Barloc whinnied softly and pressed his nose against Sam’s shoulder Now we just need to find a way out of here Tuck said his eyes darting around the stone walls There He pointed to a sliver of hazy light in the distance and motioned for them to follow When they stepped out of the cave they found themselves deep in an unfamiliar forest There were no live oaks with mossy beards longleaf pines or seagulls here Instead tall evergreens loomed beside gray beech trees Crows cawed overhead and a lone hawk shrieked across the sky Jagged covered snow mountain peaks loomed in the distance just as Barloc had described A bright moon shone overhead casting the world in light and shadow All around them things moved It seemed as if the forest were alive its spindly wooden fingers 2
reaching for them Sam moved closer to Tuck His face was tense as he scanned their new surroundings If we meet anyone keep your head down Barloc Tuck said Once they see your purple eyes they’ll know what you are Let’s make sure it’s safe for you here before we let that happen I recall from my ancestors memories that the town is this way Barloc turned to the right and began walking Sam and Tuck followed as Sam explained where Barloc was taking them Good idea Tuck said People might know Sylvie there Sam stumbled over a root and Tuck grasped her elbow to keep her from falling They helped each other along the unfamiliar path But what if Sylvie’s not there Sam asked It’s been ten years 4
We won’t know until we get there Tuck said If we can’t find her maybe someone in town will remember her or know where she is Sam and Tuck followed Barloc for a long time moonlight piercing the tree canopy with arrows of light and casting odd shadows on the forest floor as they navigated around boulders and bushes Barloc stopped several times shaking his head and then backtracking Hard to remember the way in the dark We know that you’ll get us there Sam said sounding more cheerful than she felt If only I could communicate with the unicorns here Barloc told her They could help us find our way Maybe the herd is too far away Sam offered before sharing Barloc’s thought with Tuck 5
