The stranger dressed in a nice, well fitted clothes. It had lots of gold and silver fittings. He had black eyes that were devoid of light and stopped Shaynen from looking away. Even his hair was void black.

“You all right, son?” The stranger asked, smiling with white teeth. Shaynen nodded, his mouth hanging open.

“You got funny eyes,” Shaynen said. The stranger’s kind expression changed to a glare.

“Shaynen!” His father yelled. The stranger turned around where Shaynen’s father flashed past him and picked up Shaynen. A trail of ashes and cinder following behind.

“Oh, you must be the child’s guardian.” The stranger showed his white smile again. “I heard a commotion over this way and found this kid cornered by a rabid animal. You’re welcome, by the way.” Shaynen turned his head to stare further at the stranger’s angular face.

“Is that true?” Shaynen’s father whispered. Shaynen nodded. “Thank you, then. I’m afraid we’ll be going.”

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself. Dr. Zondai. I was leading an expedition into the rainforest for healing components when we were ambushed by these rabid things.” The well-dressed stranger said. “I’ve been lost for quite some time now. I don’t suppose you’d be heading somewhere civilized?”

“A doctor?” Shaynen’s father asked.

“Yes, and who might you be?” the well-dressed doctor asked.

“My name is Aelius, and this is my son Shaynen.” Shaynen’s father said. “As far as civilization goes, I’m afraid there isn’t much nearby. Following the road will take you to what’s left of Feypost. If you’re lucky, you might find another untouched village or even the Grandfather Tree. But other than that, there’s nothing for miles.”

“Really? Where are you two headed by yourselves?” Dr. Zondai asked. “If there isn’t anything nearby? I see your wagon won’t get you anywhere as it is.”

“It’s not ours,” Shaynen said. “It belongs to our friends.”

“Where have they gone?” The doctor asked.

“I’m afraid they’ve left.” His father said, “We have to get back to our party. They’re waiting for us.”

“I understand. Might I accompany you?” The doctor asked, “I admit I’m not fond of wandering the trees with no direction.”

“Yes, of course. Happy to help those in need.” Shaynen’s father said. “Our group is modest, and a doctor would be a welcome addition.” Shaynen stared at the doctor’s dark eyes.

“I’d be more than happy to lend my services,” the doctor said as he stepped aside.

“We have to take care of this fire before it spreads,” Shaynen’s father put him down and turned to the dying flames on the wagon.

“All the trees are wet from the rains, they only stopped a few minutes ago.” Shaynen said. “Wet trees can’t catch.”

“The wagon was wet, and it caught,” His father said. Shaynen looked at the doctor.

“You do magic, I saw it.” He pointed to the doctor. His father looked from the smoldering wagon to the doctor.

“A bit of illusion here and there.” The doctor said, putting his hands up and moving them in little circles to create a small shower of sparkles. “Nothing but a trick of the light. Smoke and mirrors, child. Gets me by in a pinch, but nothing tangible.”

“Oh,” Shaynen said. He thought the fire had looked very real. His father threw dirt and puddle water over the wagon until it was nothing but dead cinders. Creating a pair of makeshift graves for the slaughtered stags. Shaynen helped what little he could, but the doctor stood by. Boredly flipping through a little compact mirror and inspecting his face and outfit.

“He’s funny,” Shaynen whispered to his father. “And he’s got weird eyes, too.”

“Academical types are always a little skittish around the dirt,” His father shrugged. “And lots of good people have uncommon eyes. Some people find mine to be weird.” Shaynen looked at the steel cloudiness of his father’s eyes. They’d never been strange to him.

“I still think he’s strange.” Shaynen shrugged, his mind made up.

“You can think whatever you like. But it’s rude to assume that someone’s acting in bad faith based on only his appearance.” His father clapped the dirt off his hands. “Judge actions and evidence. Not looks.” Shaynen wiped his hands on his pants. Looking up at his father for more direction.

“Doctor, if you’ll follow us.” His father said. The doctor closed his compact with a snap and smiled. Then Shaynen’s father turned and gave him a sharp stare. “And YOU stay in front of me.”

“But what about-”

“Not. Your. Concern.” His father said with a very stern look that pierced right through his soul. Shaynen had more to say but couldn’t do more than nod. His father turned and shoved Shaynen forward slightly.

“Bit of a troublemaker?” The doctor asked with a little chuckle.

“More so recently,” Shaynen’s father said with a sigh. Shaynen could feel the stare at the back of his head.

“Ah, go easy on the boy.” The doctor said, “The troublemakers of the world are the ones that change it. Where would medicine be without those that performed autopsies in the sewers to learn how to better help the afflicted?”

