Monster Legends - Volume 1: A World Of Monsters

4. Thorntree Forest

"Look at that!" I shout, pointing to the distance. Stella looks at me confused. "What. I don't see anything." She says. I roll my eyes. "The forest. It's Thorntree." She looks at the wide stretching forest on the horizon, and then turns back to me. "Thorntree? What is that?" She asks. "Thorntree Forest. Don't you recognize it? Surely you must have heard about it at your town." Stella thinks for a minute, then shakes her head. "Sorry. Never heard of it."

"The Thorntree forest is the home of many, many Monsters. Especially of the nature element." I add to catch her attention. She smiles, looking eager to venture out towards it, then stops and shakes her head. "Its too dangerous." She says. "No it's not. Come on, we have nothing to fear!" "Yes we do." Stella says stubbornly. "You never know what might be lurking behind the trees and bushes." I groan. "Come on Stella, we've been walking on the same old road for days, I want some adventure!" I say. I can tell she's bored too. But the fear inside of her doesn't subside.

"We might die." She says in a whisper. I try my hardest to keep the laughter under control. "We won't." I say. She glares at me, and says: "Bolt might die." I glare at her for suggesting such a thing. "He won't. I'll keep him safe." "How?" Stella asks. "As far as I know, Bolt doesn't like the Monstagram very much." I look down at the Gigram sitting beside me. His look is filled with aprooval. "Come on Bolt! It can't be that bad in there. Maybe a little cramped..." Bolt shakes his head. "Is it cramped inside of there?" Bolt shakes his head again. "See Bolt, you have tons of space inside, so why don't you like it?" Bolt shrugs, saying: I just don't.

"Whatever. Do what you want. But I am going to the Thorntree Forest no matter what. Treezard and my level nine Genie will keep me company." I say, walking away. To be honest, I didn't want to go alone. I hear a yip behind me. I look back to see Bolt charging towards me. "Bolt!" I shout happily as he jumps onto my waist, scurrying up it and onto my shoulder. He licks my face. "Good boy." I laugh, patting his golden fur. "I'm glad you're coming with me." Bolt barks, and licks me again.

Stella looks around. She's alone. Angrily, she kicks at a stone. "Why do you have to be so stubborn." She mutters and then runs towards us. "Wait for me!"

The Thorntree Forest is unusually quiet. A bird chirps here and there, or a squirrel scutters past, but other than that, its silent. The quietness is unnerving. I lick my lips nervously, looking around. "Look who's afraid now." Stella laughs. I glare at her. "Let's go a bit deeper. We're only at the forest's edge." I can see an argument forming on Stella's lips, so I walk forwards before she has a chance to say anything.

Bolt is right next to me, his small ears pointed upwards, listening for any possible danger. He stops suddenly, and I stop too. Bolt growls warningly, and I follow his gaze to a bush ten metres in front of us. "Quiet." I whisper to Stella. She sees Bolt's gaze fixed on the bush, and gulps. I can tell her heart's racing, just like mine. I press the button on my Monstagram and say: "Genie, go." As quietly as I can. The white beam that emits from the Monstagram is brighter than I'd like.

"Genie, can you please go to that bush and scare whatever's inside of it?" Genie nods and floats towards the bush obediently.

A white ring forms around the Genie's outstretched hand. I recognize the ring as the Genie's most powerful attack at it's current level. "Houdinis slap." I mutter. The ring flies forward, hitting the bush with strong force as a small, dark blue Monster flies from it. The Monster rolls away in the leaves, gets up to its four legs and scurries away quickly. "What was that thing?" I ask. "Stella shakes her head, not knowing either. "It was cute though." "Yeah. But it was only a child. I don't think the child's parents are gonna be very happy about us attacking it like that. And I don't think they're gonna be that cute either." "Yeah, you're right. We should probably get outta here before its parents arrive." "Probably?" I look at her with question, my eyebrows raised. "Definitely." She corrects herself.