358 Leave No Traces Behind

[Yes of course you can. My apologies if what just happened scared all of you. For everyone's' safety, I do not wish to leave any traces of this conversation.]

Vyrena turned around and reassured everyone, "It's alright, nothing to be afraid of."

Since the conversation with Pigeon seemed to be going on for a while, the rest of them decided to wait outside instead. The Origami Dolls kept the children company while the adults wondered what was going on. 

"A magical typewriter? How crazy is that?" Ronni remarked.

"What's new? First the Jungle, now this abandoned landscape, is there really a way out?" El sighed as she looked all around, "What if beyond this wall, there is yet another wall?"

Ronni nodded in agreement. 

"For all we know, there could be many more layers. Can we truly get out?" he muttered. 

Back in the house, Vy continued to converse with Pigeon. 

[Yes and no.]

[The way out is not forward. It is up.]

The Origami Dolls collected a series of papers that had been kept in piles all around the room and handed them to Vyrena. The papers contained a drawn map that was clearly formed using the symbols on the typewriter. 

As she reviewed the images, Pigeon continued typing what he wanted to say. 

[As you can see, there are three walls in total. The Jungle has the first ring of walls. The City, which is where we are right now, is the second ring. The third ring, houses facilities that keep this place running.]

[The easiest way to get out is up.]

Reviewing the images and documents the Origami dolls had handed her, Vy realised that the structure of the wall looked similar to that of the Jungle's wall. 

[That has been done before. It failed.]

[Yes. It was a catastrophe. Lives lost, others cursed. I, was cursed.]

[No, different. The curse… is left by something else. Something worse. Worse than this place. Worse than the creature you've faced.]

[Worse than drakes, worse than reptile.]

Vyrena felt a shiver down her spine when she read that. The reptilian creature took a lot of effort for them to destroy. Though she was glad that her injuries were healing fast, she knew the situation could have had a very different outcome. 

But if this was going to happen, Vyrena needed to know the threat they were going to face. She did not want to remain in the dark. 

Pigeon usually replied instantaneously. But this time, it did not. Each second that passed felt like an eternity. Finally, the typewriter came back to life and began typing again. 

[Yes. But the odds aren't good. I would not recommend making direct contact. Especially the one who hovers above ground.]

[Yes.]

Pigeon nicknamed the one who hovered above ground the Cloak. Based on the image he showed Vyrena, the being wore a long hooded cloak over its body. Its face could not be seen, its arms elongated. 

[Yes, and others. They suffer more than I have.]

The second being was known as the Arantaur[1], a being that resembled part human, part arachnid, or spider. Its bottom half was arachnid, top half-human. The being had long black hair that hung down till its waist. 

Looking at the Arantaur, she wondered if this creature had anything to do with Queen Willow and the spider beasts. Could there be some relation between them? This thought worried Vyrena. 

Could the spider beasts be their enemy? Or could they have been cursed to look like spider beasts? Maybe they were regular humans like them. 

After Vyrena got a good look at both drawings, the papers combusted on their own and turned into ashes. 

[Apologies, for safety, I must destroy it.] 

Unfortunately, Pigeon did not have much more information he could provide about these mysterious beings. But he did give her a few things to take note of while she and the other survivors roamed through the City and its surroundings. 

[1. At dawn or dusk, find a high vantage point and look up at the sky with your head tilted to the side. You may notice something interesting. ]

[2. Do not come into direct contact with the beings, they are too dangerous to confront. Death or torture is guaranteed.]

[3. The reptilian creature was and is not alone.]

Reading those three points over and over again, Vyrena committed them to memory. But before she left, she still had some questions of her own. She had many many questions, but Pigeon was not able to answer all of them. 

The typewriter selected the questions he could reply to. 

[No, everyone survives for themselves. Survival of the fittest. Trust your gut, and no one else. The world and its inhabitants are cruel.]

[Nowhere is safe. Be on your guard no matter where you are.]

[I have faith in them as you have. But help will not come in the way we expect it to. Keep the hope burning, and a path will be granted.]

[Uncertain]

[Despair.]

[The best signal is one that can be viewed for miles and miles away. For as long as it can hold.]

Pigeon's answers were cryptic, to say the least, but Vyrena was glad that she was able to get some answers out of their conversation. 

The Pigeon had proven to be resourceful, although it has also left her with more questions than answers. 

[I will be watching. When needed, we will meet again.]

[1] Arachnid + the 'taur' from centaur. So it basically means like a humanoid spider, if that makes sense. If clearer explanation is needed, do let me know ^.^