The Heathen

Brenna startled by the sudden question quickly yet desperately stuttered, "It-It's Aos, her eyes came b-back...". Aos couldn't help but think 'What's wrong with my eyes mother?'. While Aos was in the midst of thought, the old voice who had just been oppressively turned light-hearted and responded slightly embarrassed, "Oh my my, it's already time. My weary bones really lost track of time."

The darkness in the cave was near absolute but as the old man had finished speaking the shrubbery and foliage at the entrance of the cave began shifting and contorting, slowly clearing a path for the dim moonlight to enter the cave.

In the far back of the cave, the old man who had visited Aos during her time in the tent was wrapped and surrounded by countless which supported the frail-looking man.

The old man made a brief grunt as audible snapping noises were made as the decrepit man pushed himself off the cave wall and out of the entanglement. Just as suddenly as the old man had released himself from the wall he glimpsed back at the mess of roots. Silently with a wave of his hand, the roots came to life and as if snakes writhed together creating the familiar wooden staff which Aos had seen many months prior.

Aos and Brenna who could not believe what they had just witnessed were awestruck. The old man with a familiar shamble walked towards the pair and as soon as he noticed their facial expression he continued to shamble towards the cave threshold and as he passed Aos and Brenna he said, "Come on, we got things to do."

The old man's words snapped Brenna out of her faze while Aos still couldn't help but feel giddy at the sight of such fantasy.

The old man guided both Brenna and Aos out of the cave and into the moonlight. Once the old man found a place that he deemed fit he paused. Then, with a powerful motion, he slammed the bottom of his staff into the ground and with agility unfit for an elderly man bent down and placed his hands on the ground.

Around the old man, a series of cracks appeared on the ground around the old man as roots stretched from the ground and began to emerge. The roots contorting into a very rough set of chairs.

The old man made his way towards the closest chair as he indicated to Aos and Brenna to sit in the opposing chairs.