ventually, Dio stopped. His stomach churned. An icy chill ran through him. At least now he could see the stone formation more clearly.
The moss and lichen looked sickly. They seemed to be the source of the foul odor. They appeared dry... somehow lifeless.
Parts of the stones were covered in pockmarked, almost tumor-like growths. Despite their rigidity, they seemed to pulse faintly.
At the base of the formations, the ground had turned swampy. The tree roots nearby were porous, tinged with an unhealthy gray.
It was as if a diseased tree had begun to form there... struggling upward with veil-like leaves sprouting in scattered patches.
This looks extremely unhealthy, Dio thought.
He pressed his lips together, held his nose, and hurried away from the stones, which looked just a bit too alive for comfort. Something stirred inside him at the sight. He moved faster, trying to shake the feeling. When he turned back, he saw the others watching him... nervously. Wes was clenching his teeth.
"I think we should leave this place," Dio said, slowly.
"Why?" Ha asked, confused.
"Whatever that stuff is, it stinks. And it creeps me out. Plus... it looks like it's spreading. The ground's already changing," Dio muttered, not taking his eyes off the growths.
"Tell me, Wes... is it normal for things here to have that kind of effect?"
Wes hesitated. Then he shook his head.
"No... not really. They say it can happen, but I always thought those were just scary stories..."
"Until now," Ha murmured, rising to her feet.
Together, they gave the stones a wide berth. They continued deeper into the forest, searching for a place that felt less wrong.
The mood lightened a little. But Dio couldn't shake the image of those rotting formations. They clung to his mind like a stain.
What created something so malevolent? Lucidity? Or something else... hidden in the background of the Dream... silent, watching...?
Too many questions. Too little experience. For now, these worries would have to wait.
Maybe Ray would know. Maybe she'd seen things like this and could tell him abou tthem - if she ever came back to him at all... If she didn't have more important things to do...
Dio blinked, surprised by the thought. It was possible... of course it was. But he didn't like the way it felt.
Then again, she might return soon. And if she did, they could explore together, uncover the truth about those eerie tree-stones...
That would be... magnificent.
That hope lifted his mood. He began to enjoy the forest around them. The trees were tightly clustered, their low-hanging leaves brushing the travelers as they passed. Wes had to prod Snicker forward again and again as the Muldi kept trying to nibble them.
Eventually, they found a place to rest. Not near any strange relics this time, but a quiet meadow beside a narrow brook.
"We've made it almost halfway," Wes said.
"But... we've been walking forever... and now we have to walk just as far again?" Ha groaned.
There was no helping it. Soon they were sitting by the brook, their legs dangling in the cool water. A nearby waterfall splashed gently, soft and rhythmic.
At last... we can rest.
The short break gave them enough strength to continue. Dio used the time to slip into stillness... savoring the quiet, the emptiness inside his mind.
When they continued, they made good progress. It felt like ages, but at last, they drew near their destination. Dio had grown so used to walking that it felt surreal when Wes said they were close to the first fields near Daw, their new home.
The river stayed with them, a steady, flowing companion. It gave them a sense of direction... a feeling of place. As they followed it, tall rocks loomed on either side. The path veered away from the banks.
Ha pointed excitedly to plants growing in the stone cracks... orchids Dio recognized, and glowing mushrooms he did not. The mushrooms shimmered faintly, casting soft light in the dim air.
Their trail wound into a dense thicket. Bushes and tangled undergrowth blocked their view of the river completely. As they pushed through, Wes told them about friend of his who often traveled here to gather herbs. Sometimes, when the forest was still, she claimed to see birds with feathers that shimmered in rainbow colors... feathers that smelled sweet under the pale sky.
Shmuttels? Dio grinned to himself. I need to explore this forest properly once I have more time.
They soon found the river again. Its waters now roared and leapt over rocks, forming rapids and small falls. The group fell silent. A faint glow shimmered ahead... beyond another screen of leaves. They followed it and stepped into a small clearing. A crystal-clear pond waited at its center, surrounded by trees whose roots twisted and wove across the ground like wild nets. Tiny glowing creatures floated above the water.
Dio had never seen them before. They were small, with delicate wings like threads of light. The wings shimmered in shifting hues, casting a magical glow. Their melodic humming filled the air.
"This is... wonderful. Astonishing," Dio whispered.
"Yes. The Flitter Grove," Wes said. "Those insects pollinate the flowers around here. I don't know how they even fly... but they're beautiful. Brela sometimes comes here to collect water. It's said to taste fresh... helps with sore muscles after a long day in the fields."
The creatures danced in the air, weaving intricate trails of light. It almost looked like they were speaking to one another. The sight held them in place... until finally, the glowing things drifted away.
The group moved on.
They passed through a grove of silver trees and violet flowers. They saw a family of deer... their antlers glowing softly in the twilight. But it wasn't only the beauty around him. Dio felt comfort in the company too. He hadn't talked much with Ha, Oli, or Wes. But something had settled between them... something familiar. A sense of belonging, especially during their pauses, their quiet breaths shared in silence.
He lingered in those moments. He took in every detail. The colors, the sounds... the wonder. And slowly, he began to feel like part of this group. Like someone who might live here. Among them.
Then they left the river behind and forest began to thin. Dio felt a heaviness as the burbling faded into silence. But he made himself a promise...
He would come back. To watch the rapids. To dip his feet in the cold water.
A new sight broke through his thoughts.
Fields. Wide and open. Crossed by narrow paths where people worked, hunched close to the ground.
Their group kept walking... past rows of rye and wheat... and tall plants Dio didn't know. They looked like maize, but were still different. The stalks were tall, and the grain clusters glowed a soft green.
Wes nodded to the workers, though only a few noticed. Most were too focused to look up.
The path grew smoother, broader... and then they reached it. A settlement. Daw.
Dio counted around fifty huts. He was impressed by the size... but surprised by the simplicity. They weren't big structures. Just frames of long branches, tied together with vines. Dio recognized them, they were the same kind of vines Wes had used for Snicker's reins. Twigs were woven around the frames, forming natural walls. The doors were only small gaps, yet all felt alive. The air smelled of fresh leaves and moss. Dio breathed it in deeply.
The huts were smal - probably just enough for sleeping and a few tools. He didn't mind.
I don't need much... just space to rest and areas to explore.
The gravel path wound through the village. Fire pits, flint tools, mortars and pestles appeared here and there. A drying hide was stretched across a rack. Bundles of herbs dangled beneath overhangs. Wooden bowls rested in simple stacks. Lean-to shelters provided extra space for work. Nearby, stone axes and chisels lay scattered. Someone had been crafting. Tanning frames, reed baskets, bone tools - they filled the spaces around the homes.
Still, Dio noticed something was missing: There was little decoration. Only one or two colorful flowers were planted near each hut, the only small glimpses into someone's personality.
At last, they reached a wide square at the village center. A few men and women stood there, talking quietly. When they noticed the travelers, they turned and greeted them.
Their faces were kind, and their smiles warm.
Will this be the place I will be until you come back, Ray? Dio mused and the thought was pleasantly comforting.