Dead Roots

By the end of the search of Miss Welinna’s house we didn’t come away with anything more meaningful than we entered. There was just nothing that clearly pointed to her having returned. I looked over to Eri'Sol who looked drained of energy. We were out of options.

There had to be something else to check. I looked back at the house and what I found. “Let’s check with the Markets. I have something I want to confirm.” That gave her some hope and she bounced up already a step ahead of me. “Wait…she flips so fast.” I could only smile at the consistency.

After all of the traveling and work, the morning had been completely spent. The clock said it was after one, we burned up half a day already. Though I didn’t check how long we spent at Mrs. Erina’s getting repaired. Regardless, it did mean that any traffic around the Markets was quite light. We didn’t have to wait to talk to the attendant.

“Hey, Miss Hoyra!”

“You’re back, Sir Hero!”

“I had a question. Do you know about the large hunting party that went out four days ago?”

“Yes, it was a large request. It had been organized for more than a week.”

“Right, would you be able to tell me what animals were part of the hunt?”

“Animals?” I nodded to my strange request. It shouldn’t have been something that secretive, I hoped. “Yes, it was all recorded. Why did you want to know?”

“I’m helping out someone and I wanted to do a follow up as it was related.”

“Yes, well it was three animals they were hunting, Betha, Gerth and Felith.”

That gave me a little bit of hope even if it didn’t provide something useful. “Do you know if there was more material than the request required?” That confused her even more and made some suspicion come over her. But she still seemed to accept the question.

“I think there was. It was a big request, but the agreement was that anything over the required amount could be sold or kept by the individuals.”

“Thanks!” I knew it wouldn’t give me a clue, but it might have at least proven a little bit of the innocence of everyone involved in the hunt at least. I knew Mrs. Erina didn’t suspect them much, but I figured I should remain open to all the possibilities.

As I walked out, Eri'Sol grabbed my arm. “What was that about?”

“Just trying to see if Miss Welinna made it back. I found some tanned hides in the workshop while we were searching that were Felith. It doesn’t quite make great evidence, but if she worked while on the hunt they may have been finished by then. And would be proof that she returned. Not that it gives us any further clue what happened to her.”

“No…” She went through a few range of emotions thinking I had figured something out. With nothing more that we could figure out for now, we returned to the inn to consider our options. Though we said that, it felt more like silent commiseration than brainstorm. Little was said. Neither of us had a path forward and without even a trail to follow there was nothing to search. The day just expired.

With failure following us into tomorrow, I awoke to find Eri'Sol next to me in bed this time. Had the disappointment drained her spirit? I stood up and looked around the darkened room. Looking out the window I realized morning had barely even started. Was I already getting used to waking up this early? I did sleep early with nothing to do.

I stepped out of the room and went out of the inn. There wasn’t much thought to my plan. Maybe I just wanted some air to think. Or thought the morning would give me some inspiration. It seemed like a silly idea, whatever it was. But it was cool and a little calming. I felt bad that this may just end up being an unsolved case. If we had anything from my world there might be a chance to find evidence, but as it stood it was nearly hopeless.

After the sky fully became lit by the rising sun, I knew it was time to head back. Nothing was going to come to me. But I suddenly heard through the town a loud, pained scream. “What’s going on?” I snapped around in the direction that I heard it. Another blood curdling yell ripped through the air as I locked in on it. Was someone getting attacked? I thought the town was safe.

My heart jumped quickly as panic flooded me. I didn’t have anything on me to defend myself or save someone. Should I go back to get my weapon? But if I did I might be too late to save them. Maybe there was someone else that heard it and would be coming to help. We could take down the attacker together then.

The troubled voice drew closer. I was almost there. Each yelp and groan dug through my chest like I was getting stabbed. It felt so visceral and raw, something primal. They were dying. I needed to hurry.

As I pulled around the corner with the voice far more clear, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I froze, unable to act to help or run. It defied my expectation of what murder had to be occurring. This wasn’t even murder.

A tree sat in the middle of the street but with one of its branches a human arm that slowly changed into bark and a head of a young woman being swallowed up by the trunk. It looked like the tree ate her or maybe that she became the tree. ‘What in the hell was happening?!’