Shattered Line

Chapter 21: Into The Forest

"But the money, Slate," whined the plump man in a high pitched boyish voice.

Isla pinched herself. She wasn't dreaming, right? She swore the words came from a young child, not a man.

He embodied the saying, first appearances were deceiving. The large battle-ax strapped to his rucksack bore his aptitude, but perhaps not enough to conquer his image. His waddled short stride supplemented her inner inquisition. She narrowed her eyes. Perhaps her judgment should be restrained. But still, a weak link.

"Yeah, Slate. Ham needs his meat. Don't take it away from him. Just think, another few years and he'll be ripe," the wavy blond-haired man cracked. The ankle-length black leather coat he wore draped his thin frame.

"If Ham gets any fatter, he's out of a job," Varnis added.

"Wolfe, he'll stab you later," Slate chuckled.

"I'm not worried. He has to catch me first."

Ham sighed, long and heavy. "Hey, at least I don't get mistaken for a woman!"

"I'd rather look like a woman than a pig. Oink, oink."

The two-faced, fists raised. Wolfe swiped Ham's ear and he yelped.

"You hit like a girl," Ham whined.

"And you cry like one."

Slate smacked them and they jolted forward. "Idiots, stop. Remember, we're on the job right now."

"Thought you hated the idea," commented Wolfe. He relaxed his arms behind his head and continued to walk.

"Don't worry. First sign of trouble and I'm gone." He glanced at Isla, waiting for a retort.

She revealed no smidgen of intent, leaving her face blank and stared back. He swiveled around, muttering, "damn God."

What a joke. Layla had been right, the problem child would announce themselves without inquiry. He was simple. He wore his temper. She smirked, covering her mouth to suppress a laugh.

Her emotions settled as the forest sprouted to size. The needle-like trees grew into pure monstrosities, their ash stricken cores stark against the foliage. This sight pinched her insides. Like bittersweet chocolate, a reminder of good times. What would Rydin have said? Would he have laughed at their return to the abominable forest? He would profess a desire to investigate and understand the forest quirks. His gaze would enliven, beaming and drawing.

Better yet, would she recall him everytime adventure and unknowns introduced themselves? There was no escape. How did he delve so deep past her defenses within a short time? Rather, how could she let this happen? What a weakness.

They halted with the woods and grassland boundary ahead. The stark azure blades darkened and shortened to black earth. The air shimmered, a silverish tint bleeding from existence. Isla swept a hand through the divide, her skin buzzed. A viewable barrier? No, not a barrier, the miasma.

Varnis approached her. "Don't dawdle and slow us down." He issued his commands then strode off.

She rolled her eyes. His over-exaggerated exterior coupled his job.

They crossed the separation, an invisible film encased their bodies. She stopped and inspected their surroundings. Nothing jumped or rushed at their appearance, instead, the silence consumed them. It was different. No buzzing of insects, chirps of birds or the rustling of foliage. The only sound was her companions rhythmic footsteps. Odd, would the difference be so substantial?

She focused her hearing, but her gaze wandered. The earth contained no weeds or above ground roots. A forest, she expected something, anything. Fallen trees, rocks, small animals scurrying the grounds, even leaves stripped by the wind. Her instincts screamed. This felt wrong.