"Warning this chapter mentions sexual trauma, I've inserted a line before and after if you wish to skip it."
The inside of the forest was like a whole other perfect planet. Butch finally understood why it worked so hard to keep it hidden from everyone else. From the outside it appeared dark and mysterious. Too dense to see through all the bush and all too quiet for anything to be living. But on the inside it was a paradise, crafted perfectly for all life inside. Rays of sun beamed through tree leaves and sparkled in the clear creek water. Plants of all kinds bloomed out beautifully and widely; curling around tree trunks and clinging to warm rocks. Bright and bold colors painted the grounds and trailed after the singing birds that soared through the air.
This place was so different from all the others. Everything in Grilbend seemed bland and beige. Tamiliu was impossible to see anything through all the white snow. Grundairia was nothing but open fields of corn and wheat, and Alatas always seemed grey and damp from the rain.
Besides the wondrous environment, the forest was a nice change of pace. It was a different kind of busy. A calm busy with rushing waters, buzzing bugs and singing birds. Even with the so called Witch and Savages, Butch never felt the need to look over his shoulder. For once he found a place that didn't leave an iron taste in his mouth.
"Dang nabbit…" Fuzzy's voice dragged Butch's thoughts back down.
The thin old man was ankle deep in the creek. His rolled up coveralls soaked to the waist after chasing small fish and fat frogs for their dinner. He struggled on his way back to the river's bank, slipping on algae covered stones and slick mud.
Fuzzy fell back hard next to Butch in the grass, an uncomfortable squish sound escaping as he landed.
The raven haired man peeked over at him and chuckled. "So did you find any signs of the village yet or are we camping here for the night?"
Fuzzy shook his head. "No village. No food. No shelter. We ain't camping here. I say we wonder west towards the edge of this place and see if we can find somewhere to crash until we catch a sign of that place."
Butch closed his eyes and laid back, folding his hands behind his head. "I'm comfortable here. The breeze is nice and the sun is warm."
"We're out in the open. It'd be easy for em to see us. Besides the sun don't stay out all nig-..." He paused wide eyed and leaned forward.
Butch Flinched as the man beside him suddenly shot up and ran down the side of the creek.
Fuzzy mumbled something that sounded like words before smashing his nose to the ground. He crawled around the bank on his hands and knees, nose pressed to the dirt. He sniffed loudly circling around Butch, crawling to the tree and back down to the creek.
Butch peeked at the man and watched in horror and disgust as Fuzzy scooped a hand full slimy mud and stuffed it in his mouth. The man gurgled the sludge before swallowing with an audible gulp.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Butch gagged. His face twisting in disgust.
Fuzzy smiled, grains of rock and strips of algae clung to what teeth he had left. "We're near." He whispered, licking his front tooth.
"Near what?" Butch regrettably sat up and leaned forward to hear the man better. He gagged again as he watched what one could assume was a snail wave out from behind a wiggling tooth.
Fuzzy scooped more mud and waddled over to Butch. "The village! Here taste!" Fuzzy shoved his hands to Butch's face.
"Not happening." He pushed the old man's hands away from his face and helped himself up. "How can you tell anyways?"
Fuzzy hacked up some dirt and smiled. "Ma papi was the world's greatest hunter. He could smell the difference between a female and male boar all while napping in his chair. Most of my skills came naturally. Pumping through ma blood." He spoke proudly, slapping his chest.
"And what I didn't know he taught me. Took me hunting every night. Until that damn bear got em." Fuzzy shook his head. "But papi didn't go down without a fight. Took that bear with him and left us enough food for the winter and fur to keep us warm."
Butch pushed himself off the ground ignoring Fuzzys out reached hand. The two gathered what little they had and made their way east towards the center of the woodland. Butch followed closely behind as Fuzzy lead them over moss covered logs and fields of mushrooms.
"Grilbend doesn't get that cold. Are you from Tamiliu then?" Butch asked, thinking back to the unnecessary lessons MJ forced him and his brothers to take.
