Lullaby Baby

Anna Jane sat up and looked around. The rain had already started to fall. She faced the sky above. Nothing but trees. The green made her whistle.

“Wow,” she whispered. Anna Jane took a look around on the moss. Teddy lay on his back, facing the sky. The girl crawled over to the stuffed bear. She moved down to eye level.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Anna Jane whispered. But then, something caught her ear.

“Shhh,” she whispered. The girl strained to listen. Was that… crying?

“Hello?” Anna Jane asked. No words in response. Just the faint sound of crying. She looked around. Where? Where did the crying come from? Anna Jane closed her eyes and took a listen. Where? Where? Where?

She whipped her head to her right.

“There!” Anna Jane shouted. She jumped to her feet and took off to the west. The girl held Teddy to her chest. He feet moved step by step through the thick moss. Felt like walking on a sponge. Water went up between her little toes. She shivered with each step. Anna Jane sniffed Teddy’s head.

“Ew! You need a bath,” she said. “I’ll wash you later.” Only her footsteps filled the silence with the distant crying.

Anna Jane didn’t mind the walk. The deep green around calmed her down. The little girl hummed to herself. Meanwhile, the crying got louder. Anna Jane strained her ears to trace the crying. She pointed forward.

“There!” the girl shouted. Anna Jane started to run through the moss. The crying grew louder and louder. Up ahead stood a tree trunk. The source of the crying was louder now. Anna Jane tilted her head.

“Hm?” she asked. The girl walked up to the trunk. She peeked inside. Her jaw dropped.

“What is the world?” the girl asked. At the bottom was a baby with dark hair crying. Anna Jane slowly covered her mouth.

“Look Teddy,” she said. Anna Jane held him up for a look. She looked again with him. She set Teddy to the side.

“Wait here,” she said. Anna Jane reached down into the trunk and pulled the baby out. She closed her eyes while inside.

Please don’t let me get stuck. Please don’t let me get stuck!

Getting out was harder than getting in. Carrying a baby made it worse. Child didn’t stop crying.

“Come on, baby,” Anna Jane said. “Shhh. Shhh. It’s okay. I have you. Shhh. Shhh.” She struggled to get her footing. At last, the girl became upright with the baby in her arms. Suddenly, the child went quiet. Anna Jane held them to her chest. She broke into a little smile.

“Hello,” she said. Was it normal for a baby to have such violet eyes? But then, her smile faded.

“What do I do now?” she asked. The girl looked over at Teddy. The bear sat silent with his black button eyes.

“Hm…” Anna Jane said. She turned back to the baby. They stared up at her silent. The girl dropped her shoulders and sighed.

“I need to find the others real soon,” she said. Suddenly, Anna Jane turned her head when she heard the sound of drums.

“What is this?” Anna Jane asked. She shifted the baby to her hip and picked up Teddy by his arm. The girl-child followed the sound as if in a trance. The baby fell asleep by her side. Anna Jane took in the moss at her toes.