Entering the Labyrinth

The Seventh Hour

Even though they make it out of the orchard, the endless expanse of trees does not end. The orchard leads out into a thick forest, tall, dark trees blocking out the sky, keeping the trio shrouded in thickets. Alexis feels her jaw grinding but is too exhausted to do anything about it. All she can do is ruminate on her frustration that they had to trek all the way back to where they were at the river before. She rubs at her eyes, the pressure feeling good, and tries to get any relief she can.

"It is alright, Alexis; there are still six hours left in the challenge. We will make it to the castle time," Bhia says gently and reassuringly, seeming to read Alexis' mood. She becomes flustered at that, feeling uncomfortable with being so overcome by her emotions, which adds to her frustration more.

"It's just... this is exhausting," she attempts to explain, struggling to find the words and feeling lost in her mental fog and the physical fog around them. "We were on the right path before; the castle was in sight! And he can jerk us around whenever it suits him? That's so messed up," she vents, but it does not help her to feel better. Nothing at this point could help except to make it to the end and get home with Kit.

Her mind turns to Kit then. Alexis hopes the teen is doing alright in that castle for so long. Alexis has no idea what the teen could be going through there, which makes her even more anxious. She has to keep powering through this; like Bhia said, only six more hours. She can do it, keep going, and keep it together, for Kit's sake. She takes a moment to shake out her limbs to reset herself and get her head where she wants it to be.

"Ok, you're right. The game's far from over. Changing the mindset: we are going to make it to the castle and get Kit back," she states as an affirmation to hold onto.

"That's the spirit, Alexis! With a positive mindset, you are one less obstacle in the way," Master Bhia chimes in, and Cleo chirps in their support. Alexis smiles at the duo; it does help raise her spirits that she has help and friends at this time. She is happy to meet and bond with genuinely good creatures in this mess.

Along their path, they see an old goblin woman in a long robe. The fact that she is staying down on the ground indicates that she had fallen and couldn't get up, along with trying to reach for her cane, which had scattered out of reach. Alexis immediately jogs over to the woman, calling to grab her attention as she and her companions approach.

"Oh, glory to the king that you found me. While walking back to my cottage, I fell and cannot get up without my cane. Can you please help me?" 

"Absolutely! I am so sorry to hear about your fall. Are you alright?" Alexis asks as she goes to retrieve the cane. 

"Oh yes, it's just the troubles of getting older. I have to remember I'm not 300 anymore," the old crone says with a chuckle that throws Alexis off guard with its nonchalance.

"I completely understand. The heart stays young forever, but the bones don't seem to get that message," Bhia says with a laugh, and it makes the crone laugh as well in agreement. Alexis returns with the cane and offers it to the woman who takes it. The goblin woman repeatedly says her gratitude while she begins to try to stand. Cleo extends their large paw to the woman, offering something to push up against to help her stand, and the woman gently uses the Griffin to help her rise. 

"Thank you all for taking the time to help an old woman. You're very kind," she expresses.

"It was our honor, ma'am," Bhia states with a deep bow.

"Do you need help with anything else?" Alexis asks without even thinking about it. 

"No, dears, I couldn't impose," she states, then lingers. "But... I also dropped my glasses when I fell and cannot get by without them. Do you see them anywhere?" the crone asks.