THE NEW WORLD

Chapter 15

The Hisiff lets out a sigh and droops his eyes.Great.I can't wait to see those things kill me.

Fynn grabs his rifle from behind him.He says, "If they live, this will kill them," and pulls a lever on the stock of his weapon to open it.Before Fynn, for dramatic effect, snaps the weapon back shut with a loud clack, the barrels lean forward to reveal two distinct cartridges.

Mr. Rot says, "I sure hope you have good aim and some spare ammunition, son," twitching the fur above his eyes once more.If you have to keep that gun loaded in the house, I also hope you have the safety turned on at the very least.

Before slinging it back over his back, Fynn grimaces and slowly pulls a button under the lever backwards.

“Now that that’s out of the way, you two can head to the stable and get ready,” the farmer continues as he turns to Scott.He gives them a nod.Mr. Rot continues to speak as Scott and Fynn slowly exit the room.He only hears, "I'll be driving the tractor, but I'll need help with the pedals,"Before Scott closes the door and the voices are silenced, these legs are too short to reach them.

Scott anticipates that Fynn will address His, but he does not.

He apologizes, saying, "I'm sorry about your motHis." as they descend the stairs.However, I am certain that it is not serious.

Fynn laughs.Nothing major?Someone attacked as a result.That thing is a zombie virus, as anyone who has watched a movie knows.

Scott frowns.Hold on.a zombie outbreak?

“Seriously?You morphed into a two-meter-tall elf with yellow eyes that resemble those in a horror film.You should probably be a little more open to this, I think."

“I sincerely appreciate your compliment.Keep in mind that my eyes look like they belong in a horror movie the next time a child runs away from me.Scott sounds a lot more enraged than He intended.

Fynn responds quickly, "I didn't mean it that way."Although your eyes do not resemble those of a monster, I have never seen anything like them. You look good.In contrast to the Hisiff.I mean, prior to the fog.Do you get what I'm saying?

At his awkward response, Scott smiles.Sure.”

The house was still when they arrived, but now people are getting up.Light pours into the previously dark hallway because all of the doors are open.

He sees that people were also sleeping in the barns outside.They're all looking confused, and as they walk toward what Scott thinks is the stable where the horses are kept, some of them notice Scott and Fynn.The majority of the people are puzzled as to who He is because they are aware that He was not with them last night.Naturally, Astrid notices the stares but is unsure how to respond.Fynn does not introduce His, and no one approaches His.

Oskar rejoins them once more as they walk.Scott has a better chance of getting a better look at him as he trots along next to Fynn.He has shaggy fur and appears to be quite small.He looks wild and dangerous, which is not in line with his friendly expression.

The stable is near the compound's edge.Scott hears a horse neigh from within the building, and the door leading inside is wide open.The majority of the space in the barn is taken up by several large stalls, with a room at the other end taking up the remainder.There are nine stalls in all, but horses only use four of them.Scott is able to see blood on one of the empty bars.One of his has been broken open.

Fynn walks through the stable and into the small room on His end while He looks around.Scott quickly catches up.

“Wow.What took place in Hise?”He asks and gestures to the restrooms.

Fynn looks around the room.Most likely, some of the horses changed.Later, I'll ask my fatHis.Let's get in the saddle, now.Fynn takes the reins and saddle from the rack.

“Okay.Which horse am I allowed to have?”

“Right.”He looks up and down at His.I've never seen a woman so tall as you.You might actually be the biggest person I've ever met.

Scott occasionally raises the hair that covers His ears and says, "Well, I'm no longer a human."It makes Him slightly tremble when He hears it.Thinking about the fact that He is now something different feels odd, despite the fact that from what He has seen, He has metaphorically received the long end of the stick when it comes to new bodies.

Fynn smiles as he sees His triangular ears.I knew that.Your eyes are a sure sign.Anyway, Imka, the pony in the leftmost stall probably can't even carry you, he says with a nod.I'll be taking Shiva, and you'll have to take Ranger because I think the Hisiff should be taking Poldi.He nods to a large stallion in the middle box at this point.

As he begins to saddle and rein his own horse, Fynn says, "His saddle and reins are the number three on the rack."However, be careful around him.He is loved by my fatHis.

Scott nods and leaves the room to retrieve the equipment.

Ranger is a substantial stallion with a straightforward brown coat.As He opens his box, He carefully examines His, but as He places the saddle on his back, He mostly stays still.

"When we enter the fog, what do you think we can anticipate?"As Fynn goes into Poldi's box to saddle the horse for the Hisiff, Scott asks.

I have no idea, but it does not appear to be attractive.I mean, did you notice the burns that the entire town had?Radiation burns are the only thing I've ever seen like it.

"Do you believe the fog to be radioactive?"

Fynn gives a head shake.I'm not sure.Despite the fact that it is undoubtedly supernatural, it still has the same effect on you as radiation would.Even though it is supernatural, that doesn't rule out the possibility of radioactivity.

Scottgrunts as He gets the seat on Officer's back. "We should be fine if we only spend an hour or two there; the town residents spent an entire day there.Right?”

As he picks up Poldi, he says, "Probably" or "I hope so."But I want to say thank you.Despite the obvious danger posed by fog, you still wish to assist.

As he finishes strapping Ranger, Scott smiles.I'm glad I can assist.

Before Oskar stops following them, Fynn needs quite a few stays and sits.They see that the Mayor has gathered everyone in front of the house and is preparing to explain their plan to everyone present as they ride outside.The remainder of their group is preparing the tractor in the interim.The red machine groans in agony and emits a dark smoke cloud from its exhaust.The engine starts up in a roar.The farmer is sat on Lukas' lap in the driver's seat.Scott couldn't make out what they were saying because the engine was so loud.

After speaking to the group on the tractor, the Hisiff then runs to Scott and Fynn.Over the blaring engine, he yells, "The otHiss still need a minute," and quickly mounts Poldi.Go ahead.

The three riders advance after Fynn gives his fatHis a thumbs up.

They can already make out the town in the distance as they leave the compound.The buildings are still covered in the fog that still surrounds it.The fog continued to move in that slow, random, supernatural manner, seemingly unaffected by the moving air, even as a cold wind tossed leaves into the air and moved Astrid's hair.

They could get to High Rock the quickest by sprinting across the open fields, but doing so would also put them at risk of being attacked by one of the enormous birds that fly overhead and are known as grippers.A fitting moniker considering that they pluck their prey from the sky.

Instead, the group decides to travel the forest's edge along the road.They could hide in the shadow of the trees if a gripper or something similar appeared, or they could flee into the open if they were attacked from the forest.

While their horses trot along the road, the tractor behind them roars almost as loudly as a jackhammer.

Fynn shows the road ahead.Let's go ahead and check to see if the road is clear.He spurs Shiva into a gallop without waiting for an answer and immediately sends the Hisiff and Poldi running after him.

Scott only needs to tap Ranger's body with his legs to get him to do the same.

They speed over the road as soon as they hear a loud cracking of twigs coming from the forest.They can hear it over the clanking of hooves against the pavement because it is so loud.They all stop at the same time by reining in their horses.

"What is it?"Scottasks.Although the young trees and buHes growing next to the road prevent him from actually seeing the creature, he squints and sees a large figure move between the trees.Fynn only turns his horse and gets ready to flee if the creature turns hostile, while the Hisiff waits and watches the thick tree line. Scott expects the otHiss to go for their weapons.

Under heavy feet, additional twigs snap.

Before a massive head slowly emerges, Scott can see a faint red glow coming from between the leaves.It has a small, pointed mouth made of bone that resembles a beak and is covered in armor made of bone.Four triangular horns protrude from its head at the back.