Glad you could join us for the next reunited episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…
Sylvia’s lament crumpled as she looked up at her brother. “Arturo? You’re alive?” Flying to hold him close, she sobbed the news. “Rebels came early yesterday to take me, and when Father and Mother tried to drive them off, they attacked the nest and killed all the unborn. Then they said we would never see you again. We thought you were dead!”
“How are you still here?” he asked in wonder.
“Someone warned Mother they were coming, so she told me to hide, but I saw everything.” She took his hand. “Come home with me. They’ll be so happy to see you!”
Turning to Cassandra, he begged, “I know how much you want to return to Elliot; I hope you can understand my own need to see my family. Please let me do this, and I promise I’ll take you directly to Fen afterward.”
Cassandra imagined her mother’s death at the rebels’ hands without having a single memory of her living face. How much harder, she thought, to lose a child to them.
“Of course,” she answered. “Let’s go.”
Working in the silence of sorrow, Arturo and Sylvia’s parents crawled across the surface of the nest pulling the dead from their chambers. A small mound of bodies lay on the ground below them. Tears blurred the Princess’s sight.
“Father! Mother!” Sylvia called. “Arturo’s here!”
Cassandra hoped her own reunion would be so joyful.
To be continued. . .
Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .
Space, Time, and Raspberries 
It’s so emotional… 😢
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Honest emotion, I hope. ❤
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Definitely! I get very emotionally involved – my son has often found me sobbing over a book. The latest one was “Jennie” by Paul Gallico…don’t know why I keep re-reading it..😸
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The same thing happens to me, and not only when I read to myself — I’ve read things like Peter Pan, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter out loud to my younger sisters, my son, and my day care kids. I always succumb to the triumph of the human spirit. The kids would make fun of me, but I couldn’t help it, and they still wanted me to read to them because they got caught up in the stories, too. Lol. I’ll haven’t read “Jennie”, but now it’s on my list!
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Let me know what you think – it’s one of my favourites. I also think that’s part of the fun about reading to children – really making that world come alive for them.
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I will. I’ve placed a hold on the only copy in the entire San Diego Public Library system, and I’m first in line, so I should have it Friday or Monday. 🙂 I read to the kids every day at lunch. Of course, one must use voices. 😉 It was a highlight of the day for all of us.
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Cassandra is truly a gem. Poor Arturo, I’m glad he gets to see his family for a bit, though.
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She’s one of my favorites. Her ongoing journey from fearless adventurer to outspoken advocate for allied cooperation and justice is definitely serving her apparent destiny to rule Bog. I think her compassion will help make her a great leader. At least Arturo’s public service will take place in the Freelands. He may be able to live at home while he serves!
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You’re giving me too much. Now, I’m gonna be hoping all of it pans out the way you mention here. Lol.
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Hence, I say, “apparent destiny”. Heh, heh, heh.
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