Descendants

By Shannon Morris

"So it is true, the legend," Jig whispers as she stares into the eyes of the human who has stumbled into her hidden wood. The Descendants have been discovered and now face the same torturous experiments that created their Ancestors two centuries before. All that Jig has ever known in her peaceful life safely tucked in her quiet village buried deep in a protected forest will be destroyed if they are discovered. But the human has found them. No Descendant will ever be the same. The Descendant village faces extinction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 24, 2010
• ISBN: 9781462826650

Shannon Morris

While she was a student at Brigham Young University Shannon Morris abandoned her original dreams of majoring in theater and cinematic arts to become a social worker. She worked with troubled children, youth and families for two decades before succumbing to her desire to write fiction. A job, a family, and working toward her black belt in karate has kept her busy but she was finally to sit down long enough to write her first novel. Descendents was inspired by Shannon’s love of the creatures of the world as well as the strong belief that we are connected to the world around us. Shannon lives with her husband and three children near Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Copyright © 2010 by Shannon Morris.

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4535-8402-6

                   Ebook                                     9781462826650

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks so much to my team at Xlibris for making this book happen by not allowing to me to ever quit working. My early readers: my sister Heather, niece Katherine, book club gals (Mary, Amber, Laurie), Brett (a fantastic artist), and everyone who has been so supportive in this crazy venture. But most of all I need to thank my amazing family. Jeff, my husband, who is unceasingly supportive and encouraging, and my fabulous kids, Makenzie, Miranda, and Luke who make every day an adventure. I love you guys! Maybe now you’ll read my book.

Contents

Running

Nightfall

Penn

History

Acquainting

Caught

Madigan

Destination

Experiment

Awakening

Revelations

Human

Kirit

Others

Hidden

Damages

Pursuit

Separation

Confrontation

Wounded

Healers

Confessions

Gift

Return

Book II

Legend has it that the screams were deafening, filling the skies with shrieks of agony. Lasting for weeks, screaming broke through the skies with piercing sharpness. Even the night brought no reprieve from the resounding anguish. Rumors of the mysterious disappearances were feebly explained away by city officials as results of heinous crimes, punishment. Townspeople quickly learned that any criticism, gossip, or inquiry as to the disappearances brought swift and unpleasant consequences. Fearful of becoming a Screamer, one learned to look away, close the doors, and stay quiet.

Running

Jig! Hendrix screeched at the top of his lungs.

Catching my breath as quickly as I could I lunged forward, just out of his reach. I forced my legs to push harder against the ground. My bare feet felt the cool leaves smash into the soft earth as the passing forest whipped by. I forced my breath to stay quiet and even, pace myself. It was easy, especially if I focused on the giant tree ahead. I only had to make it to the great tree. To the tree, to the tree. Once I made it that far the pursuit would be over. Focused solely on my target ahead I closed my mind to all other sensation. Just the pace of my step and the huff of my breath, my gaze penetrating the forest ahead of me. His footsteps becoming fainter as I pulled further ahead, again. Soon I could no longer hear his breathing behind me.

I knew Hendrix would not give up, it wasn’t like him to concede. Somehow he would persist until he reached me. Laughing, he pursued me as if I were his prey. Hendrix was fast but I was faster. I had always been faster. I would always be faster. He knew it. I knew it. There was no debate. Ever. Hendrix was my best friend, had been since we were babies. We had grown up together, citizens of the woods, running through the forest at top speed was our favorite pastime. Never had he beaten me, although he swore that one day, he would reach the huge pine at the edge of our borders first. I would never allow it.

Not bad, for a girl. How is that you get faster every day? Hendrix panted when I finally slowed and sat beneath the pine to rest.

Hey, you see better than I do, I just run faster. It’s how we were born, our survival skills, I unnecessarily explained. He knew as well as I did why he would never catch me. With pink eyes, as mine, I could see just well enough, but not as well as the others, whose eyes were dark, like Hendrix’s. Like everyone else in our village. To compensate for my lack of vision, my hearing had become finely acute and the strength of my legs carried me quicker, so I could escape faster, if there ever was a need. Because I couldn’t see danger as soon as some of the others, I needed to be able to get away quickly. I wouldn’t be allowed the head start some of the others were afforded by their keen vision.

