Micah ran ahead of everyone, stopped, and opened his mouth, releasing a massive blast of air that blew away a horde of mobs.
“Micah has created an opening! Everyone, get through!” he shouted.
Huilji and Neliel nodded and made their way through the opening, followed by Anjel and Mariju. Elysha followed and entered another part of the forest. Behind them, Ana and Sorcha stayed behind and took out their staffs.
“Take this!” Ana called out, casting blue magic at the crowd that had been blown away.
The mobs, whose appearance looked whimsical and magical, like creatures from children’s books, exploded into confettis and candies. Sorcha joined in, casting pink spells from her staff and shouting, “Sorcha demands that you stop chasing and hurting us!”
More mobs exploded on contact, but despite the colorful piles of remains scattered across the ground, more rounds of enemies kept popping up, prompting both Ana and Sorcha to retreat and catch up with the rest of the party.
“Did you get them?” Micah shouted.
“No matter how hard we fight them off, more of them keep showing up!” Ana replied. “They just never stop!”
“They don’t stop because it’s like we’re invading their territory!” Micah replied. “They just showed up and attacked us out of nowhere ever since we started looking for the mother of those rabbits!”
“They’re trying to stop us from the momma bunny!” Sorcha joined in. “Grr, they are all Sorcha’s enemies!”
“And to think that all this happened because the smaller rabbits were crying for us to save their mother,” Neliel sighed. “What a crazy night it has been so far.”
“It was Sorcha’s idea to take on the quest and gather us all together to find their mother,” Micah said. “And not long after, we’re being chased by these phenomenal, strange-looking creatures!”
“Do you want to be blown by Sorcha’s staff into confettis and candies too?” she countered. “And we’re not stopping here! We getting close to saving the bunnies’ momma!”
Sorcha paused at her feet before turning to face the approaching crowd. She held out her staff again, twirling it dramatically and shouted, “Become candy!”
A spiral of pink energy shot out. The blast expanded into a swirling vortex, consuming the nearest mobs and leaving behind an explosion of glitter, confetti, and candy that rained down like a bizarre party gone wrong.
“Come on, Sorcha. We have to catch up with the others,” Ana said.
“Okay!”
The two hurried along the forest path. Up ahead, the rest of the group had just cleared out another horde. As the last mob burst into a shower of colorful junk, the group paused to catch their breath and wave at Ana and Sorcha’s arrival.
Elysha brushed some glitter off her shoulder and looked down to pick up a piece of candy. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion as she curiously inspected the piece. “Why are they turning into candy?” she asked.
“Because the forest magic here is quirky. That’s why,” Micah replied.
“Is that really a good explanation for this?” Huilji asked with folded arms. “Those creatures that chased us look like living toys that came straight out of a nightmare movie.”
“Oooh, that sounds like a good idea for my next project,” Ana said.
“Now is not really the time to focus on anything that doesn’t relate to our current situation at hand,” Nevi interjected.
Anjel turned to Mariju, who was leaning against a tree, still trying to catch her breath. “Mariju, are you all right?” she asked.
“I am tired, but still okay,” she said with a strained smile. “As long as there are no stairs, I think I’ll get my strength back.”
“When we get out of this… bit of a chaotic mess, do you want to eat something sweet with me and Elysha?”
“Sweet?” Mariju calmed her chest and let out a soft chuckle. “And here I was slowly getting tempted by all those exploding candies in the air.”
“I’m not sure why that came out of my mouth either, hehe. Maybe the desire for sweets is calling me.”
Meanwhile, Ana picked up a candy from the ground and said, “I wonder what it tastes like,” before unwrapping it and tossing it into her mouth.
Nevi looked at her disgustedly. “You’re gross.”
“What? It tastes surprisingly good,” she replied, blowing a bubble from her mouth before popping it.
“In that case, Micah wants to try it too!”
“Please don’t,” Nevi sighed.
Elysha walked over to the boy with the red hair and glasses, asking, “What are you doing?”
“I’m thinking about our current situation,” Neliel replied, adjusting his glasses as his eyes darted through the trees. “We can’t waste any more time here. Either we continue to search for the missing mother rabbit, or we make our escape back home.”
Elysha looked up and around the area. The woodland surroundings appeared dark and blueish, lit by the light reflected from the moon. Her eyes stopped at a small hill covered in trees and bathed in the same moonlight. “We should go there,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I think so. Maybe the mother rabbit is there.”
