Son of Edelia: A Rising Dawn

Chapter 57

Through the dense undergrowth, Adam searched for signs of his comrades, finding a score of heavy footprints leading about in a crazed dance. The sounds of battle were long gone, fading from earshot as they were dragged deeper and deeper into the dense fog of the forest. Adam followed the tracks in a frenzy, the strange, uneven, barefoot prints of the goblins and the more even and neat traces of his human allies. The fatigue of using his aura was settled heavily on Adam, the long run to the forest weighing just as heavily, leading his furious pace to fall to a slow, ponderous march forward.

I was angry at them for sleeping. But now I wish I had done the same. Adam thought, pausing to catch his breath.

Adam heaved, sucking cool air into his lungs, wincing as he felt his muscles burning; the sounds had finally faded, the thick fog surrounding him having swallowed the last traces of the panicked flight. Scanning his surroundings, Adam felt his heart drop. He was alone and had long lost the trail he had been following. He turned around and tried to follow the distant echos of combat.

Lost in a monster-infested forest. My friends fighting a life-and-death battle with a bunch of horrible goblins. Adam realized, cursing himself as he spun around to gain his bearings. Great leadership. It's incredible how you ended up abandoning your allies. Adam agonized, flinching as he heard stirring in the forest.

Shrugging off his fear, Adam took a step forward and then another, making his way through the dense gloom, his sword by his side, his heart skipping a beat at the sound of every movement. The deeper he delved into the forest, the more lost he became. The strange fog seemed to twist the path before him, leading in circles or changing his directions over and over; the place had seemingly become a labyrinth with no exit.

Hours, no sign of an exit, no sign of Noah or Matthew, just the forest and the sounds. Adam winced as he heard more creaking behind him as if sensing his panicked thoughts.

As he maneuvered through the forest, he became aware of the quiet chittering behind him. His pulse quickened as a wave of dread washed over him, and his hair stood up as he spun to face the sounds, his sword darting in front of him, the tip wavering slightly. The strange guttural language that the goblins had been barking was whispered in strange tongues, setting his nerves ablaze. He readied himself, standing tall as he heard the whisper approach, and then he paused, his heart dropping. First, a couple, then six, then a dozen sets of green eyes began to shine through the gloom, bearing straight towards him, no more than fifty feet away.

They've been stalking me. The damned monsters laid a trap, and I walked right into it. Adam realized with horror, sheathing his sword and turning on his heel. I have to go; I can't fight that many, not now, not here. Adam thought, his heart thundering as he dashed through the forest.

Branches tore at his face, ripped cloth from his uniform, and stained his nice shoes as he sprinted headlong through the forest, the thundering of excited footsteps following closely behind. Adam was panting as he dodged trees left and right, his feet aching as they slammed into the forest floor; his muscles screamed in agony as he ran, begging him to stop while his mind pushed him further, knowing that to stop was to die.

These things are nothing like McTavish described. More intelligent and cunning than I thought, they haven't slowed for a second, keeping me running like seasoned hunters do to anxious prey. Adam realized fear gripping his heart with an icy cold hand.

A glimmer of hope shone through the gloom, a part in the trees, an area where the evening fog had yet to fully settle, salvation. He made his way through, skidding to a halt as he passed through the trees into a clearing at the base of Mt.Spire, where the towering stone monolith blotted the sun and cast a deep shadow across the forest.