The Long Way Home: Etta's Story, #2

By Cherie Coon

The second summer that Etta and Cru have been away from the Valley is just beginning. It is time for them the start the journey home. Etta is confident they can get home once they get across the Steppes because Deet had drawn a map with all the villages on it. They need only ask directions in each village to reach the next on. But their troubles begin before they have made it across the Steppes. Someone has altered one of the marker stones. After being lost for several days they manage to find their way and reach the other side. In the first village they come to they discover the pass across the mountains and the river trail have both been blocked by landslides. Their only option is to try to go by way of a trail an old man in the village remembers his grandfather telling him about when he was young. Etta and Cru start out on the long way home. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cherie Coon
• Release date: Apr 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781532388668

Book preview

Other books by Chere Coon

The Saga of Yani Series

Yani and the Knapper -The Journey Begins

Yani and the SeaPeople – Taken

Yani and Etta – A New Beginning

The Story of Etta Series

The Promised Journey

The Long Way Home

Part One

Starting Out

Chapter One

The pink glow from the morning sun was fading from the vast grass plain of the Steppes as Deet turned into the forest on his way back to the village where Yani waited at the base of the Mountains That Are Always White. Etta and Cru had watched until he disappeared from view. Once he was gone Etta looked down at the young boy beside her. Well, Cru, let’s go home.

I’m scared, he whispered to the older girl beside him. It’s such a long way across the Steppes. What if we get lost?

We can’t get home unless we cross the Steppes. We are just going to have to be careful about looking for the marker stones. We can see the first one on the horizon so let’s get started.

Looking up at her he settled his pack more comfortably on his back and took his first step out onto the vast sea of newly greening spring grass. Walking at his side was a large black wolf. Moving to his other side the girl joined him.

It won’t be so hard to spot the marker stones on our way back because unlike when we came south the grass is just starting to grow. We should be able to spot the stone from farther away. If we pay attention we should be alright, said Etta.

I guess, said Cru but he didn’t sound very confident.

When they reached the first marker stone, they looked at it to see if the shape indicated that they should go straight or make a change of direction. If the stone was nearly circular they would go straight. If the stone was irregular they would walk off in the direction the stone was pointing. The first stone was round so they walked on in the direction they had been going. Without the stones a traveler could find themselves going in circles. Out on the Steppes there were no landmarks to use as a guide. More important they could run out of water, since the marker stones pointed the way to the water sources.

As they walked Etta focused on trying to walk in a straight line. After a while Cru asked, How long do you think it is going to take to get home?

I’m not sure. If we can go over the pass maybe a moon or a moon and a half. If we must go the river trail probably two moons, replied Etta.

I hope we can go over the pass. I don’t want to go on the river trail. I don’t want to remember the two bad men who attacked us on our journey south, said Cru.

I agree. But try not to think of them. They are gone now and can no longer hurt us. We will just have to wait and see what the pass is like. If there is snow we will go around. I don’t want to get caught in another avalanche, Etta said.

They walked a while in silence. The sun was nearing the midpoint in the sky when they came to the second marker stone. Again it was a regular shape so they continued going straight. The next stone they reached just after midday and this one indicated a turn.

Let’s stop and take a rest, said Etta. We probably need to eat a little bit, too. She rummaged in her pack for a bit then handed Cru a couple pieces of jerked deer meat. You can drink a little of your water. But we need to be very careful with our water until we find out if the springs are flowing.

The boy chewed the jerky slowly. As they rested he looked out over the vast plain. He scratched the wolf’s ears. Once he had drank from his water gourd, he poured a little into his hand and offered it to the wolf. Here, Black, you need to drink, too. The sun is going to get hot this afternoon.

I just hope we don’t get caught in a storm like we did as we were coming south. I just hate walking in the rain, said Etta.

Yani used to say, ‘When sky is red, travelers dread.’ Do you think that the sunrise this morning means we are going to have a storm? asked Cru.

That’s what I was thinking too. That’s why I said I hate walking in the rain, she replied.

