Chapter 2-- 942 words
Two sets of footprints framed the narrow stretch of sandy beach, close to the ocean. They revealed that there were two wanderers out on the beach who were sorely lacking in shoes.
It seemed like they had been waking for miles, following the wall of sheer cliffs. Every now and then Shep would poke his cane at something around him, or mutter to his "sheep." The pink-orange sun was drenching the rocks and clouds in its rich hue. "Just how far is this dinner and bed?" Jay asked.
Shep gazed out at this reflected color for a moment before saying, "Oh it'll be along soon. Keep an eye open for a crooked tree by a crooked path. Then we'll climb these cliffs."
They walked along in silence as the sun sank. After a while, Jay noticed tiny cracks scratching the horizon. As they drew nearer, Jay saw it was a tree that's branches all faced toward the cliff. When they got even closer, Jay could see that the bark was messy and knotted, and all seemed to be pushed toward the back of the tree as well.
"The wind from out over the sea has pushed those branches over many season toward the cliff. The wind is so persistent, that the tree grew that way," Shep mused. He stopped at the tree and patted its trunk. A few birds that had been roosting at the tip tops of the tree fluttered away. Jay realized that he could see right through their red-tinted wings, like a dragon fly. They warbled a happy tune as they flew off into the brilliant painting that was the sky. As they turned to begin their ascent up the sheer rocky path, Jay asked a question that had been bothering him since he had set foot on Trevon.
"Um Shep? Is this ... Earth? I feel like this is an entirely different world from Earth. I didn't recognize those birds, and you're... rather odd as well." Crazy, He thought, but didn't say.
"Earth you say? Well, this is earth," he gestured all around him, "if you mean the dirt. If you're talking about a world called 'Earth' though, I've never heard of such a place."
"Oh, then what do you call this planet?"
"Planet?" Shep helped Jay over a particularly sharp outcropping.
"Yeah, y'know, like Mars?" Jay gestured at the sky.
"Mars? You mean the god of war?"
"Er, no. Never mind, it doesn't matter." Jay kicked a rock up the hill. The darkness was becoming thicker by the minute and Jay was having a hard time seeing. He was thankful that the path was smoothing out.
Jay had been trying to run away from his home, but he didn't mean to escape from his planet too. He thought of his mother and a tiny twinge of guilt pierced his throat. Then he thought of Jack Bolson, and the rest of the track team. He thought of his poor grades that were slipping despite being forced into a "homework help" program. He thought of the friends that had abandoned him when they had grown "too cool" for him, and of his brother's "lessons" in the backyard. Something tightened inside of him and the trudged onward up the hill.
Shep and Jay crested the top of the hill, and a small village came into view.
It was dark, however, and all he could see was dark shapes. Shep tapped the ground with his shepherd's cane and stomped off in the direction of one of the closer buildings. As they grew nearer, Jay could smell something delicious. Shep whistled a strange tune before motioning Jay to go inside.
Within the the dark building (that was much lighter on the inside), shiny wooden tables stood, displaying the meals of those who were occupying them. Jay saw a mounted animal that he didn't recognize hanging above the roaring fireplace. Shep led Jay to a table where a young woman pushed her food around her plate. When Shep sat down, she looked up from her dish and smiled.
"Ato! Great to see you back again! And in one piece too!" She glanced at Jay and lowered her voice, "did you find any?"
"Alas, I did not. It was too pleasant a place. But you might say I came close; I picked up Jay here." Shep gestured to Jay. "He was just lying on the beach. Much easier to find than one of those pesky sheep."
"Hey Jay," the girl cracked a grin and stuck out her hand, "I'm Fleta."
"Nice to meet you," Jay responded. Fleta looked about his age. She had long dark hair, cheerful eyes, and a mischievous smile. She looked athletic, although Jay could tell she was rather short. Shep took a seat across from her, and Jay sat next to him. Shep called across the room for a server, and one came scurrying over.
"Y-yes sir?" the small man stuttered.
"Get me two fruitwashes, any flavor you have. And make it quick! This boy is about to pass out!"
"Right away sir." The man backed away toward the kitchen.
The lighting was dim in the inn-- candles don't shed much light-- but Jay could see that the room was full of men and women, eating, drinking, and going about their buisness. The server brought back two dark blue drinks in large glasses. Fleta already had a blood-red drink next to her, but it looked untouched. Shep took a big gulp of the fruitwash, then motioned Jay to do the same. Jay took a small sip. the liquid was thick and cool, tasting slightly of peaches, slightly of peas, and mostly of something he couldn't name. It was delicious, and filling.
Shep and Fleta began a hushed conversation that Jay could only hear snippets of.
"North... islands too hot... but... if the sheep... heir... the capitol won't..." The bottom of the fruitwash was darker and crunched between his teeth. Jay watched the two converse. They made quite the pair. They weren't the twosome he would see out on just any street. Shep was mostly bald, except for his beard which was long and impressive. He looked around sixy years of age, and he wore so many woolen blankets, it was almost comical. Jay noticed how young his eyes looked. Their whites were milky, and their blues sparked. Fleta looked comfortable around him, as if they had been friends for a long time.
Jay was tired, lulled by the hushed conversation and the warm fire. He was exhausted from the day's event. His eyes were drooping as Shep pulled him upstairs to a small room. Jay lay under warm sheets, wrapped in the woolen blanket that Shep had given him, and fell fast asleep.
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