The Secrets of Elderville

Arriving to the lowest branch, Jessa observes her surroundings. Searching for anyone who might notice what her intentions are. Seeing that no one, not even Nail, was around, she breathed a sigh of relief and began her climb down. Grabbing hold of the worn out, dirty string that had always hung there, she tugs on it to make sure it will hold her. Deeming it strong enough, she wraps her arms around the string and plants her feet firmly against the trunk of the tree.

As Jessa starts to slowly lower herself towards the ground, she stops, wondering if she should disobey her mother once again. Yet her curiosity overpowers her, with a shrug, she continues down to the ground below. Jessa has always been curious, ever since she could walk. Her mother use to say, “Oh no, an adventurer, just like that Aunt Opal.” The only thing Jessa knew of her aunt were the tales of her silver hair and violet eyes. Jessa urged her mother to tell her more of this mysterious aunt, but she refused. Only revealing that she put shame on the royal family’s name. The Underways had ruled over the village of Elderville ever since the creation of it.

But Jessa was determined to know more and sought out more information from the old Queen, Grandmother Greta. Old Queen Greta was nothing like her daughter. She let her white, snowy hair flow down and grace the floor with its magnificent length. It wrapped around the old rocking chair she had sat upon, throughout her hair were brightly colored flowers put there by a younger Theo and Rose who loved to decorate their grandmother’s hair. Greta adored all her children and grandchildren, claiming to never have favorites but Jessa knew she was most favored by her grandmother.

When Jessa arrived at her grandmother’s hollow, she found her sitting in that old rocking chair by the little window, staring out at the big world. You would always know where grandmother was because she never left her spot by the window. Sometimes she would play her wooden flute on a quiet morning. Noticing her granddaughter in the entry way, Greta motioned her forward, smiling. “Come my dear Jessa, what brings you here today?” Jessa and Greta embrace each other in a loving hug. Jessa then kneels in front of her grandmother resting her head in her lap.

“Grandmother, I have questions about my aunt Opal. How did she disgrace the royal name? Where is she? Why won’t mother talk about her?” Jessa couldn’t help but let slip every single question she could think of that she needed answered, as if a big bag of acorns were falling out of her mouth. Greta laid her hand on Jessa’s head and began to stroke her hair. “Calm down young one, give me time to answer the first question.” Greta took a sharp breath in and exhaled slowly.

“Well, I suppose it’s time you learn about her. The elders know your mother won’t tell you.” The elders were a part of the royal court back at the beginning of Elderville. They would serve out punishments to wanderers that lost their way and help put them back on the right path. “Opal and Isobel were nothing alike. Isobel stayed in the royal family’s hollow most of the time studying her flying lessons and enchantment books while Opal did just about anything else. She claimed she did not need to study, that her body just knew what to do. Opal graduated top best in her flying lessons. Isobel was third best but was second best in her enchantment lessons. Opal was to be next in line on the throne, but she did not desire to be Queen. She wanted to explore the world and discover things no one had heard of. Isobel thought it ridiculous, but I thought otherwise,” Greta paused, glancing out the window. Jessa looked up, “Grandmother?” Focusing back on her granddaughter, Greta continued.

“Opal planned an escape. The elders were going to force her to marry an awful older wanderer named Elliot, who had a terrible temper and would make for an unruly king. We waited until the moon was high in the sky. I caused a distraction by sending the royal guards to the top of the tree, claiming a wasp had been sighted there. Opal then flew straight out of our hollow carrying only her satchel and her courage. No one has seen Opal ever since that night. I pray to the elders every day that she be safe out there.” Jessa felt her grandmother’s body start to tremble. She looks up to see tears streaming down Greta’s face, “oh grandmother it’s alright. I’m sure aunt Opal’s fine, and will be back some day, I promise.” Jessa hugged her grandmother tightly, hoping what she promised was true, for she too prayed that her aunt was safe.

Finally touching the soft ground, Jessa took in the view of the tall green grass and breathed in the world around her. She takes a quick look above at the elder tree, then looks at the trail ahead of her. Jessa could tell by the beaten down pathway in front of her that she was not the only one who had broken the Elderville rules. And how could anyone not be eager to know what else lingers beyond the village? Or who? Already familiar with most of the trail, Jessa wanted to travel further today. She had been sneaking away from the elder tree for almost a year now. Ever since Grandmother Greta’s death. Grandmother Greta had made Jessa promise her that she would find Opal and bring her home, for she feared for the elder tree and the village’s future, she whispered “Please dear Jessa, I only ask one thing before I go,” Jessa held her grandmother’s hand tightly, “I’ll do anything you ask of me,” Jessa whispered back, leaning closer to Greta’s face, Greta whispered, “Bring my Opal home.” It was the last sentence she uttered before fading away. When a Wanderer dies, we do not leave our bodies, we fade out of existence. The only thing left of us are the memories that live on inside the ones who remember our story.

After telling Theo and Rose of her mission to find Aunt Opal, she swore them to secrecy. They understood how important it was to Jessa to keep Grandmother Greta’s promise. Theo and Rose not only wanted to keep their sister’s secret, but they also yearned for the return of their aunt, only ever hearing about her through Jessa.

After an hour of walking, Jessa arrives at the rotting sign that read, ‘Go No Further’, Jessa gulped and continued. Once past the sign, the furthest she’s been from the elder tree, she leaps up and down in an excited burst of emotion. Jessa starts to clap her hands quickly while squealing little sounds of joy. Never having felt this kind of newfound adrenaline before. Soon she calms herself, turning her back on the path behind her and moving further down the trail. Jessa passes by several insects that have not been seen by Wanderers in years. If they only knew that all they need do is venture down to the ground.

