Forsaken Dreamscape (Nevermor)

by Lenore, Lani

  “I want to fly too.”

  Wren awoke slowly in the dark, touching her head to mind a throbbing pain there. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been unconscious, but she remembered the fall. She was convinced that the Tikilin suit was the only thing that had saved her. It seemed she had gotten it at just the right time.

  What happened?

  She remembered running – sprinting quickly across dry ground. Finn was holding her hand, hurrying her along. Nix was behind her. She had worried about him then. She had wanted him in sight so that she would know what to do. Because she had tried to look behind her, she had not seen the open hole in the ground, just as Finn had not. He’d run straight into it, and she’d been unable to deliver him.

  They’d fallen. Deep, deep…

  Now, her eyes were disturbed by dust. The underground was silent and hollow, but she was not as unlucky as she might have suspected. She did not find herself in darkness, but there was light.

  Lifting her head, she saw that there was a lantern nearby, and she found herself in a tiny alcove. Faint red crystals reached down toward her, helping to illuminate the space. She was dirty from the tunnels, her gown yellowed by dust, but she was lying on a mattress of some sort, which appeared clean.

  What on earth? She was baffled, but she knew the answer to this.

  There were wooden boxes and pots setting about, but nothing by the way of real furniture. It was clear though: someone – or something – lived here.

  Within her chest, her heart began to thud. She had not fallen into this alcove by chance, directly onto this bedding. She had been brought here after she had fallen, but by who or what, she could not know.

  Wren sat up, trying to think of what to do. Whoever had brought her here had not harmed her in any way that she could tell, yet she was frightened. She needed Rifter. If he had been around, none of this would have happened!

  Calm down and think, she urged herself. Where are the others?

  Three others had been with her. They did not, however, seem to be nearby now. What had become of them?

  She’d just wrapped herself up in her own arms when she noticed a dark shadow, looming in the entrance of the alcove. A sharp gasp filled her throat as she looked at the featureless thing.

  It was gigantic! Seven feet tall at least, with shaggy hair hanging all over its body. The thing looked human, but at the same time, it did not – like Finn in his animal disguise.

  You need to be braver, Wren. Nix had told her these words just earlier, and though she had gotten angry with him afterward, he was right. Past her trembling, she managed to gather words.

  “I fell into the tunnels,” she began lamely. “I was separated from my friends. Have you seen them?”

  There was no reply. No movement at all.

  “Please,” she tried again, “if there is some way you can help me get back there–”

  “This is your home now,” a heavy voice said, cutting her off.

  Her eyes widened. The large shape lingered for only a moment before backing out of the passage, and just afterward, Wren heard a rumbling sound as a large rock began to slide across the opening. She jumped up immediately, realizing that she was being sealed in.

  “Wait! No, you don’t understand!” She did not make it to the doorway before it was closed off. Nevertheless, she continued to yell even though she was uncertain if he could hear her.

  “I have to get out of here! I have to get to Rifter! Please!”

  Silence surrounded Wren in the stone tomb. She pushed against the rock, but had no hope of moving it. Predictably, it stayed in place. She saw a small slit where the rock did not quite seal the way, but it only seemed big enough to let in air.

  Wren stumbled back. She gripped her hair in desperation.

  “Nix!” she screamed at a shrill pitch, letting her voice carry out until there was no breath left. There was no reply save for her own echo, and as she stood there stock-still and helpless, she was not surprised.

  3

  Nix thought he’d heard Wren scream his name, but it was only once, and after he had opened his eyes, he didn’t know whether it was real or simply a dream.

