The Clearing

The story starts a few years ago with a father and son. The father was rich, stubborn and headstrong.

The boy was sick and needed the aid of a crutch to get along.

The father refused to have his son in a wheelchair. He said it would make him a weaker man. The father was determined that this disease was just concocted by doctors who only wanted his money and really didn't know how to cure the boy.

On a whim, the father decided he'd help the issue himself. He decided that a week up in the European mountains would clear up any ailment the boy had. It would make him strong! When they arrived at the remote location by helicopter the boy realized what was going on.

"Dad, why here, wouldn't I be better if I was resting somewhere?"

"Resting! I booked this trip for it's location! It has beautiful landscapes and tons of fresh air! The place we're staying at is just a quick walk up this mountain path. You can think about resting when we arrive at our Chalet."

"Okay dad."

"Here - you can carry your own bag."

The tarp bag was thrown at him. Thank goodness he packed lighter than he'd planned. He had the feeling that his dad was not going to go easy on him at all. He hated being the only boy in the family and he also hated being sick which only compounded the problem.

"Well lets get going!"

The boy looked up and saw the path and how it meandered through bushes and steep slopes. It was going to be a long walk with a crutch.

Fifteen minutes into the walk the boy was getting tired. He'd stumble over pebbles and carefully avoid puddles heading slowly upward. He'd get scratched against jutting branches and trip on larger rocks that would slow him down. He'd dropped the crutch a few times climbing when he made his way higher up and would have to go back to retrieve it. He could see the disapproving look in his father's face but continued forward.

Another twenty minutes later they had happened upon a clearing in the mountain path where there were all sorts of life-sized statues of mythical creatures. He asked his father if they could rest for a while before they continued on their way. Adding that it would make some interesting photos for mom when they got back home. The father agreed and they stopped. His dad retrieved the camera while the boy got to take a look around.

"Wow dad! This is sick! I wonder who made all these statues?"

The boy walked up to a stone Centaur and stared at the detail of the face. It was almost as if the creature was real! It was like something out of a history textbook of Greek mythological figures. He reached up and touched the statue's arm. It was just cold stone. Not real at all. There wasn't only the Centaur in the clearing, but Fairies and Elves, Dwarfs and magical creatures. There were at least twenty if not more creatures blending in with the area. Some of them were hiding behind trees and under bushes. It was interesting the way it was almost like time had stopped. Very odd!

The father snapped a few pictures while the boy wandered around the little area. The cliff nearby was very steep where the Centaur looked out. The boy walked out closer to the edge to get a better look down when he started to feel strangely weak and began sweating. His father glimpsed over at him and could see him become unbalanced quickly he rushed over and grabbed him before he fell the wrong way.

"What are you doing? You've got to be more careful!"

"Sorry Dad."

"Sorry! Listen boy! You'd be sorry if you fell off! That's a good fifty feet down. You could hurt yourself pretty good!"

"I said I was sorry!"

"Pick up your feet son, and mind where you're going! I'm going to put my camera away and we'll continue to the Chalet, it isn't too far away now."

"Yeah, okay." the boy mumbled. His father's anger really hurt him deep.

"Let's go!"

His dad was right, the Chalet, mostly hidden by trees as they got near, was now within view and it was just another five minutes before they made it to the stairs leading to the doorway. Up the ten agonizing steps they made it inside the Chalet. It was a huge place. He was happy to remove his bag from off his shoulder and sit down somewhere.

There was a little bench nearby and the boy went over to take off his shoes while his father called out: "Hello! Hello!"

Soon a lady appeared at the side doorway on the right and entered the room.

"Are you Mr. Duchene?"

"Yes, that's me and my son, Ryan."

"Pleased to meet you, I am your housekeeper, Anne. Please let me show you the way up to your rooms."

"Thank you. Come on, son!"

"Okay, Dad." Ryan slung the bag back over his shoulder, picked up his crutch and followed behind them.

There were more stairs; it was exhausting to get there but the room was big. There was a balcony where they could look out and see the clearing they had just been at with all the creatures down below. The style of their room was like a Greek retreat with long flowing curtains, marble tables and a light airy feel about the room. There was a nice bedroom with two big beds for both of them to sleep on and all the amenities of being away from home. Father, being a noted scientific genius, and having money allowed for some good things.

They had arrived early in the afternoon and now the day had edged a little closer to evening. They had gone to the lounge for dinner and were relaxing on the balcony afterward. Ryan was exhausted and yet he thought he could hear something. It sounded like music faintly on the wind. Too far away to tell what song they were playing. Melody was like a harp and flute.

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what, son?"

"Music."

"No, not really."

The music stopped.

"Never mind, it stopped."

