Records of Rebirth

Europa returned to the group and saw Artemis and the spaded snake were still bickering. The remaining two snakes stayed to the side, watching them awkwardly. 

The healer snake felt exhausted, it seemed he had no other choice but to tell them about the forest. He hoped their argument would stop when presented with an alternative solution.

However, on listening to his retelling of events, only the spaded snake was pleased.

[This is great!] she gushed. [Why didn't you mention it before?]

This was partly because he didn't know what to make of it either, it was his first time seeing something like it. But one thing was clear, the forest would serve their needs well and he was keen on visiting it.

But Artemis regarded his news with suspicion. [What you're saying sounds too good to be true. What sort of forest grows that fast?]

[That's not the point!] The spaded snake yelled at him. [It has creatures we can hunt. And you can study all the stupid plants you want. What's there to complain about?]

[So, you don't find it strange that it wasn't there when we passed?] he asked doubtfully.

The spaded snake laughed. [Are you telling me you believe it grew so quickly out of nowhere?]

[Hey, I didn't make that up!] Europa grumbled.

Artemis looked away. [I didn't say that. It's just… way too suspicious.]

The spaded snake glowered at him, making herself taller to stare him down. [I don't care what you think. Unless you want this group to split up, I suggest we go now.]

Since there was no proof to back up his claims, Artemis finally gave in and they all headed for the forest. 

As for his suspicions, the spaded snake fully believed it was Europa's inexperience that led him to think the forest was odd. She had witnessed quite a few things she thought were strange when she left the cave with Typhon and Ophelia, and since then her outlook had changed and she had come to see them as normal.

However, even though they were dismissive about Europa's concerns, they didn't take them lightly either, in case his words were true.

And so, they carefully observed the forest and its moss covered trees for a long time, to see if anything would change. But to Europa's surprise, the forest remained the same and he glimpsed the creatures flitting about inside like normal. 

[It's possible we just didn't see it on the way here.] The spaded snake said to him as she sensed his confusion.

Europa was doubtful. Had he imagined it? 

Granted, he'd never actually witnessed the forest change, so perhaps he imagined seeing its trees free of moss before. He looked to see what Artemis thought and saw his eyes shining with interest.

[What a great find. You've outdone yourself, Europa.]

Europa wasn't prepared for his Captain's gratitude and he looked away awkwardly.

The spaded snake on the other hand, was not impressed. [I thought you didn't want to come, Artemis. What convinced you to change your mind, now?]

Artemis glared at her before moving ahead of the group to enter the forest, and the rest followed behind him. 

Artemis went off to examine the plants, while the spaded snake led the team to hunt the various creatures roaming around. And soon, the group was absorbed in the frenzy of hunting while Europa and Artemis observed their surroundings.

Europa felt like he'd been transported to another place entirely. The trees were entirely covered in loose vines and moss, and the ground was soft and spongy, that he felt ticklish whenever he slithered over it. 

The hedges were lush with green and grew brightly coloured fruits that the tiny creatures around them seemed to eat with relish. 

The creatures were small, with brightly coloured skins, iridescent wings, and long spiked tails, that flocked to these hedges in hordes to eat. Europa was absent minded as he watched the creatures that frolicked on the branches, who were seemingly ignoring their existences.

The spaded snake who was beside him, saw what he was looking at and gave a groan of disapproval. [Ugh. Tiny, winged lizards.]

[Lizard?] he questioned.

[What's a lizard?] One of his team members asked, but before she could answer, Europa felt something nudge against his body. 

He'd slithered over a grey rock earlier, and now to his surprise, the tiny rock had stood up on twig-like legs to glare at him with a disgruntled rodent face, before waving a grassy tail and running away.

Europa blinked in disbelief. Along with the tiny, winged lizards, the forest seemed to be full of all sorts of strange creatures that looked like something else. 

He'd seen more of the same rodents, and then a large mushroom which stumbled across the moss covered ground before settling down into a hole at the base of a tree. And, he witnessed a normal flower turn into a winged insect.

Aside from those few instances, the rest of the creatures were normal. There were four legged creatures foraging through the hedges for fruits, and the tall trees were full of scurrying creatures. 

