Brooding

Glad you could join us for the next brooding episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

Cassandra found her friend weeping quietly outside the entrance to the den she shared with Julius and their brood of little Stingers.

“What’s wrong? Cassandra asked.

Sniffling, Miranda picked up a little one who had just been jostled off her back. “Clark,” she reprimanded, “stop pushing Louise off Mommy.” She replaced the girl and whispered to Cassandra, “Julius has gone to fight against the General’s army. He said he owes it to Queen Lilian, us, and Lady Lucy.”

The Princess’s heart ached. “He’s very brave. You must be proud of him.”

“I am, but lots of The Arids’ soldiers know who he is, and they don’t spare traitors. What if he doesn’t come back? What will I do without him?”

“He’s among friends,” Cassandra said as she stroked a tiny tail. “They watch out for each other. As long as there’s the chance he’ll come home, you have to hold on to hope.”

Miranda, her back overflowing with a roiling mass of little Stingers, said, “I feel so alone.”

Cassandra contemplated Miranda’s sorrow. “I have an idea. Come home with me. I would love the company, and I need practice with the babies — though they’ve gotten so big, they aren’t really babies anymore, are they?”

Lifting Clark off the ground just as he broke away from the pack and headed for parts unknown, Miranda hugged him to her chest. “You make it sound like I’d be doing you a favor, Princess. Thank you.” Snugging Clark into a spot between two of his siblings, she called, “Hold on, children. We’re going to stay with Auntie Cassandra for a while!”

Clark leaped to the ground and grinned at the Princess. Stretching both claws toward her, he called, “Up! Up!”

She picked him up and placed him on her shell. “Hang on tight, Clark. We’re going to fly like the wind!” He laughed all the way home.

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .