The Hidden

Chapter 6

        Before I could say another word I found myself wrapped up in a tight embrace with my mother. Though I couldn't see her face I could hear the small sobs. When she finally pulled away her cheeks were wet from tears and her eyes were glistening with them.

        "We heard them and I saw you weren't there and I was so worried that-" My mother's words were interupted as my father put a gentle hand on her should.

        "It's alright Helena, she's safe and that's all that matters." He said calmly, though I noticed a hint of panic in his tone that he was attempting to hide.

        "Y-you saw them?" My younger sister asked, she sounded scared of course, but I could tell she was curious.

        I nodded once. I didn't trust myself to speak just yet, I was sure if I did the fear would be all too clear in my voice and the last thing I needed was for my parents starting to worry.

        "What about the others, do you think they know?" Ash asked seriously.

        Ash stood beside Cassia near the back of the room, his dark brown hair that was usually nicely kept was now ruffled up and messy from sleep. As usual he was trying to be calm and collected, but I could see the concern in his light brown eyes. The fact that my older brother, the one who was always so mature and put together, was worried was unnerving.

        "I'm sure they know, no one could sleep through that." Dad said quietly.

        "S-so what are we going to do?" Cassia asked in soft way that I had only ever heard her do when she was younger and afraid of the thunder storms.

        "We're going to leave, go to grandma and grandpa's clan." Dad said. "Grab only a few essentials, we're leaving right away." He added authoratively.

        Before anyone could move to get their stuff, the leaf curtain in the doorway was pulled aside and Oliver Clearly stepped in.

        Oliver wore a very similar expression to my dad's, he was trying to cover up the worry with confidence but was failing to hide it completely. He was the oldest in the clan and it showed, the lines in his face seemed deeper than ever and there was a tired look in his eyes.

        "Thank God everyone's accounted for." Oliver said with a long sigh.

        "All the others are safe?" Mom asked, the tears on her face had dried and she looked a bit more collected now.

        "Yes, I've checked with all the others already." Oliver assured her.

        Mom let out a breath of relief and, though it was small, a smile crept onto her lips.

        "I've already discussed it with the others, we're heading out to the other clan in five minutes." Oliver announced.

        "I was thinking the same thing." Dad said with a nod

        "We're to meet over at the Hillens hut, then we'll set off." Oliver said and then slipped back out of the hut. I held back the curtain and watched him until he stepped through the bushes that surrounded his hut.

        "Alright, hurry up and get your-" Dad was cut off by the same thundering sound from before, the sound of footfalls magnified to a booming volume that hurt my ears.

        "Dammit." Dad cursed angrily, with a dislike I'd never before heard.

        They were back, their loud voices ringing through the air and their footsteps causing the ground to slightly quake under my feet. Though I couldn't see them this time, the horrible fear returned and I was unable to keep it from showing on my face. Though the morning wasn't very cold, an icy shiver ran through my body, causing goosebumps to form on my skin.

        It wasn't difficult to hear what the humans were saying, their voices were loud and clear.

        The older giant's voice said, "Alright son, let's set up camp."