After the Dark

by Spencer Labbe

  Pil waved him off. “Of course, we are all Entri, we have to look after each other… Plus you’re our friend.”

  Sandy smiled, and as he did the sky suddenly got brighter. They all flinched away from the sudden expanse of light and turned to look at the horizon. Outlined by a bright sheen of purple sky and cloud was the top of a sharp white light.

  “The sun…” Pil whispered absently. Despite the pain of the sudden light he couldn’t help but look at the world as it brightened. The landscape unfolded before them in a vast array of vibrant colors.

  “No —” croaked Sandy, distraught. He looked pale and terrified.

  Pil looked at Dirk and Felicity as they were staring resignedly out at the horizon. Pil knew he should be afraid, knew this meant certain death, but he couldn’t help but feel awed. As Pil looked towards the now bright-green shape of Lungala, where undoubtedly creatures of all sorts were now awakening, he felt only curiosity. He was seeing the light, finally seeing clearly, and the prospect of death suddenly seemed laughable. Pil had felt fear, he had felt irresistible unrelenting fear in the Chasm, and he doubted very much that anything, even death, would ever frighten him again.

  12

  The Light

  The sunrise had an odd effect on their small group. For most of them, it seemed to sap them instantly of their energy. Sandy indeed sat down immediately after it had fully risen up, with such a blank expression on his face, it seemed unlikely he would ever get back up. Dirk and Felicity similarly fell, staring awed at the sky now a dawning bright purple. And Pil for his part, though he sensed the despair of the group, felt his aches and pains leave him.

  “I suppose we should have a campout,” said Pil, feeling somewhat abashed. “We haven’t had a proper rest all day. We need all the rest we can get now.”

  Felicity looked up at him. “What’s the plan?”

  “We’ve got to hike,” Pil said firmly. “Try and find Westleton, retrace our steps to the pack point and then head north —”

  “But won’t they come?” asked Sandy, his voice hesitant. “I mean, how do we know the rest of the squad left? Maybe… maybe —”

  Pil looked down at Sandy. “You know as well as I that they’ve left.” Then, more softly he added, “Tiberius gave the command; they won’t disobey him.”

  Sandy fell silent and hung his head.

  “Why can’t we just hide here until it’s dark again?” asked Felicity.

  “We’ll need supplies,” said Dirk suddenly. “I dropped my bag when we went after Sandy.”

  Pil nodded. “We will get the supplies, but for now we need a rest. We can eat Merry Berries. They’ll revive us as much as anything. But we’ll need real food and water to survive a week. After we get supplies, I think it’s best if we keep moving. Staying in one place isn’t a good idea, and we might as well be moving back towards home. It will make it easier for them to find us.”

  The others nodded numbly.

  “We’ll need more than what we picked; I’ll go get another bag.”

  Dirk looked as though he wanted to argue, but Pil turned quickly on his heel and walked right back into the Chasm. He was slightly nervous at the thought of entering the cave again, but he did not hesitate.

  Even without his Elfin night vision, Pil noticed that the visibility had noticeably improved. The cold feeling was completely absent, and the walls were comfortably silent.

  He tread lightly down to the end of the tunnel, without even a glance at the Wretch’s body. Pil began searching around for a bag to collect Merry Berries.

  Once he found one, Pil began plucking the tiny red fruits from between the thick vines. As he plucked the third Berry from a vine, he caught something white out of the corner of his eye. Pil turned swiftly, his hand jumping to the sword at his side. The skull of a skeleton shone dimly out against the corner of the Chasm.

  Pil walked cautiously over to it, his hand still at his side. The skeleton was resting in a sitting position against a corner of stone that he hadn’t noticed. The stone wall behind the bones seemed to curve into further darkness. Pil followed it, leading him to a separate break. It was like a hidden closet off the main hallway. It wasn’t big, but it was dark.

  Resting serenely on the stone floor were rows upon rows of bone-white skeletons, all lying evenly next to each other. Pil shivered. It was sickening. He didn’t want to think of how these people had suffered, how long they had been trapped in that thing the Wretch. He turned to leave, but as he did a glint of gold shone out amongst the white bones.

