The Desolation of Light

Chapter 4~ With Tooth and Claw

                                  Chapter 4~ With Tooth and Claw

        Evelyn stopped at the base of the mountain and stared, worried, down the path that led before them. Wite stood at her side, his sword drawn, and nearby the other two soldiers lingered. Only Wite had taken any heed of her warning. Like Kovoth, the other two believed it was just a wild animal that had attacked the patrol.

        But now as all of them stared at the swaying shadows cast by the overhanging tree branches, no one could deny that the Shadows's presence was a very real possibility.

          On either side of the path, towering oaks with thick canopies of leaves loomed overhead and stretched out towards the sheer rock walls of the valley. Their large branches cast down pools of shadows that were then mutilated by the hazy light that sifted down between the leaves. A few birds twittered in the treetops, but all else was silent. The entire area gave off an ominous aura, and Evelyn shiver. I don't like how dark it is through here…

          "Listen, everyone." Trace, perhaps the oldest there, waved them forward and raised a hand towards the path. "It's still light enough along this way that there shouldn't be any Shadow creatures here; however," He grimaced. "there are other monsters we need to be weary of. Wolves prowl through these woods and on rare occasions, even goblins. If we're not careful, we could be ambushed."

          "Oh please." Smidge, a short arrogant fellow, crossed his arms and practically laughed at them. "If there's anything along here, it'll probably just be a couple of hares. Step aside and let a real man take the lead."

          He barged past Trace and shoved Evelyn aside before she could even respond. His broad sword glinted in the last glimmer of light as he stepped forward onto the path.

          Evelyn flinched, expecting something terrible to happen, but nothing did. Smidge still stood there with that arrogant smirk on his face, and his broad sword still gripped in hand. "Well, come on then. We don't have all day."

          She sighed, glancing at Wite. "I suppose he's right. Let's go." She was the first after Smidge to step into the looming shelter of trees. She blinked, trying to adjust to the low lighting.

          The others closed into a tight circle around them, searching the shadows for any sign of movement. Aside from the occasional swaying tree branch or rustle of the undergrowth however, there was nothing. But Evelyn's nerves were still racing. She didn't like this. It just felt wrong.

          Trace gulped. "We uh.. we need to keep going."

          "Yeah!" Smidge raised his sword and darted ahead. "Come on men, let's get moving."

          Was this just a joke to him? Evelyn shook her head in disbelief. Wite just shrugged and trudged after him. There was something in her friend's expression that made her wonder what he was thinking.

          Together the four hustled along the narrow trail leading up the mountain. Smidge stayed in the lead to act like the arrogant, brave leader he thought he was, while the rest of the group kept a more alert eye on their surroundings. Occasionally someone would stop at the sound of a branch snapping or the flutter of large wings overhead, but it would turn out to be nothing and they would continue on once more.

          Evelyn stayed a short distance behind Wite in case anything were to attempt an ambush from the rear, but it wasn't long before her friend's pace slowed. "Hey…" She fell into step beside him. "Are you alright?"