R.E.M.: The Hidden World by Corrie Fischer Read Free Book Online Page B

bird.  He did not ruffle his feathers, or rapidly scan the forest chirping.  Instead, for several moments, the little winged creature simply stood on his branch and stared Renee’s direction. 
    I must be losing my mind….is he actually looking right at me? Wait, there’s no way… As the thought passed through her mind, the cardinal released a loud whistle.  The small creature then made one of the strangest of movements.  Still staring at her, he lifted one wing in an almost wave-like motion.  Did he just wave at me?
    Next, the bird set flight and flew to another branch about ten feet away.  He landed and once again turned toward Renee lifting his wing in a wave-like manner.  This time, however, he remained there staring at her for several seconds as though waiting for a reaction.  I guess he wants me to follow him… Renee realized how preposterous the idea of following a bird was.  However, she also knew she shouldn’t possibly stay there and continue crying.  Besides, she needed to find Sam.  Well, what do I have left to lose anyway?
    S he lifted a foot from its muddy stance and proceeded to approach her new feathered friend.  When she was within a few feet of him, the bird moved to another branch, just slightly further into…. or was it out of.... the woods.  This process continued on for some time with the bird consistently flying to neighboring branches, and then waiting for Renee to follow.
    During this process, Renee’s mind began to wander and she randomly felt the desire to start talking to her animal friend.  “You know, my mom and I recently started coming out into the woods to bike.  Of course I suppose you don’t know what a bike is, huh?”  The cardinal’s only response was to fly to another nearby branch.  Renee continued on, undeterred.  “It’s a metal contraption with wheels…..I suppose you don’t know what wheels are either, huh?  Well, anyway, the last time she and I went biking, we weren’t in this section of the woods.  We were on the northern trail….too bad there isn’t a trail here…then you wouldn’t even need to lead me…..leading…..oh dear….”  Renee’s eyes started to water up again as she considered the fact she had been the one leading Sam. 
    This time the cardinal rested on his chosen branch for quite some time, as though intrigued by her tale.  It was not until Renee was a foot away that he finally flew to another tree.  Renee felt the breeze off his wings this time.  Somehow, despite the autumn chill, it was comforting in a way.  Her tears lessened and she continued with her monologue.  “I’m sorry….it’s just, you see, it was my idea to run away.  I was even the one who decided on the direction.  Sam, he was just being a good friend.  He was worried about me and that’s the only reason he followed me in the first place.  Everything was fine though.  I really don’t even understand what happened.  I’ve…I’ve lost my memory it seems.  Perhaps I’ve lost my mind too.  This morning I just woke up with this giant bump on my head.  I don’t even remember falling asleep or the last moment I saw Sam.  Yesterday he was just there and now….well, now he’s not.  I have to find him little guy….”  Renee looked up at the cardinal who was tilting his head down towards her in an almost sad posture, the branch he landed on still waivered under his unexpected weight.  With her rant at a seeming end, the cardinal set flight again toward another tree.
    They continued on for what seemed like hours with the wind intermittently tickling Renee’s face.  She constantly adjusted her flying hair from blocking her view.  The sunlight peeped through the tree branches, as though just enough to reassure her of its presence.  Renee’s hearing was now heightened as a large pile of leaves crunched under her shoes.  The sound drew her attention to a new concern at hand.  It was just now she realized the pain in her feet.  They