Malcolm jumped on top of the sun-baked mud, creating a cloud of grey-yellow dirt—he hopped back, the squelch of sludge sounding as he landed in the thick mat of moss and grass. “The line between the regions is that crisply defined? Why spend that kind of magic?”

  “Just the way it is.” Izzy shrugged.

  “Could be something to do with the fact a lot, if not all, of this place is created from different game scenarios from different rpgs. Since this is a back way into the swamp, maybe the creator didn’t worry about this boundary and the Structure created it with a lack of blending.” Valgrin offered.

  “Hmph, maybe. Messes with my brain. Let’s get rolling.” Malcolm stepped in behind Deeah, who took the lead.

  Malcolm got lost in trying to identify the plants growing around them. Many of them seemed to create their own gloom and shadows. Even though the sun shone brightly, the swamp grew darker with each step taken.

  Conversation happened occasionally, remaining brief. A heaviness hung over the group as they walked for several hours. The occasional buzz of an insect breaking the silence for a few moments, then it’d fade away.

  Malcolm coughed, made sure he had everyone’s attention. “This relatively easy pathway through the swamp adds weight to Valgrin’s creation theory. The fact we’ve not had to get our ankles wet yet is a little more than remarkable this far in.”

  “I didn’t notice, but yeah, it is unusual.” Valgrin stopped and looked over the swamp.

  A faint chirping noise carried over the wind.

  “Seems like a normal swamp to me. Sounds, smells, and paths.” Izzy commented.

  Deeah stopped, bringing the rest of the group to a halt. “Admittedly, I didn’t notice anything weird until pointed out. Thinking about others swamps I’ve had to get through for an adventure—I can’t recall any of them that required us to get in the water. Ended up there because of encounters, not by the terrain.”

  “I don’t care how it got created. I don’t like the fact that my hooves sink with every step I take. This is exhausting.” Skwilly muttered.

  Izzy lifted a moss covered foot. “I may not be sinking as far as you, but it’s deep enough to make walking a much harder chore.”

  Deeah and Valgrin nodded their agreement. Malcolm smirked.

  “Gonna share?” Valgrin asked Malcolm.

  “Sure!” Malcolm grinned, “My, recently, gained spell ability called Unseen Bridge. I can create a temporary bridge, so we could cross a few feet of a gap between solid ground. Also, it allows me to create a surface that matches the sole of my shoes or feet, so I haven’t had that sinking problem.”

  “So, brings up my original question—with a slightly different meaning. Gonna share?” Valgrin raised an eyebrow.

  “I can’t make a long enough bridge over this to make much of a difference, and I can only use the foot thing on myself. So, even though I’d love to, I can’t share.”

  “Then keep it to yourself.” Izzy mocked a scowl as she grumbled. A second later, she shot him a smile, then turned to Skwilly. “Looks like we’re headed into a more overgrown part of the swamp. Need you to go up and follow behind Deeah, turning on the glow for her to see where to step.”

  Skwilly nodded and trotted up to walk next to Deeah, glowing a little brighter—especially in front of him. The group resumed their hike to the temple where Drathnor reportedly set up camp.

  Several minutes later, Deeah brought the group to a stop again. The canopy of the swamp covered the path. No more glimpses of the sky. The shadows and gloom intensified to include a light fog covering the ground. Moss and vines grew up the trees along the side of the paths, an occasional branch poked through the green to be re-engulfed further up the branch. A soft, wet, splatting noise sounded—from somewhere further down the path.

  “Anyone know what that sound could be?” Deeah asked.

  After a few seconds of focusing on the sound, Malcolm spoke up. “Sounds like wet tissue paper hitting a wall.”

  “Doubt that’s what it is.” Deeah shook her head.

  “True, but it’s what it sounds like.” Malcolm tried to not sound too defensive.

  “Need more headlight, even at the expense of the light for us behind Deeah.” Valgrin pointed, “Malcolm, follow behind Deeah and Skwilly. Izzy and I have better dark vision, so we don’t need as much light.”

  Malcolm dismissed Unseen Bridge on his feet and sunk into the mud. The sound of his foot squishing in the ground combined with everyone else's steps. Squish, foot down. Slurp, foot up. Every step took effort. He cast Unseen Bridge again. Now it felt like walking on solid ground. He noticed an occasional wet splat sound, which grew louder with each step they took. An occasional splash somewhere in the water caused him to hold his breath for a moment, trying to determine the direction of the sound, with no success.

  “Maybe we’re running out of path? It’s getting wetter as we go.” Another soft splat punctuated Deeah’s question. “Ick!” She wiped at her forearm. “Wet moss, or some other slimy green stuff, is falling out of the trees. Just got hit—cold and disgusting when you’re not expecting it, but at least we know what that sound is. Green goo hitting the ground or something else.”

