Chapter Twenty Nine Fleki

The street was deserted as we made our way through the town, keeping our heads down and our backs to the wall trying to blend into the darkness. Aunt Bonnie led the way, followed by my mother and Johnra who had Atticus perched on his shoulders thoroughly enjoying the ride. I was at the rear constant looking behind me and making sure we were hitting a steady pace. There was a coldness in the air and a slight breeze which would make our scent so much easier to track. The ritual would be over soon, we did not have much time.

Atticus bobbed up and down on Johnraś broad shoulders, giggling in delight oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Excited to be outside for the first time in a while, he grinned and waved as we rushed down the road.

“Shh Addy” Johnra hushed,” Remember we must be really quiet to win the game”. Johnraś patience with Atticus was wearing thin, he had been quite snappy the last few days.

“ I don’t like you anymore Johnra” Atticus squealed, “Put me down”.

Atticus kicked his legs as hard as he could, his heels hitting Johnras chest, Johnra trapped his legs with his arms and held them tightly which caused Atticus to scream at the top of his lungs. 

“Addy stop yelling, “ I said sternly. “Pass him here Johnra for christ sake before he alerts the whole village of our whereabouts.”

I did not have to ask twice, Johnra lifted Atticus over his shoulder and placed him on the ground in front of me, Atticus promptly folded his chubby arms across his chest and stared at Johnra dropping his bottom lip. I could tell he was about to have a tantrum.

“Come on Addy, do you want to be on my team now?” I gently asked hoping to diffuse the imminent meltdown.

Shaking his head, Atticus sat down on the grass, legs crossed, staring defiantly at me. Taking a deep breath, trying to remain calm, I sat down on the grass next to him, “Addy if you ride on my shoulders and stay quiet, I will take you to see Fenis”.

Fenis was Atticusś favourite person in the world, “Leki take me to Fenis”? He asked as his eyes widened.

Nodding my head and smiling, “Yes Addy,  If your super quiet and hop onto my shoulders I will take you to Fenis.”

Atticus quickly jumped to his feet and held his arms out in front of him, “Pick me up Leki, I will be good”.

“Let’s go everyone”, scooping Atticus up, I swung him onto my shoulders and broke out into a jog. There was no one in sight. Fear set in as we reached the outskirts of the village, there was only one way in and out of Ironside as that was through the main gate, which was heavily guarded. 

The birch tree stood on the edge of the village, standing alone. The only thing between the edge of town and the gate. Its old trunk wide enough to hide behind, large boughs reached for the sky, its bark cracked and brown, Rich green leaves protruding from the branches provided a canopy of shade and safety for the inhabitants. Huddling together as close as possible it was time to execute the most difficult part of the plan. Getting past the guards would be near impossible, if they sounded the alarm, we would be captured within minutes.

“It is time, you two stay here with Addy and wait for the signal” Aunt Bonnie commanded.

“You first Charlotte” 

My mother nodded, “Keep Atticus safe, Fenis”, she kissed my cheek and squeezed my arm. “I love you Fleki”, smiling she picked up Atticus.

“You be a good boy and do what Fleki asks you to, Addy”. Gently kissing his forehead, she hands him back to me.

“This won’t take long boys, be ready!” Aunt Bonnie mouthed I love you to Johnra, a growl from deep down escaped her lips as her wolf took over. Dark brown fur with a white blaze that ran from her neck and covered her chest. Her fur bristled, sniffing the air she crouched down low and began to make her way to the guard tower.

Before I had the chance to say anything my mother was in wolf form heading towards the opposite tower, her white fur shone in the moonlight, streaks of silver glistened as she stealthy hunted her prey. The guards stationed at the door were caught unaware, attacked from behind, their throats ripped out before they could make a sound.

¨Okay Addy, itś time to go and find Fenis, you need to be really quiet like we talked about”, smiling I lifted Atticus back onto my shoulders, his fingers wrapped around a chunk of my hair as he held on tightly.

“Addy, do you want to play another game with me”? Johnra gently asked.

Atticus wrinkled his nose, contemplating whether or not he was willing to forgive Johnra. His little mind was in overdrive, curiosity soon gets the best of him and he nods his head in agreement.

“What game, Johnra”? He asked kicking his legs with excitement.

“Well Addy, when I tell you too, you need to close your eyes so tightly, so you cannot see anything for as long as you can”.

