Coalesce: The Escape
Chapter 11

“Have you been to this part of the forest before?” Luciack asks no one in particular as we walk.

“I haven’t, looks like our adventure starts here.” Kylon looks around almost approvingly. The trees were tall, swaying in the breeze as wind whistled through their leaves. It was a peaceful walk along the forested path.

We had been heading East, toward Shadow Mountain, since we lied about who we were to the guards. Shadow Mountain, the first province that had been settled by our kind. It was home to humans and dangerous creatures alike, much like Valley Forge. Many people feared going through the mountains, especially merchants. That’s why they usually traveled in groups. Rumors of trolls, werewolves, dragons even, spread through the provinces like disease. Shadow Mountain and Valley Forge were the most dangerous, and the most commonly inhabited provinces.

The Brotherhood of the Grim was originally founded in Valley Forge and has since spread to all the provinces in secret. It had once been revered and looked up to, but has been since forgotten and become taboo. The main reason was because one of the members had gone insane, he was feared throughout the Empire and became known as The Black Death. That wasn’t very long ago either… Maybe half a century or so.

The moon was slowly climbing in the sky. We dared not carry torches with us through the forest, not yet anyways. The journey was no doubt going to be long and perilous, but exciting nonetheless. Around midnight we set up a small camp next to a swift moving river. The water was clear and cool, it would definitely come in handy.

“Sleep, I’ll watch the camp for awhile,” Kylon calls over to me as I wash a small kettle in the river. Rolling my shoulders back, I let out a soft breath.

“Alright,” I called back and stood up. The river was softly shimmering in the moonlight and the few leaves left on the trees rustled in the light breeze. Once our things were neatly packed away and a small fire started, I retired to our small tent. I had sewn two animal hides together to make a long enough cloth to drape over the wooden poles. We were lucky we brought extra supplies.

Kylon and Luciack stay awake, standing by the fire idly carving designs into the hilts of their swords. Kylon watches and waits, every so often adding more logs to the fire. It was quiet, calm most of the night. Luciack ended up falling asleep sometime late in the night.

“Morgan, we need to leave. Now,” I wake to Kylon’s voice, urgent and worried. I quickly slip my gown on and pull on my cloak. Looking around frantically as I get up my heart starts to pick up speed.

“What is it?” I ask as I stand beside him. His muscles were tense and he held his sword tightly.

“It’s the giants,” Luciack replies in his stead. As if on cue, the ground shakes and loud crashing sounds behind us. Not wasting any time, we grab only what we feel necessary and leave everything else behind. I glance up and see not one head towering above us, but three. Three giants, and they seemed to have spotted us splashing across the river. Not the wisest decision, but we only had so many options.

In a matter of seconds they were upon us like a pack of wolves cornering a rabbit. Each wielded a massive club made from the trunk of a tree. The smell of them was overpowering and to look at them could make one sick. They had feet as large as boats, teeth the size of small boulders, their heads the size of a mammoth, no doubt. All together, they were the size of a small mountain.

We were knocked off our feet by the force of the booming roar of the three beasts. Ears ringing, I look up in horror. I never thought I would meet a giant, much less die from one. Hoping to stay alive as long as possible, we stumble to our feet and glance in every direction for something, somewhere to make an escape. I scream and dive out of the way as one of the clubs swings towards me. Kylon grabs my arm and shouts something, lost to the deafening protests of our assailants. I replace myself being dragged towards a cave, by both of my companions, not too far from where we were. Another strike from a club, roaring protest, and unheard shouts flash by so quickly I don’t realize we are rolling down a rocky slope into the cave.

The angry cries of the beasts grow distant the farther underground we get. I stop with a thud and end up against a rock, my legs sticking straight up in the air. The rock shudders, as Kylon ends up next to me with a grunt. Luciack stopped a few feet below us, looking terrified. Though I hate to admit it, the feeling was nice. After catching my breath I throw my legs off the rock and sit up. A quiet laugh comes from the both of us.

“Well, that was an adventure,” Kylon sits up and half smiles at me. Luciack attempts to get up and only succeeds in falling further down the tunnel. This was going to be a long journey with him. He had just as much grace as one of those giants.

“I just hope we don’t have to do that again,” I glance at my gown and sigh. The skirts were practically in tatters and I was soaked and dirty. “I think I’m going to change...”

“Alright, I’ll see what we managed to save.”

“Can you maybe manage to save me?” Luciack asks sheepishly from where he stood with his leg wedged between two rocks. Kylon laughs and goes over to help him.

I stand up and walk down to the wide inner chamber of the cave and stand in a darker corner to change into my black pants, white undershirt, and overcoat. I undo my hair and set my hat atop my head then re-clasp my cloak. Even if the Empire in general didn’t think it right for women to wear pants, I didn’t care. It would make riding horses so much easier for me. And besides, who ever said I was going to be in public? I didn’t plan on being in public if I could help it.