Yielding of the Seed

By David W. Kimbrough

A mysterious tree yields a strong and powerful seed. A seed that is desired by both humans and animals. Raccoons want to consume the seed because of the transforming effects that it has on them. It will give them intelligence and allow them to speak with a human tongue. It will also allow them to walk upright on two legs and enjoy their new four-feet height. Humans desire the seed for the simple reason that it stops their aging process. However, they are unaware of the effect it causes in them when they leave the proximity of the tree. They will then become a Blood Craver and are controlled by their desire to consume human blood. They are given the gifts of strength and speed along with fangs and claws to help accomplish their desire for human blood.

David gathers the party together before they start the last part of the trip. He tells them what his grandson has told him about the strange animals. That they have been altered because of this mysterious tree and the yielding of the seed. He tells them that he believes his grandson. That what he witnessed down in Silage is beyond his ability to comprehend. So why can't there be talking raccoons and possums and bears?

He tells them to expect the unexpected when they reach the top and not to be surprised by anything they see or hear. That they are fixing to enter a world that has existed long before theirs. To be alert and aware of their surroundings.

"This thing they are after is not to be taken lightly. She will kill you, if you give her the chance. We are not here to take her alive, so let's get this done."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798893156560

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Introduction

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

The Return of Eric

Origin of the Tree

About the Author

cover.jpg

Yielding of the Seed

David W. Kimbrough

Copyright © 2024 David W. Kimbrough

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-89315-640-9 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-89553-275-1 (hc)

ISBN 979-8-89315-656-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Introduction

Yielding of the Seed

This story involves a little Moakk boy named Devan Alexander. He lives with his parents in a village named Silage, in a vast land called Symmetry. Moakks are a race of little humans perfectly proportioned in every way, except they are just shorter than a Lank.

In this part of the world, you are either a Moakk or a Lank. The only difference is their height. Moakks have an average of four and a half feet while Lanks average closer to six. However, if you ask a Moakk, they will tell you the heart is also different. The heart of a Lank is not very kind. Some, in fact, are being considered evil.

One day, he became friends with an animal that lives at the top of a very high and unusual-shaped mountain. Devan was not supposed to climb the mountain, but at fourteen, curiosity got the best of him.

This was no ordinary mountain. It goes straight up without any peaks or valleys. It's as if something caused a portion of land to rise straight up to the clouds. In fact, it has its very own cloud. One that prevents the top from being seen from the ground below. It is located on the west side of the village that Devan lives in and is called Mount Eden.

Strangeness has always been associated with this mountain. Mostly reported sightings of animals that walk on two legs, and some stories even say these animals can talk. The fact of the matter is these animals do exist. A result of a tree that yields a pod that contains a very powerful seed. A seed of reconstruction.

The seed has the ability to stop the aging process in both animals and humans. It also has the ability to transform animals by altering their structure and combining it with bits and pieces of other animals in the surrounding area. Sometimes it combines human and animal characteristics together. This combination can result in a very friendly species. It can also result in a species that should have never been created. This all depends on which dominant emotion the animal receives from the human.

A Ringtail is a raccoon that has been transformed by the seed. An altering that gave them the ability to walk upright from the nearby Moakks. They also acquired their height, language, and intelligence from these humans.

The Ringtails, like any living creature that consumes the seed, will now stop aging. They have the opportunity to live forever unless they die of unnatural causes. The Ringtails were lucky enough to receive the dominant emotion of kindness. They are a very peaceful animal, and this kindness allowed Devan to become their friend. A friendship that led to Devan agreeing he would help guard the tree that yields the seed of reconstruction.

The Treeapods are a good example of the dangers a seed can create. A Treeapod is a possum that has been restructured with the Moakk characteristics. Very similar to the Ringtails. They also became a four-feet, walking-upright, intelligent animal. However, the Treeapods received the dominant emotion of anger. This is a controlling factor in everything they do. Their anger and tendency toward violence is mild compared to some. The wolves, the foxes, and especially the bears are the reason the tree must always be guarded. The seed is tiny but very powerful.

Devan's kindness, bravery, leadership, and willingness to sacrifice his own life for his friends ultimately led to the colony of Ringtails declaring Devan Alexander the king of Eden. He was presented with his very own crown of solid gold.

For thousands of years, no one has understood every effect from the seed. Deisha Frost became the first to understand that if a human leaves Mount Eden after consuming a seed, the rest of the reconstruction will occur. Just like some animals become humanlike, some humans become animallike. The effect of leaving the proximity of the tree would result in not only growing fangs and four-inch finger claws but also a thirst for human blood. Deisha Frost became the first Blood Craver. A human hybrid with the strength of five men and the speed of a cheetah.

