Page 97 of Serpent In White

Drake, you fucking lunatic.

I don’t see any others yet, but that’s not to say there aren’t more traps, of different varieties. Slapping my hand over my heart, I breathe out slowly.

Sure, a bear trap is just that. A trap for bears, which are definitely a concern out here. But something about this, and how close it is to Drake’s cabin leads me to believe it’s not just to maim potential four-legged intruders.

I leave Drake’s property slowly, carefully. I find at least one more visible bear-trap, and now I’m on high alert, which I should have been from the start. We’re always taught to keep our eyes and ears open at all times in the woods, especially on the mountain, and now I’m kicking myself for being lost in my own relationship drama.

No more. I need to focus.

Back on the path, I keep walking, my mind swirling around that voice. The one that told me towatch out…

It wasn’t Drake. I know what his thoughts sound like. And as much as I know Mother speaks to me, it’s less of a direct voice and more of a feeling when She gives messages.

I can’t stop thinking about it as I go, the muscles in my legs burning from the upward hike. Eventually, I decide to take a break, plopping down on a broken tree, pulling out one of my sandwiches and a bottle of water.

I’m content so far with my trek, eating in quiet comfort, eyes flitting through the trees. Aside from Drake’s bear traps, I haven’t sensed any danger just yet, but we’ll see. As long as I keep my awareness up, I should be fine.

A new little chattering voice springs into my ear, and I stop chewing. Glancing around, I see nothing.

Birds are chirping, dawn having broken as an early summer sun graces the forest with fresh light. It’s still cool in the mornings, the spring weather hanging on, not ready to hand over the summer heat just yet, which I have to appreciate.

I go back to my sandwich until I hear the tiny voices again. Blinking hard, I wonder if this is some extended side-effect of continued Empyrean use. I got my last dose the day before yesterday, after pleading with Drake to give me more for my journey. So maybe I’m just high, though that explanation doesn’t settle me.

My mind’s eye is leading me to something, and as I peer around, I notice a small shack, off in the distance. Squinting at it, the chattering comes into clearer focus.

Please. Please please.

“Who’s begging?” I whisper, peering at the ground by my feet.

There are three baby ravens in a nest that must have fallen with this tree I’m sitting on. They don’t look injured, but I can’t help noticing I’m not seeing Mama anywhere around.

Their chirps sound like words.Hungry. Hungry.

Blinking again, I think momentarily that I’m losing my mind. But even if that’s the case, I can’t ignore any animal in need. I’m a servant, after all.

Ripping off a few small pieces of bread from my sandwich, I drop it down to the babies, watching them scamper around, pecking at the food. It nourishes them, and I watch, listening as they praise me.

Thank you! Thank you!

You’re welcome,I smile at them.

You will not be forgotten, young Prince. Everything gets a return.

Slowly, I nod.Everything gets a return.

One good deed for another.

Wrapping up the rest of my sandwich, I wave to the chicks and pick myself back up, treading carefully in the direction of the shack. As I grow nearer, branches of the trees shift with the wind. I can hear subtle voices, more distinctly human, yet far enough away that they’re muffled, and I can’t make out what they’re saying.

Still, it’s something aggrieved I’m hearing. The air feels much colder around here, but I ignore it, stepping up to the door of the shack and pulling the handle. Struggle and pain ripple through the breeze with words I just can’t hear, unfocused. My heart lodges in my throat as I peek inside the darkness.

And then I let out a breath of relief. Because it’s a hunting shack. There are spare farming tools, some animal furs and hides hanging up. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Shaking off whatever the pensive feeling is in my gut, I close the door, making my way back onto the trail.

The sun is hanging high in the sky as I climb toward it.

I’ve been hiking the mountain for a few hours, and I’m closer to the peak than I could have anticipated. I’m taking my time with this journey. Inspecting the area, feeling the emotions of this mountain.