The man leads the three to a clearing in the forest. A large wooden and cobblestone tower is in the middle and a large door is at the base. Aleena walks through rows of small saplings and bushes growing as one garden. Fresh scents bring her to a smile, remembering the forest.

"A nature wizard?" she looks around at the tower and the vines growing on the side of it with flowers blooming.

The old man looks at Aleena, "I specialize in all kinds of plants. And I have a few animals here."

The group enters the wooden tower and they see a few cages and a desk. Plants grow in the corners of the tower and the light from the windows shine upon them.

"I'm Lyrian, that's Faylin, and Aleena," Lyrian says to the old man. They follow him up the wooden stairs and through some flowery vines through a doorway into the next room.

The old man glances to them and smiles, "you can call me Merrik." He steps slowly holding his cane and pours some tea from a tea pot. Merrik takes a seat in a red armchair at the corner of the room and offers the three to sit. "Make yourself at home. I also have a bath salts and a pool downstairs if you want to a scrub with Mr. Loofa," Merrik laughs and holds a cylinder sponge like a puppet on his hand. "Don't worry, he's seen me many times, it doesn't do anything to him anymore," he chuckles.

Aleena's face is in disgust but Faylin and Lyrian let out a nervous chuckle. Faylin grabs his sponge and hands it to Lyrian, "Lyrian why don't you go first? Aleena and I will go after. It'd be nice to wash this muck off."

Merrik stands up with the help of his cane, "I'll get you some new clothes. They're rags but it'll do until the ones you're wearing are washed." He puts his hat on a rack and heads to his room.

Lyrian sighs, "I'll go then." He takes the sponge and some soaps. He grabs the new fuzzy cloth from Merrik and heads down stairs.

Faylin and Aleena are sitting in his living area on a couch.

Merrik comes back and sets out a few folds of clothes, continuing on to his chair to sit. "So tell me ladies. What you know of Tilbert?"

"Only that he's a danger to the ow!" Faylin punches Aleena to the side to shut her up.

Merrik chuckles, "nonsense, he may look gigantic, but he's harmless."

"How did you find him?" Faylin asks.

"Now that is a tragic story there. He was under a mage spell. Someone who had a grudge against the forest. I was able to calm him and help him out. Poor fella was a mess."

"Where did you get the dinosaur...I mean, how did you do it?" Faylin says, correcting herself from calling Tilbert a dinosaur.

"He was rampaging around the village, swinging his tail, stomping and kicking houses. I was able to dispel the magic in his mind that was making him do that. Someone tried to turn him into a weapon, but considering he doesn't have many defenses, it was quite easy to calm him. He was like a living battering ram."

Aleena glares of at the side table next her, deep in though, "you said someone who had a grudge against the forest?"

"I don't know who," the old mage shakes his head. "The elven slaves have said something about that in the village. But what I do know, this person, hates humans."

"Why? Why would a mage use a dinosaur to destroy a human village?" Aleena questions.

"I don't know, maybe they want to see humans burn. Either way, I'm happy Tilbert is safe. He's a good fella," Merrik smiles and sips his tea.

Lyrian comes up the stairs and sits on the couch, wearing white loose cotton shirt and pants, he is also barefoot. "Thanks, I feel a lot better," he stretches and yawns, clean and fresh. He looks to the girls and the old man, "so what'd I miss?"

"Merrik was telling us about Tilbert, the dreadnoughtus," Faylin explains. "turns out he was under a mage spell like the Ankylosaur we encountered. But Merrik dispelled it."

"That's right," Merrik replies, taking another sip from his tea.

Faylin takes a towel, "anyhow, Aleena, you coming?" Faylin says to Aleena, and the two leave.

"Alright," Aleena replies, grabbing a towel and the pairs of raggedy clothes.

Lyrian sits with Merrik, and watches the man finish his cup of tea, going about their day.

Aleena and Faylin make their way to an underground steaming bathroom with a large hot pool. Faint magic is felt, probably to keep the underground hot spring warm. Aleena takes off her clothes and wraps a towel around herself. She steps into the pool and lets her body sink to the edge of the rock tub. She turns to see Faylin with a towel on and she is washing off the muck in the water.

Faylin notices her and sighs. She sits next to Aleena, "I can't do it."

"What do you mean, Fay," Aleena asks, and gazing to the ceiling. She breathes in deep, and exhales out a relaxed breath.

"I can't kill that dinosaur. It's innocent," Faylin says. She dunks her head in the water to clean her hair.

"I know. But we have to," Aleena responds, closing her eyes.

Faylin emerges from the water and wipes her face, "Aleena. I know it's hurting the environment, and I feel like a hypocrite right now. But I don't think leaving one harmless dinosaur would hurt. This is Merrik's friend, his pet. We can't take that away from him."

"Then what about the forest Faylin?" Aleena says, turning her head to her, "what happens if the forest can't keep up?"

"Then we'll deal with it, but for now, let's leave it be. Let's not make any hasty decisions," Faylin says. "You saw the spinosaur egg. These things are already breeding. It would be too late to catch them all anyway by ourselves. We should be focusing on the source of all this."

