Time to begin the quest for the fifth gem


(Morning time) city of Del

Shadow lord said "fallow fallow theagen has not yet returned with the four thieves where is she why is she not here?" Fallow kneeled and bowed. Fallow said "i'm afraid things have not gone as planned you see i only just received news of theagen myself and they defeated her again, my lord it seems this time she was undone forever by the power of the lapis lazuli".

The Shadow lord was furious he shouted "impossible i'm losing patience" fallow stood on his knees said "it is only a matter of time before they're caught my lord I gave the orders of the gray guards search for them as we speak numerous pods are scouring the countryside". Shadow lord said "you fool send the carn squad" fallow replied "I assure you that really isn't necessary highnes".

Shadow lord shouted "you will do as I say" fallow bowed down said "of course my Lord".

(Time unkown) foggy area

In the fog riding black skinned mudlets are a type of grey guards what what made them look different was there uniform. They had yellow scarfs and yellow glove on their left hand and their helmets tops are blood red and the spikes on their masks are more curved.

The leader said "lets get em men" slap the rains and the mudlets moved forward of seven of them rode off.


(day time) rocky terrain

Our group of adventures are walking up a hill that's rocky Lief stopped looked around said "you guys wanna take a break". They all had stopped too Cal and barda hummed nodded in agreement jasmine sighed said "it's about time" Lief said "I don't suppose either of you any water left, do you".

Jasmine shook head left or right said "my bottles completely empty" barda said "I finished mine a while ago" cal said "I don't even have a small cap full of water". Lief looked inside his water bag said "yeah me too" lifts up water bag to drink and only a small tiny drop of water came out.

Then lief saw something with wings and a tail fly by fast barda said "what are you looking at lief?" Cal said "what did you see". Lief said "I don't think I've ever seen kree take off that fast" jasmine said "what are you talking about" then kree flew to her on the arm while cawwing.

Lief said "he's back" kree cawed jasmine said "are you positive good news you guys kree just told me he saw a big pool of water not too far from here". lief said "great" cal said "we need a few good drinks of water" and kree flew off towards the direction of the source of water. Our group ran to follow their feathered friend and then they stopped on the top of the hill what they saw was a forest and in the center was a clearing that showed a small body of water".

Lief said "let's go" they all started running jasmine said "im so thirsty" cal said "race all of you there" and then they ran through the forest. Kree is seen flying in circles and cawwing jasmine said "we're almost there" cal said "I can almost taste it" they made it past the forest got to destination lief said "it's a spring".

They all had got down on their knees, lief and barda took their gloves off and began scooping up water, they all drank the water. Lief said "I can't believe I don't think I've ever tasted water this good before" we cut to a scene where cal,barda and jasmine drink the water jasmine said "I know what you mean it's so refreshing" barda said "sure is I just had an idea what do you three think about setting up camp here".

Lief hummed in agreement cal said "I agree with you twice barda" Jasmine hummed disagreement lief said "what you don't think it'd be a good spot". Jasmime said "I do but there's something about the trees I don't know what it is but it's almost as if there dead" lief said "are you serious".

Lier said "they look pretty alive to me i mean there green and they all have leaves" barda hummed said "I have to agree with lief they look just like ordinary trees". Jasmine said "yeah but the weirdest thing is that they're completely silent" cal said "but you can talk to trees this is suspicious" lief said "that is weird hey look".

On one side of the spring there's a large piece of white stone "what is that" and lief walked to it he looked down and on the stone was a plaque with words. Lief read "Dreaming spring, drink, gentle stranger, and welcome. All of evil will beware" he said "what do you think that means?" Soon the others joined him and looking at it.

Barda said "looks like a warning to me" cal said "same here" jasmine said "maybe it wasn't a good idea for us to drink the water". Barda said "the sign seems to be telling us that if a bad person drinks, the water they'll be punished in someway I suppose we should've been more cautious the water might be poison". Lief said "uh poisoned" barda said "in any case we're gonna find out soon enough either way there's no sense in worrying about it now" jasmine said "yeah but it says evil beware you guys don't think that you're evil do you?".

