A low rumbling turned to soft vibrating spreading through the ground beneath me. But quickly, the vibrating became loud shaking, like a full-blown lightning storm opened right under me. With. With wide eyes, I just lay there, stared, and waited. My head felt light and cloudy, and only. The second before they all broke through the bushes, I realized a herd of animals was running nearby. My vivid imagination drew pictures of wild buffaloes, deer, elephants, and zebras before horses trampled down the bushes and long grass. Of course, it's horses; why was that not the first thing on my mind?!
Deep in the recesses of my mind, a dark whisper urged me to stay hidden. But the sight before me was too captivating to ignore- terrifying and enchanting. In front of me were not the high, slim horses I was accustomed to but massive, heavy-built creatures. Their fur was thick, their hooves massive, and their presence overwhelming, almost magical. These were the lumberjack version of horses!
These creatures were immense, menacing, yet beautiful, unlike anything I had ever seen. They exuded a rugged, untamed aura, much like the people on their backs. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought this was a pack of Vikings; however, I knew Vikings didn't have horses. As my gaze shifted to the riders, I became even more perplexed. Everything about these men screamed Vikings, and yet, they were not. Their hairstyles, braids, side cuts, fur, and leather garments. Perhaps a more rough-hewn version of the Vikings I was familiar with, but still. Tattoos adorned their arms, necks, and backs, a stark contrast against their sun-kissed skin. Who were these men?
Most of the horses had dried-up blood staining their fur. The mixture of dark war paint and fresh and dried blood splattered on their faces, clothes, and weapons made me press harder against the ground. Dirty and unkept, they looked like they rode straight out of a battle. I saw bodies hanging over the horses' backs. Some alone, thrown over the animals' back like a limp potato sack, and others between the rider and the horse's mane. Warriors. The only word I have for these humans is, warriors. It was a horrific combination of barbarians and Viking warriors, if that even existed. I paused myself for a second; who am I kidding? They are right here; I see them; they do exist! But who are they?
Rogues? I've heard about them, but I thought they were supposed to be like the lone-wolf type. Maybe they clung together in smaller groups, almost like they created their own little families. These wolves managed life alone better; wolves do not cope with being alone for too long. They need their pack, family, and hierarchy to thrive and find peace. I know Tew came from a pack created for rejected and alone shifters, shone and alone. This was a large group, behind the horses, even more followed by foot.
Nomads? A group of nomads? Is that a thing? Puzzled, I let my mind wander while I watched them. Fascinated and a little scared, I studied them. The horse's massive hooves with thick hairs danced over them as they trotted over the green grass. Long, thick manes, cluttered with blood, dirt, and other debris. Sweat coated their furs, and their breaths sent foggy clouds towards the sky. Deep huffs and almost grunt-like sounds were the only sounds heard besides the uneven thunder of the herd moving through the jungle.
Despite moving at a relatively steady and fast pace, it took forever for them all to pass me, hiding in the grass. And even then, after waiting so long, I didn't dare to move. Holding my breath until my lungs burned, I listened. No words, no shouting or mumbling. Only the sound of hundreds of hooves, swords clinging against saddles and armors. Or maybe just against another sword, the sounds of an army on the move slowly faded into the jungle. A storm passed, and the thunder was now only echoing on the horizon like a shadow memory to remind everyone what it once was. And finally, I could breathe again.
It felt like I had shifted back into reality, back to the here and now, and my eyes had shifted to the other side. This was not a transparent and open grass field. There were small bushes and a little tree here and there, but it was spacious and light compared to the rest of this place. It was so straightforward; I could see so much more here. I could see so far ahead, and in my head, I had already reached the denser area on the other side, the place that looked like the last stretch before the massive mountain that reached the clouds.
Quickly, without thinking it through, without debating, I jumped to my feet, crouched down, and moved swiftly through the long grass. I had my heart in my throat, and I kept looking from one side to the other. Adrenaline pumped through me; I waited to see a horse lurking behind the trees at any moment. But I made it! Even learning from my mistakes, I took a little extra time to hide my tracks when I entered the jungle. When I came even further into the darker parts, I stopped again, hid my footprints, and created false ones. Smirking to myself, I pictured Orm following me, tricked into walking in the wrong direction! Amond would have been so proud!
My heart jumped a beat, Amond. It feels like I am betraying him, playing tricks behind his back. Not only that, but I doubted him and his intentions. NO! No, I don't have time for this! I shook my head abruptly, dried my face off with my sleeve, and blinked the tears back. Not now; we will have forever together later to solve all this. I know we will eventually solve all these misunderstandings; we have to.
My back hurts, and my muscles ache. Running like this, back hunched and knees bent to keep low, as near the ground as possible, was exhausting. But knowing this made me harder to spot made it worth it. I don't want a new encounter like the one with Orm; come to think of it, I don't want another meeting like the one with Nida and Huldra, either. I needed to be alone for this; for once, I took it to heart and did my best to keep it that way. The sound of moving horses had long disappeared, and the anxiety had lost its grip on me. There was only me now, me and my mission. And right before the sun left the sky for the moon to conquer, the foot of the mountain was within reach.
Without fire, meaning no heat or warm food, I climbed up a tree to rest for the night.
There were more than enough massive threes here, their branches thick with lush leaves, and I felt safe here. High above the ground, hidden behind the greenery. I tied my leather rope around my waist and trunk, and with a smile, I looked up at the night sky, now sprinkled with stars.