Patch Of Ground

From your soil perch, you are able to see a great deal more of the swamp than first anticipated. Being up this high, even if only incremental, allows you to life your head above most of the yellow gases and see the landscape for what it is. An example of this would be the island you are standing on. What you thought was its own little inlet was infact part of a far larger landmass. Towards the Northern edge of the ground's edge as it falls back under the unsavory filth water, you catch the sigh of a large patch of land not even fifteen feet away from where you are perched. The mass of soil seemed to be holding together better than most other and was stable enough to support its own ecosystem of grass, trees, bushes, vines, even a few strange flowers could be spotted from this distance with yellow and orange pedals. However, the thriving vegetation also makes it difficult for you to see how big the landmass truly is. Seemed like as good as any of a place to start.

With this new goal splayed out before you, a step over the mound of soil kickstarts your exploration once again. You come to the closest edge of your own little inlet, stopping just shy of the sludge as you make a pleasant discovery. Thankfully, you wouldn't have to swim or wade through waist high waters to reach the landmass from here. Your island seemed to be part of it at one point as the two share a small stretch of connecting ground hidden under a veil of shallow muck. Your boots manage to stay above the it rather than sink in, only going up to your ankles at its lowest point before swinging back up to link with the greater patch of land. You climb up it's outer bank, using the curling roots of a sickly willow tree as hand holds for scaling up its steep edges. Over the edge of the island as you stand up from your successful climb, your feet find solid footing yet again, this time with ground that seems near completely dry. The stench is still ever present but at least you can keep your clothes relatively dry for a little while longer.

From here, it becomes incredibly clear that the island is larger than your first thought. The tall wild grass, hanging willow branches, thick bushes, and heavy smog don't allow you to see an end. The ground just seems to go on for further than your vision can make out. At least it seemed like the perfect reason to test out your new sword. You march on with the copper resting in your left hand, swinging it with amateurish style at the grass and bushes that dot your path through, essentially turning this battle implement into a machete. And so it continues like this for a time. Over half an hour goes by with you hacking away at the grass for a clear path, grass clipping and little pricker plants getting caught on your armor with some attaching themselves to your hair. It's like would you would imagine traversing a jungle would feel like, humidity included.

One particular swift alive of a few thick stalks of grass reveal reveal the first open patch of mud you've seen in a while that isn't smothered by grass. It's only around seven feet at its best point but a clearing is a clearing so you take the open space and use it to catch your breath, leaning against a near by willow to take some of the weight off of your feet. And that is when you spot it. With your face pointed down to the dirt, you spot something in the mud directly under you.