  The air was filled with dust. He breathed the particles in because he had no choice. Weakly, he managed to peel himself off the ground. It was dark, but his eyes adjusted eventually to the dim, fiery light of some crystal formations. Looking up, he could just barely see the hole above which let the dark day in. It was quite a distance back to the surface. Even with the Tikilin enhancements, he didn’t think it was possible to jump that distance. This would have been a nice time to use those fairy ashes – if only he’d thought about it before all the chaos had begun above ground. Unfortunately that dust was in Wren’s possession, and–

  Wren…

  He looked around in the tunnel, but did not see her. Dammit! Where was she? A coughing sound nearby caught his attention – but the survivor nearby was not the girl he sought.

  “This was a questionable idea,” drifted a snide reminder from Calico. She stood and favored her shoulder, but did not meet his gaze.

  Nix did not reply to her, swinging the bag off his shoulder and beginning to dig through it. His belongings were still intact, and he was at least glad to see that. To his blind side, he heard sounds of more movement.

  Finn. Only Finn.

  “Well that was a fun time,” Finn muttered, brushing himself off.

  “What do you see?” Nix asked, knowing that his brother had a knack for seeing in the dark.

  “I see you, fumbling with a pair of flint stones and a torch. Calico is there, waiting, but not too patiently. Other than that, I see a lot of nothing, mate,” he said simply, standing to look around. “The tunnels just go on and on.”

  Nix surprised even himself when he laughed slightly, busily creating a few sparks within his hands.

  “This isn’t the time to be laughing, you know,” Calico reminded him. “Nothing’s funny.”

  “Calm down and keep your trap shut,” he scolded her. “Complaining won’t help.”

  Nix knew that Calico would sooner have taken a swipe at him than to argue, but there were times when she could not keep the many words she knew tucked away inside her mouth.

  “And how do you propose I should calm down?” she asked. “We’re underground in the dark and we can’t even think about getting out until we find the girl! I’m sure you noticed that she’s not here! How can you laugh?”

  “Don’t forget that you may not be alive now if it weren’t for me,” Nix informed her, hitting the flint together harshly. Finally a spark jumped out to light the wrapped end of the torch.

  “What does that have to do anything?”

  “You hesitated,” he said, ignoring her and going on. “I told you to run. You stopped!”

  “I was just concerned,” she defended, “concerned that you were going to do something stupid, you arrogant bastard!”

  Nix didn’t respond to that, deciding that the best way to stop this was to simply keep silent. He tried not to look at Calico, yet couldn’t help but see her from the corner of his eye, standing there, eyes narrowed in anger, clenching her fists at her sides.

  “You’re acting just like he did,” she muttered.

  Nix’s head shot up at that. Perhaps she had not meant for him to hear. He had been prepared to let it go, but these words stung his ears.

  “What?” he asked abruptly, jerking around to face her.

  “Can we not do this now?” Finn asked, but he was ignored.

  “I left Rifter’s side because he acted just as you are acting right now!” Calico declared. “I would not, for one moment, believe that he is responsible for this darkness, but that does not mean that he was not cruel, self-centered, and stubborn! How can you say you hate him? You are just like him!”

  Nix stared down at her with stern eyes, his lip twisting, yet she stood fearlessly. This would end now, however; he would be sure of it. He stepped towards her, looking into her face with an icy stare. His
fingers gripped her shirt, pulling her face close to his.

  “Say it again and I’ll cut out your tongue,” he threatened. “Don’t start something with me if you don’t want it finished with blood!”

  Then he simply released her and turned away. He held up the torch and began to guide his way along the wall, leaving the two to follow him – if they dared – into the darkness.

  Chapter Nineteen

  1

  Sitting in the silent alcove, Wren had retreated into herself, slipping away to guard from the misfortunes of the outside. This was a frequent action she had taken on without her own knowledge, which had often taken the place of sleep in past years.

  Doctor Witherspoon had called it a defense mechanism. She had never been aware of it herself.

  Stray memories, shattered dreams…

  Wren came back at the touch of fingers brushing against her cheek. The lantern beside her had gone out, leaving her with only the faint glow of the crystals – and she was no longer alone. She felt the soft touch drifting alongside her face, perhaps in a gentle attempt to bring her back from wherever she’d gone. Though she did not know who it could be, she was too groggy to be alarmed.

