I've never been sure why, perhaps it is the small percentage of Indian blood in me, but I have always loved the outdoors, particularly the woods. I live in the central part of Indiana, which has its share of woodland. There is a smal area of woodland behind my house and I will often go there whenever I feel the call in my blood and my mind and whenever I can get away from my parents and my chores. The woods are owned by the railroad and so it is illegal to go into the woods. Thus I have learned to be quiet while I am there for fear of someone finding me. But luck has always been with me: only once did I ever see anyone back there.
I have always been rather bold and brash. There was a day when I had skipped school to walk in the woods. I was wandering through some ruins, which had been blackened by fire at one time-there was plenty of ash around. I have concluded that these ruins were once a railroad depot were perhaps people had once waited for their train or animals were loaded onto the waiting trains.
But, as I marveled at the beauty of the natural surrounding around me, something made me turn around, startled. I saw an extremely ugly face with a very malicious grin staring at me! I became very frightened and bolted. Through trees, bushs, and briars I ran so fast, breathing hard, and did not stop until I had reached home and was safely inside. I did not come out for the rest of the day, so frightened was I.
Well, that was two months ago. I have decided to overcome my fear, and I am here again in the woods.l My parents cannot understand why i love these woods so much. I, their wild, temperamental daughter, who cannot be tamed. "Brittany Walker," they will say, "you must learn to control your tempre, and teach yourself some discipline," whenever I get into trouble. Brown-haired and green-eyed, I am often called odd, having been born blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Ah, but that was in Texas! I know a young 12-year-old girl does not know how to survive in the woods or defend herself against enemies, but I do not care. The green trees here in the spring call me, and the flowers are very beautiful.
Two hours are gone. It is time to return home. I am in a small grove of bushes reading a favorite book. But as I get up, there is a slight feeling of disorientation. The disorientation is so great, it knocks me down. But as I get up, I notice this is not the grove. My small familiar woods are gone! I run. I run on and on. The woods go on forever. This is not woods, at least not as I know them. This is a forest! What has happened? "Mom, Dad, where are you?" I shout. "I can't do this alone! I can't take care of myself and I need you! Where are you?"
ReplyDeleteI realize I have never been taught how to survive in the wild. There was never any need. Frightened and lonely, I am crying. The woods are no longer friendly and companionable, they are huge and frightening.
There! A group of bushes. I crawl into them and cry until I can cry no more. Then I look closely at my huding place. The ground where I am sitting is covered with moss, but there are plants I cannot recognize. This moss is soft and I am extremely tired, so I try to go to sleep and succeed finally. But it seems no sooner do I go to sleep than I am awakened by a woman who seems very strange yet somehow familiar to me. This is very odd. "Are you hurt?" she asks me.
"No, I'm not hurt, just very frightened," I reply.
"Your outfit seems very strange. Why are you so frightened?" Are you from this Third Earth?"
Third Earth? Oh, no! How did I manage to get here? I do not know this woman, yet I feel I can trust her. Still she is a stranger. I cannot call her name to mind, yet I feel I know her somehow. "Who are you?" I ask.
"My name is Cheetara," she replies.
Cheetara of the Thundercats. Of course she would seem familiar to me. There is a show called the Thundercats that I like to watch. "Why are you so frightened?" she asks again. "I've never seen you around here before, but, except for the clothes, you look like you might be one of the Warrior Maidens."
ReplyDeleteWarrior Maidens? What would make her compare me to the Warrior Maidens? Oh, of course. The fact that I am human and female would make me look like a Warrior Maiden. But, although I am flattered by the compliment, I say I am not a Warrior Maiden.
"Oh, Lord! I wish I knew how I got here! Now that I know where I am, I really do have a reason to be scared! Cheetara, you won't believe what I've just been through! Probably think I made it up." I began to cry again.
"Why would I think that? Please stop crying and tell me what has happened to you. I'm sure I can help you. My friends the Thundercats might be able to help you as well."
"I know who and what you are, and it doesn't help at all! I just don't know how I got here. All I did was go for a walk in the woods behind my house and I find myself here!" I cry out.
"What do you mean?" she asks, visibly alarmed.
This isn't going to do, Walker! I think to myself as I look away for a moment to regain my composure. Finally, I look at her. "I come from this world, but not Third Earth. I mean, I come from the twentieth century of First Earth! My name is Brittany Walker, and now I know I am totally alone, perhaps forever."
She looked away, as if she couldn't bleieve what she had just heard. "Come with me," she said after a moment, and got up and walked away. Surprised, I followed her.
