Root

By Threetoe

Panic took hold of the victim’s mind, compelling him to fight all the harder. The rope cut into his throat, holding back the fearful screams. He reached behind and grabbed the killer’s hands as they pulled the noose tighter. The victim tried to pull the predator over his shoulder but faltered as he felt the fangs sink into his long upright tail. Tears of pain and rage streamed from the squirrel man’s eyes as the werewolf pulled him up against a tree and squeezed out the last of his life.

Evil glowing eyes scanned the nighttime forest. All around, in the bushes, rodents looked on as the werewolf fed. Unable to watch his master torn apart, a small red squirrel darted away into the brush. Not knowing where to turn, the little creature rushed to where all his instincts told him to stay away, the elven orchard. There dwelt the haughty ones, the ones that turned up their noses at the people of the forest. So his master told him, but always, he heard admiration in the squirrel man’s voice.

Suddenly, the little squirrel stopped. Matagan was not dead a minute and already the predators were after him. High above, he heard the wings of an owl, barely perceptible above the silence. He dare not run across open ground, but if he stayed at the trunk of the tree, death was certain. Coyotes bayed in the distance. The dark wood was full of killers.

Something moved in the tree above, an owl woman. Queen of the night, she scanned the forest floor with her all-seeing eyes, her talons gripping the tree branch. "I hear you little mouse," she said. "Come out, that I may eat you." The squirrel felt his chest tighten, his heart beating loud -- too loud. A light shone out into the forest. Someone behind it coughed twice. The squirrel looked up. The owl woman was gone. Quickly, he made his way toward the light.

At the base of the mighty tree, an elf guard stood, picking grime from his ring with a shining blade. Animal people rarely came here, and the tiny squirrel had never been without his keeper. The elves believed they had lordship over the forest. The forest spirit proclaimed no such thing. The elves domain lay as far as an arrow’s flight from their orchard. At least that’s what Matagan told the squirrels, when they were young. After much consideration, the squirrel hopped out into the light of the glow-flowers.

"What are you doing here, little guy?" asked the elf, sheathing his weapon and kneeling to inspect the creature. "You are one of Matagan’s charge, aren’t you?"

"Come, let us sort this out." The squirrel was surprised by the kindness of the elf. For a moment he dared believe everything would be set right, that he could return home and the squirrels be safe. This elf seemed a brave one. He was broad of chest and wide of chin. His hair was as red as the autumn leaves and he wore it in a careless manner like that of an adventurer in one of Matagan’s stories. The elf carried the squirrel up the smooth trunk of the tree, using holds not even a squirrel could see.

Guards saluted as the elf passed in onto the main dais of the elven home tree of Doulan. There he found Princess Cameda and her hangers-on were drinking deep from a ram’s horn. The latest tonic Druid Nthari had concocted, thought the elf. He frowned at that. It was wrong that they should act so, partying every night when others suffered. As for the druid, one could only wonder how he kept the spirit’s favor.

"Captain Itho," shouted the princess from her pillowed seat, a hint of fierceness in her eyes, "why don’t you join us?"

The captain’s hand jumped from the ring with which he had been fiddling and prodded the squirrel under the chin. The high elven nobles lounged on leafy couches. They laughed and pointed at him. The princess laughed with them, but when she turned to face him, she was no longer smiling. Itho bore a weary expression of frustration and pity.

"I seek the druid," he said.

The princess indicated the way with a bored gesture, taking care not to look at him. As Captain Itho carried the squirrel across the twisted branches he began humming an ancient tune. It was not unlike the songs Matagan used to sing to them at day’s end. How he wished the elf could hear his words. He seemed like he could truly be their champion. At last they reached it, a crude hut made of two great leaves. As Itho approached, the druid Nthari emerged. He was pale and stretched, his hand covered with a sticky blue substance.

"What’s this?" demanded Nthari.

"A red squirrel," said Itho, "one of Matagan’s tribe."

The druid leaned in and squinted at the squirrel. He could sense the darkness all about it. Seeing the seriousness in Itho’s face, the druid frowned. "Bring it inside," said Nthari.

