Project: Shadow Walker. Dalin Moss
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Emma paused, looking suddenly shy and uncertain. "Could…could I travel with you? Just for a time? I've got a camp in the West; their waiting for me and…well, I'm already late." She stared again at the circles she had drawn in the dirt. "Traveling with a Hero is sure to be faster than going alone."
Jim thought. It would be nice to have someone who could watch his back while he slept in the punishing forest. Plus, he felt partially responsible for Emma’s safety. If she were to be killed due to her injured arm Jim would carry the blame wholeheartedly.
So, seeing his choice mingle with guilty responsibility, Jim said, “Alright.”
The pair finished their portioned breakfast, packed their few loose belongings, and began their journey through the woods.
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Emma spoke of the destination. She had friends waiting for her near the edge of the forest. Apparently, she had lost track of time, and a good amount of coin, at a tavern in the city of Snow and decided to make up the time by cutting through the ancient woodland.
The way she spoke of her party made Jim think of family. Each of them had history and sacrifice that resulted in a tight knot of emotion, strong enough to withstand ages and arguments. They were in no way related, but that didn’t stop the group from gathering together each month for drinks and songs.
Emma assured Jim that he would be welcome to stay until the festivities ended. They would all part ways, each going to a different corner of the Protected Lands. But, once the month came to an end, they would gather again and speak of the ever-interesting lives they all sought.
When Jim asked where Emma intended to travel, she shrugged her shoulders and watched as the treetops swayed. She stayed silent for a while, closing her eyes and breathing deeply, before saying, “Wherever Life wants me.”
Jim closed his eyes, listening as the wind rustled leaves and soared through the vast forest. It sounded different here. In the cities the wind always carried a hint of dread and disdain. But here, it sang of relief and joy. It sang of touching the highest clouds and playing on the limbs of towering trees. It sang of freedom.
Jim had been listening to the wind his entire life. Its song was too beautiful for him to ignore. He had followed it over a wall and through a deserted plain. He had shivered on the snow-covered peaks of the Eastern Mountains and swam through the Life-Giving Lakes, searching for dragons and other fairytale creatures – all just to follow the direction that the wind had whispered as it flew past his listening ears.
They walked in silence for a while. Neither wishing to interrupt the reverence that had waded into their thoughts. The sun began to descend as night quickly approached. The time for travel had ended.
Jim scanned the canopy, looking for branches high and thick enough to offer a suitable place to sleep. Emma gathered sticks and splintered an old fallen pine for firewood.
“I’m going to hunt us some dinner. I owe you a lesson on how to cook properly,” she said, smiling, “for the next time you decide to throw me to the ground.” Emma blushed, not realizing the innuendo until she had finished speaking.
“I look forward to the lesson.” The Hero offered a smile and a smooth wink, adding color to Emma’s face that seemed to make her glow.
Jim continued to search for sturdy branches while Emma hunted, settling on a branch high in the air that was wide enough for him to comfortably fit while lying on his side. He started a fire beneath the large oak with the collected tinder, making it large enough to last through most of the night and hot enough to cook thoroughly through meat and fat. And then he waited for Emma to return.
He counted the minutes. At first, it was due to a meditated boredom. But, as the minutes grew, and the sun began to hide, his boredom became concern. Emma should have been back, even if she hadn’t caught anything, she should have returned to the safety of the fire. Something felt wrong.
Jim got up and ran in the direction he had seen her travel. She wouldn’t have gone far to hunt, maybe a mile if she had lost track of her distance. She can’t fully use one of her arms. Jim began to sprint, twigs snapping as he noisily searched for his companion.
First, he heard the snarl. Low and rumbling, the threatening sound pushed through Jim’s teeth. Then, he felt panic, not the usual panic that came so rarely to the Hero. This panic came abruptly; it forced Jim to stop and take a breath and search for his calm. The panic began to waver. The emotion receded into Jim’s mind, far enough away for his sanity to take control. If he reached for the feeling, it would consume him again, forcing him to stop and push it back into his near-unconscious.
“Whoa. Easy. Easy. No need to get bitey.” Emma’s voice cut through Jim’s thoughts. Her words sounded calm and soothing, but they were tainted with a cold fear.
Jim slowed his pace, carefully avoiding the dried leaves and rocks that would loudly crunch if disturbed by his footsteps. Emma’s figure appeared from behind a large evergreen. Frozen in place, she whispered her soothing words to the large wolf that was baring its teeth at her.
The panic behind Jim’s mind dropped to an icy dread. He pushed the emotion back again and crept towards the terrifying beast. He unsheathed his longest dagger. It wouldn’t do any good against the towering canine, but it made him feel a bit more secure.
The fear had made the Hero clumsy. A bush rustled as Jim stepped past it. The noise was enough for both Emma and the wolf to notice his added presence. He stopped in place, for moving too quick would spook the wolf into attacking. So, Jim inched forward, wanting, needing, to get in front of Emma. If the wolf attacked her, she would be dead before Jim could react. She was his responsibility.
Emma sniffled and the wolf focused on the new noise. The claws on its padded paws extended into the soft soil. The beast was ready to pounce, the hair on the back of its neck stuck high in the air.
“Hey bud, over here.” Jim kept his voice low as he got the wolf’s attention away from Emma. “Wouldn’t you rather attack a Hero? I’m much older than this tiny human. Aged to perfection is what my father used to say.” Jim continued to inch forward. He was close enough to Emma that he could hear her shaky breathing. “My death will be one you can brag about to all your wolfy friends.” Jim could grab Emma’s cloak if he dared reach out his arm. “Just be a good boy and let the nice…”
A loud snap came from behind the wolf. The beast leapt towards Jim and Emma, drool spilling from its mangled mouth. Jim grabbed Emma’s cloak and threw her to the ground, extending his dagger towards the beast in the same motion. Emma hit the ground and the wolf collided with the sharp metal.
The dagger slid easily into the wolf’s underbelly. Hot blood dripped down Jim’s hand, steaming in the cold night. But the blade didn’t stop the beast as it jumped again into the air. The dagger was torn from Jim’s hand as the wolf pounced and landed behind him and…ran. The wolf ran into the dense trees, fading into darkness.
That was odd . Wolves in these woods were vicious and difficult to scare. In all his encounters, this was the first time a wolf had actually run away after Jim stuck it with a dagger. He stared in the direction the wolf fled. Must be my lucky night. He allowed himself a coy look at Emma.
Another snap came from in front of Jim. His head swiveled, and he squinted to try and see farther into the darkness. Emma climbed to her feet, brushing dirt from her hair and testing the movement in her shoulder.
“That was clo…” Jim’s eyes never left the source of the snap as he slapped a hand over Emma’s mouth.
He began to back away, pulling Emma with him as silently as he could. Another snap, closer this time. Jim moved faster, his grip unintentionally tightening on the girl’s face. Emma pulled his hand away, but he forced a finger over her lips. No speaking, only listening.
Emma followed Jim’s stare into the thick darkness. Another snap and then… Jim’s eyes went wide. Three husks were stumbling through the foliage. The creatures walked with a careless pace. They stopped