Chapter 4 Entering The Woods

• Chapter 4
• A gentle breeze rushed by, causing the branches to creek as they rubbed against each other. Lower tree limbs would scratch exposed skin or cling to their clothing. Anyone who could distinguish the smell would recognize the hint of rotting wood and damp earth.
• The forest was mysteriously dead silent, with no creatures to be seen. Merna whirls about, rubbernecking upwards at the canopy. Searching for the birds, exploring the environment, foraging for signs of animal footprints and discharge. While the sunray splits through the cracks, illuminating the soil, garnished with enlarged roots, ferns and debris that crunch her feet.
• Camile took the group's lead once they passed the thicket of the tree line. "You know … once you get past the dreadful part of these woods, everything here looks amazing." She wasn't speaking to anyone in particular.
• Markous and Steve walked together, muttering to each other.
• "Steve," Markous started, "I need you to butter up Camile! I need her father to agree to my proposal or I just wasted 300,000 dollars." Clapping his hands together, "I have big plans for this plot of land. I am going to be making big money in no time!" Pointing his finger into his brother's shoulder, "Don't fuck this up for me like you have done with your life!"
• Steve grunted, "Markous, why do I always have to do the dirty work!"
• Markous chuckled darkly, "This is all you are good for!" He glanced briefly at his brother, "Besides, Steve the last time I looked I had a girlfriend, so … you know what to do!"
• Keeping his composer, "Markous, why do you have to be a dick like dad?"
• "Because you're a bitch like mom!" Markous laughed maliciously.
• Glaring at his brother with a great deal of anger. "I can handle many things you say but once you bring Mom into this … you can fuck off!" Adjusting the camping gear that was on his back, Steve began to stomp away from Markous.
• "EH!" Markous yelled. "I was not finished telling you what to do!" He barked at his brother.
• Steve picked up his pace and caught up to Camile at the front, which left Markous stumbling over twigs and rocks.
• Pierre and Merna were behind them as they observed the location that they were in. Snickering Merna pointed out how Markous had lost his footing.
• Still chuckling, "It is a good thing I decided to follow you! Markous is going to test every inch of patience you have!" Merna whispered to Pierre.
• "Most definitely!" Pierre was aggressively shaking his head back and forth.
• For a while, nothing was said as the group continued to tromp around in the woods.
• "Merna, have you picked up on anything else?" Pierre glanced at Merna briefly before lifting his leg to avoid tripping over a root.
• "Pierre …" Merna was trying to find the words she needed to say, "I think we walked through a portal! This looks like earth but … I am not sure how to say this!"
• Pierre wrinkled his brows, "It is like what you feel when you are travelling but with only your spirit."
• Bobbing her head, "Precisely, the only difference is, we are travelling with our physical bodies now. However, our minds have yet to catch up to the new reality.” Merna explained.
• Pierre thought about what Merna had told him, “How often has this happened, and no human ever realized what is coming into existence?"
• Exhaling loudly, "I think that was the whole point, humans are not to know!" Merna replied. "I have never travelled like this before but the feeling is the same. Whatever is here ... it is very powerful!"
• Again there was no conversation going on when Merna glanced backwards. "Emma is struggling, and Markous doesn't seem to give a shit, I will ask her if she would like any help."
• Glancing in Emma's direction. "I am going to continue placing up the markers, take all the time you need to get to the campsite. If Emma needs to slow down, do so, no point in twisting an ankle."
• Merna slowed down her pace so that Emma could catch up. "Would you like some help?"
• Emma smiled shyly, "I would be so grateful, I would ask Markous but he is in a bad mood now!"
• Merna allowed Emma to hold on to her arm for more support, "you don't go hiking much do you?"
• Emma started to laugh, "that obvious! I think the most walking I do is from the car to the bar. I am used to sidewalks, flat ground. Not hills, trees and rocks." Emma exhales all the air from her lungs. "And I am not used to manual labour either."
• Merna chuckled, "city girls always find it rough for the first bit, but after we are done here, they can't wait to come back to the woods."
• Emma tripped over the root of a tree; if it were not for her holding Merna's arm, she might have face-planted the ground.
• Merna saw Emma's most significant issue: "Emma, let's stop walking for a second!"
• "I think I need to sit down for a break!" Emma was huffing and puffing for air.
• Merna narrowed her eyes at Emma and had a concerned facial expression, "Do you have issues with your breathing?"
• Emma shook her head back and forth, "just rate now!"
• Merna smiled softly, "I see what the issue is then. Okay this is what I want you to do … breathe in through your nose, like this!" Merna watched Emma mimic her actions, "and then out through your mouth. Continue to do this when we are hiking, this will allow your lungs to get the full amount of oxygen that you need. You are only getting a fraction of the needed oxygen, which is making it that you are having trouble breathing and starting to hyperventilate."
• Emma continued to do as Merna had suggested.
• "Let me know when you are ready to continue walking." Merna pointed to the red ribbon, "we only have to follow the markers and we will sooner or later catch up to the group."