Inside the magic fire burned, smokeless and bright. As Itho took his seat by the fire, Nthari fed it handfuls of dead grass he had collected from his garden. The flickering flame played across the druid’s stark features. He was skin and bones. The captain looked into the sunken eyes that were now staring back at him. "Yes Itho, I haven’t too many more years to live. The spirit told me so," said Nthari coughing into his shirt. "Do you think it so bad I give others the joy I was denied in life?"

"What the princess does with her life is her business," said Itho. "Now tell of the little one."

The sickly elf reached over and plucked up the squirming animal with a sticky hand. The squirrel cried out as the druid rolled it over and over in his hands, stopping to poke at it with bony fingers. Itho came to his feet and reached out to snatch away the squirrel from the sadistic elf. Suddenly the fire went dim. The captain froze, not daring to tempt the unseen forces.

"Matagan is dead," said Nthari, "murdered by a wicked creature of the forest."

The druid looked at Itho and laughed, dropping the squirrel and rising to fill another flask. Angered, Itho took him by the wrist. He stared into the elf’s wine-stained face. Nthari’s eyes were those of a dead fish. He had given up on life, on the wood. How then could he speak for the forest spirit, he who trafficked only in darkness? Itho slapped the drunken elf across the cheek.

"The spirit told me," shouted the crazed druid. "You are to take up a quest for vengeance. As your shaman I must demand it of you."

The druid laughed with mad glee. Itho could only hold his gaze so long before he released him and strode from the tent, stopping to gather up the little squirrel, clearly as frightened as he was. Itho didn’t stop as he passed by the princess’s party, deaf to the cat calls of the delinquent elf lords. The guards at the exit looked at him, questioning. Standing for a moment, Itho reached up onto his chest and plucked off his badge, dropping it at the guard’s feet. As he descended the tree, his mind burned with anger. He was bound to the quest, but he would no longer be bound to these people. The princess watched over her gilded wine glass as the elf disappeared over the side.

The squirrel snuggled against Itho’s neck as he jogged through the dark forest. He fumed with anger, but as the squirrel clicked and purred he found himself at ease. As the first light began to peek through the leaves, it found the elf humming a merry tune. At last he came to rest against an old rotting stump. He released the squirrel and dropped a few seeds from his pocket. The squirrel looked up to see the elf once again fiddling with his ring. He looked down at the squirrel.

"You are looking at this?" asked Itho. "This was given to me long ago, by someone very dear to me. Now it is all I have left."

Itho gave the squirrel a curious look. "You know, we haven’t given you a name yet."

The squirrel lifted up on its hind legs, gobbling a seed into its cheek.

"You need a strong-sounding name," said Itho. "You shall be called Root."

The squirrel chirped with joy, daring to hope for the first time.

Together they tramped through the wood, careless avengers on a quest for justice. A robin man darted across the trail. Itho nodded to the bird man with a flashing smile and strode on by. The bird man stared at him. Root watched as the robin man plucked up a giant worm and swallowed it down into its bright orange belly. As beautiful as he was, thought Root, the robin man still had the hungry eyes of a predator. As Itho skipped on his merry way, Root was once again plagued with doubt. His new elf master knew nothing of the danger he now faced.

They were nearing the scene of the crime. Itho could feel Root clinging tightly to his neck. He drew his sword but could see nothing in the fading light. He prodded the ground until his sword tip bumped against a large rodent’s skull. The elf knelt down and brushed away the damp leaves. The forest had been quick to claim the body of his old friend. Root watched as the elf drew invisible lines in the air, calling on the forest spirit to claim its fallen son.

"I would have killed him," said a deep, cooing voice from above, "had he not the protection of the forest spirit."

Itho looked up to see a great shadow swoop down from above. It flapped its wide brown wings over a feathery, feminine body. Huge black eyes stared out from a bright white face. Itho pulled his sword as the creature hopped forward on be-taloned feet. It hooted twice, bobbing its head, its eyes following the motion as Root squirmed under Itho’s shirt.

"Buldagra!" shouted the elf warrior. Pointing his sword, he said, "If you know what happened here, tell us."

"Us?" said the owl woman, twisting her head all the way around. "I am hungry. Perhaps if you give me your little friend I’ll tell you."

The elf advanced, planting his sword point into the creature’s belly. "You will tell me what I want to know, or I will pluck you myself."

