It had been days since Lantana had run away. It was not fine. Despite her best efforts, she was underprepared and supplies dwindled. She couldn't stop in a village because being recognized would lead to a nice callback to the castle.
For the past few hours, she had been scavenging wild edibles to prepare for a near future where her food supplies diminished. Thankfully, she had learned about edible and toxic greens previously, but there wasn't enough food to support her. Few berries or plants were enough to sustain her and were quite jarring from the rich meals she had in the castle. She knew the Royal Guard was searching for her, so finding shelter soon was essential.
It didn't help her mood that the sky was darkening as huge, gray clouds heavy with rain gathered overhead. All storm clouds were controlled by Rhytdros, and she didn't want to be in the vicinity of them. Deep into the woods, she was hoping to find a cave, but she would use any form of shelter. The sky began darkening, and Lantana knew she couldn't continue trying to outrun the storm. When the first raindrops fell, it seemed that her panic increased with the horses. Her steed moved even faster and Lantana. In one moment, trees and the sky blended in hues of green and gray. The next, she felt the horse slow for it had found shelter.
Before them stood a hut. It was peculiar as it seemed quite crude and made of several natural elements. Sticks and branches were twisted in leafy vines. Moss and leaves coated the outside of the hut as if it were living. Lantana knew many couldn't afford their own homes and built their own in the woods. She had never seen one of these homes, but she imagined they could look like the building before her.
Even though it was a gamble entering a stranger's home, she doubted anyone living in the woods was armed or would have the courage to fight. She would have an advantage, and her horse would know when to flee if given the command. Lantana focused on the fact that the hut looked sturdy and would protect her from the storm. Dismounting, she approached the door–composed of bark, and swiftly knocked. A middle-aged woman answered Lantana after a moment.
The woman had long, brown hair which was braided with grasses and flowers. She wore a simple dress and it looked like it was made of leaves. It was a peculiar outfit, but Lantana knew better than to question.
"Sweetheart, what are you doing out here?" the woman questioned. The woman didn't seem to recognize Lantana which helped slightly calm her nerves.
"I was going for a ride with my steed, Violet," Lantana lied, "but I wandered too far off the path and before I knew it, I was deep in an unknown wilderness. If you wouldn't mind, I need shelter from the storm."
"Oh, that's horrible. Of course, you can stay here for as long as you please and I'll help you find your way when the storm passes. I have a stable of sorts in the woods behind my home, would you like me to escort your horse?"
With Lantana's nod of approval, the woman went out to Gabriel's horse. Lantana watched her softly stroke the horse's mane for a moment before taking it by the reins and leading it behind the hut.
Entering the hut, Lantana saw it had one room. The floor was composed of a similar material as the walls, but it was polished so when Lantana took off her shoes, it didn't prod her feet.
A bed was pushed into a corner with a table and chest near it. An oven was in the other corner and a crude table and chairs were beside it. Shelving units, small benches, and bookshelves took up the remaining space in the cabin. A fireplace was across from her, warm flames eating away at the wooden logs, the relaxing sound of popping wood, and the smell of woodsmoke in the air.
Lantana heard the woman enter the hut again, "I was about to make my supper. Would you like a bowl of soup, dear?"
Immediately, Lantana's stomach grumbled, the temptation of food making her realize how little she had eaten these past few days. Softly laughing, "Yes, please. That would be wonderful."
The woman moved past Lantana to grab a kettle. "I'll go fetch some water. Feel free to make yourself at home while I'm gone."
The woman exited the hut once again and Lantana gravitated toward the sitting area. Not feeling the desire to do anything, she took a seat on a bench, trying to recollect her thoughts. There was much that needed to be done, but Lantana knew it was a good idea to rest. She had been traveling for days and was willing to admit that a peaceful night with a warm meal sounded tempting. She planned to escape early in the morning, hoping that she wouldn't be too much of an intrusion in this nice lady's home. The journey after this would only get harder as she would need to cross the Razor Peaks to arrive at the end of their world and the Gates of Hell.Delicious smells of spices and vegetables mingled, and soon, the woman beckoned Lantana to eat. The soup was a delectable blend of savory vegetables from the forest, and the hut seemed even cozier with the warm fire inside contrasted with the downpour outside.
