by Lenore, Lani
The glowing eyes twinkled slightly in confusion, as if this was not the response he’d expected. Still, he seemed to recognize something in Nix’s words.
“We have never been enemies, brother.” He raised his voice to the rest of them while making a sign with his hand. “Put down your weapons.”
The knife-holders obeyed without question and the boy turned to look at Wren, who stepped away from her captors quickly and back toward Nix. Calico did the same.
“Wren,” the stranger addressed, looking right at her, and Wren felt a tremor of surprise run through her body. “Is it you? It’s been a very long time.”
The young man in the suit of fur was peering at her face. Wren tried her best to know him, but she could not see his features in the darkness. Noticing her silence, he stepped back and pulled the thick, furry skin from around his body, wearing it behind him like a cape. Once he had, Wren saw that he was fully human. There was a strange contraption around his torso made of metal gears and glowing lights which illuminated his features. Finally, she could see his face.
He was around her age, like Nix, with his dark hair shorn closely against his scalp. He stared at Wren with the same glowing eyes she had seen inside the creature’s head, but smiled charmingly with worn teeth and one fang on the left side.
“I can’t believe it’s you, Wren,” he said. “I believed I would never see you again.”
Wren stared back at him, uncertain. She searched her mind for his face, but nothing came to the surface. Finally, looking over his hair again, she thought she may have remembered a flicker of the past – a rather silly boy who’d loved jokes and often caused more trouble than the others would say he was worth.
“Finn?” she asked, quite unsure.
His smile revealed the truth as he laughed heartily. “No one’s called me that in ages!” He paused, considering. “Actually, no one’s called me anything.”
She had noticed how silent the rest of them were, but she could not contain her joy. She had forgotten the former incidents.
“I hardly recognize you!” she exclaimed.
“And you recognized him?” he asked with a laugh, motioning toward Nix. “He’s fucking worse for wear – I mean! Forgive that, love.”
He turned to Wren with an apologetic expression, but she ignored the language. What he had indicated about Nix was true, but Finn’s curls had been what made him who he was back then. Without them, there was little to find familiar. His clear eyes had been replaced by glowing yellow irises, and he had grown. He was a young man now, with a strong jaw and a dazzling smile, unlike the awkward boy that he had been.
Seeing that they had no reason to feel threatened now, the other hooded creatures unmasked themselves. They, too, all wore the strange mechanical suits. The group was an assorted bunch that consisted of Tribals, mystics, and a few strange, beastly creatures with leathery skin that Wren did not recognize – all of which had glowing eyes.
Wren glanced at her companions, and though Calico was looking at them all with uncertainty and Nix was completely unreadable, Finn was nothing short of pleased.
“I apologize for the ambush, and instead, it seems cause for celebration. But it’s not safe here. We need to go back to our camp.”
“Where is this camp of yours?” Nix asked. “We’ve seen nothing but trees.”
Finn directed his eyes to the sky purposefully. Looking up, Wren could see hints of light and the faint outlines of houses in the treetops. There was a whole village there, disguised by the branches. She was amazed.
“Come,” said Finn, motioning to the others around him. “There we can rest and eat.”
3
Finn and his company led them through the mossy green trees of the Silent Woods, and though they were no longer captives, Wren could not help but feel that they were being watched with great care. There was no fear in her – Finn was leading them, after all – but Nix stayed close and it was not difficult to see that Calico was still unhappy with the lot of them.
It was a misunderstanding, Wren knew. They’ll be over it soon. He’s family.
“Quiet bunch you have here,” Nix commented, looking around at the troops that were moving alongside them.
“They don’t call this the Silent Woods for nothing, mate,” Finn said with a laugh in his voice.
Calico, who had been quiet, finally found a reason to speak.
“So you and your tribe are the secret beasts that keep others away from this place?” she assumed.
“We’d be flattering ourselves to say that,” Finn said casually. “But no. We’re just a group of people trying to survive in this world. Ah, here we are.”
They stopped near a cluster of trees that looked to Wren like any others. To her surprise, a few of those in Finn’s company jumped upon the trunks with their full bodies and began to scale them as if they were animals. The sight amazed her, but she was certain that she couldn’t do anything like it. She looked toward Finn, thinking she might ask, but was halted when she saw the way he was staring at Nix. He was looking over his brother’s features with scrutiny, familiarizing himself with this one he hadn’t seen in so long.
“It’s been a very long time, Nix,” Finn said to him. “We have some catching up to do.”
“Perhaps not so much,” Nix replied curtly. Wren couldn’t determine whether or not he was being hostile or honest. “Just wait until you find out why we’re here.”
Despite this invitation, no questions were asked. Finn examined Nix another moment before he smiled a little, nodded and turned away.
“I’d say I already have a fair guess, but I’ll learn it all in good time, I suppose.”
Above them, a platform disguised with leaves began to lower from the treetops, and Wren guessed that this would allow them to reach the village. When it touched down, she saw that it was actually smaller than she’d thought, and felt a bit uneasy to think that it would not hold them all.
