NaNoWriMo 12

It was great that the rain didn't last long. Not so great that it got into everything. By the end, the Prince and his men were covered in the stuff. It coated them in a thin layer, soaked through their clothes, crept under them in thin rivulets and nasty-smelling srizzles. He could hardly recognize some of his best men by the end of it. They looked like rotting creatures that had taken on the vague shapes of elves, not like soldiers that had taken cover from something. He hoped they would not encounter others that would mistake them as such. However, at the moment, it was more about surviving this forest, wherever it was. The trees seemed more alive than before, the goo giving them the fascimile of being alive, but they were now sticky, as if to trap prey, and the rattle of the leaves against eachother had a sick feeling to it, more like the sound of a venus fly trap snapping around it's prey than leaves or the ashen whispers of before. It was worse than before for it, what with the knowledge that theyb were surrounded by creatures that would eat them at a moment's notice and having no issues with picking them off one by one. He hoped that no more were missing. The order for regrouping went out, and with that came the groups, almost at a run. In their rush they let sight of each other go, somehow, because a series of screams was let loose rather close, and the sick sounds that followed were not reassuring in the least. It was wet and crunchy and all the sounds that made people cringe at the thought of death.

His face hardened at the soldiers that huddled together, their nerves strained to the breaking point.

"Who lost sight of each other? Who wasn't watching another group?!" Fury was creased in every line of his scowl. His men were more cowed by his immediate danger than the one that lurked in the forest, unseen. A group let their hands rise, taking responsibility for what had just happened. THey were at the far end of the line, almost the last spred out among the trees to cover themselves. When the call had gone out, they had just... moved... assuming that they were safe as they gathered together with the others. Thay had been, but the group that had been just a bit father out had not. The cries had spurred them to the rest of the group.

Liam closed his eyes for a moment, almost afriad to do so because of what could happen to them. But there were tooo many to be done in like that with so many gathered around. He didn't show any sign of fear or weakness- that would frighten them even more, cast them into doubt and depression. Good leaders, like he had studied when he was younger, did not do such a thing as leave their soldiers in doubt. His spine and shoulders stiffened so that his frame seemed larger than normal, giving him an aura of power. It was a trick he had picked up from his father and the other generals long ago. "Soldiers! Move out! Cavalry, surround the foot soldiers, and no gaps between the ranks! Tighten up your positions!" There was nothing left to do but march on into the unknown.

The path had disappeared by this time, and they were forced to make their way through a maze of trees and undergrowth. Occasionally, the members of the cavalry gave small grunts. Blood slipped down their legs from where they had brushed the shrubbery. Greenies? Didn't seem like it, though that wasn't an uncommon tactic of theirs. This wasn't the sort of place they would hang around willingly, though, simply because they liked their greenery... living, and whatever this stuff was, it didn't really seem to fall under the common definition of 'alive'. The sap got into the cuts, though, and shouts soon came out. Eyes had been washed by tears long ago, but the sap clung to the skin around the wounds, and made it burn with an even harsher sting than before. It wasn't going to be the easiest thing to deal with. The woodsman was useless, unable to tell them what this was or how to heal themselves of it. How useless! There would be a demotion as soon as they were out of it. At least if the enemy soldiers had fled into this, then they were also at just as much risk of not making out alive. It was a small comfort to Liam, though.

The trees thinned out into sapling-like things that were as skinny and rotten as anything he had seen before. The soldiers were relieved for the shrubbery that had plagued them also disappeared with the trees. It did leave them in a very odd position, though- this place, wherever it was, was not on the maps that they knew. This was a place Outside. Liam's forestry and lore skills only gave him the information that various creatures had the abilities to create pockets of space where they could make their own kingdoms, and lure people into to be eaten, but this... to take an entire troop of men, spoke of an entry that had been ripped open. They were made to be small and easily hidden, so to be able to do this was something to be very worried about. Elves didn't have the ability to do such a thing, but he couldn't think of many creatures that did. Not only were these areas dangerous for any passing travelers, but it meant that they would have to backtrack in order to get out- something that wasn't possible. The ground that clattered beneath his mount's hooves had a dull metallic sound to it, and no prints of any sort were being left it. The sheer size of the area meant that it was not a place to wander about in, more dangerous than any battlefield.

