Free After The Rabbit (Waldo Rabbit Series) by Nelson Chereta Page B

of fire began to sink toward the horizon. Waldo led them off of the road and into the forest. He found a small clearing surrounded by thick scrub brush and trees with low branches.
     
    “This place should do.” He turned to Gronk. “Dig me a fire pit about four feet deep, five feet across, and bank the dirt around its edge, so it won’t give off too much light. Alice, I want you to gather firewood, enough for a bonfire.”
     
    “Whatever you say, Master.” With the children gone, Gronk was back to using his high pitched, lisping voice again. Not bothering with any tools, the ogre began ripping up grass and dirt with his massive hands.
     
    Alice didn’t immediately move to obey. Instead she put both hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”
     
    “Well, obviously I want to build a bonfire, but without having people for miles able to see it.”
     
    “Yes, I understand that part, but why?”
     
    “Today is the solstice and I want the three of us to celebrate it.”
     
    “Huh, that’s nice I suppose, though it would have been better if we could have stayed in the village.”
     
    “It will be simpler this way. In any case, you and Gronk should both be grateful I am willing to allow you to join me.”
     
    Alice chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Of course, darling.” She wandered off to start gathering firewood. As Alice and Gronk worked Waldo built a small separate campfire. He filled the cook pot with water. Waldo then reached into one of the many pockets of his robes for a cloth sack. Opening it, Waldo dumped the contents onto his hand: three stubby grey mushrooms with thick stalks and slightly wrinkled caps with black spots.
     
    Wolfsbane mushrooms.
     
    He brought them to his nose and took a quick sniff. There was a strong, distinctive scent reminding him of a mix between mildew and a piece of meat gone bad. The mushrooms had gotten their name because wolves would sometimes eat them. The creatures would then become insanely violent, lashing out and attacking anything near shortly before going into convulsions and dying as blood poured from their mouth and anus.
     
    Waldo casually tossed the mushrooms into the pot and set it atop the fire.
     
    XXX
     
    By the time the fire pit was dug and Alice had brought in enough armfuls of wood, the horrible ball of fire had gone from the sky. The stars were shining along with a sliver of the moon. Waldo stood by the edge of the pit with his wand.
     
    “ Pyro .” A steady stream of fire poured from the tip of his wand and washed over the pieces of wood. In no time, there was a roaring blaze filling the clearing with light and heat.
     
    Nodding, he put his wand away and went back to the pot. The water had been boiling for well over an hour. With great care, he poured the water out, dousing the campfire. The mushrooms had puffed up some and become soft to the touch. Waldo spread a piece of cloth on the grass and speared each mushroom with a knife before placing it down. Choosing the most tender, Waldo sliced off the stalk and cut the cap in half. Then, holding one of the halves between thumb and forefinger, he very slowly and very carefully cut off two slivers that were as thin as parchment. “These should do.”
     
    “Ah, darling?” Alice had been standing nearby watching. “Do we start dancing and singing around the fire now?”
     
    “In a bit. First we need to get ready.” Standing, he undid his robe and let it fall to the ground. Waldo then unbuttoned his shirt.
     
    “What are you doing?”
     
    “Preparing to celebrate the Solstice,” Waldo tossed aside his shirt, trousers and shoes. “Well what are you waiting for? You and Gronk get naked, too.”
     
    “What?” Alice choked out.
     
    “Oooh, now this is the kind of party I like.” Gronk needed no further encouragement. His burlap loincloth was quickly gone, and he stood in all of his green skinned glory.
     
    Alice’s eyes boggled when she got a clear look at what was