After having traveled down the path for a couple hours, RK slowed her pace to walk beside Mars. She looked shiftily about, then whispered in a low voice to her friend, “Dude, does it feel like we’re being watched?”
Mars nodded. “Yeh, it’s seemed that way for ‘bout half an hour now. I’ve been trying to spot what it might be, but haven’t had any luck.”
“Hm,” RK said noncommittally. “Hope we get somewhere soon. Somewhere with people. I mean, I like the woods and all, but these aren’t the regular woods I’m used to. These ones are eerie, and eerie kinda freaks me out.”
“Yah, I know what you mean. ‘Sides, I’m hungry. Food at some point would be good.”
“Mm-hm,” RK concurred. But as she looked forward again to resume her pace, her foot hit something hard that rattled slightly as she fell over it and onto the ground. “What the hell…” she said angrily as she rolled over to see what had tripped her. “GAH!” RK shouted in surprise, scrambling quickly to her feet and backing away from the object that she’d stumbled over. She pointed and hollered in panic, “Dead guy! Dead guy! Dead guy! DEAD GUY!!” RK grabbed hold of Mars’ arm, trying to use her as a human shield while still pointing accusingly at the skeleton in the path.
“Yes, I see it’s a dead guy!” Mars yelled, trying her best to remain calm and shake RK off of her. “Will you let go?” RK shook her head ‘No.’
“It touched me,” she whined.
“Dude, it’s not like it reached up and grabbed you. You tripped over it, you ninny.”
“So? It still touched me. Make it go away, Mars,” RK whimpered plaintively.
Mars sighed and looked around for something to cover the skeleton with. She found a few branches and placed them over top of it. “Better?” she asked.
“Little.” RK finally released Mars and moved carefully past the covered skeleton. Mars followed her and they continued along the trail.
Golden eyes tracked the progress of the two women as they moved off down the path. What are humans doing here? It wondered. Why have they not suffered the effects of Libitina? They look normal. And they seemed so surprised to find a Fallen, as if they’d never seen one before. Maybe if I continue to follow them, all will become clear in time. When the two were far enough away, the dark figure dropped down from the tree where it had been hiding, and moved silently into the shadows of the forest.
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