Lief said "of course we're not evil" jasmine said "well then stop being such worrywarts" lief said "what" jasmim said "the sign welcomes, kind and gentle people like us to drink from the spring". Cal said "I wasn't worried I was just thirsty" lief said "I guess so" he felt OK and a bit unsure.

(Night time) forest near the spring

The moon was out in the partly cloudy night sky an owl hoot our group is seen, leaning their backs against the trees sitting down barda said "I think it was wise to sleep here if any gray guards are nearby they'll come straight to the spring as well".

Lief said "we probably shouldn't make a fire even though I really like one" jasmine said "don't you think we've become a bit too cautious in the last few days I mean, we used to sleep and make fires wherever we wanted". Lief said "but things are different now we know the Shadow Lord has started looking for us so we gotta be more careful" cal said "yeah we've already obtained four of the seven gems to the belt I assume he's furious"

Barda said "i think jasmine knows that" jasmine replied "of course I do" barda replied "one thing we've always done is to take turns keeping watch i'll be first". Lief said "sounds good i'll take the second turn this time so why don't you get some sleep" jasmine is already asleep cal said "I might get the third shift or wake up in between you guys anyway night night" and he falls asleep too.

Lief said "wow out like a light" barda said "I don't blame em we've been going pretty hard lately" lief said "yeah your right" lief said and he looked up at the night sky. Lief said "I have to admit what Jasmine said about these trees it makes you wonder" barda said "I think we're fine just take a look at fili and kree over there".

We see our furry and fearher companions sleeping fili on the bottom and kree using him as a pillow barda said "there's sound asleep if there is something dangerous about these trees they sense it". He continued "and cal senses are sharpened too since he's part creature he would detect them as well" lief looked said "that's all true I guess it's all good" barda said "yeah now why don't you get some rest". Lief said "right good night" he lays down on his back, his arms behind his head and his sword by his side, barda said "good night" lief thought 'I can't wait till we finish this quest then I can go back home to del' then he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

(Night time) someplace

Cal had appeared somewhere and he was grey where he was he was not sure till "where am i" he said he looked around he saw he was standing in the center of his old home land. He said "oh, I know this place this is my home" remembered all the great times he had with his parents and how they decide to build a cabin and live here. Cal wanted to go into the house to look at the place again, but when his hand reached for the door knob, it went right through it.

He was surprised and thought if his hand could go through there then maybe his whole whole body can so he walked right through the door. Cal had rembered how was father taught him to make weapons and fight with them and his mother taught him the importance of magic.

(Night time) forest near the spring

Then cal woke up just at the same time lief did lief said "what a nightmare cause it was more than that cause i really felt like i was back home" cal said "what a coincidence it felt like I was back home too". Lief and cal saw barda is asleep lief said "hey barda,barda are you asleep" cal said "yes he is" lief said "I guess Jasmine isn't the only one who is tired.

Then they both heard a splash and turned and looked over at the dreaming spring something was getting a drink of water both guys got up walk to get a good look. What they saw was a yellowish orange creature with wings and a tail it stopped drinking and got up had purple eyes an orange hair pattern strip ledt and right side of head and strange antenna.

Lief and cal were astounded and they both remembered a toy they had when they were kids that looked just like the creature. Lief said "is that really a kin" cal said "I must be dreaming" pinched himself "ow definitely not dreaming" the creature known as a kin, began scratching its head.

Kins are an ancient, rare and fabled species of rodent-like flying creatures these creatures are harmless and gentle in fact one of the few creatures that fit that description. Kins resemble cute,round,bulbous crosses between pig and ferret with pig like back legs three toes and rodent like front legs wich look more like five finger arms with puffy shoulders. They've got large leathery wings velvet esque fur expressive faces and pouches like marsupials young ones are the size of large dogs while adults can grow up to be almost as large as a dragons.

Lief said "I thought the only existed stories" cal said "so did i" as the kin who is the size of a large dog and had orange markings between her legs walked away from the spring the guys walked close to the creature lief said "wow it's an actual live one". He then pet the kins head followed by cal "what you talking about what's an actual live one" the kin said in a squeaky voice lief and cal we're surprised lief said "did you really just speak to us". Kin said "of course I did who else would I be talking to why is their something wrong with that" cal said "wow I didn't know they could talk".

