"Sure... But can we talk about it in private? I don't want anyone
else other than us 4 to hear our conversation... It is kinda
complicated." Crystal said her face darkening. She did not expect
the topic to be brought up all of a sudden.
Cole realized this was serious and guided you all out of
the hut. "Follow me," he said going towards the forest. As you
walked further, after tripping over hundreds of vines and being
poked by thorns, you saw an old shabby hut in the middle of the
forest. "This is my hideaway, we should be able to discuss it
quietly here," he said and unlocked the door. It was like a pretty
normal house but it was dusty and twigs and dead leaves littered
the stone floor. Cole pulled some chairs for everyone to sit on.
"So, what is it you wanted to tell us?" he said, crossing his legs.
Even the usually joking Hazel was being serious about this, she had
never seen Cole like this.
The sudden change in the mood also affected Caleb. He stood up
trying to create as little a commotion as he can and followed Cole.
What had gotten into Crystal all of a sudden? What did she want to
tell Caleb and Cole? He sat in one of the chairs and remained
silent. Just the whole "hideaway in a forest" vibe was completely
different. Almost scary.
As everyone waited for Crystal to speak, there was a faint
rumble and the ground shook a little. Cole stood up and looked
outside and came back in looking calmly. “It’s just a huge dragon,”
he said shrugging it off but Bolt and Fluff were looking uneasy and
Flora lowered down a little.
"Oh,thankfully it's not hostile." he said as he rubbed the back of
his head,his attention still fixed to Crystal. He just assumed that
since they weren't being attacked or already dead,the dragon was
harmless. The other dragons' reactions worried him a bit. He would
whistle Hestia to come but he would wait until the dragon left.
Crystal breathed in and out. Ok, you can do this, do not freak out.
You will feel better when you spill it. "Remember I was slept while
you went out and did whatever you did? In my dreams, I saw a
man..... I couldn't properly see his features but I can hear what
he said: "To leave this world full of the unknown/ To the five
realms, you must go/ From the deep forest to the mountains topped
with snow/ Find the shards hidden, a total of three/ Only then will
you be free' He told me it was the way to leave this world and go
back home... Just now, I saw a stone glowing red. I picked it up
and these words were heard: North to the Mist Forest lies your
first path "
Caleb's eyes were open wide upon hearing thise words. "So...there
is a way out..." he stopped for a moment to think. "What does this
all mean?" he turned to Cole and Hazel seeing as they have been
here the longest out of the four. Caleb felt extremely conflicted.
Cole looked at Hazel and nodded. He looked at Crystal.
"Truth be told, Hazel had a similar dream a few weeks ago, though
it became, well hazy, when she woke up. I'm surprised you remember
it so well. Did this 'guy' mention anything else?" he asked. "And
about the second one, I would avoid going there, really. Not only
is there the thick fog that covers every inch of the area. There is
a type of bloodsucking creature lurking there, the one I showed to
Caleb the other night," he sighed. Hazel nodded in agreement. "But
don't you think it's worth it? We get to be free, go back to our
families," she tried to persuade him. Cole smiled sadly. "I never
had a family and you know that," he whispered. Hazel seemed to
remember and looked down, "sorry," she said but Cole didn't mind.
"Anyway, I think it's better if we tell the others about this. So
far, there's only 30 people here including us. What do you
say?"
Crystal:
A. Agree with Cole
B. Only bring the four of you
B. "I...I.. think it is better if it is us 4. Like you said, there
are 30 of us out there, what if the creature come and get us, kill
us all?! And our family will never know our fate. It is better to
go alone, find the exit and bring the others. We do not k=need so
many casualties..." Crystal said, her eyes averted down.... No
innocent person need to die, they can avoid this by going on their
own.
