Free Fall - Into Other Worlds

Chapter 7 - The Living Forest (Part 2)

The forest floor finally cleared slightly, the tree roots were sparser allowing them to walk on the ground for the first time since that morning. When they arrived at the stream, Eron went about setting up camp while the other two soaked their swollen feet in the cool water. Too exhausted to think of anything other than resting and food, Kara and Mage Wix were at peace in the other's company as they laughed and talked about the day. It was only after camp was set up and food was cooking that the tension rose once again.

"Be sure to wash up and give your clothes a rinse," Eron told the two relaxing by the stream as he took off his shirt. "The smell of dried sweat will attract all sorts of bloodsuckers once night falls."

As Eron waded into the stream and began to splash his face and neck with water, Kara completely forgot her mission. The water she was pouring from her flask missed her mouth as her eyes were absorbed in watching the clear liquid further afield which was running down the defined curves of Eron's muscular torso. She was used to being around half naked boys in swimming trunks from being on the swim team, but the sight before her felt completely different. The pure magnetism of Eron's taut fat-free body was intense like that of a wild tiger. In comparison, the toned yet pampered bodies of the boys she was used seeing now seemed like mere house cats. They simply weren't on the same level. It wasn't until she spilt cold water on her chest that her attention was diverted. Wiping the water at her chest with her sleeve, she became aware of the man drooling next to her. Seeing him leaning back and enjoying the show with a perverse smile plastered on his face gave Kara chills. The battle commenced once again.

"He's right!" blurted Kara as she jumped to her feet. "Come on. We've been sweating buckets all day." She purposely stepped into the stream and blocked his view. "Unless you want to be eaten alive you should wash as well." When his devious grin widened, she regretted her choice of words.

I'm the one who wants to do the eating, thought Mage Wix as he got to his feet. He pulled off his shirt and rolled up his trousers before wading into the water. Seeing Eron using his shirt to wipe his back gave him an idea. "Hey..."

"Give me that! I'll help you wash your back!" Kara quickly cut him off before he could finish speaking, grabbing the shirt from his hands. She'd known at a glance that he was going to offer to scrub Eron's back for him. Like hell she was going to give him the chance.

"Oh... thank you," uttered Mage Wix with confusion and disappointment. As Kara began wiping his back with his wet shirt, he wondered if perhaps the young girl had been enamoured by his charm. It would explain why she paid him so much attention. Sorry child, although sweet, you're really not to my taste, he thought with a smug grin. Women had fawned over him since childhood, so he couldn't imagine Kara's intentions being something else.

Glancing over at Eron wringing out his shirt, Kara sighed as she wiped the mage's hairy back. He'd better be grateful of what I'm doing to protect him, she thought with a grumble. Though she already knew he was oblivious to her struggles.

Night fell and nothing was visible beyond the firelight. Although contented from having washed, relaxed and been fed, Kara began getting more and more anxious as the evening went on. Haunting sounds from near and far echoed through the air as nocturnal creatures called to one another. Each howl, grunt, squawk and whistle sent chills down her spine. She timidly flinched and jumped whenever she heard the rustling of leaves. Not knowing what was lurking nearby was terrifying. It really didn't help that her companions were content to sit by the fire in silence.  

"Okay, its time to sleep," expressed Eron with a sigh as he got to his feet. "As there are countless dangers, it isn't safe to sleep out in the open so I'll create leaf pods. There are two options for this: I can make three small individual pods and we sleep separately, or I make one big one and we all sleep together." He took seeds out of one of his belt bags to await their decision.

"Together!" blurted out Kara without much thought as another howl rang through the air. "I'm too scared to sleep alone out here." Who knows what kind of creatures might visit in the night?

"I'm fine with that," answered Mage Wix with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let's sleep together."

His wording made Kara alert as she realised she'd just offered to put a fox in with a rabbit. Not a chance! Don't even think about it! She scolded him silently. You're not getting near him.

Eron didn't think anything wrong with either choice. For him sleeping together simply meant saving supplies, as he only had to use one seed to make a sleeping pod. He chose a large seed and held it tightly in his palm. The husk split and a seedling sprouted and began to grow. He planted the seedling in the soil and held onto its stalk as it continued to grow. Soon the seedling had become a huge stalk sprouting two massive leaves that spread eight foot wide at least.

Both Kara and Wix watched on with wonder and curiousity. It was only the second time Kara had seen magic in action – the first being when the mage healed her leg. She even clapped her hands quietly as if it were entertainment. Wix watched with great interest for it was a rare chance to see forest magic being used. Unlike the human magic he possessed which needed words or talismans to activate, forest magic was innate and flowed freely, needing only one's thoughts and intent to implement it.

"Okay, it's ready!" Eron told them once it had grown to the size he wanted. "Don't forget your blankets, and go to the toilet first as it won't be easy to go in the night." He moved first and tossed his blanket onto the lower leaf before going to adjust the fire.

Kara quickly did her business and came back to the camp. Seeing Mage Wix about to put his blanket next to Eron's, she grabbed hers and rushed over to intervene. "Can I sleep in the middle?" she asked in a childish tone. "It's scary out here, so I'll feel safer in between the both of you." And you can keep your paws to yourself, she thought as she smiled sweetly at the mage.

"Makes sense," said Eron as he climbed up onto the leaf. He held out his hand to help Kara up. "You won't sleep well if you're scared, and you'll need your energy tomorrow."

Can't beat logic, laughed Kara internally. She happily grabbed Eron's hand and climbed up. After putting down her blanket she turned and offered her hand to Mage Wix waiting below. "Let me help you," she smiled while feeling smug.

Not getting much of a choice in the matter, with a sigh, Wix resigned himself to lying down next to Kara. Once they were all inside, including Chai, Eron controlled the plant once again and brought the leaf hanging above them down until its edges joined with the leaf below – sealing them within. There was plenty of space inside, so they weren't stuck together allowing Kara to feel at ease. Since one man was attracted to the other, and the other man wasn't interested in either, Kara's heart had no reason to pound with nervousness. Yet, it still did. She lay in the dark listening to the sounds of breathing and began to feel the heat radiating off of the bodies either side of her.

Get a grip Kara! She scolded herself. This is only the first night. You're probably going to have to share a bed with these two every night for the whole journey. You can't think of them as men and get nervous. Dogs. They're just two big dogs sleeping next to you and protecting you. That's all. She closed her eyes and took long slow breaths to calm her heart and mind. Soon enough she was sound asleep.