At the same time, Huilji took the candy she had picked up, unwrapped it, and dropped it into her mouth. “It tastes like chocolate! Weirdly good chocolate.”
“See? I told you!” Ana smirked and winked at Nevi. “You’re missing out.”
Nevi rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “I’d rather not eat anything that used to be a living monster, thank you.”
Neliel stepped forward into the middle of the group and said, “We can’t stay here too long, we have to move on quickly before the mobs show up again.”
“Yeah! We have to save the momma as soon as possible to make the little bunnies happy again!” Sorcha added.
“Micah agrees with Neliel. Those weird-looking creatures could respawn with twice as many as last time!”
“They’re kind of cute though,” Huilji said.
“Focus, all of you!” Neliel interjected, gesturing forward. “Like I said, we can’t stay here much longer. Let’s keep moving.”
The group pressed on. As they continued to search for the mother rabbit, Mariju couldn’t help but groan in frustration, “I hope we’re close to whatever it is we’re looking for. I don’t know how much more walking and running I can handle.”
“It’s like a race to see who can get to the momma bunny first!” Sorcha said, smiling as she skipped ahead.
“You’re not even helping!”
“It’s okay, Mariju,” Anjel reassured her, offering a hand to help her. “I’m right here beside you. If anything happens, I can help make sure you are safely out of harm’s way. We’ll get there with everyone sooner than later.”
“Th-Thanks?” she replied as she accepts Anjel’s hand.
The group trudged on, their steps quickening as the air grew cooler. Elysha stayed close to Anjel and Mariju, glancing at the path ahead every now and then. The little girl’s silver hair shimmered faintly in the moonlight as she clutched the edges of her dress.
“Are we really getting any closer?” Huilji asked, her voice tinged with doubt. “Or are we running aimlessly in vain?”
“Elysha pointed us in the direction of that hill over there,” Neliel said. “If any of you see any other particular signs, let me know.”
“My body is drenched in sweat, covered in dirt, and I feel absolutely disgusting,” she groaned dramatically. “I need—”
“A bath?” Ana interrupted. “Yeah, yeah, we all do. But some of us probably need it more than others.”
Huilji whipped her red braided hair around with a sharp glare. “Excuse me? And what exactly are you trying to say, Ana?”
“Enough, you two!” Nevi intervened. “We are literally running in the woods right now, perhaps surrounded by these same phenomenal creatures! Now is NOT the time for this… this catfight!”
Despite her words, Huilji does not let go of her pointed look at Ana. “You, me, at your same hangout place, tomorrow. Deal?”
“Deal!”
Micah bounded ahead. “Micah sees something ahead! It’s—oh no.”
“What is it?” Neliel asked, picking up his pace.
His tail pointed to the trail ahead. “Stairs. Lots of them.”
Everyone stopped, their eyes fixed on the seemingly endless ascent ahead. The stairs wound long and high into the dense canopy, its steps uneven and sometimes narrow, disappearing into the shadows above. It was like a stairway to the unknown, or to their own end.
Mariju’s shoulders slumped as she let out an exasperated complaint. “Why stairs? Why does it always have to be stairs?”
Nevi crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed. “I knew it,” she sighed. “Something about this forest is actively trying to ruin our lives.”
Huilji patted Mariju’s shoulder, her grin equal parts teasing and encouraging. “Hey, come on now. You can do this. We’re all going together. No one is getting left behind.”
“Yeah! Micah will go first to make sure it’s safe,” he volunteered, puffing out his chest and jumping onto the first few steps. “If any mobs show up, Micah will blow them away!”
Sorcha gripped her staff and spun it with dramatic flair. “And if there are too many, Sorcha will blast them into candy again,” she said with a bright smile. “No mob is too much for Sorcha’s magic!”
“Let’s hope there aren’t any mobs at all,” Neliel muttered, adjusting his glasses. Taking a deep breath, he placed one foot on the first step of the stairs. “All right, everyone. Let’s do this.”
The group made their way up the stairs, their shoes crunching against the weathered stone. The climb was slow and steady, with Micah leading the way, scouting as the others followed.
As they ascended, Elysha turned her attention to Mariju, who was quickly getting tired of walking up the stairs. Next to her was Anjel, who helped her out despite the slow pace. “Do you need to stop for a bit? You look a little pale,” she asked.
“No... I don’t want to slow everyone down,” Mariju replied weakly, trying to muster a smile. “It’s just so easy for me to feel tired or weak.”
