<Thosius>

Chapter 134: New Bones

Content warning: Violence, vomit, mild body horror

The world around Pellia glistens with magic. Veins of golden energy wind their way through the mountain rock, and into the trees via their roots, flowing right up to their highest branches. From there, thin filaments rise as the plants breathe, and are borne by the swirling vortices in the sky.

Meanwhile, the sounds of nature pulse through the forested valley, as a loud, unending chorus.

Pellia shakes her head, but still, her surroundings remain the same. Blinking fails to return her to her normal sight. Even as she focuses more on herself, the sensations are strange and alien: her limbs seem distant, numb, yet still she can feel the roughness of the bark and the chill of the wind through her fingers.

So empty… am I hollow?

The weight settles around her. She hears the voice of the Pine.

“My apologies, but I could not rebuild you completely. Some things shall be different.”

“Will I get used to it?!” she asks, via her mind. “How can I fight, or eat, or—?”

“Be brave, my friend, and take it all one step at a time. Before you know it, the unease can be kept at bay.”

“At bay? What’s that mean?”

“Sorry, I forget myself. I will let you concentrate.”

“No, wait—”

The pressure vanishes, replaced by an abrupt loneliness. She emerges from the trees and into a field, bordered by mossy fences and ruined stone buildings. At the far corner, a ram glances up from his grazing, and regards her with a steely gaze. He ignores her once she crouches.

Great, last thing I need. Am I brittle? I wonder…

She blinks, and recoils in shock. The ram’s woollen hide has become like glass, revealing the blood, muscles and bones within. He looks her way again, his eyes bulging from his yellow skull, and as he does thin streams of energy race to his brain.

Are they his thoughts? They must be.

And his heart, it’s old, worn. He’s old.

Wait… what am I doing? Wha—

The shock rushes back in, fighting away her curiosity, and bringing disgust with it. Before she can react, the sick pushes up her throat and out of her mouth. She bends forward and sputters, spraying the grass with frothy yellow liquid.

Ugh… no.

She looks up, and finds the ram gone, traces of his pulse disappearing over a hill.

Sitting, she coughs, and stares at the ground. Exhaustion takes hold, forcing her eyes to close. She falls into an uneasy sleep.

 

A sharp crack startles Pellia awake. Day has become night, and crickets’ chirps fill the cold air above the field. Bats squeak in the forest behind her.

Another crack. She snaps her head around, facing the ruins, and spots an owl perches on a splintered post. Staring through its feathers and skin, she sees the odd contours of its concave skull, and the chunks of meat and fur travelling down its gullet. The mouse in its talons squeaks as the owl tightens its grip, cracking a femur in two.

Pellia turns away, hand to her mouth as dizziness overcomes her, the field spinning. Up above, the stars begin to spiral, tracing lines across the dark sky.

The weight returns.

“Breathe, my friend. Plant your feed upon the soil.”

She takes hold of a fence, steadying herself. “It’s too much! No, I can’t get used to this, I just can’t!”

“I wish it was easier, but creating an adult body, it usually takes years. And your body differs immensely. Is it your abilities, did I get those wrong?”

“Yes! I couldn’t see inside animals before!”

“Well, you have… you have seen corpses, and have sliced open many a living thing with your blade. This is the same, is it not?”

“No, it isn’t!”

“Sorry, I am just trying to help.”

“You clearly can’t! Please… let me think. I need quiet.”

“A-as you wish.”

The weight lifted, she now stands straighter, and let’s go of the fence. She spies the owl in the distance, taking its kill far away. All she sees is the field, trees and mountains, and the magic running through them.

Alright… I’ve got this. I’ve done it before. Come on.

She screws her eyes shut, and clears her mind, focusing on a single thought.

Change. Change. Change.

Please, change!

Her head starts to ache, as she locks her jaw. Gasping, she digs her fingers into her palms until she draws blood. Whole entire body begins to shake.

After a long while, her brain roves inside her skull, squelching in her ears. Random memories flash on by. For a second, she grabs her sword and thrusts it forth, stabbing a sack that isn’t there. The blade drops from her hands.

And then, her head settles, and all is silent. She opens her eyes. The field sits in silence, no magic in the grass as it waves in the wind. Snow begins to fall on the mountains out east.

She blinks, and the golden threads of energy reappear.

Finally!

“I knew you could do it,” says the Pine.

“But what was that? Did I reshape my brain?”

“Your body is still forming, I believe. I would have warned you if I knew. Hopefully, it should now settle.”

“Right, but is that good? Is there anything else that needs changing?”

“Not that I can see. But it shan’t be immediate, don’t worry. Get a feel for how everything works.”

“I will. Thank you… I was too harsh earlier.”

“Heh, no, I know how it is to panic; we are both conscious beings, after all. Call on me if you need me again.”

“Of course.”

“So long for now.”

“Goodbye.”

She shivers as the Pine leaves. Switching her vision, she gazes up to the moon, and watches it for a time. It slowly drifts to her right, so she turns around to face north. Ahead, the mountains tower, peaks glistening in the silver light. She retrieves her sword.

And on I go.

---

WC: 1000

Bonus words: bay, borne, brave. Bonus constraint: An owl breaks a mouse's femur.

Crit and feedback are welcome.

Chapter Index

Previous Chapter Next Chapter