The only creatures he could imagine that had made this place... it made him want to shudder at the thought of it. The woodsman was called forward once more, to give his opinion. He was cowering at this point, pale beneath the layer of slime, a faint blue tinge to his cheeks that spoke to illness that was setting in. Perhaps infection of some sort, though anything was possible. His legs had been slashed as well as any of the other cavalry member's, and who knew what this stuff was capable of? It would be a shame if he died before they got out- Liam didn't want rotting corpses attracting even more- and worse- creatures. For a moment he had to pause and wonder at how cold his thoughts on this were. He wasn't usually so cold, but with all the danger that surrounded him and what his men were going through and were still going to go through, he felt very little sympathy or sorrow for the man. The woodsman was terribly incompetant, and that was something that needed to be punished, as well as those who had put him in his position.

He vaguely wondered if they would come across Nia and her guard. They had come before them. Perhaps they were already dead, though. A flitter of sorrow crossed his mind at that. He didn't want to lose a Sylph that had her skills, and he did have a certain fondness for the girl that had saved him, even though she could not be fond of anything his father had done. But since he and the guard had passed through in safety, perhaps they had been equally lucky in returning to the camp. He gave a small prayer to the gods as he thought that, sending them his best wishes on the strange wind that warmed their skin. He brushed back his hair from his face to see better, then winced as he had to tug his hand off of his head. The goo! It was sticky! He could hear the soldiers beginning to have trouble walking, and the pace of the horses was slowed. Whatever this was, it was like the sap of an insect-eating plant, or the web of a spider. It was not something that should stay on their skin for long. He stopped his horse and give orders for his men to dismount, giving the order that the men were to use the water in their waterskins to wash it off of their boots and hands.

It was strange to give such a thorough cleaning to their steeds, but necessary. They whinnied at the odd treatment, but held fairly still. The soldiers found it just as odd, and difficult due to the ropes that tied them together. It worked out, though, because once they were finished everyone found it far easier to walk. It was more difficult to move, though, since it also made their clothing stick and their equipment was useless with the goop on it. If there was any more trouble, then this was not going to go well.

Another start, and the men were in slightly brighter spirits. The sun was looking bright and normal, and there were no more disappearances. They still had water, they were still alive. What more could they want? Even Liam could feel their relief. It was odd that in such an empty land that there could be such feelings. The saplings gave way to empty, rocky land. It was like the deserts tol dof in distant lands, and yet it wasn't. It was only slightly warm- even the rain of green sap seemed warmer than this land, but it also seemed to provide some insulation from the vague chill that was permiating the air. Their water was now low from the wash they gave their extremities, though they had been careful not to waste all of it like he had feared. But there was no place for anything to hide here. It was empty, a dead place. Whatever had been in the woods would stay there, and they would be able to find their way out in safety.

The sun set eventually, after an hour of hiking. It was a strange thing to know that the day had started out rather well. Even if they had been going to battle, that was a danger that was known to them. This wasn't, and it exhausted the men in a way that made Liam not press the march. Whatever this land was, it was small- he could see the beginnings of another forest in the distance. There was likely another entrance in there- and they would be able to find it with planning. The soldiers had to know something about it. Or perhaps something would come in their sleep. He knew that his own would be deep and dreamless. It was a tiredness he had only felt after long days on the battlefield, or when he was younger, after the intensive training- both mental and physical- that he had been forced to undergo. Liam touched his side. The wound was healed, but it had to be exchaussting to his body to have done so, so quickly. That accounted for much of the exhaustion.

No tents were made. Men seemed to lie down where they stood, huddled in groups for warmth and companionship. He felt badly for ordering two to stay up, and set up watches so that the rest would not be in danger. Everyone needed rest. He and his men pulled their blankets from their packs and lay down to sleep. Not one of them approached closer than necessary, and Liam was both grateful for this- his own nerves were tense enough as it was- and disappointed, for even on the battlefield, companionship was something that was treasured. Prince Liam, though, was not someone to be comforted and befriended, he thought grimly. The sound of that statement rang in his head, echoed in his father's voice.

Ah, well. There was nothing for it. He closed his eyes, and was in a deep sleep before the next breath was drawn.