The muscles in the mouth allow the fangs, which have openings in the back, to act as a pump. With the aid of a beating heart, the live victim will lose their blood in less than a minute. A Blood Craver does not care if you are young or old; as long as you have blood, you are a target. Only if a Blood Craver returns to the proximity of the tree will the desire for blood dissipate.

It is a constant struggle to protect the tree from the evil of both Treeapods and humans. Devan fears that an epic battle is brewing between the Treeapods and the Ringtails. Only time will tell if good can defeat evil.

1

Ipic

Devan and his family lived in a village named Silage. The village was located in the middle of a land called Symmetry. A land that seemed to have no ends. At least, it seemed that way when you are a child growing up there.

Devan was from a race of little humans that were called Moakks. In this part of the world, you were either a Lank or a Moakk. The main difference between the two was their height. One was of short stature and very seldom reached the height of five feet. They were a very proud and peaceful race. These would be the Moakks. The Lanks could reach heights of over six feet and often did. If you asked a Moakk, they would tell you the Lanks were not at all peaceful. They had been in numerous wars and battles throughout the years, and this was with their own race, not some outside invader looking to take over the world. The Moakks had been living in this area for hundreds of years.

At the edge of their village stood an enormous mountain, Mount Eden, a mountain so high that no one from the village had ever been brave enough to climb it. Through the years, there had been strange sightings associated with this mountain, mainly people claiming they had seen weird animals coming from the top. Animals that could walk on two legs. Some even claimed to hear them speak. No one was ever able to catch any of these strange creatures, so the stories remained fairy tales.

You could not see the top of the mountain because it was surrounded by a cloud. Some of the villagers used to say the top of the mountain belonged to a god, and they were not allowed to venture beyond the cloud.

Devan would often tell his parents that one day he would climb that mountain and live there the rest of his life. Devan had one sister, Nova, and they were very close. Only a year separated the two in age. Almost no time would you see one without the other.

Devan was fourteen and was mature way beyond his years. He did not play with other kids his age; he considered them childish. Most of his free time was spent studying self-defense. He considered himself one of the top students in his self-defense class, specializing in the art of staff fighting.

One summer day, Devan and Nova were throwing stones over by the base of the Mount Eden. Devan told Nova that he had made his mind up, and tonight was the night. He was going to slip out of the house and climb the mountain. This caused Nova to feel afraid; she loved her brother and did not want anything bad to happen to him. She told him she would accompany him on his journey. That she was afraid for him to try it alone. He said it would be a hard climb, but he would enjoy her company.

You must pack a bag with some food and water, enough for a week or more. Bring a raincoat and maybe a piece of warm clothing in case it is cold at the top.

Hiding behind a tree close to Devan and Nova was their cousin whom they all called Nosy Nattie. Nosy Nattie heard what Devan and Nova was planning. She warned them that if they didn't let her go, she would tell Macie and Hunter, who, of course, were their parents, so Devan agreed that Nattie could come along, but she must not tell anyone. She must meet them at the north end of the mountain where the field of grain started.

Be there at exactly ten o'clock tonight, Devan said.

Nattie assured them she wouldn't mention a word to anyone and that she would be there at exactly ten o'clock.

After Nattie left, Devan and Nova went over to the game area and watched Uncle Shawn and Papa D playing a game of Stones. Shawn was very good, in fact, one of the best. The few times he lost was to his father, David, who was Devan's grandfather. Devan's mother and Shawn were brother and sister.

Go, Papa D, said Devan.

The match was about over; Shawn was ahead by two. It was Papa D's turn, and he had three throws left. He landed the first two, and the last one was the easiest. Devan had seen him make this throw a hundred times. It's over, Devan thought, but Papa D missed.

It's a tie, Shawn yelled. And he'd take it.

Papa D looked at Devan and winked. Every now and again, Papa D would let Shawn win or tie. Maybe it's a father thing.

Hey, Devan, are you coming over tonight? asked Papa D.

No, I have something I need to do this evening, but tell Mom I love her.

Devan had always called his grandmother mom.

I will, said Papa D.

On the way to the house to secretly pack their bags and prepare for their journey, Devan told Nova that they would start the climb at nine o'clock instead of ten. He didn't want his uncle to be mad for letting his daughter go with them. They both loved Nattie even though she was a little overcurious sometimes, but Uncle Shawn was a little harder to deal with.

Dinner was served at exactly six o'clock that evening, but neither Devan nor Nova had much of an appetite. They were both much too excited about the climb that was about to take place.

