Chapter Thirty-One: Creatures of Rosewood
Waking up to licks on his face Connor groaned and began to push himself up from the grass-covered ground.
Scattered around him were many broken branches that snapped off when they broke his fall, cracking his neck Connor rubbed his shoulder, "Ah bloody hell! That hurt."
"You okay Connor?" Roscoe asked sitting directly in front of the hero who took a seat on the ground and looked around the thick green wood.
"Yeah, I'll be," Connor groaned getting to his feet and grabbing his seal, "Hey guys do you read?"
Hearing no response Connor narrowed his eyes able to sense the magic in the woods, "just like in Ravenstone, the magic so strong it interfering with our communication methods."
Sniffing the air Roscoe looked around, "I don't smell anyone, or hear them."
"We will have to find them ourselves then," Connor spoke looking around the woods closing his eyes he began concentrating, placing his hand on the ground he used his magic as a sonar and his eyes shot open when he sensed a powerful magical force deeper in the woods, "there!"
Looking in the direction Connor pointed Roscoe growled a bit, "Something not right with that direction."
"It's Darkwood, the place Gabriel warned us about, but that isn't what I sensed, the relic is there, I don't think the Lady of Rosewood has it in her possession, it felt like she hasn't noticed it yet" Connor spoke petting Roscoe head, "let get a move on."
In another part of the woods, Mika and Kyler exited out of think bushes looking around feeling like they were walking in circles.
"Didn't we pass that tree stump ten minutes ago?" Kyler asked hearing Mika groan.
"Yes, we're lost!" Mika growled looking around, "It's like the forest is trying to make us more lost!"
Narrowing his eyes Kyler looked back the way they came swearing he saw the bushes themselves had just moved, "hey Mika."
Slowly reaching for the hammer on his back Mika nodded reaching for her katana both narrowed their eyes feeling the presence of something around them.
Feeling the earth under their feet shake a massive root from the ground sprung out and smacked Kyler sending him flying and smashing against a tree.
"What?!" Mika growled spinning around when she heard the tree behind her begin to crack and break the tree became a massive creature the size of a Troll with its roots and leaves forming a bird-like face that tilted its head at Mika before roaring.
"Oh, you're gonna pay for that cheap shot!" Kyler growled getting off the ground with his hammer in his hand glaring at the new tree creature not noticing another of the creatures had formed behind him with its large hands it snatched Kyler and held it up to its face and roared.
"RAAAAAAAAAH AT YOU TOO!" Kyler roared back punching the creature across the face, the beast didn't expect Kyler to be strong enough to crack the wood on its face making it drop him and stumble backwards.
"What the hell are these things?!" Mika spoke seeing they were surrounded by four of the new creatures.
"These must be the Rosewights, the Lady of Rosewood guards!" Kyler growled having heard the legends of the Rosewoods.
"Can they be killed?" Mika asked seeing the Rosewights get closer the roots of their trunks moving like an octopus on land.
"Only one way to find out!" Kyler smirked seeing the Rosewight he had sucker punched moments ago glare and then charge towards him.
Elsewhere in a darker part of Rosewoods Jaya gasped rushing over to a massive mushroom, "Seth, look at this! Do you suppose these giant mushrooms could have any healing properties?"
Approaching Seth tilted his head looking up at the massive mushroom, "Your guess is as good as mine Jaya, never hurts to collect some samples."
"Say no more!" Jaya grinned digging in her bag to start collecting samples while Seth looked over his shoulder getting a sense they were being watched, or maybe it was his imagination?
Collecting a sample Jaya carved out a chunk from the massive stem and gave it a sniff, "the colors don't appear to be that of common poisonous toadstools, no visible scales or warts, no distinct odors either, can you give me a boost so I can collect a sample from the cap?"
"Uh, sure?" Seth spoke locking his hands together and boosting Jaya up when she ran up watching her climb onto the massive cap of the mushroom.
"Oh good! Not slimy or wet! This is a safe mushroom," Jaya smiled collecting a sample.
"You know your stuff huh Jaya," Seth smiled watching the Alchemist get to work to collect samples for her research.
"Only what I know from other mushrooms I've used in the past, as far as I know, Rosewood ingredients are very rare and there has been barely any study on their alchemical properties, I'm willing to bet something in these woods could be the key I need to help Mika and any other Half-Breeds Reaver has," Jaya smiled down at Seth glancing up to the woods seeing something duck behind a tree.
Pretending she saw nothing Jaya quickly collected her sample before looking down at Seth, "Catch me!"
