The Adventures of Valery Callaghan Part II: The Mountain Path

Valery resigned herself to the rhythm of the horse’s hooves and slumped into the bales of hay. She watched the sparkling lake in the distance as she glided down the familiar stone streets of her tiny fishing town. It was the same as always: the market stands selling fresh fish and vegetables from the harvest and the small, lakeside homes. Valery once lived in one of them with her mother and father, but now she lived in the town inn with her best friend Bryn. She watched the houses in the early morning mist–their lights all ablaze and welcoming weary pilgrims from their long adventures. They all looked so similar, and it was easy to slip back into memory. 

When she looked at the old, wooden homes, she was brought back to the night her parents disappeared. That cold, spring night, Valery wandered up to the doors of the inn. She had never been more frightened in her life–alone in the dark with nowhere to escape the monsters that would surely find her in the black of night. However, when she came to the door, she was met with the brilliant glow of the porch lantern. It was a lighthouse calling to her from the darkness and guiding her home. 

She never thought she would leave, but as she watched the lantern disappear in the distance, she was thrust back into the fearful darkness. 

  The cart stopped at the farm a few miles from town, so Valery was forced to continue the rest of the journey on foot. It was still a day’s march up the winding path, through the valley, and to the base of the mountain where the great forest lay. The villagers said that the forest stretched for many miles and carpeted the mountains with its thick, black trees. Valery had always feared it as a child, and even thinking about it sent chills down her spine. However, if the witch was right and her parents were really out there, then she had to find them. 

Although she was anxious, Valery couldn’t help but admire her surroundings. The autumn leaves set the whole valley on fire–the light of the morning sun playing upon the colors and making them come alive like a flickering flame. There were blended hues of yellow, orange, and red as far as the eye could see–the multicolored leaves swaying in the strong gusts of October wind in a subtle dance throughout the valley. The mist helped to create the illusion of dancing light as the vibrant rays passed through the water droplets in a rainbow of brilliant colors. It was all quite spectacular to look at, and Valery found herself lost in the scene. It was a nice distraction from her bleak quest, but it was too good to last. 

She snapped out of her stupor when she heard voices in the distance. She crept closer until she saw a group of four or five men gathered on the road. She figured they were most likely bandits–best to be avoided. Yet, on one side of her was a large cliff with the valley down below, and on the other side lay the open countryside. There was nowhere to hide, and before she could come up with another plan, the men spotted her. 

Valery looked away, trying to avoid their attention, but the one in front called to her. “Oi, Little Lady! Where you off to this fine mornin’?” 

He was young–maybe in his thirties–but still much older than Valery. He was handsome but in a rugged, unshaven way. His friends were less appealing. 

“Oh, I- Uh…” she started. 

“Not off to the mountains, are we?” he asked, with both brows raised.

“No, no. I’m just going to visit my family at their farm farther up the road,” she lied. 

“There ain’t no farms ‘round here, are there, Murrey?” 

Murrey, an older man with graying hair, shook his head, “No, not ‘round here. The last one’s a ways back.”

 “Now, why would a young girl want to lie to us? We ain’t pillagers–pilgrims more like,” the frontman said. 

“I’m sorry. I just don’t think you would believe the truth if I told you,” Valery answered. 

“Try us, girly.”

“Well…” she started. 

But before Valery could finish, a great howl rang out, echoing off the rock. It was shrill–like a screech. Everyone turned to look in the direction from which it came. There, farther up the road, was a group of coyotes all poised to attack. 

“Coyots!” the frontman exclaimed, “I ain’t never seen ‘em out in the daytime, and they don’t much bother people, ‘specially in groups.” 

But, sure enough, there was a pack of about ten or more coyotes gathered on the road. They growled low and warningly. The fur on their backs stood up, and they crouched on their haunches. 

“What do we do?” Valery asked in alarm. 

“We fight!” the frontman exclaimed. 

