The Last Tree

Chapter eleven

Brother squid was flying through the sky at a decent speed when it happened. The three of them fell through the sky crashing into the sand as all the stones screamed. Even the sister trees’ and brother squid’s. Everything felt wrong as Adam’s sliver flickered. The sky became as red as blood before fading back to blue. And the earth shook until the sliver stabilized once again. Brother squid could feel Adam’s pain and horror. And he knew he would have to leave immediately to him. He could no longer take the horse or Emily. He had to be there now for Adam. “-ther squid! Brother squid!” Emily’s shadow came over brother squid until her face over took his view of the sky as it became blue once more. “What is happening?” Emily shook him as the horse’s face nuzzled his cheek. But brother squid was in shock for a moment longer.

“Emily,” brother squid breathed, “I’m fine. Sorry for dropping you both, are you guys okay?”

“We’re fine brother squid,” she chuckles wetly as she slumps onto him. “Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“Something happened with Adam and the stones. I need to go to him.”

“Can you just recover first? Your gills are bleeding and your skin has dried out. Take us to a town and soak and then we can go.”

“Emily, he needs me. Adam is in so much pain. I can feel his insides burn from the intense magic that just happened. I can no longer be sneaky. And I can’t take you with me.” Brother squid floats and he notices he’s a squid again. And his skin was cracking from how dry it was. “But you are right. I need to recover first. We will go to the next town. We are about five miles out. I’ll be in my bag of salt water.” Emily has never known that any living being as big as he is could fit into a water pouch so small, of course it is bigger than any other but how did he fit through the spout. She screwed it closed behind him and got back on the horse. Urging it towards the town. I took many hours for her to reach it, she was exhausted and booked a room and took the bags to it she debated if she wanted to dump the water into the tub. He lost half of it when he went into the pouch. ‘Poor it into the tub and add more of your fresh water.’ Brother squid commanded as the lid began to unscrew. Emily hurriedly poured out the water, it came out slimy as he plopped into the tub. She turned on the faucet and fresh water poured out. She could see as the water mixed and a think layer of slim came off brother squid that was mixed with blood and dirt. His skin was healing rapidly, and brother squid stewed in his thoughts. ‘You two will stay here as I go get Adam and the stones. I will feel better knowing you two will have food and water.’

“But brother squid I have to get my father and brother out of there too.” Brother squid changed back into his human form.

“I will get them too, I’m sure Adam know what they look like.”

“No, I am going wether I have to go by myself or not. We’re not that far, me and Roscoe will travel there by ourselves. This is the last town until we get to where the emperor is.”

“Emily, please!” Brother squid stands suddenly and sloshes water all over the bathroom floor. “Adam isn’t replying to me and all I can feel is his pain. I need to know you and Roscoe will be safe. I can get there much faster if I don’t take you two with me!”

“No! You don’t have to take us because we’ll go by ourselves!” She screams as throws the pouch as him. “And I only rented this room for the night.”

“Fine! But the two of you will be uncomfortable with the speeds which I’m going. Do not complain later.” He stalked out of the room and down the stairs and straight out the door. Emily grabbed everything and rushed after him.