Mod Superhero

Full Throttle Heart - 14 - Edge of the Cursed Lands

[The screen fades in from black to a smoky gray. The landscape is cloaked in a thick fog and the silhouettes of Truck-kun, Gabriel, and Morden come into view.]

"Shouldn't the sun have risen by now?" Gabriel asked.

[The camera pans in, revealing the group. Truck-kun's fog lights push away the gloom, but only in a small bubble around them. Gabriel and Morden each carry a small torch.]

"I think it has risen already," Morden replied. "My maester said that we would have to pass through a great fog before we reach the cursed lands."

Al, the bluebird, peeked out the passenger window and croaked, "Oh man, are you guys sure we have to go into the creepy forest? This is even worse than the last one!"

Truck-kun rumbled, "Al, we're not in the Cursed Lands yet."

"I know, and it's already worse!"

Gabriel smiled softly. "You know, Al, the bravest warriors are often the smallest. They say that courage is not the lack of fear, it is acting in spite of it. As afraid as you are right now, it means you're all the more courageous."

Al shivered. "Yes. It's very hard hiding in the glove box and being carried into danger. Truck-dude, do you think that I can hide in here during the final battle?"

"We'll see when we get there?"

"And you're sure we're not there yet?"

"No."

Gabriel said quietly, 'Morden, I do have a question... How are we going to find your maester in the Cursed Lands?"

Morden breathed deep. "I'm not certain. I'm sure he has his ways. Perhaps he'll send his familiar for us."

Truck-kun asked, "He's familiar with the Cursed Lands?"

"No. A familiar is a bonded magical companion."

Gabriel added, "It's a pet."

Morden rolled his eyes. "It's not a pet. Many familiars are intelligent creatures that enter into the bond of their own accord."

Al replied, "Sounds like a pet with extra steps."

Morden threw up his hands in defeat.

~

[The camera cuts to the edge of a dark forest. The trees are barren, their tops giving the illusion of bones adorning the limbs. Fog lifts as they get closer to the wood's edge, but an unnatural darkness takes its place. Truck-kun and the others pause cautiously.]

"You know," Al muttered. "I miss the old forest."

Gabriel raised his torch to get a better view. "At least the fog lifts. We'll be able to see a little better."

Morden swallowed dryly and tried to conjure a spell. He succeeded in creating a small candle flame in his palm. He walked forward with his hand outstretched, and the flame shrank and finally smoldered.

"That's because this is the end of magic. The Cursed Lands suck the magic and the life out of everything. Not even fog can permeate here."

Even Truck-kun's powerful high-beams seemed dim in the gloom. "How will we find our way?"

Gabriel said, "We need to find a landmark or something..."

"I'm telling you, we should wait for a sign from—" Morden pointed. "Look!"

[A flame soars over the barren treeline. At first, Truck-kun and Gabriel ready themselves for an attack, but the flame swoops between the branches.

[The flame sails over to them and settles on a low branch. The glow softens until a slender, fiery bird is seen. Her feathers smolder like embers and the long feathers of her wings and tail shimmer like flames.]