As the day dragged on, the dense woods swallowed the sunlight, leaving the forest floor shrouded in an eerie darkness. The ancient trees loomed overhead, their trunks colossal and their branches stretching out in all directions like a sprawling maze high above. Thick tufts of lichen dangled from the branches, resembling long, gray beards of a wise old man. The tangle of dead wood with the occasional leaf was so thick that it concealed anything beyond ten feet, making it an impassable wall of mystery. Jove had mentioned a fork in the road somewhere ahead, though it was hard to believe that there was ever a road here. The path ahead was obvious though as no trees and few branches even crossed what seemed like an invisible barrier creating a tunnel weaving in and out of the trees. According to the tale, they needed to continue east for two days before turning south at the road's intersection, eventually stumbling upon a solitary mound nestled deep within the woods. That was where the healer resided in a large clearing, and apparently, this wizard had fashioned an astonishing abode within a mound at the center. The outside resembles a peculiar garden, with a distinct door between two grandfather trees that couldn't be missed. Geo struggled to maneuver the wagon over exposed roots and potholes to continue down the road, as his mind filled with thoughts of his family and then the looming threat of King George. The idea of a man deluded enough to believe he was a king reminded Geo of dark tales from ancient times.
They had already been traveling for nearly two days, and the prospect of another night in these foreboding woods filled Geo with unease. People avoided this place for a reason, after all, but he and Lake had no choice but to endure a few more nights. Those nights would be anything but pleasant if last night was any indication, plagued by unfamiliar and unsettling sounds - crackling, humming, booms, along with the eerie chorus of grunts, hoots, howls, and screams. These were sounds Geo had never encountered in his world, and his curiosity battled with the potential danger of uncovering their origin. At the trade fair, Geo had spoken with Jove, who regaled him with tales of strange creatures and bizarre incidents within these woods. Jove never admitted to being the protagonist of his own stories, but the fear in his eyes when he warned them, almost begging them not to go, spoke volumes. Magic and monsters seemed far-fetched to Geo, but this place had an undeniable aura of otherworldliness that made the stories seem more plausible with each passing moment.
Each morning, Geo and Lake engaged in their morning sparring session. Lake would often complain, arguing that the time spent fighting was time wasted on their journey. Geo, however, stressed the importance of being prepared for the worst, knowing that it would ultimately ensure their safe arrival at their destination. So, each day, Geo pushed Lake harder and harder, while Lake continued to hone his combat skills, determined to do whatever it took to finally beat Geo.
On day three they found the fork and turned south just as the sky began to darken and they only proceeded a short distance before stopping for the night. Geo took first watch and for the first time the night was quiet. Geo woke Lake for his watch and was soon asleep, but when Geo awoke, he found Lake sleeping.
Lake awoke screaming with a sword point at his throat. Without any emotion Geo put a little more pressure on his sword and spoke. "If I had been a bandit, you would be dead now!" a trickle of blood traced a line down Lakes neck.
Lake backed away and swatted the sword point away. In a voice tinged in fear Lake stammered, " I I am bleeding. What the hell! This is hopeless and you are crazy!”
Geo, taken aback by the intensity in Lake's eyes, remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
Lake expression twisted in grief, “We could be traveling." throwing his practice sword into the trees. " Each day we play with sticks, you lecture, then make me regret any error I make." Touching his fingers gently and wiping away the blood still dribbling down his neck. " My sister is dying.”
Geo, though able to grasp some of Lake's emotions, felt a surge of his own anger. "You just don't understand," he retorted, his voice rising. "I have witnessed more death than you can even fathom. I have killed to obtain the information for this risky journey through the woods, which might very well cost us our lives. And let's not forget about my wife and daughter, back in your house, caring for your sick sister who suffers from one of the deadliest illnesses. It's the same illness that claimed the lives of my entire family, except for me and my father, over thirty years ago!"
Before Geo could say anything more, a deafening sonic boom reverberated through the trees, causing leaves and branches to tremble. Startled, the horses pulling their wagon panicked and attempted to flee. Geo stumbled and deafened by the sound recovered and jumped into the wagon, desperately trying to calm the frightened animals and bring them to a halt. They fought against him; their eyes wide with fear. Uncertain of what had caused the sound, Geo knew they couldn't stay there any longer. Worried, he motioned for Lake to join him in the wagon. They hastily gathered their belongings which had been thrown to the dirt and moved the wagon off the road, tying a cloth over the horse's eyes to calm the animals, and concealing the wagon as best as they could. Then, they found a hiding spot nearby, where they could observe and wait.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Suddenly, a loud, reverberating snort and boom pierced the air, sending the horses into another frenzy. Despite the wagon's brakes and the obstacles in their way, they bolted down the road. Their escape was short-lived, as the wagon became wedged sideways in the thick brush. The noise of branches breaking, and the screeching of the wagon were soon overshadowed by a new, earth-shaking sound. It resembled an elephant trampling through the trees, causing the ground to tremble.
