Descendants: The rise of red

The crows

The group slowly advanced towards the Enchanted Forest, whose horizon was now dominated by tall, twisted trees, their roots seemingly tangled in impossible knots. The light in the sky faded as they approached, as if the forest itself consumed every ray of sunlight.
Bridgette walked at the front, clutching the map that Virell had conjured. Naveen followed closely behind, while Red and Chloe brought up the rear, with Chloe visibly struggling to keep up. Every now and then, the girl transformed into a scaly creature let out small whimpers of pain or confusion, but Bridgette kept reassuring her with brief comforting words.
When they finally reached the edge of the forest, a wave of cold enveloped them. The trees seemed more alive than they should have been: the branches moved as if watching the visitors, and a soft murmur rose from every direction.
"The map shows that the Lillium Nocturnis is located at the center of the forest," Naveen said, looking beyond the dense shadows. "But this place is... strange. We need to be careful."
"I know," replied Bridgette, her voice steady despite the chill in the air. "This isn't just any place. Everything here seems to have its own will. But we have to find that flower before midnight."
Red looked around with growing apprehension. She had never seen this part of Wonderland, and she was becoming increasingly uneasy. "Bridgette," she whispered, "are you sure this is the right way? What if something... is following us?"
Bridgette paused for a moment, listening carefully. Even the wind seemed to stop, holding its breath. Then she nodded. "We're in the right place. But we can't stay here long."
They continued deeper among the trees, which grew ever denser and harder to navigate. The roots seemed to twist deliberately to obstruct their path, and the shadows moved as if they had a life of their own. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the trunks, searching for any sign of the Lillium Nocturnis.
Suddenly, Chloe stopped abruptly, her eyes wide with fear. A whimper escaped her lips, and she pointed toward a spot among the trees.
"What is it, Chloe?" asked Bridgette, stopping to look in the direction Chloe was pointing. But there was nothing, only darkness.
Then they all heard it: a soft sound, like leaves shifting, but too rhythmic to be caused by the wind. The faint sound of footsteps, weak but steady, was approaching from behind.
Naveen gripped the handle of his sword. "Something's following us."
A sudden flap of wings made the group turn sharply. From a branch above them, a raven with a sharp beak and blood-red eyes watched them, emitting a disturbing caw. But it wasn't alone. An entire flock of ravens, black as night, stared at them, their eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Bridgette took a step forward. "They won't harm us unless we let them. They're not real, just shadows of Wonderland."
But when she tried to move forward, a root lifted from the ground, blocking her path. The ravens began circling above them, creating an ever-tightening spiral.
"We can't stay here," said Red, her voice breaking with tension. "We need to move!"
"Stay calm," Bridgette responded, raising her hand to stop the others. "We need to find a way to speak with the forest."
Naveen looked at her, puzzled. "Speak with the forest?"
Bridgette knelt and touched the ground, closing her eyes. "This forest isn't just a place... it's alive. It has a consciousness. And we're intruders."
For a long moment, there was only the sound of wings flapping above them. Then, almost imperceptibly, the trees began to emit a faint hum, as if responding to Bridgette.
"Let us pass," she whispered, keeping her hands on the ground. "We mean no harm. We need the Lillium Nocturnis."
The wind stopped abruptly, and the ravens ceased their flight. The roots slowly retreated, as if the forest had understood Bridgette's request.
"It let us through," said Red, incredulous.
Bridgette nodded, standing up. "We just need to follow the path. The flower is close."
With a renewed sense of urgency, the group resumed their journey, and soon they arrived at a small clearing. In the center, on a bed of silver moss, lay the Lillium Nocturnis, its ink-black petals shimmering under a moonlight they hadn't noticed until now.
"It's beautiful," murmured Naveen, cautiously approaching. "But... how do we take it?"
"Gently," said Bridgette, crouching beside the flower. With extreme care, she plucked a single petal without damaging the rest of the plant. As she did, a soft breeze blew, like a breath from the forest acknowledging their gesture.
"The first ingredient is ours," said Bridgette with a satisfied smile. "Now we need to find the Lake of Mirrors."
But as they prepared to leave the clearing, a tall, dark figure appeared at the edge of the woods, its red eyes staring at them intensely. It wasn't a raven, nor a shadow of the forest. It was something else, something much older and far more dangerous.
"It seems we're not alone," Red whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.