Lone Wendy: The Girl and the Forest of the Gods (7 page)

“this is the best weapon for you” Daedan says, “a
spear reformed from a metal man we destroyed”

“Mecha?” I question, staring at the strange metal,
light and strong, supposedly indestructible. “so they can be
killed!” I exclaim in wonder.

“under the right circumstances, yes” Daedan says,
continuing “with a solid blow to the chest, they can be
defeated”

I twirl the spear through my fingers for a moment,
remembering the bandits destruction. Holding such a violent thing
almost sickens me, not at all a weapon made for a man, but for a
thoughtless monster.

As nightfalls he invites me to have dinner with his
family. I feel terribly grateful and accept. His hut is warm, and
his family kind. We eat and laugh, and the serious feeling of the
day fades.

***

The night is still and dark as I return to my cell,
the door left unlocked. It's strange, to have hated this hole in
the ground my entire stay, I suddenly feel a sadness in leaving it.
An heir of home. But maybe It's just the people that make it feel
that way. I can't say my stay has been a pleasant one, but it
wasn't bad. Growing up all I would ever hear about was the savage
men of the Mad Gods. Tales of terror, and murder. That's what I
expected. I expected savages, who would do all manner of terrible
things to me. That's not what I found. Sure they're different, but
really we're more the same.

My heart sank as I was escorted through the village.
My send off was a bit emotional, but mostly cold. Daedan took my
shoulder as though I were a child, and told me that I was always
welcome back, a gesture I was grateful for. Though I think that he
just wanted me to change my mind. And then there was the priests
goodbye, and parting words:

“Opportunities will always present themselves.
Sometimes when doors are opened, and others, when doors are
closed.”

I stare crooked at an old tree, and sigh. The tree
has three knots, and a cluster of roots that look like a massive
claw. This has got to be some kind of joke.

It's been weeks since I left the village. The guards
escorted me to the deepest part of the woods that they dared to go
and left me there on my own to take a short walk through what they
called the God Wall. A boundary of trees that marked the end of
Vicstaeres power and influence, and led into the lands of the other
Gods. I was skeptical staring into the shadowy wood where even the
bravest dared not go, but as I lost sight of the warriors a calm
washed over me, like a deep exhale after holding your breath for a
long time. It felt good to be on my own again. Nice to feel the
fresh air on my face with no one to enjoy it but me. My own special
little world. What doubt I had accumulated along my journey before,
was alleviated. I felt that I had been gifted a fresh start.

At first it was going well, I followed the map they
gave me, and made good time. Soon though it started to feel like
the trees were closing in on me. Then everything started to look
the same. The same forks, and paths. Circles and circles, the same
trails no matter which way I went. Endless days of the same.

And this old tree, I've seen it before too. I'm lost,
but at least I haven't been killed yet. Why did I ever trust those
people. Hmm, “trickster God”, I should have known.

***

It's easily been a week or more. Still lost, but now
proper lost. This forest is alive. I think the God is playing with
me. I swear the trees are moving behind my back, slinking in the
corners of my eye. I feel an unbelievable sense of confusion and
desperation. There is no fight to be had, no struggle to overcome.
Just days that sail by unceasingly in a mind bending swirl. It's
more then I can take, I grasp the Gods charm around my neck tightly
in my hands.

“stop toying with me, please just end this!” I
whisper as night falls.

***

The next day, I find myself still clomping my way
through the same dense brush. Coming out into a less dense area I
sigh and squat down to rest. A feeling of defeat as I see the same
clump of trees that I passed three days ago. My head drops, and I
feel as though I will never leave these woods. But as I lift my
head back up, I notice a faint pathway that wasn't there before.
Rushing up to follow it, I find myself in a field. Out of the woods
for the first time. The grass dying beneath my feet just beyond the
treeline.

'The land of another God.' I think to myself.

Looking back, to my shock, but not quite surprise,
the trees so familiar, are gone.

Loss is a theme I know well. I grew up always feeling
the outer emotion of it, even if I didn't ever know why. My mother
always emanated a certain aura of distance. Though she embraced me,
no one else could ever become close to her.

Every time she spoke to Wil, I know she felt
something for him, I think she may have even loved him. You could
see in her eyes a certain peace when he was around, but it was soon
followed by a stoney glare. One that can only come from a
significant loss.

She had a longing to love again, but had so loved my
father that when he left her abandoned it created an unbreakable
wall so sturdy, I'm not even sure if I ever truly penetrated it. It
always felt as though there were two of her, one her true self, and
the other a memory hurt and pained.

-Wendy

I'm still lost, nothing around like what I've seen on
their map, but it's soothing here. Though, there is a sadness that
permeates the wind. Every time I catch the breeze I feel a
heaviness in my heart, as though my world was constantly ending.
Loss. Hmm, maybe it's nothing.

This place is strange. Daedan said that there were
monsters, and beasts, but it's dead here. I've walked for maybe a
week, and not a thing. A lone bird singing a sad tune here and
there, but besides that, nothing. I can't believe that it's so
still here. Waiting. An atmosphere of being ready for something.
But what I don't know.

As I walk, I catch a scent on the wind. Fire!?!?
Smoke, like that from a wood stove. I run towards the scent,
slowing as it gets stronger. Over a hill, across a large field, a
house? A barn? It's wooden, and large. My first instinct is to run
towards it, but I calm myself and watch. My hand shakes, it's like
I can feel the blood crusted between my fingers again. The head
trauma, the gore. I'm not going to be as silly as I was when I was
hungry. But I can't let this go. The first thing I've seen in
weeks, smoke wafting from a chimney in a place so long forgotten. I
need to know, who or what this is.

