The Quest

Dark forest

Readers note: The cover photo is of Selene and her bow.

I stop at the entrance of the dark forest. It's certainly dark, no doubt about it. All around me I hear no noise, I'm tempted to go back, and try the long way. I slowly urge Juno forward, he's very skeptical, but eventually he surrenders. I scan the area, nothing is unusual, but then I see something than makes me stop dead in my tracks. There's a sign, that says: Beware you are no longer in the protection of the kingdom of Aura. Enter at your own risk. The words are written in blood, and there's a weird symbol at the bottom of the sign. Juno starts prancing around frantically, I calm him down with some soothing words. I look back and see the sunlight, then I look ahead. I decide to go forward, I'll die trying to save my family. After an hour of riding, I see nothing, but then I see this little girl crying. She's turned away from me, but I can make the outline of her dirty pink dress, and matted black hair.

"Do you need help?" I ask softly. She doesn't reply, maybe she didn't hear me, so I step closer.

"Do you need help?" I ask again. She doesn't reply, she slowly stands up and turns around. My heart stops. It's not a little girl, it's not a girl at all. It's a beast, a goblin, with a elvish grin on his face. His beard is narly, and he is about 5'6. I might be able to take him. I grab my bow and notch an arrow.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you," a voice behind me says. I feel the cold metal of a sword pressed to my kneck. Two more goblins come out behind the trees. All of them look the same except, they all have different hair colors.

"Look what we have here boys, a lady to entertain us." The red head says.

"The boss will get mad, if he finds out he'll get mad that we didn't share." The black haired says.

"Alright tie her up, we'll have fun with her after the boss gets here." The red head says. One of the others grabs me and ties me up. They tie up Juno too, no doubt giving him to the boss as a gift. I watch the goblins for a while. They set up a camp and a fire, it's getting dark out now. This is my time to strike. I slowly take the throwing knives out of my boot. I slowly and quietly cut the rope that's holding me to the tree and it comes loose. I aim for the red head goblin who is guarding me, I let the knife fly, it hits him squarely in the chest. His body hits the ground, and makes a loud thump. All heads turn towards the noise. The goblins look down from the body then up to me. They pick up their swords and sprints towards me. I'm up in a flash, two knives fly out of my hands and takes down two goblins. Only one more to go, I run up to Juno and untie him. I've got the last goblin on the run. I grab my quiver and bow and ride after the remaining goblin. I urge Juno forward, and the goblin is in my sights. I raise my bow, notch an arrow and let it fly. Right in his back. I ride back to camp, and scavenge food, and tools. I hear hoofs running, that must be the boss. I can't take him on, I'd don't know his numbers, another day my fight will come. I jump on Juno, and off we go, towards the next part of the dark forest.