The Pathless on Paths---------Chapter VII part 2(17)

Eventually they came to the agreement that they would not return to the path at all, but merely follow it a safe distance away int he woods. The path they found much too...bare and...exposed. It offered no concealment, leaving them out in the open for all eyes...or at least things that had organs similar to eyes, to see. Still, Karrson worried of losing the path. The climb began to grow steep, and as they advanced it became more and more difficult: at times a crevice opened in the ground, to wide to jump, and difficult to climb out of; or perhaps a wall of twisted rock would suddenly jut out of the earth or cliffs nearby, sealing their way, forcing them to take long and winding detours; or perhaps swift streams that crossed their way, the water fallen into Distortion, flowing in odd ways, sometimes even uphill, or flowing back into itself, the water bone chilling cold or steaming hot. Their going was rough, yet to worsen things the woods had more in store. Light was weak, yet delusional, and shadows did not always match their owners, or the direction of the light, making their environment all the more complex. Odd creatures hid in the watchful shadows, and bizarre plants glowed and pulsated, and none dared to touch or even go near them. Vines thinker than oil barrows hung overhead. The trees were tall and grotesque as always, yet grim, like grave sentinels of a forgotten land, their wide leaves blocking out daylight. Wind whistled and whispered ominously, carrying indescribable scents. The woods did not look quite Earthen, but more like a hostile alien word from an old sci-fi film, and they were the first colonizers, forlorn and helpless. Karrson became quite sure that they would never see that path again, and Emmerich began to look increasingly frustrated, as they came once again to a familiar place. Quite obviously, they were lost.