Bone Vol. 6: Old Man's Cave

By Jeff Smith

We discover Fone climbing a tree to get bearings as to where they were in the woods, Smiley waiting below. They'd been lost for days already and Fone still wasn't familiar with the area, meanwhile Smiley is having trouble watching for Fone's climb down due to a groundhog getting mad at Smiley for stepping on his home's entrance, Fone having a moment to break his handhold and falling directly onto the groundhog. Ted the bug then finds Smiley as he's trying to extricate Fone from his fall into the groundhog's hole (ha ha) and Fone is as happy to see Ted, as well.

The groundhog then overhears their happy reunion and who Fone was, getting scared since the rumor was Fone had killed Kingdok, he retreating inside, Ted then catching the Bones up on what had been going on, Fone getting angry with Phoney and they both being led by Ted back to where the village was. We see Phoney in cover of the trees spying Thorn helping a family escape the burning village, meeting the rest in the brush before two groups of rat creatures approach from two sides of the clearing and everyone hiding in the darkness of the trees hoping not to be seen. The two rat creature group leaders speak of the news about Kingdok, one group leader not knowing the most recent news being of his death. The two group leaders then digress into another language which gives Wendell time to threaten Phoney for being the one with the star mentioned by the rat creatures and wanting to give him hell for getting them in this mess, Phoney cowering and knowing his words bore truth.

Thorn then divulges she understood the language the two groups were speaking in, not knowing how but then giving orders as to where to take the new family and getting Wendell and a couple others to do what they had already done before, everyone having their tasks and Phoney surprised Thorn believed in his innocence. When Thorn and company get back, they don't see the town, she making it clear they were in it already. Wendell gets newly enraged at the thought of everyone's home being obliterated and chasing imaginary dragons because of Phoney, Thorn having to come to his rescue yet again, but not succeeding so Phoney lets out with Thorn's secret which at first they have trouble believing. Thorn then tries to get everyone's attention on a trail she wanted to follow, with or without the group which she believed may lead to the other Bones.

Jon, one of the group then encounters a note Thorn had written to Fone Bone and discovered it wasn't in the place she left it, Lucius most likely having put it in the known spot for trading messages, the group, other than Thorn and Phoney deciding to check Gran'ma Ben's farm in the morning. The two then go off in search of Fone, but the men in the group notice hooded figures, the Stick-Eaters heading towards them. When Thorn acknowledges them, one confides a message from her grandmother and where she wished Thorn to meet her, Thorn than asks what they know of Fone and they recount the latest news as to his whereabouts, she still struggling with what to do first, deciding she'll make her final decision in the morning. We then see a dream Thorn has which shows her looking like Snow White and speaking to her younger looking grandmother who urges her to cut the vines around her, younger Lucius advises her to disobey, another young grandmother coming from behind Thorn, but not being able to see her.

The younger "evil" grandmother tries to take Thorn's sword and Thorn wakens clutching Fone's spiked club, she walking off into the darkness. The four left in Thorn's group, being deserted by her during the night, end up walking in the dark trying to uncover Old Man's Cave. The biggest in their group is still steaming about Phoney's trouble-making ways and is about to take it out on him again when Wendell tries to hold him back, enforcing Thorn's order to leave him alone. Gran'ma Ben soon shows up and enquires where Thorn is, stopping the two from fighting amongst themselves.

They escort them back to the cave, Lucius going after Thorn. We then see where Fone and Smiley have gotten to, they soon finding themselves amongst rat creatures and when they begin threatening them with death, Thorn comes out to defend them, but upon seeing the club she brandished and giving to Fone, they truly show fear and run off for believing they were the ones to kill Kingdok. After greeting each other warmly, Thorn then figures out which direction will take them to Old Man's Cave, then promptly heads in the opposite direction, believing they can't be helped by anyone there, looking for shelter instead. We then see the Hooded One speaking with the Lord of the Locusts who was concerned with his interest in the one who bears the star, the Lord of the Locusts making it clear if the Hooded One's idea failed, he'd pay for it.

