6 The Nothing Cave

"Killing a Walker of their level is difficult, permanently killing one is impossible for you at this point," Ankou whispered, still wrapped around his body. After a pause, Ankou continued, "Excepting of course your father." The light of the burning stone made the darkness inside the pine bough even darker.

He turned around for the first time, although that was a silly gesture since Ankou remained behind him. His hatchet was raised. It was the first time Ankou had been cruel to him. He sighed and shook his head.

"I reckon so." He stewed on that though for awhile, watching the Circle chatter on about things that he could only now half hear and that made even less sense to him when he did. Outside the protection of his pine tree and the [Grove of Respite], the blizzard was howling with furious intent. The sky was dark, even the clouds above were impossible to see.

He took out the [Iron Fang Necklace] and fingered the long iron fang, it was long enough to be a dagger. He put it on and could feel his connection to key aspects of [Iron Tooth] the insane, murderous bear that had ended his old life and forced a new one on him. He had so much rage bottled up that he wanted to add to it and go as insane as the bear had been with [Feral Rage], but Ankou's cool embrace tempered his fury.

He slipped out through the back of the pine tree, away from the [Grove of Respite] and entered the fury of the blizzard. Ankou resisted all attempts by the wind to rip his cloak off or chill his bones. Since ascending he'd felt an internal feeling about where his village was and himself in relation to it. Now he could feel something similar but closer as he clutched the [Iron Fang Necklace]. He walked with his eyes closed. Instead, he poured his attention into his feet and ears. Something in his chest made sure his path remained true.

His sense of smell blossomed with the [Iron Tooth Necklace], and the ability [Scent the Wind] allowed him to catch the scent of anything nearby despite or in spite of the terrible wind. Since the wind blew so hard, smells carried from beyond his sight. He experienced a whole new life hiding within the one he had known.

Even though it was dangerous to walk upon the spine of the mountain, it also meant that he was getting closer. Every time he stumbled and plunged down the side into pillows of snow, he was saved as much by his [Nothing Resistance] as his new sense of direction. Ankou didn't bother him during the journey and the long walk through the night gave him an opportunity to further stew on his hatred of the Walkers and the [Iron Tooth].

This time when he used [Consider] on the mouth of the cave. The mouth of the cave remained dark and silent. The cave was empty. Even the smell was gone. The snow from the blizzard refused to enter the cave. It took only ten steps to arrive where the bear had been curled up. The small treasure chest was gone.

Ankou fluttered loose around him as if to give him some space. The piles of bones and debris were still there but they lacked a smell and vibrancy from before. He squatted down to inspect the area where the body of the bear had been sleeping. He used [Survival], and his sense of direction still tugged at him like there was further to go. He pressed his hand against the cold stone, but it was unyielding.

"Navigate into [The Nothingness] that holds [Iron Tooth]," Ankou whispered, tickling his ears with its closeness. "Combine the skill [Survival] with your [Path Grace] ability to carry you into [The Nothingness] to continue tracking your query."

This time instead of taking a step back into his own shadow, he let Ankou proceed him. The darkness in the cave elongated and flowed around the space until he could spot a little crack. If he turned and looked at it sideways it was like the cave continued on deeper into darkness and nothingness.

He walked upon this unseen path deeper into nothing. To him it felt like time passed, but he was caught between moments. When the twisting, spiral path evened out, he was nowhere. The space extended forever in all directions. There was no light, yet he could feel the endless openness of the space.

There at the end of his path was a figure of [Iron Tooth]. It was huge. Larger than what he remembered. It looked perfect and lifelike, yet it wasn't alive. It lacked animus.

"Careful child," Ankou said, laying a long, skeletal finger upon his wrist. The finger ended in a sharp talon. It's skeletal fingers were wrapped in smooth darkness. Within it's chest, violet light pulsed. It's neck was thick and elongated like a serpents with long curved horns defining it's head. Two violet slits for eyes were on each side of its head. Row upon row of teeth lined its lipless mouth. There were no legs just jagged spikes along its spine that ended in a tail. It had wings of tattered strips of gleaming blackness interwoven. The ends of it's wings had curved talons longer than his arm. It's wings were vast, larger than its body and suspended Ankou off the ground.

As he was going to touch the figurine, smoke poured from the ground. His face grew ashen with terror. There were things that he could not distinguish emerging from around the outrageous angles between the figurine and where it lied. They broke through. Smoke poured from the openings. Hollow proboscises wriggled through followed by their heads. It was like they were woven together from tendrils of living material. Their heads lacked eyes but dripped smoke from the gaps between were their flesh was woven together. Exposed veins throbbed around bone white flesh. It's chest was opened, the ribs opening and closing like jagged fingers clasping and unclamping. There was nothing inside to spill out. Tentacles at their shoulders and hips moved around. Their tales were as long as their bodies and lined with jagged teeth. Thirteen of them poured out.