Lief said "no of course not" cal said "I didn't say anything" kin said "you know you two are kind of funny what's your names?". Lief said "my name is lief sorry if im acting funny" cal said "the names cal how about you" kin said "don't worry I kinda like it my names prin". Lief said "i'm so happy to meet you Prin" cal said "as am I" prin said "i'm happy too we can play together, but first tell me what you were saying before".

Lief said "what it was nothing, actually i was talking about you I didn't know that kin still existed" prin said "well there's not that many of us left but of course we still exist I mean you two are talking to one aren't you what else could I be anyway so you wanna play or what". Lief said "you wanna play sorry I know you're real kin but I feel like I'm in a dream or something" prin reached her hand up to his face, said "a dream" pinched his face he said "ow what are you doing that really hurts let me go". She let go of him "right I guess I'm not dreaming" lief said then cal pinched his left shoulder "what was that for Cal" lief said cal replied "just to doublecheck be glad I didn't pinch your face".

Prin laughed at this "of course not but I wish I were dreaming like all the grown-ups over there see them" and she pointed to her left. Lief and cal turned to their right and saw some things in between the trees curled up "they look like boulders" cal said "but they ain't boulders".

Prin said "I guess so but that's only because they're all sleeping right now and they'll stay like that, till the sun rises my mommy says I'm supposed to stay with them but it's not fair cause its sor boring I don't have anything interesting to dream about". Cal said "thats so sad" lief was silent then prin got excited grabed all their hands with her hands said "but now ive got you two let's play I know a great game called hide and find". Lief said "that be fun" cal said "im game" prin said "so you two go hide and I'll sing and I promise you I won't cheat" lief said "I believe you" cal said "the same is said for me" prin said "now quick you two go hide" then she turned around and covered her eyes.

She covered her eyes with her hands began singing "hide and find hide and find you can hide, but I will find you my sharp eyes". While she was singing The boys looked around to hide and they decided to hide in the tall grass and they watched Prin dance around lief said "I can't believe it, we're actually playing hide and find with a real kin" cal said "I know this is great right".

Suddenly they both heard her yelp and looked forward prin fell down on her back because something was cornering her a gray guard with a knapsack. The grey guard put the sack over her laughed evilly said "gotcha ah hey give me a hand over here will ya this is really putting up a fight" he was talking to another gray guard in front of him.

Prin kept grunting saying stuff like mommy the other gray guard said "fine" walked over to him and kneeled down to wrap up the sack. Gray guard said "there that should do it" prin said "oh help me somebody" lief and cal tried to get up but a pair of hands clamped on their shoulders and stopped them. They looked behind them the person is Barda he said "do you two know what those gray guards have in that bag" lief said "yeah its a young female kin we were playing hide and fine and they caught her when she was singing".

Barda said "you two were playing hide and fine with a kin" jasmine said "and were supposed to believe that" cal said "it's all true were not making this up". They all saw when one of the gray guards laughed, one of them tossed prin aside said "pig for breakfast nothing better" other guard said "you think it's a pig don't look like one of me" other took of his mask replied "it's fat, whatever it is it'll be good eating and that's all that matters".

Next scen they start filling up their water jugs with water from the dreaming spring guard said "this is great we smelled this water just in time I don't know about you but my bottle was completely empty our luck might just of turned around". Then he started drinking his water bottle and so did the other gray guard then said "I don't know if I'd go that far we may have found food and drink but we still lost those three ticks from the games" and he started getting up.

Barda said "did you hear that baron,glock and narridah must've been their prisoners" lief said "my guess would be that doom and dain rescued them and took them to the resistance stronghold". Then the other gray guard got up as well and sheathed his sword said "will get them by nightfall " other said "I enjoy teaching those ticks a lesson" guard said "yeah". Then prin whimpered said "mommy help me mommy" guard said "will you shut up" and kicked here this made lief and cal angry lief said "they'll pay for that" cal said "and we're gonna collect that payment".

Then lief picked up a rock threw it far to distract the gray guards "what was that" gaurd said "lets check it out" other said he replied "yeah" and they started walking to the sound. Lief said "now" and he and cal got up and ran to prin lief said "prin we've come to save you" prin said "lief cal help me" lief said "calm down" cal said "you'll give us away". The great guards looked into the direction where the sound was "i don't see anything" other said " the noise did come from around here right".