She looks at Aleena who's eyes are shut in frustration. Faylin's face is full of worry and she places a hand on Aleena's bare shoulder.

"I promise, the forest will be safe. One harmless dinosaur eating a couple of trees won't hurt," Faylin says to her.

Aleena opens her eyes. "Okay," she complains. "Okay, we'll leave Tilbert alone. As long as you're sure he's not going to hurt anything."

"Thank you, Aleena. I promise, if Tilbert does anything to the forest, we'll make things right," Faylin says to her, and smiles. "We'll probably be staying here for a bit. We can observe what Tilbert is doing and how he acts with the environment around him. Study him, make sure he isn't harming anything. I'm guessing he's also a male so he shouldn't be laying any eggs anywhere."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Fine," Aleena responds.

The two emerge from the water to dry off and get dressed. Up the stairs, they meet with Lyrian and Merrik. Faylin sits with Lyrian, her feet feeling the soft carpet and she is in torn but newly clean clothes of soft cotton.

Aleena sits in a soft arm chair, clean with torn shorts and a shirt. And her long blonde hair shines upon the light.

"We've decided to not kill Tilbert, as long as it's okay with the forest," Faylin tells Lyrian. Lyrian nods and smiles to Faylin, knowing that was the decision all along.

Merrik smiles, "well that's good to hear, ladies. I didn't know you were out to kill him. Or I would've had your necks partying with the willow vines on first sight." He bursts out in laughter.

Faylin chuckles nervously and Aleena sighs in frustration. "Is that a joke? I can't tell," Aleena says.

"Partly," Merrik laughs. "It's a warning to not do anything stupid."

"Right," Aleena replies. She then questions, "Merrik, you're a nature mage living out here on the edge of a swamp. Aren't you afraid that Tilbert, a dreadnoughtus, which is an extinct species, may be messing with the environment out here?"

"Nonsense, I'm the one who's feeding him after all. I'm the one who looks out after the nature out here. I grow willows, ferns, cattails, grass, berries, all when necessary. I help the animals out here and farm them out in the wild. I can assure you, the swamp is quite controlled and well respected. Tilbert, while having a thousand stomachs, is well fed."

"Must be a lot of work," Lyrian comments.

"Oh it's quite draining, but it's what I am called to do as a green wizard."

Faylin smiles and looks at Lyrian who's smiling back. "Merrik, do you have a place we can stay?"

"You're welcome to stay here, I don't mind the company. The guest room is level two of the tower," Merrik replies with a smile.

"May I observe Tilbert outside?" Aleena asks.

"Of course, as long as you keep your bow down, you'll have no trouble."

Aleena bows to him, "thank you. I want nothing more than to observe. I just want to make sure there is no complications with the forest here."

"You've nothing to worry. Now who's ready for supper?"

Aleena takes her leave and the rest prepare for dinner.

----------------------------------------

Aleena is leaning on a rock, by herself outside, next to all of Merrik's rows of outside plants. Tilbert is in view as Aleena is watching it eat from a far. The same long neck arching to rip willow trees and ferns off the ground. A long tail swishing behind it, and it's legs holding it's massive weight. Aleena gazes afar and sighs trying to find a way to convict Tilbert but there is nothing she can see.

Evolution takes a long time and the forest is quite controlled here. Aleena feels more at peace but does feel for it's long arching neck that must be a pain for Tilbert since he must be used to eating taller trees.

She puts her hands together for a prayer, "Thyrdon, god of life, forgive me for lives I have taken." All of the beasts she as shot down over the years start to well up her eyes. The coming of the dinosaurs is very much messing with her beliefs. But at this point, she knows she can't stop them now. She wonders why she should even go after them anymore.

The wind blows, and Aleena stands to her feet, hearing the sound of a twig snap. Tilbert moans in the distance.

Aleena looks around, a shadow in the corner of her eye dashes. She pulls an arrow from her quiver and nocks it. Listening, more twigs snap and she fires her arrow at the sound.

"Who's there?" she calls out. "Show yourself."

Aleena is met with a dagger through the back of her gut, feeling a burning sensation in it. Her heart beats, her vision blurs with blood spilling from her mouth.

"Aleena? Dinner is ready." Faylin asks, she walks to the front door of Merrik's tower. She steps outside and looks around, the sun is setting and the air is cold. She shivers and wraps her arms around herself.

Faylin glimpses at a woman with red and black armor, and long red hair, hugging the back of Aleena with a dagger sticking from her gut. Faylin's heart drops and she screams, "Lyrian!"

The woman glances in Faylin's direction but reacts, pulling the dagger out and dashing into the bushes to escape. Aleena collapses and she gasps for air, having no ability to talk.

"What's going on?" Merrik asks. He and Lyrian follow behind Faylin, heading outside.

"Aleena!" Faylin yells, she kneels down to Aleena. "Who did this to you?"

Blood spills from her mouth and Faylin looks at her wound. Faylin pulls her shirt off, leaving a white top, and wrapping her wound. Aleena coughs and red soaks onto Faylin's wrapped shirt.

