Jay's Journey

Chapter 2

It turns out, escaping the law by surviving a magical monster didn't take many of Jay's problems away. Or the group's. The horse drawn cart hadn't been moving fast, but it had been moving at about a brisk walking pace. So, they didn't get back to the village that day, and they instead had to settle for sleeping on the softest patch of dirt they could find within the woods.

Due to prior experience in the forest, they knew not to go far. No one on the path would be able to see them, despite the fact their secret hiding place was simply a bush.

"So, how we gonna get food?" Vayen wondered.

"Well, once we get into the town, I'm sure we could steal something. Or, at least I can, I'm not sure about the both of you." Zira answered.

"Uh, I think I can, but uh, I got caught doing it so... maybe not." Jay added.

"How long were you doing it before you got caught?" Zira wondered.

"Uh, 'bout three months I think." Jay answered.

"Maybe not then. Vayen, I mean this in... You know what, no, Vayen, I don't think you're capable of the subtlety required to pickpocket or steal." Zira said.

"Hmmph, least I wasn't useless when there was a fuckin' magical monster attacking us." Vayen muttered in response, although it was clearly audible thanks to his louder way of talking.

"I request elaboration."

"I tried to fight the thing, and it stopped moving towards us for a sec, Jay pulled out fucking magic and poofed the thing, but you just stood back and screamed 'bout how dumb and useless you were." Vayen answered.

"Vayen, had you been able to possess any semblance of subtlety, intelligence, or respect, we wouldn't have had to fight a magical monster at all." Zira pointed out.

"Well we're not in a fuckin' jail so you're welcome!" Vayen shouted.

"It uh, I don't really think it matters." Jay murmured.

"The hell you mean? Sure does! Besides, if you're so damned good at stealing, howdja end up in that cage?!" Vayen shouted.

"How I ended up in there is none of your business, Vayen. The one thing I am willing to tell you is that it's not because I'm bad at stealing." Zira answered.

"Oh, yeah, sure!" Vayen shouted.

"You don't believe me?" Zira asked.

"Nah, why would I? 'I promise I'm not bad at stealing' useless bitch." Vayen spat.

"Vayen! Don't say that!" Jay said, finally amassing the courage to speak up.

"Look at you Jay, bein' quiet and neutral and bullshit and then always takin' Zira's side. Yeah what fucking ever." A moment of silence passed where they were all too agitated, bewildered, or confused to say anything.

"Goodnight?" Jay asked.

"Nah, fuck that."

"Goodnight, Jay."

While the forest had been unnervingly quiet throughout the whole day, it seemed to come alive during the night. It was darker than any darkness Jay had ever experienced, so it was difficult for him to tell whether his eyes were opened or closed.

The forest was alive with bugsong as well as countless other sounds. The bushes all around rustled as small creatures scurried through the undergrowth. Occasionally, there would be a distant howl or hiss. But most alarming of all were the sounds that sounded uncomfortably human. They sounded like shouts or laughs, but they were uncanny and stilted, an indiscernible kind of wrong that made Jay's skin itch.