Zoe picked up the sticks and tried one last time with determination feeling all the while that it was a fool’s hope. By chance a flicker of flame started igniting the dry leaves and dried out moss. With great excitement, Zoe couldn’t believe his eyes as he burst out, “Ahhhh, whooohooo! Yes! Ha, Ha.” He started feeding the growing flame until a roaring fire was blazing before him giving him warmth of body and soul. The boy jumped up and danced around the fire wildly as any child might—by chance the fire started, and the child was wild with excitement!
Chapter 6
Death rides on every passing breeze,
He lurks in every flower.
~Reginald Heber~
The next morning the child woke with the cool morning breeze blowing gently across his filthy little body. He lay there for a moment realizing his surroundings, in the midst of the Yellow Forest. It seemed to him that darkness crept upon the leaves of the trees and evil eyes watched from every dark place. He thought to himself, only a fool would send a child like me into such a wretched place—the foolishness of the god’s! Suddenly, a bolt of lightning came thunderously down from the sky striking a tree that was near Zoe. The enormously, bulky tree burst at the base of the trunk shattering, leaving no strength upon which it could stand. The top of the tree came tumbling down, down right towards Zoe. Fear, tremendous fear leapt up within him as he shielded his face and ducked down in hopes of avoiding any pain. The tree crashed down with great force missing Zoe altogether.
Zoe stood up and unshielded his eyes and face to look about him. Miraculously, the child was standing in the center of the tree having not a scratch upon him. The tree fell in such a way as to miss him entirely. He turned around to see that he somehow was standing in the midst of the tree surrounded by branches on all sides. How in the… Zoe knew not what to think. How could this be? He then looked up in the sky and became more bewildered, as there were no clouds in the sky above. He wondered, Can the gods make lightening without clouds?
He realized the gods were not pleased with his actions and thoughts. He promptly made his way over the tree branches getting more scrapes and pains from his escape than from the incident with the falling tree. Once he was finally on the other side, he turned around to see a huge entanglement of branches. He wondered how he could have ever by any stretch of the imagination haves escaped such a thing without even getting hurt.
He took a big breath and exhaled as he turned to go on his journey. As he walked along for some time, he noticed that he was getting hungry. The hunger was growing, as he had not eaten for some time now. He wished that all this had never happened, that his would be family had never died, that he had never meet the Great Wizard—Ha, Great Wizard indeed, thought Zoe. He wished that he had never seen the Blue Stone, or had gone into the Yellow Forest. So many things he wished had never happened, but there was nothing to do about it now. He was not about to let the things that have happened to him paralyze him, reducing him to tears—not now, never again.
After about two hours of exhausting travel, Zoe sat down upon the ground realizing that the journey he found himself on was not laden with food as he had hoped two hours ago. Not only was he hungry, he was now thirsty having a parched throat, as he had nothing to quench his thirst either. He wanted to cry; his whole being was ready to breakdown and cry. Never in all of his life had the child felt so much hopelessness and helpless.
He sat there for a moment, until he heard a noise, a loud noise. Something was coming straight for him, and he was not about to sit around and find out if the creature found within the Yellow Forest was friend or foe. He turned and ran as fast as he could not looking back as he feared the worst. He dodged trees left and right going on as the way seemed to be closing in on him. Zoe looked back at this moment and saw that a beastly looking creature was hot on his trail; the creature was moving on all fours and was large in stature. The creature was not fast by any stretch of the imagination; though Zoe’s imagination was running wild as he thought the creature was upon him savagely wanting his flesh.
The forest continued to become more and more difficult for Zoe to make his way through. He was fighting vigorously with all his might pushing branches aside and leaping entire shrubs, until he came to the end of his vigorous flight. He came to a huge wall of thorns of which he was wedged in as if at the tip of an axe blade. Turning around he saw the creature slow down. This creature had two horns on its head and seemed to be watching with a newfound enjoyment. Then surprisingly to Zoe the beast spoke, “No way out boy?” The creature snorted and laughed, “I will eat you, you know.” Laughing in great enjoyment at Zoe’s torment as it came closer and closer.