"I have to thank you so much for your hospitality. I'll try to leave early tomorrow so I won't be much of a burden." Lantana finished with a genuine smile, not wanting to imagine a scenario where she had not stumbled upon this hut.
"Oh, it's my pleasure, dear. I don't get many visitors, but if my Ma taught me anything, it was to always respect your guests. Now, let's take a look at a map and we'll try to find a route back to your village."
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Lantana awoke with her head on the table, a blanket thrown over her. Racking her mind, the last thing she remembered was going through a map with the lady, lying about her village, and trying to make a path back to it. Feeling guilty for wasting the woman's time, Lantana dug through her sack, pulling out a small handful of gold coins. It was the least she could do to repay her hospitality.
She saw the sleeping outline of the woman on her bed, and quietly, Lantana got dressed and exited the hut. The ground was muddy and wet, but that was preferred over a storm. Traversing around the hut, Lantana saw a structure constructed similarly to the hut a few paces ahead. Walking toward it, she soon saw the general's horse comfortably situated in a stable. Greeting the horse, Lantana let it out from the stable, mounted, and was off.
The lady had given Lantana a map, a clear path marked to return her to her village. She had marked her hut, and assessing the map, Lantana was pleased to see she was going in the right direction–North. Unfortunately, she still had to cross the Razor Peaks, a task she was not looking forward to. She could see the outline of the mountains on the horizon and assumed she would arrive in another day or two or travel. The Mountains earned their name for a reason. They were the tallest, and largest mountain range in their land. Because they were so far North, temperatures were often freezing, and snow and ice were common conditions.
Yet, she had a task in mind. So she rode. Stopping only to rest, she was determined to make it through the forest. The farther she went, the wilder it got as she was leaving civilization. It was easier to scavenge for food, but there was also the risk of wild animals at night. Considering her situation, she had a mainly unconflicted ride North until one night. Lantana had set camp and had dozed off. During the night, she was awoken by a whining from Ivrette. Awakening, she poked her head outside her tent and was horrified by what she saw in the dying embers.
Wolves.
A pack of them surrounded Ivrette. The horse whinnied but couldn't back away. "Hey!" Lantana shouted uselessly, stumbling out of her tent now, "Back off."
The wolves paid her no attention and slowly started approaching Ivrette. Darting into the tent, she grabbed her sword and swung at the nearest wolf. It may have been a mixture of her fear and lethargicness, but the sword barely impacted the wolf. The wolf yipped and the others turned toward Lantana. In fear, she began to back up. The wolves growled and continued approaching. Panic set in as she backed into a tree. Her heart seemed to be in her throat as her head spun, trying to formulate a suitable plan.
I can try to swing at the wolves as they attack for they can only come from a couple of sides. I may defeat two or three, but twelve? That's absurd.
As Lantana held her sword, bracing for the worst, she heard a voice–so quiet it was almost a whisper–behind her. At once, huge vines erupted from the ground, strangling the wolves. After a few moments, the vines receded, the remaining wolves running off. Lantana turned around, trying to see her savior. Yet, in the dark forest, she couldn't make out any details.
"Who are you?" she asked, "Step into the moonlight."
Lantana heard shuffling and the figure stepped into the moonlight in front of her. She saw familiar earthen clothes and a brown braid and was trying to place it when the figure turned and Lantana saw the face of the woman who had helped her the previous day.
"You...? What are you doing here?" Lantana questioned, her face twisting in confusion.
"I knew you were the princess. An unguarded princess, one recently returned to the throne in the wilderness couldn't be up to much good. Don't worry, I only had intentions to help you," the woman added after seeing a panicked expression on Lantana's face, "When you left, I followed. It wasn't hard to follow your trail, seeing the wet earth and the path that you cleared heading North. I had a feeling that you would need my help soon, but stayed in the shadows until my help was needed."
