~ Chapter Six ~
No one doubted that Rom was alive. Mirabella’s senses were strong, but they sat quietly, uncertain how they could do something that no one from the Mystical Forest had ever done...cross into the world beyond.
“I can go,” Anastasia said breaking the silence.
“You are just a child, Anastasia, but I thank you for your bravery.”
“I can do it, Mirabella. I have taken care of myself for two years. I can find Rom and bring him home. It is the only way.”
Majik stood at Ambrosia’s side. He would go with her, his neighs told Mirabella. She hated the idea, but Ambrosia was right, they had no other choice. Rom had to be hurt and suffering.
“Let us return to the cliff. We must find a way down that keeps you from wandering too far from our boundaries.”
The cliff was steep and dangerous. They had to travel nearly a mile to find a spot they felt was safe enough to travel.
“Let us return to the village and gather supplies for your journey,” Mirabella said. They would need food, water and supplies to aid Rom.
As Mirabella watched them pack the saddlebag, sadness filled her. Rom was in need, but she felt such guilt and sadness in the knowledge that she was sending a child on a journey that was far beyond her age.
Ambrosia sat on the ground and watched the activity from a distance. She refused to let her fear show for Rom needed her to be strong.
“Are you certain that you want to do this Ambrosia?” Mirabella asked startling her.
“I am sure. You don’t have to worry about me. Majik will protect me.”
“Ambrosia, you do understand that once you cross over the Mystical Forests boundaries Majik will lose all of his powers. In the human world he will only be a horse.”
“I understand,” Ambrosia assured her, but Mirabella could sense that her news had taken her by surprise.
Majik joined them, his saddlebags packed with supplies. Ambrosia climbed onto his back and smiled down at Mirabella. “Please don’t worry,” Ambrosia said. “I won’t let you down, I promise.”
Mirabella watched with a heavy heart as they descended the mountain.
* * * *
Daniel McDonald had spent the last two days calling everyone he knew in search of Ambrosia. Without her, he could not continue to get to the insurance money from Amber’s death. He got a monthly severance for Ambrosia’s care.
He slammed down the phone after another failed call. He stormed down the hallway and shoved open her door. There had to be something in her room that would help him figure out where she had gone.
Daniel McDonald tore the blankets from her bed and threw them onto a pile on the floor. They were followed by the mattress and box springs, nothing.
He turned over her toy box kicking her toys apart sending unicorns and stuffed kittens across the room. He turned to the closet pulling her clothes from their hangers. In a rage, he threw her books off their shelves, the covers filled with fairies and princesses, again nothing. He returned to the closet and spotted a box that he remembered Amber giving her resting on the closet floor. He pulled it out and removed its lid.
The box was full of pictures of Amber and Ambrosia, drawings and other girly stuff. He went through the box tossing things of no use.
On the bottom of the box a large drawing rested. It appeared to be a map that Ambrosia had taken much time and care in making. The map had “The Mystical Forest” written across the top.
“The Mystical Forest,” he said aloud. He put the map down. Why did that sound so familiar to him? He paced the room for a moment or two before it hit him. “That darn book.” After searching her room for the book and not finding it, he picked up the map and headed back to the kitchen.
He immediately dialed Amber’s mother’s number.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Sara it’s Daniel.”
“Daniel, is Ambrosia all right.”
“Yes, she is fine. She lost that book she loves so much and I want to get her another one, but I just can’t remember the name of it.”
“Oh dear, she does so love that book. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read it to her. It is called “Majik the Black Unicorn” by a Tammy Marie Rose.”
Daniel wrote it all down. “Thank you, Sara,” he said hanging up before she could reply. He grabbed his coat and wallet as he headed out the door.
He had to stop at three bookstores before he found a copy. He flipped through its pages looking for anything that might give him a clue to where she could have gone. Nothing in the book helped him. On the back cover, the author’s photo stared up at him. Her bio said she was from Clay County, West Virginia. Daniel punched it into his GPS. It was a little less than two hours away.
Daniel filled the car up with gas, bought a twelve pack and headed for Clay County.
* * * *
As Ambrosia and Majik reached the bottom of the mountain, Daniel McDonald was pulling into the long driveway of Ambrosia’s favorite author.
He picked up the copy of the book and checked his hair in the mirror. He grabbed a piece of gum to cover the scent of beer. He put on his best smile and got out of the car. Several dogs greeted him. He all most returned to his car, but their wagging tails told him he was in no danger.
Daniel knocked on the front door. The author herself answered the door. She looked just like her author photo, just a bit older. She had a blonde haired girl with a big smile on her hip. “Can I help you?” she asked
“Mrs. Rose?”
