There was a rough path leading down from the cliff, but it was barely more than a dirt road. Still, they followed its winding route, the sun rising higher and higher in the sky above. The cloudless blue sky was one that promised infinity.
It appeared they had been deposited in a place quite far removed from any sort of civilisation, however. Nothing could be seen from their vantage high up, no wisps of smoke or distant villages. Only an endless forest. Though it was quite different to the one they had left behind, the one in which the Town of Endings was located.
There, the air itself held the weight of myth, bogged down and heavy. Surrounded by mountains, it was as if they were in the caldera of some colossal volcano, isolated from the world at large. Here, however, there was no such thing. The horizon was gloriously free of obstacles and the forest was light and luscious.
Alive in the richest sense of the word, it exuded vitality. The path they followed from the top of the cliff entered into the forest, as the trees started to appear around them. It was still narrow and it wasn't until some time had passed that they reached the first intersection.
A road in the truest sense of the word: paved, wide enough for four Jeffbobs to walk side by side. It was clean and smooth, clearly in well repair.
"The first choice is presented, little cricket. I shall grant you the honour of choosing."
Jeffbob turned to look down at Ziriothrax, odd amusement in the depths of his blank eyes.
"At the crossroads, which way do we go?"
What is it that they say; at the crossroads, don't turn left? They think their warnings hold any sway on the Dread Ziriothrax? I am He Who Lurks In The Dark, there is none who can frighten the Great Me.
"Right."
His answer was curt and abrupt, as if he did not want to waste any more time on conversing with Jeffbob than absolutely necessary. Chuckling, Jeffbob nodded.
"Left was the right choice in hindsight, or was it the left choice? The correct choice? Well, correct is subjective after all. Perhaps, from the point of view of the world, all outcomes were predetermined once we had set foot upon its accursed land."
Nodding once more as if to affirm something with himself, Jeffbob led the way turning left while a definitely-not-scared Ziriothrax hopped behind. The sounds of his hooves clopping along soon blended in with the ambient noise of the forest, the chirpings of birds and the rustlings of the leaves. The yellow sun shone between the branches, scattering light across the ground like a glimmering pool of molten gold.
"It has been some time since I have set foot in a forest, though I do remember it being slightly darker than this."
"You do realise that we were in a forest literally yesterday, right?"
Jeffbob's eyes, however, had already glazed over, vacant of any sort of higher thought. Ziriothrax, meanwhile, had too many thoughts in the myriad maze of his minds.
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Forests...the true forest is the one out there, in the darkness of space. And it is in its depths where I shall find what it is I seek: the undying flame, to burn it all to the ground!
Of course if getting there were that easy, I would have been done with it, but it just had to play difficult. No matter, all things shall bow before my Will, for this is the path walked by the Dread Ziriothrax!
Interrupting his thoughts, Jeffbob came to an abrupt stop. His snout twitched, sniffing the air curiously.
"Do you smell that?"
Ziriothrax looked around too, his antennae twitching, but in vain.
"You're gonna have to be a lot more specific than that."
"Hmmm, it smells like, how do I put this, like trees or something?"
Ziriothrax paused, looking around them. The sight of the forest was all encompassing, densely packed foliage and, of course trees. He looked back at Jeffbob upon whose face rested an expression of profound confusion, as though faced with a great mystery of the universe.
Ziriothrax shook his head, giving up. Soon enough, Jeffbob too appeared to give up, though perhaps for different reasons, and the two of them continued their walk. Eventually, as the sun reached its zenith above their heads, it was Ziriothrax who broke the silence with his shrill, bloodthirsty voice.
"When one has nothing of substance to say, one relies on abstract ramblings to disguise their own ignorance. How about you give me a straight answer this time."
Without looking down, Jeffbob replied amusedly.
"Why of course, little cricket. Ask away and, if it within the realm of my understanding, I shall make it my life's goal to aid in your comprehension."
Ignoring Jeffbob's apparent sarcasm, Ziriothrax continued.
"Tell me, what is it that you seek so fervently?"
Jeffbob paused for a time, an expression of ponderance upon his face.
"I seek, first and foremost, to complete myself. To reform the shattered remnants of my mind from the abyss of oblivion, thereby obtaining my identity once more. As for how, and what happens along the way..."
His eyes twinkled mischievously.
"I think that we can leave those as surprises, can't we? It would be boring to spoil the whole thing after all."
With that, the conversation entered a lull, Jeffbob humming some off-tune song while behind Ziriothrax's eyes his minds raced at breakneck speeds.
To recover his lost memories...an admirable goal...is what I would say if I were lying! Truly pitiful, one such as he, trapped by the chains he forged himself. A slave, but how to break free one the slave and the slaver are one and the same? Who am I kidding, that thing is likely to reduce this entire universe ad absurdum along the way.
But it's still too early to nudge the metronome just yet, no rush. Plenty of players are only just completing their opening moves after all, it wouldn't be fair to jump in. I'd never cheat at a game like certain people and move twice in a row, that's just plain rude.
Patience, Ziriothrax. Let the kettle boil over, let the house burn down, let the ashes scatter to the wind and then you can harvest what remains. For the sake of all Cricket-kind!
"Well, I answered your question, little cricket, how about you answer mine? There is a give and take in all things, after all, it would not be wise to refuse."
Noticing the glint of insanity in his eyes, Ziriothrax grated his teeth, accepting the proposal.
"Fine then. What burning question do you have?"
"Haha," Jeffbob chuckled morosely. "Nothing burning, just the reflection in the pond. Tell me, what is it you seek so fervently?"
Having his own question thrown back at him did not feel good, but it was within the realms of expectation for Ziriothrax. He spat out his answer with wrathful intensity.
"I seek the destruction of the Heavens, I seek to rip apart the tapestry of Fate, I seek to blind the unseeing eyes of Destiny! I seek to destroy all universes, to save all universes! Does such an answer satisfy you, Trinacornagon?!"
Jeffbob shook his head slowly.
"It is not me you have to satisfy, for I am indeed unsated. Sated...hunger....food...."
As his speech devolved into nonsensical muttering, Ziriothrax tuned him out and the two of them continued along the empty road, naught but the trees witness to the exchange of ideals between beings greater than legend. Between those who had long since been ascribed the title of Myth.