The Woodland Girls by Beltar55 (best way to read an ebook .txt) 📕

has been a most unusual day and they had no idea what tomorrow would reveal.
First light found them well on their way and after a few hours they started noticing an unmistakable smell. Dragon-fire. They found the camp, at least what was left of it and the smell of roasted flesh was distinct. Fearing the worst, the girls searched through the destruction, following their nose they finally found the body, it was burnt beyond recognition.
During the search, the girls recognized items they knew belonged to their father, like the old coffee pot, or the pit stake that he had carved out of stone wood and last of all Gaea found his sword. He would never go anywhere without it. The body had to be their father.
As that thought begin to sink in, Naida began to survey the scene trying to determine just what had happened. Evidently, this all took place just after he arrived here two weeks ago. From the smell of dragon-fire it went without saying that a dragon had attacked, but why? Despite all the lore, dragons don’t eat human flesh and the remains seem to prove that. So why did it attack?
The ogre had remained back in the woods and started making his way over to the girls as they discussed what had taken place.

“The dragon landed over here close to where I found the sword and it looks like his tail is what knocked the tent over.” Gaea began.
“Yeah,” Naida continued, “and there is blood here that definitely belongs to the dragon.”
“……..TWO……” the ogre spoke from behind.
“You mean two dragons?” Larissa asked.

That made sense their father would be able to fight off one dragon, or at least escape without much harm, but two? She saw the ogre nod and then sniff the air. Dragon-fire has it’s own unique smell and is as different from one dragon to the next. Just like no two people are the same, the scent of dragon-fire varies from dragon to dragon. The ogre was right, now that she was looking for it, she could tell the difference between the two smells. The girls looked at each other as they let that sink in. The more they discovered the more questions they had.
Their father was dead. It didn’t seem real, Gaea imagined her dad the way he was when he left just a few weeks ago. He was too young….too…… strong…… to be …dead. What was she going to do now? Their grandmother lived in the village of Truitt, on the eastern edge of the Woodlands, maybe they could go there. She had never seen her grandmother but her dad talked about her all the time, had even promised to take them one day. Now he never would. The thought of how angry she had been at him weighed heavy on her mind. Forgetting about the ogre, she turned to her sisters.

“We need to go to the village of Truitt.” Gaea stated flatly.
“……YES……” the ogre startled them with his reply. “……ZONA……”

The girls were stunned; Zona was their grandmother. Did she send the ogre? Did it have anything to do with all this? How could she have known?
They all agreed to go. Now to the business at hand, they took turn digging the grave. They made a marker out of two crossed limbs. Naida carved just one word on it, in big bold letters---BELTAR. The sisters were quite while Gaea said a few words over the grave, then they began gathering what they could from his belongings. The emptiness was over-whelming, now both father and mother were dead. They felt all alone in the world, but maybe the grandmother they didn’t know could at least give them some answers. The sooner the better.
They stayed up that night lost in their own thoughts, and while the girls where reminiscing they heard the most wonderful sounds drifting on the breeze. They followed it to the top of the hill where they found Gar, arms raised, singing to the stars. It was more like humming with clicks and clucks mixed in to make a three part harmony like nothing they’ve ever heard.

“Notice he’s not moving his lips,” Gaea said, “that’s why it flows so free and easy.”
“You’re right,” Naida agreed, “it must be forming the words with his lips that causes him so much trouble with speaking.”
Larissa said what they all felt. “That’s sounds so beautiful.”
“…….BELTAR…..”

They understood. He was singing for their father, after all the things they thought and said, he still paid such a tribute to a man he didn’t know. How could they be so wrong about ogre? Was this what they all were like or was he special? Maybe this too could be answered in Truitt.
The girls stopped by their cabin to gather their things on the way to the village. They were amazed with the things that Gar could do. He furnished most of the meals on their journey. He hunted with a rock, yeah a rock. He could sling that thing so hard and accurate he usually killed what he wanted. It seems that even though ogres couldn’t think fast, single thought with them was so concentrated they rarely missed, even fishing. He could reach into the water and grab a fish almost every time.
By the time they arrived in Truitt, the girls and Gar were the best of friends. They made quite a stir when they walked through the village, but they weren’t sure if it was them or Gar. He led them straight to the house of Zona. The girls were a bit nervous as they knocked on the door.

“Hello” Gaea called, “anybody home?”
“Yes, yes, come in.” Zona replied. “ Come in and have a seat. Are you hungry? Can I get you anything? What can I do for you?
“We’d love some answers please.” Naida replied. “We have so many questions and we hope you can answer them for us.”

The girls sat around Zona’s table and talked for hours. They found out that she had sensed there was some kind of trouble, this happens sometime concerning loved ones. She sent Gar, as soon as it happened to bring the girls here to Truitt. She didn’t know what had happened and was sorry to hear about her son. The girls also learned that ogre were peaceable creatures and had many villages north of the Woodland Forrest. It was only the renegades that were expelled from the villages that caused such destruction and havoc.
The girls were especially interested to learn that Zona was a Ring Master. She possesses the ten Rings of Power: CHOICE, TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE, HONESTY, HOPE, LOVE, RESPONSIBILITY, PATIENCE, FRIENDSHIP, HAPPINESS. These rings help her in every day life, because there are certain lessons you must learn to be able to earn the rings. The rings help to keep these lessons in your mind so hopefully you won’t make the same mistakes again.

“We can’t believe that we were so wrong about ogre,” Gaea said. “We have always heard about how mean and terrible they were and now to find out how good they can be. It takes some getting used to.”
“Yeah,” Naida agreed. “And they have so many surprises too, like being able to sing so beautifully.”
“Don’t forget about being such good hunters too.” Larissa added.
“It seems you’ve learned some valuable lessons then,” Zona pointed out. “Like not to jump to conclusions before you have all the facts.”
“It’s like the old saying,” Larissa continued. “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.”
“Exactly!” Zona finished.
“Do you think you could teach us how to earn the rings of power?” Gaea asked
“Sure if you study hard and mind what I say,” Zona replied. “I’d love to teach you.”

The girls agreed, and as they were headed up stairs to go to bed, Gaea thought about how good it would be. Now she could be a kid again…they all could. Soon they would be on their way to earning the rings of power……But that’s another story!
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Publication Date: 02-21-2010

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