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

the bike path for all the humans to see him. He would let out a roar from deep within him. That should be enough to scare them and they would turn back. He laughed and said I wish I could see them telling the other humans of their encounter. I am sure one or two will get a picture with their little boxes they talk into. Vue could hear them close. He stepped out on the path. His fur was all raised like a dog’s when he is aggressive. The bikers could now see him. They stopped just as Vue thought they would. He let out a roar like no other. Ja’al and Bitty were nearby and ran to see which of the Tribe was in trouble. They arrived and stood on the opposite side of the bikers. The bikers turned and saw Ja’al and Bitty.  One of the Bikers was carrying a pistol. He turned and shot Vue and then turned and shot Ja’al. However, when Ja’al fell, she grabbed Bitty and fell on top of her to protect her. All the humans were screaming except the one with the pistol. They all pedaled as fast as they could to get away.  The man laughed and laid his bike down and walked up to Vue, a direct hit. “OK. Well, as I would do with any mortally wounded animal, I will put him out of his misery. Looks like you may need the same type of therapy as I gave Tas.” Vue opened his eyes and said just one word - “TRAVIS!”

“Yep,” and he pulled the trigger again. “Now, you will never speak again.” Travis put the gun away and got back on his bike and pedaled back the way he came instead of following the other bikers. He did not even bother to check to see if Ja’al was alive.

Ja’al jumped up and picked up Bitty. “Come on, we need to get back to Cleg.”

Bitty was crying. “Mommy, are you OK?”

“Yes, Bitty. His gun only grazed my leg... Hold on tighter than you ever have, I will be running as fast as I can.” Bitty watched as they weaved in and out of trees and bamboo. It took about 20 minutes of running at full speed. She arrived at the gathering circle and shelters. Exhausted, Ja’al fell collapsing in the clearing. Bitty was crying loudly. Cleg knew that cry and ran from the shelter to see Ja’al down and Bitty standing over her crying out. Cleg dropped to his knees and gently turned Ja’al over. Many of the tribe gathered around Ja’al. Aggie reached down and picked up Bitty to comfort her. Ja’al reached for Cleg's face. He grabbed her hand on his face. Gibberish between the two went on for a good half hour. Fal had already gone for Zonga. They arrived in the clearing about twenty minutes later. Zonga took one look at Ja’al and knew she was in trouble. He took a silver arrow and shot it into the air to bring Princess Celia to Ja’al.  Seconds later a brilliant flash of light and Princess Celia walked through the light. The Tribe cleared a path for the Princess to reach Cleg and Ja’al. The Princess put her hand on Cleg’s shoulder. She knelt beside him. The Princess stretched out her hand to take Ja’al’s other hand. She could feel Ja’al’s life force was critically low. She told Ja’al not to talk to save her strength. The Princess looked at Cleg with tears in her eyes. Cleg knew that all hope was lost. Ja’al would be lost to him forever. Both held her hand as her life slipped away. The entire tribe knew when her life ended. They could feel her life force leave. Aggie could not hold on to Bitty as she fought to get to her mother. She jumped out of Aggie’s arms and down onto her mother. She grabbed her by the neck, sobbing and crying out, “Mommy, Mommy! Don’t leave me! Mommy! Oh, Mommy, come back!” The Tribe began to wail loudly at their friend’s passing.

The tribe grieved over Ja’al.  It was around midnight and the moon was high in the sky. There were no clouds. The stars twinkled bright. The tribe encircled Ja’al. They all held hands. It was a gibberish sound, but the gibberish sounded like music. The sound got louder as Princess Celia touched the head of Ja’al. At that moment Ja’al’s body turned almost transparent. Soon it looked like waves rising to the sky. Ja’al entered the next dimension through an open star gate that appeared in the dark sky. The star gate sparkled brightly but in an organized swirling motion. Bitty held Cleg tightly, then let go and reached her hands to the sky, waving goodbye with one final, “I love you, Mommy.” Cleg hugged Bitty and put his hand toward the star gate and said, “Till we meet again, Ja’al.” Cleg held Bitty and asked the Tribe to sit down. Cleg wanted to explain what Ja’al told him before she died.

7

The Great Rescue

After Princess Celia listened intently at what Cleg explained, she stood and walked over to Cleg. She started with saying, “We must honor Ja’al by defeating this monstrous plan to gain gold from the Grissom Farm. As well as the surrounding farms. They are also targeting in the north under the Music Center and a deep vein of gold under the old Urbank farm. The alien, many of us know as Travis, deceived Bev, and many in the Cuyahoga Valley. It appears he himself is a shapeshifter from the alien race known as the Skrull. This race is known for the physical malleability and ability to shapeshift to any size, shape, and color at will, taking on the appearance of other beings and, yes, objects. They will do anything to obtain gold. Their atmosphere is failing, and they need the reflective nature of gold to keep radiation from entering the atmosphere and deflecting