When Given a Lemon

Part 18

“I'm amazed we haven't encountered any of the buzzballs or giant bugs yet.” Denyel glanced back at me when I spoke then knocked on the bark of a tree before moving onward. I raised a brow, somewhat surprised to learn that he was superstitious, knocking on wood. I'm quickly distracted when I rub my tongue over the grit unintentionally but can't seem to keep myself from doing it, doing everything I can to try to not let it bother me. When we stopped for a short water break I gargled more, spit, then did it again. It made it a little better with each rinse, but the crunch persisted.

“Maybe it's the water.” suddenly pops into my head, so naturally I said it out loud.

“Maybe what's the water?” Saiya asks.

“The reason we haven't seen any of the monsters.”

“Oh? You think the water is keeping them away?” It's a curious notion, I know. I nodded slightly before tapping my finger on my chin, the others looking equally thoughtful.

I scan my memories for if we had ever spotted them this close to a river or a stream before but can't think of any instances. How strange. If it is true, I wonder why the aversion to it. I thought all creatures needed water to survive. I explain my observations to the others.

“Huh. Bugs and fur-bees afraid of a little water?” Saiya tapped her stick against a rock, “what even made you think of that?”

I was also curious why the thought occurred to me, but I'll never be able to make sense of my brain. I shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

“Well, regardless of how you came across it, if we can determine that it's something they fear, we could use it to our advantage.” Saiya’s eyes twinkled at the thought, “or it could be just a coincidence. Either way, it’s worth looking into.” Bill and I nodded in agreement.

Just in case our words somehow summoned them to refute me, I keep my eyes darting to each side of the treeline but nothing seems to be lurking nearby, not even small critters or winter birds.

“Not that there is much in the way of any other wildlife out here either.” I grumbled after scanning the area repeatedly.

“There does seem to be nothing around us for miles out here, huh?” Bill held a prickly bush away from our path so that I could cut it. “Being as isolated as we are, I doubt we’ll come across any predators, bugs or otherwise. No predator wants to be somewhere without prey.”

As we conversed, marching behind our silent companion who never pays much attention to our banter, yet always stops whenever we wanted, and joined in while we were sharing a bag of nuts Lemon had earlier pilfered from a crate of food rations. They likely won't be too happy that we were eating them without their consent, but, well, I got hungry and they aren't here to ask. Overall, Denyel has been good company, albeit a very mysterious company and someone we all are undoubtedly curious about. Especially now that I’ve seen him communing with trees like a forest nymph. Heh heh. I snicker out loud, but nobody asks.

When we fell back in line behind him I felt a little like a brood of ducklings following their mamma.

The longer we went, the tireder my feet and legs became. I really don't believe people are meant to move around this much. My body certainly doesn't think it should. Still, other than some soreness, there isn't much for me to complain about. The sun peeked in at us between the branches of the overhead trees, dappling our backs with spots of gold and warmth. It was quite possibly the nicest day we have had out here yet, making it far more enjoyable than being stuck back at camp. Not that that made up for the earlier trauma today has put us through this far, but I choose to focus on the good damnit!

I watched the forest ahead of us as it swayed in the soft breeze, thinking that the peaceful feeling this place conjured felt almost magical. Like we had found a little spot of nature that felt so nice and perfect to be in. It was so nice in fact that I nearly forgot the fatigue I was feeling. Silently enjoying this place, we continued onward; Saiya running a hand over an old fallen trunk while Bill plucked a prickle cone to inhale the fresh tree scent. I would be content to spend more time out here with everyone, even if it meant hours more walking before finding the right path home.

But then I stubbed my toe on a cruel rock.

Hopping and limping I grumbled at the good-for-nothing lifeless lump of earth until the smarting sensation in my foot became more muted. Determined to continue enjoying the scenery as we passed, I jumped back up to follow everyone until I noticed a bizarre feature on a plant. It was a bush with a weird growth right below a bare spot along its right edge. It was exactly the same as one I had already seen, even more strange was the realization that it matched several additional plants we'd previously passed by before too and I just hadn't thought about it.

Going slower to scrutinize the undergrowth more closely now, I watched for other similarities as we went along before determining that there were multiple trees and rocks and roots that I am one hundred percent certain I had already walked by. Up ahead, the small track we were walking on curved deeper into the growth of a wood that I had already seen and passed by.

Now that I'm poignantly aware of the fact that we keep dealing with the same things over and over, I am more than a little confused why no one else has noticed it. I'm supposed to be the one who's bad at tracking and yet everyone else seems completely oblivious to it.

Just what in all the hells is going on?!

“Hey. Guys?”

No response.

“Hey, so, uh. It feels like we are going in circles.” I say to my silent companions. “I’m sure I’ve already passed by this very spot before.” to further my point, I have a finger through a plant leaf, tearing it, to see if I will pass by it again.

I point at the ground where a particularly yellow spot of moss is peeking through the dirty snow while chasing after the others.

“Denyel, are you leading us in a big circle?”

I tapped his shoulder, waiting a few moments then trying again just to be sure. Denyel doesn't look up or act like he’s noticed me at all, carefully mapping out his path forward as he goes.

It won't make any difference being careful, we're making a loop!

No one else answers me nor acknowledges that I spoke, as if they are all in a trance or decided unanimously that it would be fun to play a joke on me where everyone suddenly decided to ignore me while they led us around in circles. If only that was what was happening, but somehow, something in the back of my head tells me it isn't. It isn't long before we cross paths with my plant with the ripped leaf, a perfect hole for my finger to fit through.

Completely confused, and a little creeped out by all this, I step around Denyel to block his way.

“Excuse me! Helloooo?” I wave both my hands in front of him. “Heey, can you hear me?” He tries to step around me as if I'm merely a tree with branches swaying in the wind. He should have  given me a wider berth though because my waving hands struck him as he passed, smacking him square in the face!

I jump back in panic. “Woah! Den, I didn’t mean to!”

But instead of reacting, he shook his head in surprise, rubbed his eyes; looking back at me with a look that mirrored my confusion. I don’t know what to say to him because I’m not entirely sure what is happening either.

“Y-you okay?” I hazard and he gazes around like he is a bit perplexed at what's going on, before nodding slowly.