Lief and cal began untying the bag "there you go your free" lief said prin got out of the bag said "oh thank you lief and cal". Lief said "your welcome" cal said "happy to help" and they hugged but their moment was cut short when a grayguard said "hey". They looked into the direction saw the two gray guards running towards them "what are you doing" guard shouted when they stopped they drew their swords while prin coward behind the boys.

Lief and cal got up lief said "oh no, I left my sword in the woods" guard said "wait a second you're those two blonde boys that escaped where are your friends huh". Prin said "im really scared lief and cal" lief said "it's all right there's no need to worry were with you" cal said "we can take on these chumps".

Grayguard said "but you've got no weapons ticks" and then they began to charged unfortunately they didn't know cal could transform parts of his bodie and fight. But that was not necessary because suddenly the gray guards just stopped drop their swords and suddenly they began to shake then they screamed in pain and as they transformed into trees.

Cal and lief were surprised at what happened standing in place of the two gray guards they were now trees, "they just turned into trees" cal said "you have a real talent for stating the obvious". Then barda and jasmine walked next to them barda said "seems to be going around lately" cal said "baggy ala the two gray guard swords" and baggy popped out two rainbow tentacles grabbed the two swords, pulled them back as they shrink down and swallowed them.

Lief said "I guess that's what the sign meant by all of evil will beware" Jasmine said "that would explain why the trees are so silent around here" then she heard something and looked into the direction. In the direction, the adult kins are wakeing indicateing the sun rise they start to unfold their wings jasmine said "look over there the rocks are coming alive" then prin grabbed her skirt.

This caught Jasmine's attention prin said "that's not nice they aren't rocks at all that's mommy and the other adults I guess it's time for them to get up now". Jasmine said "she's so cute I can't believe it" then a voice shouted "prin" and prin said "mommy" four adult kin began walking twoards them.

(Day time) field by the forest

Our group was surrounded by a large group of kin some orange, some yellow orange and some are brown orange one and each one of them had their own hairstyle one of them facing in the group is complete brown with beard trends is brown, indicating the leader. All the kin surrounding them smiled for our group had saved one of their own lief saud "unbelievable a whole bunch of kins" cal said "never thought I'd live long enough to see something like this".

The brown kin with light purple eyes said "my name is crenn i am the elder of this tribe thank you for saving prin she is the only young our small tribe has I also apologize for the trouble she's caused you". Prins mom who brownish orange with a hairstyle like mark on her head said "thank you so much for saving my daughter" barda said "you have only two persons to thank and they're standing right here" he placed both his hands on their shoulders.

Then prin popped out of her mothers pouch said "thanks lief and cal you're the best" lief/cal said "thanks prin" then prin said "see mommy cal,lief and I became friends while you guys were sleeping". Prins mom said "this isn't a game prin you were almost taken away from us by two very evil people" prin said "but it was ok cause those bullies drank from the spring I heard them I knew that they turned into trees".

Barda said "what I don't understand is why it didn't happen as soon as they drink the water" crenn said "sometimes the transformation just takes a little longer". Then prin hopped out of her mom's pouch sang "those who mean no harm can drink without harm they don't have to think if they wanna drink" barda said "you are all very kind and it's a privilege to meet you I never thought I'd see the kin in my lifetime". Crenn said "sadly there are not many of us left only a very few of us survive when we had to flee our mountain" lief said "it was dread mountain wasn't it why would you leave your home?".

Crenn hummed said "good question dread mountain had always been a dangerous place for us to live the gnomes on the mountain had tried to hunt us for as long as I can remember". Crenn continued "but fortunately from the ground their arrows we're a little more than an inconvenience all that change when they began using poison on their arrow tips it was a powerful poison and it's spelled the end for many of our kind". Crenn said "I was very young, then but I recall it was a terrible time at last a few of us that remained decided we could stay on the mountain no longer so we flat our home never to return".

