Blog Post

Blog Post 46: The Adventure Shop: Part 13

5/13/23

Through the course of five months, the adventurers had traveled quite a distance, though it only felt like one month. Following rumors and speculation– anything that might be similar to the woman who stole Dahlia’s magic from her. 

During that time, the others began to teach Dahlia more than she would have ever learned without their help.  When they were not traveling, Dahlia was being trained. Endurance, skills, how to fight, to survive as an adventurer. What to look for and how to protect herself and the others with her.  It was a lot of knowledge– in what to look out for as they traveled through towns, where camp was chosen to be, and how to keep an eye out for danger.

Dahlia did not sleep for two nights after hearing all the information, but began to notice as she entered towns what to look out for. How to camp in certain spots that allowed for protection of the camp as a whole. And be aware of her surroundings. 

“Dahlia! What are you looking at?” Aster called to her as she turned her gaze to meet his.

“There was a bird over there. In the sunlight, it almost looked translucent,” Dahlia said in awe of a new creature she wanted to find and observe again. Thinking of ways to add that to her own gear and clothing she created.

“She is still far too easily distracted for someone who should now know the basics of watching out for signs of trouble on the journey,” Pertinax, one of Dahlia’s recent tutors in the art of hand-to-hand combat, noted.

Pertinax was very cautious and always looking out for danger to protect the others in his group. He was tall and could have been called a short Giant from his stature. No one knew of his true origins, and he never said. For all anyone could guess, he may have been half human and half giant. His voice was deep and his gaze commanding. He filled the role of the adventurer that often took charge or a leadership position. That seemed to be his place amongst the others who generally traveled with him, though in this group the leaders seemed to work together as a council, rather than one deciding individual.

As all the adventurers who came to help her formed one large party traveling together, the dynamics had often been a struggle in the beginning to sort out, but now it seemed that everyone had found their new position in the larger group.  It seemed that often groups would also either spend time with Dahlia as a whole, as individuals intermingled with others, or she found herself in conversation with only two or three. 

The loneliness of her shop felt like a distant memory as she looked at the three people she traveled with now, and the others who traveled in smaller groups, both ahead and behind them. Everyone seemed to be gaining new friends, and enjoying each other’s company outside of their previously established groups. At least that is what Dahlia observed. Realizing again she was lost in thought, analyzing the dynamics of the group, she noted that Caridad stared at her. 

Caridad had thick, black hair that almost touched the forest floor. She was broad and was taller than Dahlia. Her sword on her side was broad and sharp, but in Caridad’s skilled hands it looked as if she moved air. Her presence was much like Pertinax, commanding, but she also liked to talk. Which Dahlia appreciated because of all the stories Caridad told. She was from a people known as invincible warriors whose heritage was said to be mixed with the blood of Angels. Though no one knew the origins, they were a people revered for their skill and strength, as well as storytelling. 

Dahlia shook her head. “I am sorry I was doing it again. I get so lost in thought sometimes. One thought sparks another until I have often forgotten what started the trail of thinking to begin with.”

Caridad laughed. “Pertinax is right. You think like a scholar more than a warrior. Not that scholars can’t be observant, but oftentimes it is the warriors who stay alert while the scholars are in thought. Your friend for instance.” She nodded to Aster, who was looking off into the distance at who knows what.  

Borg shook his head as he redirected Aster from a large branch in the road. Picking him up and setting him down on the other side without Aster seeming to awaken from his thoughts. Caridad laughed a hearty laugh as Dahlia joined at the funny sight and dynamic of the two in front of them. 

“I see what you mean. Well I am thankful to know that you and the others look out for those of us who seem to exist on more than one plane of existence,” Dahlia chuckled.

“Yes, that is a wonderful thing to have,” Aislin said, coming up beside Dahlia, nearly giving her  a heart attack. Dahlia had forgotten Aislin was with them as they walked.

“Aislin, you often protect us more than we protect you,” Pertinax noted as he brought her into a side hug, which looked almost as if he were trying to hug the air.

Aislin’s silvery laugh echoed in their minds and in the forest. “If you say so. But I am not a warrior.” She smiled looking at the two as Dahlia observed their dynamics.

