All along the Wastes

It was midday in the forest.

Sunlight fought through the treetops to illuminate the ground below, creating a pattern of shaded leaves and branches.

The trees stood tall and firm. Rooted in place for generations and cursed to watch the ever changing world around them. The leaves that sprouted from their branches were grey and smelled of ash.

The scent filled the forest.

Sturdy branches stretched out into the air like arms, each one grasping another to create an interconnected web of roots high above the ground.

The scurrying of Rats and the howling winds made up the few sounds that could be heard. Branches swayed and leaves rustled.

The aura was calm and yet danger always lurked just out of sight.

Against the dirt laid a boy no older than fifteen, his clothes scratched and torn. He wore a damaged blue button-up that had been sewn together after the loss of its buttons.

He began to wake up, ever so slowly and painfully.

His eyes were shaded brown, a sort of mix between the dirt and the darkness. His black hair was tangled and messy, falling to his shoulders. Leaves and twigs had nested within his locks.

His face was pale and starved with defined cheekbones and cracked lips.

The scrawny boy didn’t look strong and that was true for the most part. He was just barely average height, standing at 5’1o with his back straight. Though his slouched posture worked to make him appear even shorter than he was.

Sharp teeth were hidden within his jaw, each one of them able to break the skin.

The boy groaned in pain the moment he sat up straight, moving slowly and carefully.

With every shift of his weight, his head throbbed, with every shake or twitch his arms ached. He felt unwell, like something had nested within his stomach.

“..Where the fuck?-“

He began to ask before he was interrupted by the creaking of branches above.

Crack… The sound seemed to echo in all directions.

Snap. The next was more violent.

The boy laid a mere metre from where he had been, his spot now occupied by the corpse of a Panther.

Panthers were one of the many hazards of the forest. They had sharp teeth that could cut through bone and strong paws that they used to hold down their often-unsuspecting prey.

They were pack hunters and ambush predators that could follow their prey for hours. They preferred to wait until their prey were asleep before attacking however they were more then capable of killing their victims while they were awake.

Their smooth fur was usually grey or brown, to blend with the trees.

They were above him in the food chain.

They were dangerous.

The beast's maw had been beaten in, its bottom row of teeth forcefully embedded within the roof of its jaw. Blood leaked from the corners of its mouth and slowly accumulated under it.

Its chest was in much worse condition, its ribs stomped to the point its lungs were currently dribbling from the hole.

Its body was broken however there were no signs of feeding. No bite marks or torn flesh.

He recoiled back as his throat opened to heave up the emptiness that had settled in his stomach. His bones protested the sudden movement and his headache only worsened.

At-least he could safely say nothing had been eating his stomach lining.

“Ugh... Wh-what the fuck?”

He spoke as he scrambled up and away from the carcass. The threat of falling quickly set in and loomed over until he lent against a nearby tree for support. He could feel the second round of dry heaving come on, only able to stand there and hold his balance.

He glanced at the body after a minute or so as his eyes were held captive by the beast’s gaze.

The primal fear it must have felt during its dying moments was somehow still held in its eyes.

What had done this?

And why had it left the body to rot? A Joey would’ve eaten the corpse.

Suddenly he could feel his limbs screaming for him to run. He didn't know why he had the sudden urge to flee but he didn't ignore it, turning on his heels and sprinting into the forest.

Subconsciously, he acknowledged his surroundings. He recognized the scenery, he had been here before.

He couldn’t deny that he was in no shape to flee. If it there had been another Panther behind him he had no chance of outrunning it.

But was something chasing him?

Were those his footsteps that rang in his ears?

His head spun around to glance back. While he only saw the dim shadows of the trees his body would not allow him to stop. It was as if his legs knew something his head didn't.

Was it his mind playing tricks on him? His fear making shapes of the darkness? It had to be.

Even so, he swore he saw something, something real.

Someone real.

Its eyes were deep red and could pierce his very soul with just a glance. Its legs did not move and yet it appeared under every tree his gaze fell on. Although too dark to be sure, he thought he saw some kind of grin. As if no matter how far the boy ran, he would never outrun the monster.

No. He had to.

He quickened his pace to a full sprint, daring his legs to carry him faster.

His breath fled his lungs...

His body felt tight, like a spring being wound tighter and tighter with every step.

His body was fueled on adrenaline and fear but that would not sustain him forever.

Was he slowing down? Was this really it?

He couldn’t outrun it after all.

Thump.

His vision only remained for a second, long enough to see he had run headfirst into a tree. His remaining strength was leaving him, his body growing numb.

“Hugo? Hugo!” Shouted a familiar voice as his eyes opened once more. His head ached more than it ever had before.

Even the blanket of darkness that covered the forest floor proved too bright for him as he shielded his eyes the moment they opened.

“Oh good, you’re not dead.” Added the brown-haired boy above him, the relief present on his face calming them both.

