A Mess of a World: the Etched Stone

10.2) Tristis

Once the rain settled down, the others were all eager to leave; a sentiment Tristis did not share. He cast a longing look back at his cave when leaving, and it remained in the back of his head once they were gone.

He had to thoroughly explain how to get back to the main road before they could really get moving, and their problems expanded when they had to trudge through the marshy forest.

Not a happy soul remained among them.

Thinking of Spirit's Wood left Tristis with an eerie feeling once he realized how close it was.

In the middle of the group, he could make out Lorraine's soft voice, but not her words.

"We're almost by the entrance." Zaki'a repeated for her, "We'll be dismounting soon."

He nodded back and, once they were within a few hundred feet, brought his chestnut horse over to one of the trees and tied her securely.

Tristis cast a wary look at Spirit's Wood, mentally noting that the only differences between it and the Filyr Forests was a small gap between the two before the trees transformed into dark gnarled logs with thick green leaves that blocked out all light.

A shiver ran down his spine when he saw how the ground remained over there as no rain was allowed in either.

"Spirit's Wood," he whispered, pulling up his hood.

Inaudible whispers filled his brain. He couldn't decipher the specific words being said but understood the intended message: enter.

He pulled his scarf down so his voice wouldn't be muffled and whispered icily, "You can tell it's here because of the voices beckoning for you to come in."

He shuddered. And people wonder why I HATE magic.

"Eugh, it's creepy! I hear somebody talking to me in my head!" Sama squealed, clutching her ears. "Is this like what happened to you, Jade?"

"I don't hear anything." Jade told her, shurgging.

Tristis saw Lorraine look at her standing back cautiously. "The Unworthy-Ethereals are talking about you. They're want us to bring and Damen in, though they really want you."

They're offering a lot too, Tristis thought, as bids began to cramp up his head.

The light of her staff glowed eerily next to the elf's face. "It's... strange. I can feel the dark magic they're emitting... It's so vast."

The Defenders of Light also looked troubled, but add to the conversation.

Instead, Zaki'a waited a few moments before saying, "This is our last chance to leave, Jade. Once we enter the forest border, we..." Her voice caught. "There is no coming back."

She sighed. "These creatures are dangerous and there's a reason everyone is warned from going inside."

"It's said they only let the wicked pass, and surround the good before tearing them to shreds." Tristis murmured, remembering the rumors, and looking down at his hands. What do they do to those stuck in the middle?

He glanced down at the obvious border of small rocks lining the entrance. They were so insignificant that he probably wouldn't have noticed them if the forest floor hadn't changed drastically from normal grass to dark green ivy and moss covering what could have been a man-made path.

Tristis gave Jade a pointed look meant to say 'We have to turn around now!' but she stared straight ahead as if unsure of what to do next.

I have a suggestion on what to do next. He thought.

"We go in now." She said, looking at him.

The air was getting colder and, at a guess, it wasn't the humidity brought from the rain.

Jade reached back and pulled out her new sword with such an effort Tristis was certain she'd tip over. It faintly glowed in the rain and she held it firmly with her two hands.

Damen and Zaki'a took out their weapons, and Tristis's fingers felt the familiar thrill of holding his twin daggers. "Sama," Jade said to the little girl who clung to her side like fungus. "Stay by the horses."

"Tuh, fat chance." the girl replied. She glanced around at the others sheepishly and said, "I'll let you lot go in first though, if it's all the same to you."

Tristis sighed and looked at Jade expectantly. She caught his eye for a second, before charging into the forest. He couldn't help but notice that she had gone in quietly, as if she thought to trick the residents of the Wood.

Even on the outside, Tristis could feel the eyes of unseen on him, watching his every move. He stepped inside behind her, feeling unshakable anxiety as his eyes darted around to see what they could see. The forest was more creepier, as if someone had drained all of the sunlight and warmth from the area and had placed an assassin behind every tree trunk.

Tristis let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in once the realization that he was inside Spirit's Wood and hadn't been attacked or filleted alive yet.

What does that say about me and the others? He wondered.

Tristis still couldn't see anyone, and a cold feeling came to him when he realized that he didn't hear anything either.

"The voices... Stopped." Sama whispered. Tristis's heart rate increased so rapidly it was hard to maintain his regular breathing pattern.

Jade's voice shook when she turned and asked, "What do you mean? Why?"

He could only imagine what she was feeling right then, and felt confused when he realized he was concerned. What in Jaerik, Tristis? He scolded himself, shuddering.

"Beecausseee..." A soft voice said, drawing out the word dryly. The sound of the voice was childlike, but sinister. The mixture was enough to make only genuinely shiver. "Weeee havveee youuu heerree wheereee weee wannnt youuuu."