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Heart of the Forest

(Part 2)

A delicious aroma wafted through the camp. The intoxicating smell awoke the small cat boy from his slumber. Elliot crawled out from under his blanket and pulled the flaps of the tent to the side. The camp now had a completely different feel to it. It was not the lively, excited place it had been the previous night. There was still life, but now it was calm, collected, and focused. The wolves had begun working early in the morning, just before the sun had risen. The same small pups that Elliot had been playing with the night before were now walking about, carrying little loads of twigs for the fires, or clay bowls for water. Many of the females were attending to the younger pups, or weaving baskets. The males were gathered in small groups about the camp. They were carrying spears and swords and talking quietly among themselves.

As Elliot stood there outside his tent, a young female walked up to him with an outstretched basket. The contents of the basket were steaming fresh, and their scent was what had aroused the boy from his sleep. He lifted a thin cloth and discovered several warm, freshly baked rolls. "These are for you, Pure One," she said as he practically drooled over the rolls.

He looked up at her, confused by this offering. "They're all for me?" he asked. "And what did you call me?"

The female just giggled and set the warm basket in his hands and dashed off. Elliot just shrugged and took one of the rolls. It was pure bliss as he bit into the soft bread. He began walking around the encampment as he ate his breakfast. He noticed Eman standing out in front of the Priestess's tent with her and another wolf. As he wandered over to them, he heard them talking about their journey to the heart of the forest. "... and he will be your guide on your journey there," the Priestess was saying. "Ah, and there is the young one. Finally prized yourself from your rest I see," the Priestess chuckled and welcomed him. Elliot just nodded and continued munching on a roll. He looked over at Eman and saw him with a roll in his hand as well. He had to do a double take; not sure if he took one from the basket, or if he already had one.

"As I was saying, young one," the Priestess distracted his investigation, "this is my grandson, True Arrow. He will be your guide to the heart of the forest. It will be a long and perilous path, so listen and obey everything he tells you to do." Elliot looked across him at the wolf standing there. He was a young, fit looking male, entering the prime of his life. He had burgundy fur with a cream colored stomach. There was a single, white dye pattern on his right arm. It was an arrow, pointing downward from his shoulder, and ending on the back of his hand. He only wore a simple loincloth for modesty, but he had an ornate long bow hanging around his shoulder, along with a full quiver of arrows. "He is the best hunter and scout in the whole pack," she stated.

True Arrow stood stoic as his grandmother introduced him. "Come. We should get started while most of the predators are still sleeping," he said plainly as he turned to leave. Eman turned to follow suit, not saying a word. Elliot was about to follow, but he turned back to the Priestess. "Thank you for taking us in for the night," he said as he bowed in the customary Imperial fashion.

"No, no child. We thank you for taking up this dangerous journey for our little pack. Here, take this," she said as he reached up to the top of her staff. She unlaced a rope of feathers and handed the now bare staff to Elliot.

Elliot did not know what to say. He stood there, just staring at the staff in his hands. Its surface was smooth and worn from use. There were small nicks and scratches about the staff, not hiding its years of service. It wasn't heavy, but it was not of the lightest material either. It felt perfect in his hands, like it was made just for him. "Why are you giving me your staff?"

"The road is very uneven. We wouldn't want you falling over, now would we?" the Priestess joked with him. She smiled at him and gave him a little push towards where the others were waiting for him. "Now go, and may the Mother watch over you on your journey."

"And may the Gods bless your days and nights," Elliot responded and bowed again before leaving. Just before he met up with the two canines, he was stopped again. This time, one of the pups from the night before stood before him. He held out a leather satchel for Elliot to take.

"Here. Mother wants you to have," he said proudly as Elliot took the bag. He stood before the cat, his tail wagging happily behind him as Elliot slipped the strap over his shoulder.

Thinking quickly, he dumped the still warm rolls into his new bag and handed the basket to the boy. Elliot pet him lightly on his head and smiled, "Tell your mother that I am very grateful for her gift." The little pup giggled with glee as he ran off through the camp, holding the basket like a trophy and showing it off to the other pups.