  “Rifter?” she uttered. But no, not Rifter. He was not here with her. “Nix?”

  The hand retreated in an instant, drawing back from her skin.

  “How do you know that name?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

  Wren shot awake, fully aware now. She could almost hear her heart beating inside as her thoughts fired off rapidly. Who could this be? Could she get away? Did she need to? She dared not run through the darkness. She sat motionless for a moment, trying to think of something – anything!

  “How – do you know – that name?” the voice asked again in a threatening tone.

  Wren could think of nothing except to cooperate.

  “He’s a friend,” she said, making sure she didn’t give too much away.

  A light flashed and the lantern appeared before her once again, splashing light on the large creature she had seen looking in on her before. In the light, the beast had a face – and it seemed to be a very familiar one.

  “Wren?” he asked. “Is it you?”

  She peered toward him, examining his muscular jaw and large frame. His hair was a mess, unkempt and dirty. He had small, soft eyes of brown with freckles spread over his cheeks like bits of dirt. She knew him.

  “Toss?” she asked, trying to believe her eyes.

  Toss had always been large, but from what she could tell as he sat in front of her, he had grown several good feet. His body was muscular and barrel-like, but leaner than it had once been. His habit of overheating had seemingly been cured in this time of famine. He wore the skin of a black bear and kept the beast’s maw as a hat, looking menacing on his head. In truth, he looked like a bear himself with his dark eyes and dark, disheveled hair. Even so, he was still a boy within there; she could see the same face she had once recognized, even past the scrappy beard.

  He sat back from her, his flesh growing red. He did not look her in the eye.

  “I feel so foolish,” he said quietly. “I am so sorry, Wren!”

  While it was true that he might have been less than noble toward her if he’d not remembered her, Wren was only glad that her face had struck a familiar chord with him. If he had not found her out just now, he would have forced her to be locked away down in this tunnel, but she thought she understood why. He was lonely. He’d thought she was a prize. She was glad for his recognition, however, and she found it within herself to forgive him. She did not need him feeling uncomfortable. She needed him to come with her.

  “Don’t feel foolish,” she said. “I am glad you know me.” Her face suddenly twisted with urgency. “You haven’t by chance seen the others?”

  “Others?” he inquired, finally brave enough to look at her once again.

  “Yes. Nix, Finn, and Calico. I’m worried that they fell down here with me. Have you noticed anything?”

  “Finn as well?” Toss chuckled lightly, his freckled cheeks rising at the corners of his smile. “I haven’t seen any of my brothers in…”

  He paused, choking up a bit. Soon afterward, he was blushing again. “I’m sorry, but I have not seen them. Only you.”

  Even at hearing this, Wren was quick to shoot to her feet, never minding her situation.

  “You must help me find them,” she insisted. “They could be hurt or – but there could be Vorks!”

  “Yes,” Toss agreed readily. “We need to find them before they get too far. These tunnels are confusing. They could easily wander into the nests. But we’ll believe that won’t happen.”

  She was pleased with that, and Toss took a few moments to gather some supplies, including a large hammer that he mounted on his back. This was a weapon he’d loved in the past. She saw that the head of it was decorated with etchings, and she recalled his artistic side, no doubt squandered now. He took up the lantern and was ready to depart. Following his lead, she moved out into the tunnels, carefully taking in anything so that she could to distinguish this place from the rest, just in case they did get lost. She kept her faith in his sense of direction, however, and she did not ask about the nests.

  “So, you have made your home in a Vork tunnel? I understood that Vorks were quite dangerous,” she said. “Isn’t it jeopardizing to live down here with them?”

  “These are older tunnels,” he explained. “Only a few of the creatures are still around, but there’s still plenty of room to roam about freely. You can hear them well underground. Trust me. It’s much safer down here than it is up there.”

