Break

Chapter Four: The Rogue Woman of Lazla Forest

The first thing that Erebus felt was cool liquid in his mouth. He opened his eyes and found someone pouring water into his mouth. She was in human form, like him, with brown, almond-shaped eyes and frizzy, black hair. She was old, the grey streaks in her hair were a clear indication of that. She looked into his eyes, knowing he was awake.

"Purple eyes, black hair, strong build ..." she brushed a few strands of his hair out of his eyes. "A Glazgon. The prince, correct?"

"How do you know?" he rasped, his voice still sore from his earlier lack of water.

"Your escape was reported. The planet knows of it. What other Glazgon would be out here, hiding, with food? I could tell you had been unsuccessful in finding water." She passed him a two cow skins filled with the clear liquid he had so desperately sought out the previous night. "I am not surprised. Water lies outside the forest. This place is dependent on rain. The trunks of the trees are far too hard to break through, even with the talons of Glazgon."

"What type of trees are they?" he asked, looking around.

"They call them lazla trees," she said. "Everything around here shares that name. Lazla Forest, Lazlaville, all named after Sir Murphmii La -"

Erebus cut her off. "Excuse me, but did you say Lazlaville?"

"The village on the other side of this forest, yes," she confirmed. "I grew up there, but now I live in this forest. It has a comforting atmosphere."

"Not to me," Erebus mumbled.

"You have not seen the evils of the world," she said. "I have. This forest has none. You may think you have seen evil before. I am sure you have, considering you have run away from the place where most of your kind would never dare flee from. You have been pushed to leaving that place, haven't you? Your un-Glazgon-like behaviour struck me as most peculiar. I was sure you would have tried to strangle me to death now."

"I'm not that sort," said Erebus quickly. "I'm not like the others."

"I have noticed," she said. "These 'others' which you speak of ... never have I come face-to-face with a Glazgon. The stories of the days where they liked to prowl all across the planet ... I have heard many a story of a gruesome death, especially of my kind."

"What is your kind?" Erebus asked. "I've never met a non-Glazgon before. Your eyes are scary."

She laughed. "Oh, sweetie, I think if any other species on this planet was to look at the two of us side-by-side, they would recognise your typical Glazgon eyes and run for their lives, I am sure. I am of mankind."

"Human? You mean - you mean to say that this body is your natural?"

"And my only," she nodded. "I am sure you have been taught we are the species with the highest intelligence that is incapable of shapeshifting, yes?"

Erebus nodded. "Well, what's your name, then?"

"They call me Mad Old Maddy. You may call me whatever you please, Prince Erebus."

"Prince," Erebus shuddered.

"You dislike your title?"

"Reminds me I'm next in line to the throne," he explained.

"No more, though," Maddy smiled. "You have declared your freedom. You have broken away from all that."

"Do you think my actions were reckless?" he asked.

"Oh, yes," she said seriously. "It may just be the downfall of the Glazgons."

"But that's good news."