A sheen of sweat covered Talon and was gathering into droplets that cascaded down his skin. He could hold this pace for a while, but he was at his limit. Sosa loped alongside him looking like she could easily do more.

　　They were beyond the range of the angry voices, but it was not the danger of pursuing villagers that worried Talon. None would dare enter the trees. It was the other things that worried him; the things that padded alongside them behind the veil of darkness.

　　The spear glittered in the dim forest with some unseen light. It was fixed now on a long wooden shaft that was slightly longer than Talon was tall. The darkness parted around it, creating a bubble of light that closed behind them. None of the things that tracked them entered it, content to simply keep pace with the fleeing pair.

　　Talon was glad they had been right about the spear. It was the only thing about this that had gone as hoped.

　　They had stashed water, packs of supplies, a bow, several iron spears from Korassi`s hidden boat and a few other useful things in his father`s empty hut. Preparing for a pre-dawn departure, they had taken an early night, but in the early hours had been woken by voices.

　　Hora was using a few of the hearthers, heavy-set men with elder relatives, to enforce her words and a few had come to investigate the hut. Kala had broken past them and bought Talon and Sosa a chance to escape. They had fled, grabbing the only thing that would otherwise make the journey impossible; the spear.

　　Talon made sure the men followed him and Sosa rather than Kala. If she got away undetected, he and Sosa only needed reach the trees to be free of them. They might have avoided detection, but he wasn`t a fool and neither was Hora. Suspicion would linger on their family and it was vital they got back before anything bad happened to Kala.

　　Having to concentrate on conserving energy and air, as well as avoiding protruding roots that tried to trip him, took Talon`s mind off these problems. As they ran on, another problem became apparent.

　　Ahead the great trunks emerged from the darkness that parted as the spear moved into it. Behind the trunks faded back into the black. To the side, trunks and darkness.

　　Trunks and darkness.

　　Every side looked the same.

　　Talon called a halt and they slowed. Over the sound of his heavy breathing he realised that even their shrouded escort had broken off. They were alone with only the dark and the trees for company.

　　Perhaps the bodaki had grown tired of following what they could not attack.

　　Perhaps Gris had called them off, gathering them to take retribution on the village. Talon shook his head. They had chosen their path now and he could not allow things that were beyond his control divert them from it. They had to do this and return as quickly as they could.

　　I think we kept a straight line,` Talon said, his breath heavy, but with this dark, who knows?`

　　I`d recognise the landscape if I could see it,` Sosa said. She was right. While it was forest in all directions, the land also sloped and they could see the canopy was different heights depending on which direction they looked from the village. There might have been a path that Ego had found, but in their rush to escape they had not even tried to locate it. They knew to run towards where the smoke was often seen. Ego`s village was along that direction, if only they could orient themselves. This would have been hard enough had their entrance into the trees been calm, planned and orderly.

　　Sosa was studying one of the great darktree trunks in a way he didn`t like.

　　Oh no. No, don`t do that,` he said. Sosa`s foot was against the rough bark and she was feeling for a handhold. Wait! No, really! Wait!`

　　Sosa lifted herself a foot from the floor and looked back. See it`s easy.`

　　Yes, I see.` Talon said, trying not to grab her and drag her to the ground. But Sosa, you don`t know what`s up there.` When they had last fled the creatures, one of the bodaki had given chase without ever touching the forest floor. He wasn`t sure the spear`s protection would extend as high as Sosa would need. You`ll have to take the spear.`

　　I can`t carry that and climb.`

　　The air around was lightening as dawn crawled in, but the dark persisted in the swaying canopy above. Talon looked up. No. And it probably wouldn`t be safe to stay down here without it either.` The idea of climbing the tree filled him with dread. Was it just instinct? He wasn`t as adept as Sosa at climbing, but heights never normally bothered him. What was the alternative? Ploughing aimlessly on and hoping they had the right direction? Somehow that was preferable. Maybe they could just sit here, wait for day to come, maybe that was a better idea? Just sit here and wait. He almost suggested it out loud.

