Chapter 141 The Road Through Birch Pass

Chapter 141 The Road Through Birch Pass
Tessa's POV
The hidden valley was already awake before sunrise.
A thin mist rested above the river while birds darted between the willow branches. Elias moved quietly through his garden, gathering herbs into small cloth bundles.
Anthony wandered over, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"You're working already?"
Elias smiled.
"Plants don't wait for sleepy travellers."
Anthony laughed.
"I think Dad would say the same thing."
"I imagine he would."
Elias handed him one of the small bundles.
"Keep this in your pocket."
Anthony examined it curiously.
"What is it?"
"Wild mint."
"It won't fight monsters."
Anthony grinned.
"I wasn't expecting it to."
"But after a long walk, the smell will remind you to take a deep breath."
Anthony tucked it safely into his pocket.
"I like that."

The wagons were packed soon after breakfast.
Tobias and the other messengers prepared to return south, while Dylan's group gathered near the riverbank.
Elias walked over carrying a walking stick carved from pale ash wood.
"This belonged to my father."
He offered it to Samuel.
Samuel looked surprised.
"I can't accept this."
"You can."
"I already have one."
"This isn't for walking."
Samuel looked down at the smooth wood.
"Then what's it for?"
Elias smiled.
"A reminder."
"Of what?"
"That carrying wisdom weighs far less than carrying regret."
Samuel accepted it with both hands.
"I'll take good care of it."
"I know."

Grace hugged Elias before climbing into one of the wagons.
"Will we see you again?"
"I believe we will."
"When?"
He laughed softly.
"If I answered that, life would become far less interesting."
Grace accepted the mysterious reply with a smile.
Children had a remarkable ability to enjoy answers that adults found frustrating.

The journey from the valley began beneath a bright blue sky.
The river stayed beside them for nearly an hour before bending south, leaving the road to climb steadily toward Birch Pass.
Rocky cliffs rose on either side, narrowing the trail.
Renwick surveyed the terrain with careful attention.
"I'd only need six warriors to defend this place."
Caleb looked around.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Micah pointed toward the cliff above them.
"There's an old shepherd's path up there."
"You've used it?"
"Years ago."
"It overlooks the entire pass."
Renwick nodded thoughtfully.
"If trouble comes..."
"We'll already know where to stand."

Daniel and Anthony walked beside the wagons instead of riding.
Grace skipped ahead, collecting unusually shaped stones.
"I found one that looks like a turtle."
Anthony examined it.
"I think it looks like Renwick."
Grace burst into laughter.
Renwick turned around.
"Should I be offended?"
Anthony held up the stone.
"It has your serious face."
Even Renwick couldn't stop himself from smiling.
"I'll allow it."
Daniel picked up another stone.
"This one looks like Caleb."
Caleb accepted it with great seriousness.
"I've always wanted to become a pebble."
The children laughed so hard they had to stop walking.
Watching them, Ruth shook her head fondly.
"They're getting braver."
"They're getting happier," Tessa replied.
"There is a difference."

Around midday, the group reached the highest point of Birch Pass.
The view stretched across rolling hills, scattered forests and distant rivers.
Micah stopped suddenly.
"Wait."
His cheerful expression disappeared.
Dylan followed his gaze.
"What is it?"
Micah pointed toward a hillside several miles away.
A thin column of smoke rose into the clear sky.
Not thick enough for a wildfire.
Too steady for a campfire.
Renwick narrowed his eyes.
"Someone's burning green wood."
Caleb agreed.
"That smoke was meant to be seen."
Samuel looked toward Tobias.
"Do traders use smoke signals?"
"Sometimes."
"What does one column mean?"
Tobias answered immediately.
"It depends."
"On what?"
"The colour."
Everyone looked again.
The smoke was pale grey.
Not black.
Not white.
Micah's face tightened.
"My grandfather taught me that signal."
"What does it mean?" Dylan asked.
"It means..."
He hesitated.
"...people are asking for help."

The group continued until they reached a small spring flowing from the rocks.
Dylan called for a short rest.
While the horses drank, Renwick climbed a large boulder for a better view.
After several minutes he climbed down again.
"The smoke has stopped."
Caleb frowned.
"Did they leave?"
"I don't think so."
"What makes you say that?"
"The fire was covered."
Someone wanted the signal hidden.
That changed everything.

As everyone prepared to continue, Samuel noticed something wedged between two rocks near the spring.
A leather pouch.
Small enough to fit in one hand.
"It wasn't here long."
He picked it up and loosened the drawstring.
Inside were dried berries, a flint stone...
...and a carved wooden bird.
Anthony recognised the carving style immediately.
"This isn't Daniel's."
Micah gently took the little bird.
"It isn't Elias's either."
He turned it over.
A tiny symbol had been carved beneath one wing.
A willow leaf.
Samuel smiled.
"I've seen this before."
"Where?" Dylan asked.
"Elias carved the same mark onto the fox and rabbit."
Micah nodded.
"It means the carving came from the hidden valley."
Caleb looked around the narrow pass.
"So someone from the valley travelled this road."
"Recently."
Samuel reached into the pouch again.
Folded beneath the berries was another note.
This one contained only a single sentence.
Don't hurry because you're afraid. Hurry because someone is waiting.
Dylan read the words twice before folding the paper.
A smile touched the corner of his mouth.
"The advice keeps changing."
Tessa looked at him.
"How so?"
"The earlier messages taught us patience."
He tucked the note safely inside his jacket.
"This one reminds us that patience and delay aren't the same thing."
The distinction sharpened everyone's focus.
Ash Hollow was no longer just a mystery on a map.
Real people were waiting beyond the mountains.
And with every step through Birch Pass, the distance between them grew smaller.