"Well, thank you, but I believe I can handle myself." The woman raised an eyebrow and Lantana sighed. "Fine. I may need help, but I can hardly support myself, much less two people. Don't expect me to be doing you any favors. You decided to help me."
"Well, princess, I can assist with this yet again. I'm sure you've noticed I have abilities. Along with vines, I can summon any natural food."
"That's certainly an impressive talent. If it's not too personal, what are you? And, what's your name?
"My name, princess, is Odorata. As for what I am, I'm a forest nymph. As long as the forest thrives, I thrive. I control elements of the forest which allows me to conjure food. Now, why don't you get some rest? I don't need much energy to function as I can draw it from the woods."
Lantana had heard of nymphs before. Even though they were welcome in Virago's society, they preferred to live in the woods, either alone or in a group. Their powers could range from communicating with animals to summoning vegetation as she had seen Odorata do. She had only heard of pleasant interactions between the nymphs and people, so with the invitation to sleep, Lantana entered her tent yet again and was asleep in minutes.
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The next day, Odorata rode behind Lantana as they journeyed toward the Razor Peaks. Their travels toward the mountains were uneventful, but that was to change in due time. They would be incredibly difficult to cross, but once they were behind them, the rest of their path would be relatively easy to maneuver.
"You know if you want to back out, you can,"
"I've lived for centuries without excitement. If I were to die, at least I died on an adventure."
Considering her words, Lantana realized the nymph had a fair point. I ran from my life because I was sick of how confined I was. If Odorata wants some excitement, I'd be pleased to give it to her.
There were few paths through the mountains, and even if there was an existing path, it would be hard to traverse. The road they chose was rugged. The path was overgrown with rocks and loose gravel. There were exposed roots, and at places, the trees grew so close together, that they had to dismount and lead the horse by hand. It would have steep inclines as they rose in elevation, and caverns and cliffs became frequent along the sides of their path.
Everyone was struggling in the new environment. Lantana saw how exhausted their horse would be at the end of the day, and Odorata's powers also suffered. It seemed more draining to conjure vegetation the further they were from the forest, and the food Odorata could produce was withered and looked deprived of nutrients. Breaks were becoming more frequent as the horse's body was becoming more weary with their travels.
The physical elements weren't the only things becoming more difficult to conquer. As they increased in elevation, the weather became colder, ice, and sometimes even snow becoming a frequent sight. Even though Lantana had gathered clothes suitable for long days of riding, she had not prepared for cold temperatures.
Odorata did the best she could by summoning mosses and leaves to add insulation to their clothes, but there was only so much some meager plants could do. They had learned to establish their tent soon if the snow came and to try to huddle together in an attempt to preserve body heat.
After a day of traveling where they had to be cautious as ice coated their path, their night only became worse as it started to snow. They had never experienced a night too cold, the constant howling winds penetrating the feeble canvas of the tent. They had managed to fit the horse inside the tent, and there wasn't much personal space for anyone. The only reason they survived the night was Odorata's abilities. Even though it must have been draining, she continuously summoned ferns and mosses, the plants acting as blankets to shelter them from the cold.
After that horrific night, the conditions of their journey increased. They had passed the crest of the mountain, and as they descended, they left behind the snow and ice for gravel and rain. Even though both were aggravating, Lantana knew she preferred to be warm.
After they had exited the mountainous region, the journey from there was easy enough. At least they were in familiar land again. Odorata's agricultural powers improved and the land certainly wasn't as rocky, nor was the weather as harsh. Their greatest concerns were wild animals yet again. Something unexpected happened as they continued North.
Their environment changed, but instead of getting colder, temperatures grew warmer as the land began to grow barren. Burnt trees and many smoldering plants were a familiar sight. The forest seemed to thin as plants looked sickly. Similar to the mountains, Odorata's powers started to diminish, but instead of small, measly crops, they looked dry.
