Cult of the Lamb : The Man in the Forest

Chapter 44: Heretics, Part Two: Anura

Upon exiting Darkwood, Merida and Narinder made their way across to Anura's Door. When they stepped though, they were greeted with an abundance of fall foliage. The scent of decaying plant life, fungi, and wet earth filled the chilly air. The trees were a fiery ensemble of yellows, reds, and oranges. Not all were beautiful though, for a fair few were imbued with wretched souls, damned to live within their bark, their faces contorted into looks of torment. Beyond that though... It was a pretty place. The dead leaves crunched beneath their feet as they walked. In the distance, they could hear the croaks of massive frogs, Anura's main inhabitant. The last time Merida had been in Anura, she nearly died. Being back again sent a shiver up her spine. When she looked over at Narinder, she was a little surprised to see that he was watching her. She guessed he was gaging her reaction to being back. Merida couldn't blame him for it. After all, she already proved that she didn't handle trauma well. She looked away from him, on towards the path ahead. Even as her eyes cast elsewhere, she could feel his gaze fixed on her. Finally, he spoke his concern.

"Are you alright...?" He asked, freeing his sickles from his belt.

"Yeah, it's been a while." She shrugged to prove how unaffected she was.

"You are tense."

"You're one to talk." Merida sighed. Just like the beginning of Darkwood, Narinder was showing signs of caution verging on paranoia. "I'll be fine." She promised. "I'm not going to freak out or anything." She meant it. While the place was uncomfortable, it was not panic inducing.

"Very well... Keep on your guard."

"I will." She said and pushed aside a low hanging branch to enter a clearing. The first set of enemies they passed were simple. A few hoppers, a burp hopper, and a radial fire worm. Nothing they couldn't handle with ease. The next few clearings went this way, it seemed the heretics were lurking deeper in the Domain than usual.

They had just killed off the last hopper of what had to be dozens by that point when Merida noticed Narinder staring off towards the path ahead with a thoughtful expression.

"What is it?" She asked, trusting his keen instincts over her own.

"It is..." He began slowly, his ears twitching as he listened in on their surroundings. "It is odd that we have not faced any heretics yet..." He said finally, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

"It is." Merida agreed. "They were acting weird in Darkwood too." She added, "What was with that first encampment? It was weird that they were all gathered so close to the entrance like that... We haven't faced anything like it again either."

"I was thinking the same." He sighed. "Hm... Strange... I suppose all we can do is remain vigilant. Perhaps they are holding some form of ceremony closer to my sister's temple."

"I hope not." Merida sighed. While she could not recall the images of murder and sacrifice that had plagued her, she knew they had been there and how much pain they caused her. She had absolutely no interest in encountering such things again. The two continued on along the next path without further comment. Narinder readied his sickles as they neared the next clearing. Just as they were about to enter he paused with a confused expression. Merida understood why, the scent of sizzling sausages had drifted towards them. While Narinder was confused, Merida felt a jolt of excitement. Without explanation, she pushed past the foliage and entered the clearing with a grin. As expected, her grandmother's cart stood tall at the center. The woman herself was sat in front of her fire, turning plump sausages over an iron grill. She looked up and grinned brilliantly.

"O what surprise!"

"Nana!" Merida greeted the woman happily and rushed over to give her a hug.

"How my heart leaps to see you, girl!" She laughed, patting her back. Merida chuckled as she was released. "Ah, sit, sit, sit. Nana has made plenty." The woman insisted. Merida looked back, preparing to make an introduction. But, no one was there. Forneus noticed Merida's confusion and leaned over to look in the same direction. Merida sighed, evidently Narinder wasn't keen to meet the woman..."You're not alone?" She asked.