Merryn spotted a small Elven village, a few miles in. The others are tired we'll rest here. The town appeared empty.

She inspected each house, cottage, and shack as she passed it. A window on one was cracked, its glass half on the ground, covered in grime.

All around, cobwebs everywhere on the eves of the buildings, over the dry and cracking intricate scroll work.

She stood on her tiptoes peering in one, a thick layer of dust was over the furniture.

Plates, silverware as if a family was going to have dinner, the glasses aged with a film.

Han sniffed. "It smells stale here. Even the air."

She turned, Hans fur stood on end, his whiskers quivered.

"We'll rest for the night, then move on." Dead zone. Not even insects lurked under foot.

A horse stall ahead, its wooden frame grayed with age.

"Here we go. Stay here, I'll be back out in a while."

"All right," Parcival said.

A cold breeze pushed her hair into her face, and she brushed it back with a hand.

She took care of Angel, then closed the stall.

"Poor girl, you rest up."

Her muzzle soft and silky she stroked it, before going back. Wonder what happened to this town?

She went over to Han.

"Let's get you out of this cold."

She walked by Parcival.

"I'll come get you in a bit." This had to be the worst place to stay the night. The Jade cat offered few options.

That should do. A cottage near was in the fair shape.

Behind a skittering.

Nothing behind them. Now what? 

Must be over tired. Inside in a back room, she helped Han onto a bed, he sprawled on it finished. He cuddled the blanket, snoring.

She headed back and brought Parcival in.

She peeked out a window, "What was that?"

"What was what?" Parcival said. He eased in a soft padded chair.

A movement outside? Hum, now everything was still.

"I'm going to go scout around the town for a while for supplies, and such." Hope it's not that cat again.

Closing the door behind she walked around. She cast the Luminous spell, but it came faint and decayed fizzling out. Am still too tired. A warm, thick breeze carried the scent of old rot. Yuck.

A small inn was to the right, its door hung on an upper hinge. It creaked as it moved from side to side.

The spirit of Kage wouldn't answer. Need food and rest or soon be of no use to them. Fine, will just have to slip in without help.

Inside most of the rough tables had fallen on their sides, one carved one was still upright. An old rusty sword stuck into it.

Going over to it, she yanked it out of the table. A thin blade, with a mass of nicks and rust along its edge.

She put it back. A room to the left with a sign above the doorway: Kitchen.

The shelves were filthy with dust and cobwebs. A bag of rice on the shelf, she dusted and picked it up. The top ripped open. Gross Nug-worms spilled out of the bag! She tossed it away.

The worms wriggled and squirmed under the floor boards, disappearing out of sight.

Hate, hate, hate, nug-worms! Further into the kitchen was a broken pantry. Only the top shelf was left on it a dust covered bag of jerky. This looks edible. She beat off the dust and took it.

Whipped around. Nothing.

Back outside, she checked from side to side. The rest of the houses were empty.

In the last house in the town paintings on the walls of portraits. One painting of a woman had vivid golden eyes.

The painting bulged and flopped. She jumped back.

With her dagger, she moved it. A handful of nug-worms fell out with a squishy thump. They vanished under the floor.

Time to check on the others. Back inside the cottage Han and Parcival are asleep. She sat in a rickety chair by Parcival and crossed her arms behind her head drifting off.

Han patted her shoulder.

"Wake up."

"Morn'." She rubbed her eyes.

Parcival yawned.

She took out the jerky placing it on the table.

"Thanks."

"I'm going to go get Angel." She walked to the door.

"Who? Oh, right, the horse."

Outside her ears twitched, a scraping?

She turned around.

Nothing was there. This place ...

She walked over to the stall. Angel hadn't touched the straw or water. It was time to go staying here for one minute longer-

Skitter. Again?

The rain splattered on her cheek. She jumped a little, then walked faster to the stall.

"Shop hiding, come out!"

Her skin crawled, nothing was behind.

"Come on already! Enough! Face me!"

She pulled her daggers out holding one near her face and the other down low to deliver a one-two stab if needed.

Her heart thudded in her chest. Stay calm.

The birds hadn't chirped at all today. This place just felt wrong.

She went back to the cottage.

Parcival had his armor chest plate off. It was an odd piece, with bolts and hinges. Must be that new technology that the blacksmiths in the last city were going on about.

"It's useless now."

She closed the door and stood by him.

"Have you noticed anything strange about this town?"

He placed the armor chest piece on the table.

"No, it's been quiet.

His eyebrows scrunched up.

Why?"

She sat. "Hum, I've seen and heard some strange things. A few nug-worms are here."

"That's not much to worry about. We should get going.

He stood and went over to Han patting his back.

"Time to go."

A weakness punched through her body. The vines moved around in her and siphoned away more energy. They didn't take much, as there wasn't much to take. It hurt less this time. Need to eat soon. Stomach was hollow and it pinched. Could just eat the jerky.

"Let's leave now breakfast can wait, this place is just ... wrong." She rubbed an arm.

Han rolled over stretching.

"Fine with me."

Outside again at the stable, she brought out the horse, handing the reins to Han.

The clouds darkened above and burst open. Crappy rain came as a thick sheet flattering her hair to the sides of her face.

"There should be a pathway that leads to the entrance of the city of Galrta."

