rorses, that’s a new species! Mendi exclaimed.

She’s always the naturalist, said Rown quietly to Lenise.

Oh bother, get ready to be moved. Olena was late. Now, she is in a hurry! said Leafin the III.

This is the weirdest nightmare I’ve ever had in my life, stated Kurt.

Whoa! shouted Olena as she pulled the rorses to a halt. Here you are! Leafin the III, why didn’t you tell me exactly where to meet you? She looked down at Leafin the III with her hands on her hips. Her stern look seemed to melt Leafin the III. He looked down at his long feet and was silent. I’m waiting! she yelled.

Oh bother, I’m sorry, I...

Relax, cowgirl, nice looking team you’ve got, said Kurt striding towards Olena. He scratched a rorse between the ears. It’s Leafin the III’s first rodeo. We’re his first assignment. Kurt patted Leafin the III on the head. Don’t be so tough on the little guy. He’s been worried about you.

Olena turned towards Kurt. Who are you?

I’m Kurt....

Humph...Kurt…Warrior Clan...well, Warrior Boy, jump up here and ride shotgun for me. I need a warrior with the Brawgs on my tail. She tossed a rifle to Kurt. He caught it easily. He climbed up and sat down by Olena.

He looked down at his cousins. What are you waiting for? You heard her, get in! Kurt shouted to his cousins and Leafin the III. We’ve got Brawgs on our tail!

This is exactly like an old-time carriage, squealed Mendi as she climbed into the coach.

Lenise quickly climbed in and looked out the window, We’re being chased. I can actually feel it, Mendi.

Leafin the III tried to get in but his feet caught on the small steps.

I’ll help you, said Rown as he gave Leafin the III a boost up and climbed in after him.

Oh bother, thank you, said Leafin the III. I’ve never been in one of these, he said looking around.

But, you’re a guide, said Lenise.

Oh bother, said Leafin the III with large tears forming in his eyes. I told you this is my first assignment. It may be my last assignment for a long time. He brushed the tears away with the back of his hand. Olena will report that I gave her the wrong coordinates for Moving you. That’s a serious offense in our Guide Clan. It’s a most serious offense, he looked up at Rown, Lenise and Mendi. Mendi picked up a handkerchief from the coach seat and handed it to him. Leafin the III took it and blew his nose.

Now, now, don’t cry, said Lenise. You were there to meet us when we arrived.

Maybe she confused the coordinates, said Rown.

Everybody in? yelled Olena. Here they come!

Out of the thick, swirling dust cloud rode the Brawgs. Several Brawgs were swinging shiny sharp battle-axes and shouting. They were huge men!

That shouting sounds like Swedish or Norwegian. Grammie uses words that sound like what those men are yelling. Aren’t they shouting Stop? asked Mendi looking at Lenise and Rown. Shouldn’t we stop?

Oh bother, no, no, no, we shouldn’t stop! They eat Delfins! Leafin the III was shaking.

Rown, Lenise, and Mendi exchanged glances.

Eat Delfins? asked Lenise in disbelief.

I’ve never read a book like this, Rown said shaking his head.

HIYAH! Olena shouted and the rorses began running. Warrior Boy, shoot those Brawgs!

Kurt took aim and fired a warning shot over the lead rider’s head. The Brawgs didn’t stop. Kurt reloaded and fired again. This time he aimed for the leader’s battle-axe. He hit it. The battle-axe flew out of the leader’s hand. He reined in his rorse and held up his hand signaling his band to halt. They waved their axes angrily and shouted at the departing carriage.

Good shooting, Warrior Boy, said Olena smiling at Kurt. Good shooting.

Thanks, answered Kurt reloading the rifle.

Kurt shot at those Brawg beings, said Mendi with her eyes wide open. What are we going to do?

Rown, Kurt is a sharpshooter. He is an excellent shooter. He hardly ever misses. He could actually kill them! He still thinks he is having a nightmare, said Lenise.

Somehow we have to make him realize this is real, said Rown frowning. This isn’t going to be easy. Rown leaned out the carriage window. Hey, Kurt!

Yeah, Rown, I’m kinda busy up here protecting your butts! answered Kurt. Shouldering the rifle, he continued to look to both sides. Kurt’s eyes were watching for any signs of the Brawgs.

Doesn’t this feel like this is actually happening? I mean, didn’t shooting the rifle actually feel like you were shooting a rifle, said Rown.

Yeah, this is one weird nightmare, Kurt laughed and looked at Olena.

Olena shook her head. Warrior Boy, this is real!

Kurt stared at her, at the rifle in his hands, at the dust cloud, at the rorses, and at the Brawgs now coming towards them from both sides.