Upon a Distant Planet

The River ran backwards on the day the Queen Vanished. The entire Kingdom that ruled Orion was on high alert. The King & his subjects had ventured to planet Earth on a excursion to deliver a very important person that was well needed upon their world. Queen Astrid was a rarity herself as they say her golden hair was spun from a spinning wheel of gold. Marrying the King had been a Magical experience for the young girl who was raised in the countryside. Now, with the King away she had much time to do as she liked. The court ladies were the first to notice her missing, as they whispered to where she might have gone. She had spoke of going to the seaside to learn about the HoHo creatures who were half animal, half human. One maiden told another while gazing out the protective dome of the fortress. The glass dome was egg shaped that held many rooms within the conical structure. The bright sun shined through the forest creating fairy tale scenery where farms of wheat stretched in the distance. Astrid liked telling the story of how she met the King. She was out gathering flowers under the blanket of tall trees & moss that felt as a carpet in the summer air. Her thirst took her to a stream that she knelt down to cup water. Hearing a voice in the distance startled her as she looked up to see a man dressed as a hunter talking to the trees. Wise Wizard, please show me your wings, How long must I endure being a King without a wife! There, high upon a branch appeared a bird with bright eyes beaming down. Then the bird spoke in as the sun turned to mist. I am always here to serve your majesty. With the birds words Astrid wondered how a common hunter could be addressed so. Then the bird suddenly transformed into a elder man with a long flowing beard. He stood next to the man as his piercing eyes foretold his destiny. You will have a wife, sooner than you know. The sun had slipped away leaving a cold frost that chilled Astrid enough to cause her to sneeze. Achoo! What was that? The king turned around to view a woman lying by the stream. He ran over to her picking her up in fascination. The Wizard stood in the distance among wisps of fog then transformed back into a bird. The bird flew away while the forest gave sounds of hidden animals as it neared dark. The King gazed at the woman as if he had never seen such beauty. In the gleaming light of the appearing moon Astrid could see a shiny crown upon a frock of curls. It’s getting late, you shouldn’t be outside at this hour. Helping her stand she stood speechless at the astonishment. She realized who he was, not a common hunter but the King who ruled her land. It made her nervous trembling as she gathered her cape to bow. No, no I don’t need a bow! Please let me escort you home! His glovelette covered hand held hers so gracefully while she admired his leather attire. How did you speak to the bird? Her wondrous eyes imagined. He’s not an ordinary bird, he’s my teacher! I have never seen such a transformation, one must be magical to be the King! He took her by the hand to where a horse was waiting. The ride out of the forest was unforgettable as she held onto his galloping waist. It had happened like a dream with a royal wedding in candlelight darkness. She was crowned shortly afterwards as her King had finally found his Queen. He bragged to his knights that he would have many sons although duty to the distant galaxy would take time. Showing her his telescope he taught her the stars where she watched for a sign of his return. It was there on the balcony where she could see the seashore where she encountered the HoHo people. They grouped in herds upon the pink sand as sea lions do on Earth. Their grey spotted hide such as whales gave the villagers something to talk about while their voices gave indications they had a language. Their history wasn’t known as no fossils or bones were found to study. Yet the young Queen wanted to know more. Venturing out to the sea with a easel & paints she wanted to paint the seashore with them bathing in the sun. This is the only item we found. One of the Knights who searched the countryside for her whereabouts told. He held a canvass painting he found in the seagrass. The brotherhood of knights viewed the painting of the sea creatures. She might have been taken by one! They agreed to look further as one knight told of a sea cave that only a few had ventured. Deciding to investigate the caves was unanimous as they so much wanted to find their Queen. The trail to the coastline was lengthy so the knights all sang a tune the dwarfs had taught them. Hi Ho, Hi Ho it’s off to work we go. Ho Ho Ho. 