The rain, rat-a-tat-tat on the rooftops, drowning out the horse's hoof clops and footfalls.

Past the last house in town, an object flashed in the brown withered grass. Nudging it with a foot it flipped over. The rusted blade. A trap?

"Get back!"

Merryn pulled Angel back away. What in blue blazes?

"Can you hear that?"

Parcival joined her. "No."

Just what was happening?

Not but ten feet into the forest the skittering grew louder.

Parcival came over and took her map out of her pack, "Where to next?" he held it up to her.

Calm stay calm. She took the map, studying its layout.

"If we go a bit northeast for a while we should be able to get back on the road to the city after a few days travel."

She craned her neck, behind them the nug-worms, joined together into a large mass.

It jutted out at her. Before she could sidestep it the nug-worms swarmed over, leaving her head free. They devoured Angel's flesh in seconds, the bloody bones cluttered to the ground. A mass of the maggot like creatures covered Parcival and Han.

The jade green cat stepped out of the forest shadows, it cackled.

The cat twisted, bending into odd angles that no animal in nature ever should reformed from the paws up. It's skeletal structure and fur transformed to a humanoid shape. Last it's paws they changed to feet where dark brown leather boots flowed over them.

A creature no longer; A man stood in black pants, and a buttoned red vest decorated with gold etching. His hard handsome face framed by black ringlets were piercing eyes glowed behind. Both of his arms raised, he whispered an incantation.

She blinked, and the worms turned into a handful of Elven villagers, the pupils a pure black. They silently scooted over, picked her and the others up.

"Let them go!"

She turned her head towards a crackling sound and wished she hadn't. At first, it was a dot but grew larger, its edges crackled with energy like a mass of curving lighting. Maxwell stopped chanting and went through it.

"Don't you ignore me!" she screamed.

"Why is every day filled with stuff like this?" Han shouted.

Han was pulled though first, he craned his head their eyes met that look went straight to her heart.

A sticking rush of pins and needles ran through her skin.

Time seemed to slow.

The villagers brought her over to the portal.

####

On the other side, a desolate land, void of vegetation except for ancient leafless trees. An angry sky sparked with lighting overhead that flashed lighting the darkness randomly.

The villagers carried her what seemed to be Eastward. The others took Parcival and Han to the North-east. The men flopped over the shoulders of the villagers.

"Hey! Bring them back!"

She fought and kicked at the ones holding her. The one on the right punched her stomach. The blow hurt and took her breath away, she slumped back. Have to help them. 

What a waste of space I am... how can I if I keep getting caught. She titled her head slightly. A large building off a head came to view. They have to put me down at some point.

Not long later they brought her inside and carried her up several flights of stairs to a small room. It had a window, a boring table with flat benches, and small desk behind it. Nothing decorated the cold gray brick walls.

They set her down on a bench and walked out locking the door. Really? So no shackles or cell? Suspicious.

When the past awakens to the future the planet cries in pain. He weakens us, rid us of him, Unnamed said.

Huh? What are you babbling about?

Unnamed did not answer.

Maxwell came and closed the door behind him with a loud click. He put two wine glasses down on the table, ran his hands over his hair, and turned around facing her.

Dang, it. No time to look around.

"Such a sour look, it doesn't become you." An amused look crossed his face.

She glared.

"Now is that any way to act to the only one who can actually help you? Your idiot friends know nothing of what is going on. I mean, how smart can they be if they haven't even caught on to what you are?"

"It's my onus, not theirs. Besides, it's forbidden you know that. You were there with Mother those years ago."

She stood up watching him while she pulled off pieces of the vines.

Maxwell nodded. "Yes. It was discussed at the treaty summit. I never imagined you'd fail so horribly." His face convoluted before smoothing back.

Wonder what he's up to? She sat down trying to control her inner panic.

"Drink it'll calm you old ally," said Maxwell. His voice buttery and far too calm. Like a man that had everything he wanted.

He held out a glass of wine. A bitter scent struck her. Poison?

Just deal with Maxwell, take it one step at a time. She willed her hand to stop shaking and reached out for the glass trying not to drop it.

She coughed a few times, as her throat felt thick and dry.

She wet her lips with it, pretending to swallow. If not poison, then a sleep tonic. The red wine showed no discoloration. 

"It isn't you know. If I wanted to, you would've been dead an hour ago." He swirled the wine in the glass and looked to the side.

Keep him talking. While his head turned she scanned around the room for any weapons or a way out. There has to be a way out of here.

"I doubt you of all people desire to help me."

He leaned forward, and she stopped searching. She almost fell back onto the floor from tilting her chair as he was only an inch away.

"True, by helping you I help myself. That thing must die."

His eyes fill with rage, a darkness shadowed around his face. laying his hands on the arm of the chair, he gripped it until the wood cracked and splintered.

She cupped her neck with a hand and sat further back.

"Make no mistake, I still hate you. I will hate you until I turn to dust until this planet grows cold and desolate. I will hate you until all things end."

He hung his head clenching his jaw. His hair covered his face with shadow. The brights of his eyes piercing through.

He grunted, stood up and pushed the chair back, it slid across the floor and thunked into the wall.

"I have other matters to attend to, it is advised you stay in this room. I will punish any disobedience."

His voice tightened and laced with unmistakable hate. Leaving, he closed and locked the door.