Chapter 5
The secret of Saber the cat
Tommy picked up his bag with the sandwiches in, and the three of them made for the front door. As they left Esmeralda locked it with a large iron key from out of the bag that she was now carrying. As she locked the cottage door, a huge magpie swooped down from the trees just missing their head’s and made a beautiful landing upon the chimney pot.
“He will be there until we get back;” Esmeralda said pointing to the magpie, “the cottage will be well looked after while we’re away.”
Esmeralda, Tommy, and Saber walked off into the thick forest, with firm instructions from Esmeralda for the three of them to stay together at all times.
Tommy didn’t need telling a second time, he kept close to the bag she was carrying under her arm, and Saber brushed up against Esmeralda’s boots as they walked along what appeared to be a seldom used part of the forest.
Esmeralda explained to Tommy the different names of the trees and plants that grew there and the uses they could have in the home.
After thirty minutes or so the trees seemed to be getting larger than ever. Huge oak trees stretched high into the sky blotting out the light here and there. Vines clasped around the trees winding their way up. As they continued deeper into the forest they came across blackberry bushes, with blackberries near the size of apples hanging from them.
“Wow,” Tommy said in astonishment, “just look at those blackberries and it’s not even time for them to be out yet, could I try some?” he asked Esmeralda.
“Yes of course you can if you wish, but I’m sure you will find one is sufficient.”
Esmeralda smiled to herself as she watched Tommy bite into a large ripe blackberry, leaving its juice over his face, cheeks, and down his chin.
“Well you look a right ‘Charlie’,” she laughed, “with all that down your face. Never mind we shall soon be coming to a clearing with a stream up ahead, and you can sort yourself out when we get there.”
Suddenly a beautiful bird flew down from a massive chestnut tree, landing on Esmeralda’s shoulder with a squawk; it had all the colors of the rainbow in its makeup and was very stunning.
Tommy had never seen a bird like this before, even though he had spent quite a lot of time in the forest area around his home.
Esmeralda said something to the bird as she stroked it carefully with her long finger, and it took off into the trees once more. Saber looked upwards following its flight into the high branches.
“That was a Kingfisher, but he is bigger than the normal everyday ones.” Esmeralda said to a surprised Tommy, “he is taking a message to the ’Keeper of the Forest’ that we are on our way to see him,” she explained.
Esmeralda once more mentioned that they must keep together and Tommy held on to her bag once again. Saber keeping close to her heels. They made their way through the thick undergrowth, occasionally brushing the cobwebs away from them as they went forward stooping low beneath the tree branches which nearly touched the floor at times.
Esmeralda stopped and pointed. “There you see… it’s getting lighter up ahead, that’s because we are coming to the clearing that I told you about a few minutes ago. We will rest when we get there and you will be able to eat your sandwiches and get your energy back again before we continue.”
Tommy welcomed the Idea of sitting down to rest but at the same time he was keen to find out more about what was awaiting them. And so it was that the three of them continued onward.
As they came into the clearing Tommy gasped with amazement at the scene before him, which could only be described as being from a fairy tale. The trees were gigantic, with foxgloves, sunflowers, canterbury bells far above their normal size growing all around the clearing. A stream wound its way through the open ground and two deer drank from the clear water, showing no concern about the sudden presence of the three of them.
Esmeralda and Tommy sat down on a fallen tree, probably struck by lightning years ago. It was covered in moss; cool to the touch, and inviting after the long walk through the forest. Tommy started to eat his sandwiches whilst taking in all the things around him. Esmeralda took a piece of cake out of her bag which she had baked the night before, and she too began to eat.
“I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as this place,” Tommy told Esmeralda.
“No… and you never will,” she replied in between mouthfuls, “I had to wait many years before Damatrisa revealed it to me, ‘until I could respect its secrets’, she used to say.”
Tommy finished his sandwiches, pushing the empty bag into his pocket. Esmeralda suggested that it would be a good time to wash the blackberry juice off of his face, pointing to the stream.