  They kept walking deeper into the swamp, staying on the grassy path between pools of brackish water. The squish and slurp sounds continued as they walked, but the ground didn’t get any softer or wetter. An occasional grunt, peppered with a few expletives, was heard from the group when the green goo landed on one of them.

  “So, do you think the heaviness of the air is muting sound, or did the bugs get quieter?” Izzy asked in a hushed voice.

  Malcolm responded in a stage whisper. “Seems to have muted yours. But now that you mention it, it is quieter. Fewer bugs?”

  “Thicker, plant life around us absorbing the sound?” Valgrin offered.

  “All I know is I don’t like it—not one bit.” Izzy shuddered, wiping another mass of green goo from her arm.

  They trudged ahead, slowing their pace, everyone’s gazes jumping from tree to water, grass to tree.

  “Put it out!” A shrill scream and shout ripped through the muted sounds. A long wail set of a series of splashes around the group.

  Deeah lay sprawled on the damp earth, her body curled tight into a fetal position. The sobs only relented to allow for guttural screams. Desperate gasps interrupted the screams, with ragged and desperate pleas of “Put it out!” Then the cycle would start again—sobs, screams, and pleas for help.

  “What is…” Malcolm shouted as the group ran to Deeah’s side.

  Izzy’s sword swayed as she stood over Deeah. “I don’t know, but I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  “Are you okay?” Malcolm stared at Izzy, his voice full of concern. “You look a little unhinged at the moment.”

  With a sudden jerk, the tip of Izzy’s sword pointed at Malcolm’s chest. “Nothing is wrong.” She growled. “I’m going to make sure nothing happens to Deeah.”

  “I get that but…”

  “But nothing!” Izzy screamed, spittle flying from her lips. “I let Steeyann down, I won’t fail Deeah!”

  “Put it out!” Deeah plead.

  Malcolm watched Izzy struggle to catch her breath. “You didn’t…”

  “I did! I did! I failed him!” Tears streamed down Izzy’s face. “I failed him.”

  “Izzy.” A sense of panic colored Valgrin’s tone. “What are you hearing in your head?”

  She turned to look at the ice elf, her eyes wide, tears flowing. “Whispers of how I failed him.” She gasped, her eyes focused on the sword she pointed at Malcolm. “I didn’t…don’t…what did I do?” She dropped to her knees, reaching to touch Deeah’s cheek.

  Malcolm moved to Izzy’s side, stopping when Valgrin pulled at his arm. “What? I need to make sure Izzy is okay.”

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  “I understand.” Valgrin looked down at his feet. “But…um…I think…maybe…we’ve been hit with something. Do you have…uh…voices in your head? One’s talking about your fears?”

  “No, I just see two, maybe three of my companions, acting strange.” Malcolm spoke louder to be heard over the sobs and screams.

  “So, some sort of disease or poison. You’re…uh…imm…imm…those things can’t get you, right?” Valgrin stuttered.

  “Correct, part of my—crap, look at Skwilly.” Malcolm pointed at the priggy who was glowing with a kaleidoscope of colors.

  “Whatever this is, it’s feeding personal fears. I’m guessing Deeah is reliving that car wreck that sent her here. Izzy, well, Steeyann. I’m hearing that I’m not smart enough.” Valgrin’s words took on a more frantic pace. “That someone is going to call out that the emperor…um…has no clothes. I’m a fake. I don’t know what I’m doing. I just make it up and have been lucky.” Valgrin bent over, his breathing slowing back to normal.

  “The moss did this?” Malcolm asked.

  Valgrin nodded. “Maybe? Probably.” His voice went shrill as he jumped forward. “Something has Skwilly!”

  Malcolm looked over in time to see vines wrap around Skwilly’s legs and drag him toward the water. The priggy continued to glow with swirling colors, not reacting to the attack.

  “Damn.” Malcolm ran toward Skwilly. Lunging, he splashed mud as he fell to the ground, his fingers brushing the priggy’s leg, right before Skwilly disappeared into the murky water.

  Valgrin helped Malcolm up. “Just checked with…um…Sandy. I’ve lost three points in intelligence and one in wisdom in a matter of minutes. You save Skwilly, I’ll try to help.”

  Malcolm nodded and ran across the water, chasing down the glow coming from under the water. He turned back to Valgrin. “Watch over Izzy and Deeah. Try to get them to understand.”

  Valgrin nodded, jogging along the edge of the water, then turning back toward Izzy.

