|
Post by sweetooth on Oct 21, 2007 20:38:08 GMT -5
Mmm... Stick... Takyr thought to himself, still chewing on the branch that he tasted while running and decided that he liked it. So what are we gonna do? Do what about what? What do you think? "Him" ... What are we gonna do about it? Well.. Let's see, we could run away from him. Might work... Kill him ... Impossible .. Oh OH. I know!! I know what we can do!!! We can get our wings fixed! If we get them fixed then he wont be angry then he might not come out and get us in trouble again. YES!! That just might work. Wow, you had a good idea for once.. I'm proud of you.
"Fatal Fringe..Alps.. Mother.. Old... Hurt.. Me.. Fatal.. Mad.. Gertrude... Takyr.. Wings..." Takyr said quietly through the branch. Wings!
"Wings! My wings! My wings are up there! I'MA COMING WINGS!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" He said loudly, with his voice getting louder and louder until it is practically a scream. He sat up, spits out the branch he was chewing on and starts running in the direction that Gertrude was facing when it looked like she was ready to leave.
"MY WINGS!!!!!!!!!!" He yelled while running, faster and faster. Eyes wide open so he could clearly see where he was going, jaw set. Left then right, right the left. Dodging in between trees and bushes like he did earlier. Faster and faster still. Yes! We must please him! We MUST get our wings back if we are to survive! He will calm down and go back to sleep! He must! Branches hitting him in the face and upper torso. Still running, dust and dead leaves flying up behind him in a trail. Every time his hooves hit the ground he would sink a little, leaving an obvious trail of where he was going.
|
|
|
Post by fatalfringe on Oct 21, 2007 21:04:36 GMT -5
fatal fringe turned to look as takyr ran off toward the mountains ... oh wow .. he may be crazy but wow .. did he just say "Ima coming wings"? wow .. just wow ... ok id better follow him
and so she took off along the path beaten by the deranged horse ... as she ran she yelled back to gertrude " hey gerty .. i guess this means im goin with you guys .. and i suggest you follow us .. cause you know the way .. and he just might fly off a cliff the way he's running ... speaking of which" ...
fatal fringe looked forward towards takyr .. who was now visible in the distance .. a little further a head there seemed to be a tree ... and he didnt seem to be changing course ...
" TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
|
|
Gertrude
Full Member
A Division of Crow?sia
Posts: 247
|
Post by Gertrude on Oct 21, 2007 21:19:21 GMT -5
GERTRUDE Takyr seemed constantly compelled to break down into some sort of mad ramble. As though he could not help it. It made Gertrude’s face screw up so that she might parallel the woman of Hamlet who so shared her name and defiantly, obliviously drink poison. Happening so fast, she could scarcely blink, watching the stallion quickly become a dot, tearing violently through the woods. The sight of his body colliding mindlessly with tree branches made her wince.
“Gerty?!” she said, her voice affronted. “What kind of a stupid name is Gerty!” Yet as Fatal Fringe was too vanishing into the distance she pushed her weight into her hind legs and followed after in a line. A smile again lifted across her face, more defined by the dark shadows that contrasted with the sun’s highlights in her fur. She shook her head to remove the hang of her mane, which was obscuring her vision.
It would have been difficult to pull ahead of him and the mare if she were any bigger, but able to cut through the undergrowth more easily she soon broke out just in front of Takyr. At about the same time the forest opened into a small clearing. Gertrude squinted against the light reflected in the shoots of grass, already golden. Gathering speed, her feet pounded into the ground, although she did not kick up great marks. A great length ahead the forest would rise to meet them again. Was this the meadow Takyr obsessed over? “This way!” she cried, and veered sharply to the left. As she did, she noted a large tree which might otherwise have cut her down. And perhaps she had not taken this into account, because she could hear the strangely coloured mare’s cries from behind her, which made Gertrude rear into the air thinking she was suddenly in danger. Coming to the ground she angled her body to turn. She came down with a soft thud, shaking her head. Frustration returned to her features.
She felt her heart clench with impatience, trying to see what had happened, or was about to.
|
|
|
Post by sweetooth on Oct 21, 2007 22:04:40 GMT -5
Gertrude jolted in front of Takyr, trying to lead him to the left. he attempted to but did so in a wide turn, temporarily loosing site of her. Tree? Takyr thought to himself, looking back at Fatal Fringe to see her not too far behind. BAM! Straight through a small tree he goes, still running, pieces of wood flying everywhere, one piece digging into his upper right thigh but he didn't seem to notice. I see lots of trees. What about them? Still running he noticed Gertrude stopped up ahead in a clearing. Wonder what she... WINGS!! Yes. Wings.. Must fix wings. Having convinced himself to keep running, he does. Flying past the paused Gertrude, he flies into some shrubbery.
