Prophecy of the Beast

Journey To a New Life

Lessons began within a few minutes of passing my clearing.  I learned to identify Itching Ivy and Blister Oak.  Jorin showed me the Aloe plant and explained what it was for.  When we passed a bush with bright pink berries and Jorin had a stern warning about them.

"These are Elder Berries. One or two will make you sick for a few hours.  More than that will most likely kill you."

A little after midday he passed me a hunk of bread and a cutting of cheese.  We walked in an amicable silence while we ate.  Not long after I swallowed my last bite we came across a wild strawberry bush.  I took one unthinking step toward it before catching myself and turning to Jorin.  He just smiled and nodded for me to go ahead.  Jorin took a handful himself while I made myself sick on them.  I fed my last few to the horse because one more bite would have had me booting.  We passed a couple more of the bushes and on the one hand strawberries were amazing.  On the other hand my stomach revolted at the thought of any more.

The sun was low in the sky and i fully expected to see a house in the distance around every bend.  I was tired and the new wonders i was experiencing crashed against that wall as my disposition soured.  As the sun began setting behind the mountains we refilled our water skins from a stream.

"Not much further now son," Jorin said, "less than an hour."

I trudged along behind him beginning to stumble in my exhaustion as it got darker.

"Sin, come here boy and attend this."

I watched him wrap twigs in scrap cloth and add just a splash of lamp oil.  When he sparked the flint there was a small flash of heat and what i thought was nonsense turned into a torch.  i followed the light through a cusp of trees and around a bend into a ravine.

"Here we are Son," Jorin said gesturing toward the ravine wall, "The Chrystal Cavern."

He led me through a crevice in the wall and into a hard switch back.  Maybe thirty  paces down the tunnel was another switch back.  I followed him into a glorious display of dancing light.  The dancing torch light was amplified and reflected through out the cavern. A rainbow of color shown from every formation.  Jorin led me to a clear spot and sat me down before going to care for the horse.  The last thing I remember was Jorin setting our packs down next to me.  I pulled my pillow free and I was out.

I awoke confused.  So many changes and so many new places had me reeling as I tried to clear the sleep from my head and orient my self. Jorin was with the horse checking straps and repacking out gear.  A fresh torch burned and lights danced around the room.  Jorin turned and seeing that I was awake gestured to the now cold coals of a fire and a plate of food that sat next to it.  The plate held fried trout, cheese, and a sliced apple with a handful of strawberries.  My eyes went back to the fish.

"Ser when did you manage to catch fish?" I asked still groggy with sleep and confused.

"I was out at dawn and caught breakfast." he said still tightening straps.

"Dawn? All ready?  It feels like its the middle of the night." I mumbled as I gathered up the plate.

With my first bite I figured out how hungry I was and I cleaned my plate in record time.  When I finished I used the water Jorin had already provided to clean up and began preparing for the day.  As Jorin had indicated we emerged into the morning sun.  I drained my water skin and refilled at the pond just down the trail that I assumed Jorin had done the fishing in.  Before moving on I dunked my head in the water and drank deeply.  We started out down the trail and I trudged forward dreading the day ahead.  

I was still exhausted.  Still staggeringly tired for the day before.  I was no stranger to hard work but for some reason this was taking its toll.  Knowing there was still more walking yet to be done seemed to amplify the effect.