When they had finished eating they picked up their packs and following the direction of the marker stone moved off to the east. It was nearing sunset when they reached the next stone. It again indicated a turn back to the north. Looking at the sky, Etta said, Let’s stop here for the night. I’m afraid if we keep walking it may get too dark and we’ll miss the next marker.

Since there was no wood around to start a fire they again ate a cold supper of jerky. They pulled their sleeping cloaks out of their packs and settled down for the night. Before it got dark, Black looked at Cru and gave a short bark. Go ahead and hunt, said Cru. Just remember to come back. Barking again the wolf ran off across the plain.

As they watched, the sky turned from pink to red to purple. Soon the stars came out. Etta, there’s more red in the sky tonight. I sure hope what Yani used to say is not right.

Me, too, said Etta. But we can’t do anything about it so go to sleep. We have another long day tomorrow.

When Black returned to camp Etta and Cru were sound asleep.

Chapter Two

Etta woke to a blood red sky. Standing and stretching she looked out over the sea of new grass. It seemed to go on forever. Sighing she looked at Cru who was curled up around Black sound asleep. She hated to wake him but knew they should get on the way. Rolling her sleeping cloak she stowed it in her pack and gently shook Cru awake. Rise and shine, she said. We need to get moving.

Sitting up and looking around, it took him a moment to remember where he was. Standing he rolled his sleeping cloak and picked up his pack. Do we have time to eat something, asked the boy.

Slow down. We don’t need to get moving that fast. Reaching into her pack she removed the pouch that held the dried meat. Taking out a piece and handing it to him, she said, Here’s some jerky you can eat on the way. Until we get to a camp that has wood for a fire that’s all we will have to eat. And remember to go easy on your water.

As long as it is food, I don’t care, he said. And I have been being careful of how much I drink.

Walking off in a straight line they left the marker stone behind them.

That night they again camped at a site without water. Etta was getting concerned that they would run out before they reached a camp with a spring. By midday on the third day of walking their drinking gourds held only a small amount. No more than a quarter full at best. By midafternoon she realized they had not seen a marker stone since midmorning. That was unusual. They were usually close enough together that they saw three or four at least every day. Here it was near the end of the day and they had only seen one. Could they have miss read the stone and walked straight when they should have turned? As she walked she tried to picture the last marker stone. She could see it in her mind’s eye. It had not been as regular as the others they had seen but it didn’t have a well-defined point on it either. As she thought about it she tried to fight back the panic that threatened to engulf her.

Etta, can I ask you something? said Cru, breaking into her thoughts.

Of course, Etta replied.

Promise you won’t get mad at me, said Cru.

I can’t promise that but I also can’t imagine what you would say that could make me mad at you, she replied.

Are we lost? Cru asked in a shaky voice.

Stopping she looked at the boy. Why do you ask that? she said.

Well, you’ve been walking slower and slower for a long time now. And we haven’t seen a marker stone since early this morning. And I feel like we’re lost. He looked up at her with teary eyes.

Sighing she replied, Yes, we may be lost. I’m afraid we misread that last marker stone. Did you notice anything strange about it?

Maybe, he replied.

Well, tell me what you noticed. she said when he just stood there silently.

I noticed that it was not all the same as it should have been but it wasn’t pointy either.

Yes, I noticed that too but it looked more regular than the direction change stones. Did you see anything else?

I’m not sure but it almost looked like some one had hit the rock hard and chipped some of the rock off. There were small chips around the base on one side but no big chunks so I just thought the little chips were there because they had wanted to make the stone as regular as possible. Now I’m not so sure. Could someone have knocked the direction point off on purpose?

Etta stood looking off to the horizon. If they were lost they could die before they got across the Steppes. They had plenty of food but only enough water for today. Deet had told her over and over as she prepared for this trip that most people who die on the Steppes die from thirst, not hunger. You can go many days without food but only one or two without water. What is she going to tell Cru? She was terrified but didn’t want to show it to the boy. Finally she said, We may not be lost completely but we’re not going to find the marker stones either. I have been thinking. As long as we make sure that the sun is rising on our right and setting on our left we will get across the Steppes. The big problem is no water. How much water do you have left?

