"If this forest weren't so dark, I'd imagine that the trees would be so pretty," Keia said.
"We're really not here to sight-see," I mumbled. Keia put her hand on my shoulder and spun me around.
"I can sight-see if I want to! It's not like I can do much more while we're walking in the dark," Keia lectured to me.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that," I said. "Can we just keep walking, please?"
"Whatever."
"Does anyone else hear music?" Ceae asked. I gave him a look, but then realized that he was right. I could hear a rhythmic thumping sound coming from nearby in the trees.
"It sounds like a fast heartbeat," Vegance said.
"I think we're supposed to follow it," I said. I started to walk again. As we got closer to the thumping sound, it got louder and louder until more sounds could be heard to go with it. Then, I heard words, lyrics perhaps.
When we were right on the music, the light from fire could be seen in a clearing. The music was very loud.
"Dance music?" Keia asked.
"Yeah, apparently so," I said. We took cover behind some nearby trees. I looked into the clearing. Several fox-like creatures were dancing around a well-lit grotto.
"Fox spirits," Vegance told us. "I guess we've made it."
"Fox spirits sure know how to throw a party!" Ceae exclaimed. I continued to watch their dancing, all the while keeping an eye out for Rona. I could find no sign of him. When the song was over, the fox spirits all clapped and cheered. I could see that there were slightly fewer males than females. One of the males, the largest of them all, stood up and held his hand out. The others stopped clapping.
"We will have another song… And tonight's special dancer is Alea!" he said and sat back down. One of the females smiled and threw her arms into the air.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Alea said. The music started up again.
"So, dance music?" I asked Keia.
"Actually, this is 'Rave…' It's more for parties. Fox spirits invented this stuff… I just didn't think that they actually threw parties," she replied. I looked up at the tree I was standing behind. There was a large speaker made of wood and vines that was pumping out loud bass sounds.
"Their speakers are made of wood… How is that possible?" I asked.
"Fox spirits do not know technology… They became one with Nature, and are very powerful magic users. Magic runs their music," Keia explained.
"That's pretty cool." In the midst of their dancing, I decided that I would step out to join them. As I entered the clearing, many of the fox spirits stopped dancing and stared at me.
"Cryos! What are you doing?" Keia shouted. She ran out and grabbed my arm. She tried to pull me back. More fox spirits started to stare at us. Ceae and Vegance knew that our cover was blown, so they stepped out to join us. Now, all of the fox spirits had stopped and were watching us. Their leader looked down at us.
"Stop the music!" he shouted. The speakers shut off and everything fell silent. Their leader stood up. "Well… Humans, in the FoxWoods… We don't get visitors much, and there's a reason for that."
"We're sorry, sir, but…" I bowed down. "I am Prince Cryos, prince of Draconia… I am sorry for intruding on your, er, party."
"It was merely a celebration. Today's my daughter's birthday," he said. All of the other fox spirits started cheering and clapping, until their leader held up his hand. "Prince Cryos… By showing up here today, you have dishonored a sacred vow made between humanity and we fox spirits."
"I have? I had no clue…"
"Yes. Since the beginning of time, fox spirits and Humans have been two very different species. Humans wanted control over everything… We believed in sharing the land. Humans could not agree… So they made us a deal. We are to reside here, in these Woods so close to the Dark Lands… And the Humans get everything else. Fearing extinction, we agreed. We have shut ourselves out of all outside matters, choosing a peaceful existence over none. All because of your ancestors…"
"Oh… I never knew…"
"That's why the Woods are so unkind to passersby. We made ourselves safe from intruders by magicking our home…"
"Sir, may I interject?" I asked. The alpha fox motioned for me to speak. "That was many thousands, maybe millions of years ago… There are fox spirits living in the CentraCity… Not very many of them, but there's got to be a good reason why they're there…"
"Now that I think of it… He's right, Daddy." The fox spirit named Alea walked up next to me and smiled at me quickly. "Daddy, I've asked more than once to leave the Woods… Living here in the Woods, year after year, gets kinda boring after a while… Why can't I?" she asked.
