Interface

Mara

I curse loudly after running into yet another bramble patch that appeared in my path.
If I didn't know any better, then I would assume that these plants are out to get me, but I do know better, and it is impossible for plants of any sort to move of their own accord.
Even old man Striker said that moving plants would be impossible, even if the Other People were manipulating the source of their growth.
Therefore, it is impossible to say that any plant could move of their own accord.
Even as I come to that conclusion, a thorn branch flies into my legs and tears into them.
There is no way that the branch was moved by anything living- I haven't seen anything living since I left the Atenzi's lair.
Maybe there are no other living creatures in this forest, and perhaps I'll die without seeing any other life forms
I stumble into yet another clearing, but this one extends in both ways.
Realizing that I've reached what appears to be a small stream, I back up, so that I will be ready to run if another monster shows up.
But then I see the girl, and it feels like an invisible weight has lifted off of my chest
She's covered in bleeding scrapes, and her eyes are wide but wary- like a cornered animal. She shows none of the naive innocence that she showed just a few hours earlier. The development is unsettling.
I run forward and hug her tightly, her squishiness no longer repelling me, but I feel drawn to her now.
She stiffens, but doesn't pull away, and I sigh happily. I've finally found her, and now, every monster that we're forced to confront will be more bearable. And once we are out of here, we will be safe from creatures for the rest of our life.
There are so many monsters in these woods, that the only way we could conceivably escape is by sticking together.
Maybe we'll find a patch of edible fruit at the edges of the forest
I grab her wrist and drag her downstream, hopeful for the first time in my life.
She follows me slowly, her feet dragging on each step, and I wonder if she's tired.
It seems likely, because I found her in one of the Domes, and Mom said that the Dome people always got the best of everything- including the best guards, foods and nights of sleep.
Maybe that's why she always turned to the bottle as soon as she got home, and warned me against talking to the Dome People.
The girl stops me, and pulls me to the ground.
She points to herself with one finger.
" my name's Mila. you're Mara?"
I nod wordlessly, happy that I have something to call her other than 'girl'.
I extend my hand to shake hers, and she smiles and hugs me tightly, nearly crushing my ribs, but she starts chatting as she releases me.
" did you know that there's water that moves in this place? There's also plants that move, and I really don't like them because they tried to shred me AND starve me!"
She holds up her hands to illustrate her point, and I wince when I see the mix of blood and berry juice staining her fingers.
There are multiple wounds scattered across the skin of her palms, and it looks suspiciously like the wounds a thorn vine might inflict.
I look at her suspiciously.
" Mila... moving plants would be impossible, even with Other People manipulating them. It is simply not possible."
Mila shakes her head insistently.
" I saw them! They were trying to hurt me!" she whines loudly.
I think for a moment, and realize that there is enough evidence to support her claim of these so called 'moving plants'.
As if on cue, a thorn branch unfurls like the banner of some old royal family, and it dives for Mila's face.
She barely manages to dodge it, and the vine rips through her cheek easily before curling back around to strike again.