“I will close mine too and Fleki will watch and count, whoever closes them the longest wins a prize”.

“That is easy Johnra, I will win”, squealing with delight, Atticus practises opening and shutting his eyes. 

“Ready set go” Johnra whispers into Atticusś ear, he promptly closes his eyes and covers them with both hands. The door to the towers is smeared with blood, the guard lays in a pool of blood, his head nearly detached from his body. A rancid odour emanated from where his bodily functions had released and soiled the ground around them.

“Keep your eyes shut Addy, Johnra still has his closed” I whispered.

“I am Leki, I will win the prize”.

Aunt Bonnie came running down the stairs, moments later my mother exited the guard tower, her white fur covered in dark red blood. 

“Help lift this, boys”

The four of us pushed with all of our might, trying to move the large timber board from itś slot. With one final push it cleared the top of the off the slot, dropping it to the ground, Johna pushed the gate open. As howls rang out in the distance, we ran as fast as we could, the edge of the forest within sight, the open space between the gate and the forest offered no protection. We were vulnerable and exposed, easy targets for the Greysteels loyal to my father.

“WHERE IS MY PRIZE”? Atticus screamed as my pace quickened and he was jolted up and down on my shoulders. “Ouch Leki, stop it hurts “he cried out as my hands tightened around his ankles. 

The shrill cry of the alarm being triggered sounded out over the village, our headstart nowhere near enough to keep us from being apprehended. Quickening the pace, my heart racing as adrenaline courses through my body. Aunt Bonnie a few yards ahead of us was just about to enter the forest. Stopping dead in her tracks she turned around and waited, howling to hurry us along she disappeared into the undergrowth.

I could smell the Hunters long before I heard them hot on our trail, my mother and Johnra entered the forest, pushing forward my legs burned as I closed the gap. The forest within steps, Turning around for one last look at my home, I saw a wall of wolves bounding after us, their tails high in the air, growling and snarling as they made up ground.

Finally, I pushed my way through the undergrowth, branches scraping my arms and legs. Atticus howled frightened and in pain from being jerked up and down. Screaming for our mother, tears ran down his dirt-stained face. The path snaked through the forest floor, created by footsteps over time, rounding the bend I finally caught up with everyone. My mother and Aunt remained in wolf form, they were our only line of defence if we were captured.

“ Fleki, we must make it to the river” Johnra sighed, his face red with beads of sweat covering his forehead.

“I know” I puffed, my shoulders aching under the weight of Atticus. “Keep moving and whatever you do, don’t stop”.

The deeper we went into the forest, the denser it became. The path narrowed as the trees and vines fought back, Thorny shrubs ripped through your clothes as you ran past, I could feel droplets of blood flowing down my legs where the exposed skin had been torn open. Birds shriek, flying from tree to tree alerting the fact that there are intruders in their territory making hiding impossible.

Leaves crumbled and twigs cracked underfoot as the Hunters closed in, their howls deafening. Aunt Bonnie and my mother looped back behind Johnra and myself as we neared the river, protecting our backs as we slowed down and made our way onto the bank. The moss-covered rocks were slippery underfoot as the current flowed quickly. It was a treacherous spot, the river snaked its way around large boulders until it met with a waterfall which dropped sharply, the water cascading down to meet up again with the river below.

Johnra slid into the water his knee slamming into a rock, crying out in pain he limped into the icy water, kicking his uninjured leg and hard and fast as he could. The current grabbed hold of him and he drifted off, the rapids carrying him downstream.

Next, it was my turn, my legs were already like jelly, the coldness of the water took my breathe away as I leapt in trying to avoid the rocks. Landing with a splash, Atticus screamed out loud as the freezing water splashes over him.

“Hold on tight Addy”, my teeth chattering as I began to swim across the water. The current swept me sideways, rolling underwater I could feel my hand loosen its grip as it was driven into the rocks, scraping as I went past. Lashing out with my legs I finally managed to make contact with a rock and push myself upwards, my head breaking through the water. Spluttering I took a deep breath, Atticus was coughing as he clung to my neck.

There was a splash in the water in front of me, Aunt Bonnie started to make her way across the river, losing sight of her, I once again began to kick as hard as I could. The water went into my mouth and up my nose causing me to cough and convulse, before I realised what was happening, I slammed into a large boulder. The world went black my last thought was for Atticus as I drifted into darkness.