Macie asked Devan if he was feeling ill because he had hardly touched his dinner.

He said, Yes, I am, but it is just a mild tummy ache. May I be excused so I can go to my room? I would like to go to bed early tonight.

His mother told him that would be fine, but to let her know if he got hungry later, and she would fix him something to eat.

Nova also asked to be excused, saying she too had a mild tummy ache, so they both left the table and went to their rooms.

Macie thought they must have snuck and ate too much candy. Instead of going to bed, they both began to pack their bags for the trip. Devan and Nova both made it quietly out of the house without alerting their parents.

They walked rapidly toward the north end of the mountain where the grain field started. Devan thought this would be the easiest path to the top. They rounded the counter and were both surprised to see not only Nattie but Uncle Shawn as well.

See, Nattie, I told you Devan would try to trick you.

Devan looked at his uncle and said, I suppose you're here to talk me out of the climb.

On the contrary, said Uncle Shawn, I have always wanted to climb this mountain. I figured this would be my chance, and we could all attempt the climb together, if you will allow Nattie and me to go with you.

Even though Devan did not like the idea, he agreed, and the journey began.

It was much harder than Devan had anticipated. It had been raining a little earlier that day, and the footing was not as good as it could have been. Nova had already slipped twice, and she was beginning to wonder if she should just turn around and go back home. Devan kept encouraging her by saying how great it would be for them to be the first to ever make the climb.

We may even get a celebration in our honor.

That would be nice, she thought.

Knowing they would not be able to complete the trip without resting for the night, they reached an area of the mountain that had enough room for all of them to lie down and take a nap. They would start again at sunrise.

Devan had his doubts if anyone could really sleep, but any rest at all would be good. Just before sunrise, the quiet was broken by the sound of Nattie rummaging through her bag, trying to find the cheese and bread she had prepared, but obviously forgot.

The noise awoke Devan and Nova. Nattie was becoming agitated and started muttering in a low voice. Nova offered Nattie some of the cheese and bread she had brought, but Uncle Shawn said he had brought plenty. He gave Nattie some cheese and bread along with apple juice that was not fermented.

They climbed all day and into the night, then repeated the process for two more days. Once they made their way through the cloud area, they could see the top of the mountain was only a couple of hours away, but it had already begun to get dark, and there was no good moonlight to see by, so Devan decided they should stop for the night and start fresh at daybreak. Devan was both excited and tired and was hoping his mother was not mad at him when she read the note he left explaining his desire to climb the mountain and how he promised that nothing would happen to his sister. He would return her home safely as quickly as possible and even bring back a pebble from the top. His mother liked to collect odd-shaped pebbles and ones from places she would visit.

Daylight came, and each of them quickly ate another light breakfast. They were all anxious and excited to reach the top, which appeared to be a little closer now in the daylight.

As they moved closer to the top, no one spoke a word. Perhaps, they were all imagining what could await them when they reached the top.

But nothing they would have imagined could compare with the reality of what was awaiting them. Before they reached the top, they could hear what sounded like deer antlers clinging together. It was as if giant bucks were fighting, and lots of them.

But that was not even close to the truth of what was happening. As each one of them reached the top, they stood motionless, not speaking a word, just barely breathing. Each of them was witnessing a battle taking place between animals they had never seen before.

It was breathtaking. A battle between what they would later learn were Treeapods and Ringtails. The sound was much louder once you reached the top. Some strikes even sounded like thunder.

Devan, standing still in a state of disbelief, turned to ask Shawn what he thought they were looking at. Shawn was not there, only the footprints of where he had been standing. Shawn had already started back down the mountain and right behind him was his daughter.

Devan turned back around just in time to see an animal being knocked down in front of him. The animal looked up at him and said something with words that Devan clearly understood and was definitely not the language of an animal.

He said, Please, kind sir, take my weapon and protect me from the savage behavior of the Treeapod.

Devan stood speechless, not knowing what to say or do; the animal lying in front of him had just spoken to him in a human voice.

The Ringtail, handed Devan his weapon as the Treeapod approached quickly. It was a weapon he was very familiar with, one that he trained with every day, a staff. A weapon of choice for many in this area of the world.

He heard the Treeapod speak also in a human voice, saying to Devan, You too shall die next to this varmint.

Without hesitation, Devan instantly struck the hands of the Treeapod, knocking its weapon to the ground beside his sister. Nova quickly picked up the weapon to prevent the Treeapod from getting it back.

Now having no weapon and being outnumbered, the Treeapod retreated back to the rest of his group, a group