I drop my pack in the roughage at the edge of the
woods so I can move quietly. I move slowly through the field,
stopping periodically to observe my surroundings. When I get nearer
to the structure I begin to fully comprehend the size. Not only
long and tall, but made with heavy thick wood as well. It's
certainly no cabin, and more well built than any barn. My heart
flutters as I close in, the old wooden windowless walls have an
ominous look to them. I slink around the outside along the edge of
the tall grasses hoping for a window, but no such luck. There are
only doors, most small, but also two large. Like barn doors, but
thicker, and open just a bit. I gaze in from afar, but can't see a
thing but darkness. I look around before moving in closer. Peering
in, the darkness melts away to dim torch light revealing a massive
hollow hall. A long chamber lined in doors resembling all of the
cliched descriptions of a dungeon.

I make my peace to leave, but the opening calls to
me. The purpose of this mysterious thing in a place so lost eats at
me. My curiosity drives me forward. I slink carefully through the
gap in the massive doors. Looking around inside the huge interior I
can only guess what's kept here. Stranger is the volley of heavy
doors that look to be made of solid metal. I walk past them, so
many, until I round a corner, and find more. The want and wonder
take me as I stare at them. Could I open one? What would happen if
I did? I find myself walking limply towards one, my hand gliding
over the large handle of one of them. Right as my hand grips the
cold handle, my hypnosis is broken. I stop as I notice flakes of
hay blustering about at the bottom of the door. Not like wind, more
like breathing. This was a terrible idea I suddenly realize as my
wits return. I compose myself in wonder for a moment before I hear
a huge slam, something's coming.

I try for the outside door as fast as I can, but
hearing creaking hinges and hard footsteps I know I can't make it.
Looking around quickly I dive behind some barrels in an alcove.
Steadying myself as a large form rises out of a doorway down the
hall. Tall and ominous, wearing a large cloak, and carrying a large
bucket. Going door to door, throwing something in, and slamming it
quickly. Closer and closer, my horror building as the doors open
and slam. The mysteries figure unidentifiable and strange. Right up
on me now, I can only hope it doesn't know that I’m here. The large
door before me opens with an ear breaking squeal. The things
armored hand rises a huge chunk of raw meat from the bucket, and
teeth and eyes tear it away before the door slams with a boom. I
know no words to describe the thing behind the door. The size of
it, whatever it is. Demon, or monster, or something else entirely.
I've had enough of this. Bad idea is an understatement.

I have to hold myself still, barely breathing, as the
tall form finishes the feeding, hoping to myself constantly that
one of those things doesn't get out. Finally, after what seems like
forever, I can see the shadow of its form pass back by. Looking
over the barrels, I feel relief as it disappears behind the door. I
give it a minute before I crawl out from behind the barrels,
careful at first I quickly pick up pace. Moving through the doorway
to the outside, I sigh to myself as I leave, looking in all
directions I begin to run for the tall grass. Turning a corner of
the building I stop, suddenly face to face with the thing. A tall
shadow with a metal face.

I stand in shock for a moment shaking, while it
towers over me supernaturally still. My lips begin to part, to
speak, when the cloak rolls off of its shoulder. A huge sword rises
with mechanical tick. A mecha?!?! I wonder for a moment, before
screaming uncontrollably, falling backward as it leaps at me,
moving as a flash of light. I barely have time to duck, feeling the
wind of its sword as it cuts the air above me. Without pause it
strikes at me again, the tremendous force of the enormous blade
nearly blowing me over as it sweeps past me. I dodge, and run
without hesitation, unbridled fear fueling my strides. It takes
after me, silent for how heavy it must be. I look back and see it
slowly getting farther away, it's quiet, but I guess it can't
run.

I close in on my supplies when I hear a loud whoosh.
I look back to see a glancing flash. A coldness emanates from its
sword as it suddenly soars past me, slamming into the earth
directly before me. I stop just short of cutting myself in half.
Turning to move around the huge blade I can see it from the corner
of my eye lunging for me. Its talon like steel fingers
outstretched, one of them manages to slice across my face as I fall
back. I catch my balance, it doesn't skip a beat. Yanking the sword
from the ground it moves swiftly in a blur throwing its cloak up to
hide its swing. I can't move out of the way in time. Instinctively
I grab my spear from the dirt. My arm rises, I feel the hit vibrate
down the shaft with a ghostly clang. My fingers rip open as my
spear flies away.

I fall, rolling backward in a daze, my arm still
shaking from the force of the hit. Quickly regaining my footing, it
comes at me again. I swing my arm around as though I had something.
It pauses briefly. Its cold face reading me. Its arm flinches to
strike, but it pulls back, bracing itself, and taking the blade up
in both hands. In shock I finally hear it, a pounding of the earth
and horrible roaring from the woods behind me. I leap blindly,
glimpsing at a flurry of fur and claws for only a moment as I fall.
Huge and two legged, some kind of monster barely misses me, and
thankfully engages it. Looking beyond the monster, more on the way.
Enough to keep it busy. I run quickly, recovering my spear and pack
before clawing my way up a hill. Reaching the top, I look back
briefly, just long enough to see most of the monsters dead, and
that thing cleave one of the massive beasts in two.

I saw a leaf fall today. That might not sound
significant, but it was the last leaf, on the last tree around. The
leaf landed with a thud. A soft, thundering death blow. It's
winter. I've successfully ignored the bone chilling wind, but this
tiny floating terror has convinced me. I have not a minute to
spare, maybe not even a second. If I don't find shelter, I'm going
to die.

-Wendy