Orc and Bunny

Chapter 11 - The Western Forest

Belmoral’s heartbeat seemed to grow louder with every step that took her deeper into the heart of the western forest. Some of the villagers had come with them some of the way, but started to go their own way after a while until only Granny and Philip were with them. Ansemoni had been conspicuously absent for most of the last two weeks, and was still gone when they had started their journey.

Granny had given whispered advice that in the depth of her fear she couldn’t really remember. There had been hugs, which were nice, but now they were alone, and the forest was dark. While they had been leaving the sky had turned from completely clear to overcast. Occasionally a drop of water would threaten an incoming storm, but it never came.

It may have just been Belmoral’s imagination but it seemed that the further they walked the more sinister, and twisted the trees became. A light mist obscured the furthest parts of the forest, though that wasn’t unusual at this time of year. It was the rustling in the forest that really set Belmoral on edge. It didn’t help that Anne, probably from seeing Belmoral on edge, was keeping her rapier close to hand and inspecting their surroundings very thoroughly.

It was about midday, though with it being overcast in the forest there was really no way to tell other than the soreness in their feet, when they stopped for a light lunch of trail bread, some dried fruit and water. The two of them clearly wanted to talk but some invisible force in the forest made it feel forbidden. They ate silently and were constantly looking at their surroundings. When the meal was done, they packed their bags back up and with a silent nod at each other continued through the eerie woods.

They had been walking quietly through the dense trunks, when suddenly a crunching came from in front of and above them, and before their eyes the tallest creature she had ever seen walked in front of them. The legs were as tall as the two of them stacked on top of each other, and it had a strangely long neck, which ended in what would have been a comically small head if she weren’t so terrified.

Suddenly, the creature in front of them stopped, its long neck craned down, and the three eyed head came within inches of Belmoral’s face. She was completely frozen. The eyes simply stared at her. Its nostrils grew as it sniffed her for what felt like forever, but was probably less than a minute, before going back to walking along through the trees.

Belmoral didn’t move for a minute after it was out of sight.

“What was that?” Anne asked incredulously.

“I’m not sure,” she responded, “I’m just glad it wasn’t hungry for us.”

Anne laughed.

“Yeah. Well, that definitely cements that I am not in Field anymore.”

As if by magic, the tension that had been growing in the air was gone. The two chatted pleasantly, but still relatively quietly, so they wouldn’t attract attention, as they continued their journey. That pleasantness lasted right up until the growling and rustling began to their right.

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“Is that getting closer?” Anne hissed at Belmoral.

“I think so, maybe we should…” Belmoral began, but then something big clearly started charging.

“Run!” Anne interrupted, and the two began running as fast as they could. The crashing sound chased after them. The trees around them whipped past in a blur, plants and branches crashing into their faces. It was a miracle that Belmoral didn’t lose Anne in her panic. Somehow the two managed to stay together.

The chase ended when Belmoral tripped over a hidden root, and started rolling down a slight hill, only to end up hitting a large tree with a painful cracking sound. Anne quickly ran over to her, but the crashing kept growing closer.

It grew closer, and closer, until it was right on top of them.

“What gives?!” a familiar voice cried out, “Why are you running away?”

“A-ansemoni?” Anne asked.

“Yeah, you absolute morons,” Ansemoni retorted, as she came out of the brush right in front of them, “I came to guide you. You know, I know my way around here pretty well. At least as far as they let us go. I’ve always wanted to see the other side of the forest.”

“Ansemoni, you idiot! You scared us half to death!” Belmoral roared as she stood to her feet.

“What? Why? I was just following your trail.”

“And the growling? Was that necessary?” Belmoral spat, walking up to Ansemoni fists clenched.

“huh? What growling?” Ansemoni asked, taking a step back, “I just heard you two crashing through the forest like a pair of troggins on fire, and followed.”

“You didn’t see anything else?” Anne asked, drawing her rapier, and peering behind Ansemoni.

“Whoa! Watch the toothpick, your highness.” Ansemoni held her hands up as though surrendering, “No, there wasn’t anything chasing you besides me. Are you sure you weren’t just running from your own shadows?”

“Well, now I’m not,” Belmoral sighed.

“Hey, are you okay?” Ansemoni asked Belmoral.

“It’s this forest, it’s putting me on edge.”

“I’m sorry, Bel.” Ansemoni looked at her feet.

“What is the deal with this forest?” Anne asked as she joined the other two, sheathing her sword.

“Oh, the superstitious people in the village can’t get their story straight. Some say it’s haunted, some that it’s cursed,” Ansemoni made wiggly finger motions at Anne, “but the truth is it’s just a forest.”

“My father went into this forest after my mom passed, and came back different, Anne.” Belmoral stared off into the distance, “It was like he didn’t recognize me.”

“I’m sorry,” Anne put a hand on Belmoral’s shoulder, though she had to reach up to do so, “my father was different after my own mother passed, so I kind of understand.”

“Yeah, but did your dad then challenge your chief, who had to kill him,” Ansemoni sneered, stepping forward and poking Anne in the shoulder.

“Ansemoni, stop,” Belmoral scolded.

“Sorry, Bel,” Ansemoni said, stepping back and sheepishly kicking the dirt, “but look, I’ve been in and out of these woods since I was a kid, and I’ve always come back fine. So, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I hope your right,” Belmoral said, clearly still worried, “I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off here.”