We then see the Bones and Thorn spitting cherry pits at each other in the tree hollow and they getting so loud as to bring Ted back to inform them to keep it down for having to try and keep them hidden. Thorn then shares their plans to confront and over-power the Hooded One, Ted then voicing his opinion they should be going to Old Man's Cave. Thorn still denying this to be a suitable plan and the three discussing what more is known of the Hooded One and where the Lord of the Locusts came from. Thorn then confides why the Lord of the Locusts was showing such interest in herself and Phoney and how it will aid his release from bondage, going on to confess why she doesn't trust Gran'ma Ben at the moment and it having to do with the knowledge of a nursemaid Thorn had come to realize didn't exist.

We then see Roque Ja confronting whoever is in his presence, it turning out to be the Hooded One asking for a favor, Roque Ja turning him down before he can continue, taunting him with how he probably wouldn't have been able to get the information from Kingdok who is now lacking an important appendage needed to speak, he coming out from the darkness as well and the Hooded One having to hold him back. The Hooded One goes on to mention needing Roque Ja's help in capturing the Bones once more and what state he wished the princess to be in, he accepting once he gets an agreed upon reward for his efforts. Then we see Phoney being wakened by Jon, he revealing how long Phoney's been asleep since he'd been ill and now they all residing in Old Man's Cave. Jon explains some of the cave's history and Gran'ma Ben comes to see Phoney as well, he realizing her status and thinking he's going to pay for his bad behavior, she agreeing to judge him lightly.

Gran'ma Ben then takes Phoney to a part of the cave which shows drawings on the walls implying the beginning which started with a dragon queen and how the Lord of the Locusts became involved, including an ancestor of Gran'ma Ben's and in extension, Thorn. Phoney then learns what role the rat creatures believed he would be playing in all of this, Lucius interrupting by coming to update how he hadn't found Thorn due to her excellent training from the dragons and how they were getting boxed in by the Hooded One and rat creatures setting up camps around them. Gran'ma Ben then defends Phoney from getting decked by Lucius since he was only worried about the well-being of his cousins and when Lucius departs, he asks Gran'ma Ben who the Hooded One was, she not knowing either, but being able to clarify what would occur if he succeeded in releasing the Lord of the Locusts, the outcome not a good one. Fone and Smiley meanwhile, are gathering water at the barn to prepare for a bath whilst Thorn was within, looking through her grandmother's belongings.

They continue to discuss what the next item of business will be for their group, they not knowing and figuring Thorn would be the leader. Thorn meanwhile is hearing their conversation and interjects what her plan is and reveals why she hadn't told them until then. Fone puts in his two cents and Thorn expands on why she doesn't want to go to Old Man's Cave, but then Fone with Smiley's help, convinces her it's the best idea for now and they head in the same direction instead. Lucius is then shone giving command to the group following him in order to keep the rat creatures from completely surrounding Old Man's Cave.

Lucius then sees a woman who introduces herself as Briar and we learn who she's related to, he in denial it could be her and Jonathan overseeing their conversation from within the woods, also noticing rat creatures approaching. Jonathan then shouts of their closing in and Lucius breaks away from Briar to help defend the cave. We skip to where Gran'ma Ben is updated on what was happening outside the cave, the scout not learning much and then continuing conversation with Phoney in relation to his soul and as she's explaining she again gets the "gitchy" feeling and Phoney feels a rumbling around them. When they get outdoors they see the place where the Lord of the Locusts is trapped has a dust cloud rising up around it and then Gran'ma Ben learns of what's happened to Lucius, he coming to inform what had happened to them, she hoping Thorn is alright.

