Obert Skye - Leven Thumps and the Ruins of Alder

To Loo, Goo, Punk, Bubba, and Nay.

May your dreams fly as high as your hats.

Text 2009 Obert Skye

Illustrations 2009 Benjamin R. Sowards

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Shadow Mountain . The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of Shadow Mountain.

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Visit us at LevenThumps.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Skye, Obert.

Leven Thumps and the ruins of Alder / Obert Skye.

p. cm.

Summary: Leven discovers that he must travel to the island of Alder to

find the answer that will save the realm of Foo from destruction.

ISBN 978-1-60641-146-9 (hardbound : alk. paper)

[1. Fantasy.] I. Title.

PZ7.S62877Ler 2009

[Fic]dc22 2009022749

Printed in the United States of America

Bang Printing, Brainerd, MN

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

My fellow Americans, the president began, looking straight into the camera, and citizens of all nations. It is with complete soberness and urgency that I address you tonight. Recently our world has begun to experience some unusual events. Fields are coming alive, tornados have personalities, buildings are walking, bugs are carrying people off, and clouds are interfering with planes. We believe there are logical and sane explanations for these occurrences. We must keep a cool head and calm mind. I have been in touch with many world leaders, and this is a global concern. I want you to know that your government is doing everything in its power to keep you safe and combat this problem. We are urging everyone to...

Nobody heard the rest because it was at that point that everyones TVs, computers, and phones went temporarily dead. It was also at that point that almost everybody began to understand that the world was most definitely in a mess.

Prologue

The night was as dark as any serious sin. Only the yellow stars in the sky had any presence up above, and the ground below shook as Foo continued to transform. If you remember correctly, Leven had just cut the Dearth in half and dragged a near-dead Azure back to Geth and Winter. If you dont remember correctly, then Leven had just hosted a birthday party and Winter had come to give him a new sweater that matched his eyes.

Lets hope you remembered correctly.

Directly after Leven had returned with Azure, they had all moved their camp to some hidden tents at the edge of the Swollen Forest. The tents, built on stone, were a secret place where Azure had sometimes come to get away from the constant dark whisperings of the Dearth. Once they got safely there, they had all collapsed into a tired sleep.

Thirty minutes later, Leven jumped up, yelling. He looked around, catching his breath. The tent was unfamiliar, and the dark of night made the surroundings look like a dream.

Are you okay? Geth whispered.

Leven sat down on a wooden chairnothing more, he just sat, but in sitting, the weight of the world seemed to settle. His large shoulders relaxed and he thrust his fingers back though his long black hair.

It was a weird dream, Leven said.

Could you keep it to yourself until morning? Winter pleaded.

Wait, Geth prodded. What do you feel?

Geth stood up to the right of Leven. His left hand was on Levens shoulder, and his blue eyes glowed in a way they had never previously done. Geth was over six feet tall, and his dark blond hair was wild and hung in front of his right eye like a ragged curtain that was hiding something entertaining and secretive. He was muscular in his green robe and black pants and stood like a statue that nobody could easily push over or damage.

Geth smiled. Its all changed, hasnt it?

Leven looked up at his friend and smiled anemically. Yesits all changed. I can see so many dreams.

I dont understand, Winter said, looking around. Whats changed?

Leven smiled a half smile. Winter was no longer a child; she was beautiful, and as strong as any nit in Foo. Her green eyes looked at Leven, the depth of them immeasurable and mesmerizing. Winter was wearing a snug white shirt with burgundy pants. She had a thin white robe hanging loosely over her left shoulder, the hood of it tossed back, exposing her lengthy blonde hair tied loosely behind her head. She blinked, and the green in her eyes seemed to rise to the surface.

Ill take this one, Clover said, fielding Winters question. Levens no longer just that boy who lived with those awful people in that... what was it called?

House, Winter answered.

No, Clover sneered, in that long box with wheels hidden beneath it.

That was their house, Winter said.

Really? Clover shrugged. It had wheels.

It was still a house, Winter insisted.

But the floor sagged and the walls were made of paper.

It was still a house.

Does anyone have a dictionary? Clover asked. I think youre

Leven stopped Clover by patting him on the head. He smiled at the small sycophant and stood up. Leven was taller than Geth now, and his face was well defined and framed by a strong jawbone. His eyes burned so strongly that when he closed his eyelids they still glowed lightly. Leven stretched out his right arm and Clover sprang from the ground and twisted up his arm and onto his shoulder, looking like a bulky snake.

It was a house, Leven smiled. But it wasnt home. And Ill tell you whats changed, he went on, looking toward Winter. Everything.

Thats pretty vague, Winter complained. Whats coming next? Something?

So, how many days? Geth asked.

Leven closed his eyes.

How many days till what? Winter questioned.

Hell know, Geth said softly, nodding toward Leven. He should be able to see the end.

End of what? Clover whispered excitedly.

The end of it all, Geth answered.

And its in just a matter of days? Winter asked anxiously.

Cant you feel it? Geth said gently. One would have to be emotionally dead not to recognize how close we stand to the end.

Winter and Clover were quiet as Leven lifted his eyelids and let the gold shine brightly. He looked at Geth and smiled. I should let you know that in the end you will fight yourself.

Geth rocked on his feet and grinned. I cant wait to meet my missing piece.

Youll have to get back to where we began, Leven added. And you, he said, turning to Winter. You might save us all.

Might? she said, blushing deeply.

Oh, oh, do me, do me! Clover said, jumping up and down.

Levens expression dropped and he let his gaze fall to the ground. He raised his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes with his palms.

What do you see? Clover asked excitedly.

Leven was quiet, his eyes closed.

It must be something really great, Clover whispered.

It is, Leven said solemnly, his eyes opening slowly. But youll have to wait.

Clover shivered and disappeared.

Leven began to cough, and his eyes flashed. I dont know whats wrong with me. My throat gets hot and one leg feels longer than the other and my eyes keep freaking out.

Youre changing, Geth explained. The gifts will really start coming on now.