Shadow Gulch

     What, in him, do we require

     To each suspended breath, suspire?

     Spooky foods at grisly cost, with

     Knowledge and our labours lost

      - Augur Faunt, Memoirs of a Monster

It is early July when the relentless glow of summer falls upon this contemptible place. The sun blushes crimson against the azure sky, as if it is embarrassed to have appeared in the wrong season. Sunlight has always been a rarity in the Haunted Woods, so to have seen it for two weeks straight is truly bizarre. I hope that the fog will soon return to enshroud this little haven in Balthazar's Grove. Perhaps then it might be easier to plot my escape.

     The first thing I learnt during my initial reconnaissance of the area was that the Brain Tree is in charge of border control. Having exchanged quips with him a few times, it appears that he is more concerned with departures than arrivals. He also insists that each traveller regale him with new knowledge before they can be allowed to leave.

     From me, he has requested the year of William Lupe's death. The only one in possession of that information is a sentient mound of slime known as the Esophagor, and my stomach churns at the thought of approaching him.

     As I brush my paw over the battered scroll that I have been sent to retrieve, I realise that time is running out. Too long have I been stranded in this Fyora-forsaken place with only the mad ravings of an addle-brained Lupe for company. Too long have I been cowering away from my duty. I, Seisan the wraith Kougra, hold the reins of my own destiny. If facing a monster is what it takes to fulfil my mission, then so be it.

     My journey to confront the slovenly tyrant begins with a meeting at Nox Manor. I am not desperate enough to seek counsel from Hubrid himself; he does know, after all, that I work for Jhudora. Instead, I seek out the assistance of my fellow wraiths. The most gifted among our kind are sent to serve under Neopians of status, so that we may secretly influence the affairs of their land. As a result, we only convene for matters of utmost importance.

     I find Lothaire tending to the gorse bushes outside the manor gates. His paws are obscured by a thick film of earthy peat, and I wonder why he has been assigned such menial labour. He gives me a cursory glance before proclaiming; "Master Nox cannot be disturbed."

     The wraith Zafara's voice is thick and gravelly, borne of his frequent trips across the divide. Traversing dimensions exacts a heavy toll on the body, and I am glad that I am not required to ferry reports back to the Capital as he is.

     "Good," I grind out a reply. "I require your assistance."

     Lothaire's eyes dart almost nervously in my direction. "In what respect?"

     I take a step closer. "Tell me what you know of the Esophagor."

     The silence is palpable as he digests my words.

     "I assume, by your presence, that you are on a mission?" my acquaintance suggests.

     "Yes. I have obtained an important scroll for Jhudora and now I must appease the Brain Tree in order to return it to her," I explain carefully. "He wishes to uncover-"

     "Some information that only the Esophagor has access to," Lothaire finishes the thought for me.

     I nod. "Exactly."

     Lothaire sighs and disentangles himself from the tendrils of gorse that are snaking their way up his arm.

     "The Esophagor spends most of his time eating, and he has a particular affinity for the spookier foods of the Woods," the wraith Zafara advises. "To gain his cooperation, you may need to feed him first."

     It is times like these that I am able to see the value of good planning. If I had recklessly charged into the monster's lair, I could have easily become his mid-afternoon snack. A wise warrior always utilises his resources.

     "Thank you," I incline my head gratefully. "Jhudora has been most anxious to obtain this scroll, and now it seems that she will have it sooner than expected.

     "I wish you luck in your dealings with the Esophagor," Lothaire dusts off his hands before kneeling next to a bed of wilting flowers, "and I hope that your endeavour to deliver the scroll will be successful."

     With that, I bid him farewell and begin the next stage of my journey.

     The Esophagor is exactly where I expect him to be; sentient or not, slime does tend to stay in one place. His piggish eyes focus on me, jaw gaping with unnatural flexibility.

     "Feed me."

     I must admit that I am surprised when I first hear the two-worded demand spill from his misshapen mouth. The voice is burning with stubborn confidence; the kind that has been stoked by the thousands of desperate adventurers who have gone before me. It occurs to me that I might be able to use his arrogance to my advantage.

     "I will feed you anything you wish for, Esophagor, if you will first tell me when William Lupe died," I declare emphatically.

     A deep, rumbling sound rocks the earth beneath me, and I am startled to realise that the monster is laughing.

     "You will feed me first, mortal."

     It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to turn tail and flee at the sound of his voice.

     "I have named my conditions most firmly, Esophagor!" I assert, proud that my voice barely wavers. "If you will not accept them, then my business with you is at an end."

     I can see him mulling it over, his expression unreadable. "And what if I choose to eat you instead, foolish adventurer?" he slurs maliciously, purple tongue darting across his lips in anticipation. "What then?"

     Out of all the possible responses he could have given, I must admit that this was the least expected. My breath catches as I realise he is serious.

     "Then you would be the foolish one," I say, slowly edging away from him. "Who else here can afford to provide you with Droolik Surprise?"

     Checkmate.

     The longing in the monster's eyes is unmistakeable. He fixes his gaze on me, more curious than threatening now.

     "You would bring me Droolik Surprise?"

     "Three bowls of it," I reply, hoping that the offer of an extravagant meal will entice him to cooperate.

     The Esophagor is silent for a moment. Something flickers behind his eyes, and then he whispers the date so softly that I almost miss it. When I repeat it, he jerks back and his stare becomes hard.

     "Your turn," he growls. "Where is my Droolik Surprise?"

     By the time he finishes speaking, I am already bolting away as fast as my legs will carry me. Perhaps it is dishonourable not to live up to my part of the bargain, but I have a quest to complete.

     I make a beeline for the Brain Tree as I charge into Balthazar's Grove. If he is surprised by the speed of my reappearance, his features do not betray it.

     "Have you found the answer?" the Brain Tree queries.

     "Yes," I tell him quickly.

     The Brain Tree repeats the date in a heavy tone, his eyes boring into me. Without warning, he latches onto my ankles with powerful roots that had been dormant until now.

     "That is incorrect."

     I freeze instantly. The Esophagor must have given me false information because he had known that I would break my promise to him.

     "Please," I squirm as the roots tighten their grip. "I must leave Shadow Gulch at once."

     "We had a deal," the Brain Tree hisses. "Knowledge in return for safe passage."

     "I can provide you with other knowledge," I grit my teeth as the roots wrap themselves around my chest. "Wraith folklore, castle layouts; whatever you desire!"

     I fall to the ground, gasping as he releases me from the suffocating embrace.

     "You may go."

     I stare at him for a second, confused that he has not made any further requests. Deciding not to test my luck, I stagger away from him and towards the edge of the woods. Once I get there, I slump against a tree in an attempt to gain control over my all-encompassing vertigo.

     When I realise that the world has stopped tilting, a cool twilight has descended over the surrounding land. My legs ache from the unexpected flight and I find myself wondering if a good night's sleep would be out of order. My eyes crack open just a fraction.

     Fyora preserve me. The scroll is gone.

     My stomach roils in protest as I stand up, and I gaze around as though the precious artefact might magically reappear. No wonder the Brain Tree was so accommodating - he had managed to acquire some knowledge after all! As I trudge towards the open plain, I conclude that there is no option but to return to my mistress empty-handed.

     Explaining this to Jhudora will not be easy.

The End