Chapter 3: The Prisoner

Wrenley

She woke up a little stiff and sore. They’d been laying on those thin mats that were somewhere between rubber and foam. It was like a quarter inch thick. Less maybe. And it did nothing for her.

Wherever their permanent settlement was, she really hoped the sleeping arrangements were better. It was the one thing she really craved. Something comfortable to sleep on with blankets and pillows galore.

And clean clothes. It was clear when they got up that morning that no one intended to change. They were going out in the same clothes they had been wearing when she came upon them and what they slept in. Hopefully this was just something that happened on these trips. She was not going to last long in the same clothing. Already she was starting to itch and feel gross.

She hadn’t really gotten an answer as to how the entire forest was soaked in blood. Not really. But she understood their scorn. How it burned deep inside them and continued to do so, even when it’s been months since it happened.

They were bitter. Wrenley was, too. But like these Women of Chaos, it wasn’t the only thing driving her anymore. It wasn’t what was at the forefront of her mind. It was always there, giving everything a bit of a sour taste, but it wasn’t the only thing she tasted anymore.

“Morning,” Honey said.

Wrenley looked over and smiled. She could see the finer details of their faces now. Honey was actually very light in color, his hair and features a snowy blonde with bright eyes. He was a big man but not exaggeratingly.

And Elita was a smooth brown color with long brown hair and big green eyes. She was tall and shapely with a wide smile directed at Wrenley this morning.

“Hi,” Wrenley answered, smiling back at them. “I appreciate you letting me bunk with you guys last night.”

Honey yawned as he spoke. “No problem. Hope you’re ready for a long walk this morning. We’re still almost a day from camp.”

“A permanent camp?” Wrenley asked.

They both nodded. “Yep. It’s within the bloody forest so we’re pretty much left alone. Not even the self-righteous bears bother us,” Honey said.

“They prefer their life of luxury,” Elita agreed.

She was having a hard time trying to determine anything concrete about these bears. They didn’t sound like animals in reality. Except perhaps their barbarity.

They crawled out of the tent and found that all but Aurelia and Zel had gathered around the fire. Wilder already had breakfast cooking. The smell of it made Wrenley’s stomach clench in hunger.

Berra, Elliot, and Wilder greeted them with friendly smiles. And though Wrenley smiled back, she found she desperately wanted to be anywhere else than this story. Frankly, she just didn’t care how the story was broken. She cared that Snow White was erasing itself.

“Do you like porridge?” Berra asked.

Wrenley felt herself cringe. No, she didn’t like porridge. But she nodded. “I’m sure it’s delicious.”

Berra and Wilder chuckled.

“It’s something to eat,” Elliot said. Her hair was brown like Elita’s, but it was darker with almost black highlights. Her eyes were really dark, too. “When we get back to camp, we’ll be able to doctor it up more. But since we’re on the last day, naturally, we’re at the bottom of our food supplies.”

“Scraping the bottom of the bowl,” Wilder agreed. He was curious to look at with his white hair set on dark skin with white eyes. He looked like some enchanting combination of night and day. Or snowy peaks and dark caves. Yet, he was beautiful.

“There might be berries around here?” Wrenley asked, glancing at the bushes.

“We can look,” Elita said.

Wrenley followed her into the trees and started picking through the bushes. Sure enough, there were berries here and there. Elita was quick to make sure Wrenley didn’t pick the ones that would make them sick. Just the blueberries and some blackberries.

They also found some nuts and gathered them around.

By the time they brought them back to the fire, Aurelia and Zel were out of the tents. Wilder continued to tend the fire and food while the rest of them broke down the tents and bundled them up.

While Elita smashed the nuts into smaller pieces, Wrenley split the berries between the eight bowls. Then the nuts went in. Wilder followed it up by lacing two scoops of porridge in each and dribbling on something that Wrenley thought was honey.

Then they all gathered around the fire again to eat.

The porridge wasn’t super watery or grossly thick. It was somewhere in the middle as a perfect viscosity. The nuts gave it a crunch while the berries added a variety of tart flavor to the bland dish. And the honey, which was flavored with some amazing spices, made the whole thing really good.

Next to her, Elliot laughed quietly. When Wrenley looked up, Elliot was watching her with an amused smile.

“Sorry,” she said. “You look like you’re pretty impressed.”

Wrenley smiled, shaking her head. “I admit, I’m not the biggest fan of porridge but this is pretty good.”

“It’s not bad when we have things to mix with it. We were low on the chai honey but since you and Elita found other things to add to it, we could spread the honey a little less,” Wilder said. “Otherwise, it would be rather bland.”

Wrenley nodded.

“If you think this is good, wait till you have some really dressed up at camp tomorrow morning,” Berra said. “I’m drooling just thinking of it.”

