Chapter 54: Theres No Place Like Home Part 2 (1/2)
”Keep going!”
”Have we lost them?”
”I don't see any more of them!”
”Wait where's Alton?”
Team Rhapsody stopped looking around the forest now looking paranoid. ”Shit! We were too fixated with getting away I didn't even see Alton.” Emil ranted.
”Well, what are we doing? We need to go and find him.”
”Zinnia, I do agree, but it's too dangerous. He could be anywhere.”
”So what? We just leave him.”
”Whoa!” Alton yelled, jumping out from the bushes panting. ”You guys agreed to ditch me? That's cold.” He flicked small traces of ice from his wrist. ”I was just holding them back.”
”We thought you died!” Percy argued.
”Me? Dead. Please it's going to take a lot more than some mossy boys to kill me.”
”Speaking of which, what were those things? They all just came out of nowhere.”
”Growing from the ground and the trees. With how dense this forest is, we could have a whole army on our asses before we even knew what hit us.” Gale said now even more paranoid. ”We need to get to the village.”
”What about those lumberjacks?”
”If we got caught off guard, I can only expect the worst for them.” He responded, turning back around. ”Come on; the village isn't too far away.”
Everyone kept on the task at hand all be it with a lot more caution and care. No one's eyes left the trees or the ground for the entire journey. Luckily for them, it was now a lot quieter, although none of them was sure if that was a blessing or curse at the moment. Passing through the last set of trees, a small village on the river was spotted. Serval buildings had plummeted into the river while another one had collapsed into a sinkhole. Gale gave a look of devastation at his former home as he began the long march of defeat.
The houses still up looked damage and some ready to collapse of the long stilts holding them up. The only house on the land was a small blacksmith who had its roof caved in. The villagers were in the middle of clearing out the rubble. One by one, they began to notice the new visitors and especially Gale. ”Is it him?”
”It is, it's Gale!”
”Gale has come home to protect us!”
”Thank the lord!”
An elderly woman limped over, holding a walking stick. Her eyes met with Gale as she hugged him. He, on the other hand, stood there not returning the hug looking uncomfortable. ”I'm so glad you've come home to us Gale. Your mother will be so happy to see you. Are these your friends?”
”It's nice to meet you, mam. When we heard his family were in trouble, we knew we had to help.”
”That's very sweet of you all.”
”What happened here?” Gale asked.
The woman looked around, shaking her head. ”For the past few weeks now we've been constantly attacked by creatures.”
”Those moss things? Yeah, we were attacked by them too.”
”The Moss takes our own. Dozens missing and there is no sign of them stopping.”
”When did this start happening?”
”About a month ago, two of our bravest and strongest men went to investigate an anomaly. They never returned, and then the Moss started appearing.”
”What sort of anomaly?”
”We had a violent earthquake, and a ravine appeared. We tried fighting back, but we stand no chance against the endless numbers. We even hired some streamers to aid us not wanting to disturb you, Gale. Two days in and they too vanished.”
”You think the Moss got to them?” Percy questioned.
Alton was left unsure. ”They could have taken the money and run. Or the Moss could have gotten them. Has there be any bodies left when the Moss attack?”
”Bodies?”
”No. They all just disappear.”
”This is strange…”
”Oh, I'll tell your mother and brother, you are here. They will be pleased.” The woman croaked, walking away.