By a several requests, Celestra was gagged and tied up and wrapped all around in rope so that she couldn’t move or speak. It returned some peace to the people of the pygmy village. As for everyone else, they all headed to their destinations to retrieve the three items. The first group, Tiara and Stephen, got the biggest piece of string. So they headed to the jungle to get the crystal. Group two, Alissa and Kale, got the middle string, so they went to the mines through the forest to get the silver. And poor group three, Hans and Aenea, ended up having to get the roots through the swamps.

Tiara and Stephen were the first ones to leave. They had gotten all the supplies they needed together, the map, and directions to get the crystal, then left. The jungle the had to cross was very large and wide according to the map. They estimated that it would take about two days at the least to retrieve the crystal. As they went deeper and deeper into the jungle, Tiara began to worry.
She sighed. “I hope the others are all right. Finding these items isn’t an easy task.”
“I’m sure everyone will be fine. The only thing you need to worry about right now is finding the crystal. By the looks of this place, it’s a death trap. It not breaking your leg on one of these roots sticking out, then by a snake bite, or an attack by a wild animal.”
“I don’t think you can break your leg by just tripping on the root. Falling out of one of the trees, maybe. But not by tripping. And if you’re worried about any animals attacking, I’ll protect you.” She smirked.
He laughed. “I’m sure you will! Anyway, let’s keep focused on the main situation here: finding that crystal. It’s the key item, isn’t it?”
“Yes it is.” She sighed. “Can’t seem to stop worrying about the others though. Hans and Aenea have to go through that swamp, along with Auri. Animals like cats and mice hate watery areas. And Alissa’s with that guy, Kale. Who knows what he will do to her while her back is turned.”
“Hans and Auri are just going to have to adjust to the area. Aenea will straighten them out. And Alissa is a big girl now. She can take care of herself. That guy is probably going to be the one to have to watch his back, knowing her and seeing how she dealed with that brat princess.”
“I suppose you’re right. And hopefully you are too.”

~~~

Group three, being the second group to leave after getting all their things together headed out to the swamps. On the way there, Hans did nothing but complain. Aenea came close to losing any patience she had with him several times before the trip even began. Her only hopes were that she wouldn’t kill him before they made it back with the root.

How does Alissa put up with him for so long?! she thought. Even Auri isn’t as much of a scaredy cat as he is!! I can’t STAND his complaining!! How does she do it?!
Very simple, Aenea. She gets on my nerves about as much as I get on her nerves. Aenea heard in her mind. Hans had been listening to her thoughts and replied telepathically.
HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!?!!!
Easy! I’m telepathic! Though I can only read thoughts and reply from a short distance. So Alissa running off all the time doesn’t make it easy to keep track of her.
Does she know telepathy also?
Nope! She’s illiterate when it comes to telepathic communication. Besides, being telepathic comes with the package of being a Xenran Form-Changer. They have to know how to transform into other animals, and how to communicate with them. How do you think they talk with other creatures?
Never thought about it.
Actually, that’s Lissy’s theory. That all animals communicate through telepathy. And the reason humans can’t communicate with them is because humans can’t use telepathy. Though our friend, Cloie, is also telepathic; and she’s human.
Is there an explanation to how she can communicate with other creatures?
Yep! She’s a summoner. Communicating with other creatures is in her job description there. Alissa’s only a warrior mage. Though she has the skill and training of a wizard or sorceress. Luckily, not many people know that because of her class title. ‘Mage’ just says training in magic, but doesn’t know much. A warrior mage knows more than their class says. Their also more deadly.
What are you besides a form-changer?
I’m a wizard. Well, an apprentice anyway. I just need the travel experience, then I can become an official wizard. I’m excited about that.
My head’s hurting.
So is mine. “How about we stop communicating through telepathy then? Takes a lot out of you, doesn’t it?” he said.
“Yes. Especially for that long.”
“I’m amazed to know you know telepathy. Not many people do.”
“I’m not from Xenra. Who’s that girl you were talking about? Cloie was her name, wasn’t it?”
“One of our best friends. Alissa’s known her since before she came to Vercile. They’ve been friends even before I met her.”
One of your best friends? How many do you two have?”
“We were a group. It was me, Alissa, Cloie, and another guy, Luis. Us four have been friends since we started schooling. Alissa and Cloie are like sisters, and Luis is like the protective older brother. We’re like family.”
“I see. What a nice relationship!” She looked up ahead where the trees had less leaves and looked like they were just large branches sticking out of a marsh area. “Ah! We’re here!”
“NOOOO!!!!! I DON’T WANNA GO!!!!”
“Oh come now. It’s not that bad. Even Auri isn’t afraid of a little water. Aren’t you, Auri??” She looked to her shoulder where the cat was, but found he had jumped off and hid in a nearby tree with Hans. She frowned. “Auri!!! You’re supposed to be setting an example for Hans!!!”
“Meow,” said Auri.
“Don’t ‘meow’ me! Get back here!”
“You go on ahead, Aenea,” said Hans. “We’ll stay here and wait for ya!”
She walked over to Hans and Auri and dragged both of them by their collars toward the swamps. “You’re coming whether you like it or not. No WAY am I going alone!!!”
“But Aenea!!”
“No buts! We’re going!!” She sighed and thought to herself. Now I’m REALLY wishing I had gone with either Alissa or that other guy. I hope they’re all right.

