Chapter 6: The Forest of the Forgotten

Morwen

A light in dark places

The forest grew thicker the further Morwen went. She had walked throughout the night without sleep, her determination pushing her forward. The thick canopy of ancient trees blocked out most of the moonlight, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. Morwen's heart pounded in her chest as she pushed through the thick undergrowth, her mind filled with apprehension.

As she continued on, a chill crept up her spine, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. She hugged herself closer, her teeth chattering against the cold. Thin layers of her dress held no warmth against the chilling mountain air. Every step was a struggle, as exhaustion gnawed at her. But she knew she had to keep moving.

"Mom, I am scared, where are you?" Morwen cried out, her voice echoing through the trees.

She stopped to catch her breath, resting her back against a large boulder.

"It's okay, my child. I am here," Esther's voice echoed back.

"Mom?" Morwen's eyes filled with tears, the pain of her loss hitting her anew.

"You're not really here. You are just a memory. You're dead," Morwen sobbed.

"I will always be with you, Morwen. Always," her mother's voice replied. "you need to be strong."

"I don't know how," Morwen whispered, her voice cracking.

"You can do it. I believe in you," the ghostly echo of her mother's voice whispered.

Morwen stumbled and collapsed in the dirt. She could no longer fight off the exhaustion that had been creeping over her. Shivering, she curled into a tight ball, tucking her knees into her chest and closing her eyes.

Nightmares of the night before haunted her sleep. In her dreams, strange creatures roamed the forest, their glowing eyes watching her every move. She could hear their whispers, their voices laced with unknown intentions. Darkness enveloped her, and she felt powerless against its grip.

A terrifying scream that escaped her lips jolting her awake. Giving up on sleep, she gathered a few twigs and branches for a fire. Not having any flint or steel, she put dry bark between two sticks and began to twist them, faster and faster. She twisted the stick until the scrapes on her hands reopened. Slick with blood, the stick slipped out of her hands. For all her efforts, there was nothing to show, The bark was still cold. Not even a wisp of smoke. Her stomach let out a loud grumble. It had been hours since she last ate. She was exhausted and desperate for some respite. "It's not real, it's not real" Morwen mumbled to herself. As she sat, her mother's words echoed in her mind.

With tears streaming down her face, Morwen looked around the forest, hoping for an answer. Or at the very least something she could eat. She spotted a small bush covered in red berries. Downing a handful, not bothering to worry if they were poisonous.

Her mouth watered, and her stomach growled, her body craving food. She took a few more bites of the berries before setting off once again. The forest seemed to close in around her. As she walked, her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a dim light over the forest floor. Shadows lurked in the darkness, their presence making Morwen's skin crawl. She had to push on, there was no other choice. Silently, she prayed Zack was alive. She needed him to be safe. Pictures of them playing as children, splashing in a creek and laughing, flashed through Morwen's mind. But those happy moments seemed distant now, replaced by the cold reality of her present situation. She would never go back to those carefree days, never see her mother's smile again. The weight of loss settled heavy upon her heart, and the sound of her mother's voice echoed in her mind. Morwen cried harder. She felt so alone at that moment.

A rustling in the bushes caught her attention, and she froze. The shadows shifted, Morwen held her breath, her body tense. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant howling of wolves. Morwen pushed her back against the trees. 'Now I'm going to be eaten by wolves' she thought dryly. A wolf howled closer this time, followed by several more. They circled her until she was completely surrounded. Tears stained her rosy cheeks as fear tightened its grip around her heart. 

She stood slowly, wiping her nose on her sleeve, and mustering her courage. Her hazel eyes darted around, desperately searching for something, anything, that could be used as a weapon. Just beside her trembling feet, a large stick lay on the forest floor. In a rush of hope, she snatched it up with trembling fingers, feeling its weight reassuringly in her grip.

Raising her arm, she took up a defensive stance, using the stick as a shield against the impending danger. Beads of sweat formed on her brow as yellow eyes peered out from the blackened abyss, followed by the glint of sharp grey fur. Two more wolves emerged from the looming forest, their growls cutting through the silence like shards of ice.

One of the wolves crept closer, its yellow eyes glinting in the moonlight. Its ears twitched, and it lowered its head, sniffing the air. It snarled, baring its teeth.

"Get back!" Morwen shouted, waving her makeshift weapon threateningly.

The wolf did not heed her command, continuing its approach. It growled, the sound low and rumbling, vibrating in her chest.