The only insects Jessa had met so far were worms, lady bugs and ants. Fascinated by the new and undiscovered, she hopes to meet different creatures this trip through the grass. Not a moment after, her wish comes true. At first Jessa heard it, a cluster of clicking sounds, as if several tiny feet were approaching. Could it be a group of insects? Unable to fully process what is headed her way, it appears. Face to antenna, Jessa stares at this black as night insect. She was not sure if it was friendly or not but knew to stand as still as a tree trunk. The only thing the insect did was smell her face with its long antenna. Then in the blink of an eye the insect dipped its head down to the ground and pushed its bottom towards the sky. Jessa was unsure what to do. Should she flee? Or wait and see what this strange bug was doing? Abruptly a horrifying smell started to attack its way into her nose. Understanding now that this stink was protruding from the bug, she rushes to cover her nose and makes a run for it through the tall grass.

After determining she was a safe enough distance away, Jessa notices a nice rock to rest upon. I’ve done a great deal of running. I don’t think I’ve ever run as much as this in my life, thought Jessa. Taking a drink of water from her flask made of leaves from the elder tree, she felt her energy restoring. Beginning to rise from the rock, Jessa felt it start to move. Startled by the moving rock, she sprang into the air, flying above it. Looking down, she discovers she was not sitting on a rock but another creature! It’s rock like body has a design carved into it, in a spiral like shape. And popping out from underneath it a head with oddly long antenna. Sensing the bug is of no danger to her, Jessa slowly floats back down. Standing in front of it, she closely inspects its face. Realizing the antenna is not antenna at all but eyes! Jessa smiles at the strange long-eyed thing, thinking how amazing it is that there are things like this that exist. Opening her small brown satchel that hangs across her body, she pulls from it a book and quill. Opening the book, she reviews her past sketches of critters she’s met. She draws every new discovery she encounters and then once back at the tree, goes to the record hollow, where all the wanderer experiences are written down. There are different sections, one of those sections being dedicated to individual bug life. Being gifted this information from past adventurers, Jessa can match up her sketches to the sketches in the books and discover their true names. Like the first ever insect she met on the ground, the color of blood red with little black dots, is called a ladybug. Beautiful bugs, but Jessa will never understand why they are called ladybugs. They look nothing like a lady wanderer, but on the other hand wanderer ladies do not look like ladybugs so maybe, ladybugs are confused with our appearance too?

Finishing her sketches of the stinky big bug and long swirly rock creature, Jessa gathers her book and quill and returns it to her satchel. Stretching out her legs and wings, she looks up into the sky. A dark red-orange color starts to form, she stares at it in wonder. Feeling at peace, but the peace was interrupted as Jessa quickly realizes how late it is. She missed second gathering and is late for third. No doubt Queen Isobel is furious, and Jessa will be watched by the royal guard forever. Rushing through the tall grass, she realizes she does not recognize her surroundings, for the grass was too high for her to see over and her wings were still too small to lift her and fly home. How far had she run from the frightening bug? Not finding the beaten down path anywhere, panic sets in. She could feel her chest tightening and her breaths becoming quick and short. The sky becoming darker, night was not far away, and Jessa knew if she did not make it back to the village before darkness fell, she would not survive the night. For there are creatures that crawl through the night, bigger than the insects she’s familiar with. Jessa finally finds a big rock to climb upon, once at the top she catches sight of the elder tree on the horizon. But sizing up the distance between Jessa and her home, she knew it will take forever to walk back before nighttime. Glancing back at her small, miniscule wings as they shined a bright yellow in the light from the sunset, she had decided. Finding the biggest rock she could, Jessa goes to the very top. Extending out her wings she rockets herself into the air, flying for only a minute, but she tires quickly, landing on her butt. “STUPID WINGS!” She dusts the dirt from her dress and tries again. This time she sprints off the rock, pushing her feet as hard as she can against the rock. Eyes shut tight, focusing on fluttering her wings as fast as she could, Jessa did not realize for several seconds that her body stay still in the air. Finally opening her eyes, looks down at the ground below her. Smiling at her victory, she turned her attention back towards the village. The light barely visible in the sky now, Jessa had to face her next challenge. Flying straight for the elder tree without her wings tiring. Since she has not had any experience flying for long periods of time, her wings are not strong enough to hold the weight of her body for too long. Taking a deep breath, she starts for the tree. Giving her all, she could see the image of the elder tree grow larger as she inches closer towards it. But already feeling her wings grow more tired by the second, she slowly descends. As she thumps back down on the ground, she sees that she has landed in front of the old rotting sign. Jessa glances up at the sky, just as the last remaining rays of light vanish behind the mountains. Hanging her head in defeat, she drops to her knees and lets out a frustrated sigh. “Mother is going to kill me,” she bursts out in a sudden fit of nervous laughter. Pacing from right to left, Jessa was unsure what her next move should be. If she walks straight towards the tree, she may make it back before lights out. If she stays put and wait out the night, she may end up being food for something else.

While deep in thought, Jessa almost didn’t notice the enormous figure flying quickly towards her. In one swoop the creature lifted Jessa high up into the night sky, the image of her village becoming smaller the further it carried her away. Looking up trying to see what has captured her, all she could make out were huge wings, sharp claws that were gripping her arms tightly, a small beak and its head shaped as if it had two horns growing out of its head. Searching back through her memories, Jessa remembers her mother warning her and her siblings of the many dangerous animals that hunt wanderers. One of them being the Great Horned Owls, who’ve hunted wanderer’s kind long before the wasps. Jessa was positive now that she was in, (as grandmother used to put it whenever she was in trouble), deep shit.

End of Chapter Two.