Europa thought it was abnormal that only those docile creatures were living here and not one of the larger, more dangerous monsters.

[Don't you find this place strange at all?] He said to Artemis who was busying himself with some plants.

[Of course, it is. Why do you ask?]

Artemis seemed rather distracted. He kept staring at the fruiting trees and the tiny creatures drawn to them with a disapproving look, before calling out to the group.

[No one is allowed to eat anything.]

The spaded snake groaned at him. [Why not? Are you determined to ruin everyone's fun?]

[I don't care about your fun.] Artemis was deep in thought. [This place is odd. I'm surprised you don't see it. There is no balance.]

The spaded snake looked confused. [What do you mean by balance?]

[Everything works on equal exchange.] Artemis continued. [From everything I've seen so far, this has to be wrong. The trees provide the food, but what are the creatures giving in return?]

The spaded snake looked around. [Nothing?]

[Exactly!] Artemis exclaimed excitedly. [It's obvious, the trees must be poisonous!]

The spaded snake groaned. [Not everything is poisonous, you poison obsessed idiot!] She gestured to all the creatures that continued to eat. [If they were poisonous, the ground would be littered with dead. But, do you see any dead creatures around?]

And then to further prove her point, she reached over and took one of the reddish fruits into her mouth.

[Spit that out now!] Artemis immediately yelled at her, rushing towards her.

But much to Artemis's horror, she swallowed the fruit whole.

[Spit it out now, you fool!] He tackled her in an attempt to force her to spit out the fruit and the two snakes crashed against the trees as they fought.

In the end, Artemis was unable to pin her down and by the time they stopped fighting, he ended up with the most wounds.

However, while the other snakes cheered on the spaded snake, Europa's focus was on something else. 

Earlier, as the two snakes struggled around, they had uncovered some of the vines and moss on the trees revealing the true state of the tree.

Europa was hit with a rotting stench where healthy tree bark should have been. The uncovered body of the tree was completely black with rot, and it oozed with a putrid sap and its body was completely soft like a sponge. 

The sight of the wretched tree sent him reeling back in horror and only then did the other snake notice something was wrong.

The spaded snake slithered over to him and on seeing the tree, she stopped in her tracks, flinching at the stench. [Ugh what is that?]

Artemis who was full of bruises rushed over without pause, and they all stared at the rotting wood in horror. 

The spaded snake immediately understood her mistake and forced herself to spit out the fruit. And as the red fruit fell on the ground, it too blackened with rot and partially germinated with tendrils of a rotted sapling growing out of it.

The spaded snake fell silent as stared at it and then she began to shiver in terror.

[Heal her.] Artemis hissed loudly. [Quick.] 

Not that healing did much to help and the spaded snake was mostly unharmed but the reality of what could've happened caused her to tremble.

[It has to be some kind of parasite.] Artemis mused coolly. [Every creature that has eaten it is bound to die soon. We should watch them to see what happens and collect them.]

The spaded snake was quiet, but his words soon made her enraged. [Collect them? Are you mad? We should leave the forest as quickly as possible!]

[Leave?] Artemis was surprised and smirked provocatively. [The creatures here are all docile, aren't you interested in finding out what happens to them? Or what would've happened to you if you hadn't spit it out?]

After almost being a victim herself, the spaded snake was too terrified to argue with him. [I don't care! I'm more afraid of the strange forest that's trying to kill us!]

[Like you said, it's not poison.] Artemis replied nonchalantly. [I wonder what happens afterwards. Since all the creatures are still alive, I suspect the fruit is meant to put them to sleep, but after that... I don't know.]

[It doesn't matter!] She rushed over to the rotten tree and brushed away more of the moss with her body, revealing more of its murky decayed inside.

She came away with her body covered in black slime. [Do you not see this? The tree is dead!]

Artemis shook his head. [A dead tree wouldn't grow fruit. This is something else entirely.]

Much like her, he started brushing away at the vines and moss, but rather than the trees he focused on the ground. 

[Why don't we dig and see what we uncover?]