　　No of course not, he thought. Why was climbing this tree such a big problem? Was it the tree? Or was it something else?

　　Do you feel that?` Sosa asked. Something is coming. We have to do something.`

　　She was right, he could feel something. Were the mysteriously absent bodaki returning? Perhaps they should be more concerned about the reason for their absence. There was only one reason a predator would make itself scarce.

　　A bigger predator.

　　Talon put a foot on the tree. I cannot tell you how much I don`t want to do this,` he said and boosted himself up.

　　Sosa watched. You can`t climb with the spear either.`

　　Well we can`t leave it!` Talon snapped. He was already more frightened and they were only two feet from the floor. Sorry.` His fear had nothing to do with the height.

　　Sosa dropped down and Talon followed. She took the spear.

　　No, you can`t carry it, neither of us can,` he said. Maybe if I take the head off the stave&`

　　Then you`d break it,` she said, and we don`t have the tools to fix it back on again.` Sosa looked at him. Stay here with it, it will be enough to be at the bottom of the tree that I go up.` She sounded scared too and he knew it was not from the thought of climbing.

　　You don`t know that,` he said.

　　The sensation intensified, that primal instinct that warns of a predator closing in. Whatever we do, we`ve got to do it fast.` Sosa said.

　　Talon reached for a dangling vine and used the sharp edge of the spear to cut a length, looping it around the spear shaft to make a strap he could sling over his back.

　　That`s going to catch on branches when we get higher up,` Sosa said.

　　I`ll worry about that later, let`s get up there first.`

　　Climbing up the stumps of dead branches was easy and the ground disappeared as the dark churned below. It looked soft and inviting. He wondered how it would feel to fall though the empty air and land in the black oblivion.

　　Don`t look at it.` Sosa`s voice cut through his thoughts and his fingers tightened on the crevice in the bark. His heart was beating fast.

　　He had almost let go. Talon closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the trunk.

　　I feel it too,` she said. Don`t look at the dark, don`t look down.`

　　The want to fall from the tree had not come from the dark but from inside his own head. Perhaps the dark had somehow got into him, into his mind. Maybe it called to him like it had with Halo.

　　He felt heavy, arms and legs weak. Could he really do this? What if the need to jump, to fall got worse as he got higher? What if it infected Sosa? What if the fracture in his mother`s mind chose this moment to creep into his? He`d always known it might. Worse, what if the impulse made him want to pull his daughter from the tree? How could he live with that? He should let go before he became a danger to her&

　　Come on. One hand, one foot, one hand,` Sosa said, just keep moving.`

　　He found somewhere for his hand to reach, then his foot. He lifted himself, arms already tired and he had no idea how far up they were, or how much further there was to climb. Sosa was right. It was only when he stopped that the dark rushed into his head and controlled his thoughts. He needed to keep moving.

　　But, he thought, he`d have to rest sometime and what would happen then? It would get him eventually. Perhaps it was better to&

　　Move!`

　　He`d stopped again and Sosa`s voice startled him back to his senses. This was getting worse. He moved, his feet and hands finding temporary homes. A hand reached for him and he realised he could see Sosa`s feet dangling. She guided him up to where she sat on a thick bough. There was another beside it, a little higher. They were dead but solid enough.

　　Rest here a moment,` she said.

　　Not a good idea,` he said, but his limbs were grateful. It was his fingers and forearms that hurt most. His thoughts began to clear as he leaned back against the trunk.

　　Are you okay?` Sosa asked.

　　Yes, I`m fine. How are&`

　　Don`t do that.`

　　Talon looked at her. She wasn`t talking about him leaping from the tree.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

　　Don`t just tell me you`re okay. I`m not your little girl who you need to protect from the world. We need to work together.`

　　Ah,` he said, I`m sorry. If it helps, you saved your father`s life about three times coming up here. I wanted to fall.`

　　I wanted to as well. When I ask if you`re okay, you need to tell me. I want to know, I don`t want to be reassured. If it`s bad, we need to tell each other. It`s the only way we`re going to get through this.`

　　I`m sorry.` He reached out and took his daughter`s hand. She hadn`t looked like a little girl for some time now, but now she`s started to sound like a woman too.

