Bloodline

Among the forest - part 8

Zircon looks around, seeing the figures with what look to be makeshift weapons in the hands of all of them. "Well it seems to me that we're already too late! They're here!" The knight looks around, seeing the figures of people then walk out from the trees, coming into view wearing what could be seen as rags covered in dirt, with signs of fighting on each person. One speaks up, "So this is what you've been doing behind our backs Diruma! I always knew you had been plotting to leave this hellscape without us!" The knight turns to face them, "I never did! I was simply going back here to this clearing because I heard a commotion on my way to chart the area!" As he explains this, some people behind them start slowly moving towards them, which Zircon sees. He hold his dagger and looks at the different people surrounding them, each face filled with hate and disgust, and speaks up. "Listen! We at the kingdom never meant to leave you! We sent many search parties to find you all, but they would always come across this forest and its dangers! We never knew anyone was stuck inside because we knew not to enter unless you wanted to get trapped!"

One of the trees moves, and another figure moves from within it, walking past the people that came from behind Zircon and the knight to reveal a young lady, her face filled with determination and anger. As she walks to Zircon and Diruma, the weary knight kneels down when he sees her, Zircon keeping his dagger at the ready. "If search parties were sent to find us, then why did none think of the possibility we were trapped, and why did nobody in the castle rally a small army to search for us in here?" Zircon focuses on her, but watches the other people as they still slowly advance. "We never had the chance to! The Kingdom of Fire and Storms were already advancing towards us without anyone knowing, and they bombarded the city before nearly killing every soldier that was sent to fight! If it weren't for my friends and their valiant efforts to rally and fight that dark army, the kingdom wouldn't exist right now!" The lady bring a hand up, which Zircon sees as a readying signal. "And why should I not kill you now for trying to lie to us!" The lady says as the people hold up their weapons, ready to fight. Zircon looks to her, and while putting his dagger away, he stands tall. "For one, I'm faster than all of you, so I would take down at least three of you before you would be able to swing at me, and second because I didn't lie to you, our kingdom is suffering right now because of the east, and me and my friends have been sent to lead the attack against them, but we got stuck here when our magic type friend sensed something and was drawn towards it."

As Zircon watches the lady and her hand, she slowly brings it down, walking towards him. "Then she may be in trouble, for this forest feasts on those who can use magic, slowly driving them insane before literally feasting on them and their magic." She looks at the amulet in his hands. "That amulet you have can show you the way to her, if you can get to her before she reaches the center of the forest." Zircon, confused, looks at the amulet, examining the gem. "But how can I tell where she is if I cant find my way through this forest, I dont even know how this works." She grabs the amulet and puts it around his neck, a light glow starting to shine from the amulet. "It works as it gets passed down from person to person, leading each one to their path towards a brighter future, but as I'm sure Diruma probably told you, it also leads you to your end." "He didnt tell me that but thank you for informing me, I just hope my fate doesnt end in this forest..." Zircon grabs the canteen from his belt, and takes one sip of the water inside, moving towards the trees. "Once this war is over, I'll come back and find you all, and we'll get you out of this prison soon." Zircon says as he looks back to the people, a sense of relief washing over many of the peoples faces. Zircon waves the people goodbye, and hurries into the trees.

As he weaves through many branches and moving trees, a strange voice can be heard in his head, sounding exactly like him and telling him where to go. He briskly moves through the trees, each trying to block his path only to be quickly passed, Zircon smiling as each tree tries to block his way with any means. In the process of running past the trees, he hears another voice yelling for his name, and moves towards it. As he gets closer to the voice he recognizes it, and moves in a sprint towards it, dodging everything the trees try to do. "Damian! Over here!" He shouts as he eventually gets to Damian, the source of the voice and stops, nearly out of breath due to the running.

"Zircon! Where have you been! This forest broke our group apart, and who knows what Tesath was going towards." Zircon puts his hands on his knees and looks at Damian, "It's worse than we thought, this forest feeds on magic, but it literally feeds on the magic wielding person! Tesath is in grave danger and I know how we'll find her." Damian looks at him, confused, and waves his hand around, "Did you forget that this forest moves and confuses those who go inside it? We got lost due to Tesath's magic wearing off, and now we're split up, how are we going to find anyone in here!?" Zircon looks at him, smiles, and reveals the amulet, its gem shining brighter, "I found some people, and they let me have this, it'll let us find everyone, just trust me!" Damian looks at him, and nods, "Lead the way!" Zircon then hears the voice again, and follows its directions, making sure not to leave Damian behind.