The deams he had were almost euphoric. The kingdom he had was peaceful and prosperous, his wife was lovely and kind, and his children were beautiful and smart. There was nothing he could want in it, nothing that he could desire for more than what he had. This was the life that he wanted so dearly, and this dream made it so real. It hurt like a physical wound to awaken and find that was not the case, that he was cold and wet and still in someplace that he didn't know. He could not have been more grateful for the awakening, the shouts from one of the three soldiers that had managed to stay awake on their watch, for the ground was trembling ever so slightly beneath them. It was almost unnoticeable- would have been completely if not for the quiet shifting of the rocks beneath them, and the fact that the horizon, so flat and lifeless, had taken on a strange round shape, rising above them. He could feel the stinging of his side that had been on the ground. Blood was on his hand when he reached to touch his face to figure out why. His eyes widened as he struggled to get his thoughts together on what was happening.

It was difficult. His thoughts were still on the dream, flickered back to it even as he shouted to raise his men. A solid half were so deep in sleep that nothing would do the job, while the others were disoriented, some gazing around in confusion and apprehention as those who could think more clearly shouted for them to get up, to get the ones that wouldn't awaken onto the horses in order to move out.

The only things that Liam could think were that perhaps his likenings to plants earler weren't so far off. The ground seemed to be eating them, the edges of the land casting up around them. The trees, like rowws of teeth, to trap them or spear them should they try to escape. The sap... the goo... it must have had some sort of drug in it to make them less aware! Tossing a soldier over his saddle and mounting up, he nearly fell back off with the sudden dizziness that overtook him with the motion. Liam was determined to get out with as many men as possible, and to do that he had to help those who he could. Some men were being carried by others, more were on the horses with the cavalry, tossed there like sacks of goods instead of men. It was the only way to get them to stay. Ropes had been untied in the rush to get everyone ready, since some of the groups had a mix of concious and unconcious members. It would not do to have them hobbled in such a way. Liam called out for the men to fall out, that no one was to be left to whatever fate was going to awate them if they should be left here.

Thankfully, all seemed to be taken care of. As bloody and wounded as some were from the eating, they were ready to go. The ground was starting to eat away at their shoes. It seemed to be coated in a thin layer of acid of some sort, to digest them. He wanted to shudder, but instead gave the order to head for the other side. Anything that had been left on the ground was to stay. Their first priority was to get out. The soldiers marched quickly, even though it was difficult to move in the clothes that had stiffened in their sleep. Staying here was worse than facing whatever could be in the forest ahead of them, and that was a daunting thing. They remembered what had been in the forest behind them, wondered if a similar creature would just outright pick them off. But to be digested slowly was a painful and disgusting idea. At least they had weapons to deal with a creature of they came upon it.

The horizon was tilted up much more than before. It was odd to think that it had done so much while they were asleep. It was just before dawn, but the pale light of the sun barely overcame the land behind them. They were being wrapped in it, so that they could not escape. He shuddered, wondering how they were going to escape. His hand reached out to brush a sampling that they passed. What kind of land was this, to be living and yet some stone? These things... these were... He gazed back at his men. "Cavalry! As you pass into the trees, set fires! This is partly alive- it will feel it. Perhaps we will get an opportunity to escape this way!" Some of the men looked at him, bewildered. Set it on fire? While they were trapped in this place?! That could only set their fate to be smothered by flames and smoke, or to be trapped in the rocky land where they would be eaten for sure. But... there was the chance that it would work.

The men trotted faster into the forest as the men in the rear dismounted to set the flames. The wood resisted it at first, the green goop from the day before seeming to put it out when it seemed that they got a good start going. But with enough wood and enough heat, even the sap wasn't enough to resist the blazes that were being set. The trees acted more like charcoal than wood, and quickly blazed up into flames. Laim felt a grim smile light his face. Perhaps the deadness was a blessing in disguise. All that was left was to keep going and to see what happened.

It didn't take long for the effect to show. Whatever creature was in the woods with them alerted them to its presence by letting out a shreik, but no attack came. It was no small relief that another cry was heard farther off. The line of burning trees must have scared it, the men decided, giving a brief round of cheers as they paused to catch their breath. It was no small matter to be doing this.

