Arlo maintained a generous distance between him and Gideon. But made sure that he could at least see him as they walked along. He really wasn’t up for trusting anyone; much less a random person that he had just met. But he felt differently about this one for some reason. And while he hadn’t originally, he now had questions. Along with wondering if Gideon had any questions for him. Like what his name was or where he had come from. Or what brought him into the forest to begin with. Because thus far, Gideon didn’t seem to be interested in any of it. He really didn’t seem to be interested in anything. During the time that they had been walking, he hadn’t turned around once to even see if Arlo was following him. He hadn’t sped up or slowed down; stumbled or tripped. His hands hadn’t even left his pockets. He was just sporadically turning left here, and right there. While the pathway they were following was beginning to blend in with the forest floor around them. Arlo was busy looking at all of the leafless branches that extended in infinite directions. Wondering how much farther they were going to go. Because it felt like they had walking for the better part the day. Most of which was slightly uphill. And since the forest had become much more dense, it made it harder to see where the sun was. Causing him to all but lose his sense of time and direction. Through heavy breathing, Arlo asked if they were going to take a break and rest soon. Gideon didn’t respond; he just continued on with his quiet humming. Arlo began to really believe that Gideon had no idea he was even following him. Or maybe he was just hard of hearing. Nonetheless, Arlo wasn’t going to turn around or stop. He didn’t walk all this way for nothing; he wanted to see where Gideon was going. He could tell that this part of the forest was much older than where he had been. There was also less things that moved around; less things that were green. Then, unexpectedly, something caught his eye. Arlo saw a strange marking on a tree nearby. Unable to clearly make out what it was, he just continued on. Mainly out of fear that he would be left out here. Because based on his assessment throughout the day. Gideon didn’t seem like he was going to stop, nevertheless wait. Not to long after that, he saw another one, then another. Soon, they were everywhere. Almost on every single tree that he passed. Arlo, looking around at all of them, could finally see what they were. They were names, and initials, that had been carved into the trees. Some even had vague dates next them. Some of that were quiet specific. Gideon, breaking the silence. Told Arlo that if he was still following him, that they were almost there. That he would be able to see it when they reached the top of the hill. Arlo flinched at the sound of his voice, but then he began moving briskly to catch up to Gideon. Excited to see what it was that awaited them.
Displacement
Arlo’s eyes began to slowly open. Dawn had arrived. There was a considerable chill in the air; along with a thick fog that had accompanied it. After sitting up, he noticed that he was unable to even see the two pathways from the day before. Uncomfortable is his cold and damp clothes. He decided to venture out to get some wood for a fire so he could warm up and dry off. Hoping that he would be able to find some that wasn’t soaked. After searching for a while, eventually he stumbled upon some chunks of an old tree trunk. Tearing away the outer layer of its thick bark, found that the wood beneath it was actually quite dry. He took what he could carry back to the clearing; and stacked it into a neat teepee arrangement. After the fire was lit, and only warming himself for a short while. He heard the sound of something walking in the distance. But as opposed to the previous morning, it definitely didn’t sound like it was in a hurry of any kind. Although it did sound as if it was coming towards him, and not just passing by. With his interest growing, he focused his attention to where the foot steps were coming from. Eventually, the silhouette of a person began to slowly emerge from the fog. Arlo stood up from where he was sitting, facing towards whoever this was. As the stranger became more visible with the closer he got. Arlo could see that his clothes were tattered and torn. Pants that barely reached past his knees. There were some small twigs, and even some leaves in his hair. Which was rather long and unkept. His eyes were slightly inset and shadowy. His skin was pale and he wore no shoes. He had a very calm demeanor, not seeming startled or surprised. It was more of a look that was sizing something up. The two just stood for a few moments looking at each other. The stranger calmly began to walk in a circle around Arlo, looking him up and down as he did so. When the stranger got back around to Arlo’s eyesight, Arlo opened his mouth to speak. The stranger simply raised his hand, motioning for him not to say anything. The silence between the two lasted for a few more moments before Arlo asked him who he was. The stranger responded in a soothing voice that his name was Gideon. Then, in one motion, spinning around on just one of his heels. Began walking in the direction from whence he came. Arlo shouted at Gideon as he was steadily fading away back into the fog, asking him what he wanted. Gideon replied without turning around or stopping, by asking Arlo the same question. Arlo knew what he wanted; or at least he thought he did. And even though he couldn’t see exactly which path this stranger had come from, or was about to go down, was going to follow him regardless. Arlo quickly started kicking dirt to put out the fire and cover the smoldering coals. There was no procrastination, for he had already convinced himself that this was the right decision. He had journeyed into the unknown before, and thinking that this wouldn’t be any different, followed this Gideon into the fog.
