Hollow

Chapter 9: The Living Forest

"Do you think they miss us?" Dumaine asks. "Oh, poor Silla must be simply devastated by the absence of my company. I don't know if she'll be able to survive without us," he chuckles as he walks.

Etho looks ahead from atop the peryton's back, looking over Llwell's shoulder. "The paladin, poised, poisoned, scattered pieces always feeling broken was finally happy when we left. I'm glad we could help her."

Llwell snickers and shakes his head. They've been travelling for a few days already, mostly trying to avoid any towns between Ayiolas and The Living Forest so as to not be delayed. If horrors are drawn to negativity, they would likely gravitate towards more populated areas. It's safer to go around.

"I'm only worried we won't be able to find the Duke," Llwell says and gives Gwyn a gentle stroke over the side of her neck. "Or if we do, it'll already be too late to save him."

Dumaine rolls his eyes and chuckles. "Yes yes, that's something to worry about. However, my biggest concern as of this moment is if these boots will last me an entire walk through The Living Forest. Maybe it would be easier if you both could, you know, make room for a third strapping man atop that great large beast?" he sidles a bit closer to the peryton carrying Llwell and Etho.

The boy tilts his head and looks down. "We... aren't strapped down."

Gwynnestri snorts and Llwell shrugs with a grin. "Sorry, Dumaine. Gwyn's not one for trusting people easily. It takes time and patience," he says.

"She seems to like Etho just fine," the mage huffs.

Etho nods with a small smile. "She likes apples."

"We're here," Llwell says and pulls Gwynnestri to a gentle halt. They all look to the road ahead to see that a couple paces in front of them stands the immense wall of trees that stretch farther into the sky than trees anywhere else. The magic buzzing through the air, resonating with the energy in the peryton and the elf astride her. The moss and vine covered statues of wolves and elk making an archway at the end of the road that marks the start of The Living Forest.

Etho peeks over the elf's shoulder to stare at the entrance to the forest. "Tall, towering, untouched by darkness, death, and desolation. Gatekeepers guarding the great wilds, wilderness, scouting the woods for those unwelcome, the red knights, mages, magisters who would see them in chains," the boy vanishes and reappears in front of Gwynnestri and Llwell slides off her side. "Beautiful, safe sanctuary also dangerous, deadly, perilous by design for the undeserving. We must be careful."

Dumaine clears his throat and crosses his arms. "How so very... quaint," he turns to Llwell. "Are you sure it's not too late to go around?"

"It'll be fine, Dumaine. We hopefully won't even run into any of the clans. I know the hunter's paths that avoid the main roads through the forest. Just let me take lead. If any clan scouts spot us, let me do the talking," the elf lays out the strategy, and he starts thinking about anything else that might be important to note before going in, but his train of thought is interrupted as he notices Etho starting to walk towards the forest.

"Calm. Whistling leaves rustle with life. Longing, love, limitless bounds of nature, light driving back the dark. Don't let me be nothing. Don't drive me back," the boy mumbles to himself as he reaches the stone archway.

"Etho, wait," Dumaine chases after him and catches his arm before he can take the next step which would carry him into the forest. Llwell and Gwynnestri join them.

Etho stops and lowers his head. "I can feel it. Tingling, touching, taking away what will return on the other side. Darkness driving, diving into the deep, the creaking trees casting their light, tethers binding, winding, wishing to keep the forest safe from creatures like me."