Chapter 8

By midday they had reached the Beefalo fields, and with the beasts was the sea of grass. At once Wolfgang and Willow set up camp, and Wilson was forced to rest against a boulder with the strict rule not to move. He grumbled at this; knowing all too well that the pair didn't think his mind was in the right place. As they had run through the woods they had tried to grab any supplies they saw. While hunting he had caught Willow's eyes frequently searching the ground, plainly looking for the signs of green. Though he had been tempted to tell her it was too early for the mushrooms to show, he decided it wasn't worth the chance of her ratting his embarrassment out to Ms Wickerbottom.

"Here," She had said as she crouched down next to him once he'd been freed from Wolfgang's clutches. " this should help." Gently Willow had placed the flower wreath she'd weaved together on top his head. He had thanked her, but it was only out of gentlemanly politeness. It felt more like a crown of shame, of how stupid he had been wandering off into the night.

The pair had quickly dashed off to collect the grass, thankfully allowing time for Wilson to think. It wasn't the first time madness had made him see things. But what had happened… it didn't seem like visions of insanity. Lightly he placed a hand on his shoulder, wincing as it still stung horribly. It was surely proof that the monster had attacked him, driven its claw deep. So then where was the cave? Where were the bits of his memory that seemed hidden in mist?

Wilson rubbed his temple in frustration; why was it that he always felt like he had forgotten something important. When madness took him, his mind always seemed broken, bits of the puzzled thrown far in the depts of his head. But no matter how hard he tried he could never recall the truth that lay just out of reach. Perhaps it had been nothing but a nightmare, old memories and shadows blending into his reality.

But Wilson felt the agony from his shoulder and frowned.

The day was calmer than the rainy days before, the air now bringing with it the chill of the approaching winter. There was still so much that they needed to do, he thought tiredly. Food supplies needed to be counted and rationed, warm clothes needed to be sowed and old ones repurposed. He remembered that he needed Ms Wickerbottom to help accelerate the farms again, and probably he needed to build another fridge too…

"Thinking too much again Little man!" Jolting, Wilson peered up to find the strongman leaning over the boulder with a grin. Tucked under one large arm was a bundle of grass and sticks.

He sighed dejectedly. "Of course I am! Do you have any idea how close we are to winter! And now with another mouth to feed… I'm afraid this might be a tight season this time."

Wolfgang suddenly looked worried, setting his supplies down. "Tight? You mean…"

"Food rations. Strict food rations!" Despite this Wilson smiled. " But I'll see if I spare a little extra for you buddy, due to your… condition, of course."

The strongman beamed, happy sitting next to Wilson. It always amused him how much of Wolfgang's mind focused in on food. They might be in the worse situation, surrounded in darkness, and still his mind would query on when was their next meals. He supposed that like all of them it was his strange "Trait".

"It's been a long time, us to be together." Wolfgang nodded over to Willow, who was running wildly around luring rabbits into her traps.

"The three of us?"

"Yes. Bah! So long ago! You were wild then Little man!"

Wilson cringed at the memory, rubbing his chin self-consciously. He and Willow had stumbled across Wolfgang near the end of winter, when before he had allowed his scratchy mane of a beard to grow to its full magnificent length. Since they now had access to warmer gear he thankfully hadn't seen the need anymore. He really did hate looking so uncivil.

"If I recall," Wilson pondered with a smirk. "you didn't look so well yourself."

"Wolfgang knows that's not true!"

"Thinner than a twig!" Wilson grinned smugly as the strongman glared at him. " Not so much as a sliver of muscle on your frame. If I recall we had to carry you back to camp due to how weak you were."

Wolfgang muttered under his breath, words that Wilson couldn't understand before he pointed his finger at him. "Any man would be without food!"

Huffing in amusement Wilson leaned back, watching the Beefalo live out their lazy existence. It really had been a long time since their group had been this small. Before Wendy, before Ms Wickerbottom, when once it had only been the three of them struggling to survive. It had both gotten easier and harder at the same time, harder than it had been with only him and Willow. Easier than it had been alone. When as one.

Wilson frowned as he tried to remember that period of time, but nightmares only came to him. Nightmares of hissing and darkness and a long, mechanic thang…

"Did you really think a monster is out there?" Wolfgang's words broke through his visions, his own fears surfacing on his face. Wilson knew all to well of the man's terror of the creatures that prowled this world. It had first been amusing, considering Wolfgang was the greatest asset in a fight. But his unshakable fear was sometimes crippling for the strongman, something that the group always had to remember.

"I don't know. Maybe… maybe things weren't what they seemed." Sighing he tried to put on a confident face. " Besides; the fact that nothing has attacked us is a good sign that it's not a threat, or doesn't exist."

