FOREST OF THE LOST

PART TWENTY FIVE

46.

A snowstorm, a full-blown blizzard hitting in an instant, ... hasn't Terrence seen it all now? It's done, gone, passed, having responded in a way to his own dismay. A blazing fire is on the go now just a little ways off the travelled trail and it is doing its job, though at that, it is also delaying things too.

What's the rush though? In a place with no time there is no need to hurry, is there? There is a want, a need to escape this place, so why hang around when you only want to make an exit? Sure, it all but is agreed. A surrender swapped for freedom, a retreat from that blizzard but what exactly can this mean?

A log and a couple of large rocks made seats around the fire. All that are needed now are some marshmallows and this particular moment may not be such a bad one, a pleasurable moment right now would really be something nice ... just don't let the ghost stories start. First things first, make sure the group as a whole are as well as well can be.

Before, when Terrence had felt a hunger, this park provided him with an orchard of apples, with the fire easing somewhat there will be no marshmallows provided, no stories are to be swapped and any potential tragedies have been avoided.

A recovery of sorts was not instant, it would and did come for no death or harm would come to anyone in the here and now if Terrence could have his way. If he is to give up his own life to this place, then he is damn sure no one else would have to do the same.

'Thanks everyone' speaks Karen, grateful for the attention she received, grateful for the protection, grateful to still be among the living.

'There is no need for thanks' speaks Jeremy.

'We are a group' says Kenneth. 'Looking out for one another is what we do.'

'Yeah, well ... thanks anyway.'

Collie barks once, his contribution to the conversation, and this lightens the mood, making even Terrence smile. It is different in the here and now, difficult to see the boys as boys and not something more mature as it is also equally difficult to see them in any other light than the fact that they both are just fourteen years old.

'You know' Jason says allowing his mind to wander, allowing his thinking voice to speak. 'A few scary stories right now would have been good if it weren't for the fact that we are already living our own personal nightmare.'

'I would be with you on that one' says Terrence.

'Should we get going?'

'Once everyone is happy to do so' Terrence responds to Jason's question.

'Oh, I'm ready' Karen says with a determined smile.

Collies again barks once; guess he is ready too. The boys nod, they are also ready to get going. Once again as a unit the group move back out onto the trail together. The snow that had fallen not so long previously is gone and the ground appears to be dry. The air temperature has also risen as if there had been no snowfall at all and as if a spring or autumn like day has returned. Residual effects from that blizzard appear to be minimal ... that might be left to be seen.

It has been made clear to Terrence that an exit will be allowed so for one thing, there should be no more distraction in between this point and the point where that exit is reached, moving out past that exit should also not be a problem.

The journey moves on quietly and steadily while still a more than half expectation exists that something else will happen. The way forward should be clear though Terrence is not one hundred per cent sure that things will be so straight forward from here on out. He watches everything and as that exit does come clear he feels a number of things, relief that the group as a whole is getting there, confidence that a pass will come then there is sadness.