Elysha moved closer and offered her hand, saying, “Take my hand. I can help you too.”
“Thanks, Elysha. You’re very sweet,” Mariju smiled.
The stars above twinkled and faded with each leaf that passed beneath them, their faint but serene light casting a glow over the stairs. Despite the steep climb, there was a sense of unity among the group. Sorcha hummed a cheerful tune as she twirled her staff, and Ana kept cracking jokes to lighten the mood.
“Does anyone else feel like we’re climbing into the sky?” Huilji remarked, her eyes tracing the stairs ahead. “It’s almost like this thing never ends.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Nevi said. “The last thing we need is for these stairs to suddenly get longer.”
Anjel’s eyes noticed Micah pausing at the front. “Micah? Did you see something?”
“Micah can see the top!” he shouted from ahead. “And something else… glowing!”
“Could it finally be the rabbit?” Huilji asked.
“We’ll soon find out!” he said as he quickened his pace.
The others followed along as Neliel spoke with quiet confidence. “Just a little more!”
Elysha held Mariju’s hand a little tighter. “We’re almost there.”
Mariju nodded. “Yeah. Almost there.”
The group pressed on, step by step, until finally the stairs gave way and they could see the glow grow brighter, illuminating the forest around them. At the top of the hill stood a small clearing bathed in moonlight, and in its center the group froze as their eyes locked on the giant creature.
Huilji muttered, “What the…”
The mother rabbit stood at least three times her size, perhaps more. Her soft fur reflected the light of the moon as it brushed against the wind. The rabbit struggled against the heavy chains that bound her arms, but her focus remained on the cauldron before her, the liquid inside shimmering in different colors.
“This must be the mother rabbit those little ones were crying about,” Neliel said.
“You know, I expected us to spend our night looking for their missing mother, but I didn’t expect their mother to be so big and fat,” Ana stated.
“That’s rude.”
“Come on Nevi, I was being honest. She looks like a giant rabbit that came from the top of the beanstalk tower,” she shrugged.
Sorcha stepped forward cautiously. “Wh-Why are the momma bunny’s arms chained up and bruised like that? We have to help free her!”
Elysha’s eyes blinked and she asked, “What is she doing?”
“No idea, but more importantly, she’s hasn’t noticed us yet!” Ana replied, then walked up to her before waving her arms. “Heyyy! Can you hear us?”
The rabbit’s ears twitched at the sound, and her glistening eyes turned toward them. Despite her immense size, her gaze was soft, almost pleading. She opened her mouth, but instead of words, a low, melodic hum resonated through the clearing.
Anjel’s eyes widened and she said, “I think… she’s trying to tell us something.”
“What do you think she’s trying to tell us?” Elysha asked.
“She’s asking for our help, of course!” Sorcha replied, then called out, “Don’t worry! Sorcha and all of us will help save you!”
Neliel adjusted his glasses and looked at the cauldron in front of the rabbit. Around its base were scattered various items—glowing herbs, crushed flowers, and crystalline powders. “Look at the ingredients scattered around,” he said. “She’s making something.”
“Making what?”
“I don’t know. More importantly, we need to figure out how to free her from those chains.”
Neliel approached the rabbit cautiously, his eyes darting between her and the cauldron. He muttered under his breath, “Chains enchanted with runes... This is no ordinary magic. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing.”
Elysha stepped closer and softly asked, “Is she hurt?”
“Hmm…”
Micah moved closer to the cauldron and took a whiff of smell from his nostrils. “Ooooh, smells sweet, like honey and flowers,” he said.
“You should add yourself to the pot,” Huilji suggested.
“No way! Unless you want to have some Micah-flavored stew to go into your stomach, then fine by me!”
*rumble*
Suddenly, the Earth began to shake, startling and alarming everyone. The moon became covered by the clouds, and the mother rabbit let out another hum.
“Something’s happening!” Mariju said.
The mother rabbit’s gaze shifted to the forest around her, and she raised one bound paw and gestured weakly toward the trees.
“She’s pointing at something!” Sorcha exclaimed. “Tell us, do you need anything? How can we save you?”
[‘Seeds…’]
They all flinched and shook at the sudden voice. “Did... did you just hear that?” Micah asked.
“Y-Yes,” Nevi replied, still shaking. “But did we hear it at the same time?”
“We just heard the word ‘seeds,’ didn’t we?” Neliel asked.