"Huh? Okay," Seth said taken by surprise when jumped down and caught her in his arms.
Leaning in she whispered in his ear, "Something watching us."
Saying nothing Seth set Jay down then quickly drew his cutlass while Jaya pulled out her spear both facing the woods where they could hear whispers and laughter.
"Show yourselves!" Jaya ordered hearing the mischievous voices chuckle.
"Show yourselves she says," a voice chuckled.
"Been so long since we had live ones, shall we trick them? Or perhaps we should see their insides?" another voice giggled evilly.
"Just try it!" Seth growled pointing his cutlass to the trees where masked bearded creatures with human upper bodies and goat legs began to appear each with horns on their heads in different shapes, some with beards and others had no facial hairs.
"Goodfellows! So, it is true, Rosewood is the last place these things exist in," Jaya spoke recognizing the creatures from books she read.
"I am gonna take a guess they're dangerous," Seth glared seeing the Pucks and Pipers giggling and whispering among themselves.
"Very, be careful Seth they can use magic!" Jaya warned spinning her spear.
Nodding Seth prepared himself ready to fight the pack of Goodfellows one approached and with a smile, it snapped its fingers making vines from the trees above them fly down and try to tie up the two heroes.
"Oh shit!" Seth growled slicing at the vines with Jaya trying to prevent being tied up.
A Puck then charged at them only to be hit with a bolt to its neck making it grab its head and scream before turning towards the other Goodfellows and began to attack.
More darts hit other Goodfellow creating chaos among the goat men who tried to fight off the Pucks that were driven crazy.
Jumping down Tercero slices a vine around Jaya's wrist, "You both ok?"
"Was that your Berserker Bolts?" Seth asked seeing the assassin nod.
"Si, glad to see it works on whatever these cabro monstruo are," Tercero spoke turning to his allies, "let's go, this distraction won't last."
"Good call," Jaya spoke following Seth and Tercero deeper into the dark woods.
Elsewhere in the woods, Neo lay unconscious near a stream where he was pulled out and his helmet was removed by fingerless gloves.
Touching the man's face the figure hummed softly lifting his head and holding a canteen of water to his lips, taking a drink Neo slowly opened his eyes.
With blurry vision he could see a white hair girl above him with glasses, seeing he was waking she smiled, "Oh good, you're awake."
Groaning Neo sat up seeing Merlin fly in, "Sir there you are! Oh, who is this?"
"Where are my weapons?" Neo asked looking around and saw his guns, sword, and helmet all lying next to him.
"That was quite a fall you took," the mysterious girl spoke standing up and brushing dirt off her black leggings.
Now getting a better look at the girls Neo noticed the white hair girl was dressed in a mix of white and black clothes, on her hands were two gloves with metal knuckle dusters attached to them, and around her wrists were bracers with Augmentations attached to the gloves.
"Who are you?" Neo asked standing up and began to attach his gear to his person.
"Ashley Silverheart, Ash for short," she introduced holding out a hand that Neo shook, feeling the strength behind her grip Neo could now confirm based on her outfit and her slightly muscular yet feminine body she was a brawler of some kind.
"What are you doing here? From my understanding Rosewood is too dangerous to be taking a woodland stroll," Neo spoke weary of the stranger.
"I could ask you the same question, at first I assumed you were a Patrol Guard based on your attire but I've never seen one with your armor," Ash spoke crossing her arms, "also not many soldiers under Tirich's rule have Wisps following them around, Heroes I assume?"
"Yeah, something like that," Neo spoke looking at Merlin, "what is our status? Where are the others, Merlin?"
"I haven't seen anyone since we jumped from the train, I do hope they're alright," Merlin answered flying around, "oh! I'll try to get an eagle-eye view!"
Flying up Merlin moved through the thick leaves before appearing at the top then looked around, "see anything?" Neo called from below.
"Sorry sir, all I see is trees for miles," Merlin replied before flying back down.
"Wait there are others?" Ash asked looking around, "Oh dear that's not good."
"Why?" Neo asked putting on his helmet and turned to Ash.
"I've been living in these woods for a while now but I know that where the creatures like to stay, this area is somewhat neutral territory it safer but if your friends landed anywhere near the Darkwoods then your friends are in grave danger," Ash warned.
Loading his rifle Neo looked ahead, both of them hearing multiple roars from an unknown creature in the distance followed by Kyler's roar right back.
"That's Kyler!" Merlin spoke seeing Neo point his rifle in front of him.