Luckily, it was not often that we had to run. Hendrix and I ran for fun. Sometimes I ran by myself, just for practice. Because I loved it. With my weak vision I practiced bolting through the woods at my quickest sprint, avoiding trees that seemed to appear out of nowhere in front of me. Over the last few years I had become quite adept at skittering to the side at a second’s glance as an unforeseen tree materialized in front of me or hurdling bushes and fallen trees. My leap had also become quite impressive, although no one had ever seen it. Hendrix was always too far behind as we ran together. I vowed he would never catch me. So far, I had made good on that vow. Today proved no different.

I think it’s your giant feet that give you your advantage, Hendrix taunted, still huffing to regain the breath he had lost in his fruitless attempt to catch me.

Well, your ears hang funny! I goaded back at him.

Someday I will catch you, Hendrix again promised in vain.

No you won’t. But go on telling yourself that you will. If it makes you feel better, I prodded playfully. Let’s look around, see what we can find.

We had been sent on errand to gather berries and other fruits that grew wild in this part of the woods. It was cooler here, shadier, and many life giving fruits we could not grow closer to home grew in abundance here. Hendrix and I always volunteered for this job. It was a chance for us to get away, a little farther than usual, and run. It always felt good to stretch our legs, and our speed. My speed, his attempt at speed.

Hendrix ducked his head out from underneath the strap of the huge burlap gathering bag and dropped it to the ground, still slightly recovering from our most recent sprint through the woods. Taking one final deep breath, he was ready to get to work. I had already located a large patch of luscious red berries several yards from the pine and had begun harvesting. Hendrix finally made his way to my magnificent find and began gathering, carefully dropping the precious berries to the bottom of his bag.

The forest felt quiet today. This far from the villages the forest usually teemed with life, animals scurrying everywhere when Hendrix and I arrived. Today, I had seen nothing. I decided it was because of our quick but loud entry to the area. I had been laughing. Hendrix’s panting would have frightened away any creature within a mile of here, I chuckled to myself. Although I had noticed Hendrix glance around with a subtle look of concern on his face. He must have passed it off, as I had, to our sudden emergence from the thick foliage.

There had never been danger here. Not for many, many years, if ever, so there was no real reason I could identify for concern today. Besides, my hearing and Hendrix’s excellent vision, not to mention our intuition, would alert us if anything unusual presented itself.

It never had before. We didn’t need to worry.

Hendrix and I had always been forest dwellers, as our families had for several generations. Generations back there had been no one living in the forest, only the animal creatures indigenous to the area. People, humans, lived in the city hundreds of miles away. Things now were very different than they been back then. My Ancestors, as well as Hendrix’s, had come from the city to live here. As had the Ancestor of each individual who now called the forest home. On many occasions Hendrix and I had pondered the events that had led our Ancestors from their homes in the beautiful city, to find refuge here, in the woods.

We loved it here, couldn’t imagine ever living anywhere else. This was home. It was a good home, a good place to live, a safe place. I never imagined anything else. There was nothing else. For me. For us. Nothing would ever change for us in the village and that suited us just fine.

The city in the days before our Ancestors had been a safe place as well. But that changed when the experiments began. Each child of the forest learns of the experiments not only from parents or family, but from the Elders as well. The Elders are our leaders, the oldest and wisest of our village. The youth in the village are carefully schooled by the Elders in the history of our Ancestors and how we all came to be. It is for this reason that the Elders are so highly respected and regarded as authority within the village community. Rarely is their authority challenged. I can only recall one time when an Elder was questioned by a villager. And not truly a question of the Elders. Just their rules.

Penn, one of the Hunters, had questioned the strict law against hunting only to the south and east, not to the north or the west. Penn paid for his question, his defiance. For several days Penn had been in confinement with Steele and Woodrow, the two senior Elders. Following his release Penn was sullen and quiet but completely compliant and unquestioning of the village law. Hendrix and I again wondered what could have taken place in the confinement to subdue the determined Penn. We imagined Penn being tied to a post and forced to recite ancient human law or poetry until his tongue fell out.

