The Wicked Walk On Every Side

Chapter 18

a/n: would y'all be interested in a discord just for my writing? am i even popular enough to ask that question? idk guys, let me know. This story is also on ao3 (the superior fanfiction platform) and ff.net (even though only like, one person reads my stuff on there) as well. :)

a/n (from like seven hours later): I made a discord server!!! Come and talk to me about stuff!!!

https://discord.gg/5fUCyEzXq5

~

The night air was cooler than Wolfbane had expected it to be. He had thrown on his sweatshirt before leaving the dorm, but still, the wind sliced through his body down to the bone.

Maxentius, who was walking alongside Wolfbane in a silence almost as cold as the night air, had at least thrown on his winter cloak (though it was not yet winter) to serve as protection against the wind. The cloak in question was made from a deep indigo wool, and, from the little peaks that Wolfbane could see of it, the inner lining was made from something akin to silk. The bronze fastenings glittered at the base of Maxentius' elegant throat, reflecting the pale moon.

The third member of their investigating trio was several paces ahead of Wolfbane and Maxentius. Aster, unlike the other two, was not wearing anything to protect them from the frigidity. Not even a heavier shirt. The only thing that they had was their satchel, which they were clutching to their chest with a certain fierceness.

"Aster, I hate to be a bother, but you still have not explained just exactly why we're traipsing down to the forest in our pajamas." Maxentius said with dripping sarcasm.

Aster only hazarded a quick, almost panicked, look back at Maxentius before speeding up. Wolfbane picked up his pace, and Maxentius followed suit.

"You will find out when we get there, I promise." Aster called back to them, and clutched their satchel tighter against their chest.

Both Wolfbane and Maxentius had tried to get Aster to tell them why they were going to the forest (whose name was Forbidden), at such a late hour, but they had refused and told the two boys the same thing: They Would Find Out When They Got There.

Maxentius huffed, but continued following along nonetheless.

Wolfbane supposed that the thrill of a mystery outweighed the long walk in Maxentius' mind. Wolfbane, however, wasn't sure that he would have braved the darkness had his worry for Aster not overridden his fear.

They weren't acting like they normally would. Wolfbane has never seen them so spacey, for lack of a better word. Although Wolfbane supposed that wasn't absolutely true. It was more like Aster was on a one track focus that they couldn't shake. For the past half-hour at least, the only thing that Aster would talk about (if they talked at all) was The Thing In the Forest. The Thing that had shaken Aster's so much that they couldn't even stand to describe it to him and Maxentius.

They Would Find Out When They Got There.

Up ahead, Wolfbane could finally see the horizon of the Forbidden Forest. The moon, forever regal in the night sky, shone down on the tops of the trees and highlighted the red leaves. In the pale light, they looked more similar to drops of blood than fall leaves. Wolfbane shivered.

Maxentius brushed the back of his hand against Wolfbane's and leaned in closer to him.

"Do you want my cloak?"

Wolfbane fully grabbed Maxentius' hand, and felt much better once he had done so.

"Won't you be cold, though?" At this, Maxentius rolled his eyes, but the action was with mirth and not malice.