The first wolf lunged forward, saliva dripping from its snout like venomous fangs. Morwen's heart pounded in her chest as she swung the branch, landing a solid blow on the beast's head. A dull thud resonated through the air. The wolf yelped, landing to the right of her in a daze.

Yet, her triumph was short-lived. At that very moment, the other two wolves seized the opportunity to attack. With feral instincts, they leapt forward, determined to rip her apart. Panic surged through Morwen's veins, yet she firmed her grip on the branch and swung out wildly, her fear transformed into a fierce determination.

She struck one wolf on its hind leg, the crack of bone audible. Another wolf leapt forward, knocking the branch out of Morwen's hand. It lunged at her. 

Pain surged up her thigh, its sharp canines tearing through flesh. Morwen let out a scream that seemed to shatter the quiet of the forest, a cry fueled by pure agony. She kicked and thrashed, fighting against the wolves with every ounce of her strength. Just when all hope seemed lost, as Morwen was about to accept her fate, a surge of magic erupted from the depths of the forest.

The wolf's jaw tightened around her thigh then It released its grip and leapt away. A bright flash, and a deafening crack sounded, like lightning striking a tree. Piercing through the trees like an explosion, the vibrant blue light consumed the shadows, banishing the darkness that had threatened to swallow her whole. It flung the wolves into the air, their bones cracking upon impact. 

Morwen's vision swam as she stood up in a daze, her ears ringing. Once her brain registered the scene in front of her, she took off into the forest terrified. Morwen's thigh throbbed with pain, and blood trickled down her leg, staining her tattered dress. The forest around her seemed to blur into nothingness, the trees merging into a tangled mess of greens and browns. 

"Who's there?" a voice called out, its deep timbre resonating through the night.

Suddenly, her foot caught on a root, and she stumbled forward, colliding with a hard object. Gasping, she crumpled to the ground, her body unable to withstand the weight of her own weariness. Laying flat on her back, in too much pain to move, Morwen thought she had hit a tree. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and tears welled up in her eyes.

A hand stretched down towards her, out of the blinding haze. Through her tear-clouded vision, she looked up, and overwhelming relief mixed with so many other emotions flooded her body. On the other side of the open palm stood her brother, Zack. Putting her trembling hand in his, he pulled her up from the ground. Not believing her own eyes, she sobbed out a relieved sigh. Morwen fell forward into his arms and hugged him tightly, her body racked with sobs.

"I thought I lost you," she wept.

"It's alright, you're safe now. I've got you," he reassured her, holding her close.

They stayed like that for a moment, embracing each other.

He was alive; he was safe. Reaching up, she cupped his dirt-stained face in her palms, searching for any trace of the fear and danger that had engulfed them both.

"Zacky," Morwen croaked out, her voice hoarse. 

Zack held her close, his grip unwavering. "I thought I had lost you, Mor," he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion. "I saw the market, those people..." His voice trailed off, filled with unspoken anguish. "Where's mom, is she with you?"

Morwen couldn't answer. She shook her head, her whole body trembling with grief and uncertainty. Zack pulled her close again, sharing a knowing silence between them. 

"Come, let's go," he said.

"Go where?" Morwen asked, wiping away her tears.

"We need to find a safe place. There could be more wolves."

Morwen nodded and let her brother help her up. She leaned on him, putting as little weight on her injured leg as possible. She didn't know how long they had been walking, or even where they were going. She simply let her brother guide her. The moonlight cast long shadows through the ancient trees. 

After some time, they came across a large opening leading into a cave. The stone was cracked and covered in moss. A cool breeze blew through, bringing the scent of wet earth and decay.

"Let's rest here," Zack said.

The siblings made their way inside the cave, their steps echoing through the dark tunnels. It was damp and cold, and the smell of wet earth filled the air.

"This is a bad idea," Morwen said.

"It's not safe to travel any further, we're too exhausted. We can camp here tonight," Zack replied.

Morwen couldn't argue with that logic. She was utterly drained.

"You rest, I will keep watch," he continued.

"Okay," Morwen agreed. Her heart was heavy with loss, but her spirits were lifted by their reunion.

Morwen's stomach growled, betraying her hunger, as her eyes met Zack's concerned gaze.

"You're hungry," he stated, not as a question but as a simple observation.

Without hesitation, Zack sat them down, opening the sac he had brought with him. From within, he pulled out a few pieces of dried meat and a loaf of bread. Breaking the bread in half, he handed her a portion, reserving the rest for later.