However much we chose to joke about Penn’s rebellion, we knew it had been an extremely serious matter. We understood well that no one ventured beyond the borders of our woods. Within our woods we were completely safe, protected. Outside, there were no guarantees. It had been a hundred years since anyone had wandered to the west. The one who did never returned. Rumors had been passed down that he had been kidnapped by a city dweller. All who chose to believe the rumor had grieved broken-heartedly for the lost soul, who had been a Hunter, just like Penn.

Hendrix and I were Gatherers, as our families had been since our Ancestors had been ever since coming to the woods. It was our lot and we accepted it well. Every family had their responsibilities in caring for the village. Penn’s family and their relatives were Hunters. They were the only ones allowed outside of our borders, but again, only to the east and south. The Hunters would leave the woods routinely to seek meat for those in the village who needed it. I was grateful that my family did not need meat. Hendrix felt the same. Out of respect for the herbivore families the carnivorous families consumed their sustenance, the flesh at least, privately, away from any who might take offense.

Aside from the Hunters like Penn, the Gatherers like Hendrix and me, the Elders, there were the Lookouts, those who lived higher in the trees. Lookout families often scouted the area from above the ground to warn of danger that might enter our lands. Never had there been anything. It was more out of habit or enjoyment than anything now, that the Lookouts circled the treetops. Just like how Hendrix and I sprinted routinely through the forest. We all had our forms of enjoyment.

The Protectors had taken it upon themselves to guard the village and it’s inhabitants from potential dangers. They were stronger than the rest of us, with the exception of the Hunters, many of them were from the same families, of sorts. Often one born into a family of Protectors would elect to become a Hunter. If the skill was proven adequate he or she would be allowed to become a Hunter. More often a Protector would choose to become a Hunter, rather than a Hunter choosing the life of a Protector. Hunters were afforded more adventure, simply due to the nature of their roles in the village. They ventured beyond the borders, out of necessity, of course, but still beyond the borders. To many the draw to the borders was irresistible. For many more, the desire for safety and security was much stronger and the contented stayed far from the edge of our forest.

Because of the vigilance of each individual in the village we enjoy the safety of our homes and it is never taken lightly, no matter how restless one may become. We simply had to band together, even though our inherent nature would have proven otherwise. Two centuries of life together in the woods had proven that each individual was essential to the survival of the entire village. Each played a vital role. Without that role filled perfectly, the delicate balance of our existence would be hampered, and we would not survive. The same was true no matter what the station, Elder and Gatherer alike. Hendrix and I knew this, and we never questioned the law, nor did we have any desire to ever leave our forest. We understood our history much too well. And even if we hadn’t, we were too happy with our lives to question any other way.

Today, the cares of our village were only light on our minds, Hendrix’s and mine. We were happy to be out in the woods, together, having our own type of adventure. The berries were sweet and their luscious scent filled the air as we filled our bags. Bright red juice dripped from Hendrix’s chin as he sampled yet another succulent berry. It was hard to scold him when he looked like such an innocent child, dripping with juice. He grinned his toothy grin at me, promising with his eyes that he wouldn’t take another.

A bird suddenly shot from a tree not thirty yards from our berry patch as if it had been frightened from its perch. Hendrix and I both crouched stone still, listening for any sound that would have alarmed the tiny bird and sent it fleeing to the sky. Our eyes fixed on each other, for one brief moment, then, Hendrix, with his acute vision scanned the immediate woods. My ears strained hard for any indication that something might be amiss. Hendrix looked back at me, searching my eyes for news. I shook my head slightly, but kept my ears fixed on the sounds of the forest. After several minutes of stillness, neither one of us had moved a muscle since the bird had taken flight, we straightened slightly, not moving our feet, nor causing sound. Although we knew we had nothing to fear this deep in the forest, safe from the prohibited borders it was in our natures to be a bit jumpy when startled. It was inherent. Nothing we could do about it.

Hendrix motioned for me to come closer to him, and take his arm, which I did, without question. Our bags were nearly full, and heavy. Our return to the village would be made with caution, not to mention much more slowly, on account of the weight of our bags. It was many minutes before either of us spoke. We both wanted to be clear of the area before making any sound.

Well that was exciting, I finally whispered to Hendrix.

I’ll say, he agreed. But I wish, for once, something more exciting than a frightened bird would happen, he said somewhat glumly.

