Claimed By Zodiacs

Chapter 10

Endless Woods

#Lillian Summerfield#

They left us.

You are more useful at Oktubre, they said.

I am not stupid. We do not need protecting. So we followed them. The four of us. The younger Bravesky named Blaire, Queen Skyloft, and Queen Ladylake.

"Are you sure we're following the right path?" Silena asked, sounding winded. It had been hours since we departed.

I didn't reply. The trees had been guiding the way for me, urging me on the right path. But even I know that something was amiss. The path grew narrower with every hour. The trees wilder. The darkness thicker.

I stopped. The Hydro Queen slammed on me.

"This is not the path they took," I said to the trees.

I felt someone shuffling, the sound loud in the stillness. The hunter in me wanted to lash out at my companions for the lack of stealth... But that would be lack of etiquette.

The trees whispered in unison. Urgent. Calling. Rescue.

"I told you to follow my brother, not rescue some stray," I reprimanded, voice almost rising.

They were silent. You are forgetting your place here, they seem to say.

I am a mere mortal, and they are the guardians of the Endless Woods. I sigh in defeat.

"Fine. But this should be worth it," I surrendered, then I resumed walking.

"We're lost, aren't we?" Blaire asked.

"No. The trees say we need to rescue someone," I replied.

"Look at you, speaking to the trees. If I didn't know you better, I'd though you've lost your corals," Silena joked to ease the tension.

I chuckled. Being in touch with nature was a Terra trait. But being able to talk with nature was a trait that was lost through the ages.

"Dawn is coming," Sofia said out of nowhere. It was followed by the growling of someone's stomach.

"That wasn't me," she added.

The trees rustle. Here. Here. Here. They chanted. It was deafening.

Far off, we could hear the clash of metal and shouting. I ran to the sound, the others following close behind. We found the fighting in a clearing. There was a facility at the center of the clearing. Guards littered the forest floor. The others were hunched over the screaming guards. The sound of tearing flesh echoed in my ears. It'll haunt me in my dreams.

Blaire cursed colorfully. I muttered some of my own too.

"They fear sunlight, you say?" Sofia asked.

"Y-yes," Silena replied. "They only attack at night."

I could hear Sofia taking deep breaths. "The trees, what do they say?"

The trees chanted to reply. Inside. Inside. The godling is inside.

"Inside," I said, voice shaking. "The godling is inside."

I heard shuffling beside me. "Listen. I'm going in. You watch my back," Sofia decided.

"You're not going alone," I replied.

She chuckled. "I'd figured you'll say that. Just stay behind me. I'd be able to fend them off. Enough time till sunrise."

There was a ripping sound. Their hiding place lighted with the two flaming whips she was holding.