"Berries!" He yelled and grabbing some as he finished running through the bush.
"Must!! Make him!! Sleep!!" He yelled in a different tone.
"Yes yes, we will keep going untill we reach the place in the sky that we can fix our wings and find our meadow! Then we can surely live in peace once he goes back to sleep." About half-way through the clearing he skidded to a stop. Body started to shake, more violently then before, then once more it stops. His eyes flare up, burning red with rage, he nostrils open and he starts to breath heavy, almost looks like smoke is coming out of them.
"WHERE?!?! My MEADOW!?! THIS ISN'T IT!! Where IS HE?!? I'M GONNA KILL HIM!! YOU! STOP TRYING TO GET RID OF ME! I WILL FIND HIM!" He yelled ferociously, last bit to himself. He starts to spin around, looking where he is, he spotted Gertrude and heard someone coming close to the clearing.
"YOU!! WHERE HIS HE!?! I KNOW YOU ARE WITH HIM!" He yelled at Gerturde..
"RUN!!"
"RUN!!" He says twice in a row, both sounding a bit different. There wasn't anger in his voice, more like fear.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He roars once more. Shaking violently again, almost like a seizure. He continues do this for a few moments when he breaks out running in the direction that he was going. But he was weaving in and out, almost stumbling. Still fighting himself but trying to get away from everyone.
|
|
|
Post by fatalfringe on Oct 21, 2007 22:26:47 GMT -5
oh hot damn .. he just tore through that sucker .. hope hes ok .. wow .. ok ok .. I'm catching up
fatal fringe reached the clearing to find takyr yelling madly at gertrude WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON ... hes really pissed but .. y .. what did gerty do to him .. no .. no ... he couldn't charge her ... he wouldn't .. if he does .. if he does ... I'll kill him .. fatal fringe bolted in front of gertrude, blocking her from takyr's view. WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING??? ..wait .. "RUN" .. run? what does he mean run ... oh damn hes shaking .. what the f*** is wrong with him ? ... she prepared herself for him to charge .. only to hear him racing .. away from them? now where the hell is he going? she started to chase after him wait why the hell am i following him ... oh yeah .. curiosity ... it killed the cat not me ... I'm no damn cat .. ok .... lets get this over with .. fatal fringe turned back to gertrude .. "it would be smart not to get ahead of him girlie .. well .. not if you enjoy your life .. so stay close to me .. now hurry up .. we have to find out what the hell is wrong with him .." she yelled
|
|
Gertrude
Full Member
A Division of Crow?sia
Posts: 247
|
Post by Gertrude on Oct 21, 2007 22:50:16 GMT -5
GERTRUDE
Gertrude had turned just in time to see the aforementioned tree blast apart before her eyes like a dark omen. She scrunched them shut, feeling like the shards might hit her, but none did. When she peeked back into the world of the living she could see and smell the familiar opaque liquid that came from Takyr’s thigh, although she suspected he was more scraped and battered than he appeared to be. The frustration lifted from her.
Soon he caught up to her, and she welcomed him rather merrily. Giggling in spite of his madness as he gulped down a small bush of berries she skipped after him, but Takyr’s change of voice made her stop dead all of a sudden. He seemed to be in a fit and rounded on her. She jumped back with a start, ducking her head, whinnying angrily. His eyes were like fire in her mind. “You are him! You are him!” she shouted back as if she were in a contest, but his tone changed once more and she found herself turning straight into Fatal Fringe. Gertrude stopped just short of colliding with the mare who meandered around her to make a sort of wall, bracing herself.
As Fatal Fringe lunched forward after the stallion though, Gertrude reached out and gripped onto her rump, pulling her flesh back, keeping the mare with her. She must have gotten her attention; the mare quickly was facing her. The filly’s face was full of desperation but it gave way just as soon to resentment. “He’s mad, just mad! We should just leave him!” she snarled, the panic in her voice clear, and the surprise. Was this mare really so confident to chase after him. She shook her head wildly, and she was suddenly struck by genius. “We get him into the Mountains! Just the Mountains. I know the way. I know the way! We can’t leave the path!”
