Bert and Betty were just fine, they were huddled up in the middle of the barn, listening to the gnawing of the kandacs. As soon as the kandacs had left the box, they scurried off towards the walls and had been chomping away at the walls.
“Well, if one thing’s for sure, we’ll get out once there’s a whole big enough,” quipped Betty.
Bert scoffed. “Yeah, I just hope that not only do we not get bit, but that we can find some of the townsfolk and get this mess sorted out.”
Betty let out a sigh as she leaned back. “I should have kept a better eye on Greg.”
Bert sighed as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “So should have I, but it’s no use fretting over that now, it’s too late. Besides, we, um, we did have other things on our mind.” Betty shot him a glare. Bert threw up his hands. “Sorry, sorry, I know, lame excuse. But this has been out of our control since coming here, so we need to admit that we couldn’t change a thing.”
Betty sighed, a little longer and with more melancholy this time. “You’re right, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Yeah.” Bert paused. “But you know, now that things have finally calmed down … there’s a portal in the woods behind our yard!”
“Uh, yeah, it’s how we got here,” quipped Betty.
“But we didn’t get a chance to dwell on it.” He pouted. “Though, being dragged around by Pankow and his goons kind of ruined the excitement around it.”
Betty scoffed. “Whatever.” She put her chin in her palm and set her elbow on her leg. “Though, we are taking it pretty well for having just been shoved into a stressful situation.”
Bert shrugged. “I guess all the training they give us at school for this very scenario helped more than I thought it would.”
Betty rolled her eyes. “That was kind of the point of it, considering portals pop up all over Alixandria constantly.”
Bert waved his hand. “I know, I know, but it’s still not as common as one would think. And it happened to us!” He glanced at the line of kandacs at the nearest wall. “Though, our first moments haven’t exactly been pleasant.”
Betty sighed as she wrapped her arms around herself. “No, they really haven’t.”
Bert rubbed her shoulder. “Hey, as soon as we have a chance, we’ll book it to the fields where everyone must be farming, and tell them about the kandacs. We’ll go from there.”
Betty nodded as a tear fell down her cheek. “Yeah, it’s a start.”
“And-and who knows, Greg could still be alive, and we can ask them to help us look,” said Bert, trying to sound optimistic, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Betty shot him a sad smile. “Maybe, I certainly hope so.”
“I mean, we didn’t hear anything …”
She tilted her head as she furrowed her brow. “You’re right, and Greg is notorious for running off …”
Bert brightened. “You’re right!” He pursed his lips. “But if he is alright, I just hope he actually goes for help.”
“I don’t see why he wouldn’t …” The two jumped up and yelped as the doors slammed open and a group of people came rushing in. They split into several groups, each group heading towards the areas where the kandacs were feasting. One woman, a kisia by the looks of her, approached them with a look of concern and a twinge of fear in her eyes.
“Are you two alright? Did any of the kandacs bite you?”
Bert and Betty shook their heads. “W-we’re fine,” Betty replied.
The woman sighed with relief. “That’s good. Can you please stand outside? Peter’s coming with the kabadillos and they’ll need to know which barn to go to. And it would be best if you weren’t in the building while we try to beat the kandacs. They will bite for sure now that we’re stopping them from eating.”
“Right,” the twins chorused and, without a second look around them, raced out of the barn.
Betty let out a breath of relief. “It smelled nice in there, but I’m glad to get out.”
“You and me both,” mumbled Bert. He glanced at Betty. “And then … there is the situation with Greg.”
“I-I guess we’ll get to that when it’s time,” whispered Betty. A soft whistling interrupted their conversation. The two strained their necks to see who could be, but they saw no one. The whistling grew louder and louder, until finally a boy not much older than them came into view surrounded by orange-shelled armadillos with pairs of antennae.
As soon as he got within hearing distance, he shouted at the top of his lungs. “Hey! Are the kandacs in that barn?”
Bert cupped his hands around his mouth. “Yes! Hurry!” The boy whistled and urged the creatures forward. Bert and Betty watched as he got closer and closer before turning his herd into the barn where the farmers were still battling the kandacs. Bert turned to his sister. “Now what? I feel awkward standing out here.”
