Starshine, Sky, and the Power of Rock

The Serpentine Forest

When I was told we were gonna be "preparing" for this weekend's retreat, I'd figured there'd be more focus on how our Soul Players work. Don't get me wrong, there is. But I guess not everyone is as used to camping as I am, so instead we've been learning stuff like how to set up a tent and how to build a campfire. I find myself spacing out a lot because little of it is news to me.

The part I pay the most attention for is when we're given maps of the Serpentine Forest and told to study it. This is the only point where I try to talk to Gossamer, but she just says "I know what I'm doing" and leaves me to study it myself.

I'd say I have an idea of what I'm going to do come Saturday, or at least some semblance of one. But every time I turn to Gossamer, who for once can't find an excuse not to be next to me now that we're standing alone together in this clearing in the Serpentine Forest, my confidence dies a little.

I pull out the map from the knapsack we've been given and try to figure out where we are.

"Alright, so I see there's a cave over here that should keep us safe tonight-"

Gossamer snatches the map from me. "Are you kidding or just an idiot? I'm not camping in there."

I ball up my now-empty hands into fists. "Do you have any suggestions then?" I say through my teeth.

"We may as well stay here, if you ask me," she says.

"What, out in the open like this? Where who knows what can come get us whenever they want?"

"Have you considered that one of us is from around here and the other isn't? Maybe not every forest is just like the ones on your little island."

I scoff. "Oh, like you're the type to spend enough time in this forest to know what you're doing."

Gossamer smiles like she's got some great comeback, but she stops herself. Suddenly, she looks uncomfortable. I take that to mean I've won the argument.

The sun is getting ready to set. I hope we reach the cave soon, before who knows what starts lurking in the shadows. I've got a compass in one hand while the other casually rests on my Soul Player, which is attached to my belt.

"My feet hurt, can we just stop?" Gossamer whines.

"If you complain about your stupid feet one more time..."

"You'll what? Prove me right and show everyone how much of a monster you are?"

"Everyone knows I'm a monster. That was never a secret."

"I'm not talking in the literal sense, wasn't that obvious?"

So they really do use the word monster as an insult then. I thought Boris had lied about that.

...Rough hands grabbing at me. A fist in my hair. Searing pain in my scalp. The scrape of an axe, inches from ending me. Boris's voice. His cold, uncaring voice...

Gossamer slaps me across the face. "Hellooo?" she says right in my face, shaking my shoulders. "Anyone there?"

I'm mute. I'm shaking. My body is soaked in icy sweat. In front of her of all people.

Gossamer squints in... I don't know what. Confusion? Concentration? Annoyance? Whatever it is, she's looking right in my eyes and I don't need that. Not when so much is showing.

I shrug her off, pick up the compass that I guess I dropped during that episode and keep going.

It's getting dark now, which means my eyes start glowing.