Fuzzy shook his head. "Nah. I was born in Grundairia. In a small village near the border of Tamiliu. We got hot summers and cold winters. A perfect mix of it all."
"You traveled far then to get here. How did you get yourself in that cave?"
Butch ducked under low hanging branches, widning the gap between him and Fuzzy, as the short old man happily skipped under it all.
"After ma ma died I decided to leave." He yelled back to Butch, not missing step. "I got a sister but she left to be with some traveling musician so I didn't have no one left back there. After roaming these lands I settled down on the smallest island in Alatas."
"Why there?" Butch grumbled as Fuzzy let go a branch letting swing straight into Butch's face.
"I met my beautiful wife there. Heather. Heather Pollen." A soft smile tugged at his lips. "She could gut a fish better than anyone I've ever known. We got married there and had our daughter Polly Lumpkins not too long after. Happiest I've ever been was in that small house with those two."
"If you were so happy there how'd you end up all the way out here?" Butch asked nearly toppling into the man as he stopped abruptly.
"I left to save my family." Fuzzy's eyes glazed over. "Alatas rules are a lot different than the other kingdoms. The only thing that matters is strength. If you ain't strong you ain't nothing…" tears poured down his face. "The strong could take whatever they wanted."
He took in a sharp breath.
"It wasn't too bad on the surface. Most of us were poor and understood the manners of hard work. It was them water breathers you had to look out for. Always thinking they're better than everyone else." He swallowed hard. His throat burned as he struggled not to cry.
"I wasn't the only one who thought my wife was beautiful. Some water breather with his nose so far up in the air he could've worn his ass like a hat also had his eye on her. He stalked her from work to home, hollering after her. Making crude comments and getting aggressive when she ignored him. I wanted to step in." He shook his head.
"I should've stepped in." He whispered, looking down at his feet. "But Heather assured me it was fine. That the water breather wouldn't be here for long. They never were." He shook his head. "I shoulda known better…"
He swallowed hard, digging his nails into the palms of his hands. "I came home from work one night. Our door busted in. Ma daughter screaming and crying in her crib. Once I knew Polly was fine I started running around, calling out for my wife.
I found her in our room. That damned water breather on top of her…." He gritted his teeth shaking the image from his head.
"I'll never forget that man's face. And I made sure my wife would never see it again. I couldn't let something like that happen ever again. Couldn't let ma baby grow up in a place where that happens. So I took em and left. No destination in mind. no money to ma name."
Butch shuffled from foot to foot, not knowing what to say. He knew if he were in his place he would've done the same. Probably even sooner.
Fuzzy's eyes snapped back and he continued walking through the woods as if nothing had happened.
"We had been traveling for a while. My wife was hungry. I was hungry. So I left them in our camp to do what I do best. I was determined to bring back a feast. I didn't know these woods were off limits." Fuzzy admitted.
Butch crouched down to give Fuzzy a boost up over a fallen bolder and pulled himself up after him.
"Ma papi and I were hunters. Sure we killed things but we were still men of respect. We understood you can't hunt a species to its death. We wouldn't dream of wasting anything. Skins and fur were used to make clothes or blankets. Every cut of meat could be cooked and eaten, you were never allowed to be fussy."
Butch nodded in agreement. If he was ever fussy over what MJ gave them he would have starved long ago. Although now he has the luxury of eating anything he pleases, he still scarfed down his meals like they were his last. After everything he had been through, his body wouldn't allow him to waste anything.
"Once I was locked away in the cave I tried apologizing. I meant it. I truly did. But the Witch wouldn't listen." Fuzzy grumbled.
"How do you know there's a witch guarding this place?" Butch asked.
"You ever got lost in a maze? You can always get out even if it takes a bit of time. Keep your right hand to a wall and just follow along. But no matter how long I walked I always ended back in the same place. That's not on nature. That's on something magical. Caves don't just have an entrance but no exit."
Fuzzy held up a hand to stop Butch and crouched behind a prickly bush. Angry shouting could be heard approaching them just past the line of trees in front of them.
"What's happening?" Butch asked, moving around to try to get a peek past all the leaves.
