Chapter 22
The Climb
That weekend the overnight temperatures had dropped significantly more than the rest of the first week of July had been. Rob guessed it may still get into the middle or even upper 80’s but at 7:00 in the morning when Mom roused both he and Kile for one last round of crunchy eggs and bacon it felt chilly outside the back door.
The Johanssons, including one integrated foster troll, strapped on their backpacks and other gear over some hoodies, caps and some hiking boots for all except Kile himself. There had been a great deal of discussion regarding what to bring at the table the night previously. Rick Jr. was beside himself on the decision. The sergeant in him kept proposing that the distance was minimal and they should travel light and quickly. But the Medic in him kept speaking up and reminding him that since they really don’t have any idea what could happen along the way they should carry as many supplies as possible. The heavier packs would also make it more difficult to be stealthy but he thought by utilizing the skills on his team the troll and the part-faerie could manage to alert them when danger was near. And of course, he reasoned, they could always drop the packs and run if they had to.
After waiting later than they had intended by ten minutes already, Rick Jr., Kile and Robbie stepped into the back yard while Sara wrapped up some inside prep and awaited Marissa. It wasn’t long before she heard Robert calling, “Mom! Come on outside!”
“What is it?” Sara asked as she stepped outside and shrugged her last backpack strap onto her left shoulder.
“Shhh!” Rick said, finger to his lips.
All three boys were smiling. Mom did as she was asked for a few seconds. She looked around the yard and then tried to search tree line. Finally her patience drew short.
“What are we waiting for?” she rasped loudly.
“Check it out, honey,” Dad suggested again, grinning. “We heard Marissa’s voice, but we can’t see her. She said we have to find her.”
“Really?!” Mother stomped a few paces further into the yard to stand beside her husband. “Marissa, I don’t think this is the time, dear.”
“Sure it is!” Marissa’s voice floated back quietly. “This is how I’m going to help.”
“I saw her, but not until she spoke,” Rick spoke quietly.
“Yeah! Where is she?” Kile growled.
“Dad, tell us how you can see her?” Robbie added.
Rick gave his wife some time to see if she could figure out where Marissa was hiding. She couldn’t do it. “I take it she’s disguised as a tree, then?”
“Yes…” Rick was still grinning.
“Tell us Dad!” Rob smiled back.
“Alright. The only reason I noticed it’s that she’s totally out of place. Otherwise she looks just like a Quaky.”
Kile, Rob and Mom all stared at the clump of trees that had been planted in the far corner near some bushes by a previous owner of the home. They’d all grown to full sized trees and had about 8 inch trunks, but one seemed to be kind of leaning or perhaps even slightly hiding behind the largest of them.
“There were only three trees there when we moved in,” Rick smirked. “The fourth one looks a little human shaped too, doesn’t it?”
In truth it did not. To everyone else in the group it was just another tree, but then it shook and many leaves fell from its branches and within seconds Marissa had formed out of the trunk and approached them in the yard.
“Pretty slick, huh?” She said grinning back at the group.
“I’ll say,” Rick spoke up. Robert whistled and Kile giggled, bouncing up and down on his broad feet before he continued. “If I wasn’t familiar with the territory you’d have got me too. I think you’ve got an edge up there in the forests.”
“But Marissa, sweety? Where is your pack?” Sara asked. She wasn’t quite as keen on being fooled like that, particularly because the safety of her youngest son was still in question.
“Well, I started thinking about what we decided last night. I realized that my help mostly comes from me being able to disguise myself. I can’t really do that with a pack hanging off my back very well. I can only hide so much,” she said with a shrug.
Neither Rick nor Sara offered any resistance. It seemed like a reasonable idea. Kile on the other hand waggled his fingers and greeted her with his Cheshire grin and Robert awkwardly mumbled a hello. She put him at ease as she grabbed his hand in hers when they went to follow the parents into the forest.