Stay On the Path

Chapter 4

Instinct exists for a reason. Before philosophy, before conscious thought, there was only the animalistic need to survive at any cost. Sometimes we fight, and through sheer force of will we succeed. Sometimes we flee, and through great agility we whisk ourselves to safety. But other times, that instinct turns on us, and we find ourselves frozen to the spot, and met with a swift end. Instinct exists for a reason. It nurtures the strong, rewards the cunning, and kills the weak.

-Denerim Koontz

It wasn't a campfire. It was a ritual. Creatures unlike anything Judas had ever seen before danced and swayed over an earthen pit in the ground, great logs raised up in a pyramid shaped cluster and set ablaze, flames dancing high into the night and yet never quite reaching the tops of the lowest hanging branches.

Behind them, a woven wicker giant towered ominously over the procession. Its hunched body yawned open around the shoulders like a giant cornucopia, arms and legs the size of tree trunks, but it was the creature's face that made Judas' blood freeze.

It was beyond grotesque. It possessed no singular quality of Prey or Predator, but a tumultuous blend of everything into one horrible visage. The eyes were like the Dogman's, painted an eerie shade of green, the sclera an egg shell white. There was no fur, or scale, or feather to mention, just pale pink flesh draped over a jutting chin and sharp cheekbones, rounded off ears protruding on either side.

"Blasphemy," Esther whispered from her hiding spot. "That is not the Mother."

"It's not," Judas agreed. "It's older. Much, much older."

"What are they doing?" Peter asked. "I mean, what even are they?"

Judas bit his lip, rubbing at the knob of silver on his forehead. "They're what the Forest Folk become one day."

Peter and Esther stared at Judas as if he'd grown a second head.

"What does that mean?" The Dogman demanded.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. You would think me mad."

"Fine then. Keep your secrets. I've had enough of this!" Esther stepped out from the bushes before Peter and Judas could stop her.

"Esther! Come back!" Peter broke off next, charging out before Judas could stop him. Silently cursing to himself, he popped up and followed after.

By then the creatures had all stopped their dancing to stare at them. They stood in a single file line, the light from their fire swaddling them in shadow. Judas could make out strange shapes, hunched outlines, but that was all.

"Where are they?" Esther screamed, the bristles along her back rattling with fury. "Where are my children?"

Peter ran up beside her, Judas warily joining the other side, desperately trying to keep his teeth from chattering. The strange gathering continued to watch them silently, swaying gently like trees in the wind, wicker giant watching them all in solemn disapproval.

"Where are my children, you bastards! Where have you taken them?" Esther picked up a rock and threw it with deadly accuracy. It struck one of the creatures in the head and it fell back squealing. It tumbled into the fire, body quickly taken by the flames, its hellish cries swallowed up by the crackling fire.

No one tried to help it. It thrashed and squawked for what felt like hours, until the smell of cooked flesh filled the air and the screaming mercifully stopped.

"Mother protect me," Peter muttered.

"The Mother cannot protect you here." One of the creatures broke away from the pack, stalking towards Judas and the others. Its features slowly fizzled into view, revealing a crown of horns around its forehead, a beard of dirty white braids, and two box shaped eyes the color of honey.