Elysha turned to the large mother rabbit and stared into her reflective but wistful eyes.
[‘Please find my last ingredients for me.’]
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The group exchanged wide-eyed glances. “Did the rabbit just speak to us?” Huilji asked.
“Telepathically, I suppose,” Neliel confirmed. “And she mentioned seeds. It must be the last ingredient she needs for whatever she’s brewing.”
“Seeds? What kind of seeds?” Nevi asked, clearly uneasy. “This forest isn’t exactly an easy-to-find grocery store.”
“Wait!” Mariju frowned. “Don’t tell me this means another detour back into the woods again? That’s where all those mobs were!”
“Do you see any other way to help her?” Sorcha asked. “We can’t leave the momma bunny stay chained up like this!”
Huilji sighed and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “Okay, so we’re ingredient hunters now. What exactly are we looking for? Seeds? Isn’t that like looking for needles in a forest-sized haystack? Shouldn’t we just use brute force to break these chains and call it a night?”
Anjel stepped closer to the mother rabbit and said, “We’ll help you. Please tell us where to find the seeds.”
The rabbit made a loud hum, and glowing symbols appeared in the air above the cauldron. The shapes morphed into images.
“How is that even possible?” Huilji asked.
“So those are what the seeds looked like…” Mariju yawned. “They looked bigger than what I thought.”
“And colorful and have patterns on them,” Micah said.
“I counted about eight of them with different colors,” Neliel added. “So, if we need to rescue the mother rabbit, we need to follow what she wants first to learn more about the situation.”
“Seriously brother? But why does she need those seeds to finish whatever she’s making?” Huilji asked with outstretched arms, then pointed to her bound wrists. “Look! She’s chained up for some reason! Shouldn’t we set her free first?”
Neliel turned back to the rabbit and looked at the mysterious runes that were etched into the chains.
[‘Without these seeds, my spirit cannot be free.’]
The children’s heads snapped back to the large rabbit. “Her spirit… cannot be free?” Nevi whispered. “What does she mean?”
[‘Find the seeds. They are the foundation for the growth of this new tree.’]
“Sounds like she’s really trying to make something,” Micah said, then a light bulb went off in his head. “Ah! Micah knows where to start! I saw some weird glowing plants on the way here. Maybe they have the seeds!”
“Oh, I think I saw them too,” Mariju added.
Nevi took a moment to think about the words she had just heard, to process them and to ask a question, “So, does that mean we have to—”
*rumble*
“—!”
The group tensed as the ground rumbled again, shaking loose pebbles and dirt from the hill. The air around them grew cooler, their breaths visible in the dim moonlight. Elysha clutched her necklace tightly as she heard sounds in the distance.
Out of the dark forest came more mobs—strange, weird-looking and whimsical creatures emerged. Their glowing eyes locked on the group, and a low growl echoed through the forest in unison.
“Ah! It’s them again!” Micah shouted.
“Oh, come on!” Ana groaned, drawing her weapon. “Talk about perfect—no—worst timing!”
“And I was wondering when they were going to show up again,” Nevi sighed, putting her hand on her hip and shaking her head.
Sorcha eyed her and pointed her staff at her, “Don’t tell Sorcha that you were the one who jinxed it.”
“What? I didn’t do anything.”
“If they’re here now, then they must not want us to find the seeds,” Neliel reasoned, drawing his own sword. “Whatever phenomenal they are, we must defend ourselves against them while we gather the ingredients."”
Sorcha twirled her staff confidently and smiled. “No problem! Let’s blast them into candy!”
“Brother, your sister would get scared if you weren’t fighting by her side,” Huilji teased, winking at Neliel as she casually rested her morning star weapon on her shoulder.
“Sis…” Neliel sighed, shaking his head. “Could you take this a little more seriously?”
“Come on, brother. Let’s make sure we slay together while we fend off these hooligans,” she smirked. “It’ll make a great story for when we’re back home.”
Mariju groaned, clutching her side and leaning against Anjel. “Forget stories... I just want to go home… and sleep…”
Micah’s voice cut through the chatter. “We’ll split up! Some of us will distract the mobs, and the rest will go find the seeds. You hear Micah?”
“Right, it’s the only way we’ll make it through this,” Neliel said.
Sorcha raised her staff high. “I’ll keep them busy! Sorcha’s magic will make them wish they’d stayed in their forest holes!”
