Read Online Kerka's Book by Jan Bozarth - Free Book Online

another forest.
    â€œYou’re mean,” the reindeer said, pouting.
    â€œNo, I’m on a mission,” I said calmly. “I have things I have to do.”

6
The Icefall
    We walked along together companionably. The woods on this side of the chasm were nothing like the dark forest. Slender trees with twisting branches and large trees with rough bark grew farther apart from one another. Clusters of purple, lavender, and pink violets huddled between tree roots, and blue mushrooms with gold spots dotted the leaves and pine needles that covered the forest floor.
    â€œDon’t eat the blue mushrooms,” the reindeer said when we walked by a large crop of them. “They smell funny.”
    â€œI won’t.” I looked back and smiled. I didn’t smell anything, but reindeer have highly sensitive noses. “Thanks for the warning, R.D.”
    â€œWho’s R.D.?” the reindeer asked.
    â€œYou are,” I said. “I have to call you something,so I’ll call you R.D. It’s short for reindeer. Get it?”
    The reindeer snorted again. “Why can’t I have a real name?”
    I exhaled with exasperation. “Do you like this? A-r-d-e-e, Ardee.”
    â€œOh, yes!” The reindeer laughed and bobbed her head. “I like that
much
better.”
    â€œGood.” I patted Ardee’s neck and tried not to giggle.
    We continued on, walking side by side when the path was wider and single file when it narrowed. The path itself was lined with spindles of silver lichen. I stayed on the alert. Lizards and fist-sized furry-ball creatures scurried up and down tree trunks and across ivy-covered branches just above my head. Silver snakes curled around higher branches, watching us with languid curiosity as we passed underneath. And above the snakes, blackbirds flitted from limb to limb or sat on nests.
    My breath caught in my throat when something crashed through the trees behind me. I drew my Kalis stick and spun as Ardee reared back and cried, “Help!”
    Primed to repel an attack, I lowered my stick and watched the reindeer flail about, tossing her head and bleating in panic. She was trying to shake off abushy branch that was caught in her antlers.
    â€œGet it off!” Ardee yelped. “Get it off!”
    â€œStand still!” I ordered. “It’s just a branch.”
    Ardee stop struggling and stood with her front legs splayed and her head down. “It’s not just a branch. Something’s living in it! Hurry!”
    The branching tree limb was wedged so tightly I couldn’t budge it. I raised my Kalis stick, hoping a sharp whack would jar the branch loose or break it. Just before I swung, I heard a tiny ripping sound. Taking a closer look, I noticed a large silvery gray cocoon nestled in the fork of the main branch. I couldn’t hit or break the branch without crushing it.
    â€œThere’s nothing to worry about, Ardee,” I whispered, “but you have to stay still for a minute.”
    â€œOkay, but take the branch off,” the reindeer pleaded.
    â€œI can’t,” I whispered louder this time. I didn’t want to scare the creature trying to free itself from the cocoon. I hoped it was harmless, but I didn’t know. “Just trust me, please.”
    I put my free hand on Ardee’s quivering back, then slid my arm over her. The reindeer stopped shaking and stood quietly, her chin resting on the ground and her hide rippling with twitches. It felt good to know that I could make her feel better soeasily. I just hoped I’d be able to protect her if what came out of the cocoon was something unpleasant. I held my Kalis stick ready. I watched as the split in the cocoon widened.
    A silver and black moth slowly slipped out of the casing, unfolding wings as delicate and transparent as those of a fairy. It was the biggest moth I’d ever seen. It was at least eight inches from the tip of its head to the end of its