~~~

Alissa sighed. “Now I’m REALLY wishing I had gone with either Aenea or Hans. I hope they’re all right.”

“Why do you wish that?”
“Because then I wouldn’t have gotten stuck with you and I wouldn’t be lost in this forest!!!”
Both Alissa and Kale, group two, finally left a while after Hans and Aenea did after they had gotten all the things they needed. Kale had taken hold of the map and decided for himself to lead. In the process, he had turned the map sideways and had gotten them both lost and further away from where they were supposed to go.
“We’re not lost. I know exactly where we are.”
“Oh really?!” she said sarcastically. “Then where are we, o wise one?”
“We are deep in a dark forest with the one we both want to be with.” He smirked.
She raised an eyebrow. “Correct that. YOU are here with ME because YOU wanted to be with ME. I however am here with YOU against my will because YOU decided to pick ME even though YOU knew that I didn’t want to go!!!”
“You look at the dark side of things, don’t you.”
“Only when I’m in a dark mood. Recently, that’s been only when you’re around.”
“Could we at least try to get to know one another?”
“Only if you give me the map and let me be in charge.”
“But-” He was interrupted before he could object.
“Thank you!” She grabbed the map out of his hand and turned it right-side-up as she looked at it. “Ah! Here we are! Right in the center of the forest.” She folded up the map and put it in one of her pockets. “We would have been at the mine sooner if SOMEONE didn’t insist on doing it HIS way!”
“Where’s the mine?”
“Northeast. Let’s go.”

~~~

Back at the swamp, Hans, in mouse form, had climbed up a tall tree with Auri. Both refused to climb down and help Aenea with the search of the root. Aenea stood beneath the tree shouting at them and trying to convince them to get down to help them. Her efforts were becoming useless.

“Forget it, Aenea! Even Auri agrees with me! We’re not coming down!”
“Come down now before I go up there after you and thrown you down!”
“You wouldn’t! You would have done so already!”
She glared at the mouse. “Come down now or I go on my own and leave you two to be eaten by the birds!”
“W-what do you mean ‘to be eaten by the birds’?”
She hid a smirk. “Oh nothing! You two go ahead and stay up there and be wimps for all I care. Just don’t come crying to me when the meat-eating birds, like hawks, arrive and catch you for their dinner.”
“M-meat-eating?” Hans’ voice started getting higher from nervousness.
“Yes! Meat-eating! They’re big birds that eat things as big as rabbits. They love mice. And cats.”
“I-I’m not afraid...... n-neither is Auri!! R-right Auri??”
“Oh! And their sharp claws could tear through your flesh from your body like a maid could pull a blanket from a bed. Very easily.”
“You’re not scaring me.....”
“Then there are the eggs! When they hatch, the mother’s search intensifies. They look around everywhere for food to feed their poor, hungry, thin hatchlings.”
Hans said nothing as his jaw began to tremble.
“But if you two think you can handle it, go right ahead! I must say you two are awfully brave for doing it.” Or incredibly stupid. Whichever. “Personally, if I was a mouse, there would be no way that I’d stay up there where they could catch me easily.”
“Umm.......”
“Enjoy you’re night boys! See you when I get back!”
“WAIT!!!! Don’t leave us here!!!!” Both Hans and Auri jumped from the tree and onto Aenea’s shoulders where they found a bit of safety.
Aenea snickered. “I knew you’d break.”
“We weren’t scared. We just figured you would need some protection.”
“Yeah right! More like you need me to protect you!” She laughed.

