The Kerambrells by Clare Wood and Chloe Willems – a short story written while journeying through
New Zealand’s heartland of adventure!
Through the southern alps of new Zealand journeys 2 faithful friends on their backs were packs filled with enough food and water to last them many days.
These 2 creatures were known to other common magical folk as Kerambrells. Kerambrells are as short as dwarfs yet as graceful as some of the younger Elvin folk. Their magical power comes from deep within the Earths core from which all life is created. Their mission on this tramp was to save the world I know that sounds slightly dramatic and even they didn’t realize what the consequence of their failure could be but the situation was truly dire…
Chapter 1
“Shhh…be careful Brilglar” “What do you think I’m trying to do Dayglin? This was your stupid idea in the first place…you should be up here not me!” “Just shut your gob and hurry up will you – I don’t want to be caught by humans anymore then you do – just throw down some wood and lets get going, we’ve got to be in the lower hills before dark.” Brilglar lifted a small piece of wood from the pile and groaned softly. “What’s the problem now?” Dayglin hissed squinting upwards into the darkness “they’re heavy! We wont be able to carry more then one at a time – it’ll take hours to carry enough to the hills to start a decent fire” Brilglar complained “We’d best get started then” Dayglin said with a resigned sigh.
Suddenly they herd a noise from not to far off. “What’s that sound Dayglin?” Brilglar asked cautiously “I don’t know sounds like an animal – do you think that means humans are about?” Dayglin replied softly back, grunting with effort as they continued on around the corner of the barn with their incredible load. “Ärghhhhhhhhhh!!!” Brilglar suddenly screamed as something wet and sloppy touched the back of his neck he dropped his end and sent Dayglin sprawling in the dust. “What is it now?” Dayglin asked angrily getting up and dusting himself off…”oh Brilglar..” and with that he burst out laughing and at the sound of such merriment the little sheep (only ¾ grown yet still taller then the Kerambrells by at least a half a head) crawled out from behind the barrel where Brilglar’s shrill cry had scared it off to. “Honestly Brilglar” Dayglin playfully scolded a smile still playing around his lips “to be frightened of such as innocent a creature as this – what would the lads back home think” he said shaking his head and laughing again at the thought. Brilglar went red and silently cursed the little sheep and scolded his own cowardice. “Hurry up Dayglin! We haven’t got time to wait for you to finish you joke” Snapped Brilglar “Ï said hurry up!” “Alright, alright calm down” said Dayglin as he picked up his end of the little log straining with the effort “This would all be so much easier if we could use the power” “I know” agreed Brilglar “but the Karambra said we couldn’t use it and that we defiantly don’t want to be noticed do we? We’d best just get going” he said in calmer tones regretting having snapped at his friend earlier.
As they awkwardly shuffled the log along the lamb started to follow them curiously its head tipped a little to the side as though it was trying to understand the situation. Suddenly it sprang up on the bank around them and stood on the path blocking their way. “What do you want?” grunted Brilglar glaring at the lamb. Ï think he wants to come with us” answered Dayglin smiling wistfully at the thought. “you know…” he continued “having that lamb along might not be such a bad idea” “WHAT! Are you mad Dayglin or just thick in the head” “No seriously think about it – he could pull some of these little logs up the hill for a start and he could carry some of our supplies and when he gets a little bigger we could probably even ride him, it would make the quest much faster and remember the instructions the Karambra gave us – Hurry there hurry back, find the children and bring them back – alive if possible!” He repeated it in a know it all monotone. This made Brilglar pause “Well…..maybe your right…I suppose we could bring it along for…for the children’s sake” he added hurriedly. “What ever were doing we have to do it now being this close to a human settlement is putting me on edge. “Hadn’t noticed” Dayglin murmured under his breath. So they found some long pieces of vine in the scrub and tied 3 little logs to the potty lamb fastening them with a strong vine around the middle and over its front legs then they picked up their own piece and set off into the night.
Chapter 2
A shrill call pierced the air and Brilglar woke with a start. He looked around at the dew glistening on the ground and down to the early morning mist settled down in the valley, hiding the river they had to cross. “Good morning Brilglar” Dayglin called from over at the fire. “Come and eat up, we’ve got a big day ahead of us…” The smell of the roots was making Brilglar’s mouth water so he hurried over and started to eat. As soon as they’d eaten they untied the lamb from the tree where they’d left him for the night, and set off down the hill, the lamb gallivanting and springing around them.