Taking his water gourd he shook it. Etta could hear a little water splashing around but it didn’t sound like much. From now on we only drink a sip at a time. Take a sip now and don’t take another until I tell you to. Do you understand?

Yes but what about Black? He gets thirsty, too, said the boy.

You can’t give him any. He will have to make it off the Steppes on his own, she answered.

But, how can I let him get thirsty? He is my friend, he pleaded. 

Cru, listen to me. If you run out of water before we get to the end of the Steppes or find a water source, you will die. You can not give your water to Black. Do you hear me?

Yes, he mumbled. I hear you. But I don’t like it.

I know, she said. I don’t like it either but I promised to get you home and that’s what I intend to do. Now let’s get as far as we can before it gets dark. Maybe we will get lucky and it will rain.

By the time night set in they were thirsty and exhausted. Although they were hungry, Etta said they would do without jerky since it would only make them thirstier. They each took a sip from their water gourd before wrapping in their sleeping cloak and settling down for the night. Etta lay awake for a while listening to Cru as he whispered to Black. It hurt to hear him explaining to the wolf why he couldn’t give him any water. When the boy finally fell asleep she relaxed enough to drift off too.

When morning came she took note of exactly where the sun had come up. Once they were packed to move on she told Cru to take a sip of his water. Once he was done so she took his water gourd and shook it. It shocked her to hear how little water he still had. She took a sip from hers and shook it. She had a little more than he did so she handed her water gourd to him.

That’s your gourd, not mine, said Cru.

I know,’ she replied. I have more than you do. Take it."

Reluctantly the boy took the water gourd she offered. Once they had their packs shouldered they began to walk. Etta kept track of the sun’s journey across the sky. When it was almost over head she stopped them. Until the sun starts to dip toward the horizon again we are going to rest. I don’t want to wander off the way north. Once it is past its high point we will know which way is west and we can start out again. While we rest you can take a sip of your water.

Cru took his water gourd from his pack and opened it carefully. He took a sip then closed it and put it back in his pack. As he did he looked at Black with sad eyes.

Cru, I know you want to give some to Black but believe me when I say you can’t. Maybe we will get lucky and it will rain. Or we will stumble back on to the path and find a water source. But until then. You just can’t share your water.

I know, he replied. I just feel so bad. Black is my friend.

I’m so sorry, said Etta pulling the boy toward her. Hugging him she continued, I feel awful. I promised to get you home safely and we’re not even across the Steppes and I have gotten us lost.

It’s not your fault, Cru said. And we will get across the Steppes. I just know it.

I hope so.

Chapter Three

By the time the sun was dipping below the horizon, Etta and Cru were exhausted and very thirsty. They dropped where they stopped and didn’t even bother to take out their sleeping cloaks. Etta checked her water gourd and realized it was almost empty. She may have one more sip in it but that was all. She told Cru to take a sip from his water gourd. As he was drinking she pretended to take a sip too. Once he was done she asked him how much he had left. He shook his water gourd and said, Maybe two or three more sips.

Good, she replied. That may get us off the Steppes. She said it but she did not believe it.

As the sky in the east brightened with the false dawn, Black slipped out of camp. When Etta woke, he was still gone. As she stood and stretched, Etta noticed the grass around her was damp from the dew. Picking a blade of grass she ran her tongue over it. A drop of water collected on her tongue. Picking another blade she was able to collect another drop. Waking Cru she said, Quick, Cru, there is a little moisture on the grass. If you run your tongue along it you get a drop or so. It’s not much but it may help.

Soon both of them were picking grass and drinking the water they found there. But it did not last long. As soon as the sun had climbed over the horizon its warmth dried the dew. Picking up their packs they prepared to continue the trek north.

When Cru had his pack on his shoulders he looked around for Black. Turning to Etta he said, Black isn’t back yet. Should we wait for him? What if he can’t find us?

Oh, Black will be able to find us. That nose of his will lead him right to us, Etta said. Smiling down at him, she continued, We need to keep moving. The sooner we get off the Steppes the sooner we will find water.

"If you’re sure Black will be able