“What the fuck happened?” Hugo asked as pain infested his tone, turning it sour.

“You ran into a tree, idiot.” He chuckled in response.

Hugo felt the world spin as he was pulled to his feet without notice. His head couldn’t agree less and Hugo could’ve sworn he fell through reality for just a moment.

“Careful Gavin, you fucking mong!” Hissed the shorter of the two.

Gavin, the brunette, held his grin even when insulted.

He was a head or so taller than Hugo and his light brown hair was kept clean and short, contrasting the others' messiness. He was strong too, stronger than Hugo by an insulting amount. Hugo had seen the expert way Gavin had killed beasts twice his size although he couldn't deny how he envied their position.

His eyes were a shade below emerald green, resembling a jewel that had been left to collect dust.

Hugo had always sworn that the jade orbs could glow in the dark, the way they seemed to never darken.

He had a silky voice that could convince even the most guarded men to give up their belongings. And yet he could still demand authority whenever he thought he needed it. His presence was always the first thing Hugo noticed whenever they were together, and he wasn’t exactly alone in that regard. Gavin was a socialite at his core and could get along with anyone.

Gavin was also a natural-born leader. Brave, courageous, smart, and not to mention capable. It was no wonder he was famous within their village. Hugo had always seen the boy helping others where he could and acted as a role model to the younger boys. He was perfect was he not?

He was everything Hugo wished he could be.

“Look mate, you’re the one that got lost in the woods or something.”

“Why are you out here anyway?” Gavin replied, interested in what had left the boy in such a state.

Hugo now felt the gravity of the situation. He had no memory of how he had gotten here.

How had he gotten so far out? Why was he even alive?

What had killed the Panther but spared him?

The questions raced behind his eyes, shrouded by the dark pupils that could only stare dumbfounded at the brunette.

He seemed to be waiting for Gavin to answer for him.

Hugo looked down at himself, his eyes running along his body for the first time since he had sat up. His grey pants were torn and ripped in several places, dry blood sticking to the fabric. His hands were cut and bruised however there were no serious injuries.

But they were still covered in blood, more blood than he had ever seen.

His breath picked up for a moment as he began to hyperventilate. Who's blood was he covered in? How the hell had this happened? Why couldn't he remember anything about today?

An agonizing sense of calm overtook him, rooting itself deep within his mind.

“I was chasing a Rat and fell from the tree, must’ve knocked myself out.”

Hugo sounded different when he spoke, he was calm and confident. Each word was chosen carefully and his tone was unwavering.

Like some kind of genius trying to dumb down an advanced concept.

Like someone else.

Gavin knew Hugo, he knew that he had always been troubled in conversation. His voice was always shaky and filled with pauses, it made him hard to understand and the brunette was often forced to translate for others.

Gavin knew Hugo was easily frightened and would squint his eyes only slightly when confronted. He knew the boy couldn't protect himself and yet never called for help. He knew how his fingers balled into a fist whenever he was interested in something, as if containing his excitement.

Frankly, he knew more than he should.

Both men were equally unnerved by the out-of-character response.

Neither acknowledged it.

“Sure... Are you okay? Not hurt too badly?” Asked the brunette carefully.

He reached out for Hugo’s wrist so he could get a better look. This time Hugo reacted quickly and pulled his arm to his chest. It seemed to ease Gavin’s suspicions; his skittish reaction being accepted.

Even though Gavin had continued as if nothing had happened Hugo still felt the need to explain himself further.

“Yeah, I’m fine. The little beast lured me into a thicket and I lost my balance and fell. I bumped my head but it’s nothing major.”

Hugo rambled on nervously until he was satisfied with his response.

Gavin turned his head to glance at Hugo, giving him some weird look that the boy couldn't quite define. He thought for sure he had blown it.

Gavin turned away without saying a word which allowed Hugo to realize he had been holding his breath, gasping for air as quietly as he could.

The walk was quiet from then on and the air that surrounded them felt solid, as if they were walking through knee-deep water. It was awkward and he could feel it weigh on his shoulders.

“Hurry up,” Gavin called without turning around.

He didn’t need to turn around to know Hugo was falling behind, he had developed an almost sixth sense regarding the boy.

His head was held high as his eyes constantly scanned the canopies above for any lurking dangers. Gavin was smart like that, Hugo never would’ve thought to keep on the lookout. Especially not with Gavin around.

The path was unclear and yet Gavin had no problem navigating the woods.

“How far out are we?” Hugo asked in a quiet voice.

His eyes were stapled to the dirt as he walked, making sure he didn’t trip on the uneven ground. He fiddled with one of the many loose threads in his shirt, pulling and wrapping it around his fingers.

“Not far, any further and you’d be in bushland.” Answered the brunette.

Hugo nodded along, the settlement couldn’t be much further ahead.