Morwen nibbled on the meat and bread slowly, mindful not to upset her stomach by eating too fast. The food was dry, causing her throat to itch, and a fit of coughing took hold of her. Zack swiftly passed her a waterskin, and she gratefully accepted it, but in her haste, she spilled water down her chin and neck as she drank.

Zack chuckled softly, reaching out to steady the waterskin. "Hold up there, we need to save some for later," he chastised her gently. "We need to find water, too. You look like you could use a bath. But first, let's do something about those wounds."

Always perceptive, Zack eyed her up and down. Morwen looked as if she had fought the entire army of Var'aak single-handedly. Dried blood stained her features, leaves and mud were entwined in her long raven hair, and deep scratches marred her bare arms. The wolves they had encountered had torn her thin dress to shreds, leaving it clinging to her slight frame.

Zack pulled out a small pouch from his sack and rummaged through its contents. After a few moments, he retrieved a small jar, the size of his palm, filled with a clear, green substance.

"What's that?" Morwen asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's a healing salve, it'll help with your injuries," he replied, unscrewing the lid.

"How do you know how to use it?"

"I read about it," Zack answered, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Here, hold still," he instructed.

Zack tore the hem of his linen shirt into strips and dampened the cloth with water from the waterskin. With gentle care, he cleaned the scrapes on her arms before applying the salve and wrapping them in bandages. Morwen lifted her skirt, revealing a deep gash on her thigh. The sight made her inhale sharply, the wound was still bleeding out.

"Oh, Mor," Zack breathed, his brows furrowing. "I'll have to stitch it closed," he concluded, his voice wavering slightly.

"It's fine," Morwen said, wincing at the memory of the wolf's teeth piercing her flesh.

Zack took a small needle and a spool of thread from his pouch, along with a pair of pliers. His hands were shaking slightly as he prepared the tools.

"I'm not going to lie, this will hurt," he said.

"Just do it," Morwen hissed.

Zack took a deep breath, steeling himself, then he plunged the needle into her skin.

Morwen let out a whimper, the pain was excruciating. But she bit her lip and remained silent, not wanting to appear weak in front of her brother. Zack's eyes were focused, and his hands were steady. After a few moments, the wound was stitched and bandaged.

Morwen appreciated his efforts, grateful for his skill and resourcefulness. Despite the circumstances, her mind was finally beginning to calm, and she felt safe, protected, for the first time in hours.

Zack went to collect dry wood for a fire, draping his large sheepskin-lined coat over Morwen's shoulders before he left. The bitter wind tugged at her hair and the cold seeped into her bones, the cold was unusual for this time of year. She pulled the coat close against her.

The trees outside of the cave stood like sentinels, their branches reaching towards the sky as if to catch a glimpse of the stars. the forest seemed eerily quiet, as if it held its breath in anticipation. It wasn't long before she heard frozen ground crunching beneath Zack's boots. He came back into the cave with an arm full of wood. He carefully arranged them into a pyramid shape, the chilled air nipped at his fingers while he worked.

 A few sparks from his flint set the wood ablaze, casting a warm glow that illuminated the surrounding area, wrapping cave walls in a soft glow. Morwen huddled closer to the fire, her pale face aglow in its light.

As they sat and watched the fire, she curled up in the warmth of his arms, Zack's jacket was warm, and the smell of him comforted her. Morwen finally felt the chill leave her body. The flames danced and crackled, their flickering light mesmerising. While they sat there, Morwen told Zack about the attack in the village and the wolves, explaining how she would be dead had it not been for the blue light that saved her.

"I saw it too. It lit up the forest like an explosion," Zack told her, his voice filled with awe.

"What do you think it was?" Morwen asked, her eyes searching his face.

"Not sure, never seen anything like it," he said, his brow furrowing, "but whatever it was, I'm glad you're safe."

Silence settled between them as they contemplated the mysterious light. Morwen shivered, a sudden realisation washing over her.

"I think we should keep moving," she suggested, her voice tinged with urgency.

Zack nodded in agreement. "Aye, get some rest. We will leave when you wake."

He smiled, pulling her closer.

Morwen snuggled into his embrace, feeling safer than she had in hours. Their bodies were exhausted, their muscles aching. The fire began to die down, the heat no longer reaching Morwen. Her eyelashes fluttered closed as sleep claimed her. Zack pressed his lips to her forehead, his love for her pouring out in that tender gesture. Silent tears filled his eyes as he listened to her soft snores.