Strange Remains
Part 8
“Menzo.”
Yavan’s voice cut into his thoughts, startling him out of his reverie. He blinked, surprised to see the bones still neatly arranged with no hint of movement in them. He ground his teeth. He was afraid; he didn’t like feeling afraid. “Yes?”
“I need you to track the area, see if there are signs of any kind of disturbance you cannot make sense of. I do not believe this is a human’s work.” As he said this, the Vigil began pulling a pouch out from a breast pocket.
“We’re probably the only humans in the area crazy enough to come to these parts.”
Yavan acquiesced, apparently absent-mindedly as he pulled out objects unknown to Menzo. The archer stayed put for a few seconds longer, staring at Yavan’s hands then jerked himself straight. ‘Get a move on,’ he thought to himself forcefully. ‘Pretend you’re hunting. That’s it! Just something else you’re hunting in a dangerous place. Nothing out of the usual.’
Tapping into old habits and letting them take charge, he stepped forward and began inspecting the area. He left his lantern behind with Yavan; the moon was nearly full and the cloudless sky allowed for light to come flooding down amidst the broken trees. He tried to not notice how it shimmered on the naked bones as he explored carefully. Despite his best efforts, he could not shake the itch that became increasingly powerful between his shoulder blades the longer he looked away, and when he had them in view, he could not stop seeing the bones shift and sway, taking on a life of their own. Only his sense of duty kept him going and when even that began to falter, he turned back towards the knight.
“How do I know this thing isn’t going to start moving again?” he called out.
Yavan, whose head had been going up and down from a flat piece of wood, peered sideways towards Menzo. He raised an eyebrow and replied “You don’t.”