Chapter Fourteen
"You don't see that everyday," Cid said.
I had to agree with him. We were all gathering near the exit of the Omahkimi town, loading up supplies for the journey. The cart the Omahkimi were loading was normal, for the most part. It was the creatures pulling it that were so strange.
"I think I could have gone my entire life without seeing giant millipedes," Cid continued with a shudder.
"I agree," I said. "Bugs should not be allowed to grow that large. Where would you find a shoe big enough to squash it?" Just kidding. I wouldn't do that...
The three millipedes were huge. Probably five feet long. They were harnessed to the cart. Being used as beasts of burden. I guess if it works, it works. Still made me want to shudder. And to begin imagining what other monster bugs might be out in the Enchanted Forest.
"Are there, lots of bugs like that in the Forest?" I asked.
"Hoo-hoo, many and more, little mouse. But not where we're going, he-hee," Jack answered. Thump.
"Good. I don't like the idea of running into giant ants. Or a scorpion. Or praying mantis," I said, making myself shudder.
"Ha," Chase laughed. "You? Afraid of little bugs? Never woulda thought."
"What do you mean, little?" I asked incredulously. "Those millipedes are as big as you are." They were far thinner than Chase, but their length made up for that.
"Not to worry," Wilder said, dropping a large sack into the cart. "These three are domesticated, and very well trained. Logo's the best bug handler around." He patted one of the Omahkimi on the shoulder with his massive hand. The Omahkimi he had called Logo was a horse. He was only a couple inches shorter than Wilder, though quite a bit leaner. His feet were hoofed, but his hands looked like that of a humans. His fingernails were a bit hoofy too though. He was checking the millipedes straps and harness. Finishing, he turned to us.
"Nice to meet you," he said in a pleasant tenor. "Call me Logo. You must be Liz." He removed his hat, nodding to me politely. "I've already been acquainted with your two companions, but it is very nice to meet you. Don't often run into humans in the Forest. It's always a pleasure. Just, don't try to ride me," he said with a wink.
I laughed. "Don't worry, our feet will manage well enough. Good to meet you, Logo." He replaced his hat, turning to help the others loading the cart. They seemed to be taking a lot of stuff with them. "We really going to need all these supplies?" I asked Wilder. Jack beat him to the answer.
"Hoo-hoo, no no, not all for us. Gotta make this trip worth it. Can't just be wasting time, he-hee," thump. "Lots of goods to trade. Plenty of towns to stop at on the way, he-hee," thump.
"Oh," I hadn't even considered that this trip was interrupting their lives and work. I'd been too focused on my adventure. On myself. Now I felt like a jerk. You'd think that after what I'd just gone through I could show a little more compassion. Well, no time like the present. "I'm really sorry Jack. I didn't even think of how this trip would take you guys away from your homes. You don't have to escort us. We can make our own way to the Wood Elves bridge. And we promise not to cause any trouble."
"Don't listen to him," Wilder said. "You didn't ask us to join you. We volunteered, remember? It's no bother at all. We make a similar trip a few times a year. This ones just a bit early, that's all. We needed to make it early, at any rate. Strange happenings in the Forest these days."
They kept saying something was happening in the Forest, I was really starting to get curious. I'd have to find a good opening to start prying.
"He-hee, your not going into the Forest wearing that, are ya?" Jack asked me. "Could catch a cold out there, little mouse, he-hee," thump.
"What do you mean?" I was wearing clothes similar to yesterday, but a short-sleeve tunic today. I assumed it would be a pleasant day. It felt great right now.
"Hoo-hoo, it's autumn, isn't it? We leave town, no more protection, he-hee. Walk right into autumn. Don't you humans know anything?" thump.
Except Jack was wearing purple shorts with yellow suspenders over a green short sleeve shirt.
"What about you?" I asked while giving his clothes a skeptical glance.
"Hoo-hoo, I got fur, silly mouse. Why would I need a jacket? He-hee," thump.
"Wait… but there are no seasons in the Sanctum," Cid said. "It may get a little colder overnight during autumn and winter months, but not that bad." I'd never heard of the temperature dropping below twelve degrees centigrade, and only that low at night.
"He-hee, you really don't know anything, do ya? Kids these days, he-hee. Come into a magical forest thinking things will just make sense," thump.
"Come off it, Jack," Rundee said. "How would they know how things work in the Forest? Cut them some slack."