“It’s all right, the deer won’t be frightened of you,” she said, “they are Fallow Deer, and there are many within the forest. They live for about sixteen years; they are beautiful creatures and I have always admired them.”
Tommy made his way over to the stream where he began to wash his face. At the same moment, the deer had joined him to see what he was doing. Tommy laughed and stroked them, he was flabbergasted to find that they had no fear of him whatsoever, just like Esmeralda had said.
He had seen reindeer with Father Christmas at the local town store as a treat with his gran, but of course they weren’t real. These were, and they felt very warm as he continued to stroke them. They were a lovely fawn color with white spots and large eyes. One of them had antlers that spread out above its head.
After a while the deer began to walk away towards a crop of mushrooms, which were growing nearby, they were different to the kind that Tommy and his gran were used to picking in the fields near their home. These in the clearing stood three feet high, with different colors and shapes, some closed, and others open as big as an umbrella.
Tommy went back over to Esmeralda as the deer started to feed upon the small bushes and shrubs close to the mushrooms.
“I haven’t seen Saber for some time,” said Tommy worriedly to Esmeralda.
“Oh she’s alright I can assure you,” she replied, pointing towards an oak tree across the way, “there she is, under the yonder oak tree,” she laughed, “can you see her?”
It took Tommy a moment to believe what he saw. At the bottom of the oak tree lay a magnificent creature, a tiger in all its glory, yellow, black and white, washing its face with its huge paws.
“She is now in her normal state,” said Esmeralda, “don’t be frightened of her as she will not harm you,” she continued, “she will change to being a cat again when we return home.” Tommy still couldn’t believe his own eyes for a moment.
Esmeralda called to Saber to come and join them. She stretched her long body, got to her feet, and slowly made her way over to them where they sat on the log. Tommy watched her every move. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Saber lay down again in front of Esmeralda and Tommy, giving a large yawn as she stretched out her magnificent body in a moment of contentment.
It was then that Tommy noticed the true beauty of the forest, the fragrance of the many flowers that adorned it. The air was sweet with the smell of wild flowers of all kinds. Rabbits hopped in and out of the bushes enjoying the games they were playing.
Butterflies fluttered past, their wings patterned with all the colors anyone could dream of, and bird songs could be heard well into the distance. Suddenly the kingfisher was back again on Esmeralda’s shoulder, and appeared to be saying something to her.
“We must go on now,” said Esmeralda, “the Keeper of the Forest doesn’t like to be kept waiting, and we don’t want to be the ones to upset him now do we?”
Tommy couldn’t help but ask Esmeralda who ‘The Keeper of the Forest’ was.
“Well,” she replied, “he’s about the most important person in the whole forest. He knows everything that is going on all the time and if it were not for him, then the forest would no longer be able to support all the animals and everything that lives in it,” she sighed, “you could say that he is like a caretaker, making sure that everything in the forest runs smoothly day to day.”
Esmeralda motioned to Saber that they were about to leave the clearing, and picking up her bag, the three of them made their way towards the far side of the stream, onward through the trees and bushes which began to get more thicker.
As they made their way through the dense woodland, Esmeralda would stop now and again as if to take her bearings from the trees around her. Tommy could well understand that normal folk as Esmeralda called them would never be able to find this part of the forest without being taken there; it was far too thick in places to even walk through.
After quite a while they came upon another clearing in the woods, which seemed to appear from nowhere. It went downhill into a valley far below, and from where he stood, Tommy could see the tops of the mighty trees that grew there.
“We have to make our way down,” said Esmeralda, “you must be careful to watch your footing,” she told Tommy, “It can be quite dangerous in parts.”
“Oh yes I will,” he replied in excitement looking around at the many rocks that littered the valley slope and the beautiful flowers that grew there. Saber was in her element now being in her natural state, jumping from one rock to another with great ease.
Esmeralda and Tommy made their way cautiously downward. Saber waited majestically on the odd rock for them to catch up with her before bounding off again. The treetops were getting closer now as they made their way downward into the valley. Tommy could hear the many birds now, singing, squawking and chirping in the trees, some flew past quite close at times as if to welcome them.
