Day 4, On their way to Lithrium, the morning was absurdly perfect.
The birds were chirping in three-part harmony, sunlight shimmered through the trees like melted gold, and the forest trail was unusually kind—no mud, no uneven rocks, no falling branches, not even a suspicious rustling in the bushes.
Ren rode at the front of the carriage, half-lulled by the gentle rocking and the chirps of nature.
Rica, beside him, was scanning the trail ahead while occasionally muttering under her breath about maps and wind currents.
Lily had kicked her boots up on the seat, enjoying a bag of crispy fritters from Lunthale, while Jonax wore a visible scowl just from being surrounded by too much peace.
Kristie, Marian, Cedy, and Seri were crammed in the back, playing a rowdy card game where the loser had to wear a twig crown like a dunce.
Even Vultherin, curled up like a majestic fox rug, looked half-asleep.
Then Josh spoke.
Josh: "Hey guys... look."
He pointed to the side of the trail.
A lone Tuskboar was nosing around a bush. It was mid-sized, squat, and looked... confused. Harmless.
Josh's eyes gleamed.
Josh: "That's dinner right there. You see how easy this is? One clean hit."
Ren, not even looking up: "Josh, no."
Elly: "Please don't."
Cedy: "That thing looks like it eats knives for breakfast."
Rica: "Leave. It. Alone."
Josh: "I got this."
Lily: "Absolutely not. Let it live."
Jonax: "JOSH, I SWEAR—"
Too late.
Josh whistled for Hornbeast, who came barreling down the slope like a tank. "Time for bacon!"
Kristie: "Josh, get back inside the carriage—"
Lyra giggled from amusement.
Lyra: "Is this an everyday thing for all of you?"
Everyone: "Unfortunately, Yes!"
Josh's Solo Hunt
He stalked the Tuskboar through the brush like a true predator.
Josh: "Alright, Hornbeast, you flank left, I'll go right. One punch. One win. Let's go."
The Tuskboar looked up, snorted.
Josh leapt through the trees, flames licking around his fists.
Josh: "You're done, bacon boy!"
He launched downward.
A perfect haymaker, aiming straight for the boar's head—
BOOOOM!
Suddenly the ground trembled.
The sky darkened with dust.
The bushes exploded.
From all directions—
TUSKBOARS.
Dozens of them.
Big ones. Bigger ones. One that looked like it ate houses.
All charging toward Josh.
Josh: "Oh no."
He bolted.
Hornbeast roared, turned 180, and ran even faster than Josh.
Josh: "RETREAT!!"
Back on the trail, the team blinked at the distant rumble.
Marian: "...Was that an earthquake?"
Cedy: "Nope. Stampede."
Ren stood up slowly. "Josh, what did you do!?"
Then—trees burst open—Josh came sprinting full-speed, wild-eyed, Hornbeast right behind him and about fifty snorting Tuskboars crashing through the forest.
Josh: "DON'T JUST STAND THERE—RUUUUUUUN!!"
The carriage veered off. Supplies flew.
Seri screamed and threw snacks at one boar.
Kristie: "I KNEW NATURE WAS OUT TO GET US."
Ren, dragging Rica by the collar: "Hold the reins!"
Rica, shrieking: "THESE THINGS HAVE NO RESPECT FOR MAGES!"
Lily: "I SWEAR ONE IS FOAMING!!"
Jonax: "They're ALL foaming!"
Cedy cast a blinding spell—it hit a squirrel instead. The squirrel fell over dramatically.
Marian: "They have baby ones and armored ones! WHY ARE THEY ORGANIZED!?"
Kristie: "WE'RE GONNA DIE TO FARM ANIMALS."
Josh: "I was WRONG, I was SO WRONG—"
A massive boar jumped over the entire carriage and headbutted a tree in front of them.
Rej was covering Seri's eyes.
Rej: "Do NOT imprint on them!"
Seri: "They're kinda cute..."
Snarl bit a Tuskboar's leg, got dragged 20 feet, then let go and howled in pride.
Elly tried shielding with ice, but her magic exploded in panic and froze three nearby rocks.
Even Vultherin looked offended.
Ren: "I'm going to strangle Josh."
Kristie, laughing and sobbing: "Get in line!"
The forest shook with the fury of thundering hooves.
The boars did not relent.
They charged as if possessed—fifty snorting, tusk-grinding, ground-tearing beasts, all with one mutual goal: Josh's destruction.
Ren yelled over the chaos, "Why are they still chasing us?!"
Josh, still sprinting: "Maybe I insulted their mom??"
