Acadia Restoration

Chapter 21

 They walked into a small town. No one paid them any heed. After agreeing to help them, Maeve informed them it would be best to re-up on supplies. So they made their way into a nearby town. Everything was new, or well kept enough that it looked new. All the buildings lacked weathering and the roads had no potholes. They walked into a grocery store and Maeve began to fill up a cart.

"It's weird," Luna mumbled.

"What?" Maeve replied, focused on gathering groceries.

"Nothing, I've just never seen this part of the Enchanted Forest," Luna stared at the aisles and lights. Maeve let out a small laugh.

"Yeah, we never let you get close enough to any civilization. Most people imagine the Enchanted Forest as a giant chunk of uncharted land with unicorns," Maeve looked down at the list Quinn had given her before resuming her shopping. "There are actually only a few places that are uninhabited. Where we are going is one of them," she paused to read a label on a can, then placed it in the cart.

"Where are we at right now?" Luna asked. Maeve's eyebrow raised.

"I thought you knew these things," Maeve teased.

"I know directions," Luna grumbled.

"Aibarthe, but I suppose after being booted the elves weren't eager to describe their former country with accuracy," Maeve shrugged.

"When did that happen?" Jade asked.

"A few hundred years ago. I think about five years before I was born," Jia answered.

"Why?" Jade scrunched her face, "How would it have been possible with the border?".

"Moon water and a few other things," Maeve answered. "They figured out how to make a concoction that broke the magic of the border. There were a few conflicts and elves decided they'd leave, however when they left so did their immortality. Most of them aged forward and died, however the younger ones tried to undo it. It was too late, so they left and resettled in Mirymas," Maeve explained. "Their magic didn't go though, except their children didn't get it, so it disappeared,".

"Not true," Luna countered, Maeve tensed. "Magic did vanish yes, but I know someone who was born with it,"

"Who?" Jade demanded to know.

"An old family friend named Gaelan Sommers," Luna answered, nonchalantly. Jade nodded and their grocery shopping soon ended.

They spent the day hiking, just as they had the day before. The farther they got from Aibarthe the denser the forest became. Maeve led the group with Lily next to her: clearing foliage. Then it happened; just as Lily moved aside a branch. A small pink animal with spines fell on Laiko. Laiko dropped to the ground: paralyzed.

"Don't touch it!" Jia jumped next to him, warning the rest of the group. "It's a wygau,". Leo remembered the name. "Lily use a vine and move it,". Lily did so instantly. Norah crouched next to Laiko, trying to get him to be responsive. "We need to act fast, we need, we need," Jia stammered. "Shit I can't remember the type of leaves," Jia bit her fingers.

"Qurike," Leo said. Jia turned to face him, her face relaxed slightly.

"Yes, qurike leaves!" Jia announced.

"I know a garden where they are grown," Marsh stepped in.

"Go with Eric, now quickly!" Jia created a shadow and Eric and Marsh vanished. Norah laid next to Laiko, gripping his hand tightly.

"What happened?" she breathed, still trying to process what was happening.

"A wygau fell on him, their spines are incredibly toxic-" Jia began just as Marsh and Eric reappeared. "Put those leaves in his mouth and make sure he swallows," Jia instructed. Marsh placed the leaves in Laiko's mouth. After he swallowed nothing happened.