On a Morning like This Chapter 8 The Cave

“There is a cave ahead.  It will shelter us, and the spring is there,” Nonna whispered.
“Why are they so persistent? Why do they look for you?” Hoopy asked.
“I know where the entrance is to the Narflbots’ lands,” Nona replied nervously. “I have seen the Chief Narflbot’s headquarters. That makes me dangerous.”
“My father is the priest of the High King. The Narflbots planned to use me for ransom and wanted to get information about our people. I didn’t think they were in the area where the Farmer Man lives. I thought they ranged more to the west.”
Suddenly, Nonna realized she should have warned them. She felt afraid. “I am ashamed. Befriending me brings danger to you. Wait in the cave, they will leave, and you can return to safety.”
“Danger is what you were in when we found you. The Narflbots have been your enemies since we have known you, but how do they know who you are?” whined Flur-Ella.
“They have foto-plates of my family. Someone gave them to the Chief Narflbot. They recognized me.”
“We do not know about foto-plates. What are those? Will they know about the cave and find us?” grumbled Bar-thur.
“Few know about the cave. It is almost invisible to the eye. We will be safe there,” Nonna answered. She continued, “A foto-plate is a picture of a person or thing, which someone may carry to another location. It is a tool left from the old time.”
None of the Forest Beings knew of foto-plates. How could you be in two places? What was she talking about? Fear and distrust showed on their faces.
“A foto-plate sounds extremely dangerous. Maybe this isn’t such a good tool. Who would do this?” Bar-thur rumbled.
With a soft bark, Pata-Pikki said, “The One Who Lives told me we were to help you. We still have that responsibility. I will continue.”
Hoopy and Flur-Ella studied him. Hoopy whined, “If Pata-Pikki thinks this is right, we will follow.”
Bar-thur looked through narrowed eyes at each of them. “The Narflbots will turn us into skins if they catch us.” With a low bumbling grumble, he continued along the canyon wall. Turning the corner, they saw the shadow had moved to the opposite wall. A Strange Contraptor flew somewhere close by.
Pata-Pikki sunk into his heart. “I am confused,” he said to The One Who Lives, “Are we to stay with this Wilding girl or join our friends?” There was no answer. Pata-Pikki knew from experience that he needed to carry this through. The One Who Lives would tell him to change direction when it was best to do that.
They crossed the dry riverbed, looking continually into the bright blue sky above, seeing nothing. Shadows again became their hiding place.
“I know it is in this part of the canyon. The opening is hard to see.” Nonna said. The sound of the Strange Contraptor became louder.
“We must find it quickly,” Flur-Ella whined. “The Strange Contraptor sounds like it is coming back in this direction.” They ran down the length of the canyon wall, searching.
“It looks like a crack in the wall, but it is a slot wide enough for a Wilding to pass through,” Nonna instructed.
Bar-thur looked surprised. “Can I get through it?” he growled.
“Let’s find it, and we will know!” Pata-Pikki yipped. “The One Who Lives will surely help us in our need.”
Looking to the other side, Nonna said, “Maybe it is on the other side? I know it is here.”
To their surprise, against the far wall was the shadow of a slot. A fallen slab leaned against it. The whir of the Strange Contraptor grew louder.
“Run,” Hoopy barked. Across the dry riverbed they ran, and providentially slid into a space behind a large stone slab. 
Bar-thur followed. It was tight, but in he went. The Strange Contraptor flew directly overhead. They ran down a slope that took them into the cool darkness of the cave. They heard water dripping somewhere ahead.

“I can’t see anymore. I will have to sit down until my eyes get used to the dark,” Nonna said, crying.