Mariju tugged at Elysha’s sleeve and exchanged a look that suggested she wanted her to follow her and Anjel. “Let’s go find the seeds together.”
“Everyone ready?” Micah asked, his eyes scanning the group. They nodded as one, ready to face whatever came next.
“Set…” Micah crouched slightly, his tail twitching with excitement as the whimsical mobs approached. Their glowing eyes blinked like jack-o-lanterns, and their strange, cute, yet unsettling forms advanced steadily.
“Go!”
The group launched into motion at Micah’s command, splitting into two teams as planned.
Micah, Neliel, Huilji, Sorcha, and Ana stood their ground, ready to face the incoming mobs. Meanwhile, Nevi, Elysha, Anjel, and Mariju veered off into the forest, slipping between the trees to begin their search for the seeds.
“Micah, you better not slack off!” Huilji called over her shoulder, gripping her morningstar.
“Slack off? Micah never slacks!” he replied. As the first wave of creatures came at them, Micah inhaled sharply and blew out with all his might, the gust scattering the smaller mobs like dust and leaves in the wind.
“Take that! Micah’s wind is stronger than your stinking mob faces!” he shouted, puffing out his chest like a champ. “See? Micah’s amazing!”
“Less bragging, more fighting! These little guys are multiplying faster than Sorcha’s candy explosions,” Ana said.
“Stinking? But these monsters look cute! If only they were good monsters, they would become Sorcha’s stuffed plushies! And speaking of candy…”
Her grin turned mischievous as she twirled her staff in a flourish display. “You think Micah’s that’s good? Watch Sorcha’s magic!”
With a dramatic slam of her staff into the ground, she unleashed a flurry of colorful toys that sprang to life, bouncing toward the mobs before…
*kaboom*
They exploded into bursts of confetti and candy.
“They’re like pinatas!” she clapped her hands and jumped up and down enthusiastically. “Sorcha loves this!”
Huilji laughed as she swung her morning star, the heavy weapon smashing through a group of mobs. “Nice work, Sorcha! You’re making this look like a festival!”
“More like a candy raid,” Ana muttered, taking her own staff to defend herself from the approaching mobs. “But you know what? That sounds like a lot of fun. I’m enjoying my time here, finding my next inspiration for my projects.” Then she smiled, acting like a narrator, and continued, “‘The Night of the Dreamvasion…’”
“Ana, can you stop with the acting and focus on the mobs?” Neliel shouted, slicing through a pair of mobs with his sword. “You can write about whatever’s on your mind later. I can’t let myself be distracted if I’m not interested in being mob fodder tonight!”
“Don’t worry, Micah’s watching their moves!”
Ana shrugged. “Fine, fine,” she said, dodging a blow from a particularly large mob and blasting it with her magic. Then she saw Micah being surrounded by mobs. “Micah!”
Neliel took notice and ran to strike at them with his sword. He swung, but despite the precision of his blows, the blade was not enough to make some of the enemies explode.
“Watch out!”
He backed away as Huilji jumped in with a grin, her morning star crashing down with a satisfying crunch. The remaining mobs exploded in a shower of candy.
“Woo, that was a close one,” Micah said.
Huilji turned and gave her brother an air kiss before saying, “You’re welcome, brother. I better be rewarded for saving you from that moment.”
“Wasn’t Micah the one who was saved from being cornered?”
“I wasn’t talking about you.”
Meanwhile, Sorcha twirled her staff and said, “You think these little guys are tough? Watch this!”
Her staff sent a massive jack-in-the-box springing out of the ground. It opened with a loud pop, releasing a wave of pink and colorful energy that scattered the advancing enemies like bowling pins.
“Princess Sorcha is unstoppable!” she laughed as confetti rained down around her.
“How the heck has she not run out of energy yet?” Huilji asked.
“How the heck is she even that powerful?” Micah raised his eyebrows.
“It’s her mother’s genes,” Neliel sighed.
“Sorcha, less showing off, more helping us!” Ana said as she fended off a group of mobs coming at her. “And you three, stop watching her and help me clear out this side of the area! These things aren’t going to stop anytime soon!”
“Okay!” Sorcha replied, pouting slightly. With another spin of her staff, she summoned a rain of pink fireworks that exploded over the battlefield, clearing another wave of mobs. “But you owe me candy for this later!”
“Candy? If we survive this, you can have all the candies you want,” Micah huffed as he went to help Ana.
