Decidedly Not Starving...Together

Chapter Two

Wilson woke as the sun rose in its eerily swift way, the dawn lasting what felt like only a few minutes while the world transitioned rapidly from blue to red to the colors of full daylight. No matter how exhausted, he never could manage to sleep in. Staggering from the tangle of furs that kept him warm, he exited the small tent. His eyes squinted against the light but soon settled on the scene before him.

As soon as he could focus, his eyes locked on the tall figure laying prone at the other side of the fire pit, the pit itself in smouldering ashes. "...Fell asleep on the job..." Wilson muttered as he neared the sleeping figured his eyebrow raising as he noticed some strange darkness around the lower half of the man's face. Did he snoop around and find a stash of food, helping himself while Wilson slept in ignorant trust of the man?

No, he hadn't. The truth became apparent when he leaned over Maxwell's figure. There was no trace of savagely eaten food around his mouth but dark, crusted rivers of blood trailing from his nostrils and the corners of his mouth. A rush of alarm flooded Wilson as he dropped to a knee, giving Maxwell's shoulders a shake.

"Maxwell! Maxwell what happened?!" His eyes darted from the man to their surroundings. The camp was quiet now, but that didn't mean whatever attacked him wasn't lurking nearby.

Maxwell shifted, his face contorting in pain before his body heaved in a fit of dry coughing, the blood cracking and flaking from his lips and chin. He groaned, curling his body as he weakly tried to sit up. He could feel the deep aches and bruise along his ribs and marveled that he could still manage to breathe.

"What happened?" Wilson insisted once more, his face dire as he watched the other man attempting to compose himself.

"I-" Maxwell trailed off, his eyes fixed on the ground in front of him, "I don't know. I must have dozed off, let the fire get too low."

"You let the fire die?!" Wilson's eyes flared with shock before settling into a glare. "What were you thinking? You've been here long enough to know how dangerous the darkness is! You're lucky you're alive, and I'm lucky you managed to save the fire!"

Maxwell in spite of his pain still managed to meet Wilson's eyes with a glare of his own. The desire to dispute his chastisement burned in his throat. He wanted to tell the man he knew exactly what he was doing when he sought out the creature that lurked in the darkness, but he bit his tongue. This man didn't need to know about...her. Let her be some faceless terror to him.

At any rate, Wilson was correct about one thing. He was lucky to be alive. Her power over the shadows surpassed even his own at least when it came to brute strength.

"I know, I know," he hand waved Wilson's scolding, "I thought I could make it the night through. I was, apparently, wrong. Not much we can do about it now."

Wilson huffed indignantly though even he understood the state Maxwell was in. If they were to survive together, he would need to medicate the man. And that meant, as far as he knew, spending the day hunting.

"I'll need to be out most of the day. I know where a few spider dens are, and I'll need to gather supplies if we're going to get you on your feet. Right now, you're next to useless so I'll be making the trip alone." He didn't hide the bitterness in his voice. The idea of risking his neck to heal the man who not only put himself in this predicament thanks to a novice mistake but was the cause of their suffering here in the first place had him doubting if he should help the man at all. The only saving grace for Maxwell was that he knew this world better than anyone, that and a second set of hands could only help their odds of surviving.

Maxwell felt a seething anger in him as Wilson attacked his capabilities though it was hard to dispute. He couldn't be much help in the more dangerous parts of the Constant while he struggled to breathe without pain. Yet he couldn't fight the desire to prove himself more competent than he had been presumed, to protect his damaged pride.

As Wilson prepared for his venture, Maxwell clamored stiffly to his feet, dusting off his coat and trousers. He scouted the ground around him, spying what he was looking for and quickly scooping it into his hands. He dusted the simple cover of the book loosing dirt from the prominent "M" engraved across it.

"Here," Maxwell called to the scientist, catching his attention. With eyes now on him, he allowed the process to begin. Holding out a long hand, he felt the energy within him begin to flow and touch the book. Soon it lifted from his arms, hovering in the air just below his hand and flipping open, the pages turning with powerful intent. He began muttering under his breath, speaking low and swiftly in Latin and words more ancient than even that. From the ground before him, a shadow began to form and rise, soon taking the shape of himself.

Wilson looked on with great interest as he worked, wondering how something like this was possible. It didn't seem scientific but perhaps it was just a form of science he had yet to fully grasp? The figure took the shape of it's maker, a Maxwell wielding a sword, a shadow that at once seemed to have too many dimensions and not enough, something that didn't seem to exist properly in their space. It reminded him of the long nights when the shadows seemed to come alive and his mind buzzed in pain.

"What's this now?"

"Take him with you," Maxwell responded simply, "He can cover for you for a time."

Wilson looked at Maxwell and the shadow he conjured for what felt like far too long, taking them in, weighing his options. Could he trust this shadow to protect him? Or would it turn on him? Was this a trick being played by his old enemy?...But, this enemy was in no shape to betray, right? He could hardly stand. How long could he last on his ow-

"Go on!" Maxwell insisted, "You're burning daylight staring like that. I'll wait here and...find something to busy myself with."

Wilson snapped from his thoughts and gave a nod. "Alright, but you best stay close. I'll be back before nightfall." He looked to the shadow which seemed to step close to him as if awaiting command. It send a shudder down his spine but all the same, he turned to the wilderness and began leading it on their mission.