  “If you say so,” she said, looking around at whatever the light would touch. There was a bit of water flowing in from a spring in the wall. The bed beneath her was made of grass and feathers, and there was a chest to keep food. There was a clothes line in the corner and a table with personal items on it. It wouldn’t have been Wren’s choice, but she supposed he had everything he needed here.

  Yet another member of the Wolf Pack, hiding in a hole in the ground.

  “Everyone is hiding from something,” she muttered to herself.

  She would love to gather them all and make them tell her everything that was out there to threaten their lives, but sadly, she knew there was no time for that.

  There are simply too many dangers to count.

  “So, you’re here. Did Rifter bring you back?” Toss asked, eager to learn. She was glad he had brought up the subject.

  “Yes, I’ve been trying to get the Pack back together. Rifter asked me too.”

  Toss smiled in the light of the lantern.

  “Good. He must have decided how to deal with all this. I’ve been waiting for this day. Come on; there’s no use in sitting here,” he said, rising up. “I’ll help you find the others if you’ll tell me what Rifter’s plan is. What does he need me to do?”

  Wren smiled, but could hardly believe that he was so willing. It was a pleasant thing to discover, and she would tell him what he wanted to know. It was time to recruit another one.

  As they walked, Wren recounted the events to Toss, everything that Rifter had told her, and on to how she had met up with Nix, Calico, and eventually Finn. Toss listened to it all, but unlike the others, he did not seem to be judging it. He merely listened and accepted it as it was. She marveled that he did not even try to ask her questions about any of it! When he did not, Wren started in on her own.

  “They tell me you were the last to leave Rifter.”

  “It’s true,” Toss admitted with a sigh, “and I didn’t think it was right to leave when I did.”

  “Why did you then?”

  “I would have stayed,” he told her honestly in his very sweet, deep voice, “but Rifter told me to go. I had wanted to stay, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He said it wasn’t safe to stay there with him anymore. He told me that if he ever needed me, he’d come find me.”

  How loyal, Wren thought, but made sure not to say it. It was the picture o
f faith, but perhaps unreasonable? Could Toss not think for himself?

  How can I think that? This is exactly what I had done and just what Nix tried to warn me against.

  “So you don’t agree that Rifter acted differently than before?’ she asked. “It didn’t worry you that he’d changed because of the demon?”

  Toss didn’t stumble through his answer. “Of course he was different, but considering all that had happened, I guessed it was understandable. I wasn’t suspicious about him. He changed as we all did, and when he came back he was even more different, but I still trusted him. I owed him that.”

  “When he came back?” she questioned.

  “After Nix went away, Rifter left the rest of us to go look for him. He wanted to make things right and ask him to come back. He was gone for a long time – months – maybe even a whole year. He never found Nix, and when he came back alone, yes, he was different.”

  Ah yes; Calico had mentioned this. This part fit with the other things Wren had learned.

  “The rest of us hardly recognized him, but we understood it was the demon that had changed him. We knew that the corruption of the land wasn’t his fault. That had already started long ago. But none of that was good enough for Sly, and eventually, the rest as well. I stayed – I would have been there still. Rifter may have been possessed, but he tried so hard to fight against it! I would never have been so strong. I really believed that he was winning. I still wanted to believe that he could fight it.”

  “And he looked different?” she asked, interrupting his thought. “He looked more like a demon when he returned, as if it had taken control over him?”

  “He was looking odd before,” Toss admitted. “I guess when he came back, he looked even worse – his eyes, his teeth – but it had been a year. He’d gotten older, and he’d been through a lot. Besides that, the corruption took a toll on us all.”

  Wren would admit she had not recognized any of them very well – and they had hardly even recognized one another – but perhaps that was the island’s fault. This world had always been good at making their memories a bit hazy. She recalled Finn’s one fang and glowing eyes, the markings on Nix, the overall disarray of Calico. Now, here was Toss, such an incredible size! A giant!