I looked over at Rundee, who was leaning on the cart nearby. He had on pants and a jacket, though the jacket was unbuttoned, no shirt on underneath. "What about you Rundee? You've got fur."
"I don't like the cold," Rundee said with a shrug. "Even autumn. I prefer the warmer biomes."
"So there are, different seasons in the Forest?" Cid asked.
"Hoo-hoo, of course there are silly hum—."
"I said come off it Jack," Rundee interjected. "Go help the others load the cart. Looks like they're almost done, so hurry on." His expression was again one of disgust as he watched Jack bounce away. "Sorry, but can't expect much more from Jack. To answer your question Cid, yeah. There are more biomes. Lots of em. If you can think of something that grows on this planet, you can find it here in the Forest. There's a place for everything. Some of those need changing seasons to grow best. Others need a constant middle temperature. Some need a lot of heat and humidity. Each biome serves the needs of those that call it home. Plant or animal. Omahkimi or Centaur. There's a place for everyone, and everything."
"Really? You can grow anything inside the Enchanted Forest?" Cid asked, then looked to me.
"That's news to me," I said. "Though that does answer one of my questions. I'd been wondering where Jack was getting coffee."
"It's grown in here," Rundee said. "In a few places. Good stuff too."
"All right, everyone," Wilder said so that all around could hear. "It's time to set forth. Our new friends are in some haste to return home, so we will be skipping our usual route. We will head straight to Hollow, then to the Warren."
We all shouldered our packs, and Shoe climbed up to sit on the cart. There were a few Omahkimi joining us that I hadn't met yet, but I was sure there would be time after we got underway. We had a long journey ahead of us. As we moved down the path, the temperature dropped suddenly. I pulled my jacket from my pack as we traveled through the autumn woods.
"You slipped down the hill?" Shoe asked.
"Yup, right down the hill, into the middle of their ritual," I said. "The Little Goblins were furious. They left their fire and started dancing around us instead. This was a couple years ago, so Cid and I were scared."
"Scared?" Cid said. "I was nearly terrified. All those ugly Little Goblins dancing around us with their spears and axes. I thought for sure we were about to be their dinner." He shuddered.
"Wow," Shoe said. "We don't have any goblins here in the Forest. Do they really eat people?"
"No, thankfully," I said. "But I think they were mad enough that day to make an exception. Apparently we interrupted an important ritual. Lucky for us my great grandfather showed up, scared them all off. They weren't about to mess with one of the Guardians."
"Yeah, your great grandfather is a powerful warrior," Shoe said. "I saw him a couple weeks ago. He's been investigating what's been going on in the Forest recently."
"Oh, that must be why him and great gran haven't been around recently," I said. Then I realized this could be my opportunity to do a little prying. I asked casually, "So, what has been going on in here?"
"It's quite awful," Shoe said sadly. "People have gone missing. And there have been lots of strange creatures entering our territory. All small, fast animals. They are so fast we can never catch them. They are all dark of fur. Once, I saw one. It had red eyes. There's only one thing that could be here in the Forest. It's the Shadow Pe—."
"That's quite enough, Shoe," Wilder said. "Are you trying to scare these young ones half to death?"
"Oops, sorry Wilder," Shoe said. "Why can't we tell them though?"
"It's not our place, Shoe," Wilder said. "The Guardians will decide when and what to tell them."
"Hey, don't we get a say in that?" I asked. We had finally been getting some real info, I couldn't let it stand as it was.
"Sorry, but no," Wilder answered firmly.
"But, that's no fair. What if we run into one of these creatures?" I said.
"I wouldn't be worried about that," Wilder said. "None have been seen this far south and west. Only sightings have been to the east, at the border of our territories. We are heading north and west, so it's quite unlikely we will run into anything out of the ordinary."
"Wilder, please," I pleaded with him. "We need to know. We might be able to help."
"That is most certainly out of the question. You two are still too young. Besides, I already told you. It is not our place to tell you of such things."
"Bah! Fine, be that way," I said, disappointed.
I continued along the path, lost in my thoughts. I did want to get home quickly, but if something was going on in the Forest, I wanted to know. Needed too.
"Could you tell me about another one of your adventures?" Shoe asked, disrupting my frustrated thoughts. Probably a good thing, they weren't getting me anywhere.