Like what? I questioned. What is it that you would have liked to experience back there today? A rogue predator, a hunter from the city? What is it exactly that you are prepared to do in the event that something ‘exciting’ happens?

Hendrix looked confused at my irritation, which was something he did not often see from me. I don’t know, nothing bad, just something fun. Maybe a new species of animal, or something. He was thoughtful for a few moments. I don’t know, I just was hoping for something, anything.

You aren’t getting any crazy ideas are you? I questioned Hendrix carefully. The last time he had sought adventure, we had both fallen into the river trying to cross on a fallen tree and nearly drown. If it hadn’t been for a Lookout who happened to be in the trees nearby and saw us fall in, we would have lost our lives. Our families would still be wondering what had become of us. I hadn’t completely forgiven Hendrix for his carelessness that day. Hendrix forced me to admit it had made a good story to tell the young ones. Mostly what not to do, how to avoid falling in the river.

Suddenly, Hendrix and I, at the same moment, stopped dead in our tracks. For one split second we were paralyzed with fear, but didn’t know why. Then, out of nowhere, we saw it.

The human!

Or what we thought to be a human, a full blooded human. We had only heard the stories of the full blooded humans. Whatever it was standing in our woods was nothing like I had ever seen. I was sure it was a human. A real, terrifyingly real, human.

He was standing ahead of us, to our left, about twenty five steps. On instinct we both dropped to the ground and held stone still, for the second time today. For the first time, I envied Hendrix’s ability to blend in. I was light and the forest didn’t hide me as well. I shook with fear as Hendrix gently laid his hand on my leg to calm me. The stories we had heard of the humans, from the city at least, were mostly terrifying. They were said to be a brutal and heartless race, the reason we, the forest dwellers, were here.

My heart thumped so loudly that if it hadn’t been for Hendrix’s heart drowning out the sound of mine, it would have surely given us away. We could hear the soft foot prints of the human as he circle around, as if he were lost. Or tracking. The thought sent shivers up my spine so violently that I thought my whole body would give in to uncontrollable shakes. Hendrix tapped my leg lightly to remind me to keep calm. How could we possibly keep calm? How had we possibly allowed this to happen? Hadn’t we been alerted earlier that something wasn’t right? The bird had told us all we had needed to know, yet we had carelessly dismissed the only warning we would get. We had let our defenses down at the just the wrong time. Of all days to get careless, the day a human wanders, or deliberately entered, our wood.

I couldn’t remember a time when a human had come to the woods. It had been many years since there had been a sighting. Before my lifetime, in fact. And that time, the human had not merely been lost. He was looking for something, for the village. Luckily for the village he had been seen by a Lookout and the Protectors had resolved the problem quickly and quietly. That story was yet another passed down to us since the time we were young, just as Penn’s story would be passed down, and just as our Ancestor’s stories would continue to be passed down. Today, another story had just presented itself. The ending, however, had not yet been written, and it would be entirely up to Hendrix and me, and what we chose to do in the next few seconds.

Hendrix squeezed his eyes shut tight, as if to make the scene all go away. I, however, couldn’t move enough to close my eyes. I stared blankly ahead, my heart pounding, my body frozen in fear. The sound of the human footprints became faint, as if moving away from us. My breathing slowed in pace, slightly. Hendrix remained motionless, eyes clamped shut and his fingers digging painfully into my arm. Straining to detect the slightest sound my ears picked up nothing. I slowly raised my nose to sniff the air, nothing. But then, the breeze was blowing away from the human, I couldn’t have smelled him if he had been standing next to me.

Slowly, without making a sound, I clutched at Hendrix’s grip on my arm and shook it to awaken him from his fear trance. He looked at me with apprehension. I nodded swiftly, giving him the go ahead, we should move. Carefully, we both made it to our feet, still crouching behind the huge fern. Peeking around the side of the leaves, I warily scanned the terrain for signs of the human. Nothing. Wherever the human had gone, it was far enough away that we could get away. Breathing a sigh of relief, I pulled Hendrix to his feet. He clasped my hand, to steady not only himself, but me as well. We both were still trembling with a fear that neither of us had ever before experienced in our young lives.

