Chapter 25
Delicious
Oakren hopped over the tree roots, thanking them for not tripping him. He felt a little silly, but it was fun to pretend the trees could feel his appreciation. He slowed and stopped, putting his hand against one of the larger trees. Rough texture, just a bit warmer than he would expect. After the other day, when he was hanging on for dear life, he knew that they were alive; not just alive like plants, but aware, alive like a person. He had always liked trees, but now, knowing they were alive, they became like people, like friends. He slowed and stopped, thinking. Yes, Haylwen did something and, just for a moment, I could sense the tree's thoughts, I knew that poor tree was trying to help me, despite my clumsiness breaking one of its limbs.
He stood there, remembering. Yes, it broke, for sure it broke, but Haylwen fixed it. Not just Haylwen, but somehow, she and the tree managed to do something to heal that break. He could feel the tree's pain, and the relief when it was healed. If he worked at it, maybe he would eventually be able to hear the trees all the time. Shaking his head, he promised he would never climb a tree without asking permission first.
He started walking again. But more than that, he vowed, he would find out how Haylwen did that healing thing, and get her to teach him. She sure was cute, too. Ok, maybe she was a little young, but she was old enough to flirt with.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even realize he had reached the edge of the forest. He finished walking to where the forest stopped and the trail along the side of the road ran. It has been forever since I walked here, he thought. Wonder what brought me out this way? He looked at the shadows, realizing how much time had passed. Might as well take the path back to the driveway and go home that way, I want to be sure not to be late for martial arts practice. Cadarn said he was a black belt, so maybe he would be good enough to provide some sort of challenge. Oakren trotted along the path, heading for the driveway back to the farmhouse.
So focused on hurrying along the path, Oakren didn’t even see the girl until he was almost past her. She was on the edge of the driveway leading to the farm, staring across the road. She must have heard him approach, because she spun to face him.
She said something, but turned back to stare across the road too quickly for Oakren to figure out what she said. He only caught a brief glimpse of her face, but was immediately interested. She was pretty, even if she was a bit too skinny. He walked to stand beside her, looking where she was looking.
Before he could think of anything else, he saw what she was staring at. Across the road was a mountain lion, mostly hidden by the grass growing along the side of the road. He had heard they were in this area, but had never seen one on the farm. Feabee had mentioned they were dangerous, but never seemed concerned about them coming onto the property.
He tugged at her sleeve, and started to back away slowly. Sure, it was interesting, but in all he heard, they were best left alone.
Oakren backed several paces away, but the girl didn’t move. He stopped. Should he do something? Suddenly the girl spun and started running right at him, mouth open wide, screaming something at him. Framed behind her was the mountain lion, leaping at her in a pounce. The girl ran past Oakren as the lion flew at her.
With no time to do anything but fall down, Oakren acted reflexively, avoiding the lion’s front paws and rolling onto his back, kicking with his legs up as he fell backward. He caught the lion in the chest with his feet, kicking it over him and into the trees. He finished the roll and was back on his feet immediately. The lion crashed into a tree, and took a moment to get to its feet. Oakren had the crazy thought that it must be injured, or the clumsiest mountain lion there ever was. Eventually, it stood in the middle of the drive, its teeth bared and thrashing its tail, ready to pounce again.
Oakren backed away slowly. The girl was pulling on his sleeve, trying to get him to run. He knew he couldn’t run or the lion would jump on his back, and besides, the only safety he knew was behind the lion. He wanted to be safe so strongly, for him and the girl next to him. He felt the safety of the trees, could almost feel it reaching for him. He put his hands out, reaching in return. He knew they were alive now, could they help him?
An odd feeling came over him, a powerful calmness that almost had him feel like he wasn't even in his body anymore. An image of what he was going to do flashed through his mind, but with the sensation of a memory. A crazy, impossible memory. The lion crouched and jumped at him again. Moving faster than he had ever done, Oakren ran forward, into the lion's jump, but twisting to the side, just out of reach. He turned as the lion went past him, and grabbed at the lion, somehow getting a hold of its tail. He planted his feet, felt himself rooted and powerful in an instant. He pulled, and the lion jerked around, swinging by its tail. It felt as light as a stuffed animal. He used the momentum of the lion like a martial arts move, but just to swing it. At the end of its long tail, the lion swung around, over his head in one complete circle before Oakren let go.
The lion flew in a long arch over the road, tail and all four paws flailing. Oakren couldn’t see what happened on the other side of the road, but the lion didn’t come back.
He settled back into his body and then stood there for a moment, weak and trembling. He must be in shock. Who runs at a mountain lion? He didn’t know what had just happened, but the trees… they must have done something to give him that kind of strength. How did they know what was going to happen?
Before he could think much past that, the girl jumped into his arms, giving him an enormous hug. The girl! He had completely forgotten.
He disentangled himself from her, and stepped far enough away to be able to see her face. She was definitely pretty, with striking eyes, a light brown that had a definite orange tint. He had never seen anyone with orange eyes before.
She was talking to him, thanking him for rescuing her, telling him how amazing it was, how amazing he was.
Oakren, still in shock, just shrugged. It was unbelievable, but he couldn't even tell her that. He wondered if she knew sign language. What would be the odds?
She asked him his name, and he had no choice. “Oakren,” he finger spelled, then gave her his name sign. “Oh, and I’m deaf,” he signed. Then, just for fun, he signed, “I don’t suppose you know sign language?”
The girl grinned, a stunning smile. “Of course,” she signed back. “Who doesn’t? My mother encouraged me to learn sign, but I never knew it would actually come in this handy.”
Oakren laughed, and wondered what to say. He suddenly remembered his friends, and that he was late for martial arts practice. He considered skipping, but then had a better idea. “I have to go, would you like to come with me to meet my friends?”
She smiled. “I can’t today, but how about tomorrow?”
Oakren nodded. “Sure, we practice kung fu almost every morning at about this time. Just follow the driveway in, take the first path on the left. It will lead straight to the little clearing where we practice.”
“Thank you very much for the invitation,” she signed. “I’ll be there.”
She looked away, over her shoulder, then stepped quickly close and kissed him. Oakren’s eyes opened wide. He stared at her, and she looked back. She leaned in and kissed him again, more slowly this time. Oakren felt himself tingle all over, and like he was going to suffocate. He broke off, and stepped back. His first kiss, it felt strange, so different than he thought it would.
She looked up at him with an odd smile. “Delicious,” she said. “See you tomorrow!” With one more smile, she turned and walked away.
Oakren shook his head and caught her sleeve. “What’s your name?” he signed.
“Sheela,” she finger-spelled. Then she smiled, turned smoothly and bounded away. Orange eyes, Oakren thought, and she even moves like a cat. He watched her until she disappeared down the road, then turned and started walking down the driveway back to the house. After a few steps, he started running. Doakren will never believe this!