  Pil hesitated only a moment before quickly running across the cave. His footsteps still echoed eerily around him as he stooped to bend over a particularly large skeleton. Crumpled against the white bone neck, covered with a fine layer of dust, was a silver necklace — the glinting gold was coming from a large crystal that rested serenely on the skeleton’s breastbone.

  Pil snatched up the golden crystal on impulse. It radiated a dim light that soon died. He left the alcove and went back to the treasure. Pil continued picking off the Merry Berries in a hurried sort of way. After he had finished packing his bag he practically ran back to the opening of Chasm, leaving the mess of bad memories behind him in a rush.

  Pil emerged into the light and was staggered by the sudden heat emitting from the now fully risen sun. Calmly he sat down on the grass next to his friends, attempting to slow his beating heart. He passed around Merry Berries.

  “You guys should get some rest,” said Pil when they had all finished eating. “I’ll take first watch.”

  The others gave no complaint. The Merry Berries had rejuvenated them, and the summer’s warmth spreading around them had a very lulling effect; within minutes they were fast asleep.

  Pil, however, was not pacified by the heat. He stared rapturously out across the landscape. The rolling green and brown contrasted brilliantly in a blend of plant-covered hills and tree-veiled forests. All Lungala stretched out before him, wide as an ocean and continuing farther than even Pil’s keen eyes could see. And there, winding down next to Lungala like a pale purple ribbon was the Seamless River. The river, Pil knew, ran along the other side of Agora Ridge and then made its way all the way down to the edge of Soma Mountain. It also provided water to all Elfin mounds as it poured down right on top of them, crossing Wayfair Valley.

  In the light, the thought of Lungala seemed less and less dangerous. With the now bright purple sky illuminating the landscape, the atmosphere became suddenly quite peaceful. Pil toyed with the sword he had taken and took in the breathtaking view.

  A sword this good deserves a name, Pil thought idly as he twirled it around. Now, in the light, he could see the swords casual brilliance. The handle was finely wrought and black to match the darkened blade. It was like a shard of black broken glass. Perhaps he would call it ‘Glass.’ It certainly seemed a fitting name, seeing how the last sword he had held shattered like glass in his hands.

  A faraway strangled roar brought him sharply out of his reverie. It had come from Lungala. The creatures were now undoubtedly awake, and the hunting had begun. The roar unnerved Pil, but it was his duty to keep his friends safe. He would have to somehow think of a plan to get through the mess of forest without being attacked. It would be difficult, very difficult, but Pil was determined to keep all his friends alive, even if it cost him his life.

  It would be Afterdark for another seven days and then it would be night again and all the beasts would go back into hibernation. Pil had to help his group survive for just another seven days if they were to have a chance at living.

  Pil let his companions sleep for a few more hours and then woke them, indicating that they should get a move on. He knew it wasn’t a good idea to stay in one place for too long. Silently, they got up off the grass and made their way apprehensively back towards Lungala.

  They trudged through the bright-green grass, thinking deeply about their predicament. As they approached the forest, Sandy was practically translucent with fear. The forest loomed over th
em like a dark and menacing omen. Pil led the way into the copse of trees and came to a stop; the others jerked to a stop behind him. Pil closed his eyes and listened. His ears could pick up even the slightest of sounds from vast distances. The forest, however, was severely quiet.

  Pil could only hear the very slightest of rustling through the brush, but it was far away. As he looked around, the trees seemed just as before, only light now poured through the cracks in their foliage, and the colors of leaves became far more vibrant. But the trees were empty, no lurking creature hidden in the shadows waiting to pounce… not even so much as a rabbit. Not as far as he could tell, anyway.

  “Seems all right, for now,” he said, turning to face his friends. “If we’re quick we can make out toward the pack point before the hunting really begins.”

  The others nodded anxiously.

  “Still — weapons out, I think,” said Pil as he unsheathed Glass.

