Chapter 17:

First Quests

Twilight Star: First Goal


Northern Herb Beds

Londra took a deep breath, wondering why the clean air surprised and delighted her. She looked around the bed of different flowers, just like the others were doing, gently choosing leaves, roots, or flowers. Their job today was collecting herbs for the Apothecaries since they had used so much when they helped the Challenge survivors. Robbie had divided the team up into four groups with two guest support members and a Feline Drake. Then Londra decided which way each team would go. Not that there was much choice since their rank kept them close to the Manor Town, which extended to groups of houses and farms over eight miles out. Their Lacramas would glow and vibrate if they got too close to the boundaries of Manor Town. Couldn’t have inexperienced Adventurers run into trouble too far away from their base. Luckily most of the beds were around two miles away, a nice walk. The northern beds were just under two miles out of the northern gate.

Londra was working on Oregano… and it was growing with many others on the list, in the middle of the groomed forest off from the wide path. In this world nothing was just one color and each meant something different. Darcy was next to her, mumbling about the lack of positive energy in the area while Delta was chasing bugs away. He returned for a rub of appreciation, before heading towards Mara. Calla and Zerina were behind her, enjoying the air on their healed bodies and new forms. Both were slow moving but more capable than they were the second day. She heard Calla laugh, a beautiful musical sound so she knew Delta was now with her. Krista was their other support member who was on the other side of her. A strong Elf that was called a Metal Worker Elf. She was short for an Elf, almost six feet tall with a smooth, oval, beige face and long, braided, black hair that swayed behind her long Elven ears.

“Okay,” Londra started a bit louder than planned, “these herb beds look planted and not… natural. Did somebody plant them? I am a bit confused.”

“There are medicinal and cooking herb beds in multiply areas within the forests,” Krista started, her voice crisp and smooth. “They were planted and used to be maintained by the families that lived close. But as you noticed, few are still living in those places. Most have moved to the main town so they don’t have to worry about Green Goblins.”

“The triangle the Challenge created…” Darcy sighed, looking over at Londra with so much emotion in her softly accented, light honey, oval face and violet eyes. “North and east are really bad. Worse once you leave the barrier. There is an item that protects the main part of the Town from Green Goblins… I am sure you have seen it. It helps… repel them from the outliners but recently… instead of an eight mile circle around the town it is less than a mile.”

“I didn’t expect the plants here to be so sickly,” Calla sighed, looking up from the group she was inspecting. Her light violet eyes searching the area while her light green, diamond face showed a variety of emotions. She pushed a lock of her long, golden hair back. Calla was now a Goblin Priestess, one step away from Green Priestess which was an Enhanced Non-Human form of the Goblin. She wasn’t ready to give up her palm size, triangle shaped ears or the green tint in her skin. Once she evolved her ears would look like human ears, just with a bit of a point and her skin would only have traces of green. “I am going to push a bit of mana into the ground… I think we all should. Then in a few days come back?”

“That isn’t a bad idea,” Zerina agreed. Her deep blue eyes were outlined thinly with white, red, and silver. She had taken on the form of Samurai, the Enhanced Non-Human version of an Ogre. She was known as an Eater, meaning she had control over holy, fire, and metal elements and could absorb them. Her silver horn was gone but there was a slight discoloration in her cinnamon colored, long face where it had been. Her short, turquoise hair showed just how much power she had since air and water were also easy elements for her to use.

“I too think that is a good idea,” Mara started while she stood. “Something feels wrong though…” Her blue-navy Demon eyes began to search the area while her oval, ivory face with undertones of violet showed that she was concerned. She had pulled her black wings inside because of the work they were doing but now they slowly emerged from her body while there was a glisten in her thin, violet-navy horns. She was using magic, the tell was that her short, layered, blue-black hair was also slightly moving.

“I feel something too…” Krista mumbled standing quickly, causing her long, braided, black hair to swing once. Her long ears, far from her head were stiff while her grey eyes searched. Delta hovered near her for a moment.

“I told you, too much darkness here,” Darcy mumbled slowly moving closer to Londra. Her softly accented, light honey, oval face and violet eyes were focused while her long ears twitched enough to move her shoulder length, golden hair with streaks of blue, green, and yellow. “We might be too late to save this herb bed… the plants might start attacking…”

“I don’t think so… it is in the forest watching,” Londra mumbled. “I may only have normal human hazel eyes but my magic senses something that way,” she pointed to the southeast of where they were standing. “What do you think Delta.”

“I like the way your short, brown hair is layered,” the cat deflected. With a swish of his black tail his golden eyes narrowed on the direction that Londra pointed. “Do I have to go alone?”

“No,” Londra chuckled, rubbing his head. “You do need to come with me… Mara, how about you get an areal view to see if you can find anything.”

“I was thinking that,” Mara said, jumping up into the air.

“If there is something coming,” Calla started, “best to meet it away from here. The trees are resilient and will let me heal them… this bed, not so much.”

“We will stay with Krista and Darcy,” Zerina offered, “even if they did help us train.”

“I create armor, not use it,” Krista sighed. “But yea, I can fight if needed.”

Londra nodded, moving with Delta towards the disturbance. “From up here it looks like three plants are moving. Four large leaves, burrowing in the ground… sound familiar?”

Darcy’s whole body changed from ridged fear to excitement, “are they tainted?”

“Yes,” Londra confirmed, stopping behind a large tree watching. “Why did you sound excited. They stopped; I think they are waiting for us to do something.”

