4: The Storm Cave

Cassia quickened her pace to reach the opening of the cave. It was well hidden so if you didn’t know what the markers were one would never know it was there. She entered the cave without a moment to spare. The sound of carnage had reached her ears. The screams and the smell of the burning village brought her to tears. She moved to the far back of the cave and began to chant “ shadows hide me, don’t let them find me.” She repeated this over and over as she rocked her sister to keep her asleep. Cassia wept quietly as not to wake her sister. For a brief moment she felt like someone was watching her. And felt a brush of a hand on her shoulder as to comfort her. She turned her head and saw nothing. She continued the chanting and rocking until grief and exhaustion over came her and she fell asleep.

Meanwhile in the Stanislov Manor the two princes Victor and Vigo were running away from their governess. Bronislova yelled through the Manor with irritation “ Boys when I get my hands on you I will tweak your ears for that awful prank.” They heard the heavy thumping of her cane and her labored breathing. The two boys went to hide in the closet under the stair case. The two boys hid quietly in the dark. Victor could hear quiet sniffling. He looked over in the direction of the sound and saw an image of a young girl about their age holding and rocking an infant. He could barely hear what sounded like a chant being uttered by the girl. Victor went to reach for her to comfort her but as soon as he did she vanished. Vigo looked at his brother “ what was that?” He said with a tone of fear mixed with confusion.

“I don’t know Vigo.” Victor replied with the same tone of voice. “You don’t think our house is haunted do you?”

“ I don’t know but that was really weird. Did you notice the color of her eyes?”

“ ya I did Vigo. Who in this world has amber eyes? Nonetheless ghosts normally don’t have eye color or eyes for that fact.”

“And how many ghosts have you seen Victor?” Vigo quipped back at his brother.

“A good point.” “I don’t hear the old goat any more, you think it’s safe to come out of hiding?”

Just then the closet door flung open with a furious Bronislova. She grabbed the two boys out of the closet by their ears. “I will teach you two monsters not to prank me.”

“GOVERNESS BRONISLOVA!” King Vladimir voice reverberated off the walls. “ LET MY SONS GO” his voice was filled with anger and danger.

Her voice tremble with fear “ ye yes your your majesty.” She immediately released them.

“ I will tend to them.” The king looked down at the two boys with a severe scowl. “You are dis missed” he said slowly and deliberately.

She stepped away backwards bowing the whole way. The two boys snickered at the sight.

“Don’t think your actions will go unpunished “ the king quipped “you two report to the kitchen you have dish duty. Think it’s funny to replace the chocolate pie with mud then you can wash those dishes.” The king swatted both boys on their behinds to shew them off to the kitchen.

Cassia had awakened to the flash of lightning and a loud crack of thunder reverberating off of the cave walls. She could hear the torrential downpour pounding the leaves and ground. The sound was comforting to her, it was like the Earth Mother was saying “hush my child every thing will be alright.” Cassia stretched and yawned, because her body felt stiff and sore from sleeping on the hard ground. She took a moment and surveyed her surroundings. Along the back of the cave was a ledge that had been carved out big enough to act as a bed. There was a makeshift hearth to hold a fire for cooking and warmth. There were some shelving that held clay pinch pots with lids for storage. The vines that grew at the cave opening gave the perfect cover to hide this place from the outside world. Cassia drew in a long slow shaky breath. “Well it looks like this will be our home for the next few days. I’m glad the hunting party found this place.” She looked over to her sister who was still asleep in her cradle board. “At least one of us in this family is sleeping soundly “ Cassia murmured to herself. She stood up and walked over to the shelves to inspect the small pots to check the contents of them. She opened and sniffed each one carefully. She opened one and found a small dried flower. She remembered the day she had picked it for her Da when they were hiking and got caught in an unexpected rain storm. They ran into the cave to wait out the rain. Her Da placed the small flower in the pot for safe keeping. Cassia traced the rim of the pot with her thumb. A tear welled up in her eye at the bitter sweet memory. She drew in a long deep breath again. She placed the lid back on the pot and placed it carefully and lovingly back on the shelf. She continued to investigate the contents of the pots. In the end she had found a couple of salves and some teas. Cassia looked out at the cave opening again. To see a misty stream of dim light dancing between the curtain of vines. Well I hope the rain put out the fires, I hope Mom and Da made it out safely,she thought to herself. Just then she heard her sister stir from her sleep. Cassia immediately went to her and picked her up to keep her calm. “Good morning bright eyes “ Cassia softly said. Lily cued at her with a cheerful smile. Cassia carried her sister over to the sack of supplies. “ Let’s see what we have for breakfast.” She rummaged one handed through the sack. “Ooh looky here, we have some bread, and some cheese, and dried meats, oh and some butter, and a canteen of water and a bladder or fresh goat milk.” Cassia set her sister on the ledge and proceeded to prepare some bread and milk for their breakfast. She put the food in a couple of empty pots after she wiped them out with the bottom of her shirt. They proceeded to eat the food quietly. When The two girls were finished eating, Cassia cleaned up the pinch pots. Liliana sat and watched her sister clean up. When Cassia was finished Lilyana raised her hands up to signal she wanted to be picked up. Cassia obliged her sister’s request. Cassia held her on her hip. She looked down and asked “ Do you think it’s safe to harvest some fire wood and some pine boughs to make or sleeping arrangements more comfortable.”