Gertrude stole quick pleading glances at her landmarks. Monsieur Valentine.
|
|
|
Post by sweetooth on Oct 22, 2007 18:10:05 GMT -5
Not now! YES! NO! WHY should I listen TO YOU? YOU just keep ME asleep! I KNOW what happened! I KNOW who DID it! Only thing I DON'T know is where MY HOME IS!! We are working on it! We have to go up some meadows to fix our wings and it sup..supp..appare.. might have our meadow, or near there. No. It HAS ou.. YOUR meadow. He's not lying, that one you were about to kill was helping us get there. SHUT UP! I will get us there. THEN I will RIP OUT HIS THROAT AND WEAR IT AS MY TROPHY!! ... He was still running, stopped tipping over and looking like they were drunk, but still running. The sun as setting now, and there terrain had changed. It had become more, rigid. If you where a bird you would see that they had been closing in on the slope of the mounting.
"Will you let US do this?"
"Will you let US take over?"
"So we can find our meadow."
"And kill this guy you are aft.."
"HIM!!!!!!!"
"Yes.. Him. We need your strength for the road to come. I'm NOT leaving our fate in anyones hands. Bird or tree. We will get our home back, and rule it once more."
"On ONE bloody condiTION! I am NOT to be put TO sleep. ALSO! If you FAIL this task, the body is MINE!" Takyr said, as his voice broke every now and then into a yell.
"Yes."
"Affir..Affirma..Yes."
".. Fine." He said after a long pause. "But I'll be watching you.."
"Creeeeepy.. But OK." Takyr said Merrily. Standing still for a moment, if someone was watching it just looked like he might of been sleeping or something along that line, while in fact that he was switching places. Just, peacefully, although cautious. "Now, where are we? I oh-so lo.. li..lov..love!. I oh-so love these moments. Like last time."
"Aahhh shut up. Although it was rather amusing. So, what are we gonna do? Wait for the others?"
"Move.."
"Ok ok. I get it. We have to keep moving. Well. Lets go.. This way!" He said, going in the direction that they were running to before, unsure if it actually lead anywhere. He stopped shortly to see something lying on the ground. What is tha.. Oh no. It's a dead tree. How sad. Gertrude might be sad if she saw this. What should we do? Bury it? No.. MOVE! Ok ok. No. We HAVE to show Gertrude. She might want to do something to this fellow tree. Staring down at the corpse of the 'tree'. Takyr was able see claw marks in it, on whatever rotting flesh was left. He also noticed the eyes, they weren't closed, just there, wide open, staring into something that it would never see again.
|
|
|
Post by fatalfringe on Oct 22, 2007 20:19:53 GMT -5
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!??!!" fatal fringe screamed in pain and frustration at the younger horse.
she paused and her face softened a little " i know you don't want to be left alone .. especially after what he did .. but don't you see that we have to follow him? we have to make sure he doesn't try to attack someone else before he manages to calm down .. and he will calm down .. he has to calm down eventually .. and he seemed pretty damn set on finding this mountain of yours .. so we have to follow him until he calms down .. from a distance at first .. so he doesn't pull a stunt like that again .. but once he calms down he will need our help .. no, your help .. to get to the mountain .. and we need to be there for him .. so we have to get going .. but i can't do this alone .. i need you to come with me .. but i promise that i wont let HIM hurt you .. so we have to go NOW!"
fatal fringe turned to check the bite on her rear .. it was pretty tender .. but she'd be fine .. so she slowly started to head to wards the jagged opening in the forest that was caused by the rampaging takyr .. after she was sure that gertrude wouldn't bite her again .. she picked up speed ..
she called to gertude as she cantered away " you ARE coming with me RIGHT? cause I'll want you to stay close .. we have a lot of running to do if we want to catch up with him .. so i need to know right now if you plan on coming with me .."
|
|
Gertrude
Full Member
A Division of Crow?sia
Posts: 247
|
Post by Gertrude on Oct 22, 2007 21:13:10 GMT -5
GERTRUDE
Fatal Fringe’s look made her flesh burn with embarrassment and fear but she held her ground rather well looking indignantly back at the other mare. Her face was set like stone; she hardly moved and hardly breathed. Stomping a foot into the ground Gertrude took a few steps backwards, tentatively seeking the earth with each foot so that she could properly taken in the other’s features. She seemed to have calmed in those brief moments.
