Kaela's Garden: A Dangerous Adventure (Part 2)

The next season the plants were lower than before, the water in the stream also low. The winter wasn't all that cold at least. Because of the lack of snowfall the mountains didn't have as much snow for water to melt down and collect in the stream. Still, when she went out each day she found one vegetable somewhere with a marking on it. After a time her mother started to become upset at her, she then stopped bothering to try and show the discovery to her.

Eventually years passed and she grew up but never quit going out to tend garden. After her twelfth birthday she began to formulate a quest in her mind. Growing up gave her new insight and experience she would use to figure out what she was seeing in the garden. She now understood the arrows direction and that something was trying to communicate with her. Before she could put her thoughts to the test, her brother once again arrived later that summer.

Kaela was making her bed and getting ready for the morning chores when her brother knocked on her door. "You're up awfully early this morning. I was hoping to catch you by surprise." He smiled as he walked in observing her clean the room. "You seem in quite a bit of a hurry, can I help you with any of this?"

For the first time in her life she was actually ignoring her brother. She was so glad to see him every summer she almost took it for granted, even though he hadn't have been around for the past few months. This time she had an agenda and it would not wait for her.

Continuing to do her choirs without looking at him, she replied. "I'm sorry brother but I really must be going."

He frowned. "Kaela, I've only been able to stop by twice this year so far. Where do you have to go that we can't first spend some time together?" Then he smiled at her as he slowly turned her around to face him. "Your garden can wait. I was hoping we could take the boat out on the lake this afternoon down in the village." He pointed outside the window. "And what better day to do it than this! I will wait for you downstairs." He left her staring out the window.

She took her time making the rest of her bed and clean her room. She was hoping somewhat that he would stop waiting for her and find something else to do. Walking to the window again she peered down at the garden. She wasn't sure, but she swore to herself that something was calling her there. It almost made her feel giddy with excitement at finding out exactly what was making the voice inside her head. Packing the things she planned for the day she headed out the door and cautiously down the stairs. Turning around the balcony at the bottom she almost ran into her brother.

"Ready to go?" He peered at her belongings. A confused looked appeared on his face. "Packing for a trip to New Targonor itself are we? You don't really need that much since were going for a canoe ride. There won't be enough room on the canoe to carry all of this."

Frustration showed on her face. "Jeremiah, I don't think I want to go canoeing today! Can't we do it tomorrow? I really must be going." She attempted to walk around her brother when she noticed her mother was directly behind him, sitting at the kitchen table.

Her mother called her brother over to the table. Kaela set her belongings down, watching them discuss something at the table.

Her mother peered over to her and then back at her brother. "Jeremiah, I know you planned on taking Kaela here out on a surprise canoe trip when you arrived. I need some help here however tending to the garden this evening and will need Kaela here at the house." She looked over at Kaela. "Will it be ok if your brother takes you tomorrow?"

Secretly she was jumping with joy. If she had to go on the canoe trip there would be no time for her own little adventure she was hoping to make. "Sure mother that would be fine. Can I go outside now?"

Smiling, her mother patted her on the back and led her outside. Kaela wanted to go out exploring right away, but thought it best to seem like she was working in the garden first. As she approached the garden she slowed. Was she doing the right thing? She wanted to tell her mother of her plans but wasn't sure her mother would understand. There was adventure to be had and she was going to take it no matter what. Firmly planted in her determination she headed towards the garden and began working her way to the back.

Back at the cabin her brother and mother were having a heated discussion.

"It's too soon for her!" Her mother slammed her first onto the tabletop.

Jeremiah frowned. "It was too soon for me as well but she might just have to live with that. Did you get a good look at her just a moment ago? She's determined to go, I know it. More determined than I was at that age. I saw the signs and didn't have enough courage until my Uncle." He trailed off into a deep thought.

Her mother held his hands together at the table. "Go with her, watch her, and make sure she comes back before she goes too far, ok?"

He smiled. "Agreed. I will be back before you know it!" He immediately headed off into the garden after Kaela.

Kaela set off upstream from the river after emerging from the back of the garden. The burden of her belongings increasing with each step she took. Not knowing how much longer it was going to be and where she might be going she decided to lighten the load a bit. She dropped the doll, extra pair of shoes, and reluctantly her hair set. "That was much better", she said to herself.

