Warning, near drowning!!

Chima, the realm of untamed nature and beauty. In this realm I made friends and even a few foes.

For those unaware, Chima is a realm inhibited by anthropomorphic animals such as lions, crocodiles, eagles, ravens, rhinos, bears, wolves and so very much more. They get their energy from a magical substance called Chi, it seems to flow down from a floating mountain called Mount Cavora.

My friends and I found ourselves in a thick swamp-forest filled to the brim with carnivorous plants, the ground seemed to have acidic properties but luckily not powerful enough to burn through our shoes.

After a few hours of travel we seemed to come across a sort-of fort, we knocked on the towering blue door and to our fortune someone opened.

It was an anthropomorphic lion, after a small mutual freak-out, he introduced himself as Lavertus. He gracefully let us into his lair and told us a bit of the realm we now dwelled.

He told us that the swamp we were in is called The Outlands and that he had been banished because of some 'pesky crocodile'. We told him our story and he seemed to be interested, it could also be that he didn't seem to have much company around.

Then he showed us something that never ceases to amaze me. Chi. The glowing blue substance was the perfect source of energy for plenty of my inventions, unfortunately though Lavertus didn't give us any of his chi because he apparently didn't have much on supply, and if he set foot outside of the Outlands he'd be turned back within an instant.

So we made a deal with him. We'd get him as much Chi as we could if he gave us a place to sleep for a few days, and, maybe some scraps for my tinkers if he was feeling generous.

He agreed so he, Whistle, Neila and I began planning, planning a heist. Now as bad as that might sound in hindsight, I am a man of science, and I am willing to bend my morals a little bit for it. Besides, nobody was going to get hurt.

So, with our minds filled with confidence and a fool-proof plan in place we got going. Using a map that Lavertus provided we found our way to the Lion Temple, where we were promptly stopped by the guards, we informed that we were travelers from far away and that we'd love to see the inside of the Temple, luckily we were let in.

I know it was merely a part of the plan to get inside the temple, but man it was beautiful, the roofs laced with gold, the patterns carved into the walls, truly a beauty to behold.

Soon we were brought before their leader, king Lagravis. He stood tall and proud, behind him stood a smaller lion, probably the king's son.

I stepped forward and told them that we were there to behold the beauty of the Chi pool, and that it would be an honour to see it closer.

He said no.

And our plan A was ruined. We walked away with defeat and waited for nightfall. It was time for plan B. Whistle brewed us a potion that allowed us to turn invisible, in the darkness of the night we sneaked to the Lion Temple and drank our potions. The only ones who could see us were each other, to anyone else we were invisible.

We sneaked past the guards and tons of sleeping lions. We soon found ourselves next to the pool of Chi. I stood closer and reached my arm into the pool, managing to fall in.

The resulting splash woke up one of the sleeping lions present, he had a grayed out mane and he wore blue robes. The energy of the Chi had rendered my potion useless and I had no idea of Neila's and Whistle's position.

The old lion walked closer to the pool and I dove deeper. Suddenly a wave of cold washed over me, I gasped, managing to inhale a heap of water? Chi? Whatever it was I swallowed it, my lungs burned, I instinctively tried to swim up but something pulled me down, my eyesight blurred and I started getting tunnel vision, as another wave of coldness hit me I knew I couldn't give up, I felt my foot touch something round, I kicked it and planted my feet on the bottom of the pool, I sprung upward and finally broke through the surface, I gasped for air and swam to the edge of the pool.

The still invisible Whistle and Neila pulled me out, at that moment I felt a burning sensation wash over my body, I wanted to scream from the pain but I held my composure, my heart was racing, I was shaking, I heard Whistle whispering something but it sounded like she was yelling, everything was so loud, i was breathing and sweating like I was running a marathon yet I was still. I couldn't be still, I needed to move, so much energy was welling inside of me I needed to let it out.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Neila holding two bags of what I assumed to be Chi, her potion had worn off, as had Whistle's.

I was still shaking furiously as Whistle helped me up and we started to make our escape, only to be faced with a dozen guards. The gray-maned lion had apparently called for help. I felt something spark inside of me when I stepped forward and put my fists up.

"Icarus, what are you doing?" Whistle whispered.

"I don't know." With that I tackled the guard closest to me and I knocked off his sword.

The guards looked at each other and activated their own Chi orbs.

After that I do not remember anything, Whistle and Neila told me that I somehow managed to beat all of them and then I passed out.

The next thing I remember is waking up to a beam of sunlight shining directly into my eyes. I was immediately greeted by Whistle who was giving me a massive hug, saying that she thought I was dead.

I (very confusedly) asked her what she meant, apparently I'd been asleep for two days.

I naturally asked about the heist and did we get the Chi. She smiled and led me to two bags filled with orbs of Chi. We had succeeded!

I walked next to the bag and lifted up one of the orbs, I sneakily slid it into my bag with no-one luckily noticing.

After three days wandering and mapping out Chima we found something interesting.

A travelers tree. I managed to turn it into travelers tea so that we had some to spare in case things got dicey.

Soon after we bid Lavertus our goodbyes and left Chima.

To our next adventure!