A Sew Through Time [Banbudh And Budbak]

23: The run!

Heavy fog descended over Badri's face, making him sneeze. Getting up, he rubbed his eyes and stared at his feet. A slight pain developed in his ankles; his knees were bruised. His eyes scanned the new surroundings around him, finding himself in the middle of a forest. Dark brown trunks towered high above his head and disappeared into the white sky. The grass was dewy, making his palms feel wet. He stood up, his balance regaining back to his legs and began walking along the serpentine trail which disappeared into the bushes.

"Budh!"

Her voice echoed, for a moment he felt the trees were imitating him.

"Khushi!"

The scream faded into the emptiness. Feet feeling heavy, his mind failed to grasp reality. Halting at the edge of the greenery, he noticed the trail had disappeared. His eyes darted around to observe the terrific yet dreamy view. The cliffs and ranges were adorned by the fog, the cloudy white sky staring magnificently. He felt familiar when he heard a shrill screech in the sky. Looking up, he noticed eagles circling on top of him; some swooped down into the cliff and flew up till they disappeared into the thick clouds. He continued screaming for his friends, growing worried for their safety. An image of Khushi standing near the bizarre looking portal flashed in his mind, and of Budh desperately fighting to hold on to them.

His eyes welled up. The search was proving to be fruitless. For a moment, he wished another voice replied back to him, anyone.

Returning back to the forest, the trail showed itself at sight. He stumbled in a clearing where a dried log laid in the middle accompanied by a few hedges. Feeling tired, he sat down on it, thinking hard on how to find them. The seminar lady's words repeated in his mind over and over, he could not find a connection of asking about her sister to Khushi. It made no sense. He felt she was lying to catch their attention and prevent them from helping her. Looking around, he developed a plan in his mind when the bushes nearby made a rustle.

He turned towards the sound, sensing something,

'Who's there?!"

It stopped. But his suspicion did not. Standing up, he concentrated on his sight and audibility and picked up the sound again, this time behind him.

He spun around, finding nothing.

"Are you two pulling a prank on me?!"

There was no answer.

"Hey this is not funny!"

The trees stood still, the fog proving too difficult to him. Narrowing his eyes, he saw a few bushes moving.

"S-Stop it!" He stuttered.

Eagles began to screech in the sky. He dared not to look up, remembering how his mother had once told him they picked out eyeballs into their beaks if one stared for a prolonged time. But the grew screech unbearable, several of them making it at the same time. Covering his ears, he ran towards the bushes. The foliage was too thick than he had expected it to be at first. His eyes strained to see in the dark when he caught a glimpse of something moving.

"There you are!" He felt relieved, grabbing the thing, expecting it to be one of his friend's hair. But the texture felt too different, the strands were replaced by soft velvety fur. An alignment of bones moved underneath the skin, making him recoil his hand. The dark thing rose from the bushes and straightened itself, it's head in the clouds. His eyes darted up, dread settled on his faltering reason. Her chest began to pound as he stood aghast at the thing in front of him.

The thing looked down at him. The six pairs of oval yellow eyes descended down on the ground and watched him curiously, its black slit watching him and the reflection of his sweaty face. The giant black tail oscillated from side to side.