The Land of Broken Roads

“What do we do?” asked Dirt in a panic.

-We run. The closer he gets, the more accurately he can detect us. We might still get away.-

“Who is ‘he?’ What’s coming?” asked Marina.

Dirt said, “It’s complicated. But it’s something that scares Socks. Come on!”

“Do you two need to leave us?” asked Ignasi, his face calmly serious.

-Not yet, but we will if we have to.-

Ignasi dropped his pack, letting it fall gracelessly into the mud. He tugged off his long jacket and dumped it on the ground, then stretched in an exaggerated way, as if basking in warm sunlight instead of drenched in heavy rain. “Hèctor, Marina, you should start moving before I have time to strip completely.”

Hèctor nodded and dropped his pack as well, then with a wistful expression, his sword and jacket. Marina did the same and started running before the men did. Socks followed at a nervous trot, ushering the humans forward at what they probably thought was a fast jog.

Dirt shifted his weight to slide off and run alongside them, but Socks caught hold and told him, ­-You stay on me in case we have to run fast.-

“Okay. If we leave the others behind, will the Devourer kill them, too?”

-No. And probably not you, either. Just me. But I am not telling them that or they will not hurry as much.-

Dirt grinned and lay down to hug the pup’s fur more tightly. He discovered that if he really pressed down, Socks was warm enough to offset the cold from the rain. It failed to comfort his nervousness much, however. The wetness of Socks’ fur brought out the faint, tangy scent of fear and anxiety, which Dirt only recognized after spending so much time sharing senses. In fact, he might be imagining it, just from knowing how Socks felt right now.

The humans ran in the widest-open areas they could find, despite the wind and heavy rain, as lightning crashed all across the valley. Dirt only flinched some of the time, but after each booming wave of sound shook them, he patted Socks gently and sent him another useless puff of reassurance. It was all he could do.

Dirt took a moment to watch the minds of the humans, just out of curiosity. They were not as used to this as he was, so what did they think? It turned out to be very different things. None of the three were particularly scared of the Devourer, although they all had a nervous tinge to their emotions. Hèctor was pleased at how energized he felt after eating that berry and was enjoying the feeling of easy athletic motion. Marina’s thoughts were largely concerned with fear for her unborn baby, yet to be conceived. She already had a little knot of eager love growing for it, even though it didn’t exist yet. It seemed she’d already ruled out Hèctor and Ignasi as sires and was wondering how long it would take her to find a mate once they reached the city.

Ignasi’s thoughts were the most surprising, though, since they didn’t seem to match his outward demeanor. He was frustrated and upset that nothing went how he pictured, and his dismay seemed to be symbolized in his mind by that nearly full bottle of wine in his abandoned pack. Dirt supposed that Ignasi being the most decisive didn’t make him the happiest with the results.

A deep rumble shook the earth and built into a roar—something like thunder, but from underground. It was followed by a series of shuddering groans and cracks, each ear-splittingly loud despite sounding distant and muffled by the rain. Tremors passed like waves through the ground, and although Socks had no trouble with them, the jogging humans stumbled each time and struggled to regain their feet in the muddy ground.

But those sounds faded, leaving no explanation for what they had been. Perhaps the very earth was being torn open to find them, but in all the wrong places. Dirt wasn’t eager to find out.

They ran on, long enough for the terror of the unseen sounds to fade, and to go back to being regular miserable in the cold rain. Surprisingly, the humans never slowed, which Dirt attributed to the berries and the small amount of mana they had provided. Dirt could still feel it working inside him, keeping him sated and energized. Indeed, Dirt began to wonder if they’d escaped already.

Until a wave of mana washed over them from behind. It contained a shocking amount of power, so much that it seemed the skin between worlds shuddered and threatened to tear. The mana contained a command, an unspeakable word of magic that Dirt nonetheless recognized, being very close to something the dryads had taught him: GROW.

The ground rumbled in every direction, punctuated by cracks and creaks. Green sprouts popped from the ground and grew to become stunted, twisted trees; sickly and weak, but nonetheless solid. Their trunks refused to go straight up and down, each one bent at precarious angles to make as much of an obstacle as possible. From one moment to the next, the run was brought to a complete standstill.

