Once Upon a Time...

continuing 

The First Journey

Point Four

Hoe stared at the blank wall and stomped his foot. It was just like them. They had left him behind. Sure he had been a grump about the entire thing, but it was a shock to Hoe that they were not going to bring him along. They were taking the journey, and he was not going. Hoe made the biggest decision he had ever made. He was going after them. Sure he was terrified of the forests and he had no idea where the City of Fire was, but he knew one thing. Brenda had saved his life and he was not going to let her go to the city where great danger lurked alone.

"Hoe to the rescue!" the little boy said.

He was more terrified then he had ever been, but he was not going to be left behind.  As quietly as he could, he scooted the bedroom's single chair toward the window. Climbing up onto it, he started unfastening the window. After three tries, a very bruised Hoe toppled through the window and onto the rose hedge. For a moment Hoe did not move. Everything ached. Finally he climbed up and ran as fast as his little sore legs could wobble into the dark forrest.

"Hoe does not know where to look?" He mumbled to himself brushing thorns off his jacket and pants.

Suddenly he caught a glimpse of a foot print in the earth. It looked like Brenda's foot print. There were more up ahead. So with new encouragement, Hoe bounded after them. The faster he went the more tiered he got.

"Why did they leave Hoe in the first place? Now Hoe has to run and try to catch up. Hoe mad!" He declared to himself.

His feet started hurting with every step. Hoe persevered slower and slower into the woods. He was hungry since he had eaten nothing that entire day. What was there to eat? All he saw was never ending trees. After what seemed to Hoe hours, he came to a river. The footprints stopped at the water's edge.

"Now what Hoe supposed to do? Hoe stuck. Hoe hungry," he complained.

Squinting across the river, Hoe could barely make out a brown flat object tied to a tree on the other side. It was an old raft. Hoe felt hopeless.

"Hoe could catch fish. Hoe never caught fish before. Bad idea,"muttered Hoe.

He gazed at the rushing water despairingly. He would have to swim. Of course he knew this was dangerous, but it was the only way. Instead of waiting to make up his mind, he plunged into the water.

Hoe was suddenly fighting the current with all his energy(although he did not have a lot). He was choking, kicking, punching, and shrieking.

"Help me! Help me!" He wailed although he knew no one could hear him.

"Hold on!" shouted a voice that sounded to far away to offer Hoe much hope.

It gave Hoe enough hope to keep fighting the water though his muscles were hurting if he had any. A branch was thrust at him. He hung to it for dear life. With several abrupt yanks, he and the branch were hoisted to shore.

"You sure are not a real good swimmer, little guy," said someone or something above him.

Hoe peaked up and stared at a girl who looked much older then him but younger then Brenda. "Who you?" he asked weakly.

"Some people call me Fin, but my fancy title is Spy Finmath, " declared the girl. "I am looking for a runaway knight. His name is Sir Icmath."

to be continued