“I’m afraid I am not familiar.” Shaynen’s father paused, the sharp stare leaving the back of Shaynen’s head.

“Well, the dark ages of medicine were truly dark. Barbaric. To cure a headache or a toothache, the doctors would put a hole in the patient’s head.” The doctor said as he sped up and slipped between Shaynen and his father. “Any sickness contracted was treated by bleeding the patients dry. To heal the sick, the doctors would inject them with poison.”

“Oh,” Shaynen’s father said politely. He was actively avoiding looking in the doctor’s direction. Looking instead at the wagon tracks in the dirt.

“Since the mortality rate was so high. A few ambitious minds got it in their heads to look into the deaths. Wasn’t legal, mind you, to be cutting open corpses. Which is why they had to do the work in the city sewers. Not hygienic but I don’t think the dead minded much. Do you?”

“Nope,” Shaynen’s father said. Shaynen grimaced at the imagery. He tuned out the doctor’s explanations. They were gross and there were other things that weighed on his mind. The wagon had burned to smolder, but there wasn’t any sign of a body. Aside from the steeds pulling it. Shaynen didn’t have time to look for tracks, but given the mess of blood mixed into the wet mud, it left little to the imagination.

The trio turned onto the main road. The party and the wagon were visible at the end of the road between the trees.

“There’s the rest of the family,” the doctor observed. “Though I can’t help but wonder why there’s a wagon here and back there?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Shaynen’s father snapped. Looking down at Shaynen, still upset. Shaynen didn’t look up. He was wrestling with comprehension. Staring at the wagon and thinking how crowded it would be with everyone in a single wagon. It had been crowded with two wagons and there was no way the entire village would fit in, just the one.

However, the closer he got, the better he could see the group. No one had rejoined. Spinning more confusion through his head. His mother ran from the wagon and slid to her knees. Grabbing his face.

“Oh, I am so mad at you!” she said as she pulled him into a hug but Shaynen pushed her away.

“Stop it,” He said plainly. He went around her toward the wagon. There was a mental wall that stopped him from understanding.

“The situations been trying, hasn’t it?” The doctor asked. “Strife can tear friends and families apart.” Shaynen left hearing distance. He didn’t get in the back where what’s left of the village was staring at him. He lifted and sat on the siding instead.

“You okay?” Reo paused in his branch, removing.

“Are they really gone?” He asked. They nodded quietly.

“Yeah,”

Shaynen played with the beaded bracelet on his wrist.

“I don’t wanna do this anymore.” He said. Reo nodded.

“None of us do,” they said. “This is the worst imaginable situation most of us can imagine. Not trying to scare you, just being as honest as I can. But there’s no way back. We can only go forward.”

“Why can’t we go back?” Shaynen asked.

“Because we are not the same,” Reo shrugged. They took the branches and moved them into the treeline.

“I’m the same,” Shaynen mumbled. He saw his parents out of the corner of his eyes coming toward him. He took a deep breath and braced for them, but the wagon rocked as they jumped into the back of the wagon. Shaynen slowly relaxed his shoulders. Hearing his parents’ footsteps and quiet voices in the wagon.

“Sounds like we’re gonna start moving soon,” the doctor said. Shaynen scrunched his nose and turned away. “Better keep hold of your seat, it’ll be sudden.” The wagon jumped and Shaynen jerked from his seat.

“Woah there,” the doctor caught him and put him back on his feet. “There, probably best to walk instead of trying a balancing act.” Shaynen sped up. He didn’t feel like company. Much less the kind that involved a stranger who talked funny.

“Not much of one for talk?” The doctor asked, keeping pace with Shaynen and the wagon. “Shame,”

The wagon kept a slow pace. Allowing not just Shaynen but others to walk alongside it. Towards the end of the day, the wagon broke free from the tree line and found a main dirt road. In the distance loomed a dark range of mountains with nearly no vegetation to be seen.

“Here’s the main road, doc.” Shaynen’s father called back. “Just about any road you take will lead you to a town.”

“Well, if’n you don’t mind. I think I’ll keep on with you for a bit further.” The doctor called. “I’m thinking until we meet a town of some kind. It seems to be a dangerous time to be traveling alone.” Shaynen grimaced at the notion that the doctor would hang around. He hopped up onto the back of the wagon and sat on the edge. The distrustful stares of the others in the wagon. He scowled when the doctor came and sat up beside him.

“Don’t mind if I take a seat?” He asked.

“I do mind, actually.” Shaynen snapped.

