Darren's Game

6

Silver shined in the setting sun, setting an orange glow across Eadward's torso and bouncing over to the matching chainmail of another fighter in his wagon. None of them he knew, it was just the bunch that got picked with him for wherever they were entering the forest.

Pouches lined the leather strap that went from his right shoulder to his left hip, all of them clasped down to triangular rings coming off of his chest plate. Inside were different magical stones, each having a different effect when smashed.

"Blue is for ice. Red is fire. Black is a smokescreen. White should be used if you need help, but know it will alert monsters as well."

That's what he was told by the person who handed him the pouches. He eyed each one, remembering the strings also matched the color of the magically-imbued stones. It wasn't the only arsenal they had given him. He also had a handful of rings to line his knuckles, a simple magic trick changing the shape he needed for close combat was also shown to him.

It wasn't much, but the tools and last-minute teachings made him feel safer. Like he wouldn't die in the treacherous forest running alongside the wagon.

"You will be dropped off at gate number seven," the driver spoke. He stayed focused on the pathway, maneuvering around saplings and some grown trees that were past the barrier. 

The barrier itself was something obvious to the eye, but the flow of magic sometimes made it seem invisible. A ripple of blue moved from the top to the bottom, bouncing and moving like water when it hit the bottom. Most of the visibility was near the ground, more blue shimmers joining as the older ripples began to fade like foam bubbles of the sea would disappear from the shoreline. It was a sight to see, but to know how this magical barrier was made was another mystery in itself.

Soon the wagon came to a halt, the horses pulling the warriors stopping just a bit ahead of an odd-looking area of the barrier. Instead of the blue ripples coming down and hitting the ground, the ones in this location began to bubble into an oval shape. It barely touched the earth and continued to dance in its oblong form, changing just like the lower ripples around it.

"Everyone out and in front of the door, please," the mage who rode with them spoke.

Instead of protesting, those riding stepped out. Eadward kept a careful eye on the mage, remembering what she had said to them before taking off from the barracks:

"If any of you run, I have permission to kill you. Best you comply if you want an honorable death."

'It isn't honorable,' Eadward thought. Death in these woods only meant you were picked to die by the king. There was no escaping once inside the magic that trapped him and the others.

The mage followed behind them and soon stepped in between the group of six. They were the only group of six, all the other groups had five members each. Eadward remembered them mentioning there was fifteen gates total, but monsters had nested near some. They had to have been divided up in a way to enter the only safe gates.

The mage raised her hand in the air, high above her head. A single blue gem was in the grasp of her fingers, just a slightly darker shade than what was appearing in the barrier. Slowly, her hand moved down, a breeze beginning to come from the closed gate. Her fiery red curls blew behind her head as she continued to bring her hand to breast level.

"All of you, up to the entrance. This will only be open for a short time."

All of them hurried, Eadward at the back of the group. They stood only a foot away now, standing with three in front and three in back. The wind only grew harsher as they stood at the source. But then it stopped.

The blue disappeared and it was now easy to see the fauna inside of the forest, free of the barrier's ever moving blue sea of magic. This was the moment.

To either enter and survive the forest of monsters or die right here and now.

Eadward didn't know what overcame him, but he was the first to step in, pushing past the two people in front of him. Others followed in after him, their movements were still hesitant.

Once all of them entered, a breeze hit at their backs, signaling that the door was now closed. 

They all stood still, just listening to the forest. Birds were singing, calling to one another for a partner. Sounds of small rodents making their rowdy calls also came, chasing one another along the bark of the trees or in the brush. It seemed like a normal forest filled with active wildlife, something calming and peaceful to the mind and body.

"This isn't that bad," the youngest girl of the group said.

Another member took a step forward, being alert with the surroundings for anything abnormal. After observing the area, he noted a dip off to one side of the entrance, perfect for hiding at the moment.

"Everyone, this way." He motioned with his hand and went into the mouth of the somewhat deep area. Most followed behind him, Eadward being the last to enter. "We can be here for now to avoid any lurking eyes of monsters," the male continued.

"And what do you propose we do while down in here?" Eadward asked right away. He sat down on one of the grass patches and looked at the plants growing around them. Some of them matched the edible plants in the booklets they had been given. He was quick to gather what was around him and put it into an empty sack on his main belt.

The one who had dragged everyone in was also collecting what plants he could tell were edible, sharing what he collected if others had none around them. "Well, to learn about one another and to explain how we will fight. Best to stick together, right?"

"I want to find my sister, though," a blonde woman spoke. "She wasn't in our group and my abilities work best when with her."

"Same here," Eadward added in. "My best friend was dragged into this as well. I want to find her and make sure she and I can survive together."

"Well," the male began, "all of us should share names and those we're looking for if we have those we care about also dragged into this." He finally sat down and began to eat one of the edible plants he had picked. "I'm Vesta. I'm mainly a spellcaster. I have mind-type spells and can cause illusions in one's mind. How about you?" He directed the question to the blonde woman who sat to his right.

"Hilke. My sister's name is Mabil. She looks exactly like me, save for no scar on her face. I shapeshift, mainly into different dogs, but it works best when with her as we can merge as one being, close to a dire wolf." Hilke then tucked her loose blonde hair behind an ear, it was enough to show she was an elf, or at least part elf.

The next person then went, this one being the youngest female in their group. "Cassia. I'm a knife thrower mainly, but I'm also really good with stealth and trap setting thanks to the training they provided. I'm not looking for anyone living here, but instead to find the remains of my brother."

Everyone's eyes seemed to darken at hearing Cassia's words, but they understood. While not everyone had lost someone yet to this horrific game, some probably had lost loved ones earlier on. No bodies were ever returned to families who did lose someone in Darren's game.

"Brune," the male next to Cassia said. "I have no one I'm looking for, but I'm willing to help you guys any way I can. I mainly use brute strength, but I can also channel my energy into anything and make it burst if necessary."

The next person was hesitant, but he didn't waste time introducing himself. "I'm Paskalin, but just call me Lin. I can make things fly and levitate, anything really. But it comes at limits. I can do one big item or multiple tiny items."

It then came to Eadward, him being last in the group. "Eadward. I'm looking for my friend, Ladrel. She's a half-elf with slightly red hair, but it's more blonde than anything. For what I can do, I can crush about anything with bare hands and can also throw things with immense strength too."

Now everyone was acquainted and able to understand where weaknesses and strengths were with each person. Descriptions of those they were looking for were shared, while notes on bones and how to identify them were also given for finding the deceased. For now, they were to keep low. Not all groups were yet in the forest, they would wait until morning to begin their search to expand their group.

They just hoped they could survive the night.