Free Onio by Linell Jeppsen Page A
Authors: Linell Jeppsen
his own right. There has been much talk lately in the
conclave of a war between the small human’s military and the sasquatch nation. New
Moon, the king, is very interested in you, Onio.” He glanced at Mel. “You and
the girl both. He requests an audience with you.”
Chapter 10
Things
moved very quickly then. The sasquatches had not lost sight of the fact that
they stood in hostile territory. Wolf took off running, coming back a few
minutes later with a hide sack filled with jerked meat. Hunter produced a bag
of dried fruits and vegetables. Then the three males huddled around the cold
fire and began to speak amongst themselves.
Mel
felt a chill. Were they going to leave her now? Had they changed their minds
about taking her along? The silence was deafening, and she was thrust back into
the cold reality of her life without the soul song. Once or twice Onio glanced
in her direction. There was apology in his eyes, as though he understood that
being left out of the conversation was almost physically painful for her.
They
could leave me now if they think I am a liability to the tribe. They could
leave me outside of some town , she supposed. The problems for her
would be huge, though. She couldn’t hear…she could barely speak. She had no
money, or purse…no passport. Suddenly, her future loomed ahead of her like a
frightful beast; one she had no idea how to conquer. Sorrow filled her heart at
the prospect.
Then
the sasquatches rose as one, walked over to where Mel huddled on the furs, and
went to their knees in front of her. Hunter said, “Girl, do you understand my
words?”
She
nodded and used soul song to answer. “Yes sir, I can hear you.”
Onio’s
father replied, “What is your name child? My son says he doesn’t remember.”
Onio cast his eyes down in embarrassment.
“My
name is Melody Carver,” she answered. “It’s not really Onio’s fault that he
didn’t catch my name. Things have been kind of hectic.”
Hunter
smiled. “We have made plans for you, without asking for your permission or
approval. Onio seems to think that you don’t mind going to the High Peaks with
him and Wolf. I wonder though, what do you think about it? If you would rather
go home to your people, I will take you to the nearest town, where you can seek
others of your kind. The only thing that we would require of you is that you do
not share information about us. Do you understand that?”
Mel
looked down, thinking hard. The sasquatches were, to her, a beautiful, mystical
wonder. She thought that young Onio was handsome and sweet, and many others
were mysterious…wise like Rain and Petal. Nevertheless, she also knew that, to
many, she was a terrible threat, and any one of these creatures could crush her
like a bug if they wanted to. Another thing that caused alarm was the fact that
Onio’s people and hers were apparently gearing up for some sort of war. Would
she be used as a pawn…held hostage…or killed outright in some sort of terror
campaign?
Then
she thought of the gift she had been given. Would that gift fade with time or
even work in the world of the small humans? The thought of losing the soul song
was enough to break her heart. She wanted to hold on to her newfound abilities,
despite the risks.
Looking
up at Hunter she said, “I would like to go with Onio and Wolf. I have no people
to go home to, sir. I think that maybe I can help with the problems your people
are having with mine. If nothing else, I know how my people think. Maybe I can
help Onio and Wolf to understand the smalls better.”
Hunter
watched Mel’s face very closely as she spoke. Mel realized that not only was he
listening to her words, but hearing the intention behind her words and the
logic behind the intent. She understood that the soul song was truth incarnate.
She also knew that if the small humans possessed this ability, there would be a
lot less lying in the world. It was simply impossible to prevaricate with
conclave of a war between the small human’s military and the sasquatch nation. New
Moon, the king, is very interested in you, Onio.” He glanced at Mel. “You and
the girl both. He requests an audience with you.”
Chapter 10
Things
moved very quickly then. The sasquatches had not lost sight of the fact that
they stood in hostile territory. Wolf took off running, coming back a few
minutes later with a hide sack filled with jerked meat. Hunter produced a bag
of dried fruits and vegetables. Then the three males huddled around the cold
fire and began to speak amongst themselves.
Mel
felt a chill. Were they going to leave her now? Had they changed their minds
about taking her along? The silence was deafening, and she was thrust back into
the cold reality of her life without the soul song. Once or twice Onio glanced
in her direction. There was apology in his eyes, as though he understood that
being left out of the conversation was almost physically painful for her.
They
could leave me now if they think I am a liability to the tribe. They could
leave me outside of some town , she supposed. The problems for her
would be huge, though. She couldn’t hear…she could barely speak. She had no
money, or purse…no passport. Suddenly, her future loomed ahead of her like a
frightful beast; one she had no idea how to conquer. Sorrow filled her heart at
the prospect.
Then
the sasquatches rose as one, walked over to where Mel huddled on the furs, and
went to their knees in front of her. Hunter said, “Girl, do you understand my
words?”
She
nodded and used soul song to answer. “Yes sir, I can hear you.”
Onio’s
father replied, “What is your name child? My son says he doesn’t remember.”
Onio cast his eyes down in embarrassment.
“My
name is Melody Carver,” she answered. “It’s not really Onio’s fault that he
didn’t catch my name. Things have been kind of hectic.”
Hunter
smiled. “We have made plans for you, without asking for your permission or
approval. Onio seems to think that you don’t mind going to the High Peaks with
him and Wolf. I wonder though, what do you think about it? If you would rather
go home to your people, I will take you to the nearest town, where you can seek
others of your kind. The only thing that we would require of you is that you do
not share information about us. Do you understand that?”
Mel
looked down, thinking hard. The sasquatches were, to her, a beautiful, mystical
wonder. She thought that young Onio was handsome and sweet, and many others
were mysterious…wise like Rain and Petal. Nevertheless, she also knew that, to
many, she was a terrible threat, and any one of these creatures could crush her
like a bug if they wanted to. Another thing that caused alarm was the fact that
Onio’s people and hers were apparently gearing up for some sort of war. Would
she be used as a pawn…held hostage…or killed outright in some sort of terror
campaign?
Then
she thought of the gift she had been given. Would that gift fade with time or
even work in the world of the small humans? The thought of losing the soul song
was enough to break her heart. She wanted to hold on to her newfound abilities,
despite the risks.
Looking
up at Hunter she said, “I would like to go with Onio and Wolf. I have no people
to go home to, sir. I think that maybe I can help with the problems your people
are having with mine. If nothing else, I know how my people think. Maybe I can
help Onio and Wolf to understand the smalls better.”
Hunter
watched Mel’s face very closely as she spoke. Mel realized that not only was he
listening to her words, but hearing the intention behind her words and the
logic behind the intent. She understood that the soul song was truth incarnate.
She also knew that if the small humans possessed this ability, there would be a
lot less lying in the world. It was simply impossible to prevaricate with