Chapter Four
Leaves littered the ground like a rotten blanket. Darkness loomed where the light no longer fell. The smell of the irth was heavy and oppressive. Damp coated the skin like a stale dew. A density of treetops shrouded the sky like an army of Ogre’s blotting out the sun. Leaves of blackness held fast like soldiers forcing back the light, suffocating the life beneath. Trees watched with listless, invisible eyes like souls forever lost, reaching out with twisted, knotted, arm like branches, their manes as black as raven’s wings, blotting out the sky.
“Well this place isn’t half as scary as everyone says it is.” said Meo, puffing out her chest, fluffing up her tail and trying to look brave.
Evil looking toadstools sprouted from the dank, poking out of the Irth like sunshades on Pluto, red, white, black, big and small.
“I’m not scared either.” said Botog, who wasn't convincing anyone. The smile had entirely vanished from his face. His rosy red cheeks losing much of their former glow, their florid red an almost bloodless pink, as his beady eyes warily roamed the shadows.
“Miou!” squeaked Tidimew, peering timidly into the treetops.
“There, there sweetie, it’s okay, I’m here. Don’t be frightened.” Amanie reassured her, holding Tidimew tightly in her arms. Her big, blue eyes like diamonds in a coal pit, wrinkling her brow into a furrow, as she looked anxiously around.
“Miou!” cried Tidimew again.
“Shush, come on sweetie, it’s okay. I wont let anything happen to you, I promise.” said Amanie, who was trying hard to convince herself at the same time.
“Perhaps she just wants to get down.” suggested Meo. “She can help me search those trees over there if she likes, since we're meant to be searching stuff. I don’t see why I should have to do it all.” said Meo. Besides no way was she wandering off on her own, not for all the riches in the world. She was gonna stick to her friends like super glue or barnacles on a rock, no matter what.
“No Meo, she doesn’t want to get down, she's frightened... see, it’s the trees, she’s scared of them. Why do you think she keeps pointing at them?” asked Amanie, hugging Tidimew all the tighter. “She probably thinks they’re going to snatch her up or something.” she said, half suspecting the same thing herself. “I think it’s best if I keep hold of her.”
Truth of the matter was though she just didn’t want to let Tidimew go.
“Botog, go take a look by that branch over there, see if you can find anything.” she ordered. “And don’t forget to look underneath.”
“Why me?” he protested.
“Why not? Not scared are you?” she inquired, bating him.
Botog gulped. “No, but why do I have to go? Why can’t Meo do it?”
“No reason. I just thought perhaps you’d like to prove how brave you are, that's all. Meo can go with you if you’re too scared.”
Botog looked flustered.
“And what will you be doing while we’re doing all this?” asked Meo snappishly.
“I’ll…” faltered Amanie. “I’ll be looking underneath these leaves” she replied, bending down and pretending to look under some leaves.
“Well don’t trouble yourself on our account. After all this was only your idea. We wouldn’t want you to put yourself out or anything. In fact maybe we should just find you a nice cosy spot to put your feet up. Botog and I can do all the searching. Hey if you’re lucky, a big, hairy beast might take a fancy to us, boil us up in a large cast iron pot and invite you to tea.
“Oh shut up Meo! Don’t be such a baby.”
“Me a baby! Oh now that’s rich.”
“Shush! What was that? I heard something.” hissed Amanie.
“What? I didn’t hear anything.” said Meo.
“Shush! Keep your voice down, I heard something alright.”
“I don’t like this, it isn’t a good sign.” said Botog.
“Miou, miou, miou!!!” cried Tidimew, pointing at the trees.
“There’s something in the trees! Look! See… up there… I can see it.” said Botog, his voice filled with anxiety, staring at something large and scary lurking in the treetops.
“Oh god! What is it? asked Amanie, shaking like a leaf.
“I don’t know. I can’t see properly.” said Botog, not sure that he really wanted to know the answer to that question.
“What’s it doing?” she asked, peering timidly into the treetops, nigh on bursting into tears.
“I don’t want to know.” replied Botog.
“Who cares what it's doing?” said Meo. “Let’s just get the hell out of here, before it’s too late.”
“Fine by me.” Botog nearly cheered.
“No we can’t leave yet, not until we’ve found the magic fairy ring.” insisted Amanie, determined as always.
“What? You’ve got to be kidding!” protested Meo, staring at her in disbelief, walking backwards, as was Botog, who was no less keen to leave than she was.
“No! I haven’t come this far just to turn back at the first sign of trouble.” she insisted, taking off again, headstrong as always, walking briskly, as she headed ever further into the dark forest, much to everyone's distress, not least of all Tidimew’s.
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