Chapter 11

The next morning, Zander was gone, and they quickly collapsed their camp and began walking. Allister took the lead and Kali immediately began walking next to Liona. She could tell Kali wanted to tell her something, and so the two trailed a few feet behind the others so Kali would be able to whisper without anyone hearing.
“What is it, I know you want to tell me something.” Liona said, looking over at Kali.
Kali only grinned. “So that Zander guy, he was pretty nice.”
Liona’s eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.” She said, grinning. “You have such little faith.”
“So what happened?”
Kali bit her lower lip mysteriously. “Well, I couldn’t really sleep, so I snuck out to see what the cat boys were up to. Zander was sitting by the fire, and he told me Allister went to go hunt or something. So we talked for while, and he said something about never having kissed a human before…”
“Oh my God.” Liona said, grinning. “You did not make out with a mythical creature.”
She only grinned. “Well, if nothing else it should make you feel better about your age difference. Zander is eight hundred and fifty seven.”
“How rebellious.” Liona said, rolling her eyes. “How would your priest feel about that?”
Kali shrugged, still smiling. “Let’s just say, God and I aren’t on speaking terms right now. What my priest doesn’t know won’t hurt him, especially since I don’t think he’d react well to shape shifting beings that live over a thousand years.”
Liona laughed. “So, are cat creatures good kissers?”
“Mm.” Kali said, scrunching her nose. “I’ll let you find that out on your own.”
“No fair.” Liona said, sticking out her tongue.
“We need to stay close.” Allister said, turning to look back at the trailing pair. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you if you were straggling to far.”
Liona and Kali walked quicker to catch up with the rest of the group, but Liona couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been able to hear what they were saying. His tone, though serious, had held a hint of amusement, and before he turned she thought she saw him smile. Shaking off the thought, she rationalized that they had been nearly ten feet behind and whispering, there was not way he could have heard.
Looking ahead, Liona realized their surroundings had become very dark, and the trees looked bigger than before. Liona had been to the Red Wood Forest when she was nine where the trees were centuries old, but somehow these trees looked even bigger and more ancient.
“We’re close.” Allister said quietly, motioning for the group to come closer.
Squeezing as close as they could without stepping on each other’s heels, the group moved further and further into the ancient forest. Suddenly, Allister stopped and the group nearly fell into him. Turning to look to his side, there stood an enormous tree with a strange symbol scratched into the bark.
“This is it.” He said, looking at the tree. “This is the very first forest.”
Adara’s eyes widened. “The first forest? I thought that was a myth.”
Allister shook his head. “No. When Marion created the forest she created humans and other creatures to live in it at the same time. This mark is from the very first humans who roamed here.”
“So they’re here?” Foster asked, clearly tense. “Where are they?”
As if on cue, there was a strange creaking noise and Liona realized that the forest was coming alive. The trees began to shift, despite the lack of wind, and the very feeling of the forest changed. The ground began to move, and the group crowded together as the roots beneath them moved.
“Why do you come?” A voice said, only it wasn’t a voice at all. It sounded like a howl of wind, yet the words were very distinct.
“We have come to seek your wisdom.” Allister said, holding his arms back as if to protect the group behind him.
“That which you seek cannot be answered by us.” The wispy wind replied. “Only the most ancient one knows.”
Allister shook his head. “Where do we find the ancient one?”
“We do not know.” The wind said. “When the new humans came they cut down our brothers and sisters. We are separated from the ancient one. We do not know.”
Allister nodded. “Is there anything you can tell us?”
“Yes.” The wind replied. “She will know in the end. Time will let her see.”
Allister frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You will see.” The wind said. “The one called Liona will see.”
Suddenly the movement stopped. The forest returned to a calm state, and the life that had appeared in the forest disappeared just as quickly. The group stood in shock, watching as the forest returned to just a plain and inactive grove of large trees.