Fuzzy grabbed the man's shirt and pulled him to the ground. "The savages are arguing. We gotta be quiet." He whispered. "The village is close. We have to be careful or else they'll kill us…"
Staying crouched Fuzzy ran from the bush to a larger tree closer to where the shouting came from. He peered out from behind the trunk at two young men bickering, just far enough their words didn't come out clear.
A lot less quite Butch followed behind Fuzzy, peeking out at the strangers. He leaned over the old man's shoulder.
"I bet I could take them. If this is what the savages look like it should be no problem taking this place over." Butch scuffed.
"It won't matter how weak they are, they have more people."
"Who's to say there's more than just those two fools." Butch smirked.
Fuzzy thought for a moment. Just as he opened his mouth to respond the ground around them began to shake and booming steps marched over to them. No not them, but the strangers bickering.
A man almost the size of the trees around him seemed to appear out of nowhere. The man's hair draped down his toned back in a silky braid and swept just past the waist of a thick leather skirt.
Although his voice was loud and demanding, the two couldn't quite make out the words he was saying. Whatever the man said seemed to get the other two to stop their fighting. The two bowed and left with the large man, leaving the forest quite literally shaking in their steps.
Fuzzy laughed, punching Butch hard in the shoulder. "Still think you can fight that!" He mocked. "Did you see the size of him! He makes you look like me!" Fuzzy grabbed his thin wrist and waved it in Butch's face.
Butch grumbled under his breath. "Yeah well can he destroy rock with just his fists?"
"I bet he could crumble a mountain with just a look!" Fuzzy jabbed his elbow into Butch's ribs.
Shoving past the hysterically laughing man, Butch stumbled out onto the path they watched the giant leave on.
The path was made of smooth tan wood and seemed to run endlessly from either side. It flowed smoothly, not a single knot in the wood as it winded through the forest. Overgrown grass and flowers brushed the edges of the path and wet footprints darkened the thin layer of dirt on top.
Butch stood both feet inside the giant man's singular footprint, while Fuzzy stumbled out beside.
"For savages they're pretty crafty." Butch chuckled scoffing his shoe on the path.
Fuzzy nodded, running a hand over the fine craftmanship. "I ain't seen something so well put together since leaving Alatas."
Soft footsteps and quiet voices walked up the path towards them, making Fuzzy jump. The old man dove to the bushes hiding behind large dark leaves, leaving Butch standing unbothered by the sounds of strangers approaching.
"What are you doing kid! Get back here or else they'll eat you!" Fuzzy hissed, shaking the bush beside him.
Butch rolled his eyes and smiled at the shaking old man. He rolled up his sleeves and cracked his neck. "I'm not scared of some dirty wood people. We deserve to be out here. And I'll be damn sure we get the chance to take what's ours!" He growled.
At this point Butch wasn't sure if he wanted to take over because he truly felt he deserved it, or because he wanted to prove he could.
Fuzzy wrinkled his nose. "Don't be foolish. Get down here. We've lived this long, let's not die now. The forest and it's people are powerful in ways you wouldn't know!" Fuzzy hissed, reaching an arm out and grasping for Butch.
Between all their bickering they missed the four people marching up behind them.
Four surprised women blinked between the man standing in front of them and the fool peeking from the bushes.
A taller woman dressed in a furry knee long dress and no shoes stepped forward. She bowed to the men and smiled. "Hello, my name is May. You two seemed frightened and lost, so allow me to be the first to say welcome." Her words came out surprisingly fluently, for speaking modern Grilbend.
Butch grumbled. "We're not scared."
A chubby blonde bounced beside May. "The wrinkled boy in the bush looks pretty scared to me!" She giggled.
The taller one placed a hand to the blonde's head and held her in place. She spoke an odd language to her, making the blonde frown and apologize to the two men.
A woman with wild dark hair smirked at the blonde. "Forgive my sister, it's Alicia's first time seeing a stranger." She reached a hand out to the men and smiled. "My name is Gracelyn."
