Disclaimer: I don't own Don't Starve or any of the characters
Wolfgang grunted as he hoisted up the next log that needed to be placed. It was too large for an average person to lift alone, but he was hardly an average person. The former chunk of tree was gradually inched higher as he got ready to set it in place on the eastern wall of what would soon be their home. He had to hold it above his head like a set of weights, his arms trembling slightly as he strained against the bulky object.
A small figure rushed past, nearly bumping into him and causing the log to tip precariously to one side. Thankfully, Wolfgang was able to correct it quickly enough. Turning his head to see the cause of the disturbance, he caught sight of Wendy dashing towards where Willow and Wilson were sitting.
Before he could speculate as to why she was in such a hurry, Abigail blew by him. The ghost's unexpected presence caused him to jump with a yelp. An action which had the unfortunate side effect of causing him to lose his grip on the log. Wolfgang instinctively dove to one side; narrowly avoiding being squashed as the weighty piece of lumber came crashing down.
Freed from his grasp, the log began to roll thanks to the moderate incline of the campsite. It was slow at first but soon picked up speed as it headed directly for a group of pigs that had been scrounging through one of the chests Wilson had built to store their less perishable food items.
"Uh oh…" The strongman could only look on helplessly, not thinking to shout a warning until it was far too late to make a difference.
One of the pigs must have heard the sound of the log rolling because it looked up with a blank expression on its face. Realization hit the pig-man just in time for it to let out a panicked squeal that alerted the others to the danger. They all turned to see what the matter was, only to add their own frantic shouts to the noise when they noticed the impending catastrophe.
The log hit them like a bowling ball, sending pigs, splinters, and the splattered contents of the chest flying in all directions. Wolfgang winced as everything came crashing down in a heap at the base of the incline.
Casting a worried glance over his shoulder, he spotted Willow, Wilson, and Wendy looking back to try and see what all the ruckus was about.
"Is fine!" Wolfgang called over to them, doing his best to keep a straight face. "No need for worry! Just… uh… playing catch with piggy-men is all! There is no problem here!"
It should be fine. Several of the fallen pigs were twitching. Hopefully that implied that they were still at least partially alive.
They gave him a strange look but didn't do more than that. Much to his relief, Wilson gestured him over to see what Wendy had been in such a rush to tell them about.
Wolfgang headed over quickly, sparing a frown at Abigail who hardly seemed to notice. When he got up closer, he saw that Wendy was holding the same radio stick thing that she'd been given earlier.
"All right." Wilson said. "Everyone's here now. What were you saying?"
In response, Wendy held out the radio.
"I believe I've discovered the purpose of this device." She stated. "I was at the edge of camp when it started making strange noises. When I studied the pattern, I found that it would switch to a higher pitch upon heading too far in one direction. If I brought it back again the dull tone would return. Do you know what that means?"
The scientist put on a thoughtful expression before shrugging his shoulders.
"Not really." He admitted. "Maybe it just doesn't want to be near us?"
Wendy answered by jabbing him in the stomach with one of the antennas. The annoyed look on her face told them that she believed this to be a serious matter.
"What it means, is that this is a divining rod!" She said, pointedly thrusting the device forwards.
"Stick is divine?" Wolfgang questioned. "Can it grant wishes like genie? Or does it need praying? I not know how to pray to talking box."
For reasons he couldn't understand Willow began snickering at his questions while Wilson blew out a small sigh.
"She said divining rod, not divine rod." He explained patiently. "A divining rod is a device that is typically used to find something, though I'm not sure that changes in noise would automatically make this one. What makes you think that it's trying to lead us anywhere?"
Wendy frowned. She apparently believed the answer to be obvious, and wasn't pleased by the lack of understanding from her companions.
"Think about it Wilson." She said. "How did it come into being? You were pushed into a gaping mouth in the ground by a shadowy hand that could only have come from one person. Now we have a peculiar device that looks like it's trying to lead us somewhere. Does that sound like a coincidence to you?"