His shout seemed to set them off; the coyotes lunged at the men in a murderous rage. They seemed to have no sense of fear as they ripped and tore at their exposed flesh. 

The frontman pulled out a long hunting dagger while Murrey and the others raised an assortment of short knives and clubs. They fought the wild dogs in a circle to protect their backs. One coyote lunged at one of the pilgrims, and they belted it with a wooden club. Another jumped low at Murrey’s leg, and he struck the beast on the head with his fist.

Valery just stood and watched helplessly. She had no weapons besides the Spirit Stone. She took it out, feeling the cool surface against her palm. She was unsure of what it would do, but she knew she had to do something. She raised the black-onyx stone and prepared to say the Latin words that the witch entrusted to her, but it was too late. One of the coyotes had spotted her–a cold look of hatred in its dark eyes that seemed eerily human. 

Valery shuddered. Before she could defend herself, the coyote was on her–his paws holding her down in the dirt, and his sharp teeth trying to tear out her throat. She pushed at its neck, desperately trying to keep it from its target, but it was too heavy. Its paw pressed into her throat, and all she could manage was a weak whimper.

Valery’s face turned white as she struggled to breathe. She was sure it was all over. She had failed to save her parents and would never see them or Bryn again. But before the beast could finish the job, the frontman swooped in and pulled the monster from her. He held it by the muzzle as it nipped and thrashed wildly, and he sank his dagger into the artery in its neck. Suddenly, the beast lay still, and Valery watched the life drain from its black eyes. 

She was silent for a while–still trying to process her shock–until finally, she said, “Thank… you…”

The man smiled and gave her his arm. Once she was on her feet, he said, “The name’s Gavin. What’s your name, luv?”

“Valery… Callaghan.”

“Well, Ms. Callaghan, I think we’ve all earned ourselves some breakfast if you’d like to join us.”

Valery smiled. She seriously considered Gavin’s offer but knew she couldn’t be distracted from her quest. 

“I can’t,” she said, “It’s just that I have a long way to go, and I can’t afford to waste any time… Not that breakfasting with you would be a waste of time…”

“We understand,” Gavin said, “We’ve got a long way to go ourselves. But if you’re going up that way, you’ll need a guide. If you don’t mind, I’d like to accompany you up the road–at least for a while.” 

“No, that’s ok. I’ll be fine–really,” she protested weakly. 

“I insist,” Gavin said, “You see, things’ve been strange lately ’round these parts, ‘specially up that way. I’d feel better if I could help you. Not that you need my help…” 

However, there was no conviction in his words. They both knew that she wouldn’t last long without a guide. 

“Alright,” she consented, “But I have to warn you, I’m going down a dangerous path.”

“I understand, but we’ll be plenty safe, Little Lady, ‘specially with my trusty hunting knife,” Gavin said, flipping the thin blade in his hand. 

Then, he turned to address his companions, “You alright to lead the boys the rest of the way, Murrey?” 

Murrey nodded, “Yeah, we’ll be alright, lad.”

“Then it’s settled! I’ll see you in a day, or rather, however long the Lady needs,” he added with a wink. 

With that, the other pilgrims went down the mountain path toward the village, and Gavin led Valery down the path. 

As they continued, Valery watched Gavin wearily from the corner of her eye. Although she was grateful for his help, she still couldn’t help but doubt him. He was so quick to leave his companions to take her the rest of the way to the forest. What man in his right mind would leave the safety of a large group and go so willingly into danger?

 Gavin saw her suspicious gaze. “I don’t blame you, Ms. Callaghan, for not trustin’ wanderers like us. But don’t you worry, I’m not going to rob you, or anything,” he swore. 

“Alright, then, what were you and your friends up to?” she inquired. 

He looked down, sheepishly. 

“Well, if I’m bein’ honest, me and the lads were headin’ to town to cause a bit of trouble,” he answered, truthfully.

“What kind of trouble?” 

