Valentine was comfortably snuggled against Whistling Bear's back, her arms wrapped around his powerful torso. She had tucked her feet back, trying to keep them away from the straps and bags of gear that hung from his shoulders. A great quiver hung at his hip, filled with heavy arrows. He carried his bow in his hand as he made his way through the forest at a cautious pace. Before they left, Flower had drawn a single long ochre line down his face and chest. Bear was ready for war. Valentine, as always, was naked.
Trotting besides them was the young faun they had met earlier. He was Rom's ambassador to the Wild Ones, with Valentine as a consultant. She was, after all, human, just as the Wild Ones were. The faun, Gracius, had not really volunteered for the job. Rom had instead made it very clear that he needed someone just like Gracius to go with Val and Bear. The poor faun hadn't been able to say no. Val had the distinct impression that he felt nervous traveling through the thick woods, which surprised her. Maybe he was their equivalent of a city faun.
Val was not nervous. She had been in a strange mood ever since she had woken up from her trip to the spirit world. That's what had happened, Rom had explained, that's where the Hungry Woman lived.
Val could feel the Hungry Woman in the back of her head. It felt as if her snake body was coiled around Val's spine, her human upper half resting in her skull. When Val closed her eyes she felt back in that swamp, resting on that great black belly, her body throbbing with pleasure. The Hungry Woman's face would drift in and out of focus, smiling, talking to her. That's how Val knew that if she relaxed her mind just so, she could see the world around her...differently.
Even now, her head against Bear's warm back, lulled by the rocking motion of his steps, she let herself fall into that relaxed state. She watched the forest move by through half-lidded eyes, watching as the tree bloomed with colorful houses, the kind she had seen in the spirit world, from which small naked figures watched. They were naked but caped, decorated, beautiful, inhuman but familiar. The spirits of the animal of the forest. Val smiled at the beauty. She had never realized how full of life the world around her was. She had always seen it a heavy and hard, but it was alive and pulsating with energy and spirit. Val felt high, and didn't care.
They spent the first night curled around a small fire. Gladius had set a small square cloth on the ground, on which he set his plate and cup. He proceeded to carefully spread an array of vegetables and soft cheeses on it. He picked at them with a thin silver fork, daintily cutting cubes of cheese with a small silver knife.
Valentine, curled in the crook of Bear's equine haunches, smiled. She exchanged smirking glances with Bear, who was loudly chewing on some dried root he had stashed in one of the many bags slung over his shoulder. Val was munching on a mix of nuts and berries, enjoying the animal heat coming off of Bear's soft belly. She found herself surprisingly comfortable, despite being naked. In fact, the idea of putting clothes on seemed slightly ridiculous. How could she enjoy the velvet heat of Bear's skin, or the tickling of the grass underfoot, or the waves of heat coming from the small fire if she was clothed? She enjoyed the sight of Bear's naked body, why would she deny him the pleasure of seeing hers? Her former human habits seemed very foolish now. She smiled at her new found wisdom, finding herself very mature indeed. She soon dozed off, content.
They rode two more days through the thick forest. That third night they camped again, and as always, lit a small fire. Gracius was in the process of spreading his cloth when a small voice made them all jump.
"I would douse that fire if I were you," said a small voice from the darkness.
Bear grabbed his bow and notched an arrow as Val quickly stood up. Gracius crouched low, scanning the darkness.
"Come out, friend," called out Gracius.
A shape moved amongst the trees. Two large eyes emerged from the darkness, reflecting the fire light.
"Orcs are about. And worse. Douse the fire or they will come," said the mysterious figure.
"Show yourself," called out Bear.
"The forest is not safe anymore. Only the darkness hides. For now," continued the figure, ignoring Bear as it moved away, fading into the dark.
"What was that?" Asked Val.
"Just a concerned local resident," said Gracius. "But I think we should heed his advice."
"Agreed," replied Bear. He stomped on the little fire with his hoof, casting their camp in darkness. Val suddenly felt much colder.
The following day was much different. The forest looked the same, but Bear moved slowly, carefully, surprisingly silent despite his enormous bulk. Gracius followed close behind. Val stood on Bear's back, hands on his shoulder, scanning the forest ahead.
They heard them before the three could see them. Up ahead, though the thick underbrush, a great crashing sound was heard, followed by thin screams and howled curses.
Whistling Bear took Val in one large hand and carefully dropped her to the ground. He brought his finger to his lips before pointing to a hiding spot near a tree. Val followed his instruction, crouching between two thick roots of a colossal tree. Gracius pulled a broad knife from his pouch and, after glancing nervously at Bear, circled off into the underbrush.
Bear smiled reassuringly at Val, notching an arrow in his great war bow. He too faded into the underbrush, carefully stepping over roots and fern. Val, suddenly alone, could only sit and listen.
For a while nothing seemed to happen. Then suddenly a loud roar was heard, followed by a great commotion. Cries and curses resonated in the woods, in a rough language Val could not understand. She crouched lower in the nook of the tree.
Suddenly a figure staggered past her hiding place. A tall figure, dressed in rags under a mix of metal studs and bits of leather, stumbled then stopped just a few feet from her. Val held her breath. Even with his back turned to her, she could see that this was no human. He seemed made of gnarled jerky, twisted and rough strings of muscles and sinew moving under an ochre skin. He turned in Val's direction.