Then Roque Ja comes out from behind Gran'ma Ben's farmhouse sniffing around and seemingly stalking Thorn and co. Lucius reports back to Gran'ma Ben of who he'd seen as the Hooded One to which she has trouble believing for the one mentioned was thought to be dead, after only seeming to feel pity for her. Gran'ma Ben goes on to share no one else coming to help them and they would most likely be fighting among their own, alone. Wendell then walks up demanding for Phoney to be given to them since he's the one the rat creatures are looking for and being in this mess because of him. Gran'ma Ben tries to appeal to Wendell and those with him they shouldn't hand over the one thing they were after if they believed it would help release the Lord of the Locusts, but whilst they were being held off, Phoney takes off and so Gran'ma Ben spreads everyone out looking for him so he doesn't get caught by the enemies and lose the war inadvertently because of his absence, she going off in search of him on her own and being seen by Roque Ja.

Gran'ma Ben notices Phoney and stops him before he made matters worse, Lucius coming up behind the two and Roque Ja looking ready to act, Lucius warning her and Roque Ja pouncing, getting Gran'ma Ben, Lucius jumping on him and the three falling off the cliff. Gran'ma Ben starts by punching the lion though, showing her strength isn't only rumors, Phoney continuing his ditching of them. Roque Ja ignores them after and mentions his targets being Phoney and "the princess", we then seeing Phoney run straight into Fone, Thorn and Smiley walking close behind. Phoney explain how he'd been to Old Man's Cave and it not being safe anymore and then of Gran'ma Ben's run in with Roque Ja, which makes Thorn want to go and defend her, Phoney and Fone trying to stop her, but not getting far since Roque Ja had followed Phoney and swatted Thorn out of the way.

Fone gets swatted down some boulders and Roque Ja picks up Thorn and Phoney to finish his mission, Smiley trying to get Fone to wake up, but he's gone into his dreams and sees the Red Dragon there stating for him to wake up and of Thorn's condition, needing him to follow her. After the Red Dragon conveys how he won't be able to go with him, Fone wakes and Smiley tells him which direction they'd gone, the two running after Roque Ja. We then see Gran'ma Ben tending to Lucius who had been hurt, but advising her to make haste for Roque Ja so she can try and divert the lion from succeeding in catching Thorn or Phoney, he assuring her he'll be going back to Old Man's Cave and so Gran'ma Ben follows their trail. Smiley and Fone are then shown running over some rocks to where they witness Kingdok, some rat creatures and the Hooded One, Phoney having been bound on a flat stone, the Hooded One remarking how he may have evaded them for some time, but he was caught now and his mystic powers must not be as strong as he thought, Phoney denying knowing anything about this and admitting it was a big misunderstanding and refusing to take part in the Hooded One's ritual to release the Lord of the Locusts, but she warning Phoney if he didn't help her willingly she'd accept him as a sacrifice, Bone trying to reason with her, but the Hooded One then showing how the foretelling of Phoney's coming had been known, an obvious sign, appearing through the thick smoke behind her.

Phoney then realizes what they'd seen and how Fone would definitely be mad if he knew, Fone and Smiley putting two and two together and the balloon shaped like one of the Bones being the cause of them being run out of Boneville. Gran'ma Ben then tries to stop the Hooded One from continuing the sacrifice, after Bone had tried to explain what the balloon had been for and the message beneath, it having a banner at the bottom which was ripped, partially. Gran'ma Ben then speaks of the mistake the Hooded One had made and how the balloon wasn't the one needed to free the Lord of Locusts but Thorn, who the Hooded One said was dead. Kingdok then goes on to berate how the Hooded One had disgraced his people with the mistake made and then we see what happens to the Hooded One due to the incompetence allowed to play out.

Fone goes to Thorn and gives her the necklace the dragon had given him whilst he'd been unconscious, meanwhile locusts having covered her, but when he gives her the necklace, she awakens and Gran'ma Ben and the Bones all try to make sure she can walk so they can escape the area due to it's instability. Thorn stops only for a moment to put up her hood, giving the impression they haven't quite saved her yet and this volume ending. I won't like pausing in the story, but there's a side-story to be read: Rose, but this volume and the whole series so far is definitely worth the effort.