She began to nod in unison with every few words and every pause, although felt rather distant. Her eyes wandered in too directions, one with longing, and one which they shrivelled back in disgust. Fatal Fringe seemed very maternal and it made Gertrude’s heart melt. Following her gaze to the mare’s rump, she trotted over and jumped slightly to look at the bite she had managed to take in her sudden panic. A small apologetic look came over her but it was just as soon gone and Gertrude was sidestepping so that she could clear the other female’s leave.
All that Gertrude could do was nod her head though and follow after. She pushed herself to catch up, then soon to come ahead. She would glance back every now again to make sure that she was only a tail length ahead, though in the open, she would surely be overtaken soon. Takyr’s cries of madness were audible ahead, just as the land seemed to slope. She slowed, stumbling, and peering ahead. No, this was just the start of a foothill, the land uneven for it; the mountains would still take some time.
The forest had rose up again, and surrounded her, but it was much more open now. The trees were slightly larger to her observation and much further apart. The darkness that she needed to adjust to made her seek out the sun. Was it the forest, or had they really taken so long, and it had disappeared, sinking below the tree line?
|
|
|
Post by sweetooth on Oct 22, 2007 21:39:46 GMT -5
Still waiting at the fallen 'tree' for Gertrude and Fatal Fringe. Takyr stood there, listening. Move.. Listening to the new wind blow through the foliage, making them come to life with sound. Move.. Listen to the birds fly from tree to tree, chirping at the delightful day, or at the insanity flowing from the stallion. Still standing there. Listening to his blood drip down his leg slowly from his upper right thigh, the piece of wood still there, a nice little landing zone for flies as the are drawn in to open wound. A nice little pool of the dark sticky substance forming under his leg.Move! Listening to the sounds inside his head, how he ached to put them all together. So many voices.. he thought to himself, hearing them all. Manic laughter of his happiness, the voice of an innocent foal. Move!! The, cool, calm and collected voice that he so often fought with. One wasn't there though, he knew what that aspect was doing. He was waiting, waiting for his chance although all the aspects knew nothing could stop him from getting out. Move!!! Still waiting, still listening, hooves, off in the distance, getting closer. MOVE!!!!!!!
"It's Gertrude. We are waiting for her, sounds like Fatal Fringe is on her way too."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that these 'friends' of yours meant so much. I am so sorry. I didn't realize that you would rather spend time with them when they are obviously using you for something. I didn't realize that they meant more to you then your HOME! Remember what that is don't you? You remember what we were? What we had? We had EVERYTHING anyone could ask for. OUR MEADOW! Our FAMILY. My wife and kids. You remember those right? What about all the excitement? Owning an entire clan! Leading them from there darkest moments where everything looked bleak to the glorious days when you roamed supreme of the land. What about. HIM! The ONE that cast US out of OUR OWN LAND!? Well? Are these 'FRIENDS' of yours more important than THAT? "
"..Yes.." Takyr said defiantly. "I also remember all the hell we went through. All the ones who tried to take our rule from us. Those who tried to kill us, those that succeeded. I remember him. I don't know if I want that again. We can start over!"
"WHAT!?! YOU CALL THAT HELL? I LIVE FOR THAT STUFF. How can you call that hell? Crushing in the skulls of those who opposed us? We were feared! We were respected! We could live!" He yelled, then lowered his voice to just above normal. Stopping as the stomping of hooves got closer.
"Shh. Here they come" Takyr said
"WELCOME! To my home emp.. empir..empour.. Store! Welcome! What are you looking for? How about a spoon?" Takyr said, sounding merrily once more and trying to block there view of the body, hoping that they wont see it. He gave a little chuckle at the end.
"Well, shall we get moving?" Takyr said, moving in the opposite direction of the body. His eyes shone a brilliant blue, contrasting what sky there was to be seen, so peaceful, so calm and soothing. Although if you looked closely, each eye had two other colours in it. Red, for the furious side inside of him, waiting for the opportunity to lash out at the one who had taking over his life. This had little space surrounding the pupil, and a green of multiple shades, ranging from dark to light, representing his tranquil insanity, surrounding three sides of the red, and holding the second largest area in the eye.
|
|
|
Post by fatalfringe on Oct 23, 2007 21:58:14 GMT -5
as fatal fringe and Gertrude approached takyr they were greeted by the inane chatterings of their unbalanced little friend .. he seemed to be going on about something .. spoons??
