Millennia needed the Isle of Echoes to crack its mouth open again.
To Dorian all the islands had been wild islands, alive and lush. Sounds even in the dead of night. The rustle of leaves. a distant call of some scattered things The surf sings its ripples on the shore
Not here.
Silence clung to them here, a walled breath they had held.
The Revenant was grounded on all black sands, its mast like a hurtled limb. The crew were whispering amongst themselves avidly, gathering as many things as possible. No one spoke more than necessary.
Ronan, the man that invariably was first to swear his misfortune, had mumbled at best. "The Storm did her number now, Captain. She will hold for now but if we are to tardy we shall have to stop.
He nodded his head, eyes still looking at the jungle between where the beach was.
Mist slithered between the trees, heavier than smoke. Watching.
Waiting.
"I need supplies," he said. "Wood, fresh water. Every little thing that could help.
Ronan hesitated.
He refused to go inland. None of them did.
But they had no choice.
Dorian chose his crew well. For survival Holt-Camden, Ronan Elias so that if he's a traitor he can die by Dorian's side. The other three were experienced sailors, steady of hand
Moving like a team, they left the beach.
They were swallowed by the jungle.
The further down they dug, the stranger the world grew.
The trees were too tall too lifeless. Not a single leaf rustling. Presence of no birds.
And then Ronan halted.
"Captain."
He indicated the ground.
Footprints.
Not theirs.
Dorian was beginning to break out in a sweat. The prints were fresh. Barefoot. Gentler into the jungle.
The crew glanced at each other uneasily. No one spoke.
They followed.
An hour went by. Maybe more. The jungle would not permit them to keep their feet stationary.
And then, at last, a gap in the trees.
A clearing. And in the middle of it all was a stone altar.
Sunk with symbols that took a sight to look at.
Dorian made a long breath. His gut flopped and told him that he just leaved. But his hands were both firm as he moved forward.
And then…
A whisper.
Right behind him.
You're late.
.