“Your chariot,” Finn joked. “I’ll meet you at the top.”
Finn pulled up his hood and lowered his goggles before he and the remainder of the group launched themselves on the trees and began to scale them in the same manner as the others had done. Wren stared upward, watching them until she felt dizzy.
“How…?”
“I’m sure we’ll find out all about it when we get up there,” Nix said, sounding bored. Clearly, he was unimpressed.
He stepped onto the lift and looked toward Wren and Calico until they followed his lead. Once they were on, the lift began to move, hauling them upward into the towering trees. There were a few instances when Wren was certain that the ropes would snap and they would fall, but she held onto Nix’s arm, and that kept her steadied.
Finn met them at the top, as promised, greeting Wren with a smile.
“Well, here it is,” he said, spreading his arms to indicate the huts with thatch roofing that were erected along the walkways. Wren was actually quite impressed with the place. There were more people than she’d expected to find, all of them silent, most of them examining them as newcomers. Just to see so many people in one place uplifted her.
“Those here have forgotten most words, but they will treat you well. We often take in those who are lost.”
Finn began to walk, indicating that they should follow. Wren trusted his words, but could not help feeling uncomfortable for the glowing eyes that watched them carefully as they passed along the boardwalks of the village. She tried to have a closer look at these people as she passed, and noted now that many of them were scarred and disfigured in some way.
This world has not been kind to them. She tried not to stare.
A couple of the hooded villagers came out to meet Finn on the wooden pathway. They spoke briefly in gestures and then the two of them turned away. Wren wondered what they’d communicated with that silent code.
“What was that about?” Nix asked, suspicious of everything, but she was glad he’d asked.
“They’ll find a place for you to sleep t
onight,” Finn offered. “Better than sleeping on the ground, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Wren said quickly before Nix could return with more hostility. “Thank you, Finn. We do appreciate it.”
“Right,” Nix said, breaking through the pleasantries. Her attempt to stifle him had failed. “And I like how you’re pretending that you don’t have a million questions to ask us.”
Finn stopped his pace, turning his glowing eyes on them. He looked over all three of them until finally his eyes rested on Wren. She stared at his eyes, wondering if they were similar to how Rifter’s had looked, but decided quickly that they were very different. Rifter’s were the burning, evil eyes of a demon while Finn’s were shining and round like a night animal.
“I do have many questions – clearly,” he said in Wren’s direction. “It just didn’t seem right to talk about this so immediately. Is that a problem?”
Though Wren felt that there was little time to waste toward her objective, she was still as human as before she had come to Nevermor. Now, her stomach was growling up at her and she felt weary. If there were any safe places left on the island, she felt that this was one of them, and one night of complete peace was not so much to ask for.
“No, not a problem,” Nix responded finally.
Nix and Finn eyed each other for several moments, and Wren was left to wonder what was being exchanged between them. She didn’t interrupt, and likewise Calico remained quiet, much too busy taking in everything around her to bother speaking. Finally, it was Nix who broke the silence.
“Well, what are you waiting for then?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Feed us already.”
Chapter Fourteen
1
Finn saw that they were all treated hospitably. There was not a lot of conversation from the tree-dwellers, but the meal was delicious and filling. They were served meat from some strange bird Wren had never heard of, but she didn’t complain. Afterward, she was given the opportunity to clean up and was offered a furry robe so that her gown could be washed and patched. The pelt was heavy but warm, and it was strangely comfortable to her.
When she came out of the small hut where she’d changed, Nix and Finn were waiting outside for her.
“Well, look at you,” Finn said with a smile, his eyes lighting when he saw her. “You wear that fur much better than the beast that was born with it, that’s certain.”
Wren smiled back at him, but Nix did not seem amused at the exchange. Finn noticed it.
“It seems we have much to talk about,” Finn offered, changing the subject.
“Yes,” Wren agreed. “The sooner the better, if you don’t mind.”
“She’s been made Rifter’s ambassador,” Nix said snidely. “She has the story you want to hear.”
“Let’s have it then,” Finn said, but Wren had a different sort of idea. She needed to hear what he knew about the state of the world and events of the past, and she believed there was only one way to assure that he was being completely honest with her.
“There is quite a bit I’d like to hear from you as well – and I’d like it if we could speak alone,” she said toward Nix, begging for permission with her eyes. “If that’s alright.”
“I’m not sure that it is,” Nix was quick to say, and Wren had a mind to chastise him. Hadn’t he just recently told her that she should make her own decisions? Yet he wanted to monitor her talks?
“It’s been a long time,” he went on, excusing himself of his hostility. “Why not be a bit cautious?”
A short laugh escaped Finn’s throat as he looked on at his estranged brother, but Wren kept quiet. Perhaps this was something best dealt with between them.
“Why are you so suspicious of me?”
“I’m suspicious of everyone,” Nix admitted, and there was no note of apology.
“It’s true,” Wren confirmed. He hadn’t even believed that she was genuine.
“And you only tried to kill us, is all,” Nix added.
