Chapter the Sixth

When Iraella climbed back through her window, she thought she was about to die. Well, not literally, she did not feel nearly as terrible as the night before, but she was covered in scrapes and bruises from her countless falls. She settled in bed and only hoped that her mother wouldn’t notice her wet hair or her injuries (and Iraella knew for sure that she would!).
Needless to say, Iraella was tired. As soon as her head hit her pillow, she was sound asleep. Dreams that night were pleasant, but they surprised her. She felt like they were possibly more visions, but they weren’t painful. Am I going to tell you what Iraella’s dreams were about? No, my dear reader. You will find out in the future.
When Iraella awoke the next morning, she felt refreshed and coordinated. Well, much more than that.
To describe her feelings, Iraella leaped out of bed and danced around the small room, feeling so happy and alive, almost even better than ever before. She laughed and sang freely, no pain in her body.
Finally, Iraella stopped, took a deep breath and got dressed. She picked up a dress that would cover her scrapes and bruises from last night the best, in hopes that her mother wouldn’t notice the one on her foot. Today, she would invite Baeddan over and they would go on their trail. Then her joy turned to slight disappointment. She wasn’t allowed to invite her friend over. Iraella sighed sadly and walked out of the room. She tried to think positively. “I can walk without falling all over the place,” Iraella said aloud.
“Hello Mother,” Iraella said enthusiastically. Silera smiled at her from the kitchen.
“Hello daughter. You look stunning. I never see you wear that dress,” said her mother. She met Iraella in the middle of the main room and ran her hands along the sleeves of her dress. “The silver really brings out those green eyes.”
Iraella grinned, then tensed up when Silera touched her hair. It was still wet. Silera’s brow furrowed. “Why is your hair wet, Iraella?” she asked.
“I, uhmmm, got sweaty last night,” Iraella said, nodding nervously. Silera nodded, her hazel eyes suspicious. “Uhm-hmm,” she mumbled. “Well, I made breakfast! Scrambled eggs, surprise, surprise,” Silera said rather suddenly.
Iraella grinned, still a little shaken that her mother almost found out her little secret. Then Eamon entered from the hall.
“Hello, Iraella,” he said awkwardly, scratching his balding head. “You look beautiful today,” he added.
“Hello and thank you,” Iraella said stiffly. Silera handed Iraella her plate of scrambled eggs and she went to sit at the table.
“Ah, this is delicious, Mother,” said Iraella as soon as she took a bite. Silera laughed. “You raise the chickens, dear. Speaking of which, you have to do that after you finish breakfast.”
Iraella nodded and gulped down the rest of her eggs.

That afternoon, Iraella had this…..need to speak with Baeddan. She didn’t know what it was, but she needed to tell him something. Iraella set aside the book she was reading and notified her mother she was going outside (Eamon was out riding his horse and working the cattle).
“Alright, dear, be careful!” Silera called from her work on her quilt in the main room. Iraella merely laughed. “You know I will be,” she said.
She bounded out the door and ran straight out into the street. She whirled around the familiar turn onto Baeddan’s stretch of pavement. Then Iraella walked calmly onto Baeddan’s dirt driveway. Iraella knocked on the little cottage door.
Iraella was somewhat disappointed that Calida opened the door, but she kept a bright smile on her face as she asked where Baeddan was. “He’s out checking the cattle,” Calida told her.
“Oh,” Iraella said disappointedly, her shoulders drooping a little.
“He’s on foot though,” Calida said. “I don’t know why. That boy always confuses me,” she added, chuckling.
Iraella grinned at Calida. “The cattle pasture is out back. You’ll probably see him,” Calida told her.
“Thank you, Miss Calida!” Iraella said, already off of Baeddan’s front porch and sprinting her way to the cattle pasture.
She saw Baeddan already from a distance, and he appeared to be tending to a calf. Iraella went through the old, dented metal gate and approached her friend.
Baeddan didn’t notice Iraella when she first came up. Iraella let out a sly smile, creeping up to Baeddan slowly, and then saying “Hello!” in his ear.
Baeddan jumped and wheeled around, his eyes wide, to see Iraella laughing. “Oh my, Iraella! You nearly gave me a heart attack,” Baeddan gasped, laughing too now.
Iraella finally stopped laughing and looked down to the also startled calf. “What’s wrong with him?” she asked. Baeddan chuckled and faced the calf too. “Nothing, he likes his belly rubbed,” he said, grinning.
Iraella giggled too. “Can I try?” she asked. Baeddan nodded and Iraella knelt down and started to rub the little black calf’s belly. The calf laid his head down on the grass and sighed, closing his big brown eyes.
Baeddan knelt down beside her and saw the pleased look on her face, making the calf sleep. Baeddan started to rub the calf too. “Where’s his mother?” asked Iraella.
Baeddan lifted his head and gestured to a large black cow. Iraella nodded. “I’m surprised she’s so trusting. All the mother cows I’ve met have been very protective,” she said.
“I raised her,” Baeddan said, standing and looking at the cow proudly. Iraella stood too and remembered why she had come in the first place.
“Bae, I have something to tell you,” Iraella said.
Baeddan turned to face his friend. “What is it?” he asked. Iraella looked away, wondering what it really was she wanted to tell him. Then she saw a flash of something in her mind, making her feel a sharp pain in her head. Iraella gasped and brought her hand to touch her forehead. “Are you okay, Iraella?” Baeddan asked quietly.
Iraella nodded and straightened. “Dark creatures are coming. They are already on their way,” Iraella said. “There are creatures around the stream. Centaurs, fairies, and so on. They are also stationed around the whole world. We need to build a force to be rid of the dark creatures,” she finished.
Baeddan raised one eyebrow. “Are you sure, Ira?” he asked unsurely. Iraella thrust her chin out in the air. “Positive.”
Baeddan looked away from her confidant face, pondering this. Then he shrugged. “I suppose I should trust your instincts,” he said. Iraella smiled. “I have to get home, otherwise Mother and Father will be furious. I’ll come back tonight,” she said. “Farewell!” she finished, already sprinting away before Baeddan could refuse.
Baeddan shook his head, chuckling. She was certainly bold. “Perhaps that is why she’s my best friend,” thought Baeddan. “Perhaps she balances out my lack of courage.”