Dirt stepped up onto Socks’ head, and the pup straightened to give him a slightly better view. It was hard to see very far through the rain, but it thinned in places if he watched carefully and revealed that this wet plain of grass had become a forested swamp in an instant. No paths cut through the knotted mess of trees and bushes and vines and everything was just tall enough that Socks couldn’t step over it without jumping. There would be nowhere to land if he did.

They weren’t truly trapped, but they might as well be. Socks didn’t have anything to say, nor was he even thinking in words. It was quickly sinking in that the situation had gone from serious to deadly and Socks was starting to panic. He whined as he stepped left and right in the tiny space that remained to him, mind spinning to find a way through.

“I got this,” said Dirt, sending the biggest mental puff of reassurance he could. He jumped all the way down, staff in hand.

His mind-sight showed him countless new trees, young and excited. They slowly explored the world with their alien senses and discovered there were others, with whom they began to speak in their way. Their minds were nothing like his trees, nowhere near as grand and complicated, but they were every bit as alien and incomprehensible. The only thing he could make out was a concept that seemed related to air or wind. And their greetings, simple and affectionate—those he could recognize, if not quite understand.

Dirt inhaled as much mana as he could, then let his staff wave loosely in an arc in front of him. It brushed against vines and spindly bushes and tapped a tree trunk, and all of them he commanded: Bend. Just as the dryads had taught him, he used their words and ideas to communicate his intent, and his own mana to actualize it. He stepped forward and raised his staff to brush the branches of the next tree, which were too short for Socks to pass under. Bend.

Another, and another, and the path began to open. Where he found two trees talking to each other, he commanded them both at once. Where the bushes or ivy could be stepped through, he ignored it. The plants all wondered at him, unable to understand what was happening or where the magic was coming from, but only briefly before moving on. The world was all too new to dwell on one experience.

Thank Grace, it got easier the farther they got. The trees began to establish their web of communication, allowing Dirt to direct increasing numbers of them out of the way at once. Even so, it took the utmost focus to discern that judging by this connection, that mind-light belonged to that particular tree, and so on. He had to bend them in the right direction to make a path, after all.

Dirt never managed to do it fast enough for a jog, but they kept up a decent walk. At least it was fast enough to keep Socks from panicking and whimpering and trying to get away by jumping over the treetops, which Dirt was sure would result in getting his lanky wolf legs tangled up and possibly broken.

Behind them, some of the trees bent back to their previous shape and others didn’t. The magic faded, leaving them stuck however they’d chosen to end up. It wouldn’t matter much since they didn’t know what a shape was, let alone that they had one, but it still made Dirt wonder why they did that.

Dirt’s anxiety faded completely before long, discarded beneath intense focus on his task and seeing so many happy new trees. Surprisingly, lack of anxiety made it easier, not harder, even though the task was urgent. He felt like a great master for a time, unstoppable and unshakable in his own right, and the faithful certainty that gave him empowered his magic.

Despite making good progress, the wind and rain got worse, whipping the green branches of the trees and even breaking some that caught a gust at the wrong angle. The lightning never quite found them, always at a distance as it struck random trees in every direction, but neither did they leave it behind.

However, the farther they got, the more the trees spread out, and eventually Socks could pass through them unaided. Dirt finally relaxed his mind, which felt weary in a strange way that affected the rest of his body. When Socks picked him up and returned him to his usual perch, Dirt was flooded with so much relief that he almost fell asleep. If nothing else, laying down kept him out of the worst of the wind.

Now Socks felt it was safe to run, and this time he had no patience for stubby little human legs. He picked up the three humans and held them in the air while he darted this way and that through the trees, anywhere he could find a path. The rain went from unpleasant to stinging as Socks went fast enough for the water droplets to become sling missiles. Dirt tried to lift his head to watch where they were going, but the rain blinded him.

Which made him wonder how Socks was going so fast. Dirt looked at his mind and it turned out ghost sight had almost no perception of rain, and Socks was using that. The pup didn’t even have his eyes open since the pelting rain stung too much. Despite the storm he saw the landscape in the same stark, colorless grays that he would at any other time, with only a faint wispiness to indicate the presence of the brutal storm. The clouds were visible here, but they were unusual, like a blur from seeing them all roll by at once. Lightning, interestingly, had the same bright flash there as it did here.

