Part 29
Entering the Living Forest
Over the next few days Ranin watched the girl’s swift recovery. Each day she had shown significant improvement and soon she had regained the ability to walk without assistance and the only thing which remained of her injury was a small scar.
“We will leave tomorrow,” the Trapper said, “and head north. We should be at the pass within a few days.”
“So soon?” the girl said.
“The sooner the better,” the Trapper said. “Winter will soon be upon us and I would rather have you two out of my care before then.”
“We will do our best,” Uncle Ben said.
And so the day came when the party said their goodbyes to their gracious hosts. The girl and the Granddaughter finished the last of a dozen embraces.
“Be well,” the girl said.
“And to you also,” the granddaughter said, producing and tying a ribbon onto the girl’s hat.
“I’ll visit someday again,” the girl said, but the granddaughter shook her head.
“Don’t say so,” she countered. “The world is wide and I do not think Calta will be your home. Don’t waste time looking back. I do wish you well, even if I don’t understand your way of life.”
The girl flashed her, a smile. “Maybe one day you will understand me.”
“I think not,” the Granddaughter said, sharing the smile.
“Good luck,” the girl said, kissing the Granddaughter’s cheek, before turning to join the Trapper and Uncle Ben. The Granddaughter could do nothing but shake her head as her brother stepped to her side.
“Why are goodbyes always so sad,” Ranin said.
“But where’s Sworder?” the girl said, concerned.
“He has not had a need to show himself,” Uncle Ben said.
“But,” the girl began.
“Relax,” Sworder said, with a weary smile, “There is little danger here.”
“Sworder!” the girl said, grabbing his hand, “Let’s go.”
“Don’t get too far ahead,” the Trapper called after the girl and Sworder, before turning to the Elder, “Thanks for the hospitality.”
“No,” the Elder disagreed. “Thank you for all you have done.”
“I just happen to be stopping by,” the Trapper said before starting down the road.
The overcast had broken and the sun shone down upon the land. The morning breeze still had an awful bite which reminded all of the oncoming winter.
The forest was still. It had not been like this since the first day they had adventured into Calta. The birds had come out in full force, filling the world with their sharp calls, and fluttering wings.
“I wish it could be like this everyday,” the girl said, regretfully.
“This is what Calta offers without Kazans,” the Trapper said.
“It’s not the Kazans’ fault.”
“Perhaps not,” the Trapper said dismissively. “But that doesn’t mean what I said was wrong.”
The girl did not respond but grabbed Sworder’s hand and pushed forward, “Come on, Sworder.”
“She has her reasons for her comments,” Uncle Ben explained to the Trapper.
“Most do,” the Trapper said. “But I think she may be unaware of her danger.”
Uncle Ben sighed, “True, it seems that Kazans have a bad reputation, mostly by their own fault.”
“It seems the little group has some fractures,” Ranin said.
“But it is not principles which hold this group together.” Namic said.
“Quickly,” Ranin said, seeing the girl and Sworder disappear over the next rise. “Follow them.”
The girl and Sworder had stopped just over the rise. Before them, spanning like a large scar, lay a black smear upon the forest. A large swath of the landscape had been scorched, with black stumps of what had once been trees scattered across the hillside. Black ash coated the ground and hung in the air, carried slowly by the wind.
An unsettling stillness covered the hill, but unlike the stillness from this morning, this was a stillness from the loss of all life. A tear rolled down the girl’s face as a cold shiver ran through her. Not a sound seemed to break that silent moment: no bird, no beast stirred. Only death hung over the valley, cold heartless death. A cold breeze kicked up forcing the girl to grab her hat but her ribbon blew away and was carried out into the bleak scene.
The Trapper and Uncle Ben followed over the rise shortly after and stopped also to review the devastation. The group processed down the hill into the charred land below. Dropping to one knee, the Trapper examined the blackened ground.
“What happened?” the girl asked.
“It’s still rather fresh,” the Trapper said, “My guess is a fire swept through here within the last few days.” He rose and surveyed the scene before pointing aways off, “We may find a clue of what happened over there.”
At first there seemed nothing special about the spot the Trapper pointed out, but as they approached it could be recognized as the remnants of a campsite. A circle of stones lay on the ground and two large log poles, to support a tent, remained embedded in the ground. An assortment of different utensils were scattered around the fire pit showing that the campsite was abandoned in a hurry.