Hendrix looked into my eyes, fear and anxiety flooding from him. We turned to make our way cautiously back to the village. But as we turned, I caught the face of the human right in my line of sight. There he was, standing solidly just feet away from us, piercing us with glaring eyes, bow raised aimed directly at Hendrix. I froze, Hendrix’s claws dug into my skin as if his grip could make the human threat disappear. We stood helpless, waiting for the arrow to pierce the air, and then his heart. My eyes bore into the human. Fear only lessened slightly as loathing for the man who was about to slaughter my friend, and no doubt me as well, swelled inside me.

My mind was a flurry of thought. Knowing I only had seconds to decide I couldn’t decide what the best course of action might be. I could yank Hendrix away and we could make a run for it. Our only chance to get far enough away to hide, hoping not to be found. It was too far to run all the way back to the village and cry for help. That would do more harm than good, only leading the ruthless human to our village and endangering everyone. Screaming would most likely go unheard, I doubted anyone was close enough to hear. There was, apparently, no hope. I braced myself, as Hendrix had, for our impending demise.

Like the sticky grope of a snail slugging it’s way over the face of a rock, the seconds crept slowly by. The human, whose pitiless glare had rested solely on Hendrix, now slowly shifted his hateful gaze to me. If I was going to die by his hand, I would prove to him that I would die unafraid. Which was a lie, even to myself. But I couldn’t bear the thought of giving this horrible creature the pleasure of thinking I died afraid. I straightened to my full height, which wasn’t really very tall, but I stretched as far as I could anyway. My defiant glare caught his and we stared in silence at each other. Hendrix, still unmoving, watched in horror at the stare-down. Then, unexpectedly, the human cautiously lowered his bow. My head cocked ever so slightly toward Hendrix, to assess his reaction at the human’s decision not to kill us, at the moment, at least. Hendrix peeked sideways at me, trying to decipher my reaction as well. Our efforts to understand each other’s thoughts failed as it was impossible to believe that we were both still breathing.

When the bow had been safely dropped to his side, the human watchfully raised a hand, palm forward, as if he would have some sort of mystical power over us. His face appeared to soften as his hand stretched toward us. I wondered needlessly if the human could see my heart thundering in my chest. My feet poised, ready to dash away at the first chance, felt light against the ground. A glimmer of hope that Hendrix and I wouldn’t be dying in the next two minutes.

I’m sorry I frightened you, the human spoke softly and eloquently. His voice much less menacing that I would have first expected, but gentle, mild. A real human voice. Not that I had ever wondered what a human voice sounded like. But if I had I would not have imagined it to sound so, so, so not dangerous.

My eyes flew to Hendrix, who stared back at me with awe. Hendrix then mimicked the human. Raised his hand, as the human had, in some sort of unspoken communication. Hendrix leaned carefully toward me just enough to whisper, What do we do now?

Afraid to make much of a movement I ever so slightly shrugged my shoulders, moved my chin just to my left. An indication that I had no idea what to do now. All I could think to do was to placate the human, not infuriate him or provoke him. Just go along, I guess. Listen.

My hand was now throbbing in Hendrix’s painful grip. But I was afraid to move it. Afraid to even wiggle my fingers for fear that any unexpected movement would spook the human and invite him to kill us. Hendrix’s other hand still lifted in submission to the human took one guarded step to the forest invader, placing himself slightly between me and our unwelcome visitor.

What do you want? Hendrix demanded, suddenly seeming to find his courage.

The human broke into a huge smile, almost as if he had proved something to himself. I was perplexed.

I knew it, he almost whispered to himself. I knew it. I’ve always known it.

Known what? I heard myself speak to him. What have you always known?

Although I almost knew the answer before he spoke it.

I always knew you were out here, somewhere . . .

Your people know about us? I shrieked in uncontrollable horror. How do they know? They are coming for us, to kill us. You have come to seek us out, haven’t you? So you can tell the others and they will come and kill us all! I was at the point of hysterics, so much so that even Hendrix had to hold me back.

I hadn’t realized in my fury that I had broken free of Hendrix’s clutch and was straining against him to get to the human. What I would have done had I reached him was not even a glimmer in my thoughts. Only rage and fear. Fear for my kind who were about to crushed into extinction. I was sure of it.