Liliana looked up at her sister and nodded with an audible “ Ya” followed by a big smile.

Cassia prepared Lily’s cradle board, and packed her sister into it. She then grabbed the large knife and cinched the belt around her waist. She then lifted the cradle board onto her back. She picked up her foraging bag on her shoulder. She the made her way to the mouth of the cave.

She carefully moved the vine to the side to peak and see if it was safe. She picked up a rock and threw it away from the cave and waited a few minutes. She then proceeded to slowly exit the cave and make her way along the path.

Cassia returned later that day feeling triumphant. She brought back some pine boughs to make the rock bed more comfortable. She had found some pine resin to help light a fire. She found enough dry fire wood to make a fire for couple of days. She also found some wild mushrooms, and leeks. “ looks like we are having soup tonight Lily” Cassia said confidently. Luckily enough there had been a small cauldron left behind to cook and boil water in. She was happy that both her Mom and Da tought her how to forage for wild food ,and herbs ,and how to cook with them.

When dinner was ready she served up the soup with a slice of bread and a dab of butter. Once again they ate dinner quietly.

When finished Cassia cleaned up. Put a lid on the remaining soup. She sat on the now softer bed with her sister. She played a hand clapping game with her , then a round of Peak a boo. Cassia helped her sister to stand and held her hands to help her walk. They played with each other well into the evening. Lily yawned and started to rub her eyes. Cassia smiled at her and said “okay little one it’s time for us to go to bed. Cassia took off her pants. Her shirt was long enough to be a night shirt. She wash up and put a clean nappy on Lilyana to sleep. Cassia covered them up with a camping blanket. They watched the fire and cuddled together until they drifted off to sleep.

The night was peaceful, there were no screams or fires there was just the sounds of the night creatures. The stars shined brightly like fireflies on a hot summer night. Cassia dreamt of her parents smiling and holding her hands. They laughed and played games. She dreamt about running through magnificent hallways. Her parents were dressed in lavish clothes and had crowns on their heads. The scene changed to the house in the village. Her mom was crying a hand touched her shoulder, Antony was always there for her. Then the scene switched to her mom’s big baby belly. She could barely move around the house without bumping or knocking something over. The last scene was of her parents telling her that they loved her, and to take care of her sister.

Cassia woke up to the sound of birds singing. She looked down at her sister who was still sleeping. There was an air of peace that comforted her. I hope mom and da are alright. They said that they would meet us here in 3 days and today is day 2. Please let them be alright. Cassia quietly begged. She carefully got up out of bed doing her best not to wake her sister. She took a bit of water to wash herself up. Then she got herself dressed for the day. She then placed some fresh dry wood onto the cinders of last night’s fire and reignited it. She then began to prep breakfast for the day.

When Lilyana had finally awakened Cassia fed her some breakfast then cleaned her up and got her dressed for her the day.

“Ready for today’s adventure little one?” Cassia asked. Her sister swayed unsteadily on her feet as she toddled over to her cradle board. She stood next to it and clap with an excited squeal.

“Ok Lily let’s get you strapped in. Cassia grabbed her foraging bag. She hoisted the cradle board on to her back and together they made their way out of the cave to go foraging.