The ground's slight shuddering became more of a quake. The ground buckled beneath them more violently than it had before. It was a nasty thing to deal with, the men falling over, the horses attempting to bolt. A few more woke up in the scuffling that was occuring, but they were safer where they were instead of on the ground. No trees fell, but the horizon seemed to move. They were closer to the 'edge', as Liam saw it, the place where the world fell away into nothingness, the edges of the creature's creation. It was astonishing and terrifying. He had never seen anything like it, and neither had the men, those who could take their eyes off of their horses and each other long enough to see it. Sounds, strange and unnatural, started up to their left. There was no sign of an opening, and the idea of going towards the noise was almost worse than facing the slow death they would have otherwise.

Still, they had to chance it. Over the sounds of rocks creaking and wood snapping, he issues loud orders for the men to head towards whatever it was that was making those noises. Thankfully, the sounds were dying away, but the men were not comforted. He had to inspire them to folow, or they would stay here to their doom. Liam spurred his horse onward, heedless of the cries of his advisors and guards. They had to get out of here. THe fire was turning into an inferno, something that threatened all their lives at this point. The men took heart in his action, thankfully, and followed as best as they could with the world in the upheavel as it was. The tilted ground slanted even more, making it more difficult to go onward. It was closing like a fly trap around them. He could understand the terror those insects felt as they were trapped. That was not going to stop him.

There was no sign of any monster or creature as he kept going, but the trees gaied some color. Instead of the deathly ashen color of before, tinges of brown and green touched their limbs and leaves. It was no small relief to see that, and to feel the quaking lessen beaneath his horse. The worlds weren't simply one and then the other- they melded into one another slowly, gradually. No wonder they had all managed to stumble into it! It was one that the creature had created just to catch meals. The men were heartened by the discovery that it was coming to an end, both the ordeal and the world. That they were going to live seemed no less than a miracle. There was just the small issue of the worlds closing off. The woods didn't change at all for almost a minute, and the distance between the changes to the real world were growing father.

The thing was closing it's space off from the real world! It was trying to keep them here! That should not have been a surprise, but now he regretted not waiting longer to order the fire set. He glanced around. There were no magicans in the elves around him, none that could take on anything other than what their bloodline gave him. But perhaps with his own... It was a vague hope. Any amount of magic was quickly extended. Few elves even bothered to train with theirs because it was seen as so weak. Few elves had it in the first place. His eyes closed, and breathing deepend as he kept riding, his men close behind. With the edges of his senses he could 'see' the end of the tunnel stretching further and firther away, closing down. A tiny spark of magic might stop the process for just long enough... He nipped his own finger and drew an arcane symbol on the shirt of the man in front of him.

It extended his power to the area in front of him, interrupting the movement of the world. This was one of the few spells that remained to them in this day and age. But it was never used- who actually was caught in and survived an encounter with an Other World builder, especially when the world was being built? It wasn't made specifically for this, though- it was modified for it. Liam grinned. Thank goodness his sister had put him through his steps in learning how to think on his feet about this. He would have to thank her later. The changes became more regular, the shaking lessened to a quiver, and changed to nothing, and soon they could be sure that they were in the real world. The sun was burning bright in the sky, where it had been barely over the horizon before, and there was soft earth beneath their feet. No monsters or creatures could be seen.

Now the problem was to figure out where exactly they were. And to get out of the woods as soon as possible, ebcause the creature that had excaped was still out there, and they had no desire to encounter it, he was sure. His shoulder slupmed as his guards and advisors surrounded him, thankking him and making plans to get out, as the soldiers cheered for their good fortune. While they weren't out of the woods yet (figuratively, but Liam allowed himself this one pun), this was something more than what he had expected, and it was a relief. No men had been lost in the escape, and while bleeding and wounded, they would be battle-ready in a few days. After some rest.

The instructions for how to get out were estimated, no less than two maps being pulled out and argued over for the better part of an hour. Eventually, Liam made the decision based on the word of two of his best soldiers that had fought in the wilderness before, and they started in the direction they estimated to be the best one. By the time the sun had set, they were out of the woods, out of the danger it presented, and ready to rest. Liam could not blame them. Watches were set up, and what supplies were left were passed around. The Mourning ritual would wait until the next evening- this was not the time. His thorughts wandered toward the Sylph and her protector once more, thinking that he would need to say a prayer for them as well.