CANTO 8: A NEW GUIDE

Zara enters The Moult, and discovers more dangers waiting...

Snakeskin, fungus, and moss made that forest.
Great walls of see-through flesh, discarded scales,
formed labyrinths of gleaming silver light. 
Like spiderwebs, they spread, over the floor 
and canopies, attended by varieties of life 
not seen in other places of the World. 
The trees were truly growths, great nodes 
of hardened skin sprouting from gaps 
between the scales. The flowers were wondrous 
reactions of body known only to wizards
who walked the natural path, Ophidian. 
We rode upon the Amblyomma steeds. 
Myself and pale Lashtal rode one, ahead. 
And Gortak rode the second, close behind. 
I had been tempted to consume the Venomsight,
but held off, knowing I’d regret it afterwards.
The time would come, perhaps when we had crossed
the dismal woods.