Mbali hesitated at the edge of the wood where the thick fence of thorns separated the village from her forest.

“Will you not cross?” the chameleon asked, perched on her shoulder.

“I’m scared,” Mbali whispered, her fingers tightening on the straps of her backpack.

“You have your glasses, remember? All you have to do is tell the forest that you wish to leave, and the thorns will disappear. After that, you take the first step, and then another until your little legs carry you all the way to the witch’s lair.”

Mbali took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She sent out a prayer to the forest god with all her heart, wishing for the thorns to disappear. A loud rumbling noise sounded throughout the forest, sending the birds fleeing up to the skies. When she opened her eyes, the vines were no longer there.

“Well done, Mbali. Now take that step. Don’t worry,” the chameleon reassured her. “I’ll be right here with you too. Just put your glasses on and take the step. Your friend is waiting for you.”

Mbali put on her glasses and stepped out into the village. Everything still looked the same with a few changes here and there. She didn’t know if the glasses were really working, but since she didn’t run into any monsters as she walked into the village, she started to relax.

It took five days of walking, only resting when the sun went down, before she made it to the city. No monsters had crossed her path, and the glasses made the Monster King’s eyes look less threatening.

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In the city, Mbali had to stock up on more supplies as she was running out of food. But unlike in the forest where the land provided for her, she had to pay for her food. Without any money for food, she feared that she would die of hunger before reaching the mountains.

She came upon an old inn owned by an old woman whose skin looked like hardened leather. The wrinkles on her face, her sunken eyes, and her bushy brows made her look more animal than human. When she breathed, a strange rattling sound came from her chest.

“Please, can you spare some food?” Mbali begged. When the old lady barked out a laugh and reached out as if to strike her, Mbali flinched. But the old lady only made to ruffle her curls.

“Such fear in your eyes, little one, and yet you’ve got the courage to ask me for food. But you know, nothing in life is free, my girl. You want to eat, you work for it. Come,” she ordered.

Mbali spent the rest of the morning washing the dishes. In her nervousness, she broke some of them.

“I’m sorry!” she rushed to apologize. Each time, she expected the lady to strike out in anger, but all she got was a scolding.

“Mistakes happen, child. But you can’t spend your entire life as an apologetic mushroom, living in fear of everything that jumps out at you.”

“I don’t understand,” Mbali replied.

“You will one day, as long as you remember that life isn’t always rainbows and roses. As long as you weather the storms, you’ll find the sunshine again,” the lady cupped Mbali’s cheeks with her wrinkled hands and kissed her forehead.

The old woman’s words lingered in Mbali’s mind. She had faced many fears since leaving the forest, but her journey was far from over. With renewed determination, she continued her journey to the Quartz Mountains, ready to face whatever lay ahead in order to rescue her dear friend, Navi.