Without anymore interruptions, Elliot met up with Eman and True Arrow. "Oh great. Now he has a staff. Is there a book of spells in your bag now too?!" Eman snorted; much animosity in his voice. Elliot flinched at Eman's words, but didn't respond. True Arrow noticed the hostility, but remained silent as well. Without another word, the troop left the safety of the camp and entered the dense forest.

The three traveled in awkward silence for many hours before Elliot broke the silence, "Why do you hate mages?" he asked the fox directly. Elliot still had no memory from the night at the inn, and wanted to know why Eman suddenly thought that he was some spell slinging mage.

"I don't 'hate' mages. I just don't trust magic, and I trust those who use it even less," Eman answered, shooting a hostile glare down at the boy.

Elliot gripped his new staff tightly and muttered, "I just don't understand why you distrust me now." He looked down at the ground to avoid looking Eman in the eye. Not wanting to be next to the angered vulpine any longer, Elliot jogged up ahead to walk with True Arrow. He glanced back over his shoulder once, but Eman wasn't glaring at him anymore. Now his eye was darting back and forth in between the trees.

"You sound as if you truly care what he thinks of you," True Arrow interrupted Elliot's thoughts. The wolf was looking down at the cat now. His eyes were not empty like they had been before they had left. Instead, now they seemed to be filled with care.

Elliot looked away from him, and couldn't help but blush at the thought of Eman liking him. He silently cursed his white fur for not being able to hide his emotions. "I-it's not like I really care what he thinks of me or anything," he sheepishly said.

Beside him, True Arrow just chuckled. He rest a kind hand on Elliot's shoulder. "Did you know, in my pack, those with white fur are revered? It is common practice that those of white, once they become of age, are immediately named Alpha. It is said that they are of pure spirit; that the Mother has blessed them. They cannot lead the pack astray, and are some of the strongest warriors and leaders. And this is historically true since the dawn of the pack."

Elliot looked up at True Arrow while he gave his little lesson. He didn't feel as bad as he had before. He gripped the wood of the staff and straightened his posture. He was more determined now to not let anybody down. He had a legacy to fulfill, and he was going to do it. True Arrow smiled as he watched the mood of the boy shift so rapidly from his tale. Even after the boy tripped on an exposed root and fell on his face, Elliot got right back up and shook himself off. He wasn't about to let anything stop him.

The three traveled along in the woods for hours. True Arrow was doing most of the talking; telling Elliot about his pack and its history. Eman stayed behind the two, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Suddenly, he stopped walking and his ears perked up. Elliot and True Arrow stopped as well, looking back at him. "The animals are silent," he stated quietly. It was just then that Elliot had noticed that it had become eerily quiet.

"We are nearing the heart of the forest," True Arrow said. He took his bow off his shoulder and quieted himself. Eman dropped the right blade from his sleeve and held it at the ready, blade pointed back. Elliot had no weapon to speak of, so he simply kept his eyes peeled for any movement.

They wandered deeper, and soon found themselves trekking through muddy and swampy ground. The air became thick with moisture, but lacked the natural sounds of crickets chirping and frogs croaking. The swamp in the middle of the forest was just as deathly silent as the areas around it. Everyone sensed that they were getting close to whatever it was that was plaguing the forest.

The water level continued to rise all the way to their waists as they ventured deeper in still. The trees grew denser and in numbers. A straight path was no longer an option as they weaved in and out of the trees, stumbling over hidden roots and rocks in the water. Several times, something slimy slithered past Elliot's legs, and he jumped clear out of the water, clinging to a low hanging branch of a nearby tree. Finally, True Arrow reluctantly agreed to carry Elliot upon his back through the rest of the swamp.

Up ahead, through the fog and trees, a small clearing could be seen. The three cautiously left the safety of the trees to examine the new surrounding. In the center of the clearing was a moss covered bit of ground raised above the water. The three quickly scampered up onto the ground and out of the murky water. The group scraped off the muck and mud that had clung to their pants and fur.