These three had not often come into her shop, and she only ever saw Pertinax and Caridad; but now seeing them together she knew why they traveled together. They seemed to bring out each other’s best qualities. 

“You may not be a warrior per se, but you do often notice things we overlook with our senses. And—” Caridad was saying when Aislin’s head perked up, as if she was hearing something.

“We are not alone,” she said softly, but her voice seemed to carry throughout the whole party, as everyone paused, taking in the woods and watching for Aislin’s cue.

Dahlia felt her heart begin to beat faster as she looked to Aster. Aster found her gaze and nodded, smilingly. Reassurance it would be okay.

“Maybe I was just—” Aislin’s voice cut off, as her being was pulled into the ground. 

Dahlia screamed in shock as Caridad pulled Dahlia behind her and Pertinax stood on the other side. The woods seemed to grow brighter as blinding light filled the area. 

“Close your eyes!” Pertinax yelled, as screams sounded throughout the group. 

Dahlia shut her eyes tight as the light seemed to try to open her eyes, to see what was out there beyond her gaze.

“Dahlia!” she heard Aster call.

Dahlia opened her eyes as darkness filled the area that was once shown with radiance that blinded her comrades. She saw figures coming from the trees as the shadows engaged in fights with everyone around her. Dahlia readied her sword, and noted she was no longer in the safety of Pertinax and Caridad’s watchful eyes. 

Some of the shadows, like an ocean tide, were pulling her farther from the group. Dahlia fought to run, but found no traction. The shadows felt like oil under her feet. 

Aster tried to make his way through the shadows to her, but they pulled her farther away as he fought to get to her. He saw her mouth move, but could hear no sound. Aster looked around and saw the others being pulled apart.He shot many bright lights through the shadows, hoping it would work. The shadows recoiled, showing the ground and natural sun’s fading light. 

“Marianna! Amal! Nova! Iridiana! Sol! Panra! Reach out to nature! Use your gifts and fight back! You others, fight to hold on to each other. Do not let the shadows take you or anyone near you!” The others heard Aster’s voice, faint compared to the noise-strangling shadows. 

Shadows began to retreat as the others used their relationship with nature to fight against them. As the shadows began to clear, the others were standing in mismatched groups. Each small collective separated by a distance that they could barely hear each other’s voices as they shouted to one another. Gaining ground, they all fought to get back to being together as a larger party. 

Aster felt nauseous and looked to where he had lost focus during the fight. Aster looked up to see that the shadows had succeeded. Dahlia was nowhere to be seen. 

“Aster, keep fighting!” he heard a faint voice. “They were sent to take her away. We must stop them.” The voice sounded both next to his ear and as if it was coming from the ground. 

He nodded as he continued to fight the shadows; he could not help Dahlia without first freeing the others. Aster’s mind wandered briefly to that final moment where he looked at Dahlia. He would not let that be their last moment as he gained more ground of the forest around him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dahlia felt a prickling feeling on her cheek and slowly raised her head. Her head… It felt like it was moving on its own. As the dizziness subsided, and her eyes adjusted, she noticed that it was now dark in the forest; and she had been laying on the forest floor. 

The moon shone brightly above the trees, letting her know that it was in fact some point in the night. Though at what specific time, she was not sure. Studying the time of night was not a hobby she ever thought was necessary. Till now. The woods were silent. No nights bugs wondered about. Creatures, who typically would call this time of night their normal hours of function, were nowhere to be seen or heard. 

Dahlia’s own breath felt loud compared, as she began to feel her breathing shallow, to match the lack of sound around her. Subconsciously, she pulled her cloak tighter around her. Creating the illusion of safety within its folds. Looking around, she noted that there was nothing but trees in the darkness, and rocks that led higher and higher to a mountain. Dahlia knew in the back of her mind she was hoping she would see the others come through the trees. But part of her knew that she was taken far away from them. 

Why was she taken? That was her question. 

“Oh good. You’re awake.” 

Dahlia turned at where she heard the woman’s voice coming from.

Dahlia’s heart felt as if it would stop.

Standing on the rock, with the cloak glowing in the moonlight, was the 

Woman in Yellow.