“Atticus, put me down.” He said.

  “Oh?” asked the man “Do you need to find a bush to relieve yourself?”

  “No, but I’m not going to rest if my sister needs sleep.”

  “You really should rest.” The old soldier told him. “Little witch, come here.” He motioned to Siouxsie. “I have strength enough to carry you both.”

  “You’re going to tire yourself out if you do that.” said Hoxley.

  “Perhaps if I had someone to help share the load.” Atticus said as he made eye contact with Loxo. “We could put both of them in the hammock and suspend them if we each carry and end of the spear. That would lessen the load some for me.”

  “Me?” asked Loxo feigning surprise “Oh I couldn’t. I’m so terribly clumsy I’d likely trip and drop them both. We wouldn’t want that, would we? Magical children falling and bonking their heads on the ground all over the place?”

  “Loxo…” Hoxley sighed. “We’re all bearing a share of the load. And since you found strength enough to seek out and carry every coin purse from those fallen horsemen, it wouldn’t hurt you to burden yourself for a small while to aid those in your company.” At first, the lean man looked unconvinced. But after a few seconds of being glared upon his temperament changed.

  “Oh, all right.” He conceded. “But I do want it well noted that I am only complying under duress and that I cannot be held responsible in any way should tragedy befall these dear children while we travel. Not in any way.”

  “Fair enough,” said Atticus. “I’ll take the lead and you can follow me. It should be less treacherous that way.” He lowered the spear from his shoulder and set it upon the ground. The straps and belts of the hammock splayed themselves and Siouxsie stepped over to them before clicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth *NOOK*NOOK*NOOK*. The flurry of bats instantly materialized overhead before swooping to hide within her cloak. Once settled, she climbed into the meshwork of straps them to wrap her arms around her brother before the soldier and pirate lifted the spear from both ends. The hammock closed about their dark cloaks, resembling a black leather chrysalis with a pair of wicked larvae inside.

  “Oh, this weighs far less than I would have thought.” Loxo said with some surprise as he placed his end upon one shoulder. “One might’ve thought magic folk weighed more. I don’t suppose it would be too much to handle.” Once Hoxley was assured the task was well in hand, she started again. Morell clung to her, tired as well. It wasn’t long after they entered another wooded area before she could feel him slouching and falling asleep against her back. His cheek squished itself between her shoulder blades and she could feel his breaths as he snored.

  Across hills and ridges the companions travelled, stopping only once to top off their water supplies at a babbling brook. Otherwise, it was a slow, uneventful, day long trek across an untamed wilderness. No one spoke, each one content to listen to the soundscape of their surroundings. Bugs and birds played a welcome symphony to add to a gentle ambiance as sunlight shone down through the canopy above. Rays of glowing warmth were very welcome as they helped to shake the chill that lingered from the mist. Diagonal beams winked and blinked in and out of existence as the trees swayed, like the forest itself were breathing. Upon reaching one of the larger sunbeams, Hoxley stepped full into it and came to a stop, closing her eyes.

  “Hoxley? Is everything alright?” asked Atticus. At first, she didn’t answer. But when he asked again, an unexpected expression found her face in a relaxed state of serenity.

  “It’s…it’s quiet and warm, Atticus.” She said, stretching her arms high above her horns. Her head tilted lazily to one side, giving birth to a smile as warm as the sun painting her. “There’s a tranquility here I haven’t felt in many a day. Forgive me for I should want to enjoy it a moment more.”

  “Well?” asked Loxo. “Move up, Atticus. I too should like to stand in the beam.” Each man stepped out into the opening, the hammock hanging between them. At first, they seemed unaffected. But given a few moments to take it in the aura of warmth and silence she described, each one took on the same countenance of peace. Even Morell awoke from his slumber to bask his face in the warmth raining down.

  “It’s so warm…” The boy whispered

  “I want some of that.” said a voice from within the chrysalis. Atticus and Loxo gingerly set the hammock down and Siouxsie climbed out.