Geo turned his head, cursing under his breath. "What on earth..." His words trailed off as he caught sight of the source of the commotion.
He couldn't believe his eyes. It felt like a nightmare, as if he had fallen asleep and was trapped in a horrid dream. A creature broke through the underbrush, then paused to paw the road, it was a behemoth. Its dark eyes locked onto Geo and then Lake, was filled with a murderous intent. Towering at almost ten feet tall, it resembled a buffalo, with longer hair around its head and huge sweeping horns on its head. The enormous head seemed too heavy to support itself, adorned with two deep brown eyes on either side. It shook its head side to side as branches broke as the beast tried to free it's smooth, black horns were tangled in the branches. The creatures forward motion was momentarily halted, caught by the obstruction of branches, it continued to struggle for freedom. Geo felt a strange relief, even though he knew the branches wouldn't hold for much longer. Reacting swiftly, Geo dug into the back of the wagon, urging Lake to do the same. They grabbed their weapons, preparing for the imminent danger. Lake swiftly notched an arrow onto his bowstring, releasing it before Geo could even retrieve his rifle from its case. The arrow struck the creature's eye, and for a moment, Lake thought it was a perfect shot. But their relief was short-lived, as the beast grew enraged instead of deterred. It let out a thunderous bellow, thrashing its head back and forth more furiously, shattering branches and sending leaves flying. With a sudden burst of strength, it broke free from the tangled branches and charged straight towards Lake.
Geo's voice erupted in a scream, "Lake, noooo!" Lake stood his ground, firing off two more shots before attempting to seek shelter behind a nearby tree. However, his movements were too slow, and the beast's horn impaled his shoulder, then launched him into the air. As the creature snorted in satisfaction, Lake's body tore through smaller branches, before colliding with a tree and finally coming to rest, suspended from a sturdy branch several feet above the ground. Meanwhile, the beast continued its charge, turning in a circle and sending dirt and debris flying with each thunderous hoof step. Geo watched in silence, hidden from view, hoping against hope that the beast would simply continue running. However, it suddenly came to a halt, its heavy breathing filling the air as if it were sniffing for something.
The waiting became unbearable. Determined to ensure the safety of the troublesome young man, Geo felt an urgent need to check on Lake. The thought of returning to Rolly's without his son was unthinkable - he had to make sure he was okay. As he walked down the road, a beast loomed in the distance, snorting and tilting its head from side to side. The horses, still caught in the trees by their harnesses, were in a state of panic. How could he possibly complete this daunting quest without their help? With a sense of trepidation, Geo glanced down at the gun in his hands, only to realize that he hadn't even loaded it. He hesitated, knowing that wasting precious powder and shot could be detrimental in the long run. However, the gravity of the situation compelled him to act. After all, if he were to meet his demise, the availability of ammunition would be inconsequential. Taking a deep breath, Geo swiftly loaded the rifle, pouring in the powder and carefully setting the ball. It was as if the beast sensed a temporary respite, or perhaps it was merely biding its time daring Geo closer.
It was as if the beast had grown weary, or perhaps fate itself had intervened, granting Geo a moment to reload. Just as he finished, the beast turned towards him, its eyes filled with hatred, and charged with a thunderous roar. Geo stood firm, his hands trembling, sweat trickling down his neck. With a quick motion, he cocked his gun, took aim, and just as the creature was about to trample him, he pulled the trigger. The gunshot erupted, unleashing a towering inferno that soared five feet from the barrel, knocking Geo onto his back and further into the thick underbrush, saving him from being crushed. The flames licked at the beast's fur, while the bullet found its mark, tearing through its mouth and exiting with a gruesome explosion, showering the ground and trees with a macabre spray of blood and brains. The creature collapsed at Geo's feet, its eyes rolling back into its skull, its body twitching in its final moments. Geo, his heart pounding, wasted no time. He blew into the smoking barrel, ensuring it was clear, and swiftly reloaded his gun, prepared for any possibility that this beast might rise again.