Flute And Fire Read online

  Chapter 13

  Keith approached his animal trap with caution. It was getting too dark to see with the sun gone. The full moon was just rising and began to filter some soft light into the open spaces.

  As Keith got closer to the hole, he peered into the dark earth. All he could see was a shadow laying on the floor, unmoving. Wow, he thought to himself. Knocked the animal right out. I am surprised a fall like that would do it. A big animal too!

  About the time Keith thought it was safe to maybe jump in the hole and check it out, a moan escaped the throat of the creature. Startled for a moment Keith kept still at the edge of the hole.

  “Ohhhh, shit that hurt,” came the second moan from Shells lips.

  ‘Keith’s eyes grew wide with disbelief, “Shell, is that you? Oh my God! Shell?”

  Shell looked up, but could not really see clearly, but saw Keith’s silhouette lit up by the moonlight. “Keith?” Shell couldn’t believe what she heard.

  “Shell, how in the blazes did you find me? Are you hurt bad. I am so sorry. This fall is all my fault. Come let me help you out. Can you stand?” Keith was so exited he was beside himself.

  Shell replied, “I think I can. I seemed to of hit my head on a rock. Knocked me out for a minute or two.” Shell slowly stood up and felt okay. “I seem fine.”

  Keith sat down with his legs dangling into the hole. “Give me your hands and I will help you climb out.”

  Shell reached up her arms and Keith grabbed on. With her feet she dug into the sides of the dirt wall and managed to climb out. Once she was above ground, she hung onto Keith, “Keith, I am so happy you are alive! I was right that you would be. I never want to lose you.” Shell began to cry in his arms.

  “Shell, I love you so” was all Keith could manage to say as he held her.

  Pushing Shell back so he could see her face, Keith asked again, “Are you sure you are all right?”

  Shell’s eyes glittered from the tears, “I have a headache, but I am okay. No broken bones…maybe a little dizzy though”

  “That’s all I need to know”

  Quickly Keith swooped Shell up into his arms and began to carry her back to his camp.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I am taking care of you. You just rest your beautiful face on my shoulder. We do not have far to go”

  Shell did not argue. Smiling, she nestled her head into his shoulder and tightened her grip. The feel of his strength warmed her heart. Now she is with the love of her life and the Father of her child. Then things went black again.

  Keith carefully laid Shell down on his makeshift bed. “Shell? Are you still filling okay?” Shell’s head laid without motion. “Shell.”

  “Well girl, I know you are probably tired, but with a possible concussion, you should stay awake for a while. We will keep around the fire, but come on now, wake up and stand up”

  Shell moaned, “but I am so sleepy.”

  “Just for awhile, now come on. Up we go. That’s a girl. I will have to talk your ear off and you will have to tell me a story or two….like how did you manage to get here.”

  Shell was unstable at first, but with Keith’s support they both walked gingerly around the fire. Shell began her story from the moment of the vision to the hanging smelly shirt that brought her down. She only left out one detail and that was the baby. There will be time for that later.

  Throughout the rest of the night, Keith and Shell walked and sometimes rested upon the rocks. Keith shared his visions and dreams and his struggles thru the thick foliage and thickets. Shell continued to talk of her conversations with Stone and of the council.

  It was just about that time before dawn, when the sun was about to peep over the horizon, that Shell and Keith walked down to the bend of the river to watch the fire star rise.

  The morning colors changed quickly from the light gray to the orange and yellow glow with pink streaks lining the handful of clouds. When the sun became fully ablaze and the sky showed its crisp blue, tears came to both of their eyes. This was their first witnessing of daybreak and it’s glorious beauty painted on the East horizon.

  The only words spoken for sometime was from Shell. “Like a strong powerful wind, it takes my breath away. Thank you Creator, for such a gift!”

  After a bit of time, Keith gently nudged Shell to come back to camp. “You can sleep now. We will have a lot to explore and more to discuss when we both have rested.”

  Keith stoked the fire with more wood and nuzzled next to Shell and they both closed their eyes and gave into the sleep world.

  It was about mid afternoon, when Keith was awaken to snapping of twigs and snarling sounds. When he opened his eyes he was staring at a full grown wolf, chewing on the remains of Keith’s fish from the day before.

  The wolf saw Keith move and began, with a stealth walk, to move closer to where Shell and Keith were laying.