Free Echoes from the Lost Ones by Nicola McDonagh Page B

convinced such a lonely state can be fixed without resorting to a search far off. Eh, Wirt?”
    Wirt coughed in an exaggerated manner and I felt certain my hot cheeks would set fire to something, so intensely did they burn.
    “Come, Adara, I but jest with you. Let us attend to the purpose in hand, that of retrieving our lost henyhen.”
    Her words soothed my abashment and when my skin cooled, I turned to my companions. Wirt rubbed his eyes and made the coughy noise again whilst Odelia lifted her shoulders and chuckled.
    “So,” I said in as calm a voice as I was able, “I am familiar with the song of birdybirds and raptors, but I have never heard the sound a chickle makes. If you could perhaps give voice to resemble said noise, then maybe I can choose a suitable note.”
    “Oh, I do not need to do such a thing. Here, follow me and I shall take you both to the chickle coop where you can listen to their voices.”
    She walked a few steps ahead, turned and used her forefinger to beckon us on. I walked onwards and felt Wirt’s breath upon my neck. Odelia linked arms with us both and we sauntered all-casual through the plant patches towards an area of shrubbery and flowers. We stopped in front of said flora and Odelia knelt down. She whistled faintly and I thought she had become addled. I’d heard of folk singing to plants and embracing trees, but I had never heard of whistling to bushes.
    I was about to say something along those lines, when I saw a movement in the undergrowth. A soft high- pitched whine followed and Odelia pursed her lips once more. There was a loud rustling and much shaking of leaves, then out jumped a snarling Wolfie. I leaped up and backed away from its ferocious teeth and growls. I called to Wirt and Odelia to do the same, but they just guffawed and took to rubbing the beast’s ears.
    “Come Adara, be not afraid. Look closer and you will see that this is not a Wolfie, but a dowgie. Come, let it sniff your hand and become a pal,” Odelia said and buried her face into the creature’s furry neck.
    I almost choked at the sight of a Lady making sport with a dreaded beast, and near fainted away when I saw Wirt bend low and let the thing wash his face with its tongue.
    “Yeuk, in the extreme, Wirt. That Wolfie’s drool must smell vile.”
    “Nay, not so much. Come, it’ll do the same to ye.”
    “Yes, Adara, please do make acquaintance with our dear Bliss. She is no beast, but a soft little dowgiewowgie. Aren’t you my pet?” Odelia said and kissed it upon the lips.
    “Are ye afraid or something? Can ye not see the thing is no threat? Come, give her a pat at least.”
    I vowed to myself that although I would show courage and touch its head, I would under no circumstance allow the slavering creature to drool upon my person. I slow-stepped over to where they squatted. The fluffy hound gave a “ruff, huff” sound and I came over all a-feared.
    “Do not cringe so. She is as tame as a that pebble under your foot.”  
    “Eh, if you say so.”
    “Go on, stroke her head.”
    “Aye go on, Adara, she’ll not bite.”
    I let my trembling hand hover above the pooch’s head, closed my eyes and patted the rough fur on its head and neck. The thing gave out an explosive grunt and I pulled back my arm and stepped away. “There I have touched the thing. Shall we go to the chickle house now?”
    “If that is what you want,” Odelia said and stood. The bitch got up too. “You stay now Bliss, stay. Good girl.” Bliss sat on her bottom and wagged her tail. To my relief, she did not follow when we left her to continue our journey to the where the chikkles abided.
    “The coop is not far, just around the back of the bathing house, which you may use when we are done.”
    “Good, fine, let’s get on then,” I said and walked all fast-like to the building Odelia pointed at.
    The unadorned hut stood at the far end of the courtyard, directly opposite the Meetinghouse. It was raised from the ground by four