The human stepped back, instinctively, to give me room to panic. But he still maintained his uplifted hand and even raised his other to the same position, submitting himself and shaking his head. His gaze held fast to my face only occasionally glancing back to Hendrix as if he couldn’t take his eyes off us. The staring only intensified my terror and I continued to shriek in fear and anger.

No! Please, calm down! I’m not a spy, I’m not hunting you. He senselessly pleaded, trying to persuade me to believe him. To no avail. I had heard too much about humans, city humans, to ever believe a word from his human mouth. He was here to search for us, the out cast, so we could be destroyed.

Please, his human voice begged gently again. Please, listen to me. The three of us have no choice at this moment but listen to one another. I have many questions for you, and you, I assume, must have questions for me. I will answer anything you ask. But please, settle. I promise that I’m not here to hurt you, or to turn you in. I would be worse than a traitor if I did anything near that treacherous. You have my word.

Finally finding his voice and something resembling a glint of courage, Hendrix spoke. What good is your word here?

The human mouth responded calmly. I understand that you have no reason to trust me. And I accept that. But we must speak to each other. I see no other alternative to conversation.

His words, his tone, even his very voice seemed to calm me, if only slightly. In truth, he wasn’t speaking threatening words or even speaking harsh words. But he was still a bloodthirsty human. More than enough reason to fear. But I stopped screaming only to hold tightly to Hendrix’s hand, grasping it now with both of mine not caring if I caused him the same pain he had caused me only moments early. Now that I noticed my hand still pulsed with the memory of being crushed in his fearful grip. But now Hendrix had calmed some as well, I could feel it in his pulse, sense it in his skin.

You speak first, I cautioned him in my most warning tone. If there is anything we don’t like, don’t . . . . trust, we leave and our Protectors come for you. If they don’t already know you are here.

He panned the forest quickly with his eyes. Then, oddly, the human threw his gaze to the tops of the trees, the sky. How did he know to look there, I wondered.

When he finally seemed to trust enough to believe that he wasn’t about to be swept up into the sky, or snatched from behind he stepped sideways to a fallen tree to sit.

Curious creature, this human.

After situating himself in a comfortable position he began to speak. Hendrix and I confused yet intrigued by what he was about to say.

My name is Mateo. I am from the city, to the west, you are right about that part. But I swear to you, I am not here to harm you in any way. I am actually here to help.

How can a human help us? Why do we need your help? Hendrix asked firmly.

That’s what I am about to explain, Mateo said calmly. My uncle is the head of the science department in the city.

Shivers of terror raced through my body at the mention of the science department. Hendrix’s reaction was the same. We didn’t have science in our village but we had heard about it from our histories. Science had performed horrible things on humans and natural creatures alike. Science was to be feared.

The exact reason we cannot trust you! Hendrix hollered defensively at the seated man.

Yes, I understand completely, Mateo responded calmly. And the reason I would be imprisoned for heresy if it were to be made known that I was even in this part of the wood.

Hendrix and I still eyeing the human suspiciously, yet hanging on every word he spoke.

Mateo, noticing our interest in this information, continued. My uncle, Stack, has been studying the records, the ancient records and histories of our people. For many years his interests have been centered on the experiments that were done two centuries ago. I assume you are well aware of what I speak.

Hendrix and I nodded together as if one thought moved two bodies. The experiments had been taught among us since the first days our Ancestors came to the woods. It is law that they are never forgotten. For that reason each child is taught, and warned. It is because of the experiments that we do not leave the boundaries of our forest, that the Hunters are the only ones to leave, to hunt, and the Lookouts still look, and the Protectors protect.

Mateo read our expressions correctly, and nodded in acknowledgment. He is obsessed by them, my uncle, and determined to prove that they actually happened. He is planning more research. Mateo wavered before continuing his explanation. Field work.

It was all he had to say. His meaning was clear. I understood perfectly. The humans are coming, the humans are coming to take us, to kill us, to experiment on us. Whatever their intentions they are coming, and we are in danger.

So how do we know that you aren’t here to find us for him, make his ‘research’ easier for him? I spat at Mateo, not so much afraid now, but enraged even more than ever.

