Hide and Seek
Six young animal friends ventured beyond the castle walls, crossing through the second kingdom and navigating the dense underbrush. African ground squirrels scurried about their feet, adding a playful challenge to their journey. They skillfully avoided the lively rodents and continued on their path toward Rock Hill. Many years ago, Rock Hill had felt so far away when Zarda and Meeku traveled on all fours. But now, for the little ones—Penelope, Thyron, Theena, and Coral—it seemed as easy as a hop, skip, and a jump. Eager to try out a new game, the friends made a pact to race the rest of the way to the shelter of Rock Hill. As always, Coral felt a twinge of apprehension. They were embarking on a mysterious adventure together. Mires, looked over his shoulder at Thyron and Penelope.
"I've heard that this is where King Zarda gained his powers—that he can enter and leave this universe at will," he told them.
Penelope chuckled. "You're being silly. He can't leave the Savannah; he will always be here, watching over us," she said.
Thyron chuckled as well. "Absolutely! Uncle Zard is here to stay for good. He and my dad became friends when they were young. Dad loves to tell me about all their escapades. Like that one time when Uncle Zard and Meeku were pursued by a swarm of irate baboons. My dad ended up saving the day by distracting those goofy monkeys," Thyron said, his pride shining through.
"Oh, really? What did he do?" Faden asked, intrigued.
Thyron hesitated and fumbled with his words before responding. "He threw bananas at them. It's common knowledge that monkeys can't resist fruit," he finally answered.
"Everyone knows monkeys love bananas; you're strange," Mires chuckled.
All the young animals chuckled. Penelope and her friends exchanged amused glances. She couldn't help but laugh, realizing they shared the same thoughts about the brothers.
"What's so funny?" Mires asked.
"To be honest, we thought that of you and more." Replied penelope.
The brother's understood why they found it humorous. They turned their focus on the looming, monstrous boulders high above the six friends. They had made it. Inside they found a twisting maze of fun.
"Alright, everyone, let's stay hidden inside until everyone has been found. The last person to come out wins and gets to be the seeker. We can draw sticks to determine who will be the first," Faden stated.
He approached a dry bush and selected six branches, all of equal length except for one. Concealing them in his hands, he presented them to his friends for selection. Penelope was the first to choose, carefully extracting a medium-sized stick.
"Not it!" She said.
She felt a wave of relief wash over her. Seeking wasn't something she desired at all. Next up was Coral. Stepping forward to take her turn, she closed her eyes and silently hoped for a medium stick. As she reached out without looking, her fingers grazed the sticks, and she quickly pulled one out. Coral was delighted to discover that she had indeed picked a medium stick.
"What a relief," she said.
"I'm next!" shouted Thyron.
He extended his hand and grabbed a medium-sized branch. Although a bit disappointed that he wasn't the seeker, Thyron was still thrilled to make it a challenging quest for whoever would be the fortunate winner. Theena inhaled deeply and held her breath. She pulled from Faden's hand one of the last three left, feeling a wave of nerves at the thought of becoming the seeker for the first time. A sigh of relief escaped her when she saw that the branch wasn't the short one. Mires flashed a mischievous grin as he prepared for his turn to draw. He headed straight for it without hesitation.
"Perfect, exactly what I was hoping for. I'm the seeker," he said with a smile.
That left one final player, which meant Faden was joining the other five in their hiding places. Mires stood at the entrance and began counting to twenty before starting his search. The younger ones wandered about, feeling a bit directionless. Thyron had never been to Rock Hill and was unfamiliar with the area. Finding an ideal hiding spot proved challenging, but he managed to do so. As Thyron stumbled upon a gap at the base of the rocks, he realized he had discovered an excellent hiding spot. It was just spacious enough for him to squeeze into while remaining small enough for mires to overlook it completely. He had nearly missed it himself if not for a grasshopper that suddenly caught his eye. The insect leaped in front of him, heading straight down toward the entrance. Thyron made swift of his time and backed in, feet first. Inside the hole, it was nice and cool. The sandy dirt beneath his hands and knees felt soft. Once he was actually squeezed inside, the hole opened up where he could comfortably sit upright. The space was dark, except for the tiny amount of light spilling in. It made the mouth of the hole glow, an amber, red color. Thyron could hear mire's voice echoing between the rocks. He was already to number ten in his count-down. Pleased with his find, he sat quiet and calm, inside his hiding hole.