"Are you tired son?"

"Yeah, I think I may just go to bed early."

"Alright. Close the door behind you if you're going and I'll see you in the morning - we have things to do tomorrow."

"What kind of things?"

"There is a small man-made lake nearby I thought we'd go fishing or on a boat trip if we can rent a vessel."

"Sure dad. See you in the morning."

He walked off the balcony and was closing the door when he heard the music again. He went to the bedroom as fast as he could and opened the window. He could hear the music a little louder now. He didn't know what they were playing but he could tell the sound was coming from the clearing below.

Ryan snuggled into bed when he had finished getting ready. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. He could still hear the music playing and it made him more relaxed and he was dreaming in no time.

He dreamed that he was at the clearing and the stone creatures were gone. All of them. Where had they gone? He could hear the sound of a horse approaching from behind him and when he turned around a giant white horse was leaping over his head like it could fly and landed in front of him. He awoke quickly with a start and covered in sweat. Ryan was disoriented - he didn't realize where he was. Looking over to the left he saw his dad in the bed beside his; sleeping.

Ryan looked at the clock on the wall. It was 4 a.m. and the sun was just rising making a deep purple/pink color to the sky. Ryan got up and looked out the window toward the clearing and thought he saw the Centaur in a different spot closer to the middle of the clearing. It moved! He could see the Centaur make it's way over to the edge where he originally stood. One brief moment Ryan could feel surprise; with the shiver of his skin, and excitement all at once as he thought he saw the creature look up at him and then freeze back to it's original position.

Was he seeing things?

He was up and awake early!

Perhaps he was seeing things. Perhaps not!

He quickly grabbed his clothes off the chair, changed while his dad slept, and made his way quietly out of the Chalet and down to the clearing. He must have did it in record time because he immediately found himself looking at the Centaur once again. He brought his watch and looked at the time. It was 4:30 a.m. and the sky was now a lighter pink and he looked up from his watch at the Centaur again. Silent.

"I saw you walking around...Are you real?"

The Centaur was silent and stone. Ryan with his crutch moved to the other side of the Centaur and looked at it's face again.

"I wish you were alive!" he whispered a little louder. "I wish you were all alive!" he shouted.

"And so we shall be!" said the Centaur, turning his head and smiling."Thanks to you Ryan!"

All the statues, like a rush of wind, began to sway, then stretch and then awaken a little at a time.

Ryan was about to fall over! "You! You're alive!" Ryan shouted!

"Yes, and we are so happy you can see us! It has been so long since anyone believed we were real."

"This is awesome!"

"Come, Ryan, leave your crutch behind and wander with us. I'll show you all kinds of great sights you won't believe your eyes!"

"I already don't!" Ryan laughed to spite his surprise. "I have to take my crutch with me though, I have something wrong with me and the doctors say - "

"Doctors? Put down your crutch and see - you are as good as new!"

Ryan did as he was told and was amazed that he could stand...He felt strong suddenly and could take a full breath of air without feeling pain. The crutch lay on the rock beside him and he stood tall and healthy.

"You're right I feel great!" Ryan looked around at where he stood. He was on the cliff again looking down into the valley below. Suddenly he felt dizzy like before and started to become unbalanced on his feet.

"Ryan!" a far off voice called out! "Get away from the edge!"

It was his father's voice he heard.

When he turned around to look, the Centaur and all the creatures they were frozen once more and his father was coming towards him.

"I'm okay Dad! The statues are alive! They talked to me!"

"What are you doing without your crutch!"

"It's just right here, but I don't need it Dad. I feel great watch - " Ryan took a step forward and his legs went from under him.

"Ryan!" His father grabbed him before he fell.

Ryan started to cry. "It was real Dad, the Centaur did come to life - look, just for a second I didn't need my crutch! I felt good...I -"

"I shouldn't have brought you here. Your mother was right. You are looking a little pale. Let's get you back to the Chalet. I better not catch you here again! Stay away from this place."

They made their way back up together, Ryan wiped his eyes and wondered what happened. Did he imagine it all? He'd find out for sure without his father. He would go out again later and see. He'd wait until night time and come out again.

He wondered how his dad knew where he was but had forgotten he was up early to take him fishing. He got scolded for getting up and leaving. It was 7 a.m. when they had arrived at the lake to go fishing. Ryan was miserable and silent and his father was the same. They fished in silence and never caught any fishes at all.

Later that night, while Ryan's father slept, Ryan got out of bed and quietly got dressed again and made his way down to the clearing. The statues were unmoving. He walked over to the Centaur and again looked at him.

"Was I imagining it? Did you actually move?" Ryan whispered. "Are you alive?"

