The Key of Kilenya

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- Andrea

6. Infected

            We finally managed to contact the Makalo patriarch and beg his assistance. Luckily, he is just as determined as we are to remove the Lorkon from our land. The Lorkon have amassed a huge army, and he is sending an army of Makalos to assist in the war that is surely coming.

 ***

 The trees on the far side of the entrance were dead, misshapen, and shriveled. It was almost painful to look at them. The land around the trees also appeared to be dead, and there were animal carcasses lying on the ground. The stench was so strong that a sharp, nauseated feeling hit Jacob’s stomach.

All of this, however, was not what had caught Jacob off guard.

Everything, including the sky, was completely devoid of color.

            Stepping to Akeno’s side, Jacob was disturbed to see that the Makalo, too, was colorless. Akeno’s mouth was set in a grim line. He'd seen this before. The Minyas were oblivious to what was going on and continued flitting around in the air.

            “Why is everything black and white?” Jacob asked.

            “We don’t know,” Akeno said.

While he was taking in their surroundings, Jacob had the slight feeling that he was on a boat, rocking side to side. He couldn’t put his finger on why he felt this way. He studied the forest around them, trying to figure it out. After a moment, he noticed something odd about the trees. “Akeno, are the trees moving?”

“I’m not sure.” Akeno walked up to the trunk of the tree nearest them.

“Oh, wow!” Jacob said. “Did you see that? The tree leaned away from you!”

“Yeah, I saw. But why’d it do that? Nothing like that happened last time.”

“I don’t know.” Jacob joined Akeno and noticed that most of the trees shifted as they got closer. “It’s as though they’re trying to get away, like they’re repulsed by us or something.”

“I don’t like this.” Akeno reached out with his left ring finger to touch the tree. As soon as he made contact with the bark, a branch whipped through the air and smacked his hand, making both of them jump.

“Ouch!” Akeno looked down at the skin, where a bright red welt was already forming. “Why did it do that? Stupid tree!”

“Maybe it doesn’t want you to touch it. Or maybe it’s possessed or something.” Jacob backed away quickly, careful not to get too close to the trees on the other side of the path.

Akeno shook his head. “I’ve never heard of this happening before.”

“Should we send one of the Minyas to ask Kenji about it?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know!” Akeno said frantically. “What could he possibly do to help?”

“He might have an idea about what’s going on,” Jacob said, looking at the trees around them.

“I doubt he would.” Akeno started wringing his hands, his voice almost shrill now. “Why didn’t he come with us? Why didn’t the patriarch come with us? This is such a waste of time!”

            Jacob looked at the Makalo. What was wrong with him? “Akeno? Are you . . . feeling okay?”

            Akeno turned on Jacob. “Of course I’m not! What makes you think I would be? I just got attacked by a tree!” An anguished expression crossed his face. “If it won’t let me touch it, how will I know what’s going on around us? Th—these things don’t just happen for no reason! I’ve always been able to use my Rezend!”

Jacob was astonished to see that Akeno was almost in tears.

            “Can I see your hand? The one the tree just whipped?” Jacob reached out, but Akeno jumped away from him.

            “Don’t touch me! What are you doing? Keep away!”