Max shivered, he was riding on Ira's back, going through a smoky forest with thin, wispy birch trees. Why he had come this far with them, Max was still in wonderment. The last thing he wanted was trouble, but when he saw how much he was relied upon by his friends, he felt a compelling obligation. So here he was, aiding his friends in the search for Judith when he could be with his human friends, kicking back and hanging out in a warm, if not a little messy, room. Playing video games and drinking what they could get their hands on was far less of a challenge than this. It was too much for him to dwell upon, so he kept those wishful thoughts away for the time being.
Because there was no path set in place, Ira had taken the lead, his massive body snapping branches and setting aside a way for the others to follow. It was impossible to see anything further than five feet ahead of them. Though Max was comforted knowing K.W., Alexander, and Bernard were keeping pace behind he and Ira, he could only make out their silhouettes vaguely. The further behind they were, the less crisp their figures seemed. Turning back around, Max swallowed, trying not to allow the fear overtake him.
"My feet hurt." Max heard Alexander mutter somewhere behind him.
"How much farther?" said Max asking Ira. Grumbling beneath him, Ira said something to the effect that he did not know. This seemed to please Alexander for the time being, who was quite wise in not upsetting Ira. The silence was ominous, neither bird nor beast made a noise on their journey. Wondering what kind of creature could overpower someone as powerful as Judith, Max was full of questions. At that moment, Max deeply wished he was back at home, in the arms of his mother and the care of his sister. Hell, it didn't even matter if Mark was there too. He knew that it was not time for him to leave though, for he was king, and his friends needed him. From behind him, Max heard Alexander cry out, then Bernard, then K.W., and finally Ira, who tumbled forward after having K.W. collide into him.
"Sorry." mumbled Bernard.
"What was that?" called K.W. in disgust. There was a frantic feeling amongst the group. Their vision inhibited, panic set in with the unknown.
"Someone tripped me!" cried Alexander, who had been the first to fall. A new fear set in.
"What?" asked Ira.
"I was tripped I swear! Something grabbed my legs!" Alexander cried. The group huddled closer, their eyes set intensely on the ground, looking for the hands or traps of the enemy.
"I don't see anything." Max said with finality. "We shouldn't stay here too long though."
"What do you think it is?" asked Alexander, his voice fraught with concern. Alexander cried out, but no one came to his aid, seeing that Bernard, strong and silent, had lifted him from the forest floor.
"You'll be safer up there." Said K.W. "Alright, you heard the king, let's move forward."
And so forward they pressed, each with heightened awareness of the surrounding area. Ira and Max still carried the lead, Ira knowing where Judith was being held. Either love or some other force allowed Ira the sense to find his wife in the gloomy area with no stars or moon. Behind them was K.W., and following her were Bernard and Alexander.
"I found her a while ago king," Ira said, his voice low, "Judith was sick, and I couldn't help her. They had her, and I couldn't do anything."
The pain in Ira's voice was evident, and so lost in his sorrow, he let out a howl. Echoing through the forest, it spun around them, growing more rueful and forlorn with each spin. Though the mood of their trip had hardly proved jovial, the group suddenly felt incredibly crestfallen. Ira's heartbreak was felt by each member of the group, and pausing, they were silent with sympathy, no one in the group ever having felt the kind of love Ira shared with Judith. In the distance, another howl returned. This was not Ira's howl coming forth, but another's.
"Judith?" called Ira. The howl rose again. It was hard to pick up on a direction in the confusing woods through the haze. Again, a pained howl rose from the woods, heartbreak filled the wail of the caller. It is the type of baying one might wish to do when overcome with grief, but oftentimes feels too foolish to do so.
"There's no mistaking it," Ira said over his shoulder, "it's Judith."
"How can you be sure that it's Judith calling? It's just howling." asked Max, who would never admit that the howls sent shivers down his spine. His mind reeled at the idea of pursuing such unearthly sounds, and yet his heart was drawn to the far off pleas.
"That's the power of love." Answered K.W. Wise and understanding, her word was taken as law. Behind her from Bernard's back, Max could see Alexander shaking his head.
"Love is crazy." Alexander muttered. As usual, Alexander's dismissive comments went unnoticed, much to his dismay. Though much had changed on their island, certain things would always remain the same. When another howl pierced through the woods, Ira returned it with a howl of his own.
"Judith!" called Ira into the winding forest. Another howl came, even more distressed, but its volume diminishing rapidly. "King, we must find her."
"Call to her again," urged Max, "I think she heard you."
