Forest Guardians Chronicles: A Matter of Humanity Beth Roose (good books for high schoolers TXT) 📖

to lay as still as a statue and keep as quiet as a mouse. Bitty did as she was told. After all, she trusted Freda to protect her. Freda listened intently for the Queen’s distinct buzzing sound. It was not hard to miss. It pierced the ears and was worse than a nagging fly around a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. The heron was unable to hear it, however, she remained very still in fear of drawing attention to herself and blowing Bitty’s cover. Five minutes passed, then ten minutes passed, then fifteen minutes, and still, the heron could not hear a buzzing sound through the dense forest trees. Freda decided it was safe to move. She unglued her stick-like limbs from her defensive stance and stood up, looking and listening closely for any buzzing sounds. Bitty stood up, brushing out the leaves and twigs that took shelter in her beautiful mane while laying on the forest floor, and glanced carefully down the riverbank, through the staggered trees, and up in the sky for a sign of the evil queen. She saw nothing. Before determining the coast was clear, Bitty gave an infrasound “whoop!” and listened to the vibrations echo off the sturdy wooden trunks of the trees around. She was listening for a sound, a response, a sign, and sure enough, she heard two soft infrasound “whoops!” respond back to her. Bitty tugged on Freda’s wing, “We have to run up the riverbank now and find shelter. We will go into the tall grass and stay low and very still.” Freda asked if Cleg was on his way. Bitty shook her head up and down in response. Yes, Cleg was on his way and hopefully he would arrive safely, but Bitty could not worry about that now. Her mission was to get Freda and herself to safety in the high grass. Bitty took off running up the riverbank, splashing herself here and there on her journey, finally reaching her destination of shelter, quickly and unnoticed. She fell to her knees in relief and then sat down, criss crossing her legs and making herself comfortable. Bitty had a funny feeling that she was going to be in this stance for quite some time. Well, at least until the danger subsided. Freda landed next to Bitty and laid her head down in Bitty’s lap. The pair watched the sky and listened intently as they waited for Cleg and the clan. Both of them hoped and prayed they arrived soon. Where could they be? Bitty did not let her mind drift very far, for all she could produce were haunting thoughts. So instead, she focused on the tall grass brushing around her, the glow of the warm sun on her face, and the serene feeling of being connected and at one with the nature around her.

It was dusk by the time Bitty and Freda heard a soft whoop come from the grass area. The rustling of the grass brought the girls face to face with a large, hairy, and beastly looking creature. “Cleg!” Freda exclaimed, as the Chief of the Bigfoot (head leader of the Hairy Tribe) came strolling through the tall grass.

“Papa!” Bitty squealed, jumping up and down and then into Cleg’s outstretched arms. The pair embraced in a heartfelt hug while relief visibly caressed both of their shoulders. Suddenly, Cleg plopped Bitty back to the ground and turned towards the woods, taking off in a sprint through the tall grass. Bitty, confused as to why her father took off so quickly without explanation, began to run full speed into the tall grass. Panting for air, Bitty exclaimed “Freda, follow me! Come with us!” Instantly, Freda took flight and flew overhead, expanding her beautiful blue and grey feathered wings across the sun-filled sky. Both Bitty and Freda reached the treeline at the same time, coming face to face with a large clan of the famous Cuyahoga Valley National Park Sasquatch clan. Standing twelve feet tall with hands as large as tennis rackets and feet the size of small cars, the Sasquatch people of the CVNP were usually peaceful creatures, unless provoked otherwise. The clan was huddled together, obviously talking strategy on how to defeat the Hornet Queen, which was not an usual thing for the group of hairy beasts to discuss, but then she noticed the Pukwudgie, the chief of the Sasquatch, step into the circle. Bitty knew this was serious. The Pukwudgie only speaks if something has gone catastrophically wrong. Cleg, the Pukwudgie, stopped in the middle of the clearing and eyed everyone before making his statement. At this, Bitty ran to her mother and grabbed onto her leg, fearful of what was to come next.

Cleg saw the light from above and knew instantly that the arrival of Princess Celia was near. A brilliant orange light burst, as the surrounding Hairy Tribe members shielded their eyes. Cleg’s eyes adjusted rather quickly and he reached his abnormally large hand out to greet Princess Celia’s. She moved forward in a graceful, yet determined manner and took Cleg’s hand, both turning toward each other, giving each other the gift of light translation, a communication device, similar to a microphone, that allowed all creatures from all walks of life to understand each other. The pair strolled around the circle, nodding and greeting everyone present. Finally, when the princess arrived to Bitty and her mother, Bitty asked for the light translator, exclaiming “Me, too! Me, too! Princess, I want to try the light translation!” The Princess laughed, a warm and inviting laugh, and knelt down to give Bitty her precious light translation device. As she did, Bitty admired the apparatus and gave the Princess a bear hug. Princess Celia smiled kindly at Bitty and returned to the middle of the circle, passing the light translator off to Cleg, Chief of the Sasquatch. The chief began to speak in a firm and deep tone. “I have brought you all here today to discuss