Chapter Two - Strange Communion
Daisy...
Lithe words, playing recklessly over the breeze, found her ears, as she followed her siblings through the forest.
Daisy...
Again the delicate sound of her name and more small laughter. This wasn't one of her brother's tricks, or her sister's silly pass times. It came from somewhere nearby, but nowhere Daisy could easily place.
Touch the stones Daisy...
She looked around quickly, hoping to pinpoint the direction.
"Daisy are you alright?" Her sister Iris was looking at her with concern. Iris was always the one with concern, always the strong one. Daisy nodded to her sister, although she kept the voices to herself.
Touch the stones Daisy...
Instinctively she reach out and trailed her fingertips across a few large rocks pressed up against the trees. The stone was cool, like the forest in the shade, but rough like her Pa's skin, tough and aged by weather and circumstance.
You are in danger!...
This time the sound was low and hollow, a sudden urgent hissing, as if the rocks themselves had uttered the warning. Daisy looked around, seeing if perhaps her odd behavior was attracting attention. It wasn't. Her siblings were happy to leave her alone, and her big sister Iris had her hands full trying to get them home with Jasper. One concerned moment was all Iris could spare, and Daisy realized if she stopped walking, they wouldn't notice her missing for a little while.
So, she stopped and faced the stones that poked out here and there amongst the tree roots and forest floor. Hesitantly, she reached for the nearest cold, protruding surface. The moment her fingers came in contact with the rock she heard it again.
Child, you are in danger. All of you!...
How could this be? Daisy wondered. She was too young to know deep fear, but old enough to feel a certain misgiving about hearing the disembodied voices.
"Who are you?" her small voice wrestled the birds and creaking tree branches for a chance to get some answers. She reached out for the rock again.
Great danger! The low voice warned.
She snatched her tiny fingers away from the hard face of stone.
"Daisy! What are you doing!" It was Iris. Daisy backed away from the stones, glancing up at her sister. The look of anger mixed with fear registered on Iris' face urged Daisy to explain.
"The rocks are talkin' sissy," she said. "They are talkin' to me."
Iris bent down an scooped Daisy into her arms. "Don't be scaring me like that. We don't go walkin' alone in the forest. It's not safe."
"But the rocks..." Daisy squirmed, holding her small hands out towards the stones. "They told me danger, sissy, danger."
Iris shook her head. "Little one, there's been no talkin' to the rocks or trees or anythin' else out there for a long time. None of us can use the magic anymore. I've told you before. It's all wild now. Ain't talkin' to you or no one."
Daisy....
"Who's there!" Iris shouted, swinging around. "Jasper? Clay?"
Daisy touch the stones...
Iris tried to keep her little sister in her arms, but Daisy squirmed out and ran to the nearest stone, lacing both her hands squarely on the surface.
Child you must run... the stones spoke clearly, urgently. You must Run.
Iris grabbed at Daisy, pulling her back from the rocks. "What's going on? Who's talkin' to us?"
Daisy pointed to the rocks. "It's them sissy. They are speakin'"
Iris stared at the cold gray stones on the forest floor. Could it be true? She wondered. Could the great stones be speaking again? "What did they say Daisy?" she asked. "Tell me what did they say."
Her little sister pulled herself close in Iris' arms and whispered. "They say run!"
Posted by Happy Potato @ 8/21/2008 04:24:00 PM