Chapter 7: Reeds Chapter 7
Now all the boys keep their faces permanently upside down as we begin to walk in disarray to the Evrotas river. Many start to fall behind allowing Nicholas to yell into their ears as they struggle. Up front leading being our Eiren Adonis in complete silence.
Eventually we make it to the river that leaves most of the children scratching their head not knowing what to do further. I look on as the river rushes harshly if a child gets in too deep they very well may get swept away. The river's only noticeable attribute being the reeds near.
"What do we do?" Both George and Klaus tell me in union, making them side-eye each other.
"They want us to make our beds from the river's reeds." I answer them and step up to the river becoming the first boy out of everyone to start picking the tough reeds from the river. Others then begin to follow after me as we all work trying to have our way with the tough reeds.
Tying the reeds up into a bed became a whole other issue. George struggles picking the reeds but makes exceptional time tying the reeds and the exact opposite occurs for Klaus.
"Klaus, George if we all team up we can make our beds faster. Klaus you pick the reeds and George you tie the reeds together while I do a mix" both of them nod in agreement.
We all work tenaciously, putting our heads down and making good use of our small dainty hands. Until hours later our tied up reeds eventually begin looking like beds. After a few more hours all 3 of our beds become completely finish.
"What do we do now?" George looks at me and Klaus.
"Well shoot I bet we can just sleep on our beds and get a night's sleep before the others finish." Klaus sits on his bed but then immediately gets up from the clear discomfort.
"Lets just tell Eiren Adonis" they both nod their heads in agreement. Us finishing so much ahead of everyone else should give us some type of benefit. We walk up to Adonis leaving our formed beds behind.
"What do you Paides think you're doing?"
"We are just here to tell you that we finished weaving our beds Eiren Adonis" I answer him with Klaus nodding while George nervously looks back.
"Um Damon our beds are gone.." George scratches his head and his head meets a low gaze.
"Get back to work, Paides! It would be impossible for you to have finished so quickly." We leave Adonis and all of us hang our heads low.
"What happened to our beds!" Klaus yells holding George by the collar.
"I don't know!" George cries and Klaus lets go of him and makes an apologetic face.
"Someone stole them from us. Let's search for 10 minutes and then come back together if we don't find them we just make new ones." I tell them and they both nod.
"I don't know what 10 means but I do know whoever stole our beds has it coming" Klaus punches his fist into his other hand with even little George nodding in agreement. We all separate from each other hastily, all 3 of us desperately wanting to regain our hard work.
I ask any boy I see if they saw any complete beds with none giving any answer making me almost fume from my ears. I must stay calm though and stay as perceptive as possible though. Eventually I see a teenage group all laying on 3 beds of reeds.
"Hey, why are you guys here!?" I ask them and the biggest of them stands making me have to fully extend my neck up.
"We are here to assist your Eiren Adonis now leave."
"Okay well how did you get those beds?"
"From you and we thank you sincerely for the gift." This causes the group of 5 older boys to laugh loudly. "Best be on your way now.." He walks up to me and grabs me under both armpits and throws me several feet.
"agh!" I pick myself up as I walk back to find George and Klaus with my tail between my legs. Eventually I find them and they all seem to be heart broken while looking at the other starting to finish.
"Guys I found are beds." I tell them and all their eyes begin to sparkle.
"That's awesome! Lets get them" Klaus answers and George gives a thumbs up.
"Problem is they were stolen by a group of older boys assisting Eiren Adonis."
"How old?" George questions with Klaus showing no interest in their age.
"Too old for us to fight." My reply hurts George more than any fist playfully thrown by Klaus as he voices a heavy sigh.
"Well we got to at least try!" Klaus never one too back down. Suddenly a light bulb pops inside my head.
"We will fight but not the way you are thinking of. Klaus picks the reeds and George weaves them into three bags. I'm going to find rocks." They both nod and we immediately get to work. Any boy looking at us gives a confused gaze but doesn't say anything, only focusing on their beds.
Eventually the three of us have our 3 completed bags and multiple rounds of rocks.
"So now what Eiren Damon?" Klaus smiles largely, throwing a rock into the air repeatedly.
"We go on the offensive. We all place our rocks into our newly formed bags and head to the boys. You guys will be in the open and fire at the boys while I retrieve our beds and take them to Eiren Adonis. Once you both are able to try coming back to me."
"But what if we get caught?" George asks with his legs shaking heavily.
"Then we get caught but if one of us goes down we all go down together guns blazing!" I reply to him and his legs stop shaking as we now have a spirit of unity between the three of us.
We start walking towards the teenagers with many of the boys giving us concerned looks as we are armed with rocks and the spirit of perseverance. Once we see the teenagers I lay down in the grass covering myself into dirt. While George and Klaus then approach the teenagers chucking our rocks at them.
The teenagers instantly get angry and start chasing George and Klaus. George and Klaus throw their bags onto the ground allowing them to roll out and make some of the teenagers fall. They run into the many boys weaving disappearing from my sight, unless they got a good look there's no chance for them to be caught likely. I take advantage of the absence of the teenagers and grab all three beds using tooth and nail to drag them.
Eventually I'm able to see Eiren Adonis and make my way to him. Just before I'm able too though a teenager pushes me down.
"You think you could escape with our beds? If the others get here your going to be in the worst pain of your life little Paides."
"If" I then kick his chin and stand grabbing a rock from my bag and thrust into his jaw. The teenager gets on one knee and holds his jaw in agony. I dart towards Eiren Adonis being only 40 paces away.
Until...
Wham!
I get kicked in the middle of my back leaving me unable to get up. I roll over and see the culprit being another teenage boy chuckling.
"I believe these are ours." He grabs the beds and begins to walk away making me close my eyes at my failure. Klaus and George did their part yet I couldn't do mine...
"Hey I think you got that all switched up asshole!" I hear Klaus's knuckle headed voice and look up to see my savior with George as well both with my bag full of rocks. They launch the rocks with relative accuracy making the teenager drop the beds to cover his face.
"Quick we got him! You bring the beds to Eiren Adonis!" George yells with vigor, completely changing his demeanor to make the mission successful. I run as fast as I can with our beds I must not fail!
Their sacrifices can't be in vain!