“Well, excuse me.” The doctor put up his hands. “No harm meant, kid. Don’t know anyone else and no one seems keen to talk to you.” Shaynen crossed his arms and huddled against the side of the wagon.

“I ain’t keen to talk to you,” Shaynen sneered. Mocking the doctor’s accent.

“Fine then, but you remember, I am the only one who’s willing to talk to you.” The doctor shrugged and jumped off the back of the wagon. Shaynen was happy to see him go and hoped the next town wasn’t too far away.

He sat in silence and played with the beads around his wrist. His throat was tightening as he moved the bracelet around. It felt weird to be sitting alone. He never sat alone for long. His parents would always come to see to him when he was upset. Even when he wasn’t upset. His parents would be right there if he were within sight. He leaned his head against the wooden frame, only imagining how angry his parents were at him. The idea made him grind his teeth together to stop him from choking up.

With an angry breath, he stood up. The wheel hit a bump and helped him to his feet. He turned with a bitter scowl and stormed through the back of the wagon. Climbing over the short wall and into the driver’s seat between his parents with a glare aimed between the stags.

They still said nothing. Making Shaynen boil over.

“Do you not love me anymore?” He snapped. Both his parents jumped in surprise.

“No! Oh no! That’s not-” Both of his parents started denying the conclusion Shaynen had already committed to.

“Then why are you ignoring me?” He asked. The floodgates had given a crack, and the emotions broke through. He choked on the sobs that came in debilitating waves.

“Honey,” His mother picked him up and scooted him into her lap. “We didn’t mean to ignore you. We were just trying to give you space.”

“We’re not sure what else to do.” His father scooted over and wrapped an arm around the two of them. “We don’t know what else to try. We don’t want to lose you. Every time we try to protect you, you do the exact opposite. You run head first into danger.” Shaynen hugged his mother and kept quiet.

“We’re always here,” His father said. “Always. Whenever you need us. We’re here.”

“It’s just hard.” He said finally, with a sniffling sigh.

“Yeah, but look on the bright side.” His father said.

“What bright side?”

“Have you ever seen the mountains before?” His father unwrapped his arm and tapped Shaynen’s shoulder. Shaynen turned from his mother’s shoulder and looked up. The sandy mountains loomed up brightly.

“No,” he said. Looking at them curiously. “I’ve seen nothing without trees. Where are the animals?”

“There are different animals than the ones in the forest.” His mother shifted him back between them. “Different places have different animals.” His mother explained the different animals that lived in the mountains and how unlikely it was that they’d meet any of them.

Over their shoulder, a voice whispered into his father’s ear; “The supplies are running low. What should we do?” His father handed over the reins to his mother and climbed into the back. Shaynen looked back into the wagon, where his father was inspecting the supplies.

“You want to drive?” His mother asked. Shaynen turned excitedly. He nodded with a giant grin. Holding out his hands for the leather reins.

“Take it very slow. We have people outside the wagon and we don’t want to leave them behind.” She said, handing the reins over to Shaynen. He pulled the reins up with an unhinged smile. It stalled for a second as the pressure settled down on top of him. Freezing his hands in a tight grip.

“What do I do?!” He yelled. His mother laughed, like the jingling of bells.

“Okay, well, ease up your grip, honey,” she giggled. “If you don’t startle or spur the animals, then they won’t change their speed.” Shaynen shakily put his hands in his lap but didn’t relax his grip.

“I want to go faster!” He announced.

“Let’s not,” His mother laughed. “But I’ll take you riding when we reach flatlands, okay?”

“Riding?” Shaynen asked.

“Yup, I’ll teach you to ride.” His mother promised. Shaynen jerked the reins up suddenly. The two giant stags pulling the wagons reared back, and the wagon rocked back. Shaynen yelled and yanked the reins back harder.

“Relax, relax!” His mother couldn’t stop laughing as she grabbed his hands and pulled them forward.

“How?!” Shaynen yelled. His mother snorted and got control of the stags. She kept hold of his hands, clicking her tongue and snapping the reins gently. Starting the wagon forward at a slow pace. His father climbed back over the driver’s seat and sat beside them.

“We’re going to stop for the night up here, get some hunting parties going.” His father said. “Think you can drive us to a suitable camping spot?”

“Yeah,” Shaynen nodded. Sitting a little taller. “I already know how to stop!”

“Do you?” His mother snickered.

“Yeah!” Shaynen said.

“Well, all right then,” His father smiled. Leaning back and leaning his arm around the back of the driver’s seat. His mother leaned back as well, and the two cuddled together over Shaynen’s shoulders.