Elly: "HOW? You didn't even talk to them!!"
Cedy: "Oh we're all going to die because Josh thought a solo bacon quest was a good idea!"
Jonax: "I told you not to do it!!"
Kristie: "This is just like the story of the Fool and the Porkpocalypse!!"
Marian: "THAT'S NOT A REAL STORY!!"
The forest thinned—
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Then vanished—
And suddenly...
The cliff.
They all skidded, too late to stop.
One by one, Stray Dawn went airborne, flung forward like ragdolls of fate.
"AGAIN?!?"
Ren was midair, Vultherin clinging to his back with glowing paws.
Lily: "This is the third time this week I'm flying without wings!!"
Josh: "WHY DO WE KEEP FALLING FROM HIGH PLACES?!"
Ren: "I BLAME JOSH!!"
Elly: "WE ALL BLAME JOSH!!
Josh: "THIS ISN'T MY FAAAAAULT!!"
Cedy: "IT ABSOLUTELY IS!!"
Kristie was holding onto a flailing Marian by the scarf.
Rej: "SERIIIIIIII!!"
Seri was oddly calm, clutching her bag of remaining snacks like sacred treasure.
Meanwhile, soaring like a goddess above them—
Rica, astride Queen, her Aether Dragon, arms folded calmly as the others screamed below.
Rica: "Tch. Amateurs."
Queen's wings glowed with radiant energy, drifting them like feathers in midair.
Jonax, still falling: "WHY IS SHE SO COOL RIGHT NOW—?!"
Cedy: "I WANNA TRADE POSITION!!"
Kristie: "Seri, remember—never be like Josh!!"
Seri: "Duly noted!"
Lyra twisted midair like an acrobat and casually whistled. "Whew, this makes five different kinds of bruises..."
The royal carriage exploded into splinters somewhere mid-air, raining upholstery and seat cushions like confetti.
Lily: "THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!"
BOOM. CRASH. THUMP.
They all landed.
But it wasn't the forest floor. It was... stone?
They stood—groggy, bruised, confused—and looked around.
A winding corridor. Thick walls of smooth rock and glowing moss.
The entrance behind them was gone.
A labyrinth.
A giant, ancient, enchanted maze.
Josh groaned. "I think I landed on my own spine..."
Ren dusted himself off and muttered, "Josh is banned from touching wildlife for the rest of the journey."
Lyra landed beside them, completely fine, and adjusted her scarf. "This day's been surprisingly fun."
Iver, dragging a broken wheel from what was once the carriage: "Rest in peace... majestic royal transport."
Rica shook her head. "We can't stay here. Mazes like this mess with people's heads."
Cedy sighed. "From royal carriage... to cursed crypt-corridors."
Kristie, looking around: "Where the hell are we?"
Ren touched the glowing moss on the wall. "This isn't natural."
Elly: "I'm more worried about what lives in here..."
Vultherin growled faintly, fur flickering with frostflame.
Marian sniffed the air. "Do you guys... hear that?"
The wind shifted.
A low, musical humming echoed down the corridors—like whistling leaves, like voices trapped in stone.
Lily looked at the walls. "I don't like the way this maze is watching us."
Cedy pointed to a small plaque etched into the stone beside them.
"Welcome, Wanderers, to the Maze of Screaming Ferns."
Kristie blinked. "Maze of what—"
A fern by the wall suddenly screamed.
Everyone screamed back.
Josh: "I TAKE BACK EVERYTHING."
Rica (dismounting from Queen): "Let's not lose focus."
Jonax: "Yeah. First step—don't touch anything."
Rej: "Especially the foliage."
Seri: "Can I keep one of the ferns if it likes me?"
Lily: "No. It will scream every time you sneeze."
Josh: I think I found the entrance!
Ren: Don't—
Josh stepped into the mossy corridor with a proud grin.
A faint click.
Everyone froze.
Cedy: "Please tell me that wasn't a pressure plate."
Elly: "Josh—why is it always you!?"
Lily: "That click didn't sound friendly!"
Josh: "Maybe it's a welcome mat?"
Kristie: "That was the sound of death, Josh. Death."
A loud rumble answered them. Ferns exploded from the ground, grabbing limbs, yanking them apart. The floor shifted—walls closed—vines shrieked.
They were pulled away, separated by screaming foliage and panicked bonds.
(Ren, Seri and Snarl's section)
The ground hit hard. Ren groaned as he sat up, Snarl shaking leaves off beside him. Seri clung to his cloak, eyes wide.
Seri: "Ren...? Are you okay?"
Ren: "Still breathing. You?"