Only two things occupied the clearing; the small mound, and a very large tree which dominated the space. This single tree towered over all the others in the swamp, and even in the surrounding forest. Halfway up, the trunk of the tree split off into two, and floating in the middle of the divide shimmered a bright, green emerald. Eman spied the jewel before the other two, and he could feel his mouth begin to water at the sight of its beauty. Ignoring the mud on his legs, he reached into his shirt and pulled out two smaller blades from his vest. With the speed and agility native to foxes, he began to climb up the massive tree next to the mound, using the blades as handholds.

"What is that?" Elliot asked, standing back up and watching Eman climb the tree. The two watched Eman slowly make his way up the trunk of the tree. Thick rivers of dark brown sap bled from the holes in the tree left by Eman's knives. The two on the little mound were so entranced by the tree and the emerald, that they we not aware of the approaching danger in the water surrounding them.

Out from the dark water, a couple of slimy tentacles emerged, silent and swift. The two on the mound had no time to react as the tentacles wrapped around their ankles and lifted them off the ground. Ignoring the screams below him, Eman pressed on. His only thought was the giant emerald just a few meters above his head. Back down by the water, True Arrow had managed to get a single shot off, piercing the rubbery flesh of the tentacle assaulting him. It dropped him down into the water, and slithered off into the darkness itself. Now free from its grasp, True Arrow was free to help Elliot. With no sharp weapons of his own, Elliot was forced to hit his attacker with his staff. Over and over again he struck the thing with no effect. True Arrow raced over to where the tentacle emerged from the water. He reached to his quiver and pulled out a small, bone knife. He slashed straight through the arm width tentacle. Elliot and the cut half of the thing splashed down into the water.

Just then, a strange, foreboding bellow erupted from beneath their feet. Several more tentacles slithered up out of the water, surrounding the moss covered mound. Then, the mound began to shake and rise slowly out of the water. In a few, short moments, a giant creature stood before True Arrow and Elliot. The tentacles sprouted from the back of the enormous being, and they wiggled and waved about in the air above it. Its legs were short and squat and its arms were similar, though longer, and bearing sharp, foot long claws at the ends. The creature stood hunched over, and its entire torso seemed to be made of the ground it came from, and its limbs looked to be made of stone. Its head was similar in shape to a snapping tortoise, and its beady eyes were focused on the two before it.

"By the Gods!" was all Elliot could get out before the tentacles shot out from the creature's back and at the two. True Arrow and Elliot dived in opposite directions to avoid getting snared again. Up above them, Eman had perched himself on one of the lower branches, just feet beneath the emerald. He watched in amazement as the creature unburied itself.

"They can handle it," he muttered to himself. He turned his attention back to the emerald floating just above his head. It was emitting a soft light and a pleasant humming sound. It almost seemed to be calling his name as he reached up for it. It was mere centimeters from his hand. Eman strained himself, and tried in vain to stretch further. A single claw tapped against the smooth surface, and sent the emerald spinning slowly around in its orbit. "That's the ticket, just a little more." He reached up again, but the new motion of the jewel made it difficult to grab a hold of. Down below, the sounds of battle kept distracting Eman. "Damn it all!" he cursed as he reluctantly turned his attention back down to the swamp. The emerald would just have to wait.

True Arrow and Elliot jumped and dodged the incoming tentacle strikes. They swatted at the ones that got close with bow and staff. True Arrow had sunk three arrows into the belly of the creature with no effect. They simply stuck into it as if they had been jammed into the ground. Elliot had tried to get close to it once, but the thing was swifter than it looked. It struck at the ground where he had been standing just a moment before with one of its clawed hands. Things were getting desperate for the crew. The beast seemed impenetrable, and they couldn't get close enough to try anything else.