Any mirth in the air vanished in the blink of an eye when she brought him up. What Wolfgang wouldn't give to get a second shot and pummeling Maxwell into submission. He'd resolved to make the deceitful little man eat his own fancy suit.
"I think that might be a bit of a jump in logic, don't you?" Wilson asked. "How do you know it isn't just reacting to something in the environment? Maybe it's some kind of fancy metal detector that is picking up mineral deposits."
"It should still be worth looking into shouldn't it?" She shot back. "For all we know, this could have been the whole reason you were pushed into the worm."
"That doesn't make any sense." Willow pointed out. "Even if his little trip into madness were planned out, how could Maxwell have known that he'd end up building that?"
Wendy didn't have an answer to that.
"Besides. If it really was something he wanted us to use, what makes you think it would be a good idea to do so? It could be a trap. Maybe it leads to the bottom of a giant chasm, or into a dark cave filled with monsters. He hasn't exactly shown any concern for our wellbeing so far."
The girl turned to her sister, the two of them sharing a dejected look. She opened her mouth to push the issue further, but Wolfgang spoke up before she could.
"I say we check." He said. The others all looked up in surprise. It was the last thing they'd expected from the normally timid man.
"Uh… Wolfgang? Are you sure that's-" Wilson's attempt to change his mind was cut off.
"She is make good point, yes?" Wolfgang questioned. "If spooky man is give this to us, it might lead to him. I say we go. If monsters in way, I smash them!"
Maybe it was the thought of finding Maxwell again that filled him with a sudden desire to press onward, maybe it was the medal that hung around his neck that made him feel so confident, or maybe it was the simple desire to get them as far away from the camp as possible so that they didn't notice the mess before the pigs had a chance to get back up. Regardless of the cause, he felt that this was the correct decision.
Wilson and Willow both looked like they wanted to protest, but couldn't quite find the right words. Eventually, the fire starter turned to look at the device once more.
"I don't like the sound of this." She said flatly. "But you might have some kind of a point. If, by some freakish chance, he was the one behind this whole thing it might pay to play along for a little bit. I hate the idea of just going along path he'd have set, but I don't see any other way around it. It's not like we're going to get home by sitting here."
Wilson looked back at their half-constructed cabin longingly. He really did want to finish it as soon as possible, but perhaps a slight detour in order to get to the bottom of this could pay off…
"I suppose that checking where the noise is coming from couldn't hurt as long as we're careful." He conceded at last. "Just… give me a bit to get ready. We should all take some supplies with us if we go. There's no telling how long a trek this will be. It would be nice to have the pigs finish up building while we're gone, but I don't think they'll be able to stay focused long enough to do that."
With that, the four of them agreed to take half an hour to gather all the things they thought they'd need. Depending on how far away their target was, this could be anything from an afternoon hike to a multi-day journey. That wasn't too big an issue though. They had all the time in the world.
There was just one small hitch that got in the way.
"Hey Wolfgang!" At the sound of Wilson calling his name, the strongman looked over with a sinking feeling to see him standing with his hands on his hips.
"Would you mind explaining to me why my chest of food is lying in a mound of pigs and wood shrapnel?"
A loud squelch echoed throughout the swamp as Wolfgang's hammer flattened another giant mosquito. This must have been the hundredth of the oversized bugs he'd dealt with, and he had the timing of his swing down perfectly at this point.
Wendy, perched atop his shoulders to avoid sinking in the muck, didn't so much as twitch as the insect was bashed. Her attention was entirely focused on listening to the subtle changes in tone from the divining rod.
After they'd agreed on following the noise, the group had stocked up on enough food to last them for several days. Other than the basic necessities, Willow had taken her lighter, her staff, and a few building materials that could be made into a torch, or possibly kindling to create a larger fire.