Zoe turned his back on the creature and looked at the wall of thistles and started with much pain to make his way into the heart of the dreaded branches. The creature was awe struck to see Zoe’s advancement into the bristles, “You will die you know, if not from me from what lies beyond!” Zoe did not take anything to heart from the creature as he figured it only meant to strike fear into his heart.
Being torn by the thorns was excruciating, but he went on as he imagined his bones being crunched by the beast behind. Then a prick of a thorn pierced deep in his flesh; Zoe gave voice to his pain, “Ahhh, ouch…ah that hurt.” He stood motionless for a moment as he looked at the wound. The branch upon which the thorn was a part of seemed to move away from Zoe at his outburst. Zoe did not notice this at first, but when he went to reach out his hand to move a thorny branch, the branch moved from his grasp. “What magic is this?” Zoe said audibly to himself.
A strange thing occurred after Zoe spoke his words; he heard a voice, not a voice spoken to the ear, but rather to the mind. The voice said, “This is no trickery; I have hurt you and wish not to bring you any more pain.”
“Who are you; where are you?” Zoe said wondering about this strange voice that he could not hear, but could somehow know.
“I am before you and behind you at the same time; I am on your left and your right.”
“How can that be? I don’t see you?”
“Your eyes see what they want to see and yet you are still blind to me. I am the thorns and thistles in your side; I am the branches that have moved aside for your convenience.”
Zoe stared at the branches all around him in wonder. He reached out his to touch a branch having it move right before his eyes.
“You see, I am alive as you yourself, and move and have my being.”
“But, but you’re a plant.”
“Just because I am not as you are, you think I have no life.” Suddenly all of the thorns came rushing in upon Zoe bringing fear to his heart. Zoe dared not move, as he was sure to feel the pain of this creature. “Now, you see that my wrath kindled could cause you as much pain as say a creature wanting to devour body and soul!” The plant-creature then backed away clearing a path for Zoe to walk through.
Zoe cautiously made his way upon the path provided for him. He feared the way but had no choice in the matter. He looked back and could sense the creature’s pleasure in allowing Zoe to be free from his grasp. The other beast that had been chasing him wondered off after yelling curses beyond the boy’s understanding, and Zoe was very thankful for such matters. After about one mile he came to the edge of the path that was overlooking a beautiful hideaway, marvelous to behold! He wished very much to get into the heart of this place as he saw within the middle a lake that was glistening with fresh water. Zoe turned to see if the creature were still there; he wondered if after a mile the creature was still part of the plant before him. Then as with understanding his thoughts, the branches receded and hid the way on which he had come. Zoe knew the answer to his heart’s question. He backed up being a little afraid and forgetting his place as he lost his footing upon the cliff and came tumbling down with a hard crash to the head. He grimaced in pain and momentarily looked around as everything was swirling about him in a dizzy blur.
Zoe lay there in pain for some time regaining his mind, and then a memory came forcefully back
to him. A memory he had tried to escape…
“Paidion, my child, take Zoe back to our camp, then come again to me.”
The boy looked annoyed, “Do I have to father?” He hated looking after Zoe. Yet as he was the oldest, he was always looking after Zoe. His father just gave him a look that meant mind your manners and do as I say. He turned to go, “Come on.” He shoved Zoe in the back to get him started. The two traveled for some time before they came to a small stream. Paidion took off his sandals and started to cool them off by walking around in the stream. Zoe just stood there and watched. He hated doing what Paidion chose to do because his father always seemed to take most of it out on Zoe.
“Do you think we should go now Paidion?” Zoe whimpered knowing that he was going to somehow get in trouble for this.
“No I don’t think we should be going now brat!” He said mimicking the young boy. “I haven’t…hey what’s this.” He said walking over to a flower that had risen out of the water.