"Because… Those who leave never return! They're traitors to our kind! Here, we are safe…"
"But, why don't they come back? I believe they have no need to come back… The Humans share their land with them, right Cryos?"
I nodded. "Nowadays, Humans view fox spirits as beings of beauty, power, mystery… We don't hate you… We want to know more about you…"
"This kind of heresy will not be tolerated! I raised you better than that, Alea…"
"Daddy… These Humans must need our help for something… They have to be pure of heart; otherwise, the Woods would not have let them through!" Alea shouted. The surrounding fox spirits in the clearing began murmuring and whispering.
"Silence!" their leader yelled. Everyone became quiet. "If that's the case… Prove to us that you're here for help. What is it that you need?"
"We came for Rona," I stated. Several gasps were heard around us, and the murmuring started up again.
The alpha fox wore an expression of fear. "Did you say, 'Rona?'"
"Yes. We come seeking the fox spirit named Rona. We need his help defeating a great evil…" I looked at Alea, who was staring at me. "If we don't do something about Necril soon… Well, our time is limited. We won't just stop at conquering our kingdom… He'll take the FoxWoods too. Rona is really the only one we can turn to now."
"Rona…prefers not to be bothered," their leader said. "I… I can't let you see him."
"Now, wait just a minute!" Vegance spoke up. "We came all this way seeking his help. If you want proof, I've got proof." Vegance held up Rona's faceplate.
The alpha fox took one glance before his eyes widened. "Rona's faceplate… It is no wonder you found your way here… If you want to see him… So be it. Alea…" He focused on the fox spirit standing beside me. "Lead them."
Alea nodded. "Please, come with me," she said and motioned for me and my group to follow. She walked off into the Woods, followed by me, Vegance, Keia, and Ceae.
"So, how exactly do you know Rona?" Vegance asked Alea as we were walking.
"Well… I was the one who found him in the Woods," Alea replied. "I was out gathering berries one day… One of my least favorite chores… When I noticed a black-furred body among some nearby undergrowth. I hurried to help him out, but he was unconscious. He looked to be in pretty bad shape… So, I helped him up and carried him home. My father walked in while I was cleaning him up… He tried to send him out and yelled at me for bringing an 'outsider' into his home… Rona looked like a fox spirit, though. I kept him around anyways.
"When Rona woke up, my face was the first he saw. He asked where he was, and questioned if he had been taken prisoner by Necril… My blank stare answered his question easily, but I told him not to worry… He was safe. I nursed him back to full health and said he could leave if he wanted to. He actually asked for a place to stay here. I told him to go ahead, and if Daddy bothered him… I'd take care of it. Rona made himself a place far enough away from our civilization… He's been here ever since, but he keeps to himself a lot. Daddy seems frightened of him."
"Hmm…" Vegance did not say anymore.
"You know Rona too?" Alea asked.
"Well, I… No… I don't know him," Vegance lied. I gave her a look, but she glanced back as though to keep her past life a secret. I nodded.
"Actually, we've heard all of the storied about him, but had no idea where he went after betraying Necril. You know his story, right?" I asked.
"Yeah… He opened up enough to tell me once, but disappeared after that… I haven't seen him much since," Alea said and sighed.
"The only reason we showed up here was because his faceplate traced Rona's magic here… It's almost as though Rona's faceplate longs for its master," Keia said.
Alea stopped walking. "This is as far as I can take you… Daddy will be mad if I go further."
"We may need you, Alea… Something tells me that Rona will not be easy to persuade… You know him better than I do," I said.
"But…" Alea looked back the way we had come. She turned back and smiled. "Oh well. I guess I can take you to his place."
"We'll repay the favor," Keia said and smiled at Alea. "Promise!" Alead continued leading us.