Wilson had opted for a more scientific rout, focusing on bringing notes, his writing utensils, and the knife he always kept on his person. He'd tried to keep a record of when the pitch of the radio changed, but the damp environment they found themselves in made that exceptionally difficult.
Wolfgang was armed with his trusty hammer and the medal he'd been gifted. He was the only one currently in high spirits. The scientist and the fire starter were both miserable from walking around in the swamp, and the child on his shoulders bore the same grim expression she usually had. For him though, the slime and sludge was of little concern. If nothing else, it kept his feet warm. A little itchy and a bit tingly perhaps, but warm none the less.
Wendy had only been armed with the radio and her sister's presence. Crazy Wilson hadn't been kidding when he said he hid her ax. After turning the campsite upside down searching for it, she'd finally just given up. She hadn't spoken once to the scientist since then.
A loud buzzing signaled the arrival of another mosquito. Wolfgang waited until the blood sucking insect charged him, carefully observing its flight pattern and erratic movements. Once it darted in to try and bite he swung in a wide arc, his hammer sending the overzealous creature splattering into the grimy water in pieces.
Willow shuddered, though whether it was from the sight of the bug or the constant touch of the swamp was hard to tell.
"We'd better be getting close." She said, leaning heavily on her staff as a means to be in contact with as little of the water as possible. "I think I'm going to die from infection before morning otherwise."
They'd spent the better part of the morning and afternoon searching, pausing only once during midday to have a meal.
"Swamp not so bad." Wolfgang replied, doing his best to improve her mood. "Is like walking in giant soggy cake!" Somehow, his analogy didn't seem to work all that well.
Without warning, the divining rod switched from a grating drone to an obnoxiously loud blaring sound. The strongman felt Wendy tense up on his shoulders at the noise.
"We're getting close!" She warned, barely audible over the siren.
Wolfgang unconsciously increased his pace as the wail continued to get more and more intense. Behind him, Willow and Wilson struggled to push through the grime and keep up. Their lack of size and muscle made the task several times more difficult for them than it was for him.
"Wolfgang! Slow down!" Wilson shouted. "Don't get so far ahead! You remember what happened the last time that happened don't you?"
Reluctantly, he slowed enough for the two stragglers to close the gap. He was eager to see what was waiting for them at the end of this path, and any delay only served to compound his growing impatience. It didn't help that the divining rod was echoing through his head constantly, giving him a massive headache.
"Science man and fire lady need keep up!" He declared, sticking his hammer in his belt and grabbing both of their arms. "I help!"
Before either of them had time to realize what was about to happen, the strongman lurched forwards pushing through the muck like a bulldozer. Wilson and Willow were dragged along with him, barely able to keep their footing as he yanked them forward at a rapid pace.
"Hold on! Stop! You're going to-"
Wilson's protests were silenced as his foot got caught on a submerged root. The scientist tripped and fell face first into the putrid sludge, his shout turning to a retching gag as he hit. Wolfgang didn't so much as pause. He continued driving forwards, dragging the unfortunate man along while the girl on his shoulders directed his path. Willow barely managed to avoid a similar fate. Deciding that ruining her skirt was preferable to being submerged; she stopped trying to keep it out of the water and instead focused entirely on staying upright.
As suddenly as it had started, the noise from the radio shut off. A ringing silence descended in its place, sounding deafening in the dimly lit swamp. Having nothing to guide him forwards Wolfgang came to a halt, looking around curiously.
"Why is talk box stop talking?" He questioned.
Wilson broke the surface of the water with a strangled gasp, alternating between sucking in air and spitting out swamp muck in equal measure. When he recovered enough to speak, he turned to his tormentor with a glare.
"What is wrong with you!?" He demanded. "You nearly killed me! Do you have any idea how hard it is to breathe when someone is pulling you through a wall of sludge?"
Wolfgang didn't look the least bit concerned at his outburst.
"Science man take too long." He repeated, as though that simple statement justified the whole thing. "If had more muscle, wouldn't have to worry about falling."