Bewildering
Throughout all of his wanderings here, along with all that he had seen. This had him perplexed, just standing there frozen, his mind blank. But not blank enough to forget that his legs and knees were pretty weak from the eventful start to the morning. Slowly sitting down, he crossed his legs and leaned back on the palms of his hands. His eyes moving back and forth between these two pathways that he hadn’t come across before. Both of which had clearly been there for quite some time, based on the size of the vines that hung from either side. His breathing and heart rate were slowly returning to normal. His first thought, was that this decision had already been made when he came into the forest. His second thought, was what if he didn’t make it this time? Simply turned around and went back, forget that he had even seen them. Even though knowing that deep down he wouldn’t be able to. The sun started to rise, up from behind the trees, moving across the sky in typical fashion. All the shadows that it cast gradually changing direction in unison. Surrounded by all of these natural sun dials that he paid no attention to. Over the course of the day, which he spent sitting, standing, and periodically pacing. He came to the conclusion, that there was no way to avoid choosing. Whatever he had chased earlier that morning, was clearly trying to lead him in a certain direction. But he wasn’t able to see which way it went, or even seen it since. And while confident that he would be seeing it again, there was no way to know exactly when. The sun slowly began giving way to the moon. The sky fading from a light blue, to a purplish, grey hue. The stars slowly becoming more and more visible the darker that it grew. Like tiny pin holes being pricked in a black sheet one at a time. So with the moon almost full, there in the small clearing he stayed. Trying to hurry and make the best guess that he could. Because for some reason, he couldn’t help but feel like he was being rushed. Even though he knew that he could take his time; and not decide until one felt just a bit more right. Although, this distinct feeling of clarity that he desired, did not come quickly. The more he thought, and the longer he waited, the harder it became to stay awake. Especially since the silence of the night had set in. Except for the occasional owl and a few crickets that is. He laid back on the ground, placing his hands between it and the back of his head. No longer trying to deal with this mental exhaustion, he simply got lost in the night sky. Watching the distant flickering lights and the occasional shooting star go by. With no fire going, and with it being to late and dark to start one. He just pulled his arms inside his shirt, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Titillation
He had been filled with a since of freedom that he had never felt before. Spending his time during the day wandering amongst the trees and watching all the various little creatures he would see. Walking along the banks of a stream that he had come across. Simply attempting to see where it would lead. As well as listening to the melody of the sound that it made as it flowed along over the rocks. Eventually coming to a cliff where the stream careened off. After looking over the edge and seeing the stream crash at the bottom and continue on. He just stood and took in the view. Thinking that he didn’t seem to know exactly where to go, or what he was really even looking for. But he was determined to find his way through this eerily beautiful maze. The sun began to shine brighter than before, now that he was well away from the forests edge. More light was able to make it through the tops of the trees. Allowing him to begin to truly see everything for what it was; and that this was indeed a magical place. Although despite all of its splendor during the day, the night time here, was a far more different experience. He would hear sounds in the distance that he had never heard before, and could not explain. He would usually sleep high up in a tree. Safe and away from what moves around on the ground, just so long as it couldn’t climb. Knowing that any one of the various caves that he’d seen, would offer much better shelter from the weather, and be a lot warmer. But he feared what might be asleep in one, or what might come home while he was asleep in one. Along with sounds, sometimes, he would even see lights. They would be dim, far away and fast moving. Almost as soon as he would notice them, they would quickly fade away, or just vanish completely. Night by night, these sporadic sightings, began to become more and more frequent. They would also come closer and closer to the tree he was in. As if who, or whatever it was, was curious. Which in turn, made him more curious. Because this whole time, which felt like weeks, he hadn’t seen a single soul. None but the creatures that inhabited this forest. One morning, he was awoken by the sound of something crashing through the bushes below. When he looked, unable to make out what it was, could only see that there was something running in the opposite direction. Rolling off his branch, he swung down to the ground and quickly attempted to follow. Running as fast as he could, getting smacked and whacked by low limbs. Tripping over unseen sticks and stones. The flickering orange light that he was following was steadily getting away. Until eventually, he could no longer see it, nor hear the commotion. Realizing he had lost it, stopped to catch his breath. Placed his hands on his hips and started looking around to figure out where he was at. Then, there in a little clearing, was when he saw them.
Exordium
Of the trees that he could see, there were some that seemed to reach all the way to the sky. Arlo just stood and stared, feeling neither prepared nor scared. After stopping for only a moment, continued on his way. The wind stopped when he ventured in; as it was unable to penetrate the wall of crooked wood and twisted timber. The sunlight stuck having the same luck. Unable to beam through this forest’s dense canopy. The air was still, and although it took him a moment to notice, it was all quiet. There were no birds chirping, there was nothing. Just the crunching of leaves and twigs beneath his feet. The further he went, the more that he was in awe with what he saw. And despite the feeling of being watched as he moved along, he couldn’t stop. Partly, because for him, it would be defeating to even look back. As he was attempting to do something that he had never done before. Which was leaving the past where it was with no time to waste. Because after everything that had happened, he wanted to run. Needing more than just a break, he wanted to escape. He wanted to go somewhere that was very far away. Ironically it was the same place, that while he was being raised, was always told not to go. So with minor hesitation, deep into this wilderness he went. Disappearing into the dark and vast, simply drifting down an unknown path. Longing to be lost, with no desire to be found. He seemed to be searching for peace, but at the same time, wanted to become wild. But with every step that he took, he wondered, how long would he be gone? Would he ever return? If not, what was he to become? Would it be someone, or would it be some thing? Of course the answer to this he did not know. But the one thing that he did know, was that he absolutely had to go. He felt it deep inside. His heart slowly but surely, convincing his mind. Everything, all this was new to him. He didn’t recognize anything. It was exciting that everything was a complete mystery. It was all that he had imagined and more. There was so much to see and explore with no idea what was in store.
