Beyond Nothing

Chapter Two

I gasp at the air in deep, panting breaths, choking, but I cannot fill my lungs. I am forced to halt, collapsing against a tree. Sliding to the ground, I look around at the new area.

The trees are slightly different, the bark more grey than green. Leaves as big as my head hide the sky completely, throwing me into a deep twilight. The flowers here are smaller, like tiny white stars, each petal jagged and spiky. I rub one between my fingers, and have to wipe them on my jeans when they become covered in slippery, sweet smelling oil.

The branches rustle, and I leap to my feet, steadying myself against the trunk of the tree. I stare around me, heart beating like a drumbeat in my ears.

Flowers and petals shower around me, and I glance upward.

A massive, cat-like creature is padding along one of the thicker branches. Six huge paws align as it crouches, the long spikes edging its cheekbones twitching. Its fur is thick and green, dotted like the forest floor, tufting around its tail and ears.

It leaps, landing on the ground before me with a soft thump. Yawning, it displays teeth not unlike those of a shark.

I try to pull away from the tree, but become suddenly aware of an inability to move my arm. A quick glance shows that the trunk has enveloped my hand, swallowing my arm up to the elbow. It has done this so softly, so slowly, that I never even noticed.

The giant cats are not the only carnivorous thing in this forest, it appears.

I keep my eyes on the cat as it prowls closer, licking its lips with a tongue the same shade as its fur. Now that I am aware of it, I can just about feel the tree pulling my arm in further.

I refuse to close my eyes and accept death this time. I thought I could be brave before, but I failed myself. I will not do that again.

The creature leaps, and I kick, claws and teeth tearing into my leg. I sob, any hint of bravery disappearing as I go limp against the tree, unable to put weight on the leg any longer. The tree begins to pull at the back of my hoodie, stronger now, as if it knows I have lost all will and ability to escape.

The cat prepares to leap again, muscles tensing and rippling beneath its skin, teeth bared in a growl, eyes glittering with hunger.

The arrow hits it in mid-air. It twists, squealing in pain, and disappears into the trees. I stare around me for the source, praying that this is a rescue and not a dispute over food.

The creature that steps from between the trees, shouldering what I assume is a type of bow, is the last thing I was expecting.

There are no scales in sight. The creature has four limbs and two eyes. No tail swings behind it. No strange crests or fins protrude from its head or torso.

No, this is no alien. This is just a boy.

He walks closer, and I see that, although he shares some resemblance to a human, he is very definitely not. Feathers mix with his hair, speckled brown and white, and run in thin rows down his bare arms.

He draws a small black knife from a sheath at his hip, and I flinch back. But he ignores me, flinging it into the canopy above me.

The tree shivers, releasing me, and I fall to the ground. My jeans are dark with blood, and when I look down I think I can see the pale shine of bone. With a thick, choking sob, I tear my eyes away.

Massive brown and white wings unfold from his back, and he leaps into the air, disappearing into the canopy. He returns quickly, the knife now clutched in his fist. It is soaked with the same golden oil that coated my fingers. Wiping the blade on the moss, he sheaths it again.

He crouches in front of me, staring into my face with uncanny golden eyes. 'Hello. I am Kea. Your name?'

Although I ran when faced with something so obviously not-human as the reptilian from earlier, now I just sit on the mossy ground. It is easier, with him, as he is so much more person than bird.

'I'm Cassie.'

'Cassie...' he repeats, 'It's a nice name.' His eyes catch on my wounds, and he reaches into a small bag tied to his belt.

'Thank you.' Unsure of what to say next, I ask, 'What was that thing that attacked me?'

He glances quickly back to me, then resumes rummaging through the bag at his waist. 'We just call them Forest Beasts.'

He pulls out a square white patch, and reaches for my arm, stretching it out. He places the patch on the inside of my wrist, where it melts into my skin.

Instantly, my leg stops hurting. I smile at him. 'Thank you.'

He doesn't smile back, only buttons his bag and stands, stretching. 'What are you doing here anyway?' he asks, 'And what are you? I've never seen anything like you before.'

'I'm a human.' I wonder whether to tell him the truth about my ship, and my mission. I decide to tell half the truth. 'My ship crashed. I was rescued by a reptilian creature, but I ran as I thought it was going to hurt me. I ended up captured by the tree, and then the Forest Beast came after me.'

I do not want to reveal my illness. There is only a certain amount of weakness I'm prepared to show, and that limit is already surpassed by my ruined leg.

He draws the black knife again, moving toward the tree, acting as if he hasn't heard me. I watch as he slams the blade deep into the trunk.

The tree screams.

I can't think of any other way to explain the noise it makes. A high, keening cry, rising and falling with the wind. The branches of the canopy shake, loose petals showering the forest floor around me.

He hacks at the trunk, cutting a square deep into the flesh. Digging his knife in, he levers it away from the rest of the tree. He is left holding a large chunk of grey, putty-like wood. It changes shape around his fingers, and he has to keep moving his hand so that it doesn't envelope it. When he throws it to the floor in front of me, it twitches for a second before stiffening. I stare, open mouthed, shocked and a little nauseated.

He kneels by it, pulling a metal disk about the size of a penny piece from his pocket. Placing the box on the lump, he presses the small button on top before quickly drawing his hand away.

With only a tiny delay, the chunk bursts into flames. It flares for a second, soon settling to a steady, smokeless burn.

I swallow, and it catches in my dry throat. A cough tears itself from deep within my chest, and I curl over my hand, hacking into my palm. When my coughing dies down, I catch him watching me, a calculating look in those bright, golden eyes.

I reach for the bead as it swings on its chain around my neck, wrapping my fingers around it and squeezing so tight that my nails cut into my palm, leaving tiny crescent moon indents. The stabbing pain in my lungs subsides gradually.

Darkness is gathering around us, but the fire keeps the shadows at bay. Kea pokes it with his knife, and it crackles.

'I'll take you as far as Avet,' He tells me, 'I know a guy there who can give you a place to stay, and a healer who can help you. There are mechanics too, so you might be able to find someone who can fix your ship.'

Again, my smile is not returned. 'Thank you.' I tell him.

'Don't mention it.'

I rest my head on my knees, and although I know I should sleep, I cannot. Instead, I stare into the shifting shadows until the blue of dawn tinges the air.