  Dirk hefted the large gold hammer, looking mighty and impressive; only the slight tremor in his gaze gave him away. Sandy took a half step in what could have been an effort to stand behind Dirk.

  “I lost my whip in the cave,” said Felicity, pained.

  “Here.” Dirk rummaged in a large bag he had been carrying. “Found this among the treasure.”

  Felicity took a small dagger from Dirk's hand. She held it lightly up to the light. It was curved like a hook, the sheath and pommel were entwined with gold.

  Pil nodded. “You stay behind me. Dirk, you cover Sandy; we’ve got to be prepared for anything.”

  The group tightened together and began to traipse through the forest as quietly as they possibly could in a single-file line. The leaves on the floor and closely grown brush made this task quite difficult.

  "Have we headed the right way, Fel?” Pil whispered after a short while of careful picking.

  She nodded. “Seventy-two strides, so probably ninety-five paces South to where we left the supplies.”

  Sandy stared at her in amazement.

  The forest was still and quiet, and they added no new noise to it; save maybe Dirk’s stifled panting. It wasn’t until the forest had completely enclosed around them, and they had left the grass field long behind, that they heard a noise. A low grumbling erupted from the trees. It pulsed slowly throughout Lungala, shocking them all to a sudden stop. It was followed by a loud roar that blew over them so fiercely Pil’s heart skipped a beat. There was a short pause and then a short and piercing screech.

  Pil looked around to his friends; they were frozen mid-stride, eyes wide. And then another screech, and another growl followed by a booming thud. It sounded as though two very large things were fighting viciously in the wood up ahead. Pil needlessly raised his finger to his lips; his friends were still frozen in place. Even Pil was fighting the urge to run very quickly in the other direction. If they made even one loud step, the two creatures might decide to chase after an easier prey. Through the trees up ahead, Pil thought he could see a rustling of leaves where the ferocious battle must be taking place. They would have to try and sneak by as quickly and quietly as possible.

  Pil gestured silently that they should move, and then turned around and picked his way through the trees. The battle, however, seemed to be on the move as well. The beasts were thrashing and roaring, making a great deal of sporadic rustling. Suddenly the rustling moved rapidly through the trees, and it sounded like one of the beasts had broken free from the fight and was attempting to flee through the forest. The crackling of the approaching thing flew quickly, moving towards the exact spot where the Elfins, in terror, had stopped walking. And what was worse, the other creature could be heard thudding after it, shaking the ground as it ran.

  Pil grabbed Felicity, who was closest and pulled her sharply down into the cover of a nearby crevice. Dirk and Sandy scrambled down after them; they landed roughly just as the rustling in the branches rushed overhead casting a deep shadow. And then it stopped moving. It sounded as though the creature had settled on the tree right next to where the Elfin sat hidden and terrified. The thudding of the other creature grew in volume as it approached, chasing down its prey.

  Pil couldn’t help himself. As the beast burst into the open, he peeked up over the ridge of the crook just in time to see two enormous pink blobs of feet thud to a stop. The owner of those feet at first seemed to be a mountain of jiggling pink flesh, half as tall as the vast trees of Lungala. As Pil looked, he could distinguish the rolls of pink fat into arms which were larger than any Elfin. And nestled between two rolling shoulders was a very bald — very round — head topped with two small horns. The creature, as it stood huffing and looking wildly around the wood, looked very much like an obese and giant toddler.

  The giant’s wheezing seemed to shake the very forest and Pil was struck by the sudden urge to duck down into hiding before it spotted him. At that moment, however, something half as immense as the giant bowled down from a nearby branch like a fast ball of feathers. There was an almighty clash as the giant caught the creature in a mess of wings and flesh.

  The giant bared its yellow brick-like teeth in a snarl and held the bird still in a bone-crushing grasp. Pil was struck dumb as he took in the wriggling thing, knowing what it was. Pil had read about them, seen drawings, but the real thing left him breathless.

