Meridith at 46 Years Old

Species Suffix: Man-Single Male, Men-Multiple Male, Min-Single Female, Mon-Multiple Female, Myn-Mix of Male and Female, or Mix of Multiple Species

Meant to be an entry for a contest but ended up being too long.

Meridith at 46 Years Old

Meridith the Dwelfmin walked a slower pace than normal so that she would not wear out the legs of her Human companion. The pine woods they had been walking through were extensive, and dense. Three five days ago they had left the town of Hill Dale on their way west towards the Endless Swamp.

Abruptly they were on the edge of a hamlet. There had been no cessation of trees or fields to mark the border. They stopped in their tracks and Meridith consulted the map they had purchased during the Festival of the Young Maiden.

“This place isn’t on the map.”Meridith said quizzically.

Thamos pulled the map down to his eye level. “How can it not be on the map? It’s right in front of us.”

The statuesque Dwelfmin pulled the map back up to her eye level. “Like I said it is not on the map. In fact, there is even a break in the road line. It’s like the cartographer did not want it on the map.”

“Ok. That is enough talking about the map. The town is here, and the road goes through it. It is getting dark, and I want to sleep inside tonight if I can.” The Human grumbled running his good hand through his long brown hair.

The pair entered the town from the abrupt edge of the pine woods. A palpable resistance seemed to hold them for a moment then they were through. People appeared where there had been none.

At first no one seemed to notice them until they were the center of attention. A few of the people began to approach, their eyes aflame with obsession. Other townsfolk approached, but these wore green caps of a matching emerald shade. They intercepted the predatory people. Scuffles broke out as the more numerous green caps pushed through and encircled the travelers.

“What is going on?” Meridith asked the leader of the green caps.

Thamos drew his long sword and gasped. “Look at yourself. We are ghosts.”

An older man came closer than the others. “You have strayed into the Spirit Realm. The veil is thin on the borders of our hamlet. Some of us would drain you of your Living Spirit to extend their own second life, or traverse into the Mortal realm.”
The green caps were continuing their spiritual barricade, but one aggressor broke through and laid hands-on Thamos. He stiffened and screamed. His face wrinkled and hair whitened. The Dwelfmin, swung her mace, but as the Human had said it phased though the arm. She could not affect those living their second life in the Spirit Realm.
A green cap laid hands on the man siphoning off Thamos Living Spirit and pulled him away.

“This way. Run!” a green cap ordered. And an opening in the crowd was forced. Meridith , loath to grab her companion, but did so. She lifted him to her shoulder, pack and all, and ran through the crowd of green caps and their adversaries.

Within Minutes the tiny hamlet was behind her, and she was crossing through the near tangible force field and suddenly the pair was surrounded by pine woods again. Placing her friend on the grass by the wayside, she looked him over. He would live, but outwardly he looked older. The physical ordeal was nearly too much for his body and mind.

She turned to look at the hamlet, but only saw more trees, as it did not exist in the Mortal Realm.