* * * * *

“Great, so we really don’t know a whole lot more than we did to begin with.” Foster said, rolling his eyes. The group had decided to begin walking deeper in the forest to try to find the ancient one.
Liona shook her head. “Calm down, Tweak. We’ll find it.”
“Yeah, sure, like finding a needle in a haystack. How big is this forest?”
Kali frowned. “You’re not helping, Foster. Shut up.”
“And all we know is that somehow Lilly will know in the end. Because that was really helpful.”
“Shh.” Allister said, stopping suddenly. “Be quiet.”
Foster shook his head with irritation. “You know I’m starting to get tired of you bullying me, what if I don’t want to shut up?”
“Foster.” Allister said, looking at him very suddenly. “I’m serious, be quiet.”
“No!” Foster yelled. “I will not be quiet! This is ridiculous, we’re never going to find this thing!”
Allister’s whole body tensed up, and his eyes darted around them. Without warning, something giant and black jumped out from one side of the forest, making a terrifying shrieking noise. Liona gasped, and the group turned in time to see Allister change quickly into a large golden Lion. The Lion knocked the beast to one side, nearly hitting Jack, who was in an unfortunate location closest to the beast.
As quickly as possible, they ran out of the way, unsure of what to do. They watched as the Lion tried to hold the beast down, and Liona cringed as she saw the dark bear-like creature swipe at Allister with its sharp claws. The Lion was forced to duck out of the way and Allister quickly changed back to human form.
“Run!” He screamed, rapidly morphing back into a large cat, this time a Cheetah.
Foster grabbed Jack and flung him over his shoulder, and the rest of the group began running as fast as they could into the deep forest. They could hear the giant creature behind them, shrieking and whining. Suddenly, Foster tripped over a tree root and he and Jack went flying to the ground, Foster groaned, clutching his ankle.
“No!” Liona screamed, running back towards them. She grabbed Jack, pulling him up. “Go! Run, now!” She said frantically, but the boy stayed put.
“Let me face him!” The boy said. “I can do this!”
Liona shook her head. “No, Jack, run away. It’s too dangerous, it’ll rip you to shreds.”
They heard a shriek, and Liona screamed as she realized the beast was only ten feet away and running fast. Jack stood straight up and scrunched his face in concentration. Without warning, the ground beneath the beast began shaking violently, and the beast stopped, confused.
“Go!” Jack said, still trying to concentrate. “Go and hide somewhere, we’ll find ye later!”
Liona quickly grabbed Foster’s arm and dragged him as fast as she could, deeper into the forest. Foster hobbled along willingly, trying to move fast without hurting himself more. They ran for nearly ten minutes before Foster finally pulled against Liona, stopping her.
“Lilly, stop. I can’t go any further.”
“Jerk!” She screamed, tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe you!”
Foster frowned, still panting and leaning his weight on a nearby tree. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you!” She said angrily. “Allister said to be quiet and you kept talking! Now someone could be hurt because of you!”
He made a face. “Oh, sor-ry if I ruined your little flirt fest, Miss Fantasy, but Allister is a tormenter who enjoys making me squirm, how was I suppose to know he wasn’t making fun of me?”
“Flirt fest?” She spat, feeling the rage build up inside her chest. “Why are you such an ass? Why can’t you just get along with him? Why can’t you just get over yourself!”
She turned around to storm away from him, but he followed her, hobbling as fast as he could to catch up. “And what about you? The only reason we’re here is because of you, I was just minding my own business-”
“Excuse me? “ She interrupted, whipping around to face him,” You think I asked for this to happen? You think I wanted all of you to be here? I would have been much better off by myself.”
“Like you always are?” Foster countered, his face red with anger. “Because you don’t need your friends?”
“I don’t need you!” She screamed, and suddenly they were both very quiet. Liona’s heart was racing from anger, and she was still panting from running so long and screaming at the top of her lungs. Foster was also panting, and his face was hard from fury. Still, his eyes held hers, and for several moments they only stared at each other.
Then, without warning, they lunged for each other, their mouths meeting in the middle with a fierce hunger. His hands held her face to him, and she met his intensity, running her fingers through his hair. Their anger fueling their passion, their manner was forceful as the two humans vented their rage and fears through their ruthless and fervent kiss.