Eman sat crouched high up in the tree above the battle. He watched the scene for a moment before reaching into his satchel and bringing forth a handful of small, red orbs. He flung the orbs down onto the creature below, and they exploded upon impact with its back. Eman leapt without hesitation down towards the bellowing thing below him. The back of the beast was smoldering as the mosses burned from the explosions. Eman landed on the beast's back with a very audible cracking sound. He grimaced at the pain and rolled off of its back before it could swat him away. He splashed into the water and floated over to the edge of the clearing where he leaned against a tree.

The monster was still reeling from the attack from above. It staggered backward as it tried to reach to its back. The fire and explosions had blown and burnt off the tentacles there, limiting its attacks and range now. True Arrow took advantage of the lull in its attacks to take aim. With a swift and accurate shot, he placed an arrow in the throat of the beast. This surprised the monster as it now tried to clutch at its throat. A thick, viscous liquid poured from the wound, but the thing still stood, and was now making its way towards them. Still nothing seemed to be working. And even worse; new tentacles began sprouting from its back.

Eman caught his breath as he leaned heavily against the tree. He couldn't think of anything more to do. If an arrow directly in its throat couldn't stop it, nothing would. He didn't want to have to resort to it, but it looked like there were no options left. He propped himself against the tree, favoring his right leg. Making sure the others were distracted, he slowly reached up and lifted the eye patch from his face. His left eye opened in a flash as it was freed from its prison. The left eye was a stark opposite from his right. The sclera was pitch black, while the iris was white. The pupil was an indescribable color and shape as it was constantly shifting and changing. Using this eye, Eman examined the monster. Time seemed to slow for him while he studied the thing. Its motions were barely crawling, along with those of his companions. The world's colors turned to a pale grey, save for a few living things hiding here and there. Both True Arrow and Elliot glowed a warm green color. But the monster showed nothing. That is, until it let out another howl. A faint, red glow could be seen from down the thing's gullet.

With this, Eman put the eye patch back over his eye and steeled himself. Ignoring the pain in his leg, he waded through the water as fast as he could manage. He made it in front of his companions, in between them and the monster. Reaching into his satchel again, he pulled out another red orb, but before he could toss it, a tentacle shot out from the back of the beast and wrapped itself around his wounded leg. Eman screamed in pain as it lifted him from the water. It whipped him around, snapping the fracture in his leg. White bone protruded from the drenched fabric of his pants. The beast sent an exploratory tentacle into his pants, and into the opening in his leg, coating everything in a thick slime before tossing him to the side when it was bored of him.

Eman had dropped the small orb as he was lifted, and True Arrow saw where it floated in the murky water. He picked it up and lobbed it towards the creature, hitting it square in the face. It let out a blood curdling screech as fire engulfed its head. As the smoke cleared, the monster let out a howl of pain and anger. Just as its death roar reached its peak, Elliot's staff flew swiftly through the air, jamming itself straight down the beast's throat. Elliot had been waiting for a moment to do anything to help, and he saw the opportunity. He threw the staff with all his might, and his aim was true.

But still it was not enough. It confused the beast, but did not stop it. It sent out a tentacle to grab Elliot now. He shut tight his eyes and lifted his arms to protect his face. But as he did so, he felt something odd surge through him, and through the swamp around him.

He slowly opened his eyes as nothing happened for a few moments. As he opened them, he was astounded at what he saw. The whole world seemed to have been frozen in time. What's more, his arms held out before him were no longer white, but pure black. And he noticed the strange symbols writhing about on his body now too. But that wasn't what held his attention the most. Floating in the air before him were more of the strange looking lines and scribbles, similar to what was on his body. The symbols flickered about as if made of smoke and light at the same time. He reached out to touch one, and it evaporated like mist as his fingertips made contact. It appeared a moment later in the same place, as if nothing were different.