Socks saw a landing spot in the distance and leaped, accelerating at even greater speed. Countless trees sped by underneath them while the three humans screamed for their lives, which Socks found mildly amusing. -Dirt laughed the first time I jumped while carrying him,­- he told them. It did little to comfort them. And to be fair, Dirt had also screamed. It had been a mixed experience.

The pup ran and ran, and the three humans became increasingly miserable as time went on, while Socks and Dirt got happier, knowing they would escape. The poor humans weren’t used to being carried, for one, and didn’t enjoy it. It was cold up there, too, whipping through the wind and rain with no way to shield themselves. One by one, they curled into balls, which Socks facilitated.

Socks didn’t have it easy, though. The rain kept getting up his nostrils, where it burned and made him want to sneeze. The rain had soaked so far into his fur that his body heat was sapped away like everyone else’s, exertion notwithstanding. And to make it worse, his paws were getting sore from running so fast with the added weight.

The trees ended before the rain did. The farther they grew from the epicenter of the Devourer’s spell, the sparser they became until finally there were no more. Nothing but storm-flattened grasses and streams of rainwater washing away the dirt to leave rocks and gravel behind.

“Socks, where do you think all the little animals go when it gets like this? Do a bunch of them just die, or do they have somewhere to hide?” Dirt asked Socks. “The really little ones. Mice and snakes and stuff.”

The pup slowed, suddenly curious. He sniffed around a bit as he trotted, but the rain was dampening even his superior senses too much to get a good answer. Dirt considered asking the humans, but they were fairly certain they were going to freeze to death and didn’t seem in the mood.

That little detour was just enough to lift Socks’ spirits enough to press on with a bit more energy, but fortunately the hard part was over. The storm finally broke. Dirt had expected it to fade out slowly, with the rain slacking into mist and the low and gloomy clouds rolling away over time, but that wasn’t what happened at all. The whole storm just fell apart in an instant, with the rain stopping suddenly and the clouds quickly breaking up. That was a relief. Dirt hadn’t been looking forward to having it linger.

The sun was high in the sky, bright and hot. Despite feeling like they’d just been chased from one end of the world to the other, the day was only half over. Socks slowed and stopped, then gently set the freezing, bewildered humans on a grassy spot of ground. Dirt slid off Socks’ back to stretch and get some life back in his limbs, and Socks found a good spot to lay down and rest.

Dirt dropped his dripping-wet backpack and lay down near Socks’ head, close enough to pat his muzzle, which he did. He only had to lay there for a count of five before discovering that his top half was warming up while his bottom half stayed cold and decide he’d had enough. He peeled his wet pants off and set them aside, then lay back down with a contented grin as the hot sun enveloped him. He idly scratched the fur above Sock’s nose and let all the stresses of the morning melt away.

“Are you drying those out?” asked Marina, face pale, wet hair dripping everywhere. She stood a few steps away, shivering.

“Yeah,” said Dirt, even though it hadn’t been true until she asked. Now he was, though. Now he was drying out his pants, and that was what he was doing.

Socks huffed his amusement and the pup’s hot breath stirred the grass all around him. Dirt grinned.

“I take it we’re stopping for a rest?” asked Hèctor, sounding harried.

-Yes. We are far enough away he will not find me again soon. He wasn’t that close yet anyway. It is worse when he is.-

Ignasi said, “Strangely, noble wolf, I don’t find that very reassuring. But no matter. If we’re resting, then I’m copying the boy.” He started tugging his wet shirt, which only came off with difficulty. His hairy chest bare, he wrung out his shirt and squeezed an alarming amount of water out of it.

Hèctor considered doing the same, but after glancing up at the hot sun, decided he’d be fine. He said, “So what was that?”

When Socks didn’t immediately reply, Dirt said, “There’s a thing called the Devourer that hunts wolf pups. We’re trying to stay away from it until Socks is big enough that it’s not a threat anymore.”

Hèctor said, “Fine, but what is it?”

