The party is sitting around a small campfire cooking and eating rations. Tal is terrified of being in the wildlands and talks when he is nervous. The rest of the party is tired and does not wish to speak at length. They are humouring Tal but becoming frustrated with him. Saryn is irritated by Tal’s naivety.

[sound of setting up a fire and cooking rations]

[sound of eating rations]

Tal: You aren’t from Ansa are you Saryn? You’re from the otherside of the gap…in the safe zone?

Saryn: That’s right. I’m Emeduan…technically. 

Tal: [politely correcting] This side of the gap is Emedu too you know, The Ansa enclave is still Emedu.

Saryn & Helga: [laugh choking on rations]

Tal: Is that funny?

Saryn: Sorry. No. You are right, Kurr, Sahar… the Nunus gap…its all Emedu. I think it’s written down somewhere so it must be true. [laughs derisively]

Tal: I don’t get the joke.

Saryn: It’s nothing. Yes Ansa is Emedu…you are Emeduan. I just think that what that means to you and what it means to the idiots in the safe-zone is something very different. And you…you know…its just funny to hear a …uh….someone like yourself identify as one of them. I guess Emedu has gone and gotten itself progressive these days. They don’t kill spawn in the street anymore. But I wouldn’t say…uh… what do I know?... you’re a handsome guy… I’m sure they’d let you work in the brothels.

Tal: I’m not an idiot Saryn, I can be Emeduan without their permission. Here at least. You don’t like Emeduans then?…I mean…. The ones in the safe-zone.

Saryn: [snort] I don’t have anything against emeduans, in particular… everyone in the safe-zone is the same. Bunch of drippers and plungers. They don’t have a fucking clue. 

Tal: About what?

Saryn: You were born here? Grew up here?

Tal: Yeah

Saryn: Helga, you too right?

Helga: mmmmmhmmm. 

Saryn: What is the single biggest threat to the people of La Tari?

Tal: [long pause] The wilds…right? That’s obvious.

Saryn: Helga?

Helga: mmmmmm.

Tal: It’s the wildland…obviously… if the vanguard don’t keep it at bay… if the people of Kurr and the Ansa enclave don’t hold it here…the whole world could be swallowed by the blight.

Saryn: Okay. So the whole world is on the line? The fight here is the most important thing?

Tal: Of course. It’s the only thing.

Saryn: Really? Last time I was in the capitol, the people were refusing to work. They downed tools and walked out of the stills and workshops, went out into the streets and chanted about how tough they’ve got it. Some self-entitled rabble rouser convinced them all that their ‘rights’ were more important than the fight. The vanguard and the people of Ansa do the bleeding…so those soft and weak city parasites can worry about their coin and comfort. You think they give a shit about the wildland? They pump out the alchemics and they pay for no marks like me to come out as replacements and hold the line. They send their scum and their criminals… so they don’t have to spend another minute thinking about it…

Tal: That’s cynical Saryn and very unpatriotic.

Saryn: Did you know that some twat in the North levelled two cities over there, so he could have a new title and some pretty jewels? I am not being cynical Tal. On that side of the gap everything is backward. The rich and powerful exploit the poor and keep them weak, too weak to be any use to anyone but themselves. They don’t give two shits about what goes on here, so long as it stays here. 

Tal: That’s absurd! Anyone who knows what is at stake would be doing everything they can!

Saryn: The stakes? [laugh] When the ship is sinking the cunning officers often convince the crew she can be saved. Keeps them working below decks so the officers can steal away on the life-raft, only they don’t want to row it themselves so they’ll keep a couple of the more spinless ratings with them to keep things cozy. Only here there are no life-raft, so the officers settle for final moments of peace and quiet in comfort. I don’t blame them, honestly. I don’t like it…but I don’t blame them... If we all faced the truth… if we were even capable of it…I think most would choose the same. We are cowards at heart mostly. I was dropped on my head as a child, I love the fight, so I prefer it here but I am no more motivated for ‘the sake of all nations’, I am not here for ‘the love of la tari’. I am here because niave and good people like you make it easier for people like me to forget the truth. We are up against it everyday here. Unlike the drippers in the zone we don’t have time to think about. We are so close to the truth we can’t see it, most of the time. I prefer the blissful nature of ignorance in a place like this. It’s more…tolerable. We all have to figure out what sort of fiction we can stomach in the end.  

Tal: So why the hell did you volunteer to come with us?  

Saryn: [soft hmm] I can’t save the world Tal. But maybe I can find some missing kids. Excuse me. I’m poor company when I’m hungry. I’ll scran on watch. Get your heads down and get some rest. Ayelen, you are with me on first watch.

[Saurian grunt]

[sound of Saryn and Ayelen getting up and walking off] 
__________________________________________________________________________________

They were so far from the path now. How had Robin wandered this far in the dark alone? How had he found his way back to the hide? The trees were becoming thicker and beginning to block out the last rays of sunlight. The warped strangler figs twisted amongst the withered and rotting ringpine, interlaced like labyrinthine parasitic arteries, bleeding the life from the natural fauna without ever permitting it the release of death. The two of them had been weaving between the macabre exhibitions for hours, forced at times to crawl on hands and knees to navigate through the growth. As they got deeper into the thick jungle and further from the path, the more vital yet less recognisable the stranglers became. More alive than any tree had claim to be. They may have been travelling for hours now, but Yav doubted they had moved more than half a Li in the last hour. 

