John and Pocket 'Part 2'

Sorry this took so long to put up, I was having trouble getting my computer to recognize the USB drive that we have been keeping the story on. The kids have slacked off lately in writing, but we still have enough of an installment to fill you in on how the quest goes.

The Story of John and Pocket: Part 2

“Whoa, either this is a great illusion, or that man was a real wizard!’ John looked around at the dunes behind them.

“Woof!” pocket looked all around as well.

“Yes, that is a lot of sand.” John answered while he scratched Pocket’s ear. “It looks like we are in a desert. We are deserted in a desert.”

“You are not as deserted as you think.” The deep, loud voice came from behind the largest sand dune.

“Whoa.”
“Woof?”

The sound of horse hoofs got louder as the other person came out from behind the sand dune. The head and torso of a large boy rode on the back of a headless horse. As it came closer, John realized that the boy was part of the horse. It was a real live centaur.

“My name is Tigis Shikon, if you need shelter from the sun, my village is one days ride, err, umm, well it might take your two legs a week to get there. It may take two or three days if you ride on your tiny horse.” The centaur had the same look on his face as the boy did when he studied John. He had never seen a human before.

“Pocket is not a horse.” There was laughter in the boy’s voice. “He is a dog, my friendly companion.”

Pocket replied with his usual, “Woof.”

“Oh, right Pocket, my name is John. I am from London, and it must be pretty far away from here.” He looked over each shoulder checking if London was there.

Tigis noticed Pocket’s panting and John wiping the sweat off his forehead. “I have but one skin of water, but I can share if you want a sip.”

“You only brought one skin of water into a desert this hot?” John asked. “If your village is only a day away, why didn't you bring more?”

“We do not have much left in the village.” Tigis held up the water skin in one hand and a feather in the other. “It took me three days of searching to find this feather.”

John watched the feather spin in the centaur’s hand even though there was no wind about. “Why were you looking for a feather?”

“To find the bird of course!” Tigis answered as he checked the direction of the feather’s tip. “Toward the sun.”

“Woof, woof?”

“Toward the sun?” John translated pocket’s question.

“You have never seen a hydronix feather before have you?” Tigis laughed and then explained. “A hydronix is a very large blue bird. Once it hatches, it climbs out of its shell, which then fills with water. Once it is full it will never empty. As it grows, it sheds its feathers. The feathers always point to the bird as long as it lives.”

“Oh I understand. You needed to find a feather, so that you could find a hydronix, so that you could find an egg to get water for your village.” John patted pocket’s head.

“You learn fast.” Tigis began to walk in the direction the feather pointed. “I must begin to follow the feather’s directions. I need to find the hydronix nest while it sleeps at night.”

“Can we help?” John asked as pocket barked.

“I believe that is why I found you in this desert.” Tigis reached his hand to help John up. “Climb aboard, it will be quicker if we ride.”

And then they set off for the hydronix .

Will they find the hydronix? Will the kids invent more creatures? Will they manage in a desert with only one skin of water? Tune in next time to see what happens next.