“Yes.”
“I apologize for the intrusion, but my daughter is your biggest fan. Her birthday is in a couple days and I was hoping that you could sign this copy of your book for her. It would make her so happy.”
Tammy smiled at him. “I’d love to,” she put the little girl down. “Honey, go play with your sister for just a minute.” She watched the little girl go.
“I appreciate this so much. You are going to make her whole day,” he said as he handed her the book and a pen.
“What is her name?”
“Ambrosia, she’ll be eleven.”
“What a beautiful name,” she said as she signed the book. She handed the book back to him. “Please tell her happy birthday for me.”
“I will. Thank you. Can I ask you something about the book?”
“Sure.”
“Ambrosia is always asking me where the Mystical Forest is. How can I answer that?”
Tammy laughed, “That is the question I am asked quite often by the kids. I always tell them that when I was young my family would visit Dolly Sods and that it is in the forest surrounding that. If you have ever been to Dolly Sods, you’d understand. It is so beautiful there, but strange in a very special way. Whenever we visited I always got the feeling it was magical. So when I wrote the story I pictured Dolly Sods in my mind as its back drop.”
“Thank you again,” he said as he backed down the steps. He waved at her as he headed back to the car. He threw the car into reverse and headed back down the long driveway leaving a trail of dust behind him.
Daniel knew that the Dolly Sods Wilderness area was part of the Monongahela National Forest. It was not far from the town of Davis where his cousin Jack lived.
Daniel pulled over and punched Davis, WV into his GPS. While it calculated his route, he took Ambrosia’s map out of the glove box and spread it out on the passenger seat. “You’re looking for your magical forest, aren’t you Ambrosia?”
The GPS told him it was a 145-mile drive. If he didn’t stop, he could be there in two and a half hours. He put the car back on the road and headed toward the Mystical Forest.
* * * *
Ambrosia and Majik journeyed carefully across the field that lay beneath of Troll Mountain. Majik’s horn was now gone as were his magical powers. If anyone were to come across them, they would only see a girl and her horse.
It was over a mile trip to the spot where Rom and Nog had rolled from the mountain. “Majik, if Rom survived then maybe so did Nog.”
Majik whinnied. The path they followed for the most part was clear so traveling it was easy. They startled a herd of deer that darted off into the woods at the sight of them.
Ambrosia could not help, but admire the beauty all around them. Not far off a deer drank from a large pond. They passed several unusual rock formations. She watched a squirrel run up a tree and hop from limb to limb.
It had taken them nearly an hour to find the spot where Rom and Nog had fallen. They were only certain it was the right place due to a large circle of blood they found on a flat rock. The amount of blood made Ambrosia’s feel cold inside. Neither Rom nor Nog was to be found. They must have both survived the fall, but where were they?
Ambrosia got down from Majik’s back. “They most likely would have left some type of blood trail,” Ambrosia told Majik. They started to search. After a moment, Majik whinnied. Ambrosia ran to him. Sure enough he’d found what they were searching for. Climbing back onto his back they followed the trail, which led further into the human world.
It did not take them long to stumble upon a sight that stopped them cold. A troll body laid just a few feet ahead it’s back to them. It did not stir.
“I don’t think he’s breathing,” Ambrosia said her heart filled with fear. “Please, don’t be Rom, please God,” she prayed.
Cautiously Majik approached the troll. They could see no signs of life from the still body. Ambrosia got down from Majik’s back. Slowly she walked around the other side of the body. Her hands were balled into tight fists of fear. She could barely breathe. Looking down at the troll she suddenly let out a breath of relief. “It’s Nog!”
Majik pushed on Nog with his hoof. He was gone. Nog, the Troll King, was dead. Though his death should have brought great joy to her Ambrosia could not help but to feel sad. Nog was evil, but he was a troll and could not help that his soul was dark. Ambrosia reached out and closed Nog’s eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek. It was the only tear ever shed for the life known as Nog. Majik whinnied. “I know, Majik, we need to find Rom.”
The blood trail continued. “Nog must have been following Rom,” Ambrosia said. “He would search for shelter; somewhere he could rest and not be seen.”
The trail led into a thick grove of trees. As they entered the grove, the trail was harder to follow as the drops of blood were soaked up by pine needles.
Ambrosia got down. “We should split up and search, but please stay where I can see you.” Majik nuzzled her softly. She hugged him before she headed off to the left.
They had all most reached the end of the grove when Ambrosia spotted him. “Rom!”