Today the team and I go to the Death Forest to rescue the phoenix. No one is looking forward to this mission. None of us want to go to the Death Forest, especially me. I’ve spent most of my life in that hellish place. I have no desire to ever go back there, but I don’t have a choice. I have to save Kyndle.
With a heavy sigh I pick up the backpack from Eva and head downstairs with the team. We are all in the living room. Lynden looks so hopeful, she can’t come with us, but she will be here when we get back. We’ve decided to meet back here after the Death Forest, and then go back to the manor. We are welcome to stay in the beach house whenever we want. Apparently, it’s ours now.
Once everyone is gathered in the living room with their backpacks Lynden hands out the potion from Thanos. It’s a dark brown color, almost the color of dark chocolate. We open the potion vials, and on the count of three we drink. Then we take our stones. We think about the Death Forest as we link hands. Between Emmy and I we can safely teleport everyone with our magic combined with the stone's powers.
I close my eyes. I feel like I’m being compressed and tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. After all these years, I still haven’t gotten fully used to the feeling of teleportation. When I open my eyes, we are in the Death Forest. The sky is dark gray, the trees are still ominous looking, and I’m already wishing I wasn’t here. Emmy and I have been here before, but the rest of the team hasn’t. I watch as they take this horrible place in.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Avery states as she moves closer to Bex.
“I get why you had panic attacks over this place,” Alice comments to Emmy.
“Yeah, it’s not a fun, great, and wonderful place, so let’s not be here any longer than we have to,” Emmy replies.
“I second that,” I add. “Hopefully Kyndle will show herself soon so that we can find the correct path. For now, we can head in the direction of the castle.”
“That’s a good plan. Lead the way bro,” Emmy says in cool manor, she’s trying to keep it together.
I take the lead, and head in the direction of the castle. I’m the only one who really knows this place. Emmy has been here plenty of times, but she never learned her way around the Death Forest. I unfortunately had nothing better to do half the time, so I would explore the Death Forest to see what I could find, that is when I wasn’t chained up. I shiver at the memory of the dungeons. I really hope we aren’t here too long; I seriously hate this place. Why fate keeps bringing me back here I will never understand. I guess I could just ask Destine, but somehow, I don’t think I will like his answer.
We have been walking for a bit when there is a giant red bird in the air. It’s the spirit of the phoenix, she found us. Thank fuck for Kyndle finding us, because we are starting to get to the tricky part with the different paths. I sigh with relief as we turn down a path that Kyndle is flying over. Kyndle ka-caws above us, I guess it’s her way of making sure we are following her.
A few hours later we stop to eat and rest. The castle isn’t close, but we are closer than we were when we first got her. Should be another few hours till we reach the castle. The team needs to rest and gather strength because fighting the draugr and Mortem aren’t going to be easy. Kyndle’s spirit lands next to me, she perches herself on the rock next to me. Kyndle’s coloring is warm shades of red, yellow, and orange, just like fire. She is in spirit form so I can’t touch her, but when she looks at me, I feel connected to her, I guess that’s because she is my animal companion. I know Emmy and the others are very attached and connected to their animal companions. Normally the team has their animal companions with them, but this was too dangerous of a mission.
Thankfully there is no sign of the Enchantress. Whatever plan our parents came up with to distract her must be working. Let’s hope she stays away. We have enough complications with this mission as it is, and her showing up would make our mission that much more difficult, maybe even impossible.
After resting we start the last leg of the journey to the castle. We are eager to get this mission done and over with. We are all anxious at the moment. There is so much uncertainty with this mission, and no one likes being in the Death Forest. As Emmy would say it’s creepy as hell and she isn’t wrong.
After what feels like forever, we finally reach the edge of the path. The castle is up ahead. The castle is made up of black stone, and towers over the marsh. It’s not a huge castle, it’s more tall than wide. Kyndle flies above us. In the distance we can see the Draugr and Mortem. They are pacing in front of the castle door. The Draugr is tall with light gray thin skin, it’s so thin you see the outline of his bones. His eyes aren’t there, instead there are just gaping black holes where his eyes should be, how he can see I don’t know, but we won’t underestimate him. The Draugr is wearing black armour, and has a huge mace slung over his shoulder. Mortem is a hideous beast and looks just like Destine said.
Carter, Brie, and Avery set themselves up in the treetops. The forest is near the castle, so they should be able to get a good aim. Thankfully the Draugr and Mortem haven’t seen us. We are trying to stay hidden in the trees, but soon the rest of us will go out into the clearing. Kyndle’s spirit is circling around the castle.
Alice, Bex, Ryan, Emmy, and I prepare to head out into the clearing. We set down our bags on the forest ground, and grab what we will need to fight. Emmy transforms into her monster side, and she is ready to kick some ass. Emmy leads while Bex, Ryan, and Alice are behind her. I’m behind the others staying hidden so that I can go straight for the castle doors. It’s time to start the battle. We walk out from the forest with determination to win. This won’t be an easy battle, but we are ready.
“Hey asshole,” Emmy calls to get the Draugr’s attention.
The Draugr turns to face us, and he looks fucking pissed. Mortem breathes fire at us and swipes his left front leg against the ground just like a bull would do before it charges. This is it, it’s time to fight, time to take a stand, time to save Kyndle.