Soil's Story Part 3: Shattered

I woke up freezing. The mat I'd been sleeping on was covered in a thin layer of frost, and I myself wasn't much better. "Some good you did," I said, glowering at the Salamander spark. It crackled merrily in response. Whatever. I guess I should probably find something to cover myself. I looked around and eventually found Zephnos' stash of clothes. Made of woven leaves and vines, it wasn't the most comfortable, but it would at least give me SOMETHING. No sense in staying nude this whole time, even if nothing could catch me.   Remembering what the Tree had said, I pondered how to move the Salamander spark. Zephnos had never found anything fireproof to put it in, so he had always wanted to try and make a torch. That... ended with him being the Cronenberg monster he is today.   Huh. David Cronenberg. How did I know about him?   I didn't have much time to worry about that though. From outside, I could hear something huge moving around. Hundreds of different sounds came from it. Over a minute I heard cracking, chittering, panting, a steady thrumming sound, then growling. It was as if the entire forest was outside, waiting for me to pop out. I guess in a way, it was. Then a massive crab claw tore through the barrier of vines covering the entrance. Guess "waiting" was too strong a word. More like "desperately seeking." Hunting? Let's go with hunting. It's better than stalking.   "Shit." Yeah. Because that's what you say when your dad's about to eat you. I looked around, spotted a clay jug (where did Zephnos find clay?) and gingerly picked up the log the Salamander Flame was on and stuffed it in. I added a bit of wood from the fireplace and hoped that would be enough to keep it alive. I don't know why I was taking it with me, but something told me I could trust the Tree's advice. And hey, not like I've had a reason distrust voices in my head from magic trees in dreams. Yet. I dug in Zephnos' memories and found what I was looking for: Zephnos had made a satchel, which he had hidden under a rock in this home. I could put the jug in there while I moved. Now for the tricky matter of getting past the "problem" outside.   Then I looked down and laughed. Of course! Moonflowers! I sprinted out of the opening, and just barely dodged a razorroot's harpoon. At least, I think it was a razorroot. I slapped my palm into the ground, and presto! A wave of moonflowers erupted and bloomed instantly. I looked up and got my first good look at the old-timer that brought me into this world. Aaaand realized I'd need a new plan.   More than half of Zephnos was a plant, and hence, immune to the moonflower's toxin. Good news, he'd just changed and wasn't used to his new body. Bad news, those were definitely razorroot harpoons, and he still had his crab claw.   Okay, this instant adaptation was seriously pissing me off. "Well fuck you too then. I've HAD IT with you chasing me around. This ends NOW."   A face split between a lobster's and a lizard's stared down at me hungrily from underneath those rams horns. I had no idea if it even understood me. Then the harpoons fired.   And I jumped. Thank god I was born a satyr, these legs were really useful. I landed on top of one of the vines and sprinted up it. The vine began to putrefy as I ran up it, and I jumped again, this time to his shoulder (I think?). As I stepped, more moonflowers sprung up, covering his body in pale light. I jumped again. If I could just reach his head--   I'd forgotten about his crab claw.   It slammed into me, sending me flying. I sailed between the trees, somehow avoiding all of them. I landed in a brook, but the fall was still hard enough for me to bounce off the bottom. I heard a sharp crack, and I screamed. I tried to get up, and screamed again. Sobs flooded from me as I realized my leg... my beautiful leg... was broken.   Through the pain I faintly registered a new sound: laughter. The sick fuck was LAUGHING at me. But what could I do about it. NOTHING. This was it. I was done for.   Then a chill ran up my spine. Just like when the Tree had shown me how to get to the Campgrounds. Look away child. I kept my eyes fixed on my broken leg. I listened, expecting to hear the Bogeyman closing in on me. But all I could hear was the wind in the trees. Even the laughter was gone. I finally looked up. Pain still blinded me, but I forced myself to focus on the direction I had come from. Zephnos was gone. The tree I had slept under was gone. The Forest had... changed.   And off in the distance, I saw a purple flame.   SHIT, the Salamander spark! I had forgotten about it during the fight. The satchel had fallen off when I got hit. Where was it... there! I saw it sitting on top of a patch of moss. Thank god it had landed somewhere soft. Huh. Maybe I should stop thanking god. Who would that be here? Whatever. I'll think about that later. Currently I needed to devote all of my brain cells to "Oh fuck oh shit oh god my leg is broken how do I run I'm going to die die die."   I gritted my teeth. Planting my right foot, I picked up one of the moonflowers that grew around it and rubbed the petals on my broken leg. A soothing numbness spread through my rebellious appendage, washing away the pain. Sighing, I slapped another hand down. Vines grew around the leg, I gently touched it, moving it slightly. Even through the moonflower toxin, I could feel the pain, but it was bearable now. Thankfully, the bone was a clean break. I wouldn't be able to walk, but I could make sure it healed correctly. I maneuvered the leg back into place, and tightened the vine. I yelped in agony. It was still bearable, but only because I'd numbed it. If I hadn't, I'd have blacked out.   Once more I grew a plant, this time a small sapling. Oddly, Zephnos had never tried to grow trees, so I didn't have much knowledge to work with here. It grew to about twice my height before I stopped the flow of power. I snapped off a branch (harder than you'd think) and started tearing off protrusions. Before long, I had a somewhat ugly looking staff. I tested it out, and found that it would barely support my weight without bending. Maybe I could find a better one later. I sighed again, levered myself up into a standing position, and began to hop over to the satchel of magic fire. Once I retrieved that, I turned back towards the Campgrounds.   Why is it always so far away. Screw this stupid forest. If I ever get out of here, I'm living in a desert. Or a city. One with nightclubs and skyscrapers. Why are you still listening? Nothing happened. I got to the Campgrounds.   Fine.   My broken ass hobbled into the Campgrounds. I slumped onto one of the logs closest to the fire. The Salamander didn't say a word, just watched me the entire time. I think it was surprised. Didn't know what to make of this satyr who didn't care about the Dark Forest's stupid laws.   Look, do I really have to continue? We know what happened. I said I'd stay, and now I'm here. What, I do? FINE.   Then I met the pig. Bjorn.   Asshole.