The Heybrook Lookout Tower

 

Photo by Yasobara

 

            Neither Ralph nor Ramona, or either of the kids had seen Maeve in two days. This was not normal.
            Some less than generous souls might have concluded that Maeve was a pest. But the inhabitants of the Home Clearing, even the cats, who, though they wouldn’t admit it, loved the old bird.
            When two mornings went by without hearing her ravenesque cry of “evermore!”, Ralph began to worry, and count days backwards just to be sure. He decided that he had been right. It was two mornings and two whole days with no Maeve.
            “I don’t even know how to begin looking for a missing raven, Ramona,” said Ralph on the third morning with no Maeve stomping around on his shoulder and giving him the news from her point of view.
            “We don’t know any other talking winged creatures. There isn’t much these cats can do but run up and down the same paths that we would,” he said additionally.
            Twigg and Cherry were sitting by quietly listening, as children do when the parents sound serious.
            “I hope nothing ate her,” yelled Twigg, jumping up from his seat. “I like her even when she's bossy!”
            “I can fly, daddy,” the small golden urchin said seriously. “You know I can. I could fly up into the tree tops and go find her nest and see if she is sick!” And she flew up to his knee where he sat as if to prove her point.
            “OK, daddy?”
            Ramona and Ralph just looked at each other, momentarily out of words, trying to figure out how to say “no,” without just saying “no.”
            Finally, “hey, Cherry, little one, think about it. I’m already worried about Maeve. It would be terrible if I didn’t know where you were also!
            “I want you to promise me that you will stay right with your mommy! If anyone must search for the old bird, it’s me, sweetie. Some people or other creatures call me king here in the forest. Well, it’s the king’s job to take care of everyone!
            “So I will go. I don’t know exactly how long I will look, but I will have to do my best.’    
            “Will you stay here with mommy, Cherry?” Ralph said. “Promise?”
            “I promise,” said Cherry, very seriously.
            What could Ralph do but go on the march? He whistled his special whistle that he used to call her, and she would hear it no matter where she was. This got no results.
            In his wanderings he approached the old town of Index on the Index Galena road. He looked into the Index river as he walked along, but looking in rivers for ravens is a losing game. If she had been in the river she would have been lost. He was very near to giving up the hunt when he remembered the old lookout tower, not far from where he was. It was no longer in use as a lookout tower, but it still stood high above the forest on a very steep hill.
            Ralph climbed the very steep hill. Hills don’t slow him down very much.
            It’s a big tower, with a lot of steps, but the steps make it a lot easier than climbing up the outside like King Kong with Faye Wray on board.
            He climbed all the way to the top platform, and it was true he could see vast deep swaths of the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest from up there, including many local mountains, and roads, but he couldn’t see all the way to the salt water. It was phenomenal. There was even a waterfall. Ralph thought that this was the closest he would ever get to flying.
            But then he remembered his quest and started whistling again, hoping that maybe Maeve could hear him better from up here. This was a bit silly, but what could he do? He whistled and whistled.
            “Ralph, I’m on the floor. I’m down here,” said a very familiar voice.
            “Maeve! What are you doing up here?” said Ralph in amazement.
            “Well, for one thing, listening to you whistle,” she said.
            “I mean, why are you here?”
            “I was waiting for you to find me,” said Maeve, as if that were obvious.
            “Well. I did find you. I still don’t see why you are up here,” said Ralph.
            “OK. I guess I’m doomed to sound stupid, Ralph. I flew into the tower while I was chasing bats a couple of nights ago. Yes. That was stupid. When I hit the beam here on the platform I broke my left wing and foot, so I couldn’t even walk out of here. Go ahead, laugh at me.” She gronked a bit. Sadly.
            “Nah. I won’t laugh at you, Maeve,” said Ralph. “I’ll just carry you home with me and Ramona and Thaga will mend you somehow.”
            So, he gathered her up carefully. He tucked her right wing in close to her body, letting the broken one droop loose so he didn’t cause her more pain. He just put one hand under her breast bone, kind of like a football carry, and they started the long walk back to the Home Clearing.
            It did take a while because he had to walk carefully. But for his old Black Leg, he was willing to go slowly and as smoothly as possible.
            At home, Ramona said, “oh this break isn’t too bad. Some splinting, some time, and no flying until healed and you will be just like you always were. Same for your foot, Maeve.
            “You’ll have to sleep in the cave with us too! Lol. I hope you don’t mind listening to Ralph snore!”
            “I love you, Ramona,” said Maeve.
            “I love you too, Maeve,” said Ramona, looking at a rather long and intensive period of nursing in her future.

            "Evermore," agreed Maeve.