A Wall of Bleeding Hearts

What seemed to be an entirely different poison waited beneath the modest stone bridge when they reached it the next morning, tense from a journey spent dodging, detouring and planning their every step.

The new poison lay in a pool of golden-brown sludge.

It had obviously prevented anything from growing beneath the arch. A sweet scent rose from the surface, which simmered with tiny bubbles the colour of black oil. At the edges, thistles were crumpled and greying, as if the sludge could leech the very life from the bitter plants.

[This is an answer, at least,] she said.

Gabriel exhaled. [No surprise that it’s an unpleasant one.] He started across the bridge. [Let’s leave it behind, shall we?]

Lily hesitated. Something stronger than the death-marks was a grave threat… and yet, did it also present a rare opportunity? Gabriel had already reached the middle of the bridge when he noticed that she hadn’t followed.

She waved. [I’m going to take some of it.]

[What?] He jogged back with a deep frown. [I have a lot of questions, Lil.]

[How and why?] she suggested with a grin.

[‘Why’ first and then ‘how’, but basically, yes. Are you looking for another weapon or something?]

[Maybe. But my first thought was that if this stuff can smother the death-marks, then we could use it to clear a path if we get stuck.]

He ran a hand through his hair. [Okay, I see what you mean. Could be brilliant. But what about carrying it?]

She lifted Yellow’s jar, and some of her bravado faded.

[You sure?]

Lily reaffixed the kami jar to her belt. [Nothing can break a kami jar, so I’m sure.]

[Not really what I meant.] He put a hand on her shoulder.

[Yeah, I know. But we need to find every advantage we can. Yellow wouldn’t disagree with that.]

[Probably not. All right, how are you going to fill the jar without exposing your skin to the sludge?]

I can help with that, Blue said.

“Perfect.” Lily let the kami free and together they crept around the bridge to approach the sludge. Gabriel remained up top, leaning on the rifle to watch closely.

She crouched down to set Yellow’s jar near the sludge. Up close, the sweet smell was overpowering, almost burning, even with her mask on. She blinked through tears, but could still see Blue dip to hover over the golden-brown slime.

He waved his little arms toward the jar, and the sweet substance lurched after each movement.

Better, the golden slime slid in easily.

Blue continued until the jar was full. Then, he hauled it upright and Lily closed the lid right after, careful not to let any touch her fingers.

“Done,” she murmured.

Would the sludge end up being useful? If they were lucky, she wouldn’t have to find out for a long while.

They trekked on as the morning turned to noon and beyond, taking detours frequently, forced to judge their position by the sun.

No other sweet pools of poison appeared.

But twice so far, she’d been stung by the nettles.

Only her hands, thankfully.

Hot pain spread from the barbs, but she always cleaned her skin with a pink balm the Twins had packed away. Created from the thistle-blossoms somehow, it stopped the poison from infecting her entire body – one of the few victories Haven had won against the death-marks.

[Plenty left?] Gabriel asked once she’d finished.

[Quite a lot. I just hope the Twins saved enough for Haven.]

[They would have.] He paused to put both hands on his hips next, glaring ahead. The road seemed completely blocked. [I hope the river is better.]

It was… for the most part.

A path did lead down its dusty sides, and then through more scattered death-marks and their gleaming thistles. Even so, it wasn’t clear where it would then climb back out farther along.

Still, it was their best bet. [Let’s try it.]

Lily started down the slope, keeping her arms wide for balance. Half way down, rock slid beneath her feet.

She fell into a crouch, keeping still, barely breathing.

Pebbles tumbled down to the riverbed.

Only when they stopped did she resume her descent, letting her breath free at the bottom.

Gabriel joined her with less trouble, and then it was back to weaving through the endless thistles, travelling until the afternoon light began to fade.

Until their path ended in death-marks.

A wall of bleeding hearts blocked their passage deeper, thickets of shadowy thistles curving up and around the riverbed. No way to continue forward, and the sides of the riverbanks were steep. The only option was to head back and search for a better place to exit.

Hope the road was better.

[Should we try some of that sludge?] Gabriel asked as he frowned at the death-marks. [The light won’t last forever.]

[I could maybe… try to clear some more space for a camp,] she added. [We’re out of sight in the riverbed and the thistles give us some cover, too.]

Wait, save the slime for now. Blue’s voice echoed in her mind. We have an idea.

“Can you burn the death-marks now?” she asked, mirroring her words with her hands.

No. That hasn’t changed, sadly.

Emerald continued. Better, in a way. We can fly you to the city, if you want. We think it’s just in range.

[Truly?] Gabriel asked, glancing to Lily. He wore an expression of shock – and excitement.

Her own expression was probably the same.

There’s a cost, but we think it’ll work, yes.