“Porridge? Is that all you have for breakfast?”

They all laughed quietly, shaking their heads.

“Most of the time, yes,” Aurelia said. “It’s plentiful and cheap. Our numbers keep growing as the bears push more and more out of the clans. It gets expensive to feed them all.”

“But sometimes the hunters bring home some other things. Eggs and such. There’s a lot of fish, of course. And there’s a town quite a way away that isn’t inhabited by a single bear clan that we can oftentimes trade with for other goodies,” Berra said. “But its several days walk.”

“There aren’t any bears there?” Wrenley asked.

“There are. But it’s more of a mixing ground. They’re bears that don’t necessarily follow the twisted traditions as closely as the clans. They do so loosely – they are bears, after all.”

Maybe it was somewhere along the lines of religion in the Outside. You had your hard core, no holds bar extremists, enthusiasts. Then you had those who believed but didn’t eat, sleep, and breathe it.

“Are you more like this far away town or the clans as far as traditions go?” Wrenley asked.

“We’re a mixture of the rejected from all clans,” Aurelia said. “And though the clans have the same underlying practices, they’re all a little different. So, we’re more like the town in that we hold true to the Sky’s intent and vision for its bears, but we don’t practice quite so fully since we all practice and show that devotion in different ways.”

“I guess I’m just catching up. There was a lot to process last night,” Wrenley said. “You’re all from the bear clans?”

Aurelia laughed. “Yea. Elliot and I are from Aspen. Honey is Creek, Elita is Kodiac, and Wilder is Indigo. Berra is Denali. The whole camp is from all over the story. The rejected of different clans. But we were all rejected at Bear Tower Heights during their mating ceremony.”

Wrenley nodded, but she found she had a whole lot of questions. For now, she’d save them until later. When there was more time to truly think about it.

When they’d finished and packed up their bowls, they started walking. It was most of the morning before they found themselves back in the bloody trees. This time, she paid closer attention. The air started to smell acrid. Then it hit her tongue with a tang that made her stomach clench with nausea.

The blood came on little by little. A smear on that trunk. A puddle there. Dripping from that branch. Wrenley was careful to walk exactly where Berra did in front of her since the girl seemed to know just where to step to avoid getting blood on her.

When midday hit, Wilder pulled out hunks of bread and cheese and handed everyone a bit. Wrenley wasn’t sure she was going to be able to stomach it with as strong as the scent and taste was, never mind the sight. But Elita urged her to, and she found that it settled her stomach a little.

But she was seriously questioning living within the bloody forest. She couldn’t imagine feeling so nauseous all the time. Having that taste in her mouth day and night. As they started to near the camp and she could hear the sounds of life, Wrenley seriously doubted that she was going to be able to stay with the Women of Chaos. Even if she believed in their mission or whatever Aurelia had said.

Besides, blood everywhere?? Seriously?

She was surprised as they got closer. There weren’t tents but various kinds of buildings built around the trees. They were clearly made of food and whatever else they could find that thrived in nature. Grasses and moss and large leaves. There were sails that hung over various spots, keeping the dripping blood contained. And there were channels throughout where the blood on the ground was diverted out of their homes and the camp in general.

There were also a whole lot more people than she thought there was going to be. Easily nearing 100. And there was a heavier balance in favor of women than men. If she had to guess at first glance, four or five to every one male.

Wrenley was surprised to find that there were even some children running around. Were children rejected from clans, too? The thought horrified her.

She paused as they crossed in and watched as the others greeted Aurelia enthusiastically. As if she were their leader or chief. Someone important to them anyway.

Elita stopped at Wrenley’s side. “Well, what do you think?” she asked.

Wrenley laughed quietly. “I was thinking that there was no way I was going to last long in a place covered in blood, but this is a pleasant surprise.” She paused as one of the men walked by, his light eyes meeting and holding Wrenley’s. Wow. Yep, that was all she had to think.

He had dark hair. Was tall, broad with a bare chest. He wasn’t wearing sweats, really. But they seemed to have the same effect and what he had outlined as he walked was rather impressive for a fairy tale that had at one time been intended for kids. She forced her gaze back to his face.

The corner of his lips ticked up; his eyelids hooded slightly as he bowed his head. In greeting? In knowing that she was basically drooling over him? He glanced away for a minute before looking at her again. She watched, fascinated as he licked his lips.

Then he was gone around the side of one of the dwellings and she was heavily in lust. Well, fuck. If they made men like that in this story, she’d have to stick it out for a little while.

“That’s Finian,” Elita said, smiling. “He’s from the Indigo clan. You’ll find that there’s something rather exotic about them in whatever form you find.”

“Exotic? Or did you say erotic?” Wrenley asked.

Elita laughed, knocking her shoulder into Wrenley’s. Wrenley grinned, glancing back at her. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”