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

2

A Perplexing Situation

Zeus and Princess Celia stood in the clearing speaking with Cleg for over an hour. Zonga waited patiently behind the cluster of paw paw bushes, in hopes that he could catch pieces of the private conversation. He strained his hairy neck and his furry ears to hear as much as he could. Some of it was just mumbling, but some of it was distinguishable. Craning his neck further and further in hopes to find out every piece of information, Zonga suddenly found himself somersaulting out of the bushes, revealing his previously undercovered presence. Cleg roared in anger as Princess Celia and Zeus laughed, greeting the embarrassed Zonga with warmth.  Princess Celia walked over to Zonga and extended her hand to help him up. He gave her a sheepish smile and a subtle nod of thanks, embarrassed by his recent performance.

“Zonga,” the princess said, “we just finished chatting when you decided to show off your gymnastic skills. I recommend you practice a little more on your forward roll.” Chuckling, she pulled gently on his hand to help him up. Zonga had a keen sense of humor and once he got up, he jumped as high as he could, throwing both of his hands in the air, exclaiming, “It is a 10!”

Princess Celia stood there shaking her head with amused disapproval, “Excellent, Zonga, you look ready for the Olympics. I am certain that you will win a gold medal in the tumbling event!” They embraced each other tightly and belly laughed as they walked back to the center of the clearing where Cleg, Zeus, and the newly arrived Poseidon were continuing their conversation.

“Dad, Uncle,” Princess Celia said nodding to the Titan gods, “this is Zonga, head of the Pukwudgie Tribe.” She gave a blushing smile, extending her hand, gesturing to her friend. “It was his superior archery skills that brought down the Hornet Queen and her drones,” said the Princess. Zonga peered down towards the ground, shuffling his feet nervously.

“Zonga,” Zeus said sternly, “you are a mighty warrior much like my dear brother Poseidon.” The Titan gods made eye contact with each other.

“Thank you,” Zonga said, looking up with eyes of pride, “it was the least I could do for my forest people.” A pause of silence pulsed through the meadow and the night sky. Then suddenly, with a flash and a pop, a burst of brilliant light appeared, engulfing the Princess and the Titans, transporting them back to their home.

“Well,” said Cleg, “I suppose we should sit down and discuss the plan. What a day it has been.” The pair strolled to the nearest log and remained there for a very long time, with Cleg reenacting the day’s events. Zonga sat, starry-eyed, soaking in every piece of information he could get.

***

Bitty was playing tag with Freda on the riverbank of the Cuyahoga. As Bitty approached Brandywine Falls, she knew that she was outside her boundaries set by her father, Cleg. Freda swooped in and landed beside Bitty, “We must go back, Bitty. You know Cleg told you to stay within the Ledge’s boundaries.”

Looking defeated, Bitty replied to the great blue heron, “I know, Miss Freda, but I sure do love to watch the water spilling over all the rocks and crashing at the bottom of the waterfall.”

The heron gave the little hairy girl a warning look, “Bitty, this is a place that humans come to frequently, so we must be careful not to be seen. You should stay behind the trees or climb up to the very top.”

The little hairy girl pondered the heron’s advice. With an energetic jump and excited clapping of her hands, Bitty took off towards the nearest climbing tree. “Okay, race you to the top!” she exclaimed. Freda flapped her big blue wings, which made Bitty’s hair fly every-which-way. As they raced to the nearest tree, Bitty jumped up on the first limb and quickly climbed to the top where Freda was waiting for her.

“Ha!” Freda taunted, “I beat you to the top!” The pair joined in a fit of innocent laughter. They hung out in the tree for quite a while, watching the waterfall cascade over the rocks. It was peaceful there, which was why the two friends loved to visit the waterfalls so often. After a bit, Bitty eagerly pointed across the way. In the distance, between thick layers of trees, she could see Vue, the tribe huntsman, with a human woman. Freda and Bitty both turned to look at each other, not uttering a word. They looked surprised and puzzled and both stayed quiet as they watched the unique interaction. They watched as Vue crossed the rocky river and climbed a very steep hill that was filled with briars. His hairy, muscular body moved with flawless agility through the greenery. The pair turned their sights back to the woman, but she had already disappeared into the forest. Freda told Bitty to stay put in the tree while she circled the surrounding area a few times, making certain that the coast was clear. The heron took off, straight up in the air, with her powerful blue wings. Each flap of her wings almost blew Bitty from out of the tree. Bitty watched Freda’s flight path closely. The first circle was from the Ledges to Buttermilk Falls, circling all the way back to Brandywine Falls. Her second pass was from the ski run to the deep quarry and over to Brandywine Falls. Bitty noticed that Freda took another pass around that same route and then circled around the Falls, finally landing on the tree top next to Bitty. The coast was clear and it was time for the two of them to get back home. Freda watched Bitty slide down the tree with such expertise and once she could see Bitty running for the steep hill, she took off from the treetop, soaring overhead, keeping a watchful eye on the little hairy girl. She could see and hear Bitty laughing as she ran