“I don’t know, and I’m not allowed to find out. You shouldn’t try either.”

“What do you mean you’re not allowed?”

“I mean that Mother, Socks’ Mother, said if I ever find out she’ll kill me. She could probably do it from here,” said Dirt.

I COULD.

The humans all startled and ducked down, peering around wide-eyed for the new threat. Dirt giggled and from the thumping sound it made on the ground, Socks started wagging his tail.

Hèctor pieced it together quickly and asked, “Where… is she?”

-Far away,- said Socks. -Too far to come quickly.-

Dirt said, “She doesn’t have to be close by to speak to us. If you saw her, you’d understand. But don’t worry about it, since you probably never will. And you wouldn’t want to. But still, I’m glad she’s watching us.”

Ignasi must’ve only meant stripping off his shirt, since he kept his pants on. Or maybe he’d changed his mind after Hèctor and Marina didn’t. He said, “I also find it reassuring to know an even bigger wolf is watching us at all times.”

“Is there anything we need to know?” asked Hèctor.

-No, except that Dirt and I will keep moving until I grow up. We can’t stay in one place for long or he will find me again.-

“Should we get going now, then? Is it safe here?”

-My paws hurt. I carried a bull yesterday and you today. I want to rest, at least until I start drying out.-

Dirt sat up and asked, “Is anyone hungry?”

“No,” said Marina. The men shook their heads.

“Me neither,” said Dirt. “Socks, do you want some sap?” He patted the pup above the nose again and scratched the fur a little.

-In a little bit.-

They relaxed for a while, the humans milling around or sitting restlessly since they weren’t tired. Dirt stayed right near Socks’ nose, keeping him company. He wished he could do more for the pup. Socks needed other pups to wrestle with, for one. No matter how much Socks loved him, Dirt wasn’t a giant wolf who could play fight and communicate by scent. Dirt almost regretted running into humans so soon, since it made him feel lonely on Socks’ behalf.

At least it wouldn’t be long until it was time to go back. Socks was supposed to come back once each season, and while Dirt wasn’t sure how long a season was, it couldn’t be that much longer until this one was over. Then came autumn, and winter, and spring.

Socks eventually decided he was hungry after all, so Dirt had Home make a bunch of sap for him, tossing in clump after clump until the pup had his fill.

After that, Socks gingerly rose to his feet and gently stepped around a bit. He decided his paws were not that sore anymore and asked, -Marina, do you still know where we’re going?-

“I’m pretty sure we’re getting close. We should start seeing farmland pretty soon, here,” she said. She seemed eager to get moving, full of restless energy. Her hair had mostly dried, and her clothing had gone from soaking to mildly damp. No doubt they’d all be sweating before long, and Ignasi would regret drying out his shirt.

“Well, let me know if anyone gets hungry,” said Dirt, rising to his feet. He picked up his backpack and pants, and nonchalantly didn’t put them back on, hoping no one would notice. “Let’s go. Socks, do you want me to walk or ride?”

-I don’t care. Walk for now, and ride later.-

Dirt nodded and put his backpack on, then slung his pants over one shoulder.

“Are you going to put those back on, Dirt?” asked Marina.

“Oh, I guess, if they’re dry,” he said, feigning ignorance. They were, and he grudgingly pulled them back on and tied the drawstring.

Ignasi grinned and said, “I think he just doesn’t want to wear them, Marina.”

“Well, he has to learn if he wants to be let into the city,” she replied sternly.

“Even in summer, the kids run around clothed all the time?”

“That’s beside the point. That’s their kids. Dirt’s a stranger and he needs to look civilized,” said Marina. Dirt suspected that was an excuse and she simply didn’t like having him naked for some reason, but he didn’t peek at her mind to find out.

Hèctor smirked and said, “I think the wolf will be a bigger problem than the pants.”

Ignasi said, “Oh, I don’t know. I think if we comb his fur, Socks could look like a civilized wolf. I mean that in a dignified sense, of course, not a tamed one.”

“Dignified enough to keep them from filling us with arrows?”

-If they try to hurt me or Dirt they will regret it.-

Hèctor sighed. “That’s what I’m worried about.” He started walking.