The Uncanny Forest (Ryuu)

With cold drips falling down from my clothing, and hitting the narrow space to just create a little puddle behind me, I soon woke up to the cold feeling of water hitting my back. As I slowly got up to check, I saw the water, and felt how it became warmer, was becoming less than I was not under the rain anymore.

After the wetness of the rain and the rumbling of the sky in my ears, silence surrounded me. I was in a green narrow space, which was pushing my body from all possible corners and points, to keep in a ball-like shape and prevent me from moving. With the light of the sky coming through the tiny cracks and the air hitting my face slowly, I realized that I was trapped inside something. Something that somebody trapped me in, like a circular box with a green and flat bottom, and vine looking surface to cover it from the outside.

I moved, as my legs, which reached up to my chest, caused me to double over, and in the tiny space I had, I seemed to be jumping up into the air every second. It was as if someone was carrying me on his back, and with each step, I would rise up once more and quickly descend back down. I was in a spot where someone was carrying me, and it was like a dark room, only I could feel how narrow the space was, and I didn't even know where to even look to see an open space.

I rejoiced at how much I was able to get away from the monsters, but I was soon to be happy about it, I found myself not recognizing what this place was.

I knew that I was able to escape from the monsters, and be able to get to a safe point for a short time, but the only thing that I was able to remember was the loud voice of a girl, coming closer to approach me, and maybe save me from that situation. Her veiled voice, with my hollow memories and vision, was to only combine to create something I couldn't pick out any features of.

It was so half of an experience; I was only to rely on the feelings that I could acquire at that moment, but not on something more psychically tangible.

I was thinking that, about how would I get out of here if I were to not know who was carrying me, and more danger awaited me outside of this narrow space.

There was no airflow in the space I was in because very little air was coming in through the small cracks, and it exhausted the air inside depending on the breaths I took. So I had stopped breathing. I was going to run out of breath at any moment, and there was no way out of this situation.

I had to make good use of the oxygen I had left in a small space and I decided to use it after making a plan to use the oxygen I had. I had to force myself to make a plan. Only then, after checking whether the person carrying me was hostile or not, could I move on to the next move. And I could get out of there, get out of the danger behind me, and find an even safer place.

I thought I could use somehow it to encourage myself to get out of there. But just then, the vines I was in started to move and it was as if they started to rise.

As the surface of the area where I was sitting took on a different shape, I knew that I was about to fall to the ground. Its shape was becoming smaller and smaller until I was going to get out after.

I also realized that I was out of breath for a while, but I still had no idea who the person in front of me could be. Was it someone who had rescued me or was it a trap of an enemy elite soldier? Maybe it was even more dangerous and a forest animal or even a creature had captured me. After all, I was in their natural environment and didn't know about any other creatures that could live there.

These vines surrounded me to protect me from the enemy, but I didn't know where they were taking me either. Or for what purpose they were capturing me. If it was even the situation of an enemy that had captured me to take me to their base, then the number of things I could do at working my body to fight, would be drastically reduced.

It was just, that whatever happened, I had to be prepared.

I had to be prepared so that I could escape from the enemy in the worst-case scenario. And as soon as the vines open, I thought, I could move directly and maybe get away.

I had to do something like this before the enemy had time to attack me or carry out any of his plans. So soon, after a few seconds, the vines stopped moving, and I put all my strength back into my legs.

I saw that I had reached my destination when the vines pulled back. And I could see the reflection of the moon overhead. Of course, this meant that I could be anywhere, but the fact that I had left the branches of the trees and the crowded area was perhaps the biggest proof that I had gotten away. So now, after getting to chance to stand on my legs, all I had to do was wait and maybe get a glimpse of the situation.

*Huh?*

The vines were pulling back quickly, clearing the way for me. It was easier to breathe now. When I put my hand out, I could see outside again.

I could feel the cold air on my back, the wind blowing through my hands and reaching the deepest parts of my body. The fresh cool air and the clean smell played in my mind as if I had come alive once again. However, it was at that moment that I felt most in danger, because that's when that person appeared in front of me.

She was almost five feet seven inches tall. Had long dark hair and eyes red as blood. She wore a cape that covered her head and fell on both sides of her body. And the shining metal that appeared behind the cape, was making my eyes dazzle.