We walked on for two hours in silence through the forest. I knew it was getting late, because the light was beginning to fade. Then she stopped beside a stream and sat down in the grass. She motioned for me to do the same. She said, "earlier you mentioned you already knew of me. Since you come from the past, then how is it you already know of me and the other Thundercats? I assume you know of the, too, since you know of me."
ReplyDeleteI looked at her, startled to realize that the inhabitants of Third Earth, including the Thundercats and now myself, were in my world's distant future. I, too, wondered how it was possible that my people would know of the Thundercats and Third Earth. "I'm not exactly sure how my people came to know of the Thundercats and Third Earth, but I will tell you what I do know of the Thundercats. A couple of years ago, in my own time, a series of shows on the Thundercats was sarted. Now, I have to admit, I am an avid fan of the Thundercats. I watched the show almost religiously, following the adventures closely, every day. For having never met the Thundercats, I know quite a bit about you. But I also have to admit I nearly forgot about the show almost as it started, merely out of boredom. You see, the only show that was shown three or four times was the third or fourth episode, which told about when the Thundercats had first met Mumm-ra. I wasn't interested in watching a single show over and over again. After all, I was only ten," I laughed.
"Well, it's good to hear you laugh. It means you're not quite as frightened as you were," said Cheetara.
ReplyDelete"Who can stay frightened with you?" I asked.
"Night will be here, soon. Let's get going if we're going to make it to the Cat's Lair by nightfall."
The Cat's Lair! I had only dreamed of going there before, and I didn't think myself worthy enough of being there. But I got up and followed her, having no where else to go. "The Cat's Lair? But why not somewhere else?" I asked hesitantly.
"We will decide what to do there. The other will be albe to help me in this matter. Fir the time being, you will be our guest."
"You are the most giving person I know of besides my own parents. But I really don't feel that I am worthy enough to go there, and you don't really know me. God, but I am so frightened!"
"A bit of an inferiority complex? The Thundercats can cure you of that! Don't be frightened of them. The Thundercats will not harm you and perhaps you may become our ward. Don't worry about you worthiness because we help anyone that needs help, regardless of their worthiness."
"I'm not frightened of the Thundercats! They're the last people I'd be frightened of! But I thought I might be sent away to live with someone else."
A sound in the trees above. "A distinct possibility, young lady. But if it does happen, you are welcme to come live in the Treetop Kingdom of the Warrior Maidens, sister."
"Willa! How long have you been spying on us?" cried Cheetara, clearly startled.
"Long enough. I've been here long enough to get a good look at this young lady. She seems human, but also very frightened. What is your name? You could became a Warrior Maiden, with the proper training. You have that look about you: Feminine, yet I can tell you also possess an extremely fierce temper, if provoked, or course."
"You are right aobut my temper, I fear. It gets me into trouble with my parents more than I wish. I thank you for the compliment about being feminine. My name is Brittany Walker," I said.
"How old are you, Brittany?"
"Twelve years, yet not old enough to know how to survive in the wild. I've never had any formal training, I fear. There was never any need. I lived in the city."
"Are you going with us to the Cat's Lair?" interrupted Cheetara, looked around us. "As it is now, it will dark long before we get there, and it would be a bad time to be ambushed."
"Yes, and it would be just like the Mutants to do such a thing. Yes, I'll go with you," replied Willa.
"I hope this is much more than a dream or a nightmare, as the case may become, because I cannot believe what I am seeing and hearing!" I cried.
"It is, little one, it is," laughed Cheetara, as we walked on.
"This is a very complicated matter to make an important decision about. I think I'm going to need everyone's help on this one," said Lion-o. We had gotten back rather late, just as Cheetara had warned, and she had told him what had happened the best she could. "But our guest must be very tired. Wilykat, why don't you show her to Lair East 6?"
ReplyDeleteLion-o, I know, meant well. He was the Thundercats leader after all, and he was responsible for each and everyone's welfare. I guess now that included me. Although not with my future so uncertain as of now, fearing I would be left out of something very important, something having to do with me. Besides, I also know I would not be able to sleep until I knew their decision on my dilemma, and I said as much.
"Well, if that's true, perhaps you should stay here and listen to our decision," he said.
"I think that we should take her in as a ward of the Thundercats until we can find a way home for her," suggested Cheetara.
"Wait. She is human, and on the verge of becoming a woman. She should be with the Warrior Maidens," interrupted Willa.
"But we will keep her here with us," said Lion-o, "We will eed to talk with her, see how much she know of us."
"All right. I see the wisdom in this, but she must come to us even for a short period of time to learn to use a bow and to learn how to move through the trees with ease. Agreed?" said Willa. Clearly, she wanted to know me as well. That was all right by me. I would like to et to know her better, too.