　　She squeezed his hand. Don`t be, that was terrifying.`

　　He laughed. You were climbing as easily as a creeper.`

　　Well I`m a bit lighter than you are.` Sosa reached out, there were vines hanging from the upper branches. She managed to hook one and pull it in, hauling a long length of it loose.

　　She held out the vine for him and he moved the spearpoint around to slice it. Sosa wrapped and twisted it deftly into a short rope. We should tie ourselves together in case one of us falls.`

　　The father in him wanted to agree, wanted to tie his daughter for her safety, but the reality he knew was different. It would be me who`d be more likely to slip,` he said, and you`d not hold me. Tie that around your own waist and use the loose end to wrap around branches above, help you climb.`

　　She did so and then threw the other end up. After a few attempts it looped around a bough and fell back. She caught it.

　　You stay here with the spear. There`s more undergrowth up there I think you`d get stuck with it, but I can see the top. It`s close enough to the spear if you stay here.`

　　He opened his mouth to protest but she cut him off with an angry look.

　　We need to survive this,` she said. We won`t do this if you don`t trust me, we have to work together, help each other. You can`t protect me and keep yourself alive and I can`t keep having this argument with you.`

　　Talon just closed his mouth and nodded. She was right.

　　When we went up the river, you told me you wanted me beside you, that you wouldn`t choose anyone else. It isn`t enough to say it, Pawe. You`ve got to mean it now.`

　　He nodded, trying not to think about how that first expedition had ended.

　　Okay, but listen, you keep talking to me and if you get into trouble, don`t do anything brave and stupid. Wait or come back down and we figure it out together.`

　　Sosa climbed quickly and was swallowed by the canopy of foliage. It wasn`t dark any more, he realised. Dawn`s light was slipping though the layer of leaves in the canopy above. It was brighter up there compared to the dark his eyes had adjusted to. The whispers that wanted him to jump subsided. With them went the unnatural baseless fear. What remained was a reasonable level of apprehension for sitting so high up a darktree in the forest while darkness waited below. It actually didn`t seem so bad.

　　Oh,` came a voice from above. He tensed, but Sosa sounded more disappointed than frightened.

　　What is it?` he tried to keep any sign of panic from his voice.

　　Well, I`ve got a problem.`

　　Talon could feel a silent screaming starting in his head. Tell me&`

　　No, no, it`s okay.` She sounded distant and thoughtful. I just need to&`

　　Talon could feel his panic rising. Sosa! Talk to me, you said we had to help each other&`

　　Pawe, Pawe! It`s okay. Not that kind of problem,` she called back down.

　　He forced himself to relax and breath. What is it?`

　　Well I`m nearly at the top of the tree, but the branches are too thin to go higher and I still can`t see through all the leaves. But&` he could hear her moving around up there, &I think the tree next to this is taller than the rest, I think it breaks through the top of the canopy.`

　　Dread crept into Talon`s chest. He`d known the long climb back down was coming and perhaps foolishly he`d been ignoring it. His body felt too tired, but in theory it should be easier to go down. What he certainly didn`t have was enough strength to climb a second tree.

　　Then realisation dawned and the dread grew further. She didn`t mean to climb down and up again. She was looking for a way to cross the space between two trees.

　　No, Sosa, you can`t be serious.`

　　A small laugh came from above. Pawe, if you could see this up here, you wouldn`t worry. I reckon I could get back to the village without touching the floor.` There was a pause. Just let me concentrate for a moment, okay?`

　　Trust her, she had said. He had to trust her. She wasn`t stupid, she wasn`t rash and impulsive. That didn`t keep his stomach from clenching Okay, take your time. You can talk out loud about what you`re doing if it helps.`

　　It would help me, he thought.

　　There was rustling from above but it was moving away. Then there was a bump that caused the whole tree to wobble. Talon grasped for the branch and became very aware of the space beneath him.