“Oh, they might be mandrakes,” Darcy started, a smile beginning to form. “Living plants that are illegal to pull unless they are tainted. They can be used in so many ways!”

“She went from scared stiff to bouncing excitement,” Calla commented with a slight smile. “So, how do we defeat them. I assume they can be purified?”

“Yes, they are tainted and it appears they are still within the time limit to be purified,” Mara stated, softly landing beside Londra.

“Well, we need to get them out of the ground,” Krista started. “What, I know some things about plants too. I am an Elf after all. Anyways, they look like walking turnips… around three feet tall. Once out, you cut off their…leaves, the four on the top with one swing. If not, they just regrow. I think they hural stones at you and can attack with roots that are sharp.”

“We are coming to you,” Zerina stated, with each step she felt more ready for battle. “Delta can watch over our support members, when we get there. I can almost see you. This thought projection works wonderfully. It is like having conversations with you right next to me even when you are not. It is different than talking within our minds with Alden, I like it better.”

“I am going to walk up to them,” Londra decided, covering her body with protection magic after strapping on her bangle, and flexible top armor. With a twist of her wrist, the bangle turned into a bracer. They all nodded, moving behind different trees taking time to put on their armor. She continued to the three small mounds of dirt with four green leaves on top. They popped out and did something she wasn’t expecting, screamed. “Wow,” she mumbled, covering her ears until the horrible sound stopped. Any wildlife in the area was now running or flying away. Londra reached into her vault to pull out a sword since her lance would be a bit too cumbersome for this fight. Five, fist size dirt balls flew towards her. She didn’t think anything of it since her protection spells would stop them… until one hit her shoulder, causing her to fly back. Another group of rocks started to fly her way. She rolled out if the way as three smashed into the ground next to her causing dirt and little bits if stone to fly. A sharp pain in her leg reminded her to move. Zerina quickly pulled her up.

“They are out, for the moment,” Zerina mumbled. “I think the scream nullified your spells.”

“A bit annoying,” Londra grumbled, healing her dislocated shoulder and the slices in her left leg. “Looks like we dodge, ladies. Delta stays back for now. There is three of them and four of us…”

“Nope,” Mara sighed. “There are eight of them and four of us. The scream brought more too. Partner or just charge in since our happy Apothecary is just over there dancing and not adding to our knowledge.”

“I know how to use them not how to defeat them!” Darcy defended with a large smile on her face. “Oh, I think they are coming this way.”

“You think,” Krista sighed, pulling a sword out of her vault like everyone else.

“Calla, you are with me,” Londra started, running her direction. “We are after those two before you first.” Calla nodded, heading towards their opponents. Side by side they helped each other dodge the flying rocks and impaling roots. Yet they just couldn’t get close enough and no elemental magic worked. It just dispelled, never reaching its target.

Londra put a thin barrier on Calla and used her telepathy to warn everyone that a scream was coming. They all had time to pull something out of their vaults to wrap around their necks and ears. Sure enough, the two before them screamed. It caused the others to stop and scream too. While they were screaming all six took a swing while Delta tried his gravity magic. It all worked, but the last two wouldn’t stay trapped in Delta’s magic for long. This scream was different and there was little any of them could do but cover their ears. Delta retreated into Londra’s vault since he had no way of protecting his ears against the different scream. The screaming continued as stones and roots started to come at them again. Nobody was able to dodge completely. After three minutes of torture, Mara and Zerina were able to defeat the last two.

Londra, bruised and battered like the others, began to purify the eight strange looking bodies of the Mandrakes. To her, they looked like overgrown carrots since they were shades of orange, but the others had called them turnips. She didn’t know which, but each was a different color after they were purified.

Calla was working on healing the others while Darcy began to preserve the Mandrakes before placing them in her vault. She offered one to Krista who just shook her head. “We still should give the herb bed a bit of mana,” Darcy said, completely relaxed. “I wouldn’t worry about your clothing too much. They are simple slices that can easily be mended by Daniella’s staff. It will give them stories,” she finished with a slight chuckle.

“Thanks,” Mara sighed. “Just have to wash the blood out. I like these pants, they fit perfectly.”

“I think,” Zerina started, rolling her shoulders while nodding at Londra, “Londra or Calla should purify the bed then we give them a little snack.”

“I can do that,” Calla said with a smile on her diamond, light green face. “Could we possibly teleport back? I know we need the exercise but I am not feeling it.”

“Oh, agree!” Zerina seconded, while the group made their way back to the herb bed.

“Is Delta okay?” Krista wondered, looking around to make sure nothing was following.

“Yes, I healed him,” Londra smiled. “Okay, let’s do this then Mara can take us back.”

“That works for me,” Mara nodded, while watching Calla do a dance to purify the ten herb beds. “Are you dancing too?”

“Nope,” Londra laughed. “Just going to mix some mana into a rain cloud and attach it here.” She twirled her hands, as if collecting the air before her then pushed them together before lifting them up. A glowing cloud appeared above the herb beds that slowly began to rain after the group was out of range. “I wonder how the other groups did.”

“Well, we have enough to give to the other apothecaries,” Darcy started, looking around. Mara had teleported them right before the Adventurer’s Guild. “We can complete the quest given and we will get ours the next time.”

“Gee, that sounds so nice,” Krista chuckled, her ears waving slightly. “When the plants are healthier so the potions are better. I am sure you just want to complete a quest… I am heading home.”