~ ❈❇❈ ~
Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, Nevi led the seed-searching team through the woods, her eyes scanning the shadows for the glowing plants they’d seen earlier. “Keep an eye out. We’re looking for seeds with patterns and colors, just like the ones the rabbit showed us.”
“My heart won’t stop beating fast because of a possible ambush,” Mariju said as she held her hand over her chest.
“It’s okay, Mariju. Nevi, Elysha, and I are here. We can all hold them off and defeat them together until all the seeds are collected,” Anjel reassured her.
“That’s good to hear, I just want to go home and sleep…”
“Well, we can’t keep being pessimistic about what’s going to happen,” Nevi said, pausing and turning to face her.
Mariju blinked her eyes. “Huh? Nevi?”
She raised her hand to touch her cheek, causing her face to flush upward.
“Calm down. Take a deep breath. Breathe slowly and relax.”
Mariju nodded and took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady herself.
“Do you feel a little better now?”
She nodded and moved her face towards Nevi’s bare palm. “Your hand feels warm,” she said quietly.
“It’s comforting, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“My mother taught me that when the situation seems negative, when you feel alone and nothing seems to help you. She told me to always look for the bright side of the situation, like a small glimmer of light in a pool of darkness, just like my hand feels warm to you.”
Mariju nodded, “Thank you… Nevi. I will keep that in mind.”
Nevi gave Mariju a small smile and removed her hand. “Good. Just hold onto that thought. We’re not alone in this. We’ve got each other.”
As they moved further into the woods, a light mist began to settle on the ground, and a faint rustling caught Elysha’s attention. “Huh, did you hear that?”
Everyone froze, the forest around them eerily quiet except for the occasional wind.
“... Nothing, thankfully,” Anjel whispered, gripping her wand tighter.
“Stay alert, no matter what your mind thinks,” Nevi said.
Suddenly, her eyes caught a glimmer through the mist. “Over there,” she said, pointing to a faint, silvery light shining through the trees. “That could be one of the seeds we were looking for.”
They moved toward the glow, the mist parting slightly to reveal a small luminous plant, its leaves gently swaying as it basked in the moonlight.
Anjel stepped forward cautiously and plucked the shimmering golden seed. “I’ve got it! The seed is bigger than I imagined, and pretty-looking, too,” she said, holding it up for everyone to see.
“Good work,” Nevi said, her bow still drawn as she scanned the surrounding forest. “That’s one down. Seven more to go. Let’s not linger here too long.”
“Are we sure this is going to work? What if we don’t make it in time?” Mariju asked, clutching her side.
“Maybe, but still, we have to try,” Nevi said firmly, looking back at her. “We’ll find all of them so that we can free the mother rabbit. We have to keep moving.”
As they continued to search for the next seed, the ground began to tremble beneath their feet.
“Not again!”
Suddenly, strange and whimsical enemies emerged from the shadows, ready to ambush them. Their glowing eyes fixed on the group as they made their menacing noises.
“Wjirriirii!”
“Oh no, they found us!” Mariju shouted, her voice trembling.
Nevi’s bowstring snapped taut as she took aim. “Anjel and I will hold them off! Elysha, Mariju, find the next seed!”
“But—” Elysha began to protest, her eyes darting nervously between the advancing mobs and Nevi.
“No time to argue!” Nevi shouted, loosing an arrow that hit a mob directly, causing it to burst into confetti and candy. “Go!”
Mariju grabbed Elysha’s hand, her grip firm despite her trembling fingers. “Come on, let’s hurry before more of them show up!”
The two dashed deeper into the forest, Elysha’s eyes searching for any sign of a seed. “There!” she exclaimed, pointing to a faint purple glow up ahead.
“We must hurry and be quick so we can reunite with Anjel and Nevi,” Mariju spoke in a tired but urgent tone,
Elysha asked, “Do you want me to pick up the seeds or do you want to do it?”
Mariju thought for a second and replied, “I can watch out for the monsters.”
When they reached the plant, Elysha knelt down to find the next seed. At the same time as she grabbed the seed, a mob suddenly emerged from the shadows above her, freezing her in place.
“Elysha!”
The creature looked oddly cuter than the others, with floppy ears and round cheeks, but its sharp claws gleamed menacingly as it rose to strike at her.
“Watch out!” Mariju shouted, throwing herself at Elysha to push her aside.