Lyrian holds her and takes a glimpse of her eyes which are bloodshot and pupils grey. "She's been poisoned."

Lyrian starts to cry, "Aleena, we're too far away from any cleric to help."

Aleena desperately reaches for Lyrian, tugging his clothes and pulls herself closer to him. She leans her head against his chest, as if she was ready to sleep. She closes her eyes slowly, and Lyrian puts a hand to her head. "It's okay, it'll be okay," Lyrian says, crying.

Merrik walks at fast pace with his cane and some emergency supplies full of herbs. He kneels and grabs Aleena's wrist, holding it tight. Her wound is inflamed and he savagely tastes her blood and spits it out, "poisoned from a dart frog. This rogue was slick."

"Is there a cure?" Faylin asks.

"Ferny, tsst!" Merrik yells out and a plant comes poking from the ground. A small mandrake rushes to him, letting him grab some of it's leaves. "Faylin, grab some some of those mushrooms over there."

Faylin runs over to some lines of mushrooms and picks them. "Lyrian, keep her awake and keep her breathing. She's not allowed to sleep," Merrik commands and Lyrian nods.

Lyrian pulls Aleena closer and he holds her head, "Aleena, listen to my voice, it's okay. It's okay. We're here." He holds her hand, and Aleena opens her eyes slowly, her eyelids heavy.

Merrik grabs the ingredients and puts them in her mouth, "no time to make tea, just eat." The old mage has a raspy voice for his fast reaction time.

Merrik takes a large leaf from his bag and puts it over Aleena's wound, on her belly. He wraps the bandages around it, and then wraps it with Faylin's shirt. Faylin helps him wrap the bandage and the three look at Aleena.

Aleena is still bleeding and groaning in pain. "We're here Aleena, please hang on," Lyrian begs. "Stay awake, stay awake."

Faylin stands up and a horde of different kinds of animals are circling the clearing at the trees. Even Tilbert joins in the circle behind, moaning dreadnoughtus calls, and green sparkles starts to surround. Small grass begins to sprout around and a clear green fog pans alongs the dirt.

"Nature destroys, and breeds a new and always heals it's protectors," Merrik chants. His hand glows green on the wound and a circle of green light surrounds them, with lines pointing to the animals. Animals close in with green orbs of life feeding Aleena.

The magic fades, and the orbs finish, and Merrik sighs in relief.

Lyrian and Faylin look at each other in awe. "Did it work?" Lyrian asks. He holds Aleena in his arms and Faylin is holding her hand. They look at Merrik, who's breathing heavily and wiping his forehead from sweat.

His old age is showing and he leans on his cane. "Ah, she should better in the morning. Though a little tipsy from mushrooms. They have a good kick to them," Merrik laughs, regaining back his strength quite quickly.

Faylin lets out a sigh of relief and hugs Aleena, "Thank goodness."

Lyrian smiles to Merrik, "thank you so much, sir." He has a tear in his eye and he wipes it away.

"No need, young ones," Merrik responds and looks to the house as his animals leave back to the swamp. The dreadnoughtus arches down next them, biting a willow down and pulling the roots. Cold dirt flies in their faces making them flinch.

"Tilbert! I thought I told you to save that one for lunch tomorrow. I haven't made the seeds yet," Merrik yells to his gigantic pet as it moans and echos back.

"No no, I don't want to hear it," he lectures.

Faylin turns to Lyrian, "let's get Aleena inside to rest." Lyrian nods and picks her up.

They bring her inside and lay her on the couch, keeping her warm with a blanket. Lyrian sits on the soft carpet, watching her sleep, and Faylin is on the couch, looking at the two.

"I can't believe it. That was so close," Lyrian sighs. Faylin looks down at Aleena and then to Lyrian who's trying to wipe the blood off her mouth. "Did you see what the killer looked like?" he asks.

"It was dark," she replies, "but it was a lady. I saw her. I saw her red hair and she had black and red armor," Faylin explains.

"Do you think she was a human?" Lyrian asks.

"I don't know," Faylin responds. She sighs, "she looked at me when I yelled. She was fast, she was gone before I could do anything."

"You think this is the event that Luminitsa warned us about? Red aura, and Aleena dead."

"It could be, but she was very vague," Faylin says. "All we can do now is wait, and see if Aleena will remember anything."

"Right," Lyrian replies.

The two wait, and Merrik comes back inside, "I'm sorry about that. Tilbert can be an handful sometimes, even for me."

"It's okay," Faylin replies and smiles awkwardly. She turns her head to Aleena who is sleeping peacefully. She smiles to them and then back to Merrik, "thank you so much for your help, Merrik."

"You're welcome, dear. I'm glad I can help," he smiles and takes a seat. "You can rest, I can keep an eye on Aleena. If anything happens I'll come get you two."

"Thanks you," Faylin says.

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Faylin, Aleena, Merrik, Lyrian, and Tilbertimage [https://i.imgur.com/vwJga3i.png]