“So,” Darcy chuckled. “You have everything, I am heading home, too. So much to do!”

“In to report and turn in what we collected,” Londra smiled. “I wonder if we have to deliver them or if the Guild does that. I never asked.” Mara, Calla, and Zerina just shrugged.

Western Herb Beds

Fern sighed again fluttering around the ten plant beds in her small Fairy form, which was about five inches at this moment. Anna was watching her closely, since nobody knew plants like Fairies. Plus, Fern was doing a lot of sighing. Theda plopped down beside her, stretching out while watching the others. Anna stroked his soft, thick, yellow and orange fur while her deep green eyes focused on Fern. Her heart-shaped, light tan face framed by her long, deep red hair showed how much she was enjoying this task. Brushing off her gloves and Theda before letting them return to her vault she smoothed down het simple light green shirt, “you want to talk about it Fern? We really have gotten all we can in these poor beds.”

She reverted to her human size. Her soft fawn colored, oval face showing a mix of emotions while her vivid blue eyes looked to the sky. She slowly brought her vibrant pink, butterfly shaped wings containing lines of white, with spots of blue, orange, and yellow inside her body. Her nervous, dainty, hands played with her long, violet, braided hair. “I am so glad Fenten found our makeshift vaults,” she started before sitting down next to Anna. She positioned her pale peach dress perfectly while looking at Anna’s simple dark blue pants. “They don’t make a lot of female Fairy pants…”

Sasha slithered over with Belle walking beside her. A strange pair, one of controlled elegance while the other was full of color. Sasha’s six feet long snake tail that was just a bit thicker than her torso. The back was pure brown while the front or underside was light brown. The sides were yellow, as wide as her hips then slimming down, continuing to the tip of her tail with red and green lines that crisscrossed. She turned into a human with a smile on her buttercream, long face as her green dress whished around her knees while she pulled shoes from her vault. One had to look closely to see the scale patterns on her skin. Her evergreen eyes scanning before she let her long hair that was a mix of yellow, green, and red fall over her shoulders. “There is more…” she wondered softly.

Belle surprised them sitting down on the other side of Anna. She was technically an Elven Princess but from what the team could piece together her father was… horrible. With grace her seven foot body was now perfectly sitting while her sharp, oval, light beige face and deep blue eyes showed a hint of curiosity while her long Elven ears vibrated a bit causing her short platinum hair to flutter. She had refused to wear anything Elven and was wearing just simple, dark green pants with a pale pink, short sleeved shirt. “Gladiolus and Cob, I believe we are done and going to take a little break before heading back.”

Cob disappeared in a shadow only to reappear behind them. He didn’t want to intrude but wanted to listen while Gladiolus simply waved back motioning that she was going to keep looking while they talked.

“I never once thought about looking for Zerina,” Fern sighed, tears forming in her vivid blue eyes, “but Fenton did. He never gave up on the others when they pushed him away and I… When Master Yevhen told me about the Exploding Curse and that he had a plan to get me to somewhere safe… I truly was ready to just… fade away. But to think of all that Fenten went through… what kind of cousin am I?”

“You grew up together?” Belle asked in her smooth, crisp way. “I can’t help you; my cousins never talked to me. But from the little bit I understand, Fenten would never think less of you.”

“Alden told you that, right?” Sasha smiled. “It was a bit… frightening in the beginning, with his curse. But once Londra isolated it so he could be him… I kind of like him… for an Elf that is. I never met an Elf until I was brought here, but they were meaner to me than humans.”

“I guess I am still all mixed up,” Fern sighed again.

Anna put her arm around her, “we all are. That is why we belong together. Belle is right, Fenten never thinks about himself. So, Sasha that is your goal. To get him to tell you about the real him. He hides it so well.”

“Yes, he senses what others want to hear and finds a way to tell them that without lying,” Fern smiled softly, wiping her tears away.

“Is it alright?” Sasha wondered, leaning back on her hands. “I mean, I am a Beastwoman and he is a Fairy…”

“That I can answer,” Gladiolus said moving closer, a smile on her oval, tan face making her green eyes glisten. Her long, black hair was simply tucked behind her medium Elven ears, three fingers from head. “I am a bit older than you all.” This caused most of them to chuckle. “My Elven village wasn’t as… stuck up as Golden. I am a short Elf, around five-eight, but I wasn’t the shortest in my village. I digress… I have lived with humans for too long. But I wouldn’t change it. I love what I do and my husband who is a Dwarf. What I have seen… if it is real love the races don’t matter. That is why there is a way to evolve. It isn’t to get stronger but to be closer to the one you love. How else would a rabbit woman and a lizard man find happiness? That is just one of the couples I have seen. Your relationships are young yet, let there be friendship first.”

“Oh, I love listening to the wise,” Cob said from behind them.

“Is there a reason you are staying away?” Anna wondered. “Do I smell?”

Cob laughed, a strange musical sound, “No, it is just… I can distract and be distracted quite easily around others. I am trying to be useful. If it isn’t shoes I don’t usually care, hard to stay focused. Not only that, but I am beautiful… when I want to be. Who else has a long, ivory face with ribbons of leather brown hidden within?”

This caused a bit of laughter since they had already figured out, he was an animal faced Demon that could use magic to change his face into something more human. Once it subsided, they all heard a suggestion in their minds. “Guess Londra is ready to head back too,” Sasha smiled. “That is a good idea, to purify the land. Do you want to do it Fern?”