With a young face and a mature look, she gave the feeling of a stranger wandering around the forest. As her hand went to the sword on her waist next to the other, the vines that were wrapped around me merged into the body of the sword and slowly disappeared.

And as her angry gaze swept over me, it was as if she had struck me with a fear that made me freeze on the spot.

And I wondered.

Or was she the one who saved me?

"Was it you who pulled the vines out of the ground?"

But the girl in front of me didn't seem to answer. She didn't answer my question and didn't say anything. She just put her sword, with a rose-shaped motif on the hilt, gave me an order, and told me to move.

"It's not safe here. Follow me."

Even though my feet were shaking at that moment, I had no difficulty getting to my feet. And still, though my hands were worn out from climbing the walls, at least I had some energy to walk or run. So thinking that it would be best to follow her lead at that moment, I got up and started chasing her down and deep into the forest.

When I stood up, I realized that we were already on top of the hill I was trying to climb, and below us were the creatures, who were following us where we were, looking even more frightened than before.

For a moment, of course, I thought we were safe because we were high up.

But that was the biggest mistake I ever made.

When I looked down, the creatures were somehow trying to climb up, aiming for the hill we were on. They were digging their big claws into the stones and climbing fast, trying to get as close to us as possible. And they were in no mood to give up until they caught us.

Then the red-eyed girl who was with me at the time grabbed me by the arm and dragged me deeper into the forest,

"Hurry up! We gotta get out of here!"

I didn't know where she was going or who she was, but I was sure that she was the one who saved me. At that moment when I felt hopeless, she was the one who, together with the vines, saved me from the brutal behavior and attacks of those creatures. But I didn't even have the power of my own body to even stay still. And maybe for the gratitude, I felt towards her, as in exchange she saved my life, but I also felt like I had real and actually no explanation what not why I trusted her, or nor excuse that she will hurt me. So I did as she said and started to follow her deeper into the forest.

She seemed to know where she was going from the way she was running, so I just kept running without confusing her about the direction or questioning her too much. Her foot hit the ground strongly and we were making loud noises in the forest. And her cape that fall down behind her back, waved swayed quickly as we ran through the forest.

I couldn't see because of the bushes in my face, and the cold wind with the fast and strong breeze, also coming together with the raindrops, made it difficult for me to see or look in front of me either. I wasn't understanding where exactly we were heading, but I was also following her without any complaints. So I was just following the sound of her footsteps, hoping that it wouldn't be difficult to follow her.

However, after a very short time of my attention that her leading, whatever happened had happened, and these sounds also soon stopped and reached a point where I could no longer hear them. Many steps we took along the way, and I just slowly came to realize that, the sound was no longer there. We ran and ran in the forest, but where she had gone all of a sudden? With every sound becoming much quieter, my brain was now so focused on the sound of rain that it was hard for me to understand even after the footsteps slowly stopped.

I was now in a panic. I turned around quickly to look for her. Every side and corner that I could possibly look, at in this rainy and dark time. I lifted my head and even looked at every tree that maybe could have been a creature that had captured her.

But time was running out.

I was alone in the forest, and my body was hurting really bad. I had hit every corner of my body, and slipped on wet rocks, causing my palms and wrists to hurt and ache under the rain falling fast on my face. At any moment the creatures could come up the hill and attack us. And I couldn't just wait at a singular point.

So I started running and kept looking around, pushing the bushes in front of me. I was getting more and more nervous and time was getting shorter to even be able to find a safe place. And the person I had met in such a short time had disappeared into a forest full of creatures before I could even properly talk to her? It was impossible for me to catch up at this rate now.

I continued to search, and I could hear a strong voice coming from the creatures, causing me to be even more scared. I looked around with fear again and again, just like any time before that I was with her.

But that couldn't stop me now.

I had to find her quickly. So that we can both move and she can show me the way she was planning to. And since they were close, it was only a matter of time before they arrived and maybe captured her or me. I was also out of breath and energy, so it wouldn't be a problem for them to silently take me and get me somewhere before she even knows. So it was another bad thing to even stop at a time like this.