Seri: "Yeah... Where's everyone?"
Snarl gave a low protective growl, sniffing the air. The room was dim and alive with creaking growth.
Ren: "Great. Trapped with the smallest and the fluffiest. Let's not die."
(Iver, Lyra and Hornbeast's Section)
Iver landed in a crouch, blade half-drawn on instinct. Lyra was already standing, brushing herself off like nothing happened. Hornbeast snorted beside them.
Iver: "Status?"
Lyra: "Perfectly fine. Only minor emotional damage."
Iver: "Figures you're the calmest one here."
Lyra: "I'm used to mazes. I used to work in politics."
Iver: "I'm not sure if that's a joke or a confession."
Lyra: "I'm not sure either. Want to hold hands until morale improves?"
Hornbeast snorted again, unimpressed.
(Lily, Marian, and Vultherin's Setion)
They tumbled into a carpet of moss. Vultherin landed gracefully next to Lily, its fur faintly glowing with frostflame, steam curling at its paws.
Lily: "Ugh... I swear, if I ever survive this, I'm punching Josh."
Marian: "Get in line."
Lily: "I think I hit my head. Twice."
Vultherin gave a low yip, pacing a slow circle around the room. Where its paws touched moss, faint steam rose—the mix of frost and flame flickering like twin spirits.
Marian: "Okay. We've majestic beasts, and two stressed girls."
Lily: "Correction—one stressed girl, and one fabulous girl with a grudge."
Marian: "I'm gonna assume I'm the fabulous one."
Lily: *"You're the grudge."
(Rej, Jonax and Cedy's Section)
Drakehound sniffed the moss-covered ground, then the air, then... Rej's arm.
Rej: "Okay, personal space, fluffy. I'm not a snack."
Jonax: "No, but you smell like panic. He's into that."
Drakehound let out a low, pleased growl and gave Rej a quick lick that left her recoiling in mild horror.
Rej: "Ew! That's illegal. I'm filing a report."
Jonax: "To who? The Maze Police?"
Before Rej could respond with further legal threats, the wall to their left creaked open with a hiss of shifting roots and crumbling stone. A gentle greenish glow bled through the crack like it was inviting them... or taunting them.
Rej: "Wanna go in there and probably die?"
Jonax: "Better than waiting for the mutt to nibble my ears."
Rej: "You say that, but he's totally your type."
Jonax: "Tall, dark, and drooling? Close."
(Rica, Cedy, Josh and Scruffler's Section)
Josh was dangling from a vine net in the air, upside down. Scruffler was barking at him. Cedy and Rica stood below, arms crossed.
Josh: "WE'RE STILL ALIVE!"
Rica: "Unfortunately."
Cedy: "Are you hanging from a vine net?"
Josh: "Technically yes, but with style."
Cedy: "I'm gonna hang you for real when we get out of here."
Josh: "Aw come on! I was trying to impress you!"
Rica: "You're about to impress yourself into a coma."
(Elly, Kristie, Queen and Koirin's Section)
Kristie rubbed her head as she looked around the mossy chamber. Elly sat beside her, Queen coiled around them protectively. Koirin peeked from the satchel.
Kristie: "Okay. So we're in a cave. With a koi fish. And a giant dragon. And each other."
Elly: "That's either the worst or the best party I've been to."
Queen gave a soft hum, eyes half-closed, but alert.
Kristie: "New rule—nobody touches glowing things."
Elly: "Or whispers. If something whispers—"
Kristie: "We slap it. No questions asked."
Elly: "What if it whispers Koirin's name?"
Kristie: "We slap Koirin too."
(Back to Ren's Section)
Seri was trembling a bit, clutching Snarl's fur.
Seri: "Ren... do you think the maze is alive?"
A strange creaking echoed. Like breathing trees. A distant chuckle in the roots.
Ren: "Honestly? With our luck?"
Seri: "At least we have Snarl!"
Snarl barked in agreement, fangs bared, tail wagging.
Ren: "Stay close. Eyes sharp. Feet light."
Seri: "Heart hopeful?"
Ren glanced at her and nodded.
Ren: "Always."
...
The walls around them were alive—shifting vines, echoing whispers, bioluminescent moss pulsing in rhythm with their footsteps. Stray Dawn had been split, each group now in unfamiliar combinations.
Then a voice rang out—
Josh: "IS ANYONE STILL ALIVE?!"
Rica: "Josh, your inside voice, please. We're surrounded by photosynthesizing ear drums."
Ren, one arm guarding Seri, called out:
Ren: "Roll call. Sound off, we'll regroup somehow."