  How long can Skwilly hold his breath? Can I use Unseen Bridge to lift him up from under there? Malcolm tried casting, but gave up after a few attempts. Trying to hit a moving target underwater turned out to be a way to drain his magic pool with nothing to show for it.

  “Damn.” He muttered to himself as Skwilly’s glow dimmed significantly as it stopped moving. Malcolm slid several feet past the stopping point. Traction needs improvement. Malcolm pumped his legs and changed direction. “Hang on Skwilly!” He shouted.

  How can that glow show through the ground? Malcolm took a long, deep breath, then dove into the water. The murky water took on a mostly green glow because of Skwilly’s light. Malcolm squeezed his eyes shut. Not a good idea, Malcolm. Squinting might hurt less? He opened his eyes a little. Oh, much better, the pain is only half as bad. Malcolm searched out the brightest light and headed that direction.

  Within a few strokes, he made his way underneath the pathway. He reached up and grabbed the underside of the path, his fingers touching something that felt like metal. Pulling himself closer, he saw thick stemmed plants woven together tightly. He flipped upside down and used the woven mass to pull himself towards Skwilly. The light getting brighter much quicker.

  After a few seconds, he reached out for the plants but couldn’t find them. A moment of panic set in as he frantically searched and found a large hole in the weave, with Skwilly perched above it. Malcolm pulled himself up and out of the hole, splashing to the surface. He gasped at the unexpected humid, fetid air. After a quick wipe at his eyes, he took in his surroundings; a domed room greeted him. Then he noticed Skwilly.

  The unconscious priggy hung suspended in the air, his feet dangling inches above the water. The chaos of color had slowed and diminished, Skwilly’s normal glow seemed to return. Malcolm climbed up, bringing his waist level with the floor, allowing him to lean over and examine the rope-like vines surrounding Skwilly. They had the same metallic feel as the larger vines and as Malcolm looked closer. He could trace several vines starting from within the huge vines that created the walls of the dome. Stretching out, he grabbed one of the vines, shouting when something pulled at his ankle. He bounced along the floor and down through the hole, back into the murky water of the swamp.

  More vines wrapped around his legs. Malcolm traced the attack back to a dark mass of writhing vines. He began to thrash and tug at the closest tentacle. These felt more like plants. He ripped it apart, four more shot out, one of them ensnaring his arm. Here goes something, wish I had practiced it more. He jerked hard on the vine around his arm, closing the distance between the dark mass and himself. He jabbed with the edge of his hand, invoking Overwhelming Strike as he made contact.

  He watched the mass of vines vibrate violently—then the waves hit him, vines abruptly let go of his legs. The sudden movements spun him in the water, disorienting him. Malcolm slowed down and spun around until he found Skwilly’s glow. He started swimming, focused on the lights. A few feet deeper and several yards further away. Vine central seems to be quiet, for now. Need to shoot up and grab some air and get back down here before that thing wakes up. Advanced breathing abilities don’t help when hit by concussive waves. Half-way there, he watched his attacker for a few seconds, not seeing it move—he kicked his legs, swimming upward again.

  A few more kicks and I’ll be at the bottom of the hole. Then seconds until I get air. Malcolm focused on closing the distance. His chest burned. Is this how people drown, giving into the desire to gasp? Almost there. His hand grasped at the wall. He launched himself up the hole. He almost screamed when he jerked, a vine pulling him back down. Nooo! He bent down, digging at the vine, trying to break free. He invoked Overwhelming Strike, nothing happened. Immune already? Or not enough cool-down? Need to breathe. He grabbed the wall with both hands, pulling closer. The vine pulled harder. Can’t last. Chest will explode. Not built for underwater…Could? Unseen Bridge, stilts? Malcolm cast Unseen Bridge focused on expanding the instance on each foot to grow thicker, looking to anchor them on the floor of the swamp. He felt them contact something solid. He kept focused on making them thicker. A few seconds later, he felt the grip he had on the wall being pulled upward. Faster, he commanded. He gulped for air when his head splashed through the surface.

  He stood still for a few seconds, breathing hard, letting his chest relax. Suddenly, he toppled, twisting his body around in time to let his arms take the brunt of the slam. Something had pulled his extended legs out from underneath him. The back of his head bounced hard on the floor. Retracting Unseen Bridge back to the thickness he’d been wearing. He stood up and stretched, then ducked the vine that exploded into the room, flopping around looking for him. He climbed up the wall when the second and third vine joined the first.

