💦“Well it’s not like I don’t have the time for this.”
“Still Wirt, it’s mighty nice of you to help out.”
Langtree gave him a warm smile before helping correct the math homework of a cat clad in a pale yellow bonnet. This sight was no longer weird to him- after all, Wirt had been “living” in these undead woods for... how long had it been now? He was eighteen at the time and... well... time actually made no sense here- so it was impossible to tell.
Time was really just an illusion in the Unknown. Winter could follow Spring only to have Fall follow right back up- and this could be in the span of only a few days- or what felt like a few years. Sometimes the sun felt like it was overhead for days on end and other times it seemed to rise as soon as it set. The concept was so disjointed, it had completely alienated Wirt for the human world- the wold of the living- and what had become of it.
Wirt helped a deep hold a trombone in its hooves- wondering only briefly how it could actually play it without fingers or thumbs- but he decided it was better not to ask.
What time had passed for Wirt, had been somewhat kind to him physically. The dark brown hair had grown out, getting a bit of a wave to it- he looked almost shaggy, adding to the air of mountain man that he was beginning to give off. His body’s shape was concealed under the thick, blue cloak he had worn the first time through the Unknown, complete with the obnoxious red cone hat (if he had known he would be stuck in his Halloween Costume from Sophomore year of high school for the rest of his eternit6y, he would have dressed as Batman). His skin was a bit pale, despite hours in the sun, Wirt had gained the sallow skin of the more permanent residents of the Unknown. Though, the strangeness of his coloration was still offset by the overly large ears and nose that accentuated his slender face. His left eye was a bight, icy blue color, sunken in with dark bags underneath. The right eye was covered by a dark black eye-patch.
“You’re really quite good with the kids. Jimmy always says they are so much more well behaved when you come around.” Lana Langtree (soon to be Lana Brown) was always complementary to Wirt. Even as she corrected the selling on the young pug’s paper she still took the time to commend her teacher’s aid. “And father wants to hire you on full time.”
“Well I love coming around but- I’m sorry... what subject are we doing right now?” Wirt was at a bit of a loss as every kid seemed to be doing something different.
“Science.” Langtree replied as if it were blatantly obvious.
“Science... but why is there a tu-” The ringing of the mealtime bell cut Wirt off in the middle of his word. As it subsided he finished with considerably less vigor, “...ba...? Forget it...” He ran a hand through his bangs, exhaling in a sigh.
“Will you be joining us for mealtime?” Langtree either did not hear his question, or had simply chosen not to answer him.
“No. I gotta get back. The cabin is still quite a walk.” Wirt waved his hand dismissively. “I’m going to take the short way through the woods so I can get back before sundown.” He appreciated the offer- but he had too much dignity (barely) to admit he still fit in the tiny animal beds.
“Best be careful, Wirt.” Langtree smiled, but her words were contrastingly dark in their intonation. “Looks like its going to be one of those quick sunsets..”
“You’re right...” His good eye cast skyward, through the window, watching grey slowly seep over a cloudless blue sky. “On that note, I really better run.” He tipped his awkwardly shaped hat trying to be polite (and cool) as he backed toward the door, tripping over one of the smaller students and falling on his put before “seamlessly” recovering and dashing toward the door. “Just send another letter my way if you need me again!”
“Will do Mister Huntsman, you have a nice days.” Langtree giggled behind her hand as Wirt swooped out of the doorway.
He started through the woods, taking a memorized path toward his cabin, his home. It had once belonged to others, but those people had moved on... leaving him with a job, and a place to live (all alone.) The black lantern hung from his waist, the self-igniting flame flickering dully alerting him that while the beast was present- he was not close by.
Neither party had any real desire to cross paths.
As he kept going, things grew darker... this part of the woods was dangerous, disorienting... and it left him feeling very cold... however- today... he was not alone in this labyrinthine section of an Edelwood infected forest.
Today he felt a presence. (He was not sure how he knew- but he had had the feeling before: whenever a new soul entered the unknown). It was like a living pulse through the woods. A heartbeat pumping through wood, grass, and water rather than blood, bone, and tissue. It was a reverberating sensation that brought life to the lantern’s flame.
“Oh don’t you get excited...” Wirt told the flame bitterly, his teeth clenched- that living fire had burned true hatred into him from the moment he had taken the lantern’s burden two years after thinking he had left this Unknown world behind him.
Begrudgingly, he stepped off his path, checking to be sure his bow and quiver were still attached to his back. They were. (Hey, he had not gone from The Pilgrim to The Huntsman for no reason, after all. He had to get semi-good with a weapon.) “Hello?” His feet tread off the barely worn path as the sun continued plummeting overhead and the thick pine trees became thicker, interspersed with the occasional stick Edelwood tree. The screaming faces seemed to leer at him as he passed by- watching till the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
He drew an arrow and readied his bow.
“Hello? Is anyone out here!?”