Lily: "I'm with Marian and your frosty fox is Judging us. We're not dead, but definitely stressed!"
Rej: "Jonax and I are breathing. Also we have Drakehound. He's sniffing my hair."
Iver: "I'm with Lyra and Hornbeast. Situation: mildly flirty and highly trapped."
Lyra: "You say that like you don't enjoy it."
Kristie: "Elly and I got the Queen and Soupie."
Elly: "His name is Koirin..."
Cedy: "Still with Rica and Josh. Someone save me. Josh is poking the walls again."
Josh: "I think this one's edible—OW nevermind!"
Ren: "Just... keep moving inward. Try not to die."
Jonax: "Inspirational, as always."
...
(Lily, Marian and Vultherin)
Vultherin padded gracefully ahead, his frostflame tail casting a cool glow.
Lily: "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm relying on a fox made of ice and hellfire to lead us."
Marian: "Same. If he starts glowing ominously, I'm climbing a tree."
A vine wall reared up—Vultherin blasted it with a chillburst, freezing it mid-slither before it could strike.
Lily: "Polite murderer. Love it."
They moved forward, but Marian tried to do a rolling sidestep she usually used with Scruffler.
Thump.
Marian: "Ow. Okay, note to self: this fox doesn't know my rhythm."
Lily: "He doesn't need rhythm. He's a full mood."
(Rej, Jonax and Drakehound)
Drakehound was sniffing the ground again... then bit at Rej's sleeve.
Rej: "Not food. We've been over this."
Jonax: "You sure? You're sweating guilt."
Rej motioned for Drakehound to scout. He stared blankly.
Rej: "Why isn't he moving?"
Jonax: "He's waiting for the signal. Iver usually taps twice."
Rej: "I'm not tapping a dog like a vending machine!"
Jonax rolled his eyes and gave the double tap. Drakehound trotted ahead happily.
Later, a wall trap collapsed too fast—Rej tried to duck, but Drakehound shoved her down instead.
Rej: "He tackled me!"
Jonax: "Technically, he saved you. Also, kinda funny."
(Iver, Lyra and Hornbeast)
Hornbeast growled low, his nose twitching. Iver tried signaling him—but the Minotaur ignored it and body-checked a tree.
Lyra: "Does he only speak in violence?"
Iver: "He responds to dominance and chaos, similarly to the owner."
Lyra: "So do I."
Iver stepped forward to issue a command, but gave the wrong arm motion—Hornbeast misinterpreted and headbutted a wall open.
Lyra: (clapping) "Bravo. Destructive miscommunication."
A boulder rolled toward them—Hornbeast caught it with one arm, grunted, then casually placed it down.
Lyra: "Remind me to flirt with him next time."
Iver: "Please don't."
(Elly, Kristie, Queen and Koirin)
Queen floated gracefully, while Koirin peeked out, suspicious of everything.
Kristie: "Hey, if Queen can float us, can we just ride her out?"
Queen gently turned her head and blew a puff of wind at her face.
Elly: "She said no. Majestically."
Koirin made a bubble—Kristie clapped.
Kristie: "Soupie's learned flair!"
Elly: "You're a menace."
Queen hovered in front of a dead-end. Elly instinctively cast a barrier—but it was too weak for Queen's blast. The mist then twisted it.
Elly: "Ugh. I'm not synced with her."
Kristie: "Yeah, I noticed. Try winking at her next time."
(Rica, Josh, Cedy and Scruffler)
Josh leapt over a root, shouting:
Josh: "I found another tunnel!"
He didn't notice the moss patch—it yanked him into a net of vines.
Cedy: "Natural selection at work."
Rica: "Scruffler—cut him loose."
Scruffler barked and yanked the vines... then yanked Josh into a thorn bush.
Josh: "Ow ow ow—okay! I deserved that!"
Cedy: "You earned that."
Rica: "We're all earning something today."
(Ren, Seri, and Snarl)
Snarl growled again—Ren shifted defensively in front of Seri.
Seri: "He's so cool. Like a fluffy soldier."
Ren: "He bites first, asks never."
Snarl dashed ahead—but unlike Vultherin, he didn't warn. Ren barely caught Seri before a pit trap opened beneath them.
Seri: "Okay! New rule—no more sprinting, Sir Snarl!"
Ren: "He's not yours to knight."
Snarl sneezed.
Seri: "He agrees."
Stray Dawn was being scattered not by accident, but by design. And in these unexpected duos and trios... the real test had just begun.
Petition to ban Rica from flying on Queen to promote fairness for the rest of the journey. - Cedy