~~~

Tiara and Stephen decided to camp out for the rest of the night. They had gone through the jungle for hours and reached somewhere close to the crystal. They had a fire set up and taken out some food they bought before they left to eat. For most of the night, Tiara wondered why they couldn’t have sent someone else out to gather these items. She figured there must be someone else trying to get their hands on the three items so they could go to Xenra. She didn’t know who though.

“You’re worrying again,” said Stephen. “What about this time?”
“Who wants these items? Why were we sent to get them?”
He shrugged. “If it will get us back to Xenra, then I don’t see much to worry about.”
“Well, if we were getting them for someone else, then chances are we’re going to be stuck here.”
“Hmm.... good point. But I don’t think we should worry about it too much. Not yet anyway.”
“I suppose you’re right. I just can’t help worrying.”
“Try not to worry so much about it right now. Get some sleep. We have a busy day ahead of us.”
She nodded. “Night Stephen.”

~~~

Deep in the forest, it was already getting dark and Kale was left all alone in the middle of the unknown place. He walked around in a circle several times calling out for Alissa.

“Alissa......!” he called out quietly. “Alissa.......! Where are you??”
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound in the bushes. He took out his sword and got into a defensive position. Out from the bushes, Alissa flew out and landed gracefully on her feet. She looked at Kale for a few moments, then lifted up two rabbits; both dead. “Told you I could do it.”
He sighed.
“You know the deal! I caught ‘em, you cook ‘em.”
“This isn’t fair.”
“Who said anything about being fair? Just cook them! I’m hungry!”
“Who’s fault is that?”
“Yours for taking all the money and spending it on worthless items and eating our food along the way! We could have at least had some food to snack on right now if you hadn’t done that!”
“So sue me.” He took the rabbits and set them down on the ground. He took out a knife and slowly and carefully cut the skin from the rabbits. Then he looked up at Alissa. “Umm.... can’t cook them if there’s no fire!”
She rolled her eyes as she began chanting. As she pointed to a spot on the ground, a fire appeared in a quick *POOF* of smoke. “Better?”
“Much. Thanks.”
“I take it you don’t have many skills in hunting.”
“I’m a mercenary. Not a hunter. Didn’t even know they taught that in Vercile.”
“They don’t. I learned from a friend. He was a very good hunter.”
“I see.” He peeled the pelts from the bodies of the rabbits and set them aside. “Find some sticks in a ‘Y’ shape. I need them for cooking the meat.”
“Okay.” She looked around the area and came back with three sticks: two in a ‘Y’ shape like he asked, and one really long one. She set them down next to him. “Will these do?”
“Perfect.” He set up two of the sticks on either side of the fire, then put the third one through both rabbits to hang over the fire and cook. He grinned. “Dinner will be ready in a while.”
“Great.” Alissa sat down on the ground and sighed. Perfect way to celebrate my birthday. Being stuck with HIM!! What next?!
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
“Come on! You can tell me. I won’t hold it against you. Promise!”
“It’s not that. I just don’t want to tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re........ you.”
“So? I’m still human.”
“Strangely, I have this feeling that you’re not. Not totally anyway.”
He gulped. This girl is strange! How does she know? Is she psychic or something? He tried to hide his surprise with his usual smirk. “What makes you think that?”
“I don’t know. Growing up in Vercile around almost every single race imaginable, you just develop these feelings.”
“Well, at least tell me anyway. It might make you feel better.”
She took a deep breath. “Oh fine. Tomorrow is my seventeenth birthday. I was going to head to the nearest port town and meet my friends to celebrate it with them. But it looks like I’m not going to be able to because I’m stuck here trying to find some silver with you so we can all go home happily. And I DON’T want to be here!!”
“Feel better?”
She thought for a moment. “Actually, yeah I do! Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And happy birthday.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”

~~~

The next morning, Tiara and Stephen headed for the center of the jungle. As they arrived, they spotted an enormous stone pedestal. On top of the pedestal was the crystal they were to retrieve. Tiara was about to run towards it to get it, but Stephen grabbed her arm and stopped her. He pointed down at the ground where she saw hundreds of snakes slithering around the pedestal. She took a breath of relief for being stopped before going near the snakes.

