The Eastward Boulevard

The Eastward Quagmire

We've been walking for many days. Days that seem to be stretching on and on as we began our journey east. We decided from the beginning not to count the days. Counting the days may make it easier for us to turn back. I never will but I don't want to make this journey east alone without my friend. Not like he did...But we are tired, very very tired. We haven't stopped longer than a night in a town. We didn't want to give up our vague trail by letting it rub cold. Nor do we want to spend so long looking for our friend. Laxus said find him even if it takes two years. But even so I don't think our reception would be more cheerful if we were gone for such a time.It is good that the days stretch on though. It gives me more time to walk and make progress.We followed the rising sun to go east, the only real compass as the land began to change. And progress we made until we reached it.

It began as a smudge just at the edge of the horizon. A dark green and purple patch. But a couple more days of walking and it not only stretched out each end of the horizon but stretched upwards too. That's when I knew. "It's a swamp" I mutter and wipe my forehead of sweat. 

"It seems it is..." Freed muttered and removed his red coat. The humidity is almost as dense as rain. "I was hoping we would avoid it. Do you think he went into the swamp?"

"I don't think he had any reason not to" I said. Did you? "I was told he was seen at a village that lay in the east. A village full of woodsmen".

"Well a swamp is full of marshland trees. So no doubt woodsman of a type" my partner agreed. We found our way to this swamp by asking for a woodsman village lying to the east. I was told by strangers on the road to walk until you cannot trust the ground and you are surrounded by unkind trees.  "You learnt this off your client that you scared away didn't you?"

I said nothing and walked towards the swamp. I had to trust that there was a village there. But he is no longer there...I thought and brushed my hand over the small spiky bushes that we pushed our way past. "...He didn't stay very long..." I remember my clients words well. Where are you now? "Did you walk this path we walk now?" I ask myself quietly. I could almost see him walking next to me. His hands grazing over the thorny shrubs as I did. Will you walk back with me?

"Evergreen" Freed said softly. When I looked at him he smiled. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". 

I felt the heat in my cheeks like a small fire. It must be the humidity. So we pressed on to that dark purple smudge. I am beginning to smell it in the air, a thick fetid smell that almost made me halt. But I knew it was a sure sign that we are entering the quagmire. I could feel it by the way the bushes on the thin animal track began to disappear. And how the ground beneath my feet began to shift around like half melted butter. It was when my booted foot plunged into a thick mucky bog that we forced ourselves to slow down. Even a person who has lived their entire lives here should never trust a swamp. I wonder if you had more difficulty than me walking through here...Or did you just turn back? But I know personally that Elfman is stubborn. He wouldn't turn back or I hope he hasn't. The fresh humid afternoon began to age and soon the hum and buzz of nocturnal creatures filled the air. "We must be careful Evergreen. There could be snakes hiding in the grass". And grass there was. Huge towering shoots of it that stretched high above my head and whispered to each other when a breeze brushed through them. But despite Freed's concern, no such vermin disturbed our path. It is early evening by the time the dark purple and green smear began to take shape, and the crude outline of twisted trees displayed themselves. I looked up and the sky is aflame with a fierce orange intensity. A promise of rain. Will you be crying for him again? The ground is a cruel trial under my feet. It is no longer ground truly but a thick layer of weeds floating together on turgid water. My boots are thoroughly ruined but I am grateful the foul smelling water has not yet found a way down them.