The Forest Chronicles

Chapter 4

 Jason sighed. This quest was boring. "Can't we just settle down for the night?" He asked Alexander. Helik was setting his halo down and getting ready to rest. "I don't know." Alexander replied. "Wait." He suddenly stopped walking. "Where's LampShade?" He asked. Jason groaned. "Ugh! We don't know where we are going nor what we're looking for!" Jason sat down on a log. "We're looking for Victoria Knolas!" Alexander sat down on the log, right beside his friend.

"I know, Alexander!" Jason almost yelled. "Sorry, Alexander." He mumbled. Alexander smiled softly. "It's fine. You're just mad and I made it worse." Jason sighed. "No, it's not that. Just ever since I found out I was the main person in the Great Sphinx Prophecy, I've been stressed."

"Plus, there hadn't been any mention of a sphinx!" Jason said. Alexander opened his mouth to protest but his friend was right. There wasn't any mention of a sphinx. Then he remembered something as he had again and again and again. "Wait....have you heard the prophecy before?" Alexander asked Jason. "Of course," Jason replied as he nodded. Now he asked a question. "So, did your parents not ever tell it to you as a bedtime story?" Alexander's smile faded slightly. Jason looked down to the forest floor. "Oh."

Alexander only had one mortal parent: his dad. And his father died when Alexander was 6; almost 7. He had been living in the forest in his dead father's cottage. He stayed there until he was 8, a year living on his own, he had to live with what the forest gave him. It gave food and, now Jason believed, Kaikos gave Alexander protection. Then when he was 8, he met Jason. "It's fine, Jason!" Alexander reassured; his grin was back. Jason couldn't help but feel bad, but he didn't want Alexander to know. "Yeah, it's fine."

"So, what now?" Alexander was now laying on the log. He had his eyes closed. Jason thought that maybe his eyes would glow again, but they didn't. A one-time thing, Jason thought, only because of the claiming. "I'm not completely certain." Jason paused. "Maybe we should try and find LampShade." He suggested. Alexander nodded, and stood. Jason did too. "That's a good idea, Jason." Jason nudged Alexander with his elbow. "I know, Alexander!" The two laughed.

Now, the two were walking through the CrowSin forest. The trees grew thick and thin. The types changed from VoiletTrees to RoseTrims. Alexander, along the way to LampShade, picked up leaves from a RoseTrim tree. "RoseTrim trees have healing properties." Alexander said randomly, while holding five leaves from said tree. "That's in Mushroomia Kingdom's Book On Forest Magic," Jason said. Alexander nodded. "Mhm! I wanted to read it to impress you, but I couldn't find the time, I only read the first plant magic chapters." Jason sniffled. "Wha-" Alexander put the leaves in his pocket. "Alexander! You're the best friend I could ever have!"

Alexander hugged Jason back. "Thank you, Jason!" He paused, and sneezed. "Ew!" Jason stepped back. "Your snot-mist got in my hair!" Alexander laughed. "It's not funny, Alexander!"

"But it's not that much!"

"It's still gross, Alexander!

...

"Hello, sir, my name is Alexander Evergreen and this is Jason Witherleaf! We're members of the Great Sphinx-" Jason used his hand to cover Alexander's mouth. Alexander had the amazing idea to ask a random boy where LampShade was. The boy was around 17 or 18, with brown hair, his left eye was blue and his right was brown. The boy shrugged. "If you're looking for the freak named Victoria, the outcast is in her mansion. And, since you seem lost," He rolled his eyes. "Lampshade is right ahead."

"Thank you, sir. We are sorry to bother you." Jason said, while the boy shrugged once more. "Well, he was rude." Alexander nodded, agreeing with his friend. "But I liked his boots." Jason sighed. "I admit, they were cool, all black and clean and all." Alexander kicked a few pebbles. Jason was silent. So was Alexander. The whole world seemed to hold its breath.

"Alexander?" Jason asked. Alexander looked up from the ground. "Yeah?" Jason chuckled and pointed to his forehead. "You've got something there." Alexander moved both of his hands to his face and began searching for anything from mud to bird poop.

Now his hair was more twisted than the vines that were decorating the trees. "Where is it?!" Alexander yelled; a murder flew from three trees. "I was joking, Alexander! There's nothing there!" Jason had to cover his mouth with his hand to stop from bursting out laughing, but his attempt failed as soon as Alexander narrowed his eyes. He tried to look scary, but he failed to. Alexander laughed with his friend. His arm made its way to Jason's shoulders.