Finding Answers: Chapter Seven
The Hidden Doorway
"Let all that you do be done with love"
"It's been three days since we last saw civilization... lost in these uncanny woods with nothing but wild locusts and fruit to eat," Andrew said, pretending to sound dramatic.
"Beat it, Andy" Deborah scoffed, arms folded. "We've only been here five minutes."
The trio stood under the shade of the towering Sequoia trees. A quiet breeze stirred the leaves above, broken only by birdsong echoing through the canopy.
"Well, it's fun pretending it's been three days" Andrew replied with a mischievous smirk.
Deborah narrowed her eyes at him. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to take things seriously. You overact everything."
"And you, my fine lady, should try having fun once in a while," he shot back, shrugging. "You overthink everything!"
"Maybe it's because I'm the only one actually thinking!" she snapped.
"Watch your tone, young lady," Andrew replied slightly offended.
"I'll talk however I want, little brother!"
"For your information, we're twins, and I'm bigger."
"What?!" Deborah said, folding her hands into fists.
"And stronger," he added, grinning.
"Stop it both of you" Ruth's voice came out sharper than she expected, even she was surprised. The twins stared at her, caught off guard.
She took a breath and continued, "This could be a test. Remember, the last piece in this puzzle is love."
"Whoa" Deborah said, unclenching her fists and glancing at her palms. "What if we already failed?"
Andrew's face softened. He sighed and gently took his sister's open hand. "I'm sure we haven't. And I'm sorry."
Deborah looked into his eyes for a long moment. "I'm sorry too." Then she glanced around. "Alright. Now let's figure out where we even are."
Just then, a stronger breeze swept through the trees.
"That's the north wind," Andrew said suddenly, turning into it.
"Yes, Captain Obvious," Deborah said, rolling her eyes.
"No, listen," Andrew pressed, "the wind always blows from the northern edge of the village. If we walk with the wind, it would guide us towards the Town's center, if we go against it, we'll circle back to where we started."
Deborah tilted her head thoughtfully. "Huh. Someone paid attention during Terrain Studies, even after missing other more important classes."
Andrew grinned. "What can I say? I can't help but love the great outdoors. Sometimes I wonder if I was born into the right family."
"What was that?" Deborah asked.
"Nothing! Onward, ladies," Andrew declared, giving a dramatic bow.
Deborah and Ruth exchanged a glance, then grabbed hands and moved ahead of him. Using the wind's current as a guide, they walked into a forest of sycamore trees, colorful birds and squirrels darting between branches. Eventually, they stumbled upon a gentle river running through a wild apple orchard.
They stopped for water and a snack of apples. The breeze was soft, the birds sang, and for a moment, everything felt lighthearted and free. The trio laughed as they played and splashed each other with the river's water, until—
"Wait," Ruth said, her laughter fading. "What's that sound?"
The chirping had shifted. It was urgent. Frantic.
"Sounds like... crying birds?" Deborah guessed.
"We have to help them" Andrew said, already moving toward the sound.
"Why?" Deborah raised an eyebrow.
"Because maybe it's a test. An act of love" Andrew said over his shoulder.
"You think helping some random animal we find is the test?" Deborah asked, following anyway. Ruth trailed them both.
"Well, do you have a better idea?"
They stopped at the base of a tree. Perched on a branch above was a bird's nest, teetering on the edge. The mother bird chirped wildly, hovering nearby.
"It's going to fall," Ruth whispered.
Andrew took off his bag and handed it to Deborah. "If I move wrong, the nest could drop. So... no sudden noises."
He began climbing carefully, balancing himself on the branch beneath the nest. But then, as if on cue, the wind picked up and shook the tree. The nest slipped.
"Oh no!" the girls shouted together.
"I got it!" Andrew called. He had caught the nest just in time.
He descended slowly and placed the nest securely on a nearby tree with stronger branches. The mother bird followed and, to their surprise, dropped a small nut at Andrew's feet.
"Are you sure it's safe there?" Deborah asked.
"Trust me," Andrew said, dusting off his hands.
They exchanged glances. Ruth asked, "So what now? Keep helping animals?"
"No!" Deborah snapped. "We were supposed to head home and re-strategize! Remember?"
"Whoa, look! A fish!" Andrew cut in, pointing to the riverbank. A red salmon was flopping helplessly in the grass.
"Oh, come on..." Deborah muttered as Andrew ran toward it and gently returned it to the river. It darted away like lightning.
"You're welcome!" Andrew called after it, grinning.
Deborah stood behind them, arms crossed, glaring.
"We're not actually doing this, right?"
"I think we should," Ruth said quietly.
"That's two against one," Andrew announced triumphantly. "Let's go!"
And so began a trail of small rescues. They helped a displaced ant line, fed a squirrel, scratched a deer's back with a stick, and did this and that for nearly a mile along the river's path. Eventually, it led them into a canyon, narrow and shadowed, lined with tall gray rock walls.
The squirrel they were following darted ahead and disappeared.
They kept walking, deeper and deeper into the box canyon, pulled by a feeling none of them could explain. The sun faded behind the high walls. The air felt different. Quiet.
No one spoke.
They walked on until the canyon seemed to end. A smooth, flat wall stood before them, cool and ancient with moss growing along its edges.
Deborah broke the silence. "What now? It's a dead end."
Andrew stepped closer, squinting. "No..." he reached out, brushing away some vines. "It's a doorway."
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