Remi's Great Escape (Forestfolk Prequel)

Chapter 8b

"You coming, or what?" His grumpy voice was at odds with his request, and it confused me. When I didn't move or answer, he peered at me over his shoulder. "You sure you're not one of them Plainsman dullards?"

I blinked once before scrambling to collect my things. He resumed walking, and I followed.

"I don't suppose you've seen any berries?" he asked after a moment. "It's not my job, but that blasted woman got sick. Otherwise I wouldn't be in this cursed part of the forest."

My eyes widened as I imagined twisted monstrous shapes stalking the shadows. "C-cursed?"

"Relax, kid. It's a figure of speech. So, you seen any?"

"I—I ate them."

He harrumphed again. "Figures. They're just going to have to do without the damn berries."

When he didn't elaborate what he was talking about, I gathered a bit of courage. "Who's 'they'?"

He looked at me with that ever-present crease between his brows. "You know, you're gonna have to do a better job convincing me you're not a tribal bonehead."

I stared blankly at him.

"For pity's sake, the Forestfolk! You're in the forest, aren't you?" He continued grumbling to himself. "Plainsmen live in the plains. Forestfolk live in the forest. It's pretty obvious."

I stopped walking. This man was one of the Forestfolk? Was he leading me to slaughter, then? I'd forgotten to check for fangs.

The man tromped ahead at his walking-stick pace, continuing to grouse about how society was doomed by mentally constipated children.

I wasn't sure what to do. Everything I knew about Forestfolk—which was admittedly very little—indicated they were dangerous. Maybe even carnivorous. But the only dangerous thing about this old man so far was his sharp tongue. It was also obvious he hated the Plainsmen. Maybe as much as I did. So he couldn't be all bad, right?

I quickened my step, deciding my chances were better with this stranger than fumbling around on my own.

"...you know what I mean?" The man said, apparently unaware of my lagging.

"What's your name?" I asked before I lost my nerve. If my survival was going to depend on this guy, I should at least know his name.

"What?" He paused and frowned at me. "Didn't I tell you?"

"No."

He scratched his head. "No, I definitely told you. Kids don't listen anymore. The name's Davin, got that? Repeat it back to me."

"Davin."

"That's right." He resumed walking.

"I'm Remi."

"Remi. Uh-huh. Good for you."

We walked for a surprisingly long time without stopping. Davin was spry for his age, and I found myself tiring before he did. My throat was dry, and I felt a little woozy, but I didn't want to appear weak. I would keep up with him if it killed me.

When we finally reached a structure that looked like a hut made of logs, I breathed a sigh of relief. My legs wobbled, and my thoughts felt slow.

Keep walking, I told myself. Show no weakness. If there was one thing I learned from the Plainsmen, it's people respected strength.

Davin turned to me when we entered a clearing with more structures. "I need to stop by my cabin. Wait here."

I watched him push through the heavy curtain of one of the cabins. Then my knees buckled. I caught myself before planting my face into the ground, and pushed myself to a sitting position. I sat there in the middle of the clearing, trying to shake the growing moss from my head.

"Hello, what have we here?" A friendly female voice pulled my gaze up. A woman looked back down at me. Her dark hair was streaked with gray, and she wore a simple woven dress. "A visitor?"

"Davin found me." My voice sounded garbled to my ears.

"Davin?" Her eyebrows shot up, and she looked in the direction of his cabin. "Davin, what do you mean by tossing exhausted children to the floor?"

His head poked out from the cabin. "What are you talking about?" He saw me half-sprawled on the ground and came out. "He wasn't like that when I left him. You must've done something."

The woman crossed her arms, daring him to accuse her again.

"I'm not a child," I mumbled.

"See?" Davin pointed at me. "He's not a kid. He's tough."

I perked as much as my tired body allowed.

"He's dehydrated is what he is. Davin, you are a clueless, ornery, old bat."

He grunted at her. "The only thing old around here is this conversation. If the kid needs water, then give him water. It's not complicated. Now, Bren, if you don't mind, I've got things to do. Unlike some people, I don't have time to stand around flapping my gums." He shuffled back into his cabin without a backward glance.

Bren glared after him. "That man is about as pleasant as a hangnail." She unfolded her arms and peered down at me again, her expression softening. "Do you have a home, young man?"

I shook my head, trying not to cry as the realization hit me.

"Well then," she said, extending her hand and smiling warmly, "now you do."

Aww look where he ended up! What will he think of them? I think he'd vote for them.