“Thank you,” the girl said to Sworder as he returned her lost ribbon.
“What do you make of it,” Uncle Ben said.
“I can’t be sure, but I think whoever set this fire did so intentionally,” the Trapper said, “Based on the scorch marks, and the progression of the fire, I believe the forest fire was started on the opposite side of the camp from the fire pit.”
“Why would they do that?” the girl asked.
“I don’t know,” the Trapper said, and then walking towards two large lumps continued, “Or then again.”
He kicked one of the lumps which rolled over partially disintegrating as it did so. The girl gasped as it turned over, as what was revealed was the burnt, blackened remains of what had once been a man. The body was so destroyed it was barely recognizable as human.
“Why did they do this?” the girl choked out.
“There’s no sign of fighting against the flames,” the Trapper said. “They were dead before the fire.”
“So was this a poor attempt to conceal a murder?” Uncle Ben asked.
“I do not think so,” the Trapper said. “Rather, an attempt to fight off whatever killed them.”
“A mystery,” Ranin said, interested.
“Indeed,” Namic said. “And one which the solution may prove deadly.”
“If that is true then we should depart quickly,” Sworder said.
“But?” the girl said hesitantly, glancing at the corpses with a shiver.
“Them?” the Trapper said. “There’s not much of them to bury.” He moved back to the fire pit, stopping and grabbing a coal, which he deposited in his pack, “I agree with the Kazan. We should leave.”
“Sworder,” the girl corrected the Trapper, as he moved off.
“Hurry,” the Trapper called back behind him.
Unable to spare more than a moment the girl and Uncle Ben followed the Trapper.
“I wish we could do something for them,” the girl said.
“There is precious little we could do,” Sworder said. “We will leave it for those who left them.”
“I am afraid Sworder is right,” Uncle Ben said.
“But still,” the girl sighed.
The little group hurried across the burned landscape wanting to leave the bleak sight as quickly as possible. The trees gladly accepted them as they entered beneath the canopy.
The Path they followed became narrow and wound aimlessly. The Trees encroached upon the path and their roots easily caught one’s foot. The girl often stumbled, always caught by Sworder. The Trapper’s countenance darkened as they walked, as if something was bothering him more the further they walked.
Finally, he stopped and irritatedly stared at the path as he spoke. “We’re going in circles.”
“What?” Ranin said.
“I was wondering when they would notice,” Namic said.
“How?” the girl asked. “The path never forked since we entered.”
“I am uncertain, But we have been here more than once,” the Trapper said.
“Is it an illusion?” Sworder asked.
“No, it is too bright for that,” the Trapper said looking up at the canopy, which filtered light into the pathway, “And it is too perfect. I left this mark in this tree when I first noticed the similarities in the terrain.”
“Could this be why they set fire to the forest?” the girl asked. “To get out of an endless loop?”
“Unlikely,” the Trapper said. “A circular path does not kill people; however that does not rule out them coming from the same source.”
“Whatever is doing this,” the Trapper continued, “I don’t intend to play its game.” Pushing into the forest, he began forging a path. “Come on,” he called for the others.
“I thought we were not supposed to leave the path?” the girl asked.
“I said for you to not leave the path,” the Trapper said. “I know what I am doing.”
“If whatever is doing this is able to make a path circle back on itself,” Ranin pondered, “Could they not still direct their travel off the path?”
“It would still be possible,” Namic agreed. “But it is their only option.”
Sworder and the Trapper cleared a path in front of the girl and Uncle Ben. The undergrowth lay thick and it was a struggle to trek through the undergrowth.
“It’s not normally like this,” Ranin said.
“Indeed not,” Namic said. “It seems something is greatly affecting the surrounding landscape.”
Even with them clearing the path, the girl had great difficulty keeping her feet. The brush on either side closed in and roots created a mesh underfoot.
Without the help of Uncle Ben, the girl would have stumbled several times and it only became more difficult to clear the way that Sworder had to make use of his sword to cut a path into the forest.
After hours of trudging, the forest wall gave way and the group stumbled into a clearing. Where they emerged was a small patch of dry land, but the land before them was a marshy swath of semi-solid land masses. Small trees dotted the landscape. They were short, squat, having thick trunks and few branches, and fewer vine-like leaves decorated them..