　　Sosa!` He didn`t mean to yell so loud and risk startling her. Are you okay?`

　　Yeah fine, I made it from a branch up here down onto a branch on the tall tree. I can get up from here.`

　　There was another bump and the tree shook again.

　　Okay, be careful, and don`t go into the dark. I can bring the spear closer if you need it,` he called after the voice. When you find the right direction we need to figure out how to get out of the tree without losing the way.`

　　I thought about that,` there was strain in her voice as she was lifting herself to another branch above her, but she was well beyond his sight now. His tree bumped again. When I`ve found it, I`m going to pull some long vine that will stretch to the floor, knot it and lower it down on the side of the tree we need to move in.`

　　See now, those kind of ideas must come from your mother. I was just going to try and remember which way it was.`

　　There was a laugh, but it sounded worryingly muffled. He was worried, but that nagging fear in the bottom of his head was certainly gone. The little voice telling him to jump was also gone. Whatever had caused it, whatever had quieted the bodaki, it had gone. He remembered when the forest had fallen silent before in Gris` village.

　　What else exactly is out here? He hoped they`d never have to meet it.

　　The branch he was on shook slightly. Talon risked a look down and his tree shook again. Can you feel that?` he called after Sosa.

　　No that scary strange feeling has gone.` Sosa sounded even more distant. I thought it was from the dark but maybe it was something else.`

　　I felt that too, thank Ale-ki. But actually, now I mean a different that. Erm. Are you back in my tree?`

　　No, what is it?`

　　A different fear rose. Is your tree moving?`

　　Only when I`m climbing.` Sosa called back.

　　There was nothing below him other than the dark. And you`re sure you`re not in my tree any more?`

　　Pawe&?` Sosa sounded worried.

　　His tree swayed as something shifted its weight.

　　Pawe, you should get out of the tree.`

　　I think you`re right.` He shuffled around, looking for a foothold on the tree trunk and levered himself back onto it, then pulled up to the next highest branch, taking the same route as Sosa.

　　The tree moved in response, but he could feel it react to something below him, though the black hid it. He took a breath, holding onto his calm. A panicked slip here would only end one way.

　　As he lifted to the next branch something grabbed his shoulder and pulled, nearly ripping him from the tree. He pulled against it, yelling out in fear, trying to break free before claws broke his skin. As he pulled harder, it too found new strength, pulling his shoulder and all across his chest in a thin line.

　　It was no beast. It was the spear caught on branches. Too late, he tried to relax but felt the vine ping and the spear slip backwards. He lunged for it. It bounced onto his palm, but was gone before his fingers could close. Like a pebble into river silt, it fell into the darkness and was gone. The tree lurched and something below cried out as the spear fell past it. Sadly it didn`t knock his pursuer from its perch and the tree began to shake again as it came after him.

　　Sosa was screaming Pawe! Pawe!`

　　I`m coming to you,` he shouted, but you need to climb down. Something is coming up here and I dropped the spear.`

　　He heard Sosa swear.

　　She must have learned that from her mother as well.

　　Talon climbed through several layers of branches until he saw what Sosa had meant. There was a network of branches leading to every neighbouring tree, but many were too thin to contemplate.

　　Here!` Sosa shouted. Talon edged onto one of the thin branches, out over the void.

　　The dark beckoned from beneath. Talon looked down and all sense of balance betrayed him. He looked around for another branch to grab. Falling felt inevitable.

　　Look at me.`

　　He looked behind in panic for the creature that followed and at the dark which crept across the branch he had occupied a moment ago.

　　Look at me!` Sosa shouted, and finally he looked at his daughter`s calm eyes and remembered to stop holding his breath. Reach up,` she said pointing to a branch above. He did. Now climb like this.` She showed him what she meant in the branches of her own tree, her feet on a branch below, her hands gripping one above.

　　Talon edged across the gap, not even sure when he left one tree and entered the other, he just kept moving.

　　Stay away from the really dense bits,` she nodded her head towards them and led him to the other trunk.