A bald woman pushed past the others, a goofy smile on her face. "I'm Megan! It's an honor to be one of the first to greet a stranger." She paused for a moment and narrowed her eyes. "We are the first you've met? I mean no one sounded an alarm or prepared the feast…" She tapped her chin thinking.
May shook her head. And turned back to the other women, speaking in the strange language once more. The other women nodded and took a step back.
"If you would like we could bring you back to our village. Our chief will be very excited to know you're here." May explained, reaching a hand out.
Fuzzy narrowed his eyes at the women and whispered to Butch. "They'll take us and cook us…" He hissed.
Alicia giggled tugging on her sister's arm and whispering something in her ear, earning her a stern look from Gracelyn.
May took a step back, spreading her arms to push her sisters back. "I see you're not ready just yet. When you are ready, follow the path up to the village. We'll be waiting for you…" she smiled, scooting past the men carrying back up the path.
Butch stared blankly after the women dropping his fists to his side. Fuzzy climbed out of the bushes beside him watching the giggling girls disappear behind a bundle of trees.
"No point in hiding anymore. Once they get there, everyone is going to know we're here." Butch sighed. "Well on to my plan. Let's go in full force!" He grinned, cracking his knuckles.
Fuzzy shook his head. "Did ya hear what they said. Something about a feast. They probably mean we are the feast. The best thing we can do is hide."
"Or we hit them before they get time to prepare?" Butch suggested, marching aftering the women.
"I ain't going with you!" Fuzzy yelled, stopping his feet like an upset child.
Butch waved the man away. "Come back tomorrow and I'll be running this place!" He called back, disappearing around the corner.
Although he hadn't left too long after the women, they were nowhere in sight. The path continued in a straight stretch before stacking into steep steps.
As the path continued up the stairs it grew darker. The trees around the path had grown closer, their trunks twisting together. Their branches over lapped with wide leaves, allowing less sunlight in.
Butch's eyes widen once he reached the top the stairs. It was almost as if he had walked to an entirely different place.
Clear creek's turned to mud green ponds, and the grass curled to fluffy moss. The birds stopped singing, instead a choir of frogs chirped after each step he took. Towering cattails replaced the flowers and thirsty mosquitos mocked the buzz of a bee. The path he followed was soft from the moisture and eventually dove straight into the swamp in front of him.
On the other side stood a strange man. He wore a wooden mask with a demon's face painted onto it and long ripped pants. A belt covered in full pouches hung low on his waist and strange symbols were painted over his chest and back in a deep red colour.
Butch's eyes traveled straight to the pointed spear in the mans hand. Some kind of gem had been shaved down to a point and tied to a frail looking branch with a dried brown vine.
"If you think for a moment that that little rock is going to keep you safe!" Butch yelled, lifting himself off the ground.
The man didn't move as Butch flew over the swamp. A loud horn echoed behind him followed by four other men dressed the same and armed with various blades and shields.
As he made his way to the center of the muddy water, thorned vines shot up, wrapping themselves around Butch's arms and legs. Blood trickled down as they wrapped tighter digging into his skin, and slowly dragging him closer to the water.
"What the hell…" He whispered, pulling against them, trying to break free.
The water below him rippled and trees shook violently as the giant man from before appeared behind the five men. Unlike the other men, he wore no other protection, nor did he wield a weapon. The men stepped to the side allowing the giant in front of them.
"I don't know how you got this far stranger. But I am afraid this is the end for you." The giant's voice was still loud without the need to yell. "I wish we could let you free. I cannot risk you returning again."
The vines began to drag Butch into the water faster. No matter how he thrashed he couldn't seem to break free.
"My apologies. I never wished to take a life today. May the goddess great you with open arms on the other side…" The men all bowed before leaving Butch struggling in the pond.
Panic rushed over Butch as he was pulled waist deep into the water, his feet not yet touching the bottom. He didn't think the pond would be so deep. He flared his arms around, splashing water into his own face causing him to panic more. He swallowed a large sum of water as the vines dragged him fully under, continuing further down from the surface.
His eyes burned from the dirty water as he watched the sunlight slowly disappear around him.