Letting out a piercing howling that rocked through Max's ears, Ira looked from side to side in anticipation. No one dared speak fearing that they might miss her cry back. When Ira's howl was returned, he bounded off in its general direction, paying no heed to those following him or what lay in front of him. Those who were left behind tried to keep pace in vain and were forced to following the path he had laid out for them with a hastened speed.
"Judith!" cried Ira, bounding through the twisty vines of the birch trees. Under his weight they snapped like twigs, and with every wailed reply from Judith his strength grew. Max did everything in his power to cling to Ira's back and watch the mysterious and expanding forest ahead. The further along they went, the thicker the fog became. Soon, all that was left to remind Max that his friends were still in tow were their shouts calling after them.
"Ira, we should wait for them." Pleaded Max, feeling sick from the speed at which they were travelling. Beneath him, Ira gave a dismissive grunt. All Max could do was hold tight to Ira, and pray that Judith would be before them soon. Eventually, Ira and Max had reached a point where one could only see about a foot ahead of them. Begrudgingly Ira had to slow down. His steps calculated, Ira and Max remained silent, their ears in tune for Judith's cries. None came.
"She's here." Ira whispered over his shoulder.
"How do you know?" asked Max. Ira lifted Max from his shoulders, but kept Max's hand in his, which was so petit in comparison to his large claws.
"Her scent, it's here, it's faint, but it's here and it's everywhere." Ira told him, his gaze shifting around, seeking Judith's location. Behind them, an out of breath band of friends finally caught up, too tired to chastise. The fog, thick and winding, was overpowering and all that anyone could see. Max felt something creep around his leg. Crying out, his call was interrupted when the force attempted to pull him to the earth. Ira, feeling the pull, lifted Max up once more.
"What was that?" demanded K.W. anxiously, examining the silhouetted form of Max.
"Something grabbed me!" Max replied.
"I told you I wasn't lying." Muttered Alexander from the safety of Bernard's back.
"No one doubted you." assured K.W. The fog they had been enveloped in for what seemed like an eternity started to withdraw. Fear, which had been overwhelming Max for so long on this journey, was absent at this moment. Instead, Max felt empowered, excited even. Warping and packing together, the thick fog formed a cloudy monster. Where there was once fog was now a dark forest, and it was revealed that the group had found a clearing.
"It's Judith!" declared Ira. Indeed, in the center of the foggy creature was Judith, wrapped in billowing, evil fog.
"What shall we do?" asked Alexander, still atop Bernard. Max knew it was he who was being called upon. The massive fog creature growled in front of them, readying for battle. Drawing in a breath, Max charged forward, dropping Ira's claw.
"Attack!" he cried. Behind him his friends rushed to his side, growling and gnashing their teeth in a terrifying manner. Max was never more proud or happy to have them on his side. Meeting the fog beast, the group was careful to avoid hitting Judith at its center. To their horror, they found their blows went straight through the creature. Ira let out a snarl more vicious than one could expect coming from someone as mild mannered as he.
"King, what's happening?" Ira asked. Persisting with blows to the beast in vain, Max was stuck for ideas. It was then the fog creature's turn to attack. Raising its great arm, it struck the group and sent them back with a gust of wind. Falling back, Max saw his friends break the birch trees with ease, even Alexander knocking down several before he could regain control. Max on the other hand felt dizzy upon hitting one, his focus going in and out. It was clear they needed a plan. Ira rushed forward.
"Grab Judith!" called Max.
"Of course." replied Ira. Reaching for his love, Ira found the fog creature's core was pulling her back, fighting for control. An idea struck Max.
"Blow it away!" said Max in realization. The group, aside from Ira who was still working to free Judith, looked to him with confusion. Without further explanation, Max ran forward and started to flap his hands at the creature to no avail. It was Alexander, the typical skeptic, who was first to join. This seemed to have some effect, as the creature started to dispel around its arm. Too absorbed in its fight with Ira, the beast did not fight back. K.W. and Bernard rushed to their aid, Bernard's strength especially working well. While the beast found itself broken up, Ira was able to free Judith with greater ease. He clung to her tightly, silently weeping from joy. When they had successfully dispelled the creature, Max and his friends joined Judith and Ira. In exhaustion, they plopped down ready for sleep. The fog had gone, and now one could see the night's sky that was coated in stars and seemed so warm but distant.
"Well that's that." Said Max with a yawn. For the remainder of the night they rested in a warm pile. For the first time in a great while Max felt that he could rest safely with his friends. In their arms, he was able to forget momentarily the challenges that lay in wait, and simply dream under the glowing stars.