  Watching from his perch, Malcolm noticed the vines got a little over a foot high out of the water before they started flopping around. He climbed to the center of the doom, over the opening, back into the water. Holding on with one arm, he checked his sai and made sure he could reach them easily. Half a flip, that’s all I need. He dropped, flailing his arms. He flipped in time to hit the water with his hands, breaking the water on his dive. Malcolm sensed the vines twisting near him. Reaching out, he grabbed one and started crawling back down the hole, hand over hand, on the vine. Letting go, a few feet before the bottom of the hole. Malcolm confirmed the location of the main body of vines and kicked off the wall of the hole, swimming just under the woven vines and above the mass.

  He stopped himself just above the dark mass. He watched several vines sweeping the area around the opening in the weave. Nothing close to him, yet. He pulled out one of his sai, then kicked off the woven vines as hard as he could. Diving sai first at Vine Central. His sai went hilt deep, all three blades. The mass of vines shuddered and thrashed. Malcolm grabbed a hold of a vine so he didn’t fall off. He twisted his sai back and forth, dodging the first vine trying to hit him. He pulled the sai out, nearly falling, when a sudden wave from above jostled him. The vines paused their attack as both sides tried to determine the source of the waves.

  More waves crashed from above, indicating that something or someone was attacking the pathway. The water became increasingly tumultuous with each wave. Suddenly, the dark entity retreated and swam away, surrendering to its opponent. Malcolm tried to swim towards the hole, but the relentless waves kept pushing him around. After a few minutes, he saw a large white stone sink through the woven vines above, causing the waves to cease. Malcolm quickly made his way to Skwilly as he noticed the pathway disappearing. Skwilly’s glow moved back toward the main path they’d been on. As he broke through the water’s surface, he saw Valgrin struggling to pull Skwilly and a section of the woven vines back to the path the group was on.

  “Careful, Skwilly is in a sort of room and he is the glow there.” Malcolm called out.

  “Valgrin wait.” Valgrin plopped down to sit on the ground.

  Malcolm shook himself to get rid of some of the mud and water as he climbed up onto the path. “You cut this path? How? And are you able to lift it?”

  Valgrin cocked his head. “Lady's voice in head says my intel…genz is down by seventy-two percent and wisdom is down by fifty-six. I can’t ‘member how bad that is, but I know is bad. You need know, will help you unnerstand. Get Skwilly out and I tell you while you do.

  Seventy percent, how are we going to fix that? Malcolm nodded and cut away at the vines where the glow came through.

  Valgrin clapped. “Okay, I tell. I made big ice axe and chop at ground when you scream. Afraid to hurt Skwilly or you, I chopped…um…away from shiny spot. Took a few chops. Had to sharpen axe. Ice made me feel different, better. Voice tells me I was at seventy-eight percent loss when ice started helping. You got Skwilly yet?”

  Malcolm shook his head. “I can see him, but need to cut some more vines shouldn’t be long now.”

  “Okay. So since made me feel better I frosted myself, felt even more better. I ran over an frosted the screaming lady and Izzy. Deeah, that’s the screaming lady. I may have frosted her too much and hurt her. She stopped screaming and Izzy started being better. I came back here to get to Skwilly. The ground isn’t attached and floats. I figured it would be easier to work from the ground than in the water. Voice says now at sixty-eight percent.”

  “And here’s Skwilly. He could probably use a frosting. Though wait, he’s a lot smaller and might need to be frosted differently. If the voice is telling you your intelligence is coming back—I think you should wait.”

  Valgrin squealed and took Skwilly from Malcolm. “You have, I mean you think better right now. So, will wait if you say it is best.”

  “I think it’s best,” Malcolm looked up as Izzy and Deeah both walked over to them. “Are you both okay?”

  “Physically, the cure did more damage—light frostbite, nothing serious. Izzy healed me. Emotionally, too soon to tell?” Deeah shrugged.

  “I didn’t get frostbite, but the rest applies for me.” Izzy added.

  “If what Valgrin’s right on what you went through, there’s a few days or more before you’ll know where you are emotionally. I couldn’t imagine going through what you all have.” Malcolm put an arm around Izzy.

  “Based on body scale, I should frost him with about ten percent of the power I used for Izzy. To be safe, I’ll start at five percent. Does that sound good?” Valgrin asked.

  “If you’re asking for confirmation, let’s wait a little longer,” Malcolm answered.

  “I’m at fifty-one percent loss for intelligence and wisdom is down to twenty-eight percent loss. Waiting would make sense.” Valgrin nodded.

  Izzy pointed behind herself. “Let’s get back to the main path and find a place we don’t have to worry about green goo. Then we can set up a campfire for the night. Valgrin you carry Skwilly, okay?”

  Valgrin nodded and followed the others. They walked a little over fifty yards and found a spot where no branches hung overhead. In a matter of minutes, they had a small campfire going.