The strange winged insect hovered around Terakiel enigmatically, its ghostly buzz just barely reaching his ears. Like the forest itself, it had a way of vanishing if you were not looking directly at it. He had his doubts that it existed on the same physical plane as himself--but indeed, he had his doubts that he was still in the same reality that he knew. Everything in that forest possessed an indefinable otherworldly quality. He felt his stomach tightening just trying to comprehend it.
"So. . .you said you might be able to locate my traveling companions," Terakiel ventured. His instincts told him to continue traveling forward, but if the moth was correct, then those instincts could not be trusted.
I believe they are here in the forest. That is--there are a number of individuals in this forest that I can sense. I do not know if these are the ones you seek.
"More than just my companions? There are two of them. A female with short brown hair and a male with long fair hair."
I cannot say. Your descriptions have no meaning for me. I fear I do not see humans in this way.
"But you have an idea of where they might be? How?"
I do not know that they are the ones you seek. There are many humans in this forest. Perhaps these companions of yours number among them.
"Who else. . .is here?" Terakiel asked, confused. "I would not have thought many others would be here. Getting here myself was quite an ordeal."
It is not a simple thing, this forest. There are--how shall I convey this--pockets, as it were. Dimensional holes.
"Like the Exod?"
No, not exactly. Think of this forest as a massive lobby. It allows one access to many different locations.
"Forgive me, but that does sound a lot like the Exod. That black world--it takes you to different places."
You're correct, of course--and there are similarities. But it is not the same. This forest does not take you anywhere. Travel through the Exod and you might end up on the other side of the world. Travel through this forest and you might get nowhere at all--or you might end up in one of these dimensional pockets. These pockets exist on the mortal plane. The forest itself does. . .not. Not exactly.
"But why is this place here? Why is it like that?"
That is not something even I can answer. Even if I could, I doubt I could explain it in a way you found satisfying. I might posit another question to you--why is anything anywhere? Was it placed there by a Creator? Do you assume to know such a thing?
"Well, no, I don't. I don't know how the world was created or who did it. Or why."
Nor do I. There are those that claim to know the answers to the questions but I believe these individuals to be lying or delusional. Is it not for us to know? Not necessarily, no--but I certainly don't know and can't imagine how I would begin to investigate such a thing. Suffice to say, this forest is here--or not here, as the case may be--and it rather reliably deposits travelers into these dimensional pockets. From there you might even be able to find a way out. If you stay here, however, you may never leave.
"I. . . can't leave until I've found them. I understand if you cannot help--you don't owe me that. But I can't leave. They're my responsibility."
I understand that. I told you I would help you. If your companions have somehow found their way into these dimensional pockets, then that becomes more difficult. I will find humans for you, but I would prefer to stay hidden from them. The consequences that may arise from that will be your responsibility.
"These people--do you think they would hurt me? You think I would be in danger?"
There is no way to be certain. I can tell you that your race does not have the best reputation among mine. However, there are good and bad apples in every lot and that applies to us, too. I think that there is some risk involved but I also believe you are willing to take that risk.
"You're right. Which way do we go?"
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