The scientist was about to make a scathing remark about how little muscular development helped the growth of one's mind, but Willow took that opportunity to step in and prevent any conflicts.
"Can we get back on topic for a moment?" She asked. "In case the two of you didn't notice, our little guide stopped making noise. Someone please tell me that you remember the way we came from, because I do NOT want to be lost in this place."
"We're not lost." Wendy commented calmly. "We're here."
The others all looked to her with a questioning glance until Abigail, who had been following their whole trek from above, floated down. The ghostly light she gave off illuminated an object that had previously been hidden in the darkness.
Another bout of silence, this one out of dread filled awe, filled the air. The wooden structure was one all of them recognized.
Wilson slowly got to his feet, absentmindedly brushing some of the grime off his person while he stared at the massive doorway. He still vividly remembered the day he'd built an identical one in his lab back home.
Wendy tapped lightly on Wolfgang's shoulder, prompting him to lift her off his shoulders and set her down. The swamp was significantly shallower next to the doorway, allowing her to stand without sinking.
"I guess that settles it." Willow said at last. "Maxwell really was behind it."
"You all recognize it too?" Wilson asked, getting nods from each of them in response. They'd each gone through the experience of being forcibly drawn into the gateway.
"What we do now?" Wolfgang questioned. He'd been eager to find the source of the noise a moment ago, but now that it was staring them in the face he began having second thoughts. "Should we open door?"
"No." Wilson's answer was immediate, and left no room for debate. "This is exactly the kind of thing that he'd want us to do. It's the same logic that got us all stuck here in the first place isn't it? No. We don't play his little game. We'll find another way to get to him that doesn't involve playing right into his hands."
"He's right." Willow said, nodding her agreement. "Rushing in blindly won't get us anywhere. We need a plan. If he has things like this set up, we might be able to find something else that we can use against him."
It was disappointing to think that they might have come all this way just to turn around, but Wolfgang could see their point. In an honest fight his mighty muscles could smash anything, but Maxwell was anything but honest. The man was like a greased snake. Slippery, wriggly, and able to bite before you had a chance to even blink.
"We should start headed back." Wilson said, peering up through the trees to get a glimpse of where the sun was in the sky. "If we hurry we can make it out of the swamp in time to make camp for the night. It will probably be out in the open, but by this time tomorrow we might be able to finish up our cabin back at camp. After that, wait, Wendy? What are you doing?"
While the others had been musing over what option to pursue, the girl and her sister had approached the machine. Her hand now rested lightly on the lever. As she turned to face the group, the ghostly smile on her face told Wolfgang that they probably wouldn't be making it back to camp any time soon.
"Once more into the breach?"
"Wendy! Wait, don't!" Wilson yelled, but it was far too late. With a quick yank, she pulled the lever. The whole machine shuddered, emitting a ghastly racket of metal grinding against metal.
Wolfgang, Willow, and Wilson could only stare as the wooden barrier opened up, revealing a column of darkness that writhed like a living thing. Quick as a lighting strike, a shadow hand darted out of the doorway and grabbed Wendy. She looked remarkably unconcerned as it yanked her towards the opening. Abigail remained near her the whole time.
The others jumped forwards in an attempt to catch her before she could be pulled in, but three more hands shot out and latched onto each of them. Wilson and Willow were immediately dragged into the darkness, their shouts of panicked protest vanishing as they passed through.
Wolfgang struggled against the shadowy appendage with all his might, the two of them locked in place. For a moment, he felt the grip of the unnatural limb start to loosen. His hope was quickly dashed as several more lunged out to grab his legs. He was upended, falling hard into the squishy ground as his feet were pulled out from underneath him. Before he could even think about crawling away, he was unceremoniously dragged kicking and fighting into the portal.
As the last of the group disappeared inside its depths, the doorway closed once more. Peace returned to the swamp, leaving nothing to mark the sinister events that had just transpired.