A bristling against my cheek, in the softest prickling sensation, had been repeatedly brushing my skin when I came to. It felt almost like the familiarity of a cat's whisker, or the muzzle of a dog's nose. The wetness confused me. When I opened my eyes, flinching from the uncomfortable closeness of whatever it was, I noticed that my vision was completely obstructed by a black orb.
Hopping backwards, smacking the back of my head into the rough bark of the sequoia tree, I got a better look at the creature. It was a young deer, not even alien, with stiff muscles. What on earth was it even doing around me? It was so little that it made me question where its mother was. Rubbing the dirt from the side of my face, I carefully observed it. The strange thing is that it did the same to me. Its iris was large, with the deepest brown shade I had seen in an animal. The sun's minimal light in the dawn gave its coat a gray tone that made it seem real. The alien deer didn't have fur so it was pretty peculiar to see one like this in the flesh.
Noticing its nose twitch for a brief moment, I cautiously began to stand up, making it hop in surprise, galloping away into the bushes where CC and I had come from in the previous night. My attention was then drawn to him as I wandered over to the ledge if the cliff, seeing if he was down in the canyon-like valley. He was, which was easy to predict.
"Dannie," he beckoned me over to him. I had no idea what he was really doing, in all honesty. I was just going to assume that he was figuring out the best way to get across without getting killed. Whatever plans that would be I would go with it. I had been feeling too sorry for myself lately and it made me hate my personality. "If we go diagonally across, from here, there is a valley that heads up to where the entrance of the forest is. It'll be our quickest bet."
Following where his finger was pointing to, I nodded several times. I was blankly staring down at my boots, being covered in the blue, grey mud of the woods. At least, that was it was coloured when it hardened like this. "Okay," I muttered, but still audible enough for him to understand. We went ahead, not waiting any longer to get back on the road. I can only imagine the fear that was instilled within Solenne. She was alone, that much was true. After some silence, I started, "When we get back, what do you think we are going to do? We can't stay in the forest. Believe it or not, I felt that the city was easier to maneuver through than this."
"Wherever you want to go we can head towards. Wasting any more time here would be pointless," he shortly answered, his gaze trailing over the forest cliffs that led down to this valley. There was nothing there, I could tell from his mannerisms, but he was keeping a close lookout.
His answer puzzled me. I couldn't wrap my mind around what his intentions were regarding this whole bizarre scenario. "Why would you do that? Don't you have anywhere else to be?" I brought up my confusions without hesitation. He was picking up his pace, forcing me to practically be at his heels. "Wait, is there something wrong?" I lowered my voice steadily.
Shrugging for a moment as he glanced behind where we were, he quickly said, "Don't worry about it. I think we are being stalked, but nothing we can't handle." He kept his attention towards the goal, but he actually answered my curiosities, which I wasn't expecting, "I don't have anywhere to go. I was pretty much a wanderer from the start, even when I came here. Being around you gives me more of a purpose than blindly killing whatever War Head comes my way. It just makes me feel more important than I really am."
He grinned at his own statement and I could tell that it wasn't sad; it was purely him being honest. I appreciated that more than I would express to him. "I don't mind if you stick around. Solenne likes you and if she isn't afraid then I don't have anything to worry about," I pointed out kindly.
"I have to say that that's a first," he snickered. I never questioned him on it because I understood what he meant by it. He was naturally a very intimidating person with dark hair and striking features reminiscent of a sort of antagonist you would see in a movie. That was the impression I could connect with him, but his personality was very normal. Double-taking behind him suddenly, he insisted, "We should move a little faster. You can see them breaking through the borders."
Cocking his head towards the side, where the sun was breaking past the trees I could see the dark, dune coloured pelts trailing along onto the level we were progressing past. They were almost like snakes, shifting across the ground in a smooth fashion. I saw the rising of wolves; at least, I am almost certain that was what they were. I couldn't believe they were in the flesh. Funny how we want to save them and yet, they want to murder us. How the tables have turned. I wonder how many ecologists and conservationists have had to kill the animals they once swore to protect. It's a sad thought, but every philosophy and personal standpoint is challenged now.
CC was beginning to quicken his pace to a light sprint and I knew that if he was reacting this way then I sure as hell wouldn't be left behind. Reassuringly, the wolves didn't seem too interested in eating us. They must have thought we were trespassing into their last. Needless to say that I was relieved and a rush of adrenaline was coursing through my veins. Around there corner there my little sister and the rest of the bastards would be.
It was difficult to not feel upset about the way I had acted yesterday. Was I an idiot? I could only imagine the horror and misunderstanding in Solenne's young mind if her sister never came back for her. I didn't want to be like my parents. I still wanted to be there for her and that is what I believed. Wholeheartedly, this was the truth.
Darting past CC, all the way up the soft forest grounds that caused my legs to burn from exhaustion, the sun was catching up with us. It's bright beams of light chased us up the hill and snuck past the shadows the trees casted. I knew it. I didn't want to be in the forest anymore. No good came from it and we wouldn't have gotten anywhere from hiding in this canopy of safety; despite how safe it had been in these dire situations. "Hurry up, let's go, let's go!" I was repeating with some hostility, but it was really because I couldn't contain my excitement. I dragged him up past a series of tangled roots blocking him from where I was. He was going too slow, but a smile crept onto his cheeks from my slipping down three feet, destroying a bed of leaves relentlessly. We were almost there. I could see it.
In these times it's hard to hold on to who we really are because it is so easy to forget.
YOU ARE READING
Ghost Towns
Ciencia Ficción"I've died thousands of times and I can promise you that I will die a thousand times more," he breathed. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Structured society had been demolished nearly a decade b...