They knew when they had arrived.
By now, the land around them was deprived of plants and the ones that remained were burnt. The temperatures rivaled Oriad's summers, and it could be argued that it was even hotter. A structure appeared in the distance–and Lantana knew in the back of her mind it was their destination. As they approached it, they began to see details. There was a boulder, as tall as watchtowers and wider than three typical houses. The rocks were blacker than coal, a door equally as dark outlined in gold embedded into it. Lantana knew the gates were built for gods and whoever knew what else was inside.
"Forgive me for saying this princess, but I don't believe it's a good idea for me to follow you through these doors. I came here to help you as much as possible, but I'm almost certain going there would be death for me. It's another world, and I doubt there's many forests there." Odorata guiltily told her.
"Don't feel bad for not accompanying me now. I embarked on this journey with the intent of traversing it alone, and I cannot thank you enough for the help you've already given. I don't think I would even be alive if it weren't for you. I respect your decision to stay outside."
"Thank you for your graciousness, princess. You'll grow to be a magnificent ruler." Lantana smiled at the comment and Odorata continued. "Back to our current task though. What are we meant to do, simply walk in? That seems a bit too easy."
"Even though it seems easy, I don't see any obstructions. Why don't you wait here? If I don't return in, say a week, feel free to return with the horse. If this is goodbye, once again, I must thank you for everything you've done."
Finishing her statement, Lantana slowly started toward the gates. Her hand was on her sword, and her heart danced in her chest. She was sweating, but not because of the heat.
I can't see any guard, But this seems too simple. I feel like there will be some trial before I can enter.
As if someone had heard her thoughts, the ground before her started cracking. Lantana stopped walking, her sword now in her hands. A fissure opened before her as immense heat radiated from it. She saw a hand–Is that even a hand?–first. A creature pulled itself out of the fissure, one with black fur and paw-like hands. When the creature had fully emerged, the fissure in the ground closed as Lantana analyzed it. It was a dog-like creature, ten feet tall with glowing red eyes. Its tail ended in a point and it had clawed lands.
"It's a hellhound Lantana. I've heard you can kill one by breaking its neck. I'll distract you and deliver the blow," Lantana heard Odorata shout from behind her.
Lantana's throat felt dry and she couldn't respond. The hellhound growled as it sized her up and slowly started approaching. Trembling, she grasped her sword and entered her stance. Yet, before the creature could attack, she saw it struggling against huge vines.
The vines erupted out of the ground at the moment, and although they were brittle, there were many so it slowed the beast. Remembering Odorata's words, Lantana charged. As she got neared, it let out a monstrous bark and broke free of the vines. It snapped at Lantana and she clumsily stumbled away. It missed her by inches, and in time, Odorata had it encased in more vines.
Lantana took a deep breath and ran at the hellhound. Jumping, she swung her sword at the creature's neck and was satisfied to see that it left a wound. It wasn't deep enough to kill it but was certainly a nasty wound.
New, thorny vines wrapped around the hellhound's neck, digging into the wound and worsening it. Once again, the hellhound ripped free from the vines, but thorns were still stuck in its fur. Unfortunately, there were no new vines to replace it, and Lantana saw Odorata had crumpled onto the ground. With the barren land, it would have been strenuous for the nymph. Even though Lantana wanted to help her, she had her current task. Faced with the creature, Lantana knew she had to try. Even though the odds seemed impossible, she owed it to Odorata to try.
The creature was in pain, and using this to her advantage, Lantana ran toward it again, swinging at the wound in its neck again. She heard the sickening sound of impact and the hellhound fell to the ground. A dark, thick material coated her blade as the same substance oozed from the wound. It was only another sign that this creature wasn't from their world. In both shock and fear, Lantana heard the sound of the gates opening. Knowing nothing else to do, she took a deep breath and walked in.
QOTC: What's your opinion of Odorata?