Sylvia was forced to shield her eyes against the harsh light. After a few tentative blinks, the world began to refocus. She was in awe of her surroundings, not because of the stark beauty of trees the camp was nestled against. No it was a sickened awe, as she saw people who must have somehow survived the direct attacks.
They were missing appendages, feet, hands, noses, and she even spotted one man who had thick bandages wrapped around his eyes. As a matter of fact this man was wrapped head to tow in bandages, though he appeared to have all four limbs, and was mostly in tact. He wore a grim expression on his chiseled feature.
Sylvia could hardly stop the bile from rising in her throat. She nearly lost it when she felt a large hand grip her shoulder. “Alright there, lass? I know it must be a grim sight for ya, but try not lose yer stomach. It puts ta rest of us in just as foul as mood. No one likes being upchucked on.” It was the man from earlier. He was trying his hardest to make light of this dark situation. She turned to look at him.
He was a hulking mountain of a man, with a personality to match from what she'd observed. He had an enormous red beard that engulfed his face. His eyes were small, yet full of light and humor.“I, I'll try...and well...Thanks.” Sylvia found having to force the words out. Her mind was still set on the horrors of this camp.
“Don't mention it, lass. By ta way, name's Korduck, though most just call me Kor. What about you, got a name lass?” Kor looked at Sylvia, a friendly, open smile on his mouth.
“Uhh, name. Yeah, I've got a name. It's Sylvia.” She was distracted by all the blood and bitterness of those around her. She looked around at the gruesome scene one last time.
“Sylvia, eh lass? A right name if I say so meself. Come over here lass, ya need to be looked over by Rick. He'll make sure ya won't be inclined ta dig your own grave anytime soon. Cause I certainly don't want to dig!” Kor laughed at his own attempt at humor. He placed a beefy arm around her, steering her away from the center of the camp. She noticed he was keen not to let her see too much, and to be frank she was thankful.
They arrived at a tent larger than most. It was rather plain and boring, much like the rest of camp. There was little color or symbols. Sylvia found herself wondering more than once how people could navigate the maze of tarps, tents, and rundown buildings. But Kor never stepped out of beat, seeming to know exactly where to go. “Now, you just stay right out here lass, Have ta make sure Rick isn't busy, hates being interrupted.” The big man turned to the tent, and somehow managed to fit his massive form inside the tent. Sylvia was left standing there on the edge of camp, her arms wrapped around herself. She hadn't realized how cold it was, or perhaps how cold she was.
“Oi, lass. Rick will see ya now, just ta make sure yer good enough ta travel.” Kor poked his head out of the tend flap to greet her.
“Well enough to travel? What do you mean?” Sylvia's eyes started to widen in apprehension.
“Don't ya worry, lass. You seem well enough to meself, you'll do great.” Kor said, trying to seem upbeat.
“But, what happens if you don't pass his test?” Her wide eyes staring into the tent.
“Don't worry about tat, lass. You'll do just beautifully, oh and Rick seems to be calling for you, lass. I'd best let him get ta work.” Kor stepped outside, and before Sylvia could protest further, he nudged her inside. Or at least what he considered a nudge.
Sylvia flew into the tent, miraculously staying on her feet. She somehow managed to land neatly on a battered wooden stool with a quiet 'oomph.'
“Quick on your feet there girl, or perhaps just lucky?” Sylvia hadn't seen the man, Rick, when she entered. “Now, why exactly are you in this place? Because Kor thought it was just so damn important to bring a healthy girl in for a needless examination.” Rick turned to look at her.
He was a lanky man, practically all skin and bones. His entire left arm was covered in a clean set of bandages, and a pair of crooked glasses hung low on his nose. She also took note of the bloody needle in his hand, complete with thread.
“But, you didn't even do anything. Are you sure?” Sylvia couldn't help but be a little skeptical, and she timidly voiced her concerns.
“When you've been stitching people up as long as I have, you get a good feel for how someone's doing just by looking at them. But if you still think you need help, it's not the kinda of help I can give. You'd have to go see Ryth for that kind of help. Now, please be so kind to get out.” His tone was kind, yet there was an undertone of hostility.
“Wait! What kind of help are you talking about? And why do you think I need it.” Rick was already corralling Sylvia to the exit.
“I don't think you need it, you think you need it. Now get out.” He shoved her outside, and went back to his work.
Sylvia fell into the dirt, using her hands to brace herself. She was beginning to feel terrible again, and those man's words echoed in her mind. Perhaps I should have left you to die in favor of someone else. She slowly realized she was once again alone, as Kor was nowhere to be seen.
She had grown to immediately like the stocky giant, even if he was a little rough around the edges. But he treated her well enough and seemed to be looking out for her. But now he had abandoned her.