His words seemed to give some relief. "Good! Bad enough with the dogs!"

"That's right…" the Hounds, how could he have forgotten such a threat? Surely the time must be close. Wilson rested his chin in his hand as he thought; it was a bad predicament for them to be in. He, Willow and Wolfgang were the strongest of the group. It made sense for the two of them to come after him with the experience and knowledge they had, but in doing so it left the others exposed. The camp was well protected, gear for spears and armour in high supply. But Wendy wasn't a strong fighter, disregarding her… sister. Ms Wickerbottom could halt several foes quickly in their path with her books, but like the girl her skills in battle weren't great.

That left Woody, and Wilson hoped that the man was strong enough to hold his ground to protect them. Their encounter with the Treeguard had been promising…but he was still so new to this place.

"Thinking again?"

"Yes. I know you want to stay for the night and collect resources. Though while I also know you both want to give me time to heal, I think we should return to camp as fast as possible. I'm worried that Woody might be too rash in fighting the hounds, especially if their numbers overpower them."

Wolfgang frowned. "True, but they have fought hounds before. It's best you rest, Little man. Your the one in the most danger to the hounds."

Slowly Wilson rolled the shoulder, testing the pain and stiffness that it caused. Though the healing salve had done wonders, it was still bad enough to make him see spots. Another day or two would be for the best. But it was time they didn't have. The strongman was right; he would be able to barely hold a spear in the arm, let alone land a hard hit.

Willow had strolled over by then, in her hands three dead rabbits that she'd manage to catch. " I agree with Wolfgang; we should make a stand here. The plains are open and there's that path not too far away. If things get bad we can use it to escape."

"As much as I appreciate both of you being worried about me, I can take care of myself."

She rolled her eyes, thudding down next to them. " Says the man wearing flowers in his hair."

He ignored that comment, returning to his examination of his wound. It was clear to him that the others thought his mind was still in a fragile place, which was understandable considering. But he was feeling clear, the shadows and whispers gone. Whatever madness had taken him that night had all but vanished. Sure his track record wasn't… the best, but he was certain he was able to function properly now.

"Did you get enough grass, Willow?" He turned the conversation elsewhere, earning him a scowl as the woman clearly saw what he was trying to do.

"Should be enough for now. I think some of the fields near our camp should be regrowing soon anyway, so it's enough for one or two weeks." It was only then that Wilson noticed that Willow had set up a campfire, and with a flick of her lighter a roaring blaze sprang into life. "Ah, that's sooo much better!"

"It's hours till dark."

"Never a wrong time for a fire, isn't that right beautiful?" she cooed, fingertips almost brushing the flames. Wilson fought the desire to roll his eyes back at her, it was obvious his mind wasn't the only one at risk.

For a time, they merely sat by the fire; a rare moment of peace. It was normally a rush of survival, a never-ending battle to stay one step ahead of the elements that threatened them. Yet, for the first time their supplies weren't dire. The food they had collected on the way was enough for almost a week. After years of experience, it had finally become second nature to them all, even for Wolfgang.

Wilson smiled, eyes wandering over his teammates. It was like they had become a clock; all the gears working mindlessly in harmony, ceaselessly. They didn't even have to say what they intended to do anymore, they just knew how the clock worked. Wolfgang had most likely grown hungry, and taking the rabbits Willow had hunted the air was soon rich with the smell of cooking meat. Yet despite his huge appetite he didn't eat it all himself and handed out the portions to him and Willow without a word.

"You can almost imagine we're on a camping trip," Wilson stated once they finished eating, stretching gently against the boulder.

Willow hummed in agreement, still lightly playing with the fire as she now lay on her side.

"True, but there is one thing that Wolfgang misses," The strongman spoke with a hint of sadness, surprising them. The large man tilted his face to the sky, squinting at the thick cloud above them. " I miss the stars."

Stars. Wilson could remember them faintly, bright dazzling dots peppered on an ink-black sky. In this world there was nothing but cloud; a thick, oppressive cloud that threaten rain. Even in summer they never thinned, only the bright sun behind them grew stronger. At that moment he realised he had never spent enough time studying the stars back home. Another regret.

He was about to tell this to the others when a faint noise reached his ears. It wasn't just him who froze, the others all stilled, ears crocked and listening intensely. At first, it sounded like soft drumming, but as the sound grew closer the noise became clearer and more booming. Wilson felt every nerve ending in his body tense. No matter how many times he had heard them, he still couldn't get over the fear it caused him to feel. Wolfgang shifted closer to him, his expression taut as he stared out into the grasslands.

Unlike them Willow rose, anger burning on her face as she stood her ground. "They're here."

Yes, thought Wilson with dread, placing his arm on his stinging shoulder. The hounds had finally arrived.