“No, I think you would be better for it while Anna does the cloud,” Fern smiled. “An unusual solution but I like it. You are all a bit unusual, and each moment I feel a bit more at ease. Anyways, are we walking back? I know we all need the exercise but…”

“We are not alone,” Belle said, slowly standing. Her deep blue eyes scanning while her long, Elven ears stiffened. Yet as she moved it was fluid.

“Nope, we are not,” Theda stretched before pulling his wings out. “Belle, I will go with you while the others follow slowly. I think I know what it is.”

“I do,” Gladiolus sighed. “Remember all the empty farms and clucking we heard on our way here. I do believe what is approaching us are tainted chickens.”

“Oh!” Anna said excitedly. “They spit eggs that are tainted and full of magic. I want to see if they can be purified. I like fluffy, scrambled eggs but nobody comes to collect them…”

“Because of the Green Goblins,” Cob sighed. “Not a fan of chickens but I will help.”

“We need to move away from the herb beds, meet them near the path,” Fern said. “I can fix the path easily but the beds…”

“Good idea,” Sasha agreed. “We come back to purify.” With that the team made their way through the wooded area to the path where twenty, randomly colored, four foot tall, chickens angrily pecked the ground where they had once walked.

With a shrug, Fern used magic to protect them. “Just have to chop off their heads then be careful because the body will move around for a while after. Razor sharp talons, just a reminder, with really strong wings.”

“Stay in a line,” Anna decided. “Attack the ones before us. I have fought tainted chickens before, I don’t remember it to be difficult.”

“Neither do I,” Fern added happily. “There are six that can be purified.”

“Who doesn’t love chicken?” Belle chuckled, taking the first swing at the blue colored chicken before her. With her strength and agility, the blade should have sliced cleanly through the neck but the head retreated into the body like a turtle with lightning speed. “Um, never seen that.”

“Nor I,” Gladiolus mumbled, “to the side or twisting out of the way. Watch out, it is jumping… no they are jumping.”

“Got it,” Theda purred, walls of earth pushed them back to the ground. “I will take lots of petting when we get back. Oh, I know, brushing,” he suggested with a loud purr.

“We are not back yet,” Cob sighed. “We are very surrounded.” With that a group of colorful chickens jumped again, only to be pushed back by Theda’s magic. Quickly the team tried to connect with a neck, but they disappeared into the bodies. Now the group behind the ones attacking began to spit elemental eggs at the team. Fern’s magical protections stopped the eggs as Anna use a quickly made purification spell to stop the eggs. It worked but they crashed to the ground, splattering. “Well, it worked,” Cob chuckled.

Three red chickens screeched loud enough, the other chickens stepped back. A strange crackling sound came after. “They just destroyed my protection spells,” Fern mumbled. “Okay, now it is on!” With that her butterfly wings reappeared, glowing with power. “We cannot be beaten by chickens!” Water balls began to fly towards the chickens as Sasha changed forms too. Belle, switched from a sword to a spear with Anna.

“I just remembered, nothing is ever easy!” Anna yelled, running towards a yellow chicken. This time her swing wasn’t towards the head but to intercept it before it could retreat into the body. “Yes! Got one…” Cob appeared behind her, then the two were next to Gladiolus. The spot where she had been standing ablaze from fire chicken eggs. “Thanks for the save.”

“Welcome,” Cob said before disappearing again.

“He really isn’t a fighter, but great at watching,” Gladiolus commented smoothly. “Three more are down but… we need to finish this so the ground can be purified.”

“Yep,” Anna sighed. She watched Belle slash at one only to be pushed back. “Now they have shields?”

“Appears so,” Belle grumbled, rolling out of the way, disgusted with herself for falling on the ground. Theda landed next to her, making dirt walls with a happy meow. “Sasha, I am strengthening your blade. Aim for a bit above the body. This is more than annoying.”

“Oh, wow, I can feel the power,” Sasha commented with a hiss at the end. She coiled her tail to give her more strength before slashing.

“I like that idea,” Fern mumbled, after taking down another. “That worked. I am strengthening my blade too.”

With a thin smile Anna did the same, using her lance to vault jump into a group. They were surprised, kindly clucking magical eggs at her. With a twist of her wrist the eggs were purified and placed in her vault before her strange dance of spinning and striking started. Of the six around her she was able to take out four before Cob came to her rescue again. “You are good at that,” she said a bit breathlessly. "I must be more out of shape than I thought."

“That he is, and so am I,” Fern agreed, since he had just moved her out of the way but not before she had purified almost a dozen eggs. “We have six left, go us… or should I say Sasha with Belle assisting. Look at her go… snakes can move quite fast with the coiling…”

“Great, might as well get these two,” Anna stated, lunging for the one before her. Once everything was finished, she began to purify the area while Belle worked on purifying a few feet of ground. Fern fluttered above to fix the path, so it was smooth once again.

“I am not a butcher,” Sasha mumbled looking at the six chickens. “I will preserve them… Cob, Gladiolus would you like one? We all have some eggs as well…”

Cob appeared behind her, “I would like one.” It disappeared in the shadows. “I watched Anna purify the eggs and was able to twist the spell a bit so my magic would work. I learned much with lovely Spella. I have almost a dozen. Anna, would it be alright if I teleported back. I have ideas running through my mind…”

“Go for it, I don’t detect anything around us,” Anna said as the four with Theda gathered. “Gladiolus, you may as well.”

