Pick Your Path: Book 1

84

You take look again, the lion cub was still there. It tilts it's head to the side before backing into the undergrowth. You glance back at Pearl and the group, finding that they haven't noticed that you've left yet, so you decide to go check out the lion cub.

" Go!" you hear a voice hiss as the cub turned around, bounding off. By the looks of it, it's a lioness, female. You start running after the cub as she cuts into the forest. You spot a flash of grey fur somewhere in the middle of the chase, but it soon disappears as soon as you saw it.

" Hey! Wait!" you yell after the lioness cub as you tumble into a clearing and right into the cub, sending her flying forward. " Sorry!" you yelp, stepping back. The cub shook out it's fur, looking up at you with large amber eyes.

" It's alright.." a energetic voice spoke sweetly from the cub as she stretched.  " Nice to meet you."

" Nice to meet you too..?" you responded hesitantly. She seems to be about the age of 8, judging by her voice.. Very esctatic and energetic as well. A faint golden brown glow surrounded her as she took the form of a young girl with lioness features. She gave a bright smile as she walked over.

" I'm Leah."

" I'm ( Y/n)" you keep a close eye on the lioness as her tail swayed, the fur puff on the end of it fluttering in the air. You glance back the way you came. Pearl and the others are probably worried about you.. What if they're looking for you? Pearl seems to be the type of person who when a team member goes missing would instantly go look for that person, even if that person was a complete stranger.

" Thinking about something?" Leah's voice snapped you out of your thoughts. Her amber eyes shone with a hint of curiosity and worry even, " .. You worried about someone?"

" No." you quickly shake your head, chasing the thoughts away. They're fine without you, probably haven't even notice you left.

" Leah!" a voice yelled as a small blur of grey with horns cannoned into your side. You stagger to the side with a yelp, eyes immediately flying towards the direction that the attack came from. A young grey ram stood there, his small nubs pointed down as if to charge again.

" Ryan! Stop!" Leah yelled as she leaped in front of you, standing in the way of the ram, " Don't!"

" Why shouldn't I?" Ryan stood up slightly, still a ram. His dark brown eyes flashed with protectiveness.

" Please! Just calm down!" Leah refused to move, standing in the way, " Take you human form.."

" Fine." Ryan responded after a moment's of hesitation. A flickering red glow surrounded him as he took his human form, revealing him to be a boy around the age of 7. His small black horns stuck out of his light ashy grey hair.

" Thanks." Leah gave a smile as she flicked her ear, her amber eyes shone with relief and happiness.

" You better move before Serena gets here." Ryan glanced at you, " She won't be happy to find you here with us." as he spoke a dart flew past your ear, faster than you could react. It impaled itself in a snaking vine with deadly accuracy.

" Serena?!" Leah yelled as she turned in a full circle. " Is that you?!" You instinctively get into a defensive stance, ready to attack anything else that came your way. A second vine lashed out, only to have you slash at it, cutting it in half. Leah backed up against you as Ryan headbutted a vine, sending it reeling back. Several more darts flew towards the source of the vines, which was hidden from view at the moment.

" Serena if that's you get out here!" Ryan yelled as he knocked a vine aside. A soft hiss seemed to be the answer to his yell. You slash the sword at a vine that got too close. Leah flicked her tail nervously as Ryan drew what looked like a pair of brass knuckles, placing them on.

" Are you sure about this..?" Leah squeaked nervously.

" Serena! Fan!" Ryan yelled as he crouched down slightly in a bent position, almost as if he was getting ready to charge. A couple moments passed before a dart embedded itself into a particular vine, exploding into a cloud of sparks. Ryan ran forward with a yell, his brass knuckles slamming into a vine nearby. A screech echoed through the forest. You slash at another vine.

"..no.." you glance back at Leah who still hadn't drawn a weapon of any kind and was just kind of standing there. Maybe there was a reason why she didn't fight.. Maybe she didn't know how? Or maybe it's because she's a pacifist?

" Careful!" You yell as you run up beside Ryan, your blade clashing with a vine. The blade sank into the vine, another screech broke out from whatever was controlling the vines.

' Yes!' you though only for your hopes for fall as you feel the vine jerk back, trying to yank itself away from the blade, only it was tugging the blade with it. You yelp as the vine tugged back again, since your hand was still on the blade handle, you were being a dragged along with it. You heard Ryan yelling for you to let go as he punched another vine.

" Take the risk.." a female voice hissed softly beside you. You look towards where the voice came from, only no one was there. " Go on.. Take it. Let it drag you in.." You glance back to see a vine creeping up behind Leah. She doesn't seem to notice. A pair of red eyes flashed near you as a girl with black fading to red and orange scales around her eyes and shoulder area stepped slightly out of the shadows, but still remaining hidden.

Take the risk? Jump to page 133

Leah? Run to page 132

Let's see what happens.. Hm.. This'll be interesting to see what (Y/n) will do.. Take the offer, Miss.. take it. It won't hurt to try. A risk is always worth taking if it means the greater good, right? Leah will be fine. I'll see  to it. Now go on, take the risk. ~ S

Serena what are you doing?! You're going to get (Y/n) killed! Only a trained warrior could pull off what you're giving her! Make her turn back! ~ Leah

Watch what you're doing yourself, Leah! You've got a vine on your tail! ~ Ryan