The Forest

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Unowned Territory that few dare to venture through because of those that inhabit it.

"This place is just down right creepy with all the dead, snow covered trees. Wait...the ice is...spreading. The White Queen isn't just trying to take Soleste...she's going for the whole region!"

"Well," Ali begins just shrugging off the cough, "it isn't wise to move through the forest at night."

"It's less wise to try and fight an entire army of icy death in the forest at night," Lucas said, seeming worried about that cough.

"I think he's right, we should go," Crescia says in a cute voice.

Alina agrees with a sigh and stands up but losses her balance and falls into Lucas.

Lucas holds Alina up and slings her arm over his shoulder. "Alright, that's it. As soon as we get into town, we're getting you medical attention," he says.

"I'm fine, Lucas! I just lost my balance a bit... it's late and I'm just tired..." She replies, a bit defiant.

"And your explanation for that deadly sounding cough is?"

"I've been living in a frozen wasteland, I was bound to get a cold eventually."

"Uh huh," Lucas says, giving up.

"We should be going now. The longer we spend in one place, the closer the ice soldiers become," Ven says. "The journey is short from here on. Only two days at the most on foot."

"Well then, let's get moving. Anyone have a torch or something that can illuminate the forest?"

Crescia taps her staff to the ground and the tip ignites but doesn't burn. "That okay?" She asks.

Aria stands up, grabbing her staff along with a tiny flower, and walks up the other others.

Alina nods her head and looks shyly to Lucas, "My legs are still shaky...do you mind carrying me?"

Lucas shrugs and picks Ali up carefully. "Alright, team, let's move out. The industrial city is our next stop."

"Then let's be on our way," Hela says.

Aria follows the group, and looks at the strange flower curiously. After a while though, it wilts in her hand, and she creates a new one using a spell.

Alina sets her head against Lucas' chest and, as they continue through the forest, starts to drift off to sleep.

Another Day

"We are nearing the end. The trees are thinning out and the clouds are further away," Ven says, "We should arrive tomorrow."

Aria nods and looks back behind her, towards the clouds, "They won't be far away for much longer, though...."

Alina is now walking on her own, "Well we should take this moment to rest and eat. We've been walking for close to a day."

The mages sit on a fallen log and look up at everyone. "So, who's doing what?"

"One of us'll get drinking water. Some will get some fruit from what trees and bushes there are near here," Ven says.

"I saved some fruit from yesterday too," Lucas says.

Aria stands up, "I'll go get water. I won't be long,"

With that, she walks off into the forest, taking a basket to hold the water in along with her.

Alina looks around and sees a tall tree with an abundance of fruit at the top and says, "I'll go get some fruit from up there, and I'll see if I can spot the Industrial City from the top!" After that she rushes to the tree, eager for the exercise.

Lucas sighs. "Which leaves me to be her spotter." He gets up and stands under the tree as she climbs.

After a little while, Aria returns with the basket full of water and completely soaked.

Alina expertly climbs the tree and quickly reaches the top and admires the view with a content sigh. After she's done daydreaming, she gets back on her task and quickly gathers some of the fruit in the tree, "Look out below!" She drops the fruit toward Lucas.

"Wha- hey!" Lucas panickingly scrambles to catch all of the fruit and drop it into his pouch.