The owl woman threw back her head and let out a long mournful cry. When she looked on Itho again, Buldagra’s huge eyes were filled with hatred.

"You elves are always above reproach," she said, "but tell me. How do you know the forest favors your silly quest for vengeance?"

"Because it is justice I seek," said the elf, withdrawing his weapon. "The animal that did this will pay."

Buldagra launched into the leaf-shrouded sky. "It was no animal that did this," she said. "It was a monster."

"But how will I find it?" shouted Itho.

The owl’s curse fell faintly over the trees. "There is no need. He will find you."

That night Itho trudged through the underbrush, hacking through the thorny vines with his sword. He was headed in the direction of the Dark Mountains, the place from which all monsters came. Root hid inside the elf’s pocket, his eyes peeking out into the darkened forest. He could sense forces gathering around him. If only he could understand, thought Root, I could tell him. Then he saw that the elf felt it too. The forest spirit had long since written his destiny in the rings of the trees. At last they broke out onto a wide clearing.

"Itho," said the werewolf, "you have come at last."

The monster stood before the trees, casually regarding his foe. There was something familiar about this villain, thought Itho. It wasn’t the flashing yellow eyes, or the dark, shaggy pelt. Nor was it the snaggletooth grin or the razor sharp claws. It was the cocky attitude that betrayed its false bravery. Itho felt his breast swell with pride and rage. He drew his sword slowly. It would be a pleasure to put this creature down.

"I see you bear the princess’s favor," said the werewolf, "for you wear her ring."

"Folly!" cried Itho. "What do creatures of the underworld know of such matters?"

The werewolf struck a martial pose. Itho snarled like a great lion and charged across the field. The monster blocked blow after blow and Itho cursed him a murderer. It wasn’t long before Itho realized the creature was playing with him. Bit by bit, he felt his strength fade away. Through force of will, the elf fought on. The wolf monster caught the final stroke by the wrist. Root felt its hot breath as the creature leaned close and said, "I’m going to cut that ring off of you."

"Niira?" asked Itho. "My brother?"

The monster sank its claws into Itho’s chest.

"The princess is mine," it hissed, "and mine alone!"

Screams echoed through the forest as the werewolf tore into Itho’s body. The sword tumbled to the ground as the elf fell. The werewolf climbed on top of him, clamping its jaws across the dying elf’s neck. Root hopped out of the Itho’s pocket, ran down the elf’s arm, and pulled the ring free. The monster raised its eyes to see the tiny rodent holding the ring. It swallowed the treasure with one quick gulp. The werewolf shouted denial and raced after it.

--

Princess Cameda leaned back on her leafy couch, laughing heartily. It seemed a long time since she had a care. Let shepherds care for their animals. An elf’s place was in the trees, above the rest. Again came thoughts of Itho and the dangers he faced every day. She shook her head and laughed, reaching for another glass. Her eyes strayed to the edge of the great wooden deck and the small animal that stood there. The creature hopped toward her, until she could see its fur was slick with blood. The princess rolled from her seat and leaned closer. The squirrel stared at her for a moment then spit forth the golden ring. The princess’s face went pale.

"No!" she screamed.

A dozen emotions played frantically across Cameda’s face. She snatched up the squirrel and ring and stomped toward the druid’s chamber. There she found Nthari, passed out on the floor. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded. The druid did not stir. She dropped the squirrel and bent over the drunken elf. He was dead, an empty flask on the floor near the body. The squirrel leapt up onto her skirt and hid in her pocket.

Stricken with grief, the princess felt her life running out of options. The elf lords grew silent, watching the pride of their merry circle walk as a ghost to the edge of the tree. The guards reached out to her as she leapt out into the air, catching a vine and rappelling down the side of the trunk. Once at the bottom, she set out into the woods. Closing her eyes, she let her instincts take her to the only one who could save her. After a night’s wandering, weariness took hold of her limbs. Perhaps to rest for a moment, she thought, and dream of her friends now gone.

She awoke in the sacred grove. All around satyrs danced and played lively music. The squirrel chirped and chattered. The princess looked to see a wide tree, bearing the gnarly face of a man. It bent down a branch and shook down some seeds to the appreciative squirrel. "What?" said Cameda, "What is going on?" The tree looked on her and she felt shame. Dear Itho, she thought. It is all my fault. A rough hand took her wrist and pulled her up. Her tears became laughter as she danced with the satyrs into the night.