  A Spindle, an enormous bird of prey with white feathers that made up the most of two, sharp, bat-like wings. Connected to the wings were skinny hands with overlarge yellow talons. The most interesting thing about the Spindle was its beak, which was bright yellow and ridged like a screw.

  The Spindle’s talons clawed at the thick arms that held it. Then the bird narrowed its ruby-red eyes and pecked savagely at the giant’s face, leaving great trails of jagged cuts. The giant roared its displeasure and threw the bird hard at a nearby tree. But the Spindle spun gracefully in mid-air and unfurled its wings to their full span. It took to the air, soaring high up onto a branch, stumbling slightly as it landed. Pil noticed a deep cut tearing down the front of its wing where its blood stained the front feathers crimson.

  The giant swept the blood from his face and tore after the Spindle with great thudding steps, its large rolls of skin jiggling with effort. It looked for a second as though the giant was going to tackle the tree the Spindle was on and break it down. But the great bird took off again, flying through the branches with a great rustling of leaves. The giant abruptly changed course. He crashed away through the woods, chasing his fleeing prey.

  The whole battle drifted away through the forest as suddenly as it had come, and the sounds of the fight soon died down to nothing. Still, the Elfin stayed hidden.

  Pil surveyed the forest keenly, looking for any signs of another impending attack, but all was silent.

  “I reckon it’s all right now,” said Pil, when he was sure the coast was clear.

  Dirk stood up and looked nervously around, clutching his hammer with white knuckles.

  “What was all that about?” asked Felicity, sounding shaken as she too got to her feet. “It sounded like a fight…”

  “That’s exactly what it was,” said Pil seriously. “There was a Spindle, and something that looked like an overlarge baby, it was half as huge as that tree.”

  Sandy poked his head up above the crevice but remained crouched. "A real Spindle…" he said in an awed but terrified whisper.

  Pil nodded. “Looked just like in the books — except a fair bit more vicious. The thing it was fighting, though… I dunno. I’ve never seen or heard anything like it.”

  “We should probably move,” Dirk suggested plainly.

  Pil nodded and they started off again, moving through the thick trees with even more caution, and even less sound than before. There was a short silence, as they all absorbed what had just happened before anyone spoke again.

  “What exactly did the creature look like?” Sandy asked Pil hushed, but curious.

  Pil thought for a moment, “it was like a baby Elfing — at least a good thirteen feet tall,”
he explained. “And strong, it handled the Spindle easily, nearly killed it.”

  Sandy nodded absently. “It might have been a Troll or a Giant. More likely a Giant.”

  “A what?” Pil asked, taken aback.

  “Giant,” said Sandy. “Your mum never spun you the stories of the Tail, the Troll, and the Tiny Giant —” Sandy stopped midsentence at the look on Pil’s face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t —”

  “It’s fine,” said Pil, trying to ignore the pain the reminder of his mother’s absence had brought him. “What’s a Giant, then?” he asked hurriedly to fill in the awkward moment.

  “Giants are big people,” Sandy began, looking embarrassed. “Bigger than the Trolls that live in the Falcate. Giants are said to be fat with skin like a newborn babe, and they live in Magnus Forest. The stories about the Giants, though; they say they don’t even fear the Bahbeq…” he whispered conspiratorially. “Their only enemy is fire and the Dragons.”

  Pil considered this. “What is it said that the Trolls fear?” he asked, interested.

  Sandy shrugged, “don’t reckon too much,” he said indifferently. “But the stories say they know the secret to kill Dragons.”

  “I wonder what else hunts in this forest,” Pil asked idly.

  “I don’t,” said Dirk nervously. “How are we supposed to fight things that big? We would get squashed before we even got close.”

  Sandy nodded, his face sick. “We don’t have much of a chance for survival out here…”

  “We just need to move fast,” said Pil with more confidence than he felt. “We’re small; they won’t take note of us if we hide. Only the Bahbeq know our scent, and they live far off.” He paused for a moment, wondering if he believed himself. The fact that there was a traitor using Bahbeq to hunt down Elfin worried him more than he said. Even under normal circumstances, their odds of survival in the light weren’t high.