"Another adventure…" I considered. I didn't really feel up to another story, but it would be better than stewing in my own disappointment. "Okay, how about I tell you how we arrived in the Enchanted Forest yesterday?"
"Oh yes, that would be nice. Is it an exciting story?"
"It's not super exci—," I cut off, noticing Chase. He had stopped and was gazing into the Forest beside the path we were traveling on. It was a wide path, and he was a little ways away from the main group as he patrolled our flank. He hunched as I watched, as if preparing to spring.
Cid, who was on the other side of the cart nearer to Chase, called out to him. "What's wrong Chase? Something out there?"
Others noticed, and Logo stopped the cart. Chase was growling now, low and menacing. He only did that when there was a threat.
"Kids, you stay back," Wilder said urgently. "Bert, with me." A badger Omahkimi joined Wilder as they moved toward Chase. Rundee had already made it over to the pooch. Then, it happened. It happened fast.
Three small creatures—maybe squirrels, or chipmunks—darted out of the trees. They were fast. They sprang from the underbrush like arrows from a bow. One went straight at Chase, the other two in different directions toward the Omahkimi. I couldn't see them well for their speed, but they were dark furred creatures. I could see the eyes of the one that charged Chase. They were glowing red.
Everyone sprang into motion. Everyone except Cid and I, that is. I stood there, unsure of what I should do as the dark streaks flashed towards my friend and the Omahkimi. I watched as Chase snarled, then snapped at the small dark creature that was charging him. It dodged nimbly, then retreated from the savage dog. Chase took off after it towards the dense forest. Wilder bellowed near me, and I took my eyes off Chase to see the boar man swing a huge club at one of the dark furred creatures as it leapt at his face. There was a solid thunk as Wilder hit the small animal, sending it flying like a furry baseball. I thought for sure he had killed the thing, but as soon as it landed it bounced up to its feet. It dashed at Rundee's back, who had followed after Chase in his mad pursuit. They had just made it to the edge of the trees.
The tree line in front of them erupted in small dark shapes. Dozens of them, all with glowing red eyes, sprang out at Chase and Rundee. They were overwhelmed by the onslaught. I watched Chase as he tried to dodge and snap at his assailants, but there were too many of them. I saw him go down as they scratched and bit him. Rundee was faring better, until a slightly larger form emerged from the underbrush.
"Sock," Shoe screamed from the cart in front of me where she had been taking shelter. "Sock, what are you doing? Where have you been?" She tried to scramble down the cart, but slipped in her haste to land heavily on the ground. "Brother, its me, Shoe."
I could see now the larger creature was a small Omahkimi. Similar to Shoe, this one was a mouse. But something wasn't right. Its fur was much darker than hers. And its eyes. They were red.
My vision filled with a flurry of dark motion, rapid wind pressure filling my ears. Pain seared across my cheek, and a sharp jab to my forehead. Something was in my face. A shadowy form filled my sight as is slashed and stabbed at me. I tried to swat it away, but my frantic swipes were ineffectual. I couldn't touch it, as if I was defending myself against an actual shadow.
"Mineure," Cid shouted, and I was free from the shadow. Wiping away blood that had begun to trickle down my forehead into my eye, I saw what had attacked me. A crow was thrashing on the ground, trying to right itself. Like the others, its eyes were red. "Mineure," Cid shouted again, and another crow hit the dirt. "Liz, are you alright?" he called to me. He had a puncture wound on his cheek just under his eye.
"I'm fine," I said, looking to where Chase and Rundee had been attacked. Several more crows were flapping around Wilder and Bert the badgers head. They were fast, and coordinated as they dove with a flurry of wings to jab and their faces with their beaks or rake them with their talons. But my attention left them as I realized what I was not seeing. Chase and Rundee were gone. I was just in time to see the dark swarm of creatures as it retreated into the dense forest.
"Chase," I yelled, darting around the cart. I sprinted toward the forest where I had last seen him and Rundee. Cid tried to stop me.
"Wait Liz, it's too dangerous," he said as he made a grab for me. I was too quick, dodging around him. There was no way in hell I was going to let some evil rodents take one of my friends. I ran past Wilder and Bert, ducking low to avoid the crows that were attacking them. I crashed into the trees. I ran as fast as I could through the dense underbrush, not caring as I was snagged and tripped by roots, vines and thorny bushes. All that mattered was that my friend might be in danger. I kept running, into the forest.