The Woods or the Mountain

"They're coming. You must leave now, Edwin." Thundering above the small valley of Athan was the grinding sound of metal against metal, yelling and screaming, horses and men. The spine-chilling echo of the raging battle seeped through the wood beams of the house and penetrated the terrified, 15 year old's brain. Suddenly, a horrible voice rose above the wretched noise.

            "Ventas Mued!" The cry sucked the life out of Edwin and he stood petrified.

            "You must go, Edwin!" Edwin's father shoved a sack of food into his son's frozen hands and pushed him to the window. Edwin stopped and shook his head.

            "No," he whispered. "You must come."

            "I can't, you know I can't," Edwin's father responded, gesturing toward his bandaged leg.

            "I won't go, you can't make me," Edwin protested.

            "If they catch you, they will kill you," his father warned.

            "As with you!" Edwin exclaimed.

            "Ventas!" The voice rose again, but this time it was closer.

            "Go! And remember, when you reach Wander Mountain and the Woods of Fire, go through the woods," Edwin's father pleaded.

            "But—" At that moment, five Dark Knights of Mistrathe burst through the doorway. Edwin's father reached for his sword, but it was too late. Three men seized him and two drew their swords. Edwin grabbed his sack, slipped through the window, and ducked down low, listening to the men who had captured his father. One of them spoke.

            "At last, Ventas Mued, we have caught you. Killing you and putting an end to this will be an honor." There was a pause and then a quiet, "Run him through." Edwin heard a ring, a gasp, and a thud as his father died. Tears burned Edwin's eyes as the five knights set fire to house. He felt the sudden urge to run away, to run far from the Valley of Athan, which he loved so much.

            With his bag in hand, Edwin got up and ran. He ran as hate and anger, sadness and agony pulsed through his head, pushing him on. He ran until the star of day was replaced with the stars of night. Just as Edwin thought he could run no more, he reached the edge of the Woods of Fire and towering over was Wander Mountain.

            His fathers words came back to him in a desperate plea: "And remember, when you reach the Woods of Fire and Wander Mountain, go through the woods." Edwin stared at the still trees stranding below him. A soft breeze blew Edwin's dark hair from his face and a low, unnatural moan grew from the forest below. Edwin looked to the horizon and far away, the sea of trees continued on and on. "Father couldn't have possibly meant that I cross through these woods." Edwin thought. "Maybe the woods have changed since he saw them...or maybe he just misspoke. But I can't imagine he would never make me walk through woods like these!" Edwin shifted his gaze to Wander Mountain. The moon stood out against the mountain's dark green cliffs. A narrow path wound it's way up the mountain from the ground to the summit, as if made just for his safe passage over the mountain. What lied beyond it? Edwin did not know, he could only hope.

            A sound echoed from far behind him. Edwin turned and saw eerie shimmers of metal as the moon reflected off of armor and swords. The battle was growing, spreading, and getting closer. Then there was a voice. A voice Edwin had heard and would never forget.

"Edwin Mued! We are not finished with you!" That cry drove Edwin forward, and ignoring his father, he chose the lovely, green mountain instead of the dark, intimidating woods. Edwin climbed down the side of the cliff. The lush, green path seemed to beckon him.

"Come Edwin. Climb me and you will be safe. You will find freedom on the other side." Edwin made it down the cliff just as he heard his name again. He stood at the base of the cliff, looking up to the massive mountain, which reached up to the stars. Near the bottom of the mountain, the Woods of Fire sprawled. Despite his father's instructions, Edwin chose Wander Mountain...and he believed he had good reason to do so.

            Edwin tightened his grip on the sack of food and walked toward the winding path. As he began to climb, the thought of freedom and safety pushed him on. He was about halfway up the trail when...he heard a noise. It wasn't a war cry from the distant battle, it was close by, a cracking sound. Edwin turned and looked around. As he stood on the path, he looked down at the Woods of Fire, the massive sea of trees seemed to go on forever. Edwin glanced at the cliff and faintly saw the shimmer of metal. Forgetting about the odd noise, Edwin trudged on. He had only taken a few steps when he heard the cracking sound again...and it seemed to be following him.

"Hello?" Edwin called into the breeze. Then, out of the corner of his eye he saw something move. Something dark, crawling on a stone and through the grass. Edwin turned his head to get a better view. In the moonlight, he saw a dark shape, a black mass, creeping toward him. It looked like vines, but black and sticky and...ALIVE. Suddenly, and old poem came flooding back, forgotten and lost in the shadows of his mind:

"Beware Wander Mountain,

As safe as it may seem.

Some time you think you'll gain,

The punishment is extreme.

Why not choose the Woods of Fire,

No danger lurks in there.

But still you look much higher,

To the mountain of despair.

For there your fate now lies,

And although you may not know it,

There one surely dies,

Alas, they fell right for it."

            The poem rang like a curse in Edwin's ears. The black mass of horror was moving rapidly toward him.

"The Wanders!" Edwin whispered in terror, as the name escaped his lips. He spun back around and sprung into action, running as fast and he could up the winding path.

            Panting, Edwin turned and saw the Wanders catching up. Cracking and groaning, they climbed up and up, closer and closer. A dark vine reached Edwin's foot and quickly wrapped around his leg. Edwin screamed as the creature's sharp thorns drove into his leg, holding the boy in a death grip. Another climbed up his other leg and Edwin struggled to get free, but the thorns just dug deeper into his skin. Dark red blood started to drip down Edwin's legs. More Wanders crept up. His waist, then his arms. Edwin was helpless, as he stood watching the vines of death dig into his flesh and wrap around him. His legs were covered in a wiggling, black mass. Edwin clenched his teeth and fought back the killing pain as more moved up and to his neck. Edwin's vision blurred as he thought back to his fathers words: "And remember, when you reach Wander Mountain and the Woods of Fire, go through the woods." The creatures wrapped around Edwin's head and as everything went black, he heard the final lines of the poem:

"For there your fate now lies,

And though you may not know it,

There one surely dies,

Alas, they felt right for it."

            As the Wanders sucked the last breath out of Edwin Mued, he heard the sounds of metal against metal, yelling and screaming, horses and men. As he dropped to the ground, Edwin thought he heard a faint voice calling his name.