"We could also teach her to move through the trees with ease as well, but as for learning the bow, I'll leave it to her, provided she is with us long enough," allowed Lion-o.
I went with Wilykat. "You don't need to be frightened with us. I know it is difficult at first, but you'll soon get used to bieng in new and strange surroundings, especially since you're with friends," said Wilykat when we got to my room.
ReplyDeleteI looked at him, this young Thundercat who was one of my heroes and now my saviors. "You are right. I am very frightened, and it is very hard to comprehend what has happened. Thank you for your support."
"That's all right. I will be here if you want someone to talk to. There is also my sister, of course," he said. He gave me a wink, then turned and waled away as I stood thee watching him.
I turned to go into my room. I found that there was no doorknob on the door. That's funny, I thought as I walked toward it, curious. Then to my surprise, the door slid aside to allow me in. I stepped inside and found a light switch on the wall next to the door. Funnier still, I thought, that the door should slide open while there is a switch for the light. Ah, well, time for some sleep, if it will come tonight.
ReplyDeleteThe room was sparse, having a wardrobe in one corner, a mirror in another. On the other side of the door there was a dresser. Across the room, there were two windows on either side of a king-sized bed. On either side of the bed was a night table. There was a blanket folded on the bed with two sheets on top of it. I put these on the floor, which was not carpeted. I unfolded the sheets and blanket and put them on the bed as my grandmother had taughter me. Grandma. Oh, but I miss her and parents! Thinking of them made me lonely.
I had been Christian from birth and I knew most of the Bible stories by heart. Now, I wished I had my bible. Reading about God would have helped my loneliness, but I did not have that luxury now. Aye, it now became a luxury, so I had to make do with Prayer and memory. I prayed to Him to help me through this difficult time. Then I went to sleep.
Sunlight. Morning. I did not open my eyes just yet, hoping that everything I had experienced the day before had been just a dream.
"You're finally awake! I've brought some food for you and I hope you like it. It's probably very different from what you're used to, but you'll have to get used to it." I knew that voice! SNarf! Oh, no, it wasn't a dream after all. What's today going to be like? I wonder as I let out a groan. God help me, I think. I said it aloud. It felt good, released some tension.
"God help you? Oh, an oath, probably from your time. Well what would you like to eat? Perhaps after breakfast, we could go for a walk outside for a while, if you like.:
"All this food, and I don't know any of it." I groaned again. "I don't think I'm very hungry," Seeing the expression on Snarf's face when I said that made me laugh and I quickly amended my statement, not wishing to offend him: "Perhaps I can eat a little, and then we'll go for a walk."
That made smile. "Snarf, you do have a good heart! But I bet you miss your family. I know you're probably very lonely, but there is so much to do on Third Earth, you'll be fine."
"Snarf, you've been very understanding, as have all of the Thundercats, but you are right. I do wish I were with my family! The Thundercats just cannot replace them. But my feelings are very mixed up. I've always wanted to meet the Thundercats, but now that I have, I want to go home!"
"After you left, Cheetara told us about your shows. Do you think they are very accurate?"
"I don't really know. I've only just arrived. But judging form the descriptions, I think they may be. The colors are correct, but I'll need to hear some of your stories of your adventures to be sure. Well, I'm done eating. Let's go."
"First, let's find you something else for you to wear. That thing's filthy and it really wouldn't hurt for you to clean up, either."
I looked down at myself. Snarf was right. Being in the forest and hiding had torn my clothing ad I was extremely dirty. I had slept in my clothes the night before, and the bedclothes that Snarf was now clearing away were filthy.
"Oh my God! I'm sorry! I should've looked for something clean before I went to bed."
"That's all right. You were tired and frightened, I understand that. There's a commode down the hallway. You can clean up in there. I'll be back in a few minutes with some clean clothes. Hmm, you look about Wilykit's size, perhaps she has some clothes you can wear." And with that, he left me.
I went odwnt he hall and found the commode. Inside, it, like my bedroom, was rather sparse. There were all te necessities: a sink, a toilet, a medicine cabinet, (which I was personally surprised about!) toiletry necessities, (toothbrush, etc.) and a bathtub. It was much like my parents', except it had the signature of the Thundercats. I filled the bu with hot water while I stripped out of my filthy and torn clothes, then I got out a clean towel. Then I looked down at myself. And grimaced. The woodland grime had penetrated my clothing when I had hidden in that copse of trees before Cheetara had found me. The filth was everywhere. So I got into the tub, grateful for the chance to clean up. A few minutes later, Snarf came in with the clothes that I was to wear. I had the bath drapes closed, so he told me, "Take as long as you want, I'll wait downstairs."