Crenn said "this grove used to be our winter home a good place for the growing young now, we are here all year long we are able to visit our real home only in our dreams". Jasmine said "what about it do you miss the most?" Prin next to her said "the ice cold streams, and boolong trees" lief said hmm cal replied "what are the boolong trees?". Crenn said "what the young ones said is true the boolong trees grow thick and sway with the sweet cool breeze beautiful streams ripple through the forest we miss our mountain, greatly and of course we cannot eat the boolong delicious cones in our dreams".

Barda said "I know there's nothing wuite like home but now you live here by this beautiful spring" crunn said "you speak wisely this grass is sweet and nourishing but this is not enough". Prins mom said "the problem is we cannot thrive here we can only give birth if we eat the cones and leaves of the boolong trees prin is the only child we bore to us since we moved here this is why she's so precious to us".

Crenn said "however if we return to dread mountain that means returning to the fearsome gnome tribe and they're poison arrows and that would surely be the end of us". Prin said "but I wanna dream of the boolong trees,rippling streams and cool mountain air too it's not fair that only the grown-ups can dream about it". Jasmine said "prin dreams are not always fun you know there's some nights where I'd rather have no dreams at all, last night I had one that made me so mad when I woke up I wanted to scream".

Lief said "what did you dream about" cal said "ya jasmine tell us" jasmine said "I dreamt about doom why in the world would I wanna dream about that guy". Crenn said "I must tell you if you drank the water from this spring then whatever you dreamed is not a dream but the truth" this caused our group to be surprised. Barda said "what do you mean by the truth" crenn said "what you dreamed of is real this is the dreaming spring whatever or whoever you picture in your mind when you drink you visit in spirit when you fall asleep".

Jasmins said "I was thinking of doom before I went to sleep last night wrong with me" barda said "this is great I dreamt of manus and his people last night they were happy and singing in their underground town". Cal said "I thought of my old home where me and my parents used to live it brought back so many memories mostly happy" lier said "so you're saying that everything we dreamt of was true".

Lief was shocked and said "the brand of the Shadow lord" lief gasped and backed away jasmine said "uh lief" barda said "is something wrong". Cal said "what's got you so spooked" lief said "I have to go home" he started to run away jasmine/barda/cal said "lief" barda said "what are you talking about" and they all ran after him prin said "mommy why did lief get said all of a sudden".

(Day time) forest path

Lief was walking away "wait lief" barda said then barda grabbed his shoulder stopping his walking "come on lief you know you can't go home right now". Lief said "you don't understand I have to" jasmine walked with cal stopped said "but why" cal said "come on now tell us what's griefing you". Lief turned around to face them barda let go of shoulder barda said "right I get it you dreamt about your parents didn't you" and lief nodded his head.

Lief said "in my dream I was back home at the Forge it was completely empty and everything was a mess but worst of all burnt on the door was the Shadow lords brand". Barda was shocked to hear this news lief said "that's why I have to go home i've gotta find my parents" he turned away, facing them during halfway in the sentence because this really upset him. Barda said "no lief your duty is to finish what we started" lief said "don't you get it they're my mom and dad and something horrible might've happened to them I don't need you to tell me what my duty is".

Barda said "don't forget that they're my friends my only friends since before you were even born but I know just what they would say if they were here they beg you not to go back". Jasmine and cal looked sad by this barda said "they sacrificed a lot for us to be here this quest has always been theirs and don't you ever forget that". Lief was silent for a few seconds, and he remembered all that he was taught by them he thought 'he's right of course this is their quest if he hadn't gotten injured it would've been dad looking for the gems'.

Lief said "barda im sorry" he turned around continued talking "mom and dad told me so many times that no matter what might happen, I need to finish this". Barda said "I know" both cal and jasmine hummed lief said "that's exactly what I plan to do with your help this is our quest as much as it is theirs". Barda said "I couldn't agree with you more lief" then Jasmine and Cal walk to leif jasmine said "great now that we worked all that stuff out could we get going to Dred Mountain".

Cal said "we've got a gem to find and a mountain climb to get it" lief hummed in agreement with both of them. Barda said "wait a minute I just had an idea how we might be able to get there faster" lief said "what do you want us to run the whole way there".

Tada chapter 24 is complete now I know what you're thinking why skip liefs dream scene i'll tell you it's because this story focuses around Cal. Also I've decide to create more of this baron character.