1 Exploration

The sun had just risen over the horizon. It was a sunny morning, the fresh morning breeze followed the scent of pine trees and cold, melting snow. The light, fluffy clouds painted across most of the pale pink sky, giving it a dream-like sensation. Tall, green pines lined the horizon, following mountain peaks in the distance.

I woke up, smelling the scent of eggs, followed by bacon. I'd always loved to wake up with the smell of breakfast. I sat up in my bed, looking out my window.

'It's nice to hear the birds chirping on mornings like these.'

"Yo." I heard a voice say.

I turned around to face the doorway. I see Freya, my younger sister, leaning on the side of the door frame.

"What's up." I replied back as I slip out of my ruffled blankets.

"Sparrow said to tell you to come to the table, we're going to go out into the forest to get some herbs."

I walk over to my closet as I replied, "Oh?" And grabbed my simple, grey hoodie.

"We might be able to stop by Faith's place on the way." Freya added.

"Deal."

I quickly nudged my sister out my room so I could change. I decided to wear a simple outfit, which was just my grey hoodie, black pants, some runners, and a brown pouch. My shiny, leather shoes fit me like a glove, tied with neat, white laces in a lottle bow. Of course I loved these black shoes.

I quickly tied my silky, white hair into a ponytail and padded down the hair on my long, fluffy tail. My ears twitched as I looked in my mirror to examine my looks.

My Maroon eyes shone in the reflection, giving is a ruby-like look, and my sharp, wolf-like teeth glistened in the morning light, shining through the window.

I took a small vile sitting on my dresser. It was a simple invisibility potion, for occasions only.

I opened my door, holding my left arm on the strap of my pouch, and strolled over to the kitchen. I look over to the counter and see my mother, Tahlia, bringing a pan of bacon to the table. The maple scent made me realize how hungry I was, so I stopped at my side of the table.

"Good morning Akira, how'd you sleep?" Tahlia asked as she moved a piece of stray hair out of her face

"Good." I replied, taking two pieces of bacon and setting them on my plate, then sliding into my seat.

Freya made her way around the corner of the room and sat down, picking up her fork to grab some eggs. Sparrow, our big brother, was already seated in his chair, taking a bite of the fresh, maple bacon.

He had silvery hair with navy blue tips, he dyed his tips along with his tail. Due to a fight a while back, he damaged his sapphire blue eye, causing him to go blind in one eye. He was wearing a grayish-blue hoodie with black jeans. He looked in my direction, holding up his fork in a taunting way.

"You will never beat me in a duel!" He said.

"Aha! You've underestimated my power!" I challenged, as we fought with our forks.

Freya held up her knife and pointed it towards me.

"Okay, try and beat me with a knife AND a spoon."

"THE LEGENDARY SPOON!" I cried sounding dramatic.

"Okay, okay, stop playing with the cutlery and finish your breakfast. Once you guys finish, you can go to get some herbs, we'll need them to brew more potions and make our food." Tahlia finished.

I shrugged, setting down my fork in defeat.

 ***

I opened the front door, smelling the cold, morning breeze. Sparrow and Freya both followed behind me as I stepped onto our stone pathway.

"Make sure to be back before sunset." Tahlia had said as she reached for the doorknob.

"Seya!" Freya then turned to wave at our mother.

We made our way to the riverside, which was not far from our house, and stopped at the bridge, we usually use our teleportation crystals by the bridge so we can still walk a bit. Although, having a teleportation crystal isn't always a luxury.

I took out the crystal and said, "Teleport, street 4!"

Just then, the scenery began to change, warping into the familiar set of houses on the side of the road. The sun was just below the halfway point, sending warm rays of light through the canopy of tree tops, just above them. Little bee's buzzed passed them as we walked, and don't forget the graceful butterflies that fluttered over top small daisies, just infront of the line of houses. This neighborhood was very, very interesting. It looked almost like you could only imagine this place.

"C'mon guys, let's hurry so we can make it to Faith's house before noon." Sparrow said, quickening the pace towards her place.

We walked about a block before reaching her place, stoping just infront of her driveway.

I heard the sound of a door opening, so I turned around. 'I'm guessing she saw us out her window?'

"Hello you muffins." Faith said as I turned to her doorway.

"You want to come collect some stuff in the forest?" I replied, flicking my tail.

She nodded, picking up a small, grey bag and drooping it over her shoulders.

"Let's go." Sparrow chimed in.