“It seems I've been left to twist in the wind. But I won't give them the satisfaction.” Sylvia picked herself off the ground, and dusted off her shoulders. Her eyes briefly scanned the camp, then she felt foolish. She didn't know who this Ryth was, more or less where they would be. So she did what seemed logical to her. She started wandering the camp, asking anyone who seemed approachable.
Most them simply stared at her with dark eyes. She also learned a few explicit words and slur that she'd rather not have known. When she made it to the center of the camp, it was already sundown. She felt incredibly defeated, having accomplished nothing in the course of a few hours. She felt unimaginably groggy and depressed.
“This journey, I'm going to die on it.” Sylvia sounded hollow, even to herself. She'd barely managed to bring herself to wake up this morning, her heart still heavy with the events of the past. Now here she was in a camp of people who were bitter, angry, and depressed. But they all had something she lacked, a will to live.
Ever since she was a little girl, her parents were there to help her. And if not her parents, then Theo. Now, she had no one. She thought about how easy it would be to just lie down and give up. Then these fifty something people could go on without her.
She walked back towards the edge of camp, figuring less people would pester her. At least that was her excuse, because she knew no one would pester her. She just wanted to be alone.
The sun had long since gone down, and no one payed any mind to Sylvia. She had stopped entertaining thoughts of Kor coming to see her, and had already accepted that she was going to stop here. Nothing would force her to go further.
“OI! Lass! What are ya doing here?” Kor was with a woman. She was tall and elegant looking, but extremely off putting. Her skin was a soft shade of blue, and her eyes a deep purple. Her hair matched her eyes to the point of being uncanny.
“Sitting and waiting.” Sylvia replied, the venom all too present in her words.
“Lass, what's ta matter with you!” Kor was beyond confused.
“Oh nothing, you just left me in a camp full of people who seem to hate me. I spent the better part of the day looking for you.” She shot back, even though it was a measly half truth.
“Lass, I've been doing ta same ting since I found Lady Ryth here. I've been worried sick about ya! Someting's not right in yer head.” His words were more concerned than angry.
“There's nothing wrong with me! I'm perfectly fine, that Rick said so himself!” Sylvia replied angrily. Ryth stepped in between the two.
“Korduck here asked me to talk to you and to be quite frank with you, I was inclined to meet a member of the Grey clan.” Ryth made a little curtsy motion, her long flowing dress dipping ever so slightly. She then made a little shooing motion at Kor. “Sir Shieldbreaker, if you would be so kind as to leave me with this fine young woman.” Kor's face reddened slightly when his surname was spoken so highly.
“Yes, right away, your ladyship.” Kor gave a deep bow of his head, before excusing himself.
“Now, young one, tell me what's troubling you.”
“What's troubling me?! You have the nerve to ask that! In case you haven't noticed, thousands of people were just slaughtered! What's there to be happy about!” Sylvia threw up her hands, outraged at this women. She continued on and on, describing in detail about what she had seen in a high pitched, furious voice.
Ryth sat there, waiting patiently. She fixed her dress a few times, smoothing it out. Sylvia finished, her eyes settling on the sleek woman’s form. “Well?!” Sylvia demanded, shouting.
“Well what?” Ryth asked gently. She remained unperturbed, her own gaze confident and understanding. “You still won't tell me the problem, young one.” She replied flatly.
“What do you mean?! I just went to great lengths to tell you al...” Ryth slowly put up her hand, indicating that the girl needed to stop talking. Sylvia did as asked, though she couldn't be sure why.
“You're describing the lands problem. I want to know you're problem. Here, young one, come with me.” Ryth extended her hand to Sylvia. Sylvia hesitated, but cautiously offered her own hand to the older woman. “Now, will you walk with me?” She asked, waiting for an answer.
“Walk...with you? Uhh...sure.” This woman came off stranger and stranger by the moment. But there was something, something that Sylvia couldn't quite place. She seemed to have this calming aura around. Not to mention her endless pool of patience. The two took off at a slow pace into the nearby forest. Soon, they were enveloped in a world of brown bark and golden leaves. Sylvia finally understood that man's reasoning for wanting to reach Alte sooner.
Winter would be upon them in less than a three weeks. They couldn't afford to dawdle, otherwise there would be no survivors from that horrific event. They would all freeze to death, they weren't equipped to deal with the harsh winters that were typically reported on the roads to Alte. Alte was know as the Frozen City to all those that didn't live there. Everyone had always heard rumor of all the blizzards that plagued the place, year after year, winter after winter. It was a miracle anyone lived there.
Sylvia was taken out of her thoughts. “Young one, come sit with me.” Ryth had gracefully dropped to a sitting position on a fallen trunk. Sylvia looked around, before shrugging. She sat down next to the older woman. “Now, young one, what's troubling you?”
3: Chapter 3