The path she took curved away from the water for while then curved back as she approached the foot of the mountains. It was closing in on the afternoon. The trees were less thick here, mostly clustering right up to the riverbanks edge. Peering over the edge into the streams water she noticed several fish gathering. They almost looked as if they were watching her. Curious, she dipped her finger in the water. The fish looked at it, moved a bit closer to her surprise, and then moved away slowly up river.

For a long time the fish seemed to move with her. They would swim closer to her side of the shore and then back again to the other side, always keeping pace with her movements. When she stopped for a rest they would disappear somewhere only to return when she began her movements again. Looking ahead she noticed the water start to split apart. There was a fork in the river. The neck of the fork was rather narrow here. She could wade across or keep to this side. Since she wasn't sure where she was going she decided to stay on this side. As she approached the end of the fork she heard a splash in the water somewhat behind her. Peering behind her she noticed nothing. Forging ahead, she heard the sound again. This time when she turned around she witnessed a fish actually jump right out of the water! How delightful as she giggled to herself. She suddenly had a flash of inspiration. What if they were trying to tell her something? She walked closer to the banks edge. There was the pool of fish again. Suddenly they moved off towards the far bank and veered off to take the other fork. They would show her the way! A little ways back she remembered a few rocks that rose above the river to form a somewhat loose connection between each bank. She walked back that way and found the crossing. Careful to not slip in the water to get her shoes wet she managed to cross successfully to the other side.

The rest of the evening was rather uneventful. As dusk approached she suddenly had a terrible feeling. She actually had two terrible feelings. One was that she was awfully far from home without anyone being with her. Never leaving the garden and the village there was no telling what might be lurking out here. The second feeling was the fact that she was lost. The path from the river bank had forced her to go inland for sometime now. There was still the path that went far into the forest as far as she could see. Still, it gave her the uneasy sense that she might have trouble finding her way back. She was a stubborn girl and one that didn't give up easily. Those weeds in the garden gave her lots of trouble but she never gave up on taking care of that problem. She would do the same here.

For a time she walked through patches of clearing and pine tree thickets. Right as the sun was setting the river had returned. It was fast moving this time. Right up ahead she noticed the rock face and a small waterfall. How lovely! Climbing up the rocks she found the edge of the waterfall and dipped her hands in. The water was freezing! Taking her hands out of the water she looked around for something to dry them off with. Not finding anything immediate she dug into her basket and located a small cloth blanket. As she was drying her hands she noticed the fish had come back again. She was always certain it was the same ones because there were two rather large fish surrounded by about a dozen smaller ones that she could probably hold right in her hands. They were stationary right before the waterfall.

Finally realizing what they were trying to say, she took a closer look at the waterfall. At the edge of the water on her side there was a gap, a rather large gap. She could actually fit between that gap and for some ways walk around behind the waterfall without getting wet. This was exciting! She had never seen a waterfall before, let alone walked under one. Peering closer to the edge she slowly made her way around back, the rocks protruding at odd angles that sometimes inhibited her movements. She also had to climb in an upwards direction. Peering farther up she could see a large cavern that went back as far as she could see. It was getting real dark out now as well as here in the cavern. Climbing further up, she stood at the base of the cavern with the waterfall rushing behind her, the light filtering in at odd angles through the rushing water.

Stumbling around for better footing she began to wonder if there might be a bear or other creature living in the cave. It was certainly large enough for one and smelled of animals. It might be very dangerous for her to walk in on something's home. She put down the basket and the rest of her belongings. That was the one thing she forgot to bring, an alternative light source. Why didn't she think of that when she packed her things back at the cottage? Everything else she had taken into account for, including the need for sleep if she was out for a day or two. Frustrated at her lack of detail she looked around desperately for something she could use, only to find rock and hard packed dirt. She began to cry. Her hopes of finding out what the end of her journey was going to turn out like turned instead into a complete disaster. The key element she should have thought about she had forgot to bring.

Burying her face in her lap she cried until she couldn't any longer. After a time she opened her eyes and looked up, noticing that the ground had started emitting a faint glow. Looking around she discovered that a light had mysteriously come on somewhere further down the cavern. The whole area was illuminated enough for her to see a new way to proceed. Up ahead there was a small passageway that led off to the left. Wherever the glow was coming from, she would find its source. Finding new found strength she continued on.