She gave her a smile, a chicken disappeared from the five left, “I didn’t know that you knew about that. But it does figure. I leave it to you.” With that she was gone.

“Let’s go back and tend to the herb beds then we will do the same. I don’t feel like walking two miles back,” Anna smiled as Theda landed in her arms to snuggle.

“From what Londra said,” Fern began, fluttering above them slightly with a pink glow around her, “we can either take the herbs where they go or deliver them to the guild. Once we get back to town the Lacrama already knows we completed the quest.”

“You weren’t an adventurer?” Belle wondered walking with her new friends, trying not to smile because Elves were not supposed to do that.

“No, I just helped to look after our small, human like town that took in and sent out goods,” Fern answered simply. “I really enjoyed this, even if tainted chickens gave us a problem.”

“I don’t remember them ever being that hard,” Belle commented. “Even Golden has enough negative mana around that we would get tainted creatures to take care of,” she explained.

“Nore I,” Fern agreed. “Gladiolus said the same thing. Perhaps it is because there is so much negative energy. I hope the guys are having fun.”

Southern Herb Beds

Fenton was zooming around with Beta, enjoying being small and having most of his flight control back. He stopped beside Peter, “what do you think? We have enough for our part of the quest but anymore…”

“I agree,” Peter said, lifting his head letting his white, rabbit ears twitch a bit messing up his short, white hair. His ivory, diamond face and dark pink eyes showed his annoyance. “It isn’t that I don’t like collecting herbs, but these beds are so full of weeds and negative mana, or energy as people call it on this continent, it is a wonder anything grows.”

“Peter, I like your fluffy tail,” Beta purred slightly. “I am trying not to pounce on it.”

Peter laughed with Fenton and Zeke while they heard Alden’s laughter in their minds. “I appreciate that,” Peter said standing. The grey cat pulled in his wings to land in Peter’s arms for a bit of a rub. “Do you all feel better today? I think Londra healing us before we went in really helped. I am not tripping over my large feet nor are my ears droopy.”

“Wait, it takes control to keep them so straight?” Zeke asked, coming over with Alden to join the group. “Deven, Ven, want to call it a day?”

“It does, actually,” Peter answered. “Controlling the tail takes muscles too,” he smiled twitching the white ball just above his buttocks.

“Well, my body is reacting the way I want today,” Zeke stated. A smile formed on his long, green face while his golden eyes danced with happiness. His large hand captured his long, dark mahogany braid that had fallen over his muscular shoulder and tossed it back.

Fenten chuckled, turning into his human size. His long, oval, cicada shaped wings stopped fluttering. They were transparent blue while the outside edges were a bold green. The inside veins were indigo, white, and blue thickening at certain points to create vibrant ovals in an exact, symmetrical pattern. “When you smile like that, with those white, sharp teeth it makes me wonder if you are going to eat me. Good thing I know you.”

With a larger smile Zeke stated, “I like that your wings are all pretty again.”

“I wonder if Zeke will ever wear anything that covers his arms again,” Alden commented.

“Nope, will never cover these beautiful arms again, even in the snow,” Zeke responded through telepathy with a large, slightly scary smile.

“He would probably wear shorts too, if he liked his knees,” Fenten added to the mind conversation.

“What is wrong with his knees?” Peter wondered with a little laugh. “I wonder if Alden likes wearing tight pants. Then again, his are just as tight as Zeke’s. I know, showing off for the ladies.”  This caused the four to smile at each other.

“Those wings are something to see,” Ven agreed joining the group, dismissing the other conversation. He untucked his dark, braided beard from his simple brown shirt. He then did the same for his braided hair. “Didn’t want pollen in it but… not a lot to be found… more dust.” His round, slightly wrinkled, cognac face and deep brown eyes searched the beds one last time. “It is sad. I don’t mind this kind of work, but the plants are so… weak. At least I don’t have to bend down so far,” he finished with a loud laugh.

“There was supposed to be a barrier out here. I haven’t seen any trace of one since we left,” Deven mumbled, oblivious to the other conversation. “The negative energy shouldn't be so thick this way…” His sharp, oval, black face nor amber eyes showed his emotions but his long Elven ears twitching enough to move his short, neat, dark red hair with orange highlights hair did.

Ven laughed, “calling Deven. Are you with us? Thinking about heading back.”

“Nope,” Beta sighed, jumping out of Peter’s arms so he could fly. “We are surrounded. If we try to teleport it would hurt. I know this,” he purred while his blue eyes scanned. “Grass?”

“We need to move towards the path and away from the beds, now!” Deven yelled, pushing Ven and Peter forward quickly. “We can’t battle here.”

“That is true, and Londra just sent me directions about purifying the beds and feeding them with a gentle rain cloud. That one is you Fenten,” Alden projected while running with the others to the path. “Can you do it?”

“I can,” Fenten said, landing on Alden’s shoulder for a moment. “She thinks up some interesting things. We can attach the cloud then feed it every few days. In a while we will have happy herbs and happier Apothecaries.”

“I can’t believe this,” Deven said, a bit enthusiastically. “There are sixteen clumps of sword grass. Do you know how rare that is!?”

“Can’t say as I do,” Zeke chuckled. “So, how do we do this. All the colors look to be just as thick and tuff. The groups appear to be around three feet tall… well at least they are not taller than Ven.”

“Ha, ha,” Ven chuckled, pulling out his axe. “We have to cut them at the roots. Not easy for someone tall. Hope you all enjoy bending!”