The mob lunged, claws slicing through the air. Before it could land a blow, a spell streaked through the darkness and struck the creature directly in the chest. It exploded into a puff of sparkling confetti and candy.
Mariju opened her eyes to hear footsteps coming closer. “Are you two okay?” a familiar voice asked.
She and Elysha looked up to see Anjel emerge from the shadows, panting and grinning. She was holding her wand, the same one she had used to cast a spell.
Elysha clutched the seed to her chest. “Thank you, Anjel! I thought we were done for.”
She turned her eyes to Mariju, who was still covering her, and then quickly stood up herself. “Sorry,” she said, then reached out to help her back up.
“There’s no need to say sorry,” Elysha said, shaking her head. “You saved me, and I’m happy you did that for me.”
Hearing those words, Mariju’s eyes shook and she gave a small, yet soft smile. “You’re welcome.”
“Elysha, Mariju, we should keep going.”
Their eyes turned to Anjel who said, “See that arrow of light in the sky? It came from Nevi. She’s calling for us to reunite with her. So, are you two ready to continue?”
“Yes,” Elysha replied with a nod.
“We’re ready.”
They pushed forward, their feet crunching on the undergrowth as they made their way through the thickening mist. They could hear the faint sounds of battle from Nevi’s team in the distance, the crackling of magic and the ominous sounds of the mobs echoing through the trees.
“Stay focused,” Nevi said, her voice steady despite the situation. “The next seed should be around here somewhere.”
Mariju nodded, her eyes darting between the trees. Just then, a faint blue glow appeared through the trees. The trio hurried toward it, and there, nestled among the roots of the tree, was the next seed.
“There it is!” Anjel breathed and reached down to pick it up. “We’ve got it.”
“Six more left to go,” Nevi said in perseverance.
“Let’s go!”
They continued to search for the remaining seeds while the other party fought the mobs. By the time Nevi, Elysha, Anjel, and Mariju had collected all the seeds, they returned to find their friends holding off the remaining mobs near the mother rabbit.
“We got them all!” Nevi called out, relief flooding her chest as she saw her friends still there.
Anjel and the others rushed forward, and their eyes could see that Micah’s team was running low on energy. The mobs were circling, and Ana and the others were surrounded by a relentless tide of creatures. Their faces stained with sweat, their eyes filled with exhaustion. The ground beneath their feet trembled as the enemies advanced.
They looked at Nevi and the others with relief. However, they were facing a larger crowd than before. Sorcha swung her staff once more, sending a wave of weakened energy that reduced some of enemies to glittering candy and confetti.
“These mobs just never stop coming, do they?” Huilji groaned. “Ugh.”
“Well, at least Nevi and the others are back now,” Ana said, then turned her attention to them and shouted, “HEY! YOU HAVE THE SEEDS RIGHT?”
“Why is she yelling at us?” Mariju asked, confused.
“WE DO HAVE THE SEEDS!” Nevi shouted back.
“Why are you yelling at her too?” Mariju asked again.
“I don’t know, honestly,” Anjel replied, shaking her head as if she was used to this kind of exchange.
Elysha glanced around the area before asking, “What should we do with the seeds in our arms?”
“Why are you looking at us?” Micah shouted, swiping at a mob with his claws in his larger form. “Throw them in that pot or something!”
“Just do it already!” Huilji shouted, and her morning star sent another wave of mobs flying, disintegrating into candy and confetti. “We can’t hold them off forever!”
Elysha hesitated, turning to look at the giant rabbit, whose eyes looked back at her.
“If the rabbit trusts us, we must trust her,” Anjel said firmly, stepping forward. “Let’s put these big seeds in the pot!”
The four darted toward the cauldron, the others shielding them from the mob. One by one, they threw the seeds into the swirling liquid. The liquid bubbled and rose, spilling over the edges in tendrils of golden mist. As the last seed hit the surface, the cauldron began to glow with an intense brilliance.
“Wha—!” Mariju cried, shielding her eyes from the light.
“It’s working!” Neliel shouted, slicing through a mob with his blade with renewed vigor.
*rumble*
The cauldron erupted like a geyser, sending a column of golden liquid shooting and swirling into the sky. The clearing was bathed in warm, celestial light as the liquid transformed into a golden tree, its branches reaching skyward as if into the heavens.
The mobs froze in mid-attack, their glowing eyes dimming as the light of the tree enveloped them. They began to dissolve, turning into glittering dust as they merged with the branches.
Anjel blinked and took notice as she gasped, “Look at the chains!”