ReplyDelete"Brittany, wake up!" A furry hand was shaking me, as I realized I had dozed off. Snaref was looking at me, concerned. "I thought you had drowned, for a second. Don't do that!"
ReplyDelete"Don't worry, Snarf. I always sleep in the tub," I yawned.
"Well, hurry up, and let's go for a walk." He left. I got up and drained the water, which by this time, was black with my filth.
I turned the shower on. But when I looked for the soap, I found something odd-colored and much more greasy. I shrugged and used it anyway, finding it did just as effective a job. Ad I was cleaning up, I thought of one Thundercat show in particular. This one had Mandora, the Evil Chaser in it. I remembered her weapon, the Enzyme Catalyzer, with which she had used to free Lion-o and Snarf from the Living Ooze. I recalled their conversation clearly:
Lion-o looked at the gun Mandora was holding. "Wow! What is in that gun?"
"An ancient formula, now a closely guarded secret. It used to be called soap," replied Mandora.
"Wow, awesome! I hope our side is the only one possessing it!" exclaimed Snarf, holding his head,
Soap. So that was it. The soap had been used to neutralize the Living Ooze and Mandora's enemy, Plutar, who had been able to kill living things with just a touch. I remembered the story well. If soap was a weapon now, then what did they use for a cleaning agent? I'd have to ask Snarf.
ReplyDeleteThe towel was soft, well-made, and, ironically, had the Thundercat insignia on a white background. Well, why shouldn't it? It does belong to them, I though with a smile. I dried myself and picked up the clothes. They were indeed Wilykit's clothes and I decided if they didn't fit, I'd just wait until my own clothes were clean in my room wearing this towel. I really didn't want to go out today. But it turned out her clothes fit me perfectly. Snarf was a good judge of size. But then, he'd helped raise Lion-o, didn't he? I thought with a small laugh.
I went downstairs and found Snarf in the main hall talking with Lion-o. The main hall was huge, showing two stories of the Cat's Lair with pillars all around. In the center of the floor was a huge insignia of the Thundercats on which Snarf and Lion-o were standing. The ceiling was domed and set high above. On either side of the room were stairs leading upwards. There were also four doors leading out of the room, one at the back of the room, two behind either of the staircases ledaing to either of the Cat's Paws, another leading outside. I was on the second level and hadn't gotten to the staircase yet. I cleared my throat because they hadn't seen me yet.
They turned. Obviously, Snarf hadn't told Lion-o what clothes he had borrowed for me. I knew I had startled him becahse he, quite litereally, did a double-take. "I wasn't sure if those clothese would fit you or not, but it looks as though they do. I'll get some different clothes made for you soon. In the meantime, Wilykit has agreed to lend you her own. Lion-o is going with us today."
I lowered my head, suddenly shy and awkward. The outfit suddenly didn't feel right. It was uncomfortable for me to wear it. I had always wor shorts in the sumer, and these certainly qualified as shorts, but it made me feel as if I were going to a costume party at Halloween, and in my own time, that was half a year away. I felt extremely embarrassed, but I didn't want to seem ungrateful, becuase I was very grateful to them; they had taken me in and lcothed a dn fed me. I felt flustered. "I'm sorry. Ithank you for the clothes, but I just don't feel comfortable!"
I burst into tears and ran off. I kept going, and nearly ran into Pumyra. "I'm sorry!" I shouted back, tears in my eyes. I ran to my room and flung myself down on my bed. I cried until I couldnt' cry anymore. Just then, the door opened and Pumyra stepped in.
"I didn't recognize you for a minute, with Wilykit's clothes. What's wrong?"she asked me.
ReplyDelete"I'm frightened, embarrassed, and I feel humiliated! All I want to do is go home!" I cried.
She crossed the room, sat down on the bed, and hugged me. "I know it's hard here, in a time that is unfamiliar to you, but you will adjust. The Thundercats will help all they can, including myself, but you must trust us. Your parents are probably worried, too. But you are safe. Until we find a way to get you home, your home is here. Now, enough tears, where's the bravado I saw in this young woman last night?"
I looked up at her and smiled. Somehow, she did make me feel safe. "Thanks. That's the first anyone has ever called me a young woman. Everyone else has always called me a girl," I brightened.
"All right, Lion-o and Snarf were wanting to take you for a walk, mostly to talk with you. Let's go." She took my hand and led me out of the room. Down the hall, Lion-o and Snarf were coming our way.
"Hey, what happened?" asked Lion-o of me.
"She's scared, Lion-o. Be easy with her," said Pumyra.
