The Forest Deep
Part 3
He had intended to take it slow, to carefully navigate the woods in case something still lurked within but he was rapidly reminded of his childhood among trees and gradually, his tense shoulders eased up and his spine straightened. Soon, it was with curiosity more than anything else that the man moved in long strides, finding his way as was second-nature and slowing his pace only once he reached his former self-imposed border.
He first merged with and then followed the path that had begun to be formed the day before but, with intent, Menzo carefully avoided the area of confrontation. Instead, he circled around and began tracking for signs of the slain beast’s hauntings, leaving markings as he went to ensure he found his way back.
It wasn’t long before it became apparent to the archer that a series of wide, not quite parallel trails existed where the black moss had grown thicker and higher than elsewhere. He noticed that it was now drying and withering upon the trees and that tiny green sprouts curled up all across the dark covering, a sure sign if any that the creature’s influence was considerably lessened, if not entirely wiped away. Menzo dared hope the beast’s touch was entirely gone but the doubt brought on by Yavan’s words stuck and he preferred maintaining a modicum of doubt.
Altering his course, the woodsman followed one of the large traces he had identified. Gradually, the leafy covering grew darker, but nothing like what it would have been the morning before. It remained dominantly green rather than the blackout it most likely previously was, if the areas nearer the village had been anything to go on. Slowly, Menzo carried on, his boots sinking and squelching in the thick growth. After several minutes, he could no longer make sense of a distinct trail but the ground covering felt thicker and thicker. He kept straight on, scraping off large pieces of the stuff from trees as he went.