“He is right, four clumps we can collect! Oh, this is grand,” Deven practically sang, pulling a long sword from his vault. “Pad your knees.”

Shields and weapons were pulled out of vaults as they sized up their enemies. With a shrug, Zeke ran towards one only to be pushed back since the clump of red, sharp grass decided to twirl and toss fire at him. “Well that wasn’t fun,” he grumbled, rolling to dodge while putting out the fire on his shield. “I was told this was treated.”

“It is…” Fenton stated, shrinking and zooming around, dodging magic, while trying to find a way to attack the roots. “These are just that powerful.”

“Yea, it takes quite a lot of spells and hardening potions to stand up to these. Oh how lucky we are,” Deven said happily. “Ven, I want the red and green ones.”

Ven laughed, dodging and pushing back the yellow clump before him. It tried to use earth magic which he canceled out easily. Knowledge was power. “I am happy that Alden is dancing with the silver one, that is so mine! As is the black one!”

“I love the enthusiasm,” Zeke started, parrying the red blades of grass, “but we haven’t taken out one yet. Peter, come up with anything yet?”

“No…” Peter started before the grass made a horrible screech causing them all to back away to shield their ears. Peter’s came down flat with his head. “That destroyed all of my protections.”

“Mine too,” Ven sighed.

“Mine as well,” Alden confirmed. “But not the enhancements. I was trying to move faster.”

Fenton chuckled, “yea, you are just too slow. Mine too, by the look of Deven his as well.” Fenton landed next to Peter who was already locked in battle with a black clump of grass. He blocked the orange clump that was coming from behind Peter.

“Thanks. Beta, are you going to help,” Peter yelled. “Have an idea,” he said to Fenton, “shrink and move on three. One, two, three,” with that Peter jumped over both clumps and they listened as the two collided. It tangled them enough that the two were able to slice off the roots. The black one hardened while the orange one went limp. Both radiating negative energy. Fenton quickly purified them, collecting the black clump while the orange faded away into nothing.

“Nicely done,” Alden commented. “Fourteen left, pair up?”

“I have an idea,” Beta said from above them. “I had to heal my ears, they are sensitive. Anyway, everyone choose a color and be ready. I am going to pull them from the ground when they spin.”

“Well, they do spin often,” Zeke commented, slashing at the sharp red leaves again. This would make it spin. The others followed and soon six were spinning only to be lifted from the ground. Zeke smiled, slicing through the clump where the red stopped and the brown started for the roots. “That seemed easier and faster.”

“I will purify,” Alden projected. “It seems they won’t wait. Can you do that again?”

Beta landed next to Alden, a wall of air came up around them to protect them from the angry green clump coming towards them. “Maybe, but then I won’t be able to use my wings… so no.”

“Deven and I can jump high enough,” Alden stated, his long ears at attention listening. “Then if Peter and Fenton worked on another pair leaving Zeke and Ven to work together. Zeke should be able to pull Ven out of the way, all those muscles.”

“Yea, I can do that if Ven doesn’t mind,” Zeke laughed, his green face showing how much he was enjoying this battle while moving closer to Ven.

“Don’t mind, but Alden was right to purify them immediately. I have never seen negative energy collect like that,” Ven stated. They were now next to each other, a strange team but the two clumps of grass started to spin and Ven stepped behind the large Zeke who pulled them both back as the clumps collided. Zeke left Ven and ran back to finish the job.

Alden and Fenton were now purifying with Beta flapping above them. “You have all the real ones collected. Don’t think the last two are going to get close to each other… oh, look they are tossing fire and water and me! As if it will hit! Ha!”

Fenton was there to dispel the magic after Beta easily dodged, while Ven and Zeke spared with the clumps. “When they spin, it is up to you. Can you handle it?”

“Yes, but I don’t want to be with this group again,” Beta complained. “Nobody pets me.” With that he lifted the last two clumps so Ven and Zeke could finish it.

“Well, I will,” Deven said happily. “I can’t wait to use this grass!” Beta acted like he didn’t care much landing in Deven’s arms to take the snuggle.

“Okay, back to the herb beds then I am teleporting us back. I know it is under two miles, but we earned a teleport,” Alden stated. The others all nodded in agreement.

“According to Londra,” Peter started, walking with the others back towards the beds, “we can drop the items off at the guild or deliver them. I vote the guild, none of us are human looking enough to deliver some of them.”

“I agree,” Zeke sighed. “Yea, that list is bogus. I am not choosing next time, let Fenton do it.”

“I am not sure I like this group either,” Fenton chuckled. “I have never seen sharp, killer, grass clumps before. I think they were drawn to Alden and Zeke.”

“It certainly wasn’t me,” Peter smiled, “I am a cute little white rabbit.” They all laughed in camaraderie.

Eastern Herb Beds

Trenton sighed, collecting all that he could from the bed before standing up, “sometimes being this tall is hard.” His deep green, Demon eyes were surveying the area while his long, golden pecan colored face frowned. With a strong hand, he pushed back his short, layered, black hair revealing his slightly pointed ears.

“I am surprised you had to bend down. Thought you would be able to do it with magic,” Rus admitted, his oval, dark silver eyes looking over the herb bed again. When satisfied he stood up, adjusting his hat that was protecting his brown, bald head from the sun. Yet he had worn a short sleeved, pale green shirt so all could see his large, muscular arms, even if they were darkening. “But I don’t know a lot about your unique race. I know that this would be extremely hard in my lizard body.”