At that moment the leaves stirred; the wind picked up and a voice said to him: "We are more alive than anyone could ever imagine!"

At that moment the Centaur and all the creatures were alive again. Some walking up to Ryan to greet him while others like the Centaur stood and shook Ryan's hand.

"Ryan, you are a shining star and you shouldn't have to suffer! Come with me - leave that crutch and that Chalet behind and let me show you a place that humans haven't seen for centuries! You'll be surprised how closely we are alike! Come! Hop on my back and I will show you!"

Ryan did. He was gone until early morning when they were back at the clearing again laughing and dancing around.

"Wow! That was so much fun!" said Ryan. "I could dance!! Yay!" Ryan leaped into the air.

"You've got to head back before your father wakes up and finds you here!"

"Okay, thanks all of you!" Ryan called out and with his crutch ran up the stairs to the Chalet where he slipped inside the door to the room and back into his bed.

Ryan's dad thought it was odd that his son was so tired the next morning but he didn't mind letting Ryan sleep. They had been up so early the day before. Ryan slept until 11 am and felt exhausted. He had to use his crutch to even get around the room but he remembered how much fun he had the night before that he made no complaints. The day passed and another evening came where Ryan slipped out again to the clearing to visit his new friends. Another day he slept in later in the morning. He told his dad it was because of the fresh air of the mountains.

A week later and Ryan's Dad was becoming concerned. Ailment or not, his son was very withdrawn in the times that they had spent together, not really talking about anything. He wondered if his son was maybe sicker than he'd thought. He was tired in the daytime, he would spend time drawing pictures of different creatures in his room and sleeping a lot. Perhaps they should leave and get some serious medical help.

Ryan was on the other hand enjoying his stay - he never let his dad know that he was down in the clearing. The things he was seeing made his heart leap just thinking about it. Flying through the air with a Pegasus, speaking with elves, playing with talking creatures that he didn't know the name for, but smiled at him as if they were happy he was there. In the daytime he was miserable wishing he was there! Why would he have to keep sneaking back to a world where he had to use his crutch all the time?

Then came the morning Ryan got caught in the clearing by his father. It was almost into the second week when early in the morning he was over by the path in the woods playing hide and seek when he saw his dad. The creatures were already hiding but when Ryan heard his dad start to yell he immediately hoped they hid well so he didn't harm them.

"RYAN!" The wood rang with his name.

"Shhhh, dad, I'm just taking a stroll in the woods."

"I thought I told you not to go here without me!" There was rage in his voice.

"I was feeling good and wanted to go for a walk."

"At 5 a.m.? No child is ever up this early...Have you been here all night?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me boy! I can tell you have been down here for a while. Where's your crutch?"

"I think it's over in the clearing there."

"What are you doing without it here?" There was suspicion in his voice.

"I forgot it."

"Is there anybody here with you, helping you?"

"Just me, dad."

"You walked that far without it? I don't believe it."

"You should believe it dad! Maybe that's why you don't see them!"

"See who?"

"The creatures! They're alive! You just have to believe!"

"You are sick! Not this talk again! We are not staying! You disobeyed me! We are leaving as soon as possible and I am going to give you to those doctors and they can fix you because now I think you are really sick that you are seeing things!"

"I am not seeing things! It's you that are not seeing things properly!"

"Get back to the Chalet right now."

"I need my crutch."

"You want your crutch, you go back and get it at the clearing and then get back to the Chalet because your bag will be packed and we are going to leave this place!" With those words Ryan's dad stormed back.

Ryan was crying when he reached the clearing for his crutch. The sun was rising higher in the early lightly peach pink colored morning sky. Ryan saw the Centaur in his spot before the cliff and ran over to it.

"I don't want to go!" he cried. "I'm tired of being sick!"

The Centaur stood silent in the sun.

"Please tell me I can come live with you in your world." he cried.

"Oh Ryan, of course you can! Are you ready to let go of this world?"

"There's nothing but pain here. They don't know how to cure what I even have! What chance do I have? I really want to stay with all of you!"

"Well then come and hop upon my back while there is still time and I will take you once more to my world where you can be happy and free."

With those words Ryan smiled and wiped away his last tear as the Centaur itself sprouted wings and took off from the cliff, into the air and far away.

Later that day when the authorities had been called from the local city to search the forest, there were whispers around the area of strange rituals from the ancient past in those very woods. Stories of mythical creatures and one story of a young boy who lived with them.

There was a picture of a relief carving made in Ancient Greece and when hearing about Ryan's disappearance the housekeeper at the Chalet, Anne, showed him the picture. Mr. Duchene looked at the picture - there was a Centaur rearing up on it's back hooves dancing and nearby was a boy that looked a lot like Ryan.