Creus(Full Book)

Part 19

They sat around the burning fire. Their eyes shifted, going past the flames, and into the fire. David huddled in the cold, looking at the shifting rivers and lakes that blocked their paths. A log floated past him. It would make a good raft. A good raft that would carry him away to warmth and comfort. But it tumbled into the eddy's and waterfalls, rolling in the streams, and shooting into the air before being broken by rocks.

"I'll get some more firewood", said Darrell, who strode into the forest.

'I'll go too", David shivered and shuddered.

He trudged through leaves, and picked up fallen twigs. Above him, the trees shaded him from moonlight. He stepped on moss, and bounded over the river through stones. Darrell walked nearby, breaking off branches, and adding them to a pile nearby.

"It's fine", Darrell nodded, "Salgon isn't near here."

"Salgon, and the Abyss... They're near, but I shiver only because of the cold."

"When we get this firewood back, you'll get some warmth"

"Then, all I need is time...", David shivered, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Here", Darrell gave David his pile of wood, "You take this, go back, and set the fire. I'll get the rest of the wood myself. Then, you'll get some warmth."

"Alright", David took it, and walked away. Darrell said goodbye.

He bumped past the stumps, stepped over fallen trees, and walked into the full moonlight. Osmond took his wood, and set it ablaze. They cooked bread and soup over it, and David warmed his hands over it, and rested his head against the grass. Darrell came back with a pile of logs and set them into the fire. Then, they all slept.

They woke up for another walk up the mountain. They'd taken a shorter path that Rickman assured would go faster. The ground grew loose and turned into sand. Regular weather, no grass, no trees, while the sun reflected rays of orange. Paths of red brick led them further into Pnoaphales. The heat turned into an inferno, overwhelmed them, whilst it distorted space with an invisible haze. They stopped and ran under the shade. They lay under the boughs and drank their water. The sun shone above, and blue skies lay above them while the sand roasted his toes and the wind whipped into his eyes. The trees swayed and leaned in slow waves that shook their leaves. They drank water to keep themselves cool as they waited for the sun to dip under the world.

Rickman stood up, stepping to the cliff they lay near. Beneath, he heard the sounds of fire blazing. He saw pallid grey cover Rickman's face. He turned away, closed his eyes, and opened them again. Rickman towered over the tree, no longer in human shape, and lumbered to them.

"Rickman", Darrell backed away, "Run for your lives! Run! Run!"

David ran from the sight, but saw that cliffs surrounded them all around. Rickman lifted Darrell, and threw him into the Abyss. Darrell collided with the rocky walls, tumbling and tumbling. Bernard flew through the air like a dove, and glided into the pit. Osmond went headfirst. Rickman pushed David as he yelled for help.

His vision faded away. He reached out but saw a red outline where Rickman stood. The thing that moved with many claws. Veins that pulsed out of its skin. Pallid tones, and empty eyes. It stared at him. That was all as light seeped from his eyes. He heard the sound of flames grow closer. Heat boiled his skin and his head bumped against a cliff wall, and...