Red as Ruby

Chapter 32

Anwen and I rode next to Liora and Caelie as we gazed out at the sprawling landscape before us. The golden hues of Citrine City were slowly fading into the distance, and I could feel the thrill of adventure coursing through my veins.

"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together. "The prophecy says the next gemstone is hidden somewhere in the Lapis Lazuli Lake. We've got to find it. But first we need to cross the Amber Acres." I tried to sound confident, but I had no idea where to even begin our search.

"Amber Acres," mused Caelie, her eyes narrowing. "That place has a reputation for being... strange."

"Strange? How so?" asked Anwen, arching an eyebrow.

"Let's just say that the creatures there are unlike anything you've ever seen," replied Caelie cryptically. "And if we're not careful, they might just lead us astray."

"Sounds like fun!" I said sarcastically. Great, just great.

As we ventured fruther away from the city, we started entering into the Amber Acres. I couldn't help but marvel at the unique beauty of our surroundings. The few trees seemed to almost glow with a warm, amber light, their branches adorned with vibrant amber-colored flowers. The ground was dotted with tiny, bioluminescent mushrooms, casting a soft, ethereal glow wherever we stepped.

"Wow, this place is amazing," I breathed, spinning my head around to take in the sights.

"Keep your guard up, Heloise," warned Caelie. "These woods are known for their mischievous inhabitants."

"Like what?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

"See for yourself," she said, nodding toward a nearby bush. I peered over the back of the Hogbunny, which Anwen had lovingly called Snugglehoof, only to come face-to-face with a small, fox-like creature with iridescent fur. It blinked up at me with large, golden eyes before darting away into the underbrush.

"Okay, that was pretty cool," I admitted. "But what's so dangerous about them?"

"They're tricksters," explained Damien. "They have a knack for leading travelers off course and getting them hopelessly lost."

"Great," I muttered, feeling a twinge of unease. "So, how are we supposed to find the gemstone if we can't trust anything in these woods?"

"By sticking together and staying focused," Anwen said firmly. "We can't let ourselves be distracted by the creatures or the beauty of Amber Acres."

"Right," agreed Liora. "The gemstone is our top priority. We'll just have to keep our wits about us and not fall for any of their tricks."

"Agreed," I said, nodding resolutely. We had a mission to accomplish, and nothing would stand in our way.

~

We pressed onward, keeping our eyes peeled for any more of the mysterious creatures. Sure enough, it wasn't long before we stumbled upon a scuttling trio of sharp-toothed rodents who seemed to be following us. I gulped as their whiskered faces turned in our direction and they began to chatter excitedly amongst themselves. We quickly urged Snugglehoof into a faster pace, desperate not to get caught up with the mischievous little critters.

But more trouble lay ahead - flying squirrels flew down from the trees above us, attempting to snatch away anything that glittered on Liora's person or even my hair accessories! In one moment we were surrounded by captivating moonbeams filtering through the leaves only for pesky fireflies and rats leaping out at us in an attempt surprise attacks . Then there was a flock of owls whose camouflaged feathers blended perfectly with tree bark but which swooped down towards Anwen when she failed her hide roll. She quickly dashed behind Snugglehoof, narrowly avoiding the talons of the deadly predators.