Cole raised his eyebrow. "Okay, I'll agree but there's a
few people I would have to insist you to bring long," he
said. Hazel looked at him confusingly. "I like it that we're not in
a big group, but it's not just a walk in the park out there. You
know what lies beyond The Border. It's just plain silly if we go
there defenseless," he said and stood up. "Come on, it's getting
dark here. Let's discuss more at my house," he said fixing his
t-shirt. He walked up to the door and looked outside with a gulp.
"We're in trouble," he whispered. Hazel looked out in curiosity and
pushed Crystal back in. "Don't move, it's a Long-tailed Lion. Those
things see you they'll suffocate you to death in an instant," she
said. Cole kneel down low and waited for the thing to go away, his
weapon ready.
Crystal and Caleb: A. Look at the creature from the corner
out of curiosity
B. Stay still because, well, curiosity kills the cat :b
Caleb put his back against the wall,keeping a fair distance from
the door and unsheathing his axe. So Hazel encountered the same
guy in her dreams as well,yet she opted to stay here..." He
thought to himself. He would have to ask more about it and have
talk to Crystal later,seeing as they are in danger.
After a few minutes, Cole sighed and stood up straight.
"It's gone, we should run for the village now," he said. He guided
everyone through the bushes and stinging nettles until everyone
reached the settlement. "You two must rest, I'll explain the entire
plan tomorrow," he said to Caleb and Crystal. Without waiting for a
response, he pulled on Hazel's arm and made a dash for a nearby
hut.
Caleb and Crystal A. Sleep and follow his advice
B. Stay up and follow him
Caleb whistled as hard as he could calling Hestia. It was a while
since he last saw her and was actually a bit worried. He noticed
Cole grabbing Hazel and pulling her away,but he shrugged it off.
Maybe they were a couple or were extremely close. His gaze averted
to Crystal,trying to make out what she was thinking and feeling
from her expression.
Hestia flew besides Caleb minutes later, she stood at the ground
looking up at him. When she saw the dragon, her fire glowed
brighter and she gave a glare at Flora, who tried to ignore her.
Hestia then flew away to a nearby tree and looked away from Caleb.
Hestia looked at Caleb and let out an angry caw then looked away.
It looked like it was mad at you too for some reason. Flora let out
a huff and approached the firebird. Hestia hissed at her but soon
calmed down as a sweet scent wafted in the air. They looked at each
other like they were communicating.
Caleb's curiosity piqued seeing Cole drag Hazel in such a hurry so
he tried to sneak up on them and maybe eavesdrop their
conversation. He motioned Crystal to stay,it would be better if
only he got seen and consequently punished.
Caleb: The two were having a hushed conversation.
You could only make out the first few words that Cole was
saying.
"Too..don't come back...impossible," the words in between were hard
to hear. Hazel looked at him hopefully.
"I can't stay here forever Cole, I have responsibilities back home
and you know that," she said, loud enough for you to hear every
word. Cole sighed and dropped his hands from his hair.
"Fine, I'll go get the guys," he said before mounting onto Bolt and
sped off into the night sky.
Meanwhile, sharp claws dig through your skin as Hestia suddenly
swooped down onto your shoulder and cawed, as if it was telling you
to mind your own business. Hazel had turned back when she heard the
noise and approached your hiding spot.
"Anyone there?" she called out.
Caleb instinctively raised his fist in a
"I'm-about-to-knock-on-the-door" type of way as he faced her.
"Hey...uhhh...Hazel,I wanted to ask about the kind of creatures
that roam here-OUCH. Hestia,what was that for?" He turned to the
phoenix. "Anyway,is there a map of this whole place as well by any
chance?"
Caleb: Hazel gave you a little suspicious look but
just shook her head as if nothing happened.
"Yeah, it should be in my hut in one of my drawers. You know which
one right? The one that we brought you to in the first place? Just
go through the drawers with books and you'll find it," she
answered. "I have to go do something, so is it fine if I leave you
to that?" she asked, she looked at Hestia. "Your phoenix doesn't
look so happy for some reason," she added.