We came upon a fairly dark portion of the Woods. The trees here were cluttered close together in a way that the branches and leaves almost made it impossible to go anywhere or see anything. Alea stopped and pointed through the branches. I looked to where she was pointing, but all I saw was a large object that looked like a moss-covered rock surrounded on three sides by trees.
"Are you sure that's it?" I asked.
"Rona doesn't like company much… He cast an illusion over him home to deter anyone who doesn't know exactly what it is," Alea explained.
"Besides… It has to be the place," Vegance said. "Rona's faceplate is vibrating out of control." Alea took us up to the "rock" and held up her hand. The illusion quickly faded, revealing a house made of wood and vines. Light poured out from the only window, however, I could not see inside. Alea knocked three times on the door. A few seconds later, there was still no response.
"Rona, it's me… Alea. Can you please open the door?" I heard quiet footsteps inside that came to a half at the door. Then, there was a voice.
"You brought others… Make them leave, and then I'll open this door…" The voice was dark and menacing.
"Rona, these people mean no harm… They seek your help."
"I refuse… Today, I only help myself…"
"Rona? It's been a while… I found something of yours," Vegance said and held up the faceplate.
"I know that voice… Vegance, you can't bring me back! You know why I quit being evil…"
Alea looked to Vegance in confusion. "You're evil? Cryos, I thought you said you all were here for good?"
"We are! Vegance used to be evil… She's not anymore…"
"Rona… I've changed too… We're here because we need your help… Necril's working to conquer Draconia… You know his Keep better than me… We need your strength, Rona…" Vegance pleaded. There was a long silence, and then the door opened. Rona was taller than the rest of us. He was covered in black fur and his eyes were blood red in color. The tips of his ears, his stomach, his hands and feet, and the tip of his tail were all silver.
"Vegance… It's been well over twenty years… I never thought you could change," Rona said.
"I have… You were my leader. When you changed… So did I. Life has been lonely without you…" Vegance said.
"And you have company… Alea…"
"It's been a while between us too, Rona… You've entirely shut yourself out of our company… Do you know how many parties you've missed?" Alea asked.
"I'm not the party type."
"Well… Yeah, I figured as much."
Rona turned his attention to me. "I know you… You're the one of pure heart that I faced earlier… You need training."
I, uh… That wasn't a dream?" I asked.
"It was a test… Your lack of skill proved that you're not threat to me… But your lack of combat showed me that you have no intention of harm."
"I guess I'll treat that as a compliment," I mumbled.
"Prince Cryos… I apologize for the harm I caused many years ago… I should've killed Necril when I had the chance."
"Huh?"
"Alea told you the rest of the story… But before she found me in the Woods, I had actually gone back to the Keep, as a chance to kill Necril… I cut down most of the Darklings on the way… I had my blade to his throat, but something stopped me… I just left… Then, I woke up with Alea… That's all I remember."
"Something stopped you?" I asked. "You mean, you had a chance to end this, to prevent innocent lives from being taken, and you let him live? What could've possibly stopped you?"
"A voice," Rona mumbled. I blinked in confusion. "Look… Everyone just come inside… I hate guests, but it'll be better that way." Rona backed up and disappeared into a room in the back of the house. Ceae, Keia, Vegance, Alea, and I all crowded into the house. I shut the door behind us. Alea proceeded to sit down in a nearby chair; Vegance moved to the corner and leaned against the wall. Keia and Ceae both sat on the floor. I remained standing, now that the room seemed less crowded. Rona's house was a bit odd. From the door, I took a look around: there were chairs and a table in the middle of a somewhat small living room. Along the right-side wall were random pictures of ferocious-looking monsters, all drawn by hand. The left wall also held random drawings, but of nature and other interesting subjects instead. Along the right wall, there was a door, seeming sealed shut: this was the door Rona had just gone through. Near the door was a circular opening with a window through which light shined. How could light shine through a window in a dark forest? On the back wall was a glass display case containing an evil-looking katana. Perhaps this was Rona's katana?
Vegance stood against the back wall, Rona's mask still in hand. I could see that she too was watching the katana. Everyone's gaze shifted instantly as the side door swung open. Rona came out carrying a large black book.