At that, Finn’s laughing smile gave way to a sigh.
“Point taken,” he relented. “I could have had my people kill you, but I didn’t. I welcomed you here. I swear, I have no evil intent against any of you. If Wren would rather speak to me alone, I say we have to give her that.”
Nix didn’t say anything else, but Wren could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t like it. She almost got angry with him – until she wondered if he was only being difficult because he was not quite willing to let her out of his sight, as he’d promised. But this was something that she needed to share with Finn alone in order to hear his private opinion on the matter. She had to make Nix understand that.
“You can wait for me,” she told him. “I’ll find you as soon as it’s over.”
It took Nix another long moment of staring into Finn’s lamp-like eyes before he nodded his consent. At that, Finn smiled.
“I knew you could find it in your heart to trust me,” he said pleasantly. “And don’t worry: I’ll keep her safe for Rifter.”
Wren followed Finn as he led her off, and Nix said nothing else, but she could feel his gaze burning into her back as she walked away.
2
Through the quiet dark, Finn led her along the path. Wren could not see much for the lack of light, relying on him to guide her with the aid of his glowing eyes and goggles. They had little need for torches here, but there were luminous stones mounted on posts which almost looked to be flickering with flame deep inside.
Everything was peaceful in the treetop village, which made sure it was undisturbed. The dwellers did not use their voices, but had learned to communicate using eye movements and hand motions. It was interesting, but Wren would much rather settle for an old-fashioned wordy conversation. As much as Finn had liked to talk in his youth, she simply couldn’t imagine him accepting spoken word as a lost art.
It wasn’t long afterward that they reached Finn’s hut.
This one was larger than the rest, proving that he was chief among his peers. Lifting the curtain of leaves over the door, he led the way inside. Within, the hut was lit by several of the large, glowing stones which stood on pedestals at the corners. By that, she could see that the arrangement of furniture was neat and orderly, showing her very well that things had changed since she had picked-up after this boy.
So he has matured in another fashion as well.
There were rugs on the floor made of animal pelts and a hearth was assembled in the center. As if to tie the room together, there were benches covered with a wide variety of gears, tools and unfamiliar things, but everything had its place.
The hut was only one room, but it seemed like a decent place for living. Wren found it quite exotic to be in the treetops, like her dream of the house her father would never let her build in the back yard.
“Please,” Finn said welcomingly, removing his goggles and outer covering of fur. “Have a seat anywhere.”
Wren sat down on a stool of stretched hide, and he flashed her another of his smiles, fanged tooth shining. She had noticed many of his traits since coming here, comparing them with what she remembered in former days. Fortunately, the simple absence of his hair did not reduce his character. He was as charming and personable as ever. His voice was a bit scratchy, as if to indicate the infrequency of use, but there was a pleasant, casual manner to it that made her feel comfortable. His strange, glowing eyes encased by long lashes completed his face, giving him a very handsome appearance.
He must have no trouble with women, Wren thought to herself, and found that it was something she should be proud of him for, but he had always been mischievous, into everything, and by the subtle flash of excitement in his eyes, she knew he hadn’t changed in that respect.
“This is some place you have here, Finn,” she commented to him.
At that, he drew breath through his teeth as his eyes and nose crinkled. She recognized that expression. He was biting back on the truth.
“To be honest, I haven’t been here for quite as long as you
might think,” he admitted. “I’m certainly not the reason for what these people have here. They had already built a home for themselves in the treetops – many of them had already lost their voices. It was not quite a year ago that they captured me within their woods much like we took you.”
Wren’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why did they spare you?”
“I’m a fast talker,” he said with a grin. “You might think that it wouldn’t do me much good, but while they may not talk, they can listen. I offered them information that they couldn’t refuse. I showed them how they could improve the quality of their lives with weapons and a gear or two. In return, they shared their secrets with me. They began to look to me for guidance in all things. Within no time at all, I had become their chieftain. Amazing, isn’t it? I never thought I’d be the leader of anything.”
She had to admit, it was a bit unusual to imagine the clumsy boy she had once known to be a leader. Rifter certainly wouldn’t have believed it. Though his sovereignty had come about by chance, he had clearly grown into this role.
Just as Nix said. They’ve grown; they’ve changed.
“So do you simply kill all intruders that come into the woods?” Wren asked.
Finn laughed nervously, and in it, Wren heard that there could not have possibly been anything wrong.
“Let’s not talk about that, love.”
She looked at him with uncertainty, wondering if this could possibly be the same boy who had once been so afraid of Rifter’s disapproving eye that he would admit to anything, whether he had done it or not.
“I want to hear it from you, Wren,” he began, cutting out the small talk as he sat down across from her. “Have you seen Rifter?”
Wren had to make a snap decision on whether or not she would answer. In that moment, she decided to trust him, even if Nix did not.
“Yes. He came for me.”
Finn nodded but did not comment, and Wren saw a look on his face that allowed her to read his thoughts: So, he is alive.
“You thought he was dead,” she guessed abruptly.