“Yea, rub it in,” Murk mumbled, slowly working his way back up. He had to lay on his stomach to work in the poor, sickly, dry, herb bed. He moved away so his tail wouldn’t disturb another bed. His elongated, lizard like, light brown, scaled face and oval green eyes looked around to see how everyone was doing. He too was wearing a hat to protect the top of his bald head and sensitive eyes. “I can get to your level, just not yet,” he shared.

“Do you want to?” Julius wondered, watching Alpha just lying beside him without a care. The tuxedo cat was there to help but he had yet to do anything but lounge around. He stood, brushing off the dirt from his dark blue pants with his strong, gloved hands. He turned to face the Lizard Warrior that was just over six feet tall, with a smile on his light tan, square face. He pulled off a glove to push his sweaty, short, red hair away from his face.

“I could work on smaller things, but the scales help protect skin,” Murk shrugged enough to move the vest he was wearing to help protect his scaly skin from drying out too much. He shifted the loin cloth like clothing continuing, “clothing would be strange to wear. I mean this thing is more for anyone else than me.”

“So were shoes until I met the strange, elusive Cob,” Rus admitted with a smile.

“I am about done,” Kwan sighed, standing up, brushing the dirt and pollen from his loose clothing. Unlike the others he had worn a thin, long sleeved, pale brown shirt with light green pants. “Right now, I don’t mind being short.”

“The cloths to protect your hair was smart,” Robbie commented, watching Kwan remove them from his long, black, braids. Robbie sighed, deciding to stand as well. The herb beds had barely enough for their quests but… his green eyes studied the beds for a moment while his soft, oval, buttercream face showed he was deep in thought.

“Cherri made them for me,” Kwan smiled, softening his round, cognac face and golden eyes. “Pollen is hard to get out of tight braids.”

“Do all Dwarves wear braids?” Alpha asked with a stretch. Showing off his black back, white chest, white cheeks, black mask, and white feet. His markings came with shoes.

“No, just the ones that work with their hands a lot,” Kwan answered. “Lots of warriors leave their hair loose. Blood and gore in hair is a sign of a true warrior.”

“So if it is loose, it catches more, interesting,” Robbie smiled, he loved knowledge. “Trenton, are you an otherworlder? Don’t remember asking.”

“Yes, I remembered my past life at twelve,” Trenton started with a smile. “Came from Cena, a planet that is ninety percent water. We lived in cities under and above the water. Everyone could breathe underwater but only a few could breathe air. Those that could live above the water were… hard to deal with. I actually ran into Anna a few times. Always inventing but so lonely.”

“She was, so was I,” Julius nodded. “I came from Terra, like Rus. Too bad we never ran into each other. Our planet contained deserts and barren wastelands with little spots of vegetation which provided plenty of friction among people. We shared our stories… we were around ten when we remembered. So glad to have each other. Our parents weren’t from other worlds but… yea, she told me that people were always criticizing or trying to dismantle her inventions. The joys of being female…”

“Can I ask you something,” Robbie started. “Is she hard of hearing? She is brilliant at crafting and changing spells in the most interesting ways, but she always gets so close to me… why is everyone laughing?”

“Even I figured out that she is smitten with you,” Kwan laughed, wiping the tears from his golden eyes. “Just by listening to her talk about you and your beautiful mind.”

Murk had moved away since his laughter came with light tail banging. “Oh, yea, she has it bad. Would love for a female to talk about me like that.”

“There is that quiet Goblinesta that works for the Trader’s Guild,” Kwan commented.

“Yea, another reason to evolve,” Murk sighed. “Her violet eyes and green skin…”

“Okay, when did we turn into females?” Rus laughed awkwardly.

“So, Anna likes me?” Robbie said softly looking at the ground trying to figure out how he felt about that information.

Julius came up, tossing an arm around his shoulders, pulling him down with a smile. “Glad your wings aren’t out now. Anyway, as the protective brother do anything too stupid and you won’t have your wings.” This caused them all to laugh. “Let’s head back… wait, incoming call from Londra,” he chuckled.

Robbie stood listening, “that is an interesting spell. A regenerating cloud! Oh, I can’t wait. Rus you got the other, right?”

“Yea, not a problem,” Rus smiled, “once everyone moves that is. I think Calla over did the purification of the land but I understand. Well, here it goes.” Rus stayed on the outside edge of the beds but headed towards the middle. He placed his hands on the ground. “Oh, yea, that needs purification.” The ground began to glow as a large circle formed, beginning to spin as darkness was pulled from the land and purified. “Okay, now do your cloud.”

“This spell is amazing,” Robbie said, recreating the spell that Londra had sent him through their telepathy. “I wonder if Anna tweaked it or if they have been working together… then again they think alike.” Soon a large, fluffy cloud formed above the herb beds that slowly began to rain down. “Are we walking?”

“Do you like Boar?” Alpha asked, flying above their heads. “Just a bit to the west, off the path there are a dozen tainted Boars. I do believe five can be purified.”

“Who doesn’t?” Murk said, a long tongue licking his sharp teeth.

“Wow, that looked freaky,” Julius commented. “Glad you are with us. But yea, hunted them plenty. Shouldn’t be hard.”