In contrast, Coral was a bundle of nerves, trembling all over. As she scanned her surroundings, she desperately searched for something to climb into. Coral discovered a sizable evergreen shrub that worked to her advantage. Its lush, dense foliage made it an ideal hiding spot, offering ample shade. She found it unusual to see anything thriving among the rocks. However, the open skylight above provided plenty of sunlight, allowing the plants to flourish naturally. Theena sprinted after Penelope. They had ventured the deepest into the space, searching everywhere for what they sought. Before long, a swift right turn led them to the exact spot where Zarda had received his wand. They came to a halt, gazing around the expansive room. Theena glanced upward and noticed a ledge that seamlessly merged with the rocky walls. It was camouflaged so effectively that Theena nearly missed it. Swiftly, she climbed up and pressed her body flat against the surface.
"Can you see me?" she asked.
Penelope was so preoccupied with finding a place for herself that she didn't notice Theena slipping away. The calf glanced around, startled and searching for her friend, but Theena was nowhere in sight..
"Wait. Where did you go? I can hear you, but I can't see you. Great job, Theena," Penelope said.
Time was slipping away, and she could hear Mire reaching sixteen on his count. She dashed forward, escaping the room and entering a long rock tunnel. As she emerged from its end, she found herself back in a twisting stone maze. Towering, jagged rocks rose from the ground, forming sharp spires. She quickly navigated her way over to three closely clustered rocks and concealed herself between them. They formed a barrier that shielded her from the seeker's view. It would be enough to keep him from spotting her; if he came in, he wouldn't know she was there. Though she wasn't entirely confident in her choice, it was the best option available to her. Faden had chosen to go left instead of right, as the girls did. He sped toward one of his favorite places—a room tucked away amidst the rocks. It was his preferred spot whenever he and Mires played with the eagle triplets. No one had discovered it yet, keeping him undefeated. Although it was a risky strategy to reach that point, it proved to be worthwhile. He first needed to scale a massive boulder that resembled a shoe, then make his way through a tight rock passage. The space was so constricted that it felt like his lungs were being squeezed. If he were to get stuck, he knew he would face a solitary demise. Once he squeezed through, he emerged into a chamber brimming with cacti and shrubs. Inside this safe haven, Faden would recline on a smooth stone that resembled a lawn chair, taking the time to rest and relax.
"Nineteen, twenty! Ready or not, here I come!" Mires shouted, channeling the instinctive lion warrior within him as he sought out his prey.
He had always been the smaller of the two Black mane brothers; Faden towered over him. Although Mires was born first, his life began with tragedy that stunted his growth. An illness had ravaged his immune system, leaving him vulnerable to infections. Their mother did her utmost to nurse him back to health, and at least he and Faden had survived. That was a blessing compared to the fate of their three sisters, who had not been as fortunate. They succumbed to the same illness, one by one. Fortunately for Faden, he was the youngest of the litter and took it in stride. From the beginning, his resilience was impressive. With their sleek black fur and striking green eyes, he and his siblings already had an air of mystery. Combined with the miracle of survival, they made for a truly extraordinary set of traits. This might have been another reason the others chose to steer clear of them. Their game was already underway. Mires navigated through the maze in search of his hiding companions.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, the sound of grit and sand mixed under his foot pad. Thyron could hear mires moving closer towards him. He decided to back up deeper into the hole, until he was covered completely by the dark shadow. As he edged backward, Thyron began to slip down a slick surface. He instinctively reached for the ground, but it was too late. His body glided down a polished stone slope, descending further into the shadows. In panic, Thyron called out for his sister.
Meanwhile, Theena lay motionless on the flat ledge, a deep sense of unease stirring within her. She felt that something was amiss, something ominous, but she didn't dare to move. Thyron found himself in a spacious cavern beneath Rock Hill. As he wiped away his tears, he glimpsed the faint glow of what appeared to be a vibrant jungle surrounding him. Light streamed through the fissures in the ceiling of the earth, illuminating small areas where he could make out distinct shapes. In the beams of sunlight, he spotted lush green leaves and exotic tropical plants that were foreign to him. A refreshing breeze brushed against his arms, carrying the fragrance of sweet flowers that filled the air. He remained motionless, apprehensive about what else might be lurking in the shadows with him. As Thyron's heart raced, he became aware of what seemed to be rushing water nearby. A loud, heavy splatter echoed as cold, fresh water cascaded into a crevice from above. It must have come from the Nile or a nearby watering hole, but he couldn't fathom how. All he knew was that it was happening. Alone, frightened, chilled to the bone, and already feeling the pangs of hunger, Thyron realized he was in for a long, daunting night.