🥹☺️😉 They laughed in unison. As they approached the seashore they could see a few Ho Ho creatures bathing in the shallow tide while off in the high tide stood a large rock that a few were perched upon. Gulls flew overhead with one dropping a twig in their path. One soldier with a sharp eye noticed the twig wasn’t a branch but a paint brush. Picking it up, he showed the men. We’re in the right place. He grimaced as the sun became too strong. The caves aren’t far, let’s move on. Then out of nowhere the formation of rocks revealed through the glare as if they were in a hidden spot. Walking in formation up a dusty trail, they found the archway of a entrance. The trail inside the rock led inward where overhead hung stalagmites of dripping calcium. The calcium coated the walls a soft lime green making limestone sculptured formations. The trail wound around creating a high circle where they could look down into a pit with cesspools of sea water seeping in. Looking deeper, one knight could see the outline of a garment among some seagrass. Moving downward closer it looked like a large nest. That could be her! The men trampled down the spiral path until they were able to touch the grass covered garment. Underneath a body stirred. The team worked moving the grass as they felt for signs of life. Then, a face well recognized appeared to be the missing Queen. She appeared sleeping as if under a spell of some kind. There was also something else in the grass, stirring underneath. The knights uncovered more grass to find baby HoHos tucked away as if for protection. Suddenly, Appearing upon the ledge stood a Mother HoHo, who had been out gathering food for her young. She wasn’t happy on seeing her nest invaded. She grinned a large grin revealing teeth that scared the daylight out of the brave men. Quickly, one picked up their lady carrying her up the trail to the cave entrance. The disturbance startled her Grace much enough to awaken her slumber. What are you doing? Put me down! Stepping outside the entrance into fresh air, the strong knight set her down. The knights looked at her with stern eyes that all indicated the seriousness of her adventure. You could have died down there! How did you fall into such a dangerous place? I’m not sure, I found the cave, wondering in, where I must have fell. She said while clutching what appeared to be a stone tablet. What do you have their my Lady? It’s a tablet I found with symbols that I think could be their written language! The soldiers smirked in disbelief. 😫😤🤨My lady, those creatures can’t communicate, their animals! It’s what I was searching for, it’s not a spoken language, they are symbols for a sign language! 🥹 I got up close to study them and two were communicating with their hands, as they do have human features! 🤔🧐 It could be true, but now you must return to your duties as a Queen to your Country! Very well, I hope I haven’t caused any trouble 😟 The group laughed as their mission was accomplished bringing more joy of singing marching songs as they traveled home. The Kings spacecraft was returning at the same time the knights were escorting the Queen to the safety of the dome. Bright lights from the craft flashed in the field it landed on with the doors lifting open to where the King stepped out. The Queen stood in front of him still covered with seagrass. Where in Gods name have you been? It’s a long story she smiled at him giving a lazy yawn. But why do they call them Ho Ho’s? I’m not sure, yet I heard them making a sound that sounded as a jolly laugh and as subtle as the cooing of a dove. Ho Ho Ho 🥹 She mimicked making him laugh. The King tried to understand the Anthropological need to study the creatures who had existed in their world thought to be useless yet attractive in a odd way. I have seen creatures on Earth called Elephants who men hunt for their tusks! Don’t ever hunt our creatures! I beg of you! The Queen knelt before him pleading while grasping his robe attire. My Dear wife, I would never hurt something that you love so deeply. You say they can sign using language? Oh yes, we now have classes that teach the hand positions. Looking through his telescope the King could see his subjects sitting on the beach while small herds of the rare creatures watched in the distance. I will never go to Earth if they are violent enough to hunt for teeth! They have what they call wars, much more than jousting. And who did you return to their planet that took two very long years? The man who taught me the art of transformation! The man who I saw changing in the forest into the bird? Yes he wanted to help transform their world into something more peaceful, with the waving of his wand. I hope he succeeds. I hope he does too, I will miss him. The King looked saddened while he told more of his experiences upon the third planet in the spiral galaxy. They looked together through the telescope as he taught her more of the stars. You should see Egypt! They have Pyramids build millenniums ago that house the bodies of Kings buried in chambers for centuries! He went on telling her stories of the ancients while sounds of cooing Ho Hos listened through the air. The say the river stream where they first met returned to running forward symbolizing the advancement of communication with the learning of the stone tablet language. Their are new sounds in the forest, as the Kingdom grew and grew.