“No objections here,” Kwan added, as the group made their way. They watched for a moment after they found the herd, strange because usually negative energy tainted a few but not all… then again, maybe this herd was large. Kwan, and the others took a moment to size up their opponents. Wild Boars could come in a variety of dark colors; these seem to be dark brown or black. They stood around four feet tall, with a stocky middle, thin legs, and a snouted head. A tail whipped around the body with a short blade at the end, while it’s deep-set, red eyes tried to find what their noses already found. The six front teeth were longer, curling up and down at the end of their snouts with two horns, randomly colored, just before their ears. “Is it me, or do they look a bit taller?”

“No, they look different to me as well,” Trenton whispered. “Taller… and they have more teeth protruding from their snouts. Usually, the horns are dingy yellow not different colors while the end, curled teeth are black…creepy ”

“Three with red horns… meaning they use fire magic?” Robbie began. “Four with indigo horns that will use ice magic, and five with dark yellow that will use earth magic. Don't forget about the bladed tail. Trenton, as the tallest they will stampede towards you.”

“Good thing I am a Demon who can teleport,” Trenton comment. “You want me to start in the center? I can be bait, don’t mind.”

“If I stand behind him…” Rus began with a wicked smile, “just have to jump to the side then slicing I will go.”

“Too bad he is skinny, well relatively for a male his height,” Murk commented. “I move a bit slow for this many, but my tail should keep them away.”

“I am hiding behind Trenton too,” Julius decided with a smile.

“Good plan, then Kwan can follow behind and it will look like one coming at them. Murk and I will stay back. Here, some protection spells,” Robbie decided. “Alpha?”

His black wings were slowly flapping, “I will watch. After all, I am a healer so feel free to get gouged a bit. I am really good.”

“Nope,” Julius chuckled as the group started to move. It wasn’t hard for them all to stay behind Trenton, being eight feet tall made him seem even more dangerous looking. They should charge… but maybe not. Their horns were glowing?

Robbie pulled his large, white, feathered wings out of his body and took to the sky. Flying so the sun was behind him the tainted animals shouldn’t see him. Trenton kept approaching as Murk decided the stomach crawl would suit him best. He went faster than Robbie expected. A few feet from the tainted boars magic erupted from their horns. Soon fire, ice, and rocks were flying towards Trenton. Robbie quickly dispelled them but then… they screamed? It was too horrible of a sound to be anything else. The protections on their bodies shattered and now they were barreling towards Trenton.

Waiting until just the right moment, Trenton disappeared to reappear beside one. With his large, thick, sword he brought it down only to have it bounce back. “That is new.”

“Try again, I reinforced your blade and added piercing,” Robbie said from above. He was now shooting arrows, but the beasts didn’t care how many bounce off from their thick fur. “Also new,” he grumbled using magic to scan the tainted boars.

This time Trenton’s blade went through, but it took more muscle than he expected. “Robbie, you purifying? Looks like Julius and Rus are working on their own. That worked.”

After five were down something changed, their black, front, curled teeth began to glow. “I have never seen negative mana this thick in a tainted beast,” Robbie said watching with the others. A moment later all the fighters were airborne. They had used gravity magic to toss them up before slamming them to the ground. Now they charged as Robbie tried to stop them with magic. He winced when the large teeth of one sliced into Murk’s tail while another was able to predict where Trenton would reappear. A burning horn sliced his arm open.

“Robbie!” Julius yelled, dogging something that wasn’t usually agile. There was now ice beneath his feet, but he felt the power surrounding his sword. He waited for it to charge, using the ice he gracefully moved taking its head.

“Alpha, you wanted to heal, do it!” Rus grumbled. “Can’t believe this crap,” he mumbled looking at his burnt leg. He pointed to the one responsible, “he is mine!” With that his clothing disappeared as he reverted into a thin, brown lizard, sliding through the grass.

“Damn,” Murk chuckled, watching Rus. “He lost his muscles, that is a Lizard Wizard. No visible armored scales but quite quick. Only five feet though.” Alpha was sitting beside him healing with a slight purr.

“Only two left,” Robbie stated. “Julius and Kwan, they are yours. I have reinforced…” Nobody had noticed one of them had glowing black teeth. Now everyone was on the ground. He felt his wings break in three places. His wings were large enough, he looked more like a downed bird than person since he was covered in white feathers.

“Oh, I guess I will help,” Alpha meowed. The gravity spell was gone just as Kwan and Julius were about to be impaled. Quickly, they used their weapons to end it.

Rus stood in his human-like form, his clothing on with magic, brushing grass and dirt off from him. “That better be the best boar I have ever tasted. I want this one,” he mumbled, purifying it and placing it in his vault. He looked around to see the other carcasses had been purified and the seven that were tainted for too long turned to dust as the ground they fought on had a purification spell working. He assumed Robbie… who was a pile of white feathers.

“My leg is busted,” Trenton grumbled. “Everything goes after my legs…”

“It is a good thing I am so talented,” Alpha stated, flying above them. The white parts on his body began to radiate as light erupted around all of them. Soon everyone was slowly standing. “I deserve praise now,” he added, landing in Julius’ arms.

“Wow, my wings are perfect,” Robbie mumbled, slowly pulling them back inside moving closer to Julius to give Alpha a rub of thanks.

“I vote teleportation, after all it is a three mile walk,” Trenton mumbled. “I believe we can leave our items at the Guild so we don’t have to deal with delivering them.”

“That is why they get paid,” Julius smiled in agreement.

“Works for me, and thanks for the meat,” Kwan smiled, moving in closer to the group.

“I as well, thanks for the next few suppers,” Murk added, joining the group. Once everyone was close enough Trenton teleported them right before the Guild House door. 

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