"This is a book of my memories... Everything I could remember since my creation." Rona sprawled the book out on the table and opened it. The first few pages were written in scribbled Draconian. The rest of the pages seemed neater. "My handwriting has since changed since my days of evil... I used to keep journal in between 'assignments.'"
"The writing dates back twenty-three years," I pointed out while looking at the book.
"I took this book with me everywhere once I quit the Darklings. I retrieved it on my conquest back to deal with Necril."
"So, what caused you to change your mind?" Keia asked. "You know, when you could've killed Necril?"
"A voice..." Rona sat down in a nearby chair. "I had my blade to Necril's throat... I was so close, but a voice spoke within my head. 'Lay down your sword,' it said. 'Violence is only the path to darkness... Revenge is just as much corrupt. He will get his just desserts... Walk away.' I listened to the voice. I gave Necril one last look and disappeared... I woke up here."
"Rysta?" I asked.
"Not Rysta... It was a male voice... Non-feminine."
"Hmm..." I folded my arms. "Sorry to say, but we need your help, violence or not."
"Yes... Well, I've been practicing for years with hopes of someday ending Necril's reign of terror. That voice was right then... But today, I have others to back me up."
"We need a guide to take us to Necril's Keep," Vegance said and pushed off the wall. She began to circle around us. "We need someone who knows Necril better than anyone else."
"I'll help," Rona said.
"Really?" Keia asked.
"I've been waiting for this day..." Rona held out his hand. His display case opened, and his katana came to his hand. He laid it in his lap. "It's been many years since I've actually used this sword... I almost miss it." Rona stood up. He turned to face Alea. "Will you be joining us?"
"I can help out until the end of the FoxWoods... I'm not supposed to leave," Alea explained.
"Your assistance will be welcome until we've left the Woods... Thank you for leading us to Rona," I told Alea. She nodded. "Rona... I have no doubt how skillful you are. Welcome to the group."
"I have some things to do... Make yourselves comfortable. We rest here tonight, and tomorrow, we make haste," Rona said. He again disappeared into the back room.
"I call this spot!" Ceae shouted and laid down where he was. Vegance returned to her corner.
Keia looked at me. "Keep me warm tonight?" she mumbled and winked.
"I, uh..." I paused. "Sure." Keia smiled and moved to a side of the room. I moved over and sat next to her. Alea smiled and lay back in her chair. Rona returned not so long later. He now had a sleeve of armor on his left arm. He sat down in his chair, still holding his katana. I continued to watch him until Keia took my hand.
"Our journey seems like its' been so short..." Keia whispered.
"Yeah... Merely weeks have passed, and we're already halfway," I whispered back. "Rona will be useful."
"When this journey is over... I wanna go home... I want to spend more time with you... Just you and me, together... Does it sound good to you?"
I thought for a second. "It doesn't seem so bad... To be honest, I thought about you quite a bit before." I looked at our interlocked hands. "I just never thought you would make the first move..."
"It was a big risk... I was afraid you would see me as too low for you to have feelings for... I was afraid you would have me thrown out of the castle for it..."
"When we get back... You get a promotion. Does 'princess' or 'lady' sound good to you?"
"I can't be 'Princess Keia...' I'm not royalty. 'Lady Keia' does sound good, though... I would be honored."
"We have to survive through this, though. Stay alive, because you have someone to live for now."
"I'm not worried about me... I'm worried about you. I can take care of myself..." Keia laid her head on my shoulder. "Let's just cherish this moment, while it lasts." I looked back at Rona as I heard him stir. He sat up and slid his claws along the edge of his katana, producing a metallic grinding noise.
I looked back at Keia. "I like the sound of that noise," I whispered. "It's gruesome, but oddly satisfying."
"Cryos... That almost sounds evil... Maybe you should sleep." Keia readjusted her head on my shoulder and quickly fell to sleep. I smiled and tilted my head onto hers and fell asleep as well...