The secret of Saber the cat
Tommy picked up his bag with the sandwiches in, and the three of them made for the front door. As they left Esmeralda locked it with a large iron key from out of the bag that she was now carrying. As she locked the cottage door, a huge magpie swooped down from the trees just missing their head’s and made a beautiful landing upon the chimney pot.
“He will be there until we get back;” Esmeralda said pointing to the magpie, “the cottage will be well looked after while we’re away.”
Esmeralda, Tommy, and Saber walked off into the thick forest, with firm instructions from Esmeralda for the three of them to stay together at all times.
Tommy didn’t need telling a second time, he kept close to the bag she was carrying under her arm, and Saber brushed up against Esmeralda’s boots as they walked along what appeared to be a seldom used part of the forest.
Esmeralda explained to Tommy the different names of the trees and plants that grew there and the uses they could have in the home.
After thirty minutes or so the trees seemed to be getting larger than ever. Huge oak trees stretched high into the sky blotting out the light here and there. Vines clasped around the trees winding their way up. As they continued deeper into the forest they came across blackberry bushes, with blackberries near the size of apples hanging from them.
“Wow,” Tommy said in astonishment, “just look at those blackberries and it’s not even time for them to be out yet, could I try some?” he asked Esmeralda.
“Yes of course you can if you wish, but I’m sure you will find one is sufficient.”
Esmeralda smiled to herself as she watched Tommy bite into a large ripe blackberry, leaving its juice over his face, cheeks, and down his chin.
“Well you look a right ‘Charlie’,” she laughed, “with all that down your face. Never mind we shall soon be coming to a clearing with a stream up ahead, and you can sort yourself out when we get there.”
Suddenly a beautiful bird flew down from a massive chestnut tree, landing on Esmeralda’s shoulder with a squawk; it had all the colors of the rainbow in its makeup and was very stunning.
Tommy had never seen a bird like this before, even though he had spent quite a lot of time in the forest area around his home.
Esmeralda said something to the bird as she stroked it carefully with her long finger, and it took off into the trees once more. Saber looked upwards following its flight into the high branches.
“That was a Kingfisher, but he is bigger than the normal everyday ones.” Esmeralda said to a surprised Tommy, “he is taking a message to the ’Keeper of the Forest’ that we are on our way to see him,” she explained.
Esmeralda once more mentioned that they must keep together and Tommy held on to her bag once again. Saber keeping close to her heels. They made their way through the thick undergrowth, occasionally brushing the cobwebs away from them as they went forward stooping low beneath the tree branches which nearly touched the floor at times.
Esmeralda stopped and pointed. “There you see… it’s getting lighter up ahead, that’s because we are coming to the clearing that I told you about a few minutes ago. We will rest when we get there and you will be able to eat your sandwiches and get your energy back again before we continue.”
Tommy welcomed the Idea of sitting down to rest but at the same time he was keen to find out more about what was awaiting them. And so it was that the three of them continued onward.
As they came into the clearing Tommy gasped with amazement at the scene before him, which could only be described as being from a fairy tale. The trees were gigantic, with foxgloves, sunflowers, canterbury bells far above their normal size growing all around the clearing. A stream wound its way through the open ground and two deer drank from the clear water, showing no concern about the sudden presence of the three of them.
Esmeralda and Tommy sat down on a fallen tree, probably struck by lightning years ago. It was covered in moss; cool to the touch, and inviting after the long walk through the forest. Tommy started to eat his sandwiches whilst taking in all the things around him. Esmeralda took a piece of cake out of her bag which she had baked the night before, and she too began to eat.
“I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as this place,” Tommy told Esmeralda.
“No… and you never will,” she replied in between mouthfuls, “I had to wait many years before Damatrisa revealed it to me, ‘until I could respect its secrets’, she used to say.”
Tommy finished his sandwiches, pushing the empty bag into his pocket. Esmeralda suggested that it would be a good time to wash the blackberry juice off of his face, pointing to the stream.
