Myth Land (unedited)

XXII

I knew that Sphynx and I spent a quite long time in the forest, yet still I lost count of days when I left the place. It was pitch dark. The clouds hid the moon, and the sun had not yet come out. I had to use my instinct to keep on walking without hitting any object in front of me. I was sure that I had arrived somewhere around the Christmas tree area when I could smell a strong scent of—well—Christmas tree which just got showered by the rain. Was it raining before I came there? Maybe. Nothing happened in the forest.

Yet as I kept my feet moving forward, the smell of the Christmas tree was slowly leaving my nose and got replaced by another aroma. Aroma? The diction is too beautiful. The new smell that lurked into my nose went straight to my throat then punched my stomach. There was nothing I could vomit but the gas inside my belly, so I sucked my own lips trying not to leave a pool of acid on the ground.

Something which made my heart dropped and my feet numb.

A few steps after I noticed the hostile smell, the sun started to illuminate my vision. My heart dropped and my feet were numb for a moment. That. That was the time when I realized that I had been walking on a pool of blood. Half of the ground around the Christmas tree was then turned into a deep dark red.

Blood red.

Vampire red.

Disgusting red.

Some animals were sleeping on a rock or a place which level was higher than the unholy pool.

Other animals were sleeping with their eyes or mouths opened dry and wide. Forever.

I didn't have to hold my breath to not be able to breathe. My body was frozen in the warmth of sunrise. My feet stood stiff on the loose soil. My heart stopped beating for forever, yet my head couldn't stop scanning the view around me. I didn't know what I was looking. Maybe a help. Maybe an explanation.

And while I was baffled I saw a familiar silhouette that I never thought I would ever see again.

'Ieiunium? Ieiunium is that you?'

She had been staring at me before I noticed her presence. Ieiunium ran towards me as I surrendered myself to her. I hugged her foot and climbed on her back with each atom of my body shaking and my skin was cold as ice. I left some red footprints on her skin and wanted to apologize, but she took us to a place which was less exposed. The same tree that I used to go to hide. The sequoia.

We climbed to the same branch which I used to go as if she knew that I had always been there. When I got off from her back, we looked down at once and saw a dead body of a zebra whose stomach had a huge hole. It was not the first time in that day that I wanted to throw up. I asked Ieiunium whether we could move to another place, but she told me that it was a perfect place. No one would suspect anyone hiding near a dead body.

'Ieiunium, where have you been?'

'Not much, Pearl. Just around the Christmas tree. Surviving. I'm glad to see that you're OK. I was worried.'

'I was also worried about you! Ieiunium... what happened?'

She sighed.

'You've been away, haven't you?'

I nodded.

'Do you mind to scan the area below you, Pearl? Just a quick glance. I know you can't stand it.'

I did as what she told, and my furs were shocked by the inner electricity underneath my skin.

'Suppose you were able to see twinkles from the golden leaves decorating the ground if you see it from here, but not anymore. The helpers lost their gold leaves, and they assume someone, or some people, stole them. Now they could not pay their maid animals, but of course the animals demanded the gold they deserve. And so the war began.