Rocky's Story: The Search for the Huskanaso Fruit

Chapter 4: News

Three days. They’d been traveling for three long, hard days through dense forest. Rocky, Pooky and Rain had to abandon their horses and most of the supplies late the first day. They then traveled on foot, paw and wing due to wanted signs all over the kingdom. The siblings had discovered that Rain could shift into a raven and an eagle, and that few knew the her in the former. During the day, they would travel in their fae form, and took back roads to hide from people, but their pace was slow. While at night they took their forms, a wolf, a fox and a raven, and traveled as fast as their forms would allow. But on the third day of travel, they came across a familiar pair of faces, Helen, Sarah, and Jane.

“Mother, Jane, Sarah what in the name of Gods are you doing here?”

“Henry, he” Helen stammered

“What did he do?” Pooky prodded as she led them away from the path, and sat the girls down. After a moment, Sarah continued “Right after you two left, the High Queen came, and Henry” she stopped again

“He told us that he’d been having an affair with the her, and that they had been plotting” Jane spat out

“A plot for what?” Rain asked

“A plot to take over Edrait, and the realms and lands beyond” Sarah sighed.

“What are we going to do?” Pooky asked as she hugged her adopted mother and sisters

“I don’t know, we need to protect Sarah and the girls. But we need to keep traveling, and travel fast” Rocky asked as he started looking around

“We can keep up, we swear. But we may want to change our outfits” Jane said as she helped her tear stricken mother stand

“Very well. But Rocky, Pooky and I need to stay hidden because we are still wanted” Rain sighed as they started walking again.

“I still don’t understand why you're wanted.” Jane said once she’d returned from town with her sister and mother with clothes and food.

“It's because some might believe that Rocky and Pooky kidnapped me to to take the throne. When in fact it’s not, as you three have told us” Rain said. Shortly, once they’d eaten and Helen and the girls had changed, the small group were off once more.

Once Helen and the girls learned the method of travel, it hardly needed to change. Helen and the girls moved much quicker than the Fae thought. They learned how to hide during the day and move as fast and silent as they could during the night. One evening they stumbled upon a small town. At dawn Helen and the girls went go and get food, and to find out any news about Henry. Also to see if the bounty on Rocky, Pooky and Rain’s head had gone up. Sarah decided to see if she could buy a map so that they knew where to go. Once the girls had left, Pooky decided that she needed to find a place for the group to camp while they ate. Leaving Rocky and Rain alone,

“How are you doing Rain?” Rocky asked as they sat away from the trail

“In truth, I’m not at all well”

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked and she nodded.

“So much has happened in the past couple of weeks. I’ve lost my home, and I do not know if my mother lives or if she is alive. My country is in turmoil and is going to be under attack. We’re on the run and on the brink of recognition. I’m scared Rocky, and I don’t know what to do” she sighed as tears started crying, and Rocky hugged her

“You do not need to have fear. You have Pooky and I to protect you, and I promise you that we will save Edrait no matter what it takes. I also promise that I will care for you till my last breath” he smiled as he brushed away her tears, as Pooky returned.

“Did I miss anything?” she teased as she winked at her brother and he shook his head in disbelieve

“Did you find us a place to eat sister?” he asked and she nodded with a bright smile. A couple of hours later Helen and the girls returned, but they weren’t alone. A tall middle-aged fae with snow white hair, and black tips and roots, a member of the bird-folk. A group of fae warriors who could transform into hunting birds, like eagles and falcons. There had been many speculations that Rain's father came from the bird-folk. But he had disappeared shortly after her birth. So the rumors of her father were all they were.

“General Crini, what are you doing here?” she asked as he bowed

“I recognized this young flower from the wars. She saved my life after I received a fatal wound to the chest.” he teased as he motioned towards Helen, who in turn blushed. “Anyways I told her that I was looking for you, your majesty. So I can try to convince you to help lead a rebellion against the High Queen to free our people from her tyranny”

“Rain, this is our opportunity to save Edrait and the lands beyond” Pooky exclaimed

“I agree Pooky, but in case everyone hasn’t forgotten, we three are still wanted. Especially you and your brother dear friend”

“Not if I can have any say in it my lady” Crini announced

“And how can you clear our names?” Rocky asked

"I can say that we captured you three and that men executed you”

“And what about my mother? If she still lives, she’ll be distraught to hear that I am dead”

“You mean that you didn’t hear?” Crini asked, pity and sorrow filling his eyes, and Rain shook her head

“No I haven't. What is it Crini, is my mother still safe?” she pleaded

“I’m afraid that the queen, may the Gods keep her soul, is dead. The High Queen had her beheaded shortly after the palace was over taken. I’m so sorry my lady”

“No, thank you General. This news strengthens my resolve. We will lead the army into a battle to free Edrait so that my mother would not have died in vain” she said . So, they went to the army’s camp, and Rain made her statement, and rallied the army. But that night she mourned her mother in private, with the only witness being Rocky.

The next morning General Crini sent his letter to the High Queen stating that the small trio were dead. Then started training Rocky Pooky and the Princess in combat. While Helen taught Jane, Sarah and other women, including Rain and Pooky how to be nurses. It would be weeks, if not months till a full-on battle with the High Queen and her followers. When they weren't training Crini, Rain and Rocky recruited both soldiers and nurses. They were fortunate that the recruits agreed to keep their secret. The general also helped hone Rocky and Pooky’s powers so that they could use them in the upcoming war.