“It’s all right, the deer won’t be frightened of you,” she said, “they are Fallow Deer, and there are many within the forest. They live for about sixteen years; they are beautiful creatures and I have always admired them.”
Tommy made his way over to the stream where he began to wash his face. At the same moment, the deer had joined him to see what he was doing. Tommy laughed and stroked them, he was flabbergasted to find that they had no fear of him whatsoever, just like Esmeralda had said.
He had seen reindeer with Father Christmas at the local town store as a treat with his gran, but of course they weren’t real. These were, and they felt very warm as he continued to stroke them. They were a lovely fawn color with white spots and large eyes. One of them had antlers that spread out above its head.
After a while the deer began to walk away towards a crop of mushrooms, which were growing nearby, they were different to the kind that Tommy and his gran were used to picking in the fields near their home. These in the clearing stood three feet high, with different colors and shapes, some closed, and others open as big as an umbrella.
Tommy went back over to Esmeralda as the deer started to feed upon the small bushes and shrubs close to the mushrooms.
“I haven’t seen Saber for some time,” said Tommy worriedly to Esmeralda.
“Oh she’s alright I can assure you,” she replied, pointing towards an oak tree across the way, “there she is, under the yonder oak tree,” she laughed, “can you see her?”
It took Tommy a moment to believe what he saw. At the bottom of the oak tree lay a magnificent creature, a tiger in all its glory, yellow, black and white, washing its face with its huge paws.
“She is now in her normal state,” said Esmeralda, “don’t be frightened of her as she will not harm you,” she continued, “she will change to being a cat again when we return home.” Tommy still couldn’t believe his own eyes for a moment.
Esmeralda called to Saber to come and join them. She stretched her long body, got to her feet, and slowly made her way over to them where they sat on the log. Tommy watched her every move. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Saber lay down again in front of Esmeralda and Tommy, giving a large yawn as she stretched out her magnificent body in a moment of contentment.
It was then that Tommy noticed the true beauty of the forest, the fragrance of the many flowers that adorned it. The air was sweet with the smell of wild flowers of all kinds. Rabbits hopped in and out of the bushes enjoying the games they were playing.
Butterflies fluttered past, their wings patterned with all the colors anyone could dream of, and bird songs could be heard well into the distance. Suddenly the kingfisher was back again on Esmeralda’s shoulder, and appeared to be saying something to her.
“We must go on now,” said Esmeralda, “the Keeper of the Forest doesn’t like to be kept waiting, and we don’t want to be the ones to upset him now do we?”
Tommy couldn’t help but ask Esmeralda who ‘The Keeper of the Forest’ was.
“Well,” she replied, “he’s about the most important person in the whole forest. He knows everything that is going on all the time and if it were not for him, then the forest would no longer be able to support all the animals and everything that lives in it,” she sighed, “you could say that he is like a caretaker, making sure that everything in the forest runs smoothly day to day.”
Esmeralda motioned to Saber that they were about to leave the clearing, and picking up her bag, the three of them made their way towards the far side of the stream, onward through the trees and bushes which began to get more thicker.
As they made their way through the dense woodland, Esmeralda would stop now and again as if to take her bearings from the trees around her. Tommy could well understand that normal folk as Esmeralda called them would never be able to find this part of the forest without being taken there; it was far too thick in places to even walk through.
After quite a while they came upon another clearing in the woods, which seemed to appear from nowhere. It went downhill into a valley far below, and from where he stood, Tommy could see the tops of the mighty trees that grew there.
“We have to make our way down,” said Esmeralda, “you must be careful to watch your footing,” she told Tommy, “It can be quite dangerous in parts.”
“Oh yes I will,” he replied in excitement looking around at the many rocks that littered the valley slope and the beautiful flowers that grew there. Saber was in her element now being in her natural state, jumping from one rock to another with great ease.
Esmeralda and Tommy made their way cautiously downward. Saber waited majestically on the odd rock for them to catch up with her before bounding off again. The treetops were getting closer now as they made their way downward into the valley. Tommy could hear the many birds now, singing, squawking and chirping in the trees, some flew past quite close at times as if to welcome them.