It was as if he had been transported to a different world. Elliot didn't know what to make of everything. He couldn't move his feet. It felt like they had grown roots that led deep into the ground, and a strange sort of power wafted up through the ground and into his veins and bones. He looked around him at the swampy land, and then at the unstoppable monster. The putrid smell of burning swamp reminded him of a funeral pyre he had once attended as a young kit. The second he thought of that, everything snapped back to reality. The tentacle that had been coming for him was still stopped in its tracks, and the monster's face twisted into shock and pain. Fire erupted from out of its throat and a scream like no other filled the swamp. Soon, the entire beast was ablaze. It staggered back and forth, flailing wildly. One of its massive arms swung around and smacked the giant tree, knocking the still spinning emerald from its stationary position, and it fell unnoticed into the swampy water below.

After a few minutes of unbearable screaming, the monster quieted down and stood still in the water as the flames consumed the rest of its body. As the fire died down, the body of the creature fell backwards into the water, limp and lifeless. Once Elliot was positive the thing was dead, he ran over to where Eman had landed. He was propped against a tree, moaning in pain as he tried to keep his leg out of the dirty water. True Arrow waded over to join them, and as he did, another strange thing happened. The water in the swamp began to bubble uncontrollably, as if something had just been lifted from it.

Up from the bottom of the swamp, several bodies floated to the surface. Some were wolves from the pack, others were more foreign. One in particular stood out to True Arrow. He waded over to the body, and turned it face up to be sure it was who he thought. He bowed in respect to the passing of his father, the Alpha. While Elliot was tending to Eman, and helping him get up out of the water, True Arrow moved over to the body of the thing. He used his small knife to hack off one of the claws from the creature, and to recover Elliot's staff which was untouched by the magical flames. Untying his loincloth, he used the leather string to fasten the claw to the top of the staff, making a spear out of it.

"Arrow!" Elliot yelled for the wolf. "We need to get him back!" Elliot was trying to support Eman's weight as best he could, but he needed help in order to actually move him anywhere.

Arrow returned, holding out the spear for Elliot. "Here, this is yours. Your staff, and your trophy from the kill," he said plainly before moving to Eman's side and holding him up. Elliot grabbed the spear and used it to help hold them up. He didn't care what he did, or how he did it. All that was on his mind was getting Eman back to the pack and get him some help.

The three of them limped back through the swamp, and through the forest. Everything seemed calmer on their return trip. It was as if a veil of darkness had been lifted, and life was returning to everything around them.

They made it back to the camp after nightfall. At first, their approach was treated with notched arrows, but as soon as they came into the light, the entire camp erupted into life. Eman was immediately escorted off by a couple of females, and Arrow and Elliot were led into the Priestess's tent.

"You're back!" she exclaimed. She jumped up from her seat and ran as best she could to True Arrow. She embraced him in a tight hug, and he returned the embrace.

"I'm sorry grandmother. Father is dead," Arrow told her. He held onto her even tighter after he spoke those words, and small tears began to well up in his eyes. But he did not let them fall.

The Priestess was not as strong. She let her tears fall freely from her eyes as she held onto her grandson. "That is ok child. It was not your fault," she comforted him. After a few moments of tenderness, it was all back to business. The Priestess looked over at Elliot, and at the new addition to his staff. "What in the name of the Mother is that?!"

Arrow and Elliot proceeded to tell her the story of their trek through the forest and swamp, and of the evil creature that lurked there. She told them that they had most likely run into a Swamp Demon, and that they can only be summoned by a very powerful magic user. After their story was through, the Priestess shooed them out of her tent and commanded that they go get some well deserved rest. Celebrations and mourning could begin after the sun had risen.

Elliot wandered over to the tent they had taken Eman. A female at the entrance told him he could enter, but not to disturb his slumber. He needed rest to help heal his leg. He entered the tent as saw Eman lying on a thick fur blanket, completely nude. His leg had a wooden splint holding it in place, and some kind of giant leaves were wrapped around the opening itself. They secreted some kind of sap or liquid that smelled awful, but it was supposed to help the wound heal faster.

Elliot lay down next to him and gently wrapped an arm over his chest. It only took a moment before the exhausted boy's eyes closed, and he fell into a peaceful sleep. Eman had awoken when Elliot had entered, but didn't say anything for fear of worrying the poor boy further. And as the boy lay down and snuggled against him, he couldn't help but smile.