" well he's seemed to have cheered up" fatal fringe said quietly, with a smile, to Gertrude as they approached .." hey what's he got there .. by his .. leg?" her smile faded as she tried to decipher what she was seeing.
fatal fringe gasped as she realized what she was looking at .. she froze .. OH MY GOD!! we were too late .. what has he done .. its a horse .. what has he done?? ..no .. no .. he couldn't have .. no .. i have to be wrong .. he wasn't that angry.. was he?
she slowly started forward again .. her eyes never leaving the figure laying in the shadows .. the wind changed directions .. and suddenly she could smell it .. rotting flesh .. and it wasn't pleasant ..
she sighed with relief .. oh thank god, its rotting .. that means its been here a while .. too long for him to have done it .. but why do i feel so relieved .. yes i know this means my friend .. yes, my friend .. isn't a killer .. but it also means so much more than that .. .. somebody died here..
as she drew nearer the smell of old blood became stronger .. and fatal fringe had to fight the flashbacks that seemed determined to come ..and it was then that she realized that the memories of her brutal past .. would never leave her ..
the closer they got .. the harder it became for her to keep from gaging .. how could he simply stand there and ignore the smell like that she thought to herself as she started to stagger from her efforts .. oh god help me .. she thought before she stumbled and and fell to the ground at takyr's feet
|
|
Gertrude
Full Member
A Division of Crow?sia
Posts: 247
|
Post by Gertrude on Oct 23, 2007 22:31:39 GMT -5
GERTRUDE
It was a tiring and relatively dull run, but for the adrenaline that was bred by the thought of their destination. As it were, she was never overtaken, but stayed rather close to the mare just to her rear nonetheless, only backing off when they neared Takyr, allowing Fatal Fringe to approach him first. She gave one large solid nod, acknowledging with her observation. Nonetheless, something was all together in the wrong. “Going on about those spoons again.”
And she could smell it before she saw it.
Takyr’s immense body blocked most of the scene, and Gertrude struggled to understand. It was not a scent she recognized, somewhat sweet, but overpowering. He appeared to be entirely indifferent to the situation, while Fringy, she noticed, what pushing on through. The mare’s aura felt as though it had dramatically changed. She understood why.
It was a horse, one who, when she drew closer, made her gag and turn her head away, but curiosity compelled her. Gertrude took several steps closure, lurching over Fatal Fringe’s body. The great carcass appeared to be broken, although it did not appear to have been feasted upon. Yet clearly having not been here long, whether predator or aftermath had brought it down, for the eyes had not been covered over in flies, and only a few scattered around their edges.
Unable to stare at the dull, toneless pits for long, she moved around to the side of the body, looking at it sorrowfully. Then the filly spun and gave the neck a sharp kick. A deep crack followed of a bone being split wide through the centre, causing her ears to fall flat.
Gertrude dropped her head to poke it then, but unable to stand the reek, raised back, lifted her left foot and ripped a chunk free. It made her screech wildly, a wild tremor rippling down her spine, and she flailed into the sky away from it. Arching her body, she turned and ran several steps. With a chill she shook the small remainder of flash from her hoof, wiping it clean over and over on the ground. It was with a snarl, that she began to address the other two foreigners. “Let’s go. Let’s go now. Get up, up!”
|
|
|
Post by sweetooth on Oct 29, 2007 14:59:40 GMT -5
The wind had started to pick up, not just a small breeze either, it was blowing the foliage around, making a mirage of sounds along with the other animals running to find there home or flying away to a safer spot. They would need to find shelter somewhere in the forest for the night to come. The clouds started to darken, shadows grew in all directions. With the wind an what little light was left it looked as if the shadows were dancing in some sort of festive manner. Takyr took this as a bad sign and quickly agreed with Gertrude that they should leave, and soon.
"That might be a good idea, I don't want to be out here much longer." Takyr had said, facing Gertrude.
"Panzy.."
"Whatever." He replied to himself. He turned around to look down at sleeping horse. "What are you going to do about her?" Takyr asked openly. As he waited for his answer, he started to kick at the fallen horse gently, in hopes to wake it up. He stopped when there showed no signs of her waking up. He looked up from the body to see that it had gotten even darker. The winds were still picking up and a rain drop had landed on Takyrs' nose.
The wind was howling now. The thinner trees were bending down to the force of it. Takyr started kicking Fatal Fringe again, harder this time.