The Trapper grimly viewed the marshland in front of them, before Sworder questioned him. “What do you plan to do?” Sworder asked.
“I would rather not traverse a marsh,” the Trapper said.
“The path!” the girl cried, calling the group to turn back to the tree line. The pathways they had come through had been sealed and there was only a line of trees without breaks.
“It seems we have no choice,” Uncle Ben said.
“I dislike being led on,” the Trapper said.
“So what is your plan?” Sworder asked.
“That depends,” the Trapper said walking towards the tree line where the path had been and put his hand on one of the trees, which blocked up the path. Scowling he kicked the tree, before turning back shaking his head.
The tree shook violently, creaking and groaning. It swayed and cracked loudly as it began to fall.
“Watch out,” the girl cried, trying to dash forward even as Sworder grabbed her and pulled her back.
The group scattered as the large tree crashed into the patch of raised earth, which collapsed under the tree’s weight and sank into the muddy marsh. The Trapper picked himself up, mud coating his trousers and arms, and he began surveying his surroundings.
The girl also attempted to stand, climbing off of Sworder who had broken her fall. “Your cloak,” she said as Sworder rose revealing a large coat of mud on his cloak.
“It matters not, so long as you are safe,” Sworder said.
“The girl smiled shyly and glanced away before noticing Uncle Ben, hurrying over to her. He was rubbing his temple but showed no other signs of trouble except a small amount of mud on his boots.
“Are you okay?” Uncle Ben asked.
“Thanks to Sworder,” the girl said. “But are you well?”
“Yes, just a little weary,” Uncle Ben said, letting his hand fall to his side. “No need to worry.”
“We should keep moving,” the Trapper said. “I don’t know what’s going on, but staying still wouldn’t solve anything. We need to get out of this marsh before sundown.”
Without another word the Trapper began plodding through the mud and the group fell in step behind him. They climbed onto one of the raised semi-solid masses populating the marsh and began following its narrow ledges deeper into the wetlands.
The population of trees increased but their size remained diminutive. Other than the bugs and trees, nothing seemed to live in the desolate place. The waters were stagnant and no fish moved about under their surfaces. The air grew thick with the smell of rot.
“I don’t like this place,” the girl said.
“And there does not seem to be an end,” Uncle Ben added.
“We may find shelter there,” the Trapper said, pointing off towards the horizon. Far away, rising above the water, was an isolated willow, sprouting defiantly towards the sky.
“It looks so sad,” the girl said.
“They should be careful,” Namic said. “Little is as it would seem.
Ranin glanced around, “There’s something dark over this land.”
As the party drew closer, the old willow rose towards the sky, even as its mournful branches hung low dipping into the water. It sat on the slight rise with its roots sinking deep into the ground beneath the marsh. A thick veil of vines blocked sight of the trunk of the willow but to support its immense height it would have to be massive.
They were still some distance away from the looming willow when the ledge they were following gave out; and it was almost a hundred feet to the next across the mud and water.
“What are we going to do?” the girl asked the Trapper as he surveyed the situation.
“What will we do? We’ll cross it. I don’t see any other paths which lead on.” The Trapper said, stepping into the water, testing it to find a place where the water was shallow.
The girl looked precariously at the water, as Uncle Ben joined the Trapper. “I can carry you,” Sworder said.
The girl smiled sweetly, but shook her head. “No, it shouldn’t be too bad.” She said climbing into the muddy water.
Trudging through the mud and water was slow progress and difficult work. While walking, something caught the girl’s eye. “I think one of those trees just moved,” She said.
“Trees don’t move,” the Trapper said, looking off in the direction she indicated.
“But I know I saw-” she began before Sworder put a hand on her shoulder.
“He was not questioning your word.”
Understanding dawned on the face of the girl, and to the group’s horror more trees began to move.
“Quickly,” the Trapper said. “I would rather fight with ground beneath my feet.”
The group dashed across the open lane and the girl stumbled but Sworder held her up, pulling her along. Reaching the edge Sworder sprung up but the girl fell to her hands and knees.
“Hurry,” the Trapper said, grabbing and throwing her up for the Vassal of Earth to catch, before pulling himself up after her.
“What now?” Uncle Ben asked.
Already the army of trees encroached upon them. Slowly pressing towards them and surrounding them.
“We fight,” said the Trapper, producing the large piece of coal from his pack.
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