* * * * *

“Do we need to talk about this?” Foster asked, rubbing his temple.
“No.” Liona said shortly. The two teenagers sat on opposite ends against a large tree, awkwardly trying to figure out what to do next.
“I mean…are we, um, just going to pretend like it didn’t happen?” Foster asked, leaning his head against the tree.
“Yes.” Liona replied.
Foster nodded. “Yeah, but…it sort of did.”
“Tweak.” Liona breathed, collapsing her face into her hands. “You’re like my freaking brother. Do you know how gross it is to kiss your brother?”
There was an awkward pause, and Foster shrugged. “I’ve kissed Ned. I mean, in a strictly family way.”
“Would you ever kiss him like that?”
Another pause, and Foster slowly shook his head. “Well, no.”
Liona sighed. “Oh my God, I can’t believe that happened.”
“Yeah.” Foster said, looking off into the distance. “Pretty crazy.”
Liona paused, shaking her head. “How is your ankle?”
“It’s still swollen.” He said, sighing. “Still kind of hurts like hell. I wonder if they have aspirin here.”
“I doubt it.” She said. “I don’t know what to do, I don’t think we ran that far but I don’t know where they are. Do you think they’re okay?”
Foster shrugged. “With Jack on their side? They’re fine. I think the moment we left the kid had it under control.”
“So we just wait for them?” She asked, looking over to try to see him.
He nodded. “I guess that’s what we have to do.”
“Liona” Something whispered, and both Foster and Liona jumped.
“What was that?” She said, scooting around the tree to sit next to Foster, feeling her heart speed up again with fear.
He shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“Don’t be afraid. Come to me.”
Foster frowned. “It sounds like those tree things, only…older.”
They looked at each other, and then quickly looked around them to try and locate the source of the noise. It didn’t take them long to find a large twisted tree that was bent over into a flat U shape. The tree itself was roughly the size of a large whale, and when they located it, it seemed pleased. Liona frowned, wondering where it came from. She was sure she would have remembered a tree like the one that stood before them.
“Come” It beckoned again, and Liona looked at Foster one last time before standing up to walk over to the nearby tree.
“Are you the ancient one?” Liona asked, coming closer.
“Yes.” It said, its tone soothing her. “Come to me, Liona.”
Carefully, Liona walked to the twisted tree until she was within reaching distance. She could almost feel its power, and her body quickly relaxed as she felt the safest she had in a long time. She wondered if the ancient tree was making her relax on purpose.
“You know what we need to know?” She asked, admiring its beautiful shape.
“Yes.”
Liona frowned. “Can you tell me?”
“No.” It said. “Let me show you. Come to me.”
Slowly, Liona reached out her hand to touch the ancient bark. Instantly, her mind was flooded with images that were not her own. She saw a desert, and a man with an ancient looking book in his hands. The man was thin, and clearly deprived of food and water. He stumbled through the sand, looking desperately around him. Suddenly, something caught his attention, and he staggered towards it.
Liona struggled to see what it was, but she could only see sand. Was the man hallucinating? Yet just as soon as the man came to it, Liona saw what he had seen. Just barely in sight was a symbol etched into some sort of metal sticking just barely a half-inch out from the sand. The man grinned, taking out his book and madly flipping the pages until he found what he was looking for.
The man began to speak in a tongue Liona didn’t recognize at all, reading from the book in front of him. Without warning, the symbol began to glow, and the man’s eyes widened. He reached towards the symbol, and the second he touched it there was an explosion. The man was thrown backward, and he looked up. Liona could feel his fear as he saw shapes explode from the symbol, dark and large, floating around him. There were terrifying cackling noises and screeches and an invisible wind rushed upward into the sky.
“Have you any idea what you have done?” A low, dark voice cackled.
“Who are you?” The man yelled out, backing up slowly and trying to locate the voice.
“I am the darkness that taints this world, I am the fear that consumes your soul, and you—you who possesses the single tool of destruction for this world.”
“W-What are you talking about?” The man stammered, his voice shaking.
“I live free again. And you shall die.”
Suddenly the shapes came together in a tornado-like tunnel of darkness, and the man screamed as it came towards him. He tried to run, but the tornado was too much. It knocked him to the ground, and before it could consume him the images began changing. For a single flash, she saw herself, glowing and floating in the sky. She held her arms out to her sides, and five shapes that she could not make out floated beneath her.
Then, there were no more images. She staggered back, letting go of the bark and staring blankly at the ancient tree, panting as if she had been running again. Foster stood behind her, looking at her strangely.
“What was that about?”
She shook her head “It showed me what happened to Darius. I think he broke the truce.”
Foster frowned. “What?”
“He did not know what he was doing.” The ancient one whispered. “But now I have told you what I know.”
“But what do we do now?” Liona asked, frowning. “Now that he’s broken the truce, how do we stop it?”
“I do not know.” The ancient one said, sadly. “But your journey will be a great one. You must re-trace his steps to find the book. You must discover secrets long ago hidden. You must hurry, before he destroys the world.”
Foster made a face. “Well that’s comforting. We also need to know how to find the rest of our crew.”
“Sleep under my branches.” The tree whispered. Suddenly the ground began to move, and Liona and Foster backed away as a series of roots began wrapping themselves around the U shape of the bent tree, forming a cave.
“When you awake, you shall find your friends.”
Foster and Liona exchanged glances before shrugging, and making their way into the cave the ancient one had created for them. Liona was surprised to find she was very tired, and she looked over to see Foster yawning widely. Before she could stop herself, she laid down to rest her head on her arm, and quickly fell into unconsciousness.