"If we do not leave soon then we are going to be caught in this storm, and I would prefer to have that NOT happen." Takyr said as he continued to kick the sleeping horse.
|
|
|
Post by fatalfringe on Oct 31, 2007 19:38:56 GMT -5
OOC:THIS = flash back .. ok all you horsies .. ooh and damn you takyr for takin all the cool colors
IC:
the air smelt metalic .. a storm was coming and the young filly, blessed reality, ran towards the barn to avoid the on coming rain.
when she reached the barn she made a beeline straight to her mother and avoided the farmer completely, he had become increasingly confusing over the past few weeks and he was begining to scare her .. by the time blessed reality reached her mother, he had begun to scream obscenities at her mother. something was wrong.. blessed reality tugged on her mother's tail.. they needed to leave something bad was going to happen .. she could feel it coming .. like a chill down her spine .. she could feel it .. her mother nudged her to the side.. But they needed to leave...now
Fatal fringe awoke to the feeling of luke warm liquid pouring down upon her flesh and the over-powering scent of blood … she jumped to her feet.
“BLOOD!!! ITS BLOOD!!! ITS RAINING BLOOD!!! SHES DYING SHE’S … IT …IT WON’T .. IT WONT COME OFF ….!!! THERE IS SO MUCH BLOOD!! MOTHER!!??!!!” she screamed in terror . as she bolted down the path. She ran .. her body cutting through the brush like a blade ..
as she ran she cut her self on the brush as it thwacked along her body. This only spurred her on .. as she ran she continued to scream in terror .. only her screams had become twisted sounds that held little resemblance to any real language.
She stopped suddenly at the sight of a opening that seemed to lead to a mountain path…
a path ... i dont remember a path in my woods ... wait wait ... this must be the path to the mountain that gerty was talking about .. oh damn .. i left them alone .. now they're going to hate me ... i just know it
|
|
|
Post by Crow'sia on Oct 31, 2007 20:16:41 GMT -5
GERTRUDE
Gertrude dropped her ears and they flicked agitatedly, cool buttons of water forming on her head and cutting dull paths in the shine of her dark fur. She snarled again, louder, but wordlessly. Scoffing in response to Takyr as she listened to the flight of animals and felt the odd footstep beat on the ground. Every so often she would join in and stomp it again and again, throwing her head up the foothills, gesturing to them as if it might bring them closer. Fatal Fringe did not stir and though Takyr was now assaulting her with his hooves Gertrude thought she might have joined the corpse beside her, willingly offered herself to lay down and starve beside it. The reek that was carried to her in the changing wind, the growing wind, made her stomach reel.
“Blood! It’s blood!” Gertrude jumped and smeared the top of her hoof, bending to include her ankle in a fresh bit of dirt. She dragged it as before again and again over the ground, engulfed. The shrieks grew louder and less discernable and the torrents of wind created a funnel that sucked her mane back. When it settled and flowed its original path, the onslaught of screaming grew quieter, and Fringy was gone. Silence fell.
Gertrude turned to the open landscape of the forest. The tang of pine was thick and acidic in her nose. A step or two further in she listened for Takyr and continued onwards. The ground beneath her hooves was soft, like an animal had chewed it. She let her feet flow over and traced the changing contours deeper and deeper, digging them further. The bouquet of death rose into her nostrils again, but it was much tamer. Ahead, a tree with odd markings and branches stretched out. Narrowing her eyes, she cried with brief glee and skipped forward.
The tree, part tree part Fatal Fringe, actually grew along the ground, its trunk as wide as her stomach, and the limbs grew at strange angles while they tried to reach into the sky. Gertrude leaned on the smooth bark, which carried the musk of the forest floor, soil and warm autumn decay made stronger by the light rain and the heavy wind. She rubbed her face against one of its many branches, unafraid of sap that was only a problem with pine. The familiar whistle of air and rock made Gertrude focus her vision to her right.
The path, which she vaguely recognized as similar to the one her parents had used, carved its way through the thickening forest and was reinforced by the odd rise of cold jagged stone jutting up at every angle. She smiled weakly, the wind and the rain felt as though it were being channelled through it. “This is it, this is the way.” Her body shook with excitement; her heart pounded, her stomach knotted. Gertrude had little sympathy for their recent delays, and so coasted right over them. She was traveling with the insane. Tiresomely slow, while at the same time sporadically quick.
|
|