I know I had to do something. So I had to use the plan I had in mind right away. After I got ready and made myself fit for the position I was going to take, I put my foot down hard.

And I started running much quicker.

I used my senses, following what Ronk had taught me.

Almost a long time ago, he told me that I had a power that could improve my sixth sense and make my senses come to the fore, and that I should develop it. Of course, at first, I didn't understand what kind of power it was, since I didn't aim for anything other than physical strength, but now I was able to master it very well. The presence of every object around me now made me feel their physics in a certain dimension, and I made a map of the area in my mind, according to the weight of each one and my estimation of their distance from each other, their smell, and where they could be found.

The raindrops that fell and the spots where they might hit and the spots where they actually hit and how deep they fell and what kind of spots they might be. Everything formed slowly but with a strong sense in my mind. It was quite difficult, but using my senses, thanks to my bloodline's power, I was able to follow the breath of the creatures around me. And it became more difficult at last, because of the other dangerous creatures that followed me.

Because their senses and movements prevented me from hearing the whole forest.

They were too loud, enough to even mess up my ability.

I got so distracted on my way, I found myself slowing down with doubt. They were just ferocious monsters, wanting more blood and danger for their prey. They were so deeply in need of this, that their sounds even became disgusting to hear because of their wants and desires against their enemies.

But I then shook myself and focused much deeper.

Gradually, I was focusing and concentrating on my surroundings, and that gave me something to focus on other than the creatures.

And that's when I heard something. The sound of breathing. I think it was her voice. Because in this pouring rain, the smallest sound I could hear was hers, and finding her was my priority right now. So my only option was to go in the direction she was. And find myself searching for at the cost of getting hurt by the creatures.

*I hope she is alright.* Was what I said, when I finally stopped my pace and got a lead on where she was.

I got to the place where I felt the breath, and I started to worry that I would be looking for her for a long time.

But the girl who had saved me was lying unconscious on the ground, lying on the cold stones.

It really stunned me that she was in such a state, after having saved me, to be exposed to such creatures. I ran after her, trying my best to save myself, but now I had to save her. But it was a thing that I couldn't find out why it was for now too. And I had finally found her and I knew I had to act, because I didn't have time to question the situation or get her up. So I took her in my arms, using the time wisely, and started to move away quickly. She was still unconscious, and was just lying in my arms, not to be reacting in any way.

I started running again with all my power in the opposite direction from where the creatures had come from, and the sounds of rain filled the air again.

I didn't want to turn around, but the proximity of their voices proved that they had gone up the hill. The sound of their claws on the rocks and their ear-splitting voices grew louder and louder. Even if I started to move at that moment, even if I ran fast, it was inevitable that they would catch me after a certain time. My exhausted and heavily wounded body would have slowed me down considerably, perhaps even as I collapsed to the ground. It would take longer than I expected for the sun to rise overhead. So my only option was to find a place to hide, to get myself and the girl to safety, to hide, in the face of danger and out of fear.

*I think I felt a cave just close here. I should go there.* There were many monsters behind my back and I ran there with force.

The voices were getting closer and closer, the noise was getting louder. Even if I couldn't save myself, at least I had to save the girl.

These creatures were faster than the ones I had seen in the first kingdom. They could move faster, and could easily slide across the slippery ground in front of them. They seemed to float in the air with unbelievable movements. And I couldn't understand how they had become like this.

I ran through all kinds of paths to escape from them. I remembered every surface my feet could step on, what kind of danger, what kind of odds could make me fall to the ground. I maintained my speed and pace, looking underneath me every time, watching where I was walking, or running.

I counted my steps carefully, as if I were walking on a floor made of ice. I ran, jumped, bumped into branches, and tried to push them all away with my limbs. It hurt so much and the adrenaline was causing me to speed up so much that all I could see was the spots in front of me where I could escape and I could feel the wind in my eyes.

After a long run, a big tree appeared in front of me. A tree that was stuck firmly to the ground. There was a crevice, not big, but big enough for us to fit through.

I thought I found a place where I could escape and I was sure that we could hide from the creatures by going in there.