“Not the kind you’re thinkin’!” he exclaimed. “We were going to town to find an old hag who we think may uh stole somethin’ from us. We come from a land beyond the forest–the same she’s come from, I guess. And we hoped to track her down and take back what’s ours!” 

Valery frowned. Could he mean the Spirit Stone?

“You said you came from the forest,” she said.

“That’s right.” 

“Did you happen to see anything unusual there?” she asked, “It might sound crazy, but maybe something magical?”

Gavin stared at her blankly. “Nothin’ like that. But why you wanna know? What’s a young Lady like you doin’ going to the forest?” 

Valery was reluctant, but Gavin insisted, so she told him her story. She explained that she was searching for her missing parents and the demon that took them. However, she left out the part about the witch and the Spirit Stone. Luckily, Gavin seemed too distracted by the demon to consider that she was holding back.

“A demon? That’s a mighty powerful creature,” Gavin said. “So, it’s good luck I came with you! You’ll be needin’ help fighting somethin’ like that!” 

Valery did not disagree. Even if Gavin couldn’t stop the demon with his tiny dagger, at least she wouldn’t have to navigate the woods and face the monster on her own. She no longer felt threatened, and although they walked in silence the rest of the way down the road, she no longer watched Gavin. Instead, she thought of Bryn and wished he were there with her too. They would have talked the whole way through the forest; he would have reassured her and supported her, but she was being selfish. After all, she had decided to leave him. It was the only way to keep him safe. She knew that he would have sacrificed himself for her if need be, but she didn’t want him to put himself in danger for her. He was too important to her. If she failed, at least he would be safe.

They went down the winding mountain road until the sky grew dark and cold. It was at this point that Gavin suggested they rest for the night, but Valery refused. If they arrived at nightfall, so be it. There was no time for rest–not when they were so close. They came to the end of the road, where the thicker woods began. Valery looked up at the tall oak trees, which seemed black in the fading evening light. They stood high above the dusk and hid all of their mysteries within their endless groves. Valery shivered as the wind came through the heavy branches like the foul breath of a beast, and she feared the swaying, dark branches that seemed to come alive just to frighten her. 

“You sure about this, Ms. Callaghan?” Gavin asked uneasily.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Valery answered with more confidence than she felt. 

The forest was darker on the inside than Valery could have imagined. There was barely any light coming from the setting sun and the rising moon. The canopy of interwoven branches acted as a ceiling, keeping those within the forest from the outside world. It was all very claustrophobic–not to mention unnaturally quiet. There were no nighttime sounds: no owls calling, no small creatures rustling over fallen leaves, no humming insects in the underbrush. The eerie silence frightened Valery most of all. Were there no living beings in the whole wood? Were she and Gavin the only sign of life, or was it some spell–a trick of the mind perhaps? Even Gavin seemed to have no explanation. 

“This is nothin’ like the woods I know,” he remarked, “I haven’t seen one animal!”

Nonetheless, they continued through this ominous wood. They walked for a long time, seemingly in no recognizable direction, until Valery wondered if they were lost. 

“Do you know where we’re going?” she asked Gavin. 

The witch hadn’t told her where to go. She just assumed the demon would find her, yet there was no sign of it anywhere. 

“Well, as long as we’re continuin’ straight, we’ll end up on the other side,” he said. 

But Valery didn’t want to get to the other side. She was about to protest until she was cut off by a peculiar noise.

She and Gavin became completely silent as they listened. It seemed as though something was heading toward them. There was a great racket in the distance of crunching leaves and branches, like something was running through the woods. 

“What is that?” Valery asked, although she was sure it was the demon coming to devour them at last. 

Gavin listened intently. “I don’t know. You should prepare yourself!” 

He put his arm out to guard her while he drew his knife from the hilt at his belt. 

They watched the trees anxiously, waiting for some great beast to come rushing out at any moment. 

To their surprise, it was not a great beast; it was a man. He careened through the thick brambles and raised his twig-covered head to look at them.