Zoe watched for a moment nervously, “Don’t touch it…let’s go, please.”
Paidion yelled over his shoulder, “Shut up Brat.” Brat was his favorite name for Zoe. He got closer to the peculiar flower and reached out his hand to pluck it from the water. Suddenly it shot out a spiny needle piercing his flesh. He quickly rubbed the spot breaking the tip off in his arm and rubbing the rest off into the flowing stream. At first Paidion felt nothing but a stinging sensation. He made his way toward Zoe and upon reaching the bank he stumbled, falling to the ground, having no strength left in his legs. He reached out a hand toward Zoe who backed away in fear. Paidion then collapsed to the ground and lost unconscious.
Zoe immediately ran for his father wasting no time leaving behind his brother. His lungs burned as he ran with the speed of wind while he carried the burden of his brother’s ailment upon his back. Zoe was gasping for breath when he got to his father. He fell to one knee and tried to regain his breath.
His father turned to see his son. He saw the panic in his son’s eyes, “What is it? What’s wrong?” He stood there trying to get information, but Zoe still had no breath in him. He just pointed in the direction of Paidion. “What is it?” Then it hit him, “Where is Paidion? Where is he?” His father was frantic and started shaking his boy. Zoe pointed in the direction once again, and his father took off running.
After a few moments, Zoe was able to stand, and he started walking back to his brother. When he had completely regained his breath, Zoe was able to do a slow trot that brought him to where his brother had fallen. They were not there. Zoe looked to where the plant was. Nothing, even the plant was gone. Strange things dwell in this land, terrible and strange things. He continued on for a time and came to the camp where he saw everyone frantically preparing to pay homage to the gods. He just stood there not knowing what to do.
The father was working fast over the child upon an alter to Geburah, the almighty god of gods. There were many gods, but Geburah was to Merim-nao the first place to go if he really wanted something—desperation for the life that was fading from his son. He poured oil upon the child crushing blossoms upon the naked flesh of the boy. Merim-nao continued to pray over the boy, but nothing seemed to work. The child slowly and quietly walked to death’s door and knocked. After the child’s death, Merim-nao tried the last resort of the gods—Yesod the god of the living, hoping that his boy might be restored, but nothing. All the while he wept. It was a realization that death in this strange place could come at any time by the hand of any. Death patiently found its prey waiting in the semblance of a flower.
The burial came and went, as they placed the dead boy in a secluded place. They took handfuls of dirt releasing it to fall upon the body while saying words of kindness. Time and time again this occurred until the body was covered. He looked up at his father as the last handful was placed. Merim-nao was looking at Zoe when he said the final words, “Foolishly taken from this land before his time.” Zoe knew that his father had somehow blamed him for his brother’s death. Zoe wondered two things at this moment, if any kind words would be said about him if he were to die, and if his father had wished that it were him instead of Paidion.
Zoe regained consciousness shaking his head trying to regain his wits about him. He looked around feeling a little disoriented still. He realized that his father would have had no kind words at his funeral and that his father would have wished him dead in his brother’s stead.
Chapter 7
Beauty is but skin deep, ugly lies the bone;
Beauty dies and fades away, but ugly holds its own.
~ Anonymous ~
Zoe began wishing that maybe his brother were the one to live, then he would not have so much trouble, if it would only all come to an end. He sat up and felt his forehead that was crusted with dried blood. At first he wondered how he had gotten the wound, but then his mind raced back to the fall from the edge above. The knock had hurt him more than he had anticipated. He wondered if it were the hit on the head that caused his thinking or his thinking that caused the serious pain he felt in his head—the head receiving much pain from the heart!