Again, I took out my teleportation crystal, hidden in my front pockets. The crystal sparkled with different shades of blues and purples, in the rays of light that shone through the trees.

"Teleport! Willow forest!" I said while tightening the grip on my backpack strap.

The scenery began to change from the calming neighborhood, into the 'Willow Forest', just at the edge of the trees.

There was a large boulder, which we were standing on, a small pond and a waterfall. Although, you'd probably consider the waterfall a small trickle of water considering that it was as small as a bamboo stick.

"I think we should check over there for some herbs, I think I remember seeing a bunch of spearmint." Sparrow said, pointing in the direction, just right of the pond.

Everyone jumped down off the boulder and began to make their way towards the side of the pond.

Faith took off her bag and picked out a small bottle. She then filled it with fresh water from the waterfall.

"What's that for?" Freya asked, pointing at the bottle.

"I forgot to bring water." Faith replied.

"Oh ok."

We then set off towards the area where Sparrow pointed out. It was a simple grass grove, with herbs of all kinds.

Picking a shrub and examining it, I showed everyone a rare Sundaisy. Its golden petals shone with bright yellow rays like the sun.

"Woah, aren't those Sundaisies? Those things are extremely rare." Sparrow had said.

I looked at the flower. I had to be extremely lucky to find this beautiful thing.

"We can use that flower for a healing potion. With this flower, it'll heal A LOT of wounds." Faith suggested, while smiling softly.

I nodded, putting the flower in my pouch.

***

We made our way down a pathway, past the pond, and stopped by a large oak. This ancient tree is called 'The Central Tree'. This great tree is the thing that powers this part of the forest, only one of the four. There's four forests, the Willow Forest, the Grassy Grove, the Rainforest, and the Swamp.

If any of the central trees die in any way, the entire forest would die. But in the center of all of the forests, is the Tree of Life. The most powerful tree in Euphoria.

Only a the gaurdian can take care of the tree, it's hiddin in the mountains in the center of the continent.

"Wow, I forgot how beautiful it is here..." I heard Freya say behind me, admiring the oak tree.

Sparrow walked towards the tree, placing his hand on the bark.

"We could set a Waypoint here."

He took out a teleportation crystal and said four simple words;

"Set waypoint, Central Oak."

"Okay, so- now wha- aAHG-" Faith stumbled down onto the ground.

Freya giggled as she helped Faith up from the grass.

"Wow, such gracefulness." I smirked, crossing my arms.

She stood up, and shoved me a little.

"Yeah, yeah. But you'd take first place anyday."

I laughed.

We made it past the Central Oak, passing a great lake with beautiful pine trees and mountains. The sun was about over the mountains, making the sky a beautiful, pink and purple sunset.

Then snow started to fall. Even in this sunny weather, when it was warm outside.

"What the.." Sparrow muttered beneath his breath.

"Uh- I think we should get back-"

"No no no, we can still go deeperinto the forest, we'llbe fine." I interrupted Faith, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing.

Faith looked over to me.

"Our parents will be worried.." she said.

I waved my hands in an 'I don't really care' motion.

"Like I said, we'll be fine."

I made my way down the, now-covered-with-snow, hill. It was snowing alot and it was about dusk.

I stopped at a ridge, not far from the Central Oak. Looking off the edge I saw it, the Moon blossom. Perfect for making invisibility potions, and sometimes if your lucky, when it blooms, a Dark magic potion.

"Ayy, ayy, look!"

I pointed down the ridge as Freya, Faith, and Sparrow looked over with wide eyes.

I slid my pouch off my shoulders, looking through the various potions I had.

'Invisibility, lightning, fire resistance, flight.. oh! Flight! Here it is!'

I pulled the flight potion out of my pouch, drinking it with no second thoughts.

Obviously there would be side-effects, but not your normal dizziness or nausea, but a light feeling.

The way this potion works, you literally just physically get lighter to float a bit. It lasts for about two minutes at the most.

I hopped down the cliff, being cautious about the pine trees poking me--

'Ouch. That was a branch, definitely.'

Rubbing the spot where the branch stabbed me, I landed gracefully at the bottem of the ridge.

"Akira! It's almost night!"

I look up to see where Faith, Freya, and Sparrow stood. They were right, the sky had blackened and the snow began to fall in big chunks, quicker than expected.

'I need to get this blossem.'

I hurried passed tall, snowy trees, stepping in the snow with steady, graceful steps.

I picked the flower and made my way up the hill, obviously worrying about the thick snow on the ground and the black, starless sky.

***