The Magic Forest: A Tale Of Survival

Part 3: The Zombie Army

Kael could hear their marching steps getting louder and louder. It wouldn't take long before they arrived there.
With a quick jump, he climbed one of the shorter trees around the bloodtree, hoping to evade both the army and the vampires leading it.
Unlucky for him, the vampires were thinking of organizing the army at the bloodtree, so he had to stay inside his leaf camouflage for a longer time.
🐞 "Why doesn't this USELESS tree make more bloodflowers already, I'm hungry"
🍅 "Shut up rookie. We'll get to eat later. Let's think of a good way to use the blood moon for now. You wouldn't want to disappoint Him, would you"
🐞 "Fuck you, I'm still hungry. And the blood moon's not making it any easier"
🍅 "Just punch one of the zombies, you'll feel better"
🗣️ (Bloodflowers. Of course they would go feral over a disgusting bloodflower)

The vampire went for a punch, but the zombies devoured him before he landed it.
🍅 "Idiot. We didn't need him anyway"
🔴 "Hey so, what should we do with this army then?"
🍅 "I'm still thinking, but maybe we could invade the Flame Canyon, and steal some magmaleaves from the orcs?"
The vampire leader growled, and the zombie army began to run, with the other vampires following her.

Kael had heard of who they didn't want to disappoint, but he managed to keep his cool and stayed hidden from the army.
Once they were at the Music Plains, he got down from the tree, hoping this night would finally end. His next goal was to reach his base.
When he got inside, a pair of arms held his body tightly, to his absolute surprise.
🍒 "Well lucky me, I finally found that pesky human's house" - a sharp voice spoke from behind.
Kael panicked, and struggled to reach into his pouch.
🍒 "Oh no no no, you won't do any tricks on me" - she said, as she tossed his pouch away, leaving him unarmed.
Kael decided to surrender his struggle, and let her finish talking.
🍒 "You know, it still amazes me how a human can survive for so long, on his own, out here in the forest, and not wanting to become an over-natural like the rest of us.
That's very remarkable, I'll give you that, but that doesn't excuse you for what you did to my friends. Remember them? The ones you cured before sunset?"
🗣️ "What do you want. You can't kill me here, you don't have your fangs"
🍒 "Oh please, being a vampire's not the only reason I'm still alive. If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it already, and I have enough reasons to do so. But no, I'm here to propose a truce against Him"
🗣️ "Him? What makes you think I'll be of any good against Him?"
🍒 "Because you're still alive. Being a human. For as much as I hate to say it, you were pretty clever on how you cured that vampire clan before. Defeating Him won't be easy, but you already know how to plan things properly, don't you?"
🗣️ "And why would I do that? You're all vampires, you'll eat my blood at the first chance you have. Besides, that sounds like a you problem, I'm perfectly safe out of His influence over here"
🍒 "Are you sure about that?" she said, as she pointed to the dark lime plant that had grown inside his base. Her grip was weakening. Not quite enough to break free, but close.
🗣️ "... What? How did that grow in here?"
🍒 "Did you really think there was anywhere safe from Him? The forest is changing in the worst ways possible for everyone"
Her grip weakened yet again, and this time it was weak enough. He slammed her into the bark of the trees, freeing himself and stunning her slightly.
He quickly grabbed her arms holding them firmer than she previously did.
🍒 "Ow, unhand me you brute"
🗣️ "Yeah right. You'll definitely try and kill me this time, and I like living, don't know about you"
He tied her with his vine lasso, and put her on a trunk.
🍒 "Fine, tie me. I'd do the same if someone broke into my home. But look out for those disgusting eye-invasors. You may be prey to me, but I would also rather you didn't get infected either"
🗣️ "Yeah, whatever" - he said, as he unrooted the eye-invasor, his shoe crushing its leave-like growths, making the black veins retreat.
🍒 "Think about that alliance, you could be safe from vampires from now on"
🗣️ "You can't be serious. The only way to be safe from vampires is becoming one"
🍒 "... Not necessarily ... But if you want to ..."
🗣️ "The weakest of the over-naturals? Lame offer. I like being able to walk during the day thank you"
🍒 "Your loss"
🗣️ "YOUR loss. I'll die before helping your kind"
🍒 "Come on, there's gotta be a way to make you cooperate; what about unlimited bloodflowers?"
He rolled his eyes.
🗣️ "Maybe next time, try offering something that'll be of use for me"

He kicked her out of the Healbloom Field, hoping to never see her again.
As soon as she stepped outside the Field, her fangs grew back and her skin turned pale once again. Her feet felt light too, her vampire speed finally coming back after being outside the Field's effects.
She broke the vine lasso and hopped away, the ever-present blood moon giving her an unnatural speed.
🗣️ (Why in the world would I want those stupid flowers. But then again, this shows their desperation)
It wasn't enough to persuade him. And he already had a new goal to obtain, and quickly.
One person knowing his base was one too many.
He couldn't stay there any longer. His main priority was to find a new base now, but the night's exhausting events were catching up.
Nothing to do but sleep the rest of the night. At the very least, his songflower would make it peacefully silent.