My short legs struggled to keep up with Taran's strides as he led us through kilometers of dense forest. He had not paused to rest nor even speak for hours, and the rest of us filed behind, honoring the silence.
Without warning the tall blue-eyed hunter came to a stop.
"We're almost there," he told Grant and me, his breath heavy from exertion. "I must warn you, our people will react strongly to your presence, especially because of the way you're dressed. As I mentioned before, City Dwellers are forbidden from entering the settlement. Just allow me to speak, and don't take any action which might be interpreted as hostile."
"Will they try to hurt us?" I asked, exchanging a worried look with Grant.
"We'll make sure that they don't," Taran pledged. He paused, then said to the others, "I was thinking, perhaps it would be best to send ahead a runner, alert them we are coming."
"That won't be necessary," an unfamiliar voice responded.
I jumped and clutched Grant's arm. I saw at least a dozen men and women surrounding our group and drawing closer, each of their bows and arrows poised and ready to spring, pointed at Grant and me.
"Why have you brought strangers here, Taran?" a large woman with fierce eyes demanded. "You know outsiders are forbidden."
"Don't shoot!" the hunter cried, holding out his arms. He, Kuri and the others formed a protective circle around us, all of them shouting, waving the others down. "Please, don't shoot. They aren't outsiders. They're two of the stolen children!"
A middle-aged man with wavy, shoulder-length hair lowered his bow and stepped forward. He studied Grant and me for a long moment, lingering on our faces.
He lifted his chin. "What are your names?"
"My name is Grant, and this is Astrid."
"How old are you?"
"I'm thirty-one, and he is thirty-four years," I answered, pressing against Grant as the group broke out into agitated chatter.
"Everyone, please, lower your weapons." The man looked at Taran. "I assume you have proof of their claim."
"Yes. They escaped with the help of strangers, one of whom gave them a data chip which she requested be delivered to Zarek."
The air stirred with murmurs of speculation.
"Have you viewed the contents of this chip?"
"Part of it," Taran answered. "Most of the message is encrypted; the woman on the recording said Zarek 'holds the key' to unlocking it. That's why I decided to break protocol and bring them here."
William turned to a couple of young people in the crowd. "Find Zarek. Tell him to meet me in my dwelling immediately." He looked at the hunters and us. "Come."
~*~*~
I looked around when the group came to a stop some time later. Although there were people milling about, all of whom stopped and stared as our party approached, I did not see any buildings, just more enormous trees.
"Astrid, look," Grant said with a grin, pointing up.
I lifted my head and my mouth dropped open. Starting ten meters above our head lay a series of wooden buildings on platforms. Some were expansive, two or more levels anchored between several trees, while a single trunk bisected the axes of other, more modest structures. All were connected by a network of spiral staircases, bridges and ladders constructed of wood and rope.
"You...live in the trees?" I asked, giddy with delight. "I never imagined anyone could live in something so amazing!"
"It's ingenious," Grant agreed. "They blend right into the forest."
The wavy-haired man smiled. "Storms like the ones we've been having are a risk, and we've sustained quite a bit of damage this season, but this year is not typical of most. On balance, we find our tree houses an elegant way to live in this environment."
"It also helps protect us from raiders," the large woman from the meeting party pointed out, her tone angry. "Let's not gloss over the primary reason we took to the trees, William."
"I haven't forgotten, Enid." The man lifted his head and, cupping his hands around his mouth, whistled like a bird.
"How did you do that?" I asked.
"Practice. I'm sure you can learn to do it as well."
A few moments later a ladder was lowered from above. I peered upward and saw a man crouching over the edge of a cutout in the platform, feeding the braided rope through the hole.
William looked at the others. "I would like to speak with Taran and our guests alone. When Zarek arrives, send him up as well."
"If this is about our children, we all deserve to hear this message; most especially those of us who lost loved ones," Enid protested.
"She's right, William!"
"It's wrong to keep such information from the rest of us."
The man lifted his hand, silencing the group. "I fully intend to share any information with you all. But first we must decrypt the message and verify its authenticity. I'm exercising my right as your leader to review the contents and question our guests first."
He nodded at Taran to proceed. Grant and I craned our necks, watching as he climbed higher and higher before disappearing onto the platform. William turned to us.
"Have you climbed a ladder before?"
"Not one quite so...flexible," Grant admitted.
"Me neither," I concurred.
"It's not difficult, and the ladder is very strong. We use them so much, keeping the ladders, stairs and bridges in working order is one of our most important tasks. It helps if you don't look down. When you reach the top, Taran will be there to help you if you need it."
Grant looked at me. "Do you want to go first, or should I?"
"I think I'd like to try first." I took hold of the rope and lifted my foot, fitting it inside the first loop. Lifting my other leg, I tested the ladder's ability to hold my weight before stepping into the next loop. I took another step, and another, and soon I had made it more than halfway to the platform.
Excited by my progress, I looked down to celebrate my achievement with Grant. My stomach dropped when I realized how high up I was. I sucked in my breath and gripped the swaying ladder until my knuckles turned white.
"You're fine," William assured me. "Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Start again when you're ready."
To my embarrassment it took more than a few deep breaths, but within a couple of minutes I managed to continue until I reached the top, where Taran stood ready to help me onto the platform.
I sighed and tried to steady my quivering legs, relieved to be standing on something solid.
"Nice job," the hunter said, patting my back and giving me a warm smile.
A minute later Grant appeared, followed by William.
"That was thrilling." I gave Grant a hug. "But also a little scary," I confessed, whispering in his ear. "I can't believe I forgot about not looking down."
"You did great. Personally, I'm a little more nervous about the trip back down."
I giggled and hugged him tighter. "Me too."
"Please, come this way," William requested, touching my shoulder.
We passed through the doorway into a large six-sided room with long narrow windows all around. I wanted to admire the view, but the leader gestured for us to sit.
"Your home is so beautiful, it almost doesn't seem real," I told him as I settled next to Grant on a type of long seat designed to accommodate several individuals at once.
"Thank you. We're very proud of what we've built here." William paused. "I can see from your injuries, young man, that you experienced recent troubles. While we wait for Zarek, why don't you tell me how you came to leave the city."
Once again we recounted our story, starting from our chance meeting in the lift on my emergence day to the discovery of our forbidden relationship. We were in the middle of discussing our escape from the hospital when another individual entered the dwelling. Bald and slight of build with deep wrinkles etched all over his brown face, the man stepped with a surefooted gait belying his advanced age. Upon seeing Grant and me, he stopped dead in his tracks.
"Zarek," the leader acknowledged. "This is Grant and Astrid. They have come from the city with an amazing story. One in which, apparently, you play a role. Please, have a seat."
"Me?" The old man shook his head. "I have no idea who these people are, William."