"Well, are you ready to come now?"asked Snarf.
"Yes. I'm sorry I ran," I said.
"Why don't we go see the unicorns?" suggested Lion-o.
"Unicorns?" Wow! I have always loved unicorns and horse, so I have drawn them. But I had never expected to see a live unicorn. "I would like very much to do that. I love unicrons, but in m time, they are nothing more than legend!" And with that, we were gone.
We went south until we came to a river. I asked Lion-o its name, and I learned it was called the River of Despair. I then recalled it and knew what it was. In the River of Despair dwelled the Black Widow Shark who would lie in wait for anyone who dated to cross the river, and then attack. Lion-o and Snarf had been lucky enough to survive one such attack.
We followed the river till it came to a waterfall beside a forest. "Let me guess. The Forest of Unicorns, right?" I asked.
"Yes, how did you know?" asked Lion-o.
"I've seen it in the shows. It is lovely. The shows were accurate in their descriptions, but it is far lovelier to see in person," I said.
Just then, a white unicorn burst out of the forest and began to frolic in the water by the waterfall, followed by the rest of the herd. I stared at then until I realized I was gaping and let out a gasp of delight. "They're beautiful! More so than what I have sever seen in descriptions or shows, or even what i myself have imagined!" I said quietly.
ReplyDelete"Thank you, my young friend," said a voice behind me. I turned. A woman who appeared elderly, yet whom I knew possessed much strength, was sitting on a rock. Standin beside her was a man of equal strength and age. "We try to keep them healthy and to protect them from harm and intruders. In a way, they are our children."
As I sat there watching the unicorns, Lion-o introduced me to the Unicorn Keepers. They talked awhile, and, to my great surprise and pleasure, one of the unicorns came up to me and kneeled down. She put her head in my lap as is she could sense my disquietude, perhaps knowing I was new to this Third Earth, and whickered softly. I laid my hand on her nose, smiling and wondering at the magic that was contained in the young unicorn and in that long, beautiful horn on her forehead. There was a star etched on her forehead around the horn in the lightest of grays. Her eyes were blue, deep blue like a perfect, cloudless sky on a warm summer day. Mane, tail, and coat were of the purest white I had ever seen, and I saw on her hooves were shoes of pure gold. She was magnificent, as I had always known she would be had I the opportunity to see a true unicorn.
"Brittany, are you ready to go back? It's about suppertime, and you didn't have any lunch," said Lion-o suddenly, breaking into my reverie.
"Oh, that's all right. Back home, I eat very little as it is, but I ride my bicycle all around my hometown. Logansport is small but it's home, and right now, I miss it very much."
"Tell me again how you managed to arrive here. Perhaps I can figure out a way to get you home," suggested Lion-o.
ReplyDelete"I don't really know. I was in the woods behind my house. I stood up, getting ready to go back home. There was a moment of disorientation that knocked me down. But when I stood back up again, my woods had become a forest."
"It sounds like some sort of sorcery to me," suggested the lady Unicorn Keeper.
"But we have no sorcerers on First Earth, save perhaps the English legend of Merlin-that is, no one I know of," I said.
"That doesn't matter. It could have been someone from Third Earth," she said.
"Mumm-Ra!" exclaimed Lion-o.
"That is a distinct possibility," said the other Unicorn Keeper. "Mumm-Ra does have the ability to transport people through time."
"Yes, he did so with Hachiman," added Lion-o. "Let's get back to the Cat's Lair, Brittany, and tell the others what we may have discovered."
"In the light of what has been happening, I'd say this could very likely be Mumm-Ra's doing. But until we know for certain, do not draw conclusions. This after all, may still be a freak thing of nature," said Tygra after we explained to him what we had thought might have happened. "Brittany, this is a very difficult thing, very complex, turning up new facets all the time. You may be with us for a very long time. Or it is also a possibility that you may never return to your home. I'm sorry, it is a grom realization for you and I can make no promises." He took hold of my shoulders, knelt, and looked directly into my eyes. "Do you understand what I am saying,young one?"
"Yes, Tygra. I supposed, with time, I will be able to accept that fact. Thank you, anyway." I swallowed hard, then looked away, for fear I might not be able to keep from crying. Never to see my home again! It was something difficult to contemplate. I went to the window and looked out. We had come back rather late, and it was already nighttime. None of the stars were in the correct place; so much time had passed, the poitions were changed drastically. I thought of the past day, and how much fun I had had. I suppose it won't be so bad, I thought. But still, I missed my family. The loneliness wouldn't go away. "I'm going to go to bed," I said, and I turned and walked away.
When I got to my room, I did cry.