  She stepped into the middle of the group, removing not only her wide brimmed hat but her cloak as well. Both were laid in a pile upon the grass before she closed her eyes. Hands were held high to sun the palms. She didn’t sing at first, but swayed and hummed a happy song to herself before beginning to dance, skipping in small circles. Everyone watched in admiration as she spun and twirled, a girl momentarily lost to all the troubles and dangers that had followed them. Her orange gel, Pumpkin sat balanced atop her head and never wavered in the slightest. The song she sang was so simple that the prince, Atticus and Hoxley thumped their weapons to keep the beat. All the while, Siouxsie spun and twirled with her eyes shut, no step or kick out of place as she began to sing for all to hear. For all those lucky enough to witness her, their hearts felt a little lighter, if even for a moment. It even helped the gash on Hoxley’s forehead to stop throbbing so much. Siouxsie’s words were sunny and bright like the day. And as they listened, an enchanting story began to paint itself in their minds:

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  

  Song of the Pumpkin and Fox:

  Thereeeee once was a pumpkin and fox who found themselves lost in the woods as they roamed,

  and no matter which way they turned they could not find the way home.

  Through hills and valleys they trod as the twilight sun had shone, but no matter how hard they looked they still could not find the way home.

  They knew they had to find the exit soon, or surely the frost will spell their doom, this is not the end of my tune, this is the story of the pumpkin and fox!

  And the fox said:

  My friend I feel a terrible shiver, if only we could find the river, I’m sure we could find our way back home.

  The pumpkin replied:

  I say that we ignore the chill, and roll ourselves down every hill, to tumble is always such a thrill, eventually we’ll find our way home.

  The sun went down, the night grew dark, the pair were sure to end up dead. For hours and hours they searched and trekked, but got more lost instead.

  The fox gave up and grew deathly pale, almost frozen stiff by the blustry gales, but this is not the end of the tale, still they had not found the way home

  The fox said: Pumpkin; The way is shut and closed the gate, and I fear we’ll meet an icy fate, they’ll find us in spring in a frozen state, if we don’t find our way home!

  The pumpkin replied: I say that we ignore the chill, and roll ourselves down every hill, to tumble is always such a thrill, eventually we’ll find our way home!

  Soooo the fox gave in and followed the fruit, they threw themselves down every hill to boot, and what do you know they found the route, the river that would lead them home.

  The water they found at the foot of the hill, was the way to lead them out of the chill

  When they both got home they warmly ate their fill, the fox and pumpkin found their way home!

  So, if you are lost, be the pumpkin that rolls, not a negative fox, but a tumbling soul,

  Then you too will be home eating from a big warm booowwwwwllll…

  That’s the story of Pumpkin and Fox!

  When Siouxsie was done singing, the others applauded her entertaining performance.

  “Thank you, thank you.” She said, giving a low and graceful bow before collecting her things.

  “What a delightful songbird you are.” Loxo said, pinching a silver coin from one of his many coin purses and flipping it to her. “I always pay the bard for their song!” Siouxsie held her hat out and caught it before putting it in her own purse. The companions shared a much-needed sigh of happiness before Hoxley thumped her spear twice upon the ground to signal that it was time for them to carry on. The others obeyed and gathered their things.

  “What a cute story.” Said the prince. “When I was little, Idris and my nursemaids would sing such songs to me.”

  “I do love a bit of nonsense myself.” Said Atticus “It keeps the heart young.”

  “It’s not nonsense.” Said the bundle of black leather clothes hanging in the hammock. “It’s survival.”

  “Survival?” asked Prince Damron. “How so?”

  “Weren’t you listening?” asked Robert. “The story is educational. All witch territories are based around a water source. Oldvale? Spellvale? Each has a river running through or next to it.”

  “I never thought about that.” said Hoxley. “He’s right, they do.”

  “The story tells children how to find water and find their way home by seeking lower elevations where creeks and rivers are more likely. If they can find those then they’re not to get lost in the wilderness as easily.”

  “Well, I’ll be,” said Atticus with a bit of surprise. “The witch is right!”

  “All your songs are like this?” asked the prince.