Because, Mateo maintained his perfect composure, my grandmother taught me all that she knew about what had happened in the city, the experiments. It had been passed from her family since the first days of the disappearances that horrible things were being done to people in the city. One of her Ancestors asked too many questions, was caught and was never seen again. My great-grandmother believed that she had become a victim of the experiments herself.

With that Mateo’s serious expression diminished to a look of sadness. I have always believed that the experiments were a crime against humanity, sinful, in fact. My grandmother had access to many secret records, from which she taught me. It has been my desire, since I was a small child, to figure out some way to make amends for the horrendous atrocities suffered by your Ancestors, as well as mine. I know that I am only one, alone on my quest, but I had hoped to find allies, here, in the wood. I had hoped to find, well . . . . you.

For all the distrust between us, Mateo had an air of honesty about him. Hendrix, while still cautious, pried my fingers from his to approach Mateo.

My stomach clutched as Hendrix now stood close enough to touch and be touched by this human intruder.

So, if what you say is true, than you are saying you are here to warn us.

Yes, that is true, Mateo assured him.

Even if it is true, what do we do now? I asked cautiously. It seems that we have serious problems here. How do we let you go back to the city, knowing what you know. We can’t take you to the village, knowing what you know. You would not be safe there. Have you thought that far into your plan to save us?

My tone was more severe than I had intended but my question was valid.

I have thought about it a great deal, Mateo stated, although, I hadn’t come up with a complete plan, to this point. I found you much sooner than I had expected. I thought I would have had several more days to plan.

Too bad for you, I said softly.

No, it is not too bad, Mateo disagreed almost excitedly. I have found you and that alone has been worth any lack of planning or any consequence I may face from here.

Consequence for you, what about us? I asked fearfully.

I told you I came to warn you, to protect you. That is exactly what I plan to do, no matter what happens to me, it is my responsibility to take care of you. I give my word that I will not let anything happen to you, or your village. I feel, in part, responsible for your lot in life. I know that it was not me personally, who caused this in the beginning, but it was my people. Now, my people are continuing the quest for knowledge, for science, for whatever it is that they seek. But they seek it at the expense of others. I do not believe it to be right. In my eyes, it is neither ethical nor moral, what they have done, what they strive to continue to do.

Mateo’s voice trailed off and I thought, for a moment, that he might succumb to emotion. He did not. Instead he tossed his gaze forward and looked straight at Hendrix and me. His faced twisted into an expression of determination, such that I almost felt the same determination pulse through me.

So, now that I have found you, with nothing concrete enough to call a plan, I feel that I am at your mercy. Mateo’s words astonished me. Only minutes ago Hendrix and I had faced our deaths at his hands, now only to confess to being at our mercy. It was hard to swallow.

Hendrix, without allowing Mateo out of his line of sight, turned toward me. What do we do now? We can’t take him back to the village and we can’t let him go back to the city. I want to trust, to believe that he is a friend, but I can’t know that for sure yet.

I’m not certain, either, I shook my head, glancing toward Mateo, who still sat in his original position on the fallen log. His face was intent on mine, as if studying me, which, made me nervous, but still my instinct was to trust him, regardless of what we had been taught about humans everyday of our lives. I had never expected to meet a human, I was totally unprepared for the circumstance. And more unprepared to meet a human who did not slaughter us on sight, or at least kidnap us for the sake of entertainment in the city. No, I certainly had never thought of the possibility to meet a human who may have a kind heart, compassion for those like us, and one who claimed the desire to warn and protect us. This was an event that no one in the village, not even an Elder, could have foreseen, nor prepared for.

Mateo, I finally spoke, stepping warily toward him. He squared his shoulders, sitting up straighter to give me his full attention. If what you say is true, we must act quickly. But I am not sure how to go about this. Only two options I can think of that may work in our benefit, but both are risky, for all of us.

Please, tell me your thoughts, Mateo stated considerately.

His proper manners still took me by surprise as I had imagined all humans to be bloodthirsty, vicious, heartless beings.

Composing myself once again, I continued. "One option is to leave you here, while Hendrix and I return to the village, and decide if there is someone else, someone with influence who may be in a position to assist, either in decoding the truth or making plans for our defense. The other choice would be to bring you to the village as