The day passed by slowly even though they were making good time, then the boredom slowly set in, causing them to worry about what may lie ahead in their quest. Finally Dayglin summoned up the courage to ask what they were both thinking “What do you think happened to the children?” he tentatively asked Brilglar. Brilglar took his time in answering. “Some say that the sorceress Morgana has escaped her icy prison and others are saying that the dragons in the hills are once more awakening, which could mean doom for us all if its true.” “I didn’t ask what everyone else has been saying I asked what you think about it.” Dayglin persisted. “Honestly I don’t know” Brilglar replied. “All I know is what you know – that the children from Kerambrell villages all over the countryside have been disappearing and no one knows why or how – that’s why the Kerambra sent out the scouting parties like us to try and track them down and get some answers, so in answer to your question, I don’t know what I believe but I do know that whatever is happening to those kids it cant be good for anyone so we’d better be prepared for it.” “I know its selfish of me but I cant help hoping that we aren’t the ones to find something” said Dayglin glumly, “I don’t think I’d be much good at fighting a dragon.” “We wouldn’t have to fight it single handed though Dayglin, all we have to do is find it then report back to the Kerambra. The warriors can do the fighting – its their job not ours.” Reassured Brilglar. “Yeah that’s true I guess” said Dayglin his face brightening slightly, “you know I think we will make it to Razor Ridge by dark if we keep going at this pace and we can camp at the base for the night.”
Chapter 3
As the light faded into early evening our two companions arrived at the bottom of Razors Ridge. “My feet are killing me!” Dayglin complained for the hundredth time. “Me too- but at least we don’t have to carry the cooking supplies, it was a good idea of yours to bring that lamb along, he’s a sturdy little fellow if I ever did see one. We really should think of a name for him,” replied Brilglar giving the lamb a quick pat on the head. “I already did” replied Dayglin with a cheeky grin on his face. “His name is Sprightly.” “Sprightly? Sprightly...well it works I suppose” agreed Brilglar with a slight nod. The next day they faced a long and treacherous climb where the slightest slip could bring their demise. Dark clouds started to move in from the horizon as the 2 travelers and their trusty little lamb carefully made their way up the ridge. A short time later it started to rain , and thunder rolled around the mountains, echoing and building upon itself as it did, creating a strange sound that seemed to spilt the mountains in two! “We cant keep going in this weather!” cried Brilglar through the torment. “We’ll have to find shelter!” “Where though?” returned Dayglin, “Wait! What about up there – is that a cave?” he continued pointing to what appeared to be an opening in the rocks about a hundred meters up the ridge. The going was slippery and perilous but after what seemed like an age of dodging rain drops the size of golf balls that railed against our little travelers like bullets knocking them slightly breathless with each major hit and avoiding slight rock falls where lightening found itself striking the cliff face the two Kerambrells and their lamb, (who by now was not exactly living up to his name of Sprightly – more like Spongy for all the water his coat had soaked up in the blast of the storm,) gratefully and wearily found themselves climbing into the mouth of the dark yet dry and sheltered cave.
“I’m soaked through” moaned Brilglar, shivering. “I know, we wont be able to light a fire though all the wood will be drenched!” replied Dayglin, “lets just get out of our wet clothes” he murmured but Brilglar had already started to do just that. The two Kerambrells were soon dry and huddled together trying to warm up sprightly edged towards them and tried to snuggle in too, but since his coat was still dripping with rain, Brilglar had other ideas and pushed his away. “The inside of his coat will be dry even if the outside is wet” he said as Dayglin started to protest on the lambs behalf. To this Brilglar quickly added seeing Dayglins face. “The rest of his flock will still be out in this rain – he’s lucky to have shelter at all.” “You might be right, but you wouldn’t like it if-…” Dayglin began to reply, then paused, “What was that?” They crept deeper into the cave and strained their ears until they were ringing but did not here the unusual sound again. Suddenly Sprightly leaped forward into the darkness bleating loudly. “Sprightly come back!” Dayglin called after him urgently. After about 5 minutes the little lamb came trotting back out carrying something in his mouth. “Come on lets get back to the cave – its colder down here.” That night they slept restlessly. In the morning they discovered what the lamb had found and it astonished them both. The lamb was very happy with himself. “Brilglar…is that…?” Dayglin asked his companion with big round eyes. “I believe it is Dayglin” Brilglar answered hoarsely – finding his throat had suddenly gone dry. “But how could it have gotten here?” wondered Dayglin out aloud “Quick Brilglar we have to find the child who was wearing it.” “Wait a moment lets take it outside just to check – now that the storms over.” Suggested Brilglar heading to the caves mouth pulling Dayglin along with him. As soon as they got it into the sunshine they knew they’d been right. The stitching and design of the tiny glove were undoubtedly Kerambrell, and as they looked over and saw the tiny initials that assured them that the glove had been made by a tailor in their own town – almost certainly one of the missing children.