With the rain falling all around us, there was a strong smell of earth. The deep smell of the forest rose into the air, and masked the smell of our sweat or spilled blood. It became so tangible and sensible, that they couldn't use our scent to follow us anymore. It wouldn't draw attention to us, and probably would hide us from their strong smell-tracking senses.

But I still had to hurry.

They could come at any moment, so I couldn't risk it as if they were never going to come. I pushed the girl in my arms into the crevice, and then I pushed myself into the in it. I made sure that she didn't hit anything inside, and I slowly pushed my foot in, being careful where I stepped, so that I could get in too.

After slowly moving my whole body to the other side, I took a deep breath and listened to the sounds around me. All I heard was the girl breathing and my heart beating, but that would only last for a while. As I was relieving my fatigue by hiding, voices came from the west. They were approaching from the opposite direction to where I was standing, directly across from where we were. Dozens of footsteps were running on this slippery ground as if turning it into a battlefield. Each time their big feet hit the ground, they made it groan and hit the ground like the last time. I realized that my heart was beating faster than ever as their indistinct sounds formed a pattern that tore the ground apart.

I waited for them to pass, holding my breath, afraid that my fear would overtake me.

Suddenly hundreds of creatures came out from behind the trees and ran past the crevice we were in. I heard a lot of footsteps, overlapping sounds, and the collision of giant creatures pushing each other. They were running, pushing each other. On a tiny piece of land, but in a huge forest, they were going after a single prey. I watched them clearly through the rift, their eyes the color of blood, their teeth razor sharp. They were chasing the sounds with such ferocity that I could even hear the sound of them destroying tree trunks and tearing them apart. It would have been too much to fight them now, so I could do nothing but let them pass by.

I waited silently, and watched them with little breaths.

Most of the creatures had passed by the tree we were in and left us behind. I was relieved, thinking that now I would be free of those creatures, but the girl behind me had already opened her eyes and was sitting on the ground, trying to understand what was happening.

When she opened her mouth slowly and was about to speak to me, I quickly covered her mouth with my hand. Her eyes suddenly opened wide and she didn't know what I was doing. She didn't know where we were or what kind of situation we were in. So it was only a matter of time before she panicked and pushed me away from her.

I tried to make gestures with my hand, trying to tell her to be quiet, and that the creatures were outside, but I think my words were too complicated for someone who had just regained consciousness.

She just looked at me there, confused, and waited for me to take my hand away.

One of the creatures almost spotted us because of our movement. But it returned to its pack, moved away from our position, and didn't investigate further. I was relieved to see that, because now we were out of sight, but since I still didn't know where we were going, I should have preferred to talk to the girl first.

I gently lifted my hand from her mouth, and let her talk this moment,

"Looks like we're gonna have a while to catch our breath. Are you all right?"

"What happened to me? Where are we?"

She seemed very confused. I was surprised too, actually. Because she seemed to be very confused and she was the one who had been saved even though she wanted to save me before.

It was in my mind that, If we were in such a situation, then why had this happened to her for no reason?

I needed answers.

"When we were fleeing from the creatures of the shadow lineage, you fainted, so I carried you here. You seemed like you could not wake up too, and your skin was pale. So I thought I could not let you stay there like that."

She was still struggling to come to her senses. She could neither remember anything nor observe her surroundings well. So with her hand over her head, she asked again,

"Was I unconscious? How did that happen?"

"I don't know. I don't know why you fainted so suddenly after you came to save me. You seem to have put yourself in a lot of danger trying to save me. Besides, all I know is that we can stay here until sunrise, otherwise the only thing that can save us is a secret path or some other escape route that even I don't know about."

She slowly put her hand on her head again, and caressed it like it was aching,

"I see." raising her head to me with cold eyes, "So what is your name? Why did you come to this forest?"

"Ryuu. I'm here to investigate something with my friends, so we lost our way while doing that. What's your name?"

"You don't know my name, so that means you're not from here. Right, Ryuu?"

I look at her confused since her voice tone was so sure that I would know her. "Are you someone popular around here?"

"I'm not famous. I'm just a knight trying to do my duty."

"A Knight!?" I was surprised that I have seen a knight in a random forest. After all, it was full of different mysteries and monsters that got all of us separated from our main goal.

But what she was doing here either?

"I am Rose, one of the knights of the third kingdom."