As Robin disappeared from view behind a walking palm, Yav paused, momentarily disoriented and whispered into the darkness, “Robin!”. She received no reply. Yav raised her voice to call after her companion “Robin! Slow down!” and as she spoke the words she suddenly felt the air around her head thicken and pulse rapidly with a deep tone which made her teeth rattle in her head. She fell to her knees further disoriented by the sudden change in sound and pressure around her. What was happening…where was she? She attempted to rise from the duff but found her arms shaky, her legs resolutely ignoring her instructions to stand. “Mummy! Mummy! Help me! Mummy where are you?” She called into the darkness The darkness around her began to swim with colours which seemed to pulse in harmony with her breath and her heart. Quickening as both her panic and excitement began to rise. Another pulse of thick warm air compressed around her head, rattling her teeth and stealing her consciousness for a moment. Her senses returned just in time for Yav to feel her body hit the soft detritus. The jungle floor seemed to give way to her weight like a gigantic soft pillow, allowing her to sink softly into it. Was this a dream? Yes…now she remembered…she was sick…very sick…everyone had gotten sick. “Mummy…” she called again. Her arms and legs no longer responded to her commands, lifting her dread and exhilaration to fever pitch and sending the swimming lights into a majestic mania, in surreal chorus with her, filling her vision with nothing but their magnificent ballet. No. No. that wasn’t right…she had gotten better…the children had all gotten better. Her mother wasn’t coming… The world was silent now. except for the pulsing of her heart and the cadence of her breath. Robin….Robin was here…he could help her. She called out to him…she called out again….she called out again…Had she called out? She could not recall…was it her voice she had heard? She was not sure… She began to sink deeper into the litter, the soft welcoming humus warming her flesh as she descended…the under canopy of the wild jungle distorting in her vision, stretching away from her until it was as if viewed through the wrong end of a spyglass. Her heart and breath were joined now by a familiar sound…a gentle comforting sweet melody…it was peculiar…. she had barely noticed it’s absence before it’s return…but now the mere thought of its lack filled Yav with trepidation…It was such a beautiful sound…she closed her eyes and lost herself in the melody…there were words to it...she was sure…not words you could speak with your lips or tongue but which would come from your soul…she listened harder….she willed all of her to reach those words….

She was back at the hide… Yav had awoken alone. She once again found herself in a twilight stupor, once again unsure of where she was. She searched frantically for Robin, but he was nowhere to be found. Yav’s sense of panic and alarm began to grow as she noticed that Robin’s bed had been scattered. It was dark and cold…where could he be? There was a smell on the air…something different. Yav sniffed the air. There were voices too… she immediately began to fear the worst. They had been found…she whimpered... They didn’t have her yet, she could still save Robin. Yav crawled on her belly, carefully, over the lip of the small ditch of their hide, peering over the fallen tree. There was a light in the distance, it was dim but it illuminated the jungle casting flickering shadows. It was smoke. Woodsmoke she could smell and something else…something delicious… she scaled the fallen tree and began moving toward the dim light in the distance, moving surreptitiously down the path toward the voices. It must be a campfire…this was a camp. Crack. She heard the sound of wood breaking just off to her left. Yav dropped to the ground quickly and began to roll away off the path into the thick shrub.

“Yav” came a whispered voice beside her suddenly causing her to cover her mouth and stifle her gasp. It was Robin. Yav threw her arms around her friend tightly and pulled him into a vice like embrace. After a moment she released him. “You nearly got lost Yav. They almost didn’t recognise you…you must be careful… Remember, you only need me… everything will be good, if you stay with me.”

“I was so worried Robby, I thought they had taken you” she responded her fear and concern thick in her tone. 

‘Don’t….” He whispered. “Don’t let them know we are here.”

“Who are they? Is it the bad people? They have food…maybe we could…” Yav began but she was cut off.

 “I don’t want to go back… I only want to play with you and the wildland…we can play together here, where no one will find us.” Robin interrupted. His face twisted into frustration and anger.

“Are they from home Robby? Maybe we should..” Yav was cut off again

“Everyone says the wilds are dangerous… but the wilds won’t hurt us…they…” Yav would not let Robin finish. The rich aroma in the air had awoken a hunger in her which had crippled her patience for her young friend.

“Of course they will hurt us Robby! We need to get away from here, we need food and shelter!” she snapped at him. “Stay here whilst I check it out!” Yav used a forceful tone and indicated sharply toward the ground. Before Robin could respond, Yav quickly began skirting around toward the voices and the campfire, as silently as she could. She could hear two people talking loudly and animatedly. One of them was upset about something…they were certainly distracted. Maybe she could sneak a peek at who they were… even if they were the bad grown-ups…maybe she could steal some food for her and Robby.

“Are you hungry, Yav?” the voice made her start again. How in the hells had Robby gotten ahead of her!? “The jungle gives food…I found berries again” Robin continued.

Yav brought a finger up forcefully to her mouth, gesturing furiously for Robby to be quiet. Panic streaked across her features. She pointed violently repeatedly toward the camp on the path mouthing the words ‘they will find us’ to the young boy with exaggerated mouth movements.

Robin seemed only irked by Yav’s panicked urgency. “No one ever finds us! We are the very best!” he uttered…angrily…his voice taking on a disturbing and otherworldly tone.