Chapter 7

The jungle was oppressive. It encroached on Anya everywhere. The only reason she could move at a reasonable pace was because of the worn-down path she followed. The animals had done the hard work for her, but she still had to hack, push, and weave through vines, leaves, and roots. The massive, fanned leaves of the trees blocked both the view ahead, and sunlight from above. Sudden twists of the trail hid dangerous drops as the terrain hid just out of sight. She had to be careful and move cautiously. Still better than going all the way around, quit complaining. She sang softly as she walked, trying to find her Heartsong. She would know when she found the right melody. It would simply be right. She had hints, but sometimes the notes felt wrong, or the transitions felt unnatural. She was piecing it together slowly, acknowledging that it would all come together eventually. It was one piece of the resonance puzzle, and she would be stupid not to multitask. Her mother’s song was rapid, full of movement, and had a driving rhythm that never waited. Anya tried it, but it felt… off. It didn’t sit well with her vocal range, so she played with it. She modified parts, lowered and raised the octave. She slowed them down, sped them up, or changed them entirely. Hints. It was all a puzzle. You just couldn’t see the pieces until the puzzle was complete.

Anya swatted the bugs away. They were nuisances, but hardly anything dangerous. Thorns dug into her, tearing her clothing. Annoying! I hate this place! She raged, slicing way a vine that had somehow tangled with her hair. Her biggest worry hadn’t been a problem though. None of these plants showed signs of the blight. It happened from time to time, but if it was noticed, the area was burned and cleansed in a large area, isolating it. The squalls frequenting the island took care of the rest. As long as they were wary, it was manageable. That only left the animals. They did occasionally show up, infected, but were immediately put down. Entire populations of a single species had been eradicated, but somehow, they always made their way back eventually. The kapinix were one example. There had been an outbreak of ravaging kapinix when she was a small child. They had been flushed out of their burrows with fire and hunted ruthlessly when discovered. The town abandoned everything until the danger was resolved. The little things were cute, until the blight twisted them and they tried to gnaw your face off. If she found any signs of the blight, she was under instructions to flee and return home immediately and report it. Heartsong Trials could wait when the safety of the island depended on it. Seeing no signs of the black stains she was thankful. At least some things didn’t have to be difficult.

As if reading her thoughts, the first rain started falling. Water began dripping through the canopy, beginning the slow process of soaking her to the bone. Closing in on evening, the little light she had remaining was fading fast. After some consideration, she chose a straight in the path to call home for the night. She could see, or flee, if anything came down the paths. The jungle was close, but she wasn’t going to get much sleep anyway. She tried to make a fire, but everything was simply too wet, so she simply sat, slowly getting soaked to the bone. She was ready to light her torch if needed, protecting it by placing it under her pack to shield it from the damp.

Other than being soaked through, the rain was calming. The island weather was warm during this season, so she wasn’t cold. The noise of the rain crashing through the trees was peaceful. She felt alone, isolated, content. It was nice.
It was nice, until suddenly it wasn’t. Two golden eyes reflected light back at her from further up the path. Something walked across it, darting back into the jungle. She didn’t get a good look at it, but whatever it was it, it moved like a hunter. It prowled, moving silently into cover to avoid her direct attention.

“Stay back! I’ll burn you!” She yelled, sparking the flint against the torch. She held it high, not knowing what else to do. Her heart pounded so loud she could hear it. The immediate space around her was visible by torchlight, but it only reached a few feet before fading into hazy shadow again. Birds scattered from somewhere close by in the trees. The thing was getting closer to her. She grabbed her pack, cautiously positioning herself with back to a tree.

What can I do? Forward? It’s where I need to go, but that thing was ahead of me on the path. I might run into it. Backward? Then I fail, or I could go the long way around, but I might miss the storm. Forward it is, I don’t have much choice if I want to do this. If I make it through, at least I’ll have a clear view on the rocky mountain slope to see things coming.

Anya scurried ahead, keeping the torch high in her left hand. This was the side the beast had entered. She was wary as she stepped near the spot she had seen it. She darted ahead, half panicking, crossing its path. She ran forward until she felt far enough away and checked behind her. There was no sign. Air whistled past her teeth as the tension rushed out of her. Be brave Anya, it probably isn’t interested in you. Push through the night and you’ll be fine.

She turned back towards her journey and froze. Directly ahead of her stood the beast, staring at her, ready to pounce. She had never seen one, but she recognized it immediately as a saltclaw. The animal was roughly her size, and had spotted scales, with fur lining its back like a speckled mohawk. It had a long, toothy maw made for clamping down with lethal force. A reptilian tail swung side to side, looking strong enough to knock her over if it connected. The catlike eyes started at her, practically glowing in the torchlight. They were known amphibious predators in the area, equally comfortable high on the mountains or down in the shallows. It stalked towards her, anxious for an easy meal.

Anya screamed, waving the torch to drive it back. “Get back! Leave me alone you monster! I’m not your dinner!” She tried to look big and threatening, while thrusting the torch in its direction. The saltclaw shied away from the flame, but didn’t move out of her path. Her way forward was blocked. And the creature was getting braver.

The saltclaw stalked slowly towards Anya, keeping just out of reach of the torch, but still closing every time she retreated a step. It was mostly a shadowy silhouette with shining eyes prowling the edges of the torchlight. It let out a low hiss, venting frustration, and swiped a powerful claw at the torch. Anya jumped backwards reactively. Her footing slipped, and she fell, laying on her back, but still holding the torch. She recovered as quickly as she possibly could, waving fire at her enemy.

“Get away from me!” She had her knife drawn now, and was determined to kill this thing if it came any closer. She had been in scuffles, but this was different. This was life or death. The stakes were real, and new to her. She was scared out of her mind, but held on to her anger and indignation. “You won’t stop me from my trial! And if you’re alive when I succeed, I’m coming after you first!”

It circled her, constantly wary of the fiery danger. The saltclaw had been patient enough. It could sense her fear. Smell it even. It was used to overpowering its foes with a lethal, crushing bite. All it would take was one. It ran at her, springing to the side as the torch came in a downward swing. It propelled itself off a tree, driving immediately back in towards Anya, going for the kill.

“No!” Anya felt the animal slam into her side with sharp claws, and latching on to her arm midair with a painful bite from one of the large incisors. Before it could recover its footing, and crush her bones with the bite, she managed to shove the torch up under the jaws as they toppled under the force of the attack. It took a burn to the side of its neck with a painful growl. It attacked the source of the pain, releasing her and biting down on the shaft of the torch, and ripping it from her hands. It all happened in an instant, as they fell apart, and Anya was now without her torch, as it tumbled off into the jungle, extinguishing itself on the damp ground.

She only had moments. The saltclaw was reorienting, recovering itself after recoiling from the burn. Embers singed the fur that touched the neck. She threw her pack at it, and ran, clinging to her knife with a white knuckled grip. It was light, and the only thing she refused to leave behind. The saltclaw lunged at the pack, tearing it to shreds as the immediate target for its aggression.

Anya ran for her life.