He looked around. He was again overwhelmed with the beauty the place offered. He had seen so many terrible things in recent days that he wondered if he were imagining things. How could such a place of beauty dwell in the midst of the Yellow Forest; the place seemed to be a safe haven, a place of rest. He thought to himself as he believed himself the first to find such a place, I shall call this place Anap-auo: the place of rest! Being proud of himself, he got to his feet picking up his bag, which was no easy task. He almost fell over having stood up, and then upon bending over, he nearly fell down again as he was still dizzy from the knock on the head. He caught himself with his hand as he placed it just beyond the bag to stop himself. He took his other hand, grabbed his carrying sack and got to his feet once again. He looked inside; the blue orb was still there. He smiled and thought he might go for a swim to wash away the blood on his forehead and cleanse himself from the filth upon his body.
The glimmering sun shining off of the lake’s water added to the ambiance of the surrounding beauty. He looked around seeing wonderful flowers dance in a slight breeze with mature wheat heads bending in the wind. He thought to himself, this must be the most beautiful place in all of our land!
He proceeded to undress remembering the little sprite that had fallen. “Oh poor little sprite, I wish you were here!” he said to himself as he took off is clothes remembering how the woodland fairy had seen him naked. Setting all of his clothes aside, he went to stick his foot in the water, but a strange thing occurred. The water moved aside as if alive. He took his foot back and found that the water returned to its place. He looked around and wondered if someone were watching. With no one in sight, Zoe again tried to place his foot in the water, but again the water moved aside. This time Zoe placed his foot upon the ground wondering what would happen, the ground was dry to the touch. This was very odd as the water should have caused the ground under it to have been saturated. Zoe took another step out into the water and it also moved aside. Zoe thought all of this very strange and continued to walk out into the midst of the water on dry ground.
When Zoe was about ten feet out he turned around, and to his surprise, he saw that the water had returned to surround him. The boy tried to take a step back toward land, but the water did not move aside, and when Zoe placed a toe in the water, it burned him as if his foot were in fire. Zoe let out a scream, “Ouch!” Zoe was too far to jump back to land, and since the water burned like fire he didn’t dare run back to land—only one thing to do, simply see where the water would lead.
Zoe turned back around and walked towards the center of the lake having the water move out of his way with every step. Now that the water was over his head, Zoe began to fear that the water might come crashing down on him and consume him with burning heat. It was at this moment, when his fear was mounting, that he came to a spiral stairwell in the midst of the water. It was leading down and seem
ed to be dry as well. He proceeded to walk down. When his head was completely underground, the water covered his exit. Zoe reached up to touch the water and again let out a guttural moan as he felt the pain of the water.
Zoe was now in pitch-blackness. He could not see before him, but he could smell. A horrid stench caused all the hairs on Zoe’s neck to stand on end. He gasped for fresh air but was only more nauseated by the stench. The foul breath of the air was so overpowering Zoe collapsed falling down the staircase, around and around till he hit bottom. Strangely enough Zoe was not hurt, but he was in the midst of the worst stench that he could have possibly imagined. He felt long hard objects that had rounded parts at each end and had slime on them as well. He continued to feel his way around and found a soft furry object and found that he could pick it up. The object itself seemed to weigh no more than his sack and was soft to the touch. He felt around the whole object and found the places were two eyes had been and a nose. The jaw had fallen off and when the reality of what Zoe had hit his mind, utter horror overtook him.
He screamed as no other, “Ahhh, Ahhhh!” In a panic while running through this heap of bones, the boy continued to scream waking the dead. Tripping in the midst and having rotten flesh smeared on his face, Zoe felt repulsed and sensations of dry heaves started to cause his body to convulse. Regaining his footing the boy pushed on. In the midst of his torment, Zoe made his way to a wall and seemed to find a place on solid ground. He was still greatly upset and pushed himself against the wall looking around in the darkness hoping to see something.
A glimmering light then shown in the distance, directly in front of him. He could see the light approaching, and Zoe was afraid thinking that the light had some connection with the bones before him. As the light approached a faint sound could be heard, an angelic melody whispered in the hollows of the cavern. Zoe was transfixed by this sensation to walk towards this creature, but he still had his senses about him and stayed close by the wall.
Where Dragons Haunt (The Diaspora Book 1) Page 4