The Traveler

Feeling like, and though she knows that she is not holding onto an invisible cape, what else is making no sense is how the dog is stride for stride all the while the scenery is a blur. For how long this goes on she does not know for time is bending around an impossible curve until the traveler slows and the world around her returns to normal.

Unscathed, but terrified at the same time, she says, “You’re not one of us, are you?”

“Does it matter?”

“It would answer a few questions.”

“Fair enough. Put simply, I am not.” He parts the branches then, and looking through the gap, she has a clear view of two men having words down by the creek. One is pointing his finger at the other’s face and with the man not liking this, the finger is slapped away which has the other delivering a solid punch. Staggering back, footing is lost, and into the creek he goes. There is no rush forward, no helping hand. Instead, he walks away from the one floundering in the mountain fed waterway. She gives a sideways look to the traveler, “Are we going to help him?”

“No,” is all he says. She sees it then, and in awe, the man is lifted out of the water to where he is set upon the ground that triggers a hideous growl of the earth splitting apart in swallowing the man whole. She has no words, her mind centered on the sickening crunch of the earth mending itself together like it never happened. Spellbound, she can’t believe what she just saw as the traveler says, “Sorry you had to see that.”