As the figures around them spun, the tree god spoke strange words, twirling the squirrel around with its knotted finger. The creature began to grow. Cameda stepped into the circle, fascinated. "The forest spirit," she said, holding out her hand. A shape lay before her, crackling with light. A hand reached up and seized her palm. At last, a squirrel man stood before the tree.

"What is your name?" croaked the tree.

"I shall be called Root," said the animal person.

"This is a good name," said the tree, "for a keeper of the forest."

The tree fell silent, and Cameda looked around confused. All the strange creatures had vanished, leaving nothing but an old contorted tree. Root took her hand and guided her away. She noticed as they ran that they were flanked by all manner of scurrying rodents. Squirrels, chipmunks and ground hogs ran with them. High above the owls watched, eager to know who would be the victor in this contest. "Where are we running?" asked Cameda.

"There is no need to run any longer," said Root. "He has found us."

Across the shallow stream stood the werewolf, its face still stained with Itho’s blood. Again and again, it called for the squirrel -- the squirrel and the golden ring. With Itho’s sword, the monster hacked through tree limbs in its madness. It would be a mercy to slay this creature, thought Root. A wind blew and he could smell the desperation. He nodded his head. It would be done.

Princess Cameda looked over Root’s red shoulder at the crazed creature. There was something in the way it swung its shoulders and the careless way it twirled on its feet. Her mind swam with hurtful memories. She withdrew her hand from her pocket, knowing what she clutched in her fingers.

"It cannot be," said the princess, her voice spent of all emotion.

"It is so," said Root. "The monster is Itho’s brother."

Root stared out across the stream. "The time is now," he said. "I must face him."

Cameda drew a silver blade out from the sheath at her back. "This was my mother’s blade. It was forged by the dwarves at the dawn of time. It is said to have killed dragons." She knelt in the muddy ground. "Take this weapon, oh protector," said the princess, "guardian of the forest."

Root emerged from the trees, sword in hand. This was the time. He felt the spirit flowing through him. The outsider must be destroyed for the good of the forest, for the good of the tribe, for Matagan! The wolf saw him and froze. The monster’s lips peeled back across its sharp yellow teeth. The werewolf laughed, tossing Itho’s sword from hand to hand. With a final snarl, he charged. Root set his feet and launched toward the villain. Root knocked away a series of savage blows, relying on greater reflexes and the teachings of his murdered master. It was not enough. The squirrel man leapt up onto a tree. Howling victory, the werewolf chopped at the tree trunk.

The forest went silent as Cameda emerged from the trees. Around her the rodents watched. Slowly she stepped out across the stream. The werewolf turned to face her, wiping away its slobber. It pulled the sword from the tree and she stepped back. She held forth her arms in supplication. In her hands she held the ring. "Niira," she said, "I know it’s you." The fur of the werewolf’s head fell away, revealing the face of a confused elf. He staggered forward.

"Cameda," he said, "I..."

Blood spilled from the werewolf’s mouth as the squirrel man plunged his blade down into the side of its neck. Root yanked the blade free as the naked elf sank to ground, blood pouring across his chest. The squirrel man dropped the sword down next to his fallen foe and walked toward the growing crowd of animal people. He turned to say a word to Cameda as she ran by but was quickly swept away by a wave of cheering rodents.

"Why did you do it?" cried Cameda, her hands desperately trying to staunch the flow of blood from Niira’s neck.

"My love for you," croaked the monster, "is greater than that for the forest."

That night, high in the trees, Root sat watching the full moon. All around him the little ones chattered, safe now, and thankful to the spirit for sending such a brave hero. Root laughed and sang one of the tunes Matagan used to sing when he was young. When all the little squirrels and chipmunks were asleep Root hopped across to his old den, too small for him now, but familiar. Above in the leaves, the owl woman waited.

"Laugh while you can, little tree mouse," said Buldagra. "It is said the spirit shines on us all. We will see how long you can escape the shadows."

As he watched the owl woman disappear into the stars, Root thought on all that had passed. The shadows might be long, he thought, but all are followed by bright sunshine.