Betty turned towards the forest. “Maybe-maybe we can start looking for him.”
“Looking for who?” Betty and Bert glanced at each other with wide eyes before spinning around. Jeremiah let out a croak before Betty shrieked. She rushed forward and nearly toppled Greg over in a huge bear hug. Bert followed her a second later.
Tears were streaming down Betty’s face as she pulled back from the hug. “Don’t scare us like that!”
“Ace and Acheson both thought you were already dead!” exclaimed Bert.
“They were saying something about monai in the trees …” began Betty.
Greg bobbed his head. “Oh yeah, I saw one! But Jeremiah is my good luck frog! I met Gaspar Gold!”
“What?” exclaimed the twins. Greg told them about everything that had happened since he left them. When he finished, everyone was coming out of the barn. The whistling boy raced past them, with the creatures that Greg pointed out were kabadillos following him. Most of the others went back to the field. But a few people approached the children and thanked Greg for warning Gaspar and them of the danger.
Greg held up the frog. “Thank Jeremiah, he’s my lucky frog!”
Bert sighed. “At least take some of the credit Greg, you did have to do the talking.”
Greg laughed. “Oh, fine. You’re welcome!”
One of the women, an older looking kisia with strands of dark green with white tips blending in her orange hair and a few wrinkles, held out her hand. “I’m Pam Fields.” The children shook her hand and introduced themselves. She then introduced them to the others there. Two were her granddaughters, Lumina and Casperita White, the older gentleman was her husband Zeb, and the last gentleman was a fellow by the name of Vinny Small who was the mayor of Pottsville. He was certainly shorter than the others, though was still taller than the twins by a few inches.
“A pleasure to meet you, but how did you get here?” he said, shaking their hands. The Whispers children took turns telling about how they found the portal, stepped through, and were captured by Pankow before ending up here.
“My goodness you’ve had quite the day!” said Pam. She turned to the mayor. “I think a feast is in order to thank them and to welcome them to Tremen. What do you think?”
Vinny rubbed his beard for a moment before giving a nod. “Yes, yes, I think a feast would be appropriate. A small feast, mind you. We do need to save our goods for the harvest festival.”
Betty held up her hands. “Oh, thank you for that, but we really should be getting home. I’m sure our parents must be getting worried about us.”
“Oh, but of course!” Pam took one of Betty’s hands and one of Bert’s hands. “Then you must come to the harvest festival this year! And bring your parents!”
The twins glanced at each other. “Um, I don’t know …” began Betty.
“But we can talk to them and let you know soon,” Bert quickly cut in with a smile. “Um, when is it?”
Pam glanced at each of them. “Well, it’s going to be at the end of this month, in about fifteen days …”
“And that’s just the first one! We have three! One at the end of next month, and one the month after that!” Casperita exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
Vinny chuckled. “She’s right. So, consider yourself invited to all three.”
Bert shook hands with him. “Well, thank you. Like we said, we’ll talk to our parents and get back to you soon. But first, we have to find our way back home.”
“Oh, Gaspar knows these woods really well! He can take you!” Lumina grinned, then waved at someone in the sky. “Gaspar! Gaspar! Perfect timing!”
Vinny turned to the boy as he landed. “Perfect timing indeed. You made it to Golding in time?”
Gaspar grinned and saluted. “With plenty of time to spare! As a matter of fact, Pankow and I battled it out right before they ran like scared ciupurins!” He laughed.
Vinny raised an eyebrow. “The monai were on the move?”
Gaspar bobbed his head. “Yes, and the king was showing particular interest in Pankow.” He snickered.
“Well, you can tell me the particulars when you get back. Right now, these three need to get home and you’re the one who knows these woods the best.”
Gaspar saluted him again. “Yes sir!” He turned to the three. “Come on, let’s get you three home.”
Betty sighed with relief. “Thank you so much!”
“Thank you for saving our village,” said Vinny.
“You’re welcome!” Greg smiled, and Jeremiah croaked.
Bert waved as the three began walking away. “We’ll be back to tell you if we can make it to the festivals!”
“Great! See you soon!” Pam raised her hand and waved.
“Bye!” Everyone waved as Greg led the Whispers children out of the village and into the woods, back to the tree to get back home.