The Impossible Adventures: Book #1 - Mountain of Ash

Bloodroot Tribe

When I wake up, all I see is brown. Then I remember - I’m under a cloth. I throw the cloth off of me and brush myself off. My clothes are caked with dirt and ash. Claudia is curled up into a ball under her cloth, sleeping. I shake her shoulder and she sits up.
        “What- what happened?” she mumbles, groggily. I shrug and we climb out of the wagon.
        Trees surround us. They're even taller than the Tall Tree, back home. They sway in the wind. Birds chirp and peck.
        Claudia is staring at the canopy with awe. I look up and see sunlight filtering through the leaves and on to the damp ground. The air is humid. Vines hang from the tree branches, and moss covers the ground. Dead leaves are scattered in every direction. A green snake slithers out of sight. What is this place?
        Suddenly, I hear a shrill screech. There are rustles in the bushes, and Claudia and I freeze. A man bursts out of the underbrush. He has dark skin, and is wearing only a raggedy cloth. His hair is wild, with pieces of sticks stuck in it. Wordlessly, he pokes us with a spear. Other people stick their heads out of the bushes and curiously look on.
        "Who are you?" Claudia asks warily. The people don't respond. They hold up some vines and tie our wrists together. I try to object, but they brandish their spears threateningly.
        We're dragged deeper into the rainforest until we get to a clearing. Small huts made of mud shelter some women, with muddy faces, who hold babies. Claudia and I are shoved into a hole in the ground. A grate made of sticks covers us. Claudia whimpers and it's my turn to hold her hand.
        I hear mutters from above. Pressing my ear to the grate, I listen, but can't make out anything. It seems as if they have their own language. They sound like they're talking Spanish, but neither Claudia nor I can tell what they say.
        Finally, the grate moves and we're allowed to wander the camp. The members of this tribe look at us strangely as we talk Spanish. One of the people clears his throat and speaks - he speaks our language!
        "We- we are much sorry how you welcome." says the man apologetically. "I is Gabriel, but you call me Gabe. We Bloodroot tribe of Brazil."
        I squint at Gabe. Claudia pipes up. "I'm Claudia, and this is Carlos. We just want to get back home, to Mexico. Can you show us the way?"
        Gabe murmurs with the Bloodroot tribe in their strange language. Then he addresses us again. "I much sorry, but you not get home. Person who comes Bloodroot, they stay Bloodroot. You stay forever now."