All eyes turned to the massive rabbit as the golden light fell upon her. The chains that had bound her cracked and shattered, disintegrating into tiny, harmless sparks. The rabbit rose to her full height, towering over the group. Her soft hum resonated through the clearing, a melody of relief and gratitude.
“She’s free!” Mariju whispered, her tiredness momentarily forgotten.
“We did it!” Sorcha cheered, twirling her staff in delight. “The tree’s magic is incredible!”
Micah slumped to the ground, exhausted but grinning. “Micah told you it would work!”
[‘Thank you, brave souls of Light, for restoring harmony to this forest and releasing me from my chains.’]
“Did she… just talk in our heads?” Micah asked, looking around.
“She did!” Sorcha spoke out.
The mother rabbit stepped forward, her immense form now glowing softly like the tree. She lowered her head, as if bowing and continued, [‘Because of all of you, the Tree of Wishes and Dreams can continue to bring light to the world.’]
Huilji stepped forward, her morning star resting on her shoulder. “It wasn’t easy, and I feel like a sweaty fish, but seeing this… it’s worth every bit of filth on my skin.”
“Micah still feels like collapsing,” he murmured, still lying flat on the grass, his eyes reflecting the golden glow. “But I admit this is... beautiful.”
“Look!” Nevi shouted, pointing her finger in a certain direction.
The group turned as the little rabbits emerged from the woods and scampered across the clearing, their cries filling the air.
“Momma!”
“Mommy!”
“Mother!”
The mother rabbit knelt down, her massive ears drooping as her children nuzzled her fur while she continued to hum a soft, resonant melody that echoed through the clearing.
“They’re reunited,” Neliel said, adjusting his glasses with a small, satisfied smile. “All the effort and trouble was worth it.”
“It’s beautiful, I feel emotional…” Nevi said, watching the scene with teary eyes and in awe. “Not only that, the golden tree behind them is so, so…”
“Sorcha is so happy that the little bunnies finally came back to their momma,” she cried.
“But what’s happening now?” Ana asked. “I am so confused. Is anyone else lost here, or is it just me?”
The tree began to glow brighter, and the mother rabbit lifted her head, her eyes reflecting the brilliance as the light began to envelop her. One by one, the little rabbits began to glow, their forms shimmering as they began to dissolve into golden dust.
“Wait,” Mariju muttered out. “Are they leaving?”
“It’s not just them,” Nevi whispered.
The glow from her children began to swirl around her, their golden dust enveloping her massive form. The mother rabbit closed her eyes, her expression peaceful as she too began to dissolve into mist. The particles rose upward and merged with the tree, pulsing with light.
“What is this?” Sorcha asked, tears streaming down her face. “They’re... they’re all turning into light!”
“Micah doesn’t understand. Why would they disappear after everything we did?” he muttered, visibly shaken but trying to keep his composure.
“I don’t think they’ve disappeared.”
They turned to Anjel, whose pink eyes, gleaming with gold, watched the last of the particles merge with the tree. “I think… I think they’re becoming one with the tree,” she said in a near whisper, then lowered her eyes. “They’re not gone. They’re protecting this place, making sure our world is happy and at peace... forever.”
Elysha watched as leaves and branches of the tree swayed and shimmer. She felt immersed, as if her eyes could not let go of the ethereal sight. Something about the tree felt connected to her, though she could not understand what it means, or why she felt such a sensation.
She turned to the others and her eyes widened as she watched them slowly dissolve into golden mist and dust. She opened her mouth to call out their names, but nothing came out. She moved her feet and took a step forward, reaching out to grab Sorcha—but her hand moved past her, and Elysha stumbled and fell to the ground.
Her eyes turned and she saw the light from the tree overwhelm her vision and everything went white.
~ ❈❇❈ ~
White light streamed from a slit in the window, and Elysha’s eyes slowly opened to see the rising morning. She stared dazedly, hugging her pillow against herself, trying to make sense of what had happened.
“A dream… again?” she murmured, blinking and remembering the remnants of her dream that had not yet been forgotten. “What dream did I have…?”
She remembered the experience of the dream—the adventure, the strange, yet whimsical creatures, the moonlight, the mother rabbit, the large colorful seeds, and the sight of a mesmerizing, golden tree of light.
Processing all of these abstract sensations in her mind, Elysha lowered her cheek against the pillow and murmured under her breath, “It was a strange dream.”