Blue Blood

The Bridge

The gates slam closed behind us, causing Rody to jump. He nervously laughs it off and I shake my head with an eye roll.

I pull out the map and decide a safe course forward along with escape routes just in case. Of course we don't know for sure where we should be heading but what's the harm in being prepared?

"Alright, first I think we should-,"

I turn to where Rody should be and he's gone.

"Uh Roman?"

It's quiet. I glance around, but he's nowhere in sight. My heart skips. I start to breath heavier as worry courses through me. We've been outside the gate for 2 seconds and he disappears, typical.

"Roman, where are you?" I yell.

No response.

"Rody!"

No response. My heart starts pumping a million miles per hour and I break out into a sprint. My eyes dart from tree to tree trying to find that distinct flash of red hair that is Roman. Every tree looks the same, it's too dry for foot prints, and anxiety is taking over. I stop and try to steady my breathing.

"Calm down, calm down, nobody could have taken him. Think like Rody, what would catch his attention?"

Large structures, cute dog, ugly dog, something shiny, someone looking sad, someone in distress- let's try that one.

I take a few big breaths and let out the biggest scream I can muster. It's loud enough that it causes my throat to ache. Only after that do I realize what a horrible decision I have made. There could be anyone or anyTHING in these woods and I just gave them a signal.

I listen closely for anything, ANYTHING that might be Rody. A bead of sweat drips down my forehead and onto my nose and I quickly wipe it away. I'm freaking out too much, I need to-

Over my heart beat I can just barely make out a worried voice calling from my left. My legs move faster than my brain and I'm in a full sprint again toward the voice. The area is thick; leaves and branch's fly at my face, scratching at my eyes. I burst through the brush and almost fall into the clearing.

"I heard you scream, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

I look up to see Rody with big worry filled eyes. He's okay, thank the gods. I push out a sigh of relief and throw my head back trying to get more air in my lungs.

"I'm fine." I gasp weakly.

My relief slowly starts to turn to anger. I stomp closer and use his shoulder to lean on.

"What where you thinking!? We have to stick together." My voice cracks as I'm still trying to catch my breath. I need to practice my sprint more often.

He stares off to his left in awe and wonder. Confused, I turn too and see what all the fuss was about.

Before us lies the hallowed remains of an enormous tree acting as a bridge over the chasm. The grain of the wood swirls out far and long. How it got there? I'll never know, it's the biggest tree I've ever seen. I didn't think a tree that large could exist. A bird flies trough the tunnel on the others side and swoops out over our heads. It takes my breath away. The grain of the tree reminds me of golden hair curling down a woman's face, no wonder Roman was drawn to it, he was always drawn to beauty.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I wasn't thinking and you would have probably said no anyways." He says looking down.

"You know, you'd probably be right if it weren't for the fact that this was the path we were going to take in the first place." I state matter of fact. Although, the map didn't say that the bridge would look like this.

"Oh." He giggles as an embarrassed blush crosses his face.

I smile weakly and whistle for Edima. It doesn't take her long to find us and we enter the tree.

Every step, every hitched breath echoes infinitely outward like a choir. There are some holes in the top of the tunnel dug in by woodpeckers. Beneath my foot crawls a small rodent, fuzzy and brown. It rubs its cheeks with its tiny paws and moves on.

"La~" Rody sings, the echo carrying it on causing a harmonious tune. The edge of my mouth perks up at the sweet melody. I decide to have a little fun too.

"La~" I sing lower and longer. Rody's face lights up, his eyes wide. The walls of the tree vibrate gently from the bass.

"I didn't think you liked fun?" Rody says making a cheeky expression.

My smile falls and I turn away. The rest of the walk through the tree is quiet, the only sounds being the wind and our foot steps. We exit the cave and Roman stops.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Ya know it's just-"

"It's fine. I get it." I cut him off.
.
.
.

I can't believe I just cut him off. Now who's the rude one?

"Um yeah I Uh . . . Yeah, sorry." He replies sadly.

We continue walking for an hour or so and I can't help feeling bad the whole while. I always feel bad. Somehow I always feel like it's my fault and maybe it is. I need to make things right.

The sun starts to make its way down past the tree tops and I decide now is a good a time as ever but something doesn't feel right. It's probably because I'm apologizing.

I finally swallow my pride and begin apologizing, "Roman, I'm sorry I snapped it was wrong of me and-"

My heart and legs stop as I realize what's wrong.

"And? And what-"

I throw my hand over his mouth and put him behind me. Under my hand he muffles out a 'what?' My heart beats in my ears.

"It's dead quiet. No birds, no wind, no creatures. Somethings wrong." I whisper as sweat drips down my neck.

His eye brows squint but then he realizes that there really is no sound. Nothing. I remove my hand and grab my handle from my pocket. I place my finger over the gem along its side and it transforms into its full size. The staff of the hammer stretches out long and the blunt of the hammer flares out. It's heavy but balanced, perfect for taking out anyone who dares harm us. At least I hope.

"What if it's not something dangerous or it's someone nice?" He whimpers behind me.

"We'll burn that bridge when we get to it."

Rody coughs out a laugh. As soon as he does, the leaves far ahead of us rustle. Adrenaline flows through me like sharp jagged ice and my stomach does a 180.

"Show yourself!" I yell.

The rustling stops.

Silence.

Boom . . . Boom . . . Boom . . .

Behind the trees a large figure stands.

My stance tightens.

It takes a step forward.

My leg twitches.

The giant figure pulls itself out into the clearing and comes charging at us full force.

A giant blue troll.