"Let's move! Merlin survey ahead!" Neo ordered.
"Sir yes sir!" Merlin spoke flying ahead as Neo began to run in that direction, they heard Kyler's battle cry.
"Wait!" Ash spoke running after Neo, "That Rosewights territory!"
"What am I up against? Give me the details," Neo spoke jumping over a large log with Ash close behind.
"Tree monsters, huge, the Lady of Rosewood personal guards, your bullets won't do any good, they're living trees, hard as maple wood, no organs or vitals," Ash explained.
"Tree monsters huh?" Neo spoke putting away his rifle and pulling out his sword, "chopping away the limbs is the solution then."
Seeing the moving trees ahead Neo watched Kyler smack his hammer across the head of one of the Rosewights smashing its wooded face and sending splinters hitting the ground.
Dodging a Rosewight massive wooden fist Mika slashed her katana across it is face making it roar and slash wooden claws towards her that Neo sliced off with his sword.
"Dammit, they just won't stay down!" Kyler growled seeing the Rosewight he knocked over slowly getting up with a damaged face.
Running in Ash came in and with a powerful spin, she kicked the side of one of the creature's shoulders snapping the wooden arm in half and sending it crashing into another Rosewight.
"Who the blood hell is that?" Mika asked.
"On your six!" Merlin warned allowing Mika to dodge-roll another attack.
Backflipping away from another Rosewight attack Ash landed next to the others cracking her knuckle then removed her glasses and put them safely in his shorts pocket, before smiling friendly to Kyler and Mika, "Hi! I'm Ash! Nice to meet you!"
"Uh hey?" Kyler replied taken aback by the friendly girl before turning to the enemy and gripping his hammer handle tight, "Can you hold your own?"
"Bet your arse I can!" Ash grinned getting into a fighter stance.
"Then enough talk! Fight!" Neo growled charging towards one of the Rosewights spinning his sword and slicing off a few fingers when it slashed at him then round house kicked it across the jaw.
Charging Ash dodged-rolled then with a flurry of skilled martial arts punches and kicks she sent the Rosewight skidding back to Kyler who jumped in the air and smashed his hammer down on its head.
Slicing her katana with speed and skill Mika slipped through the Rosewight's grasp slicing off pieces of its roots keeping it distracted long enough for Neo to slice off its head with his sword.
With their numbers shrinking one Rosewight took a step back digging its branches and roots into the ground before letting out a powerful roar that echoed through the woods.
All then went silent then the ground began to shake and sharp thorn-like green vines began to shoot from the ground latching onto the heroes, all except Ash.
"Get off me!" Kyler yelled ripping off one of the vines from his neck but more and more began to wrap around him then suddenly with a violent yank it pulled him into the ground burying him in the soil.
"Kyler!" Mika yelled trying to get free but she too was taken and pulled into the ground as well.
"Hold on!" Ash yelled trying to get the vines off of Neo who was suddenly yanked back but his hand was grabbed by Ash who struggled to keep her hold as he was pulled into the ground slowly.
"What happening?!" Merlin yelled unable to help.
"She taking them!" Ash grunted the heels of her boots creating drag marks in the ground, "the Lady!"
Looking at the situation Neo looked to Merlin, "Go with Ash, find Connor! GO!"
With his order, Neo was ripped out of Ash's hands who fell backwards watching Neo get sucked into the ground.
"NO!" Merlin screamed seeing the Rosewights begin to approach.
"Dammit! Move!" Ash yelled running and dodging the Rosewights that tried to capture her.
"Hey! Why didn't the Lady take you?" Merlin asked following Ash who ran through the woods, quickly putting on her glasses then sniffed the air.
"Because she thinks I'm one of the residents," Ash answered looking over her shoulder to see the Rosewights gave up their purist and came to a stop.
Looking around Ash narrowed her eyes sniffing the air again, "It's going to rain soon, night is the safest from her sight, the Lady will keep your friend prisoner, but when the sun comes," Ash spoke daring not to answer what becomes of those captured by the Lady.
"We must find Connor," Merlin spoke looking around and watching Ash walk in one direction.
"This way," Ash simply spoke leading the way.
"How do you know he's that way?" Merlin asked seeing Ash turn to her and smile.
"Let's call it a woman's intuition for now," she smiled confidently while adjusting her glasses.
Merlin could sense Ash wasn't telling the full truth but had no choice but to follow Ash seeing that she had no idea where Neo and the others were taken.