　　She moved faster, but he didn`t ask her to wait. He wanted her as far from the thing climbing after them as possible. The branch under his foot shook violently, then dropped away. He switched easily to another, but knew what it meant. He dared to look back, but saw only the darkness spilling from the trunk of the tree and across the gap.

　　Without the spear, the blackness pressed in more closely and within it crawled things with claws and teeth. It would overtake him in moments.

　　Keep going towards the trunk,` Sosa pointed, but moved to the side.

　　Soon they would have to climb down and this thing would be above them. Crossing to yet another tree would not help, there was no keeping away from it.

　　Sosa climbed sideways, away from the path she`d directed him towards. He realised she was climbing around him. If he hadn`t dropped the spear he`d be able to defend them now. If he hadn`t dropped the spear they would still be in its protective light and he wouldn`t need to. Now his daughter was risking her life to do something foolish.

　　Sosa, don`t! Just get back to the floor!` If they could make it down fast enough, they`d be near the spear and its protection. Maybe that would be enough.

　　Keep moving,` she told him, then swung around behind him so she was in the path of the beast. She reached for a long narrow section of tree and broke it off, then threw it into the centre of the dark shape. There was a high pitched squeal as the thing flinched back and slipped. A branch bowed taking all of the things weight. Sosa reached for the trunk end of the same branch and it bowed further.

　　The thing in the darkness dropped down, then just as the branch reached its lowest, she grabbed another and swung herself clear. The branch recoiled, whipping upwards and something in the dark screeched as it fell away.

　　Okay, go!` Sosa shouted.

　　We need to climb, we`ve got to know where we`re going,` Talon shouted.

　　I`ve got it, just go!`

　　He nodded, trusting her and descended as fast as he could. The other tree shook angrily. The climber had not fallen to its death and was fighting its way back up the branches to somewhere it could cross.

　　It`s still coming,` he warned.

　　I know, keep moving.`

　　This trunk had a dearth of dead stubs once they reached the lower section and they had to search for crevices in the bark itself.

　　Above Sosa, the dark billowed downwards and lumps of bark fell where the thing`s claws dug into the tree. If it fell now, it would fall right into her.

　　The dark unfurled around them like fingers feeling for victims. The sound of its claws paused. Was it stuck or readying to pounce? It only needed to let go and it would tear her from the trunk as it fell, slamming her body into the forest floor. If she survived the fall she would be too broken to defend herself.

　　Talon pressed his toes into the best hold he could find, reached for a deep scar with one hand and stretched out with the other. There was a noise as the monster ripped all its claws free. The darkness rolled down as it fell, but not fast enough. For an instant it was exposed. A tangle of black, spiky limbs, dark claws, ebony plates and glinting black eyes fell towards his daughter.

　　Talon gasped, but did not freeze. Sosa was staring up, her mouth open to scream. He grabbed her wrist. He could feel her arm, her whole body, was rigid as he tore her hand from its grip. He watched the thing descend, its claws, its teeth angled towards her, needing nothing more than its weight to push them through her skin. He pulled hard. Sosa screamed as her father tore her away. He swung his daughter out of its path and over the black void, his aching fingers clamped to her wrist.

　　Her weight hit him and he felt his fingers slip from the bark. He had an image of Sosa on her back, blood leaking from her face. Her leg folded, snapped and broken. Bones poked through skin and foam bubbled from her mouth as she gasped for bloody breath.

　　In a tangle of slashing claws, the thing fell through the space Sosa had occupied. Giving a yell, Talon swung his daughter back towards the trunk, as his own grip on the tree failed.

　　Grab!` was all he could shout. Sosa slammed into the tree as Talon tilted backward into empty space.

　　Had she been able to save herself? He threw her wrist from his hand so he did not grasp her in desperation, pulling her as he fell. Sosa`s foot scraped against bark, one hand clawed at it, fingertips of the other brushing his own. Her panicked cry of fear, of betrayal cut through his own shout of terror. With no idea whether he had just flung his daughter to her death or saved her life, Talon followed the monster down into the void.

　　The dark closed over his head like the waters of a black stream.