Stephen told her to wait for him to tell her to go. His plan was that he go in and distract the snakes while Tiara goes to get the crystal. She agreed to it and waited behind some bushes while he went in. As he killed several snakes, he yelled for her to run and get the crystal. She nodded and ran as fast as she could to the pedestal and started climbing. She took her sword out as soon as she got high enough and onto a sturdy step. She climbed up higher and saw the slit she was supposed to put her sword in as a key. She put it in and turned it. But the crystal wouldn’t budge. She called down to Stephen to tell him.
While he fought, he thought of a way to get out the crystal. No ideas came for a long while. Finally, in a rush, he told her to take the sword out and dig it out. She took the sword out of the slit and started to jab at the cracks in the stone near the crystal. At last, the crystal fell out of place. But she failed to catch it and it began to fall down to the ground. She climbed down as fast as she could to catch it. When she did, she slipped and started to fall herself.
Stephen, who saw her fall, took one last slash at the snakes, cutting several of their heads off, and ran to Tiara and caught her. Then the two ran as fast as they could away from the pedestal. Once safe, they stopped and tried to catch their breath. After a few moments, the smiled at each other.
“Exciting enough for you?” asked Stephen.
“Yeah. I think that’s enough excitement for now to last me about a month.”
“You get a lot of excitement in your life, don’t you.”
“Since I’ve been traveling with Alissa and Aenea and Hans, I’ve been in a big battle where two men were killed, been knocked out and awakened in a dungeon where I was almost assaulted by a huge man in a loin cloth...” She made a gagging sound, then continued. “Met up with a centaur and was led away from that castle, was led quickly to Xiatriz where I was captured again by that horrid wizard, Norridt, saved, then had to run again because Alissa’s arch enemy arrived to come after her where we arrived here somehow. All in one week.”
He chuckled. “That’s enough to last a person a lifetime.”
“I suppose. So, shall we return?”
They grinned at each other.

~~~

Back at the swamp, Aenea was sitting in a tree with Auri and waiting for Hans to return. They had finally reached the location in the swamp where the root was. Aenea waited patiently in the tall tree where she stayed dry while she sent Hans to get the root. As she waited, she sighed and looked up at the sky. Finally, she decided to see if Hans had found anything yet.

“Hey Hans!!! Did you find it yet?!”
A large, pale frog popped out of the swamp and faced Aenea with narrow eyes; almost glaring. “No,” he croaked.
“Well keep looking! And hurry up too! It was bad enough that we had to sleep here. I don’t want to stay here much longer. So come on! Go back down and find it!”
He gave a low growl, then went back under water. Minutes later, he came up again and told her he found what they were looking for. She said, “Good! Now go down again and get it!” with a mocking grin.
He growled again, then turned into human form. He took out his dagger and went back under water. When he found the root again, he pulled it as far as he could, then began to cut at it. The root was very tight and hard to cut through. He had to come up to the surface a few times to get air, then would go back down and cut again. Finally, he came up holding three long roots above his head, gasping for air.
Aenea and Auri applauded. “About time! What took so long?”
“A certain young woman and her cat forced me to go down to find the root, then retrieve it.”
Aenea tried to supress her laughter. Young?!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
“Can we go now? I have to dry off!”
She nodded.

~~~

And finally, group two, Alissa and Kale, reached the edge of the forest where the mine was. But the moment they entered and spotted the silver, a golem awakened and attacked them. Alissa clutched her crystal necklace, closed her eyes, and mumbled something. A bright light was emitted from her body, and when it disappeared, she transformed into her mage form: a blue dress with golden lining on the collar, rim, and sleeves that went down to her knees, white ankle boots, and a white clip that pulled the top part of her hair back and out of her face. She cast a wind spell around herself and levitated up into the air near the golem’s head. She tried to observe her enemy and examined it while it attacked her.

While Alissa was busy fighting the golem, Kale made his way to grab as much of the silver as he could. He figured since Alissa was distracting the golem, he could get the final item on the list. Once he got as much as he could, he stood near the main entrance and watched as Alissa fought.
Alissa, still floating around and dodging every one of the golem’s blows, finally figured out his weakness. It was a combination of the elements water and lightning. While she still avoided the attacks, she chanted a water spell. Once she was done chanting, she cast a water blast spell at the golem’s chest. She kept that up for several minutes until a glowing gem was revealed. She yelled down to Kale to throw something at the gem. He just stood dumbfounded watching. She told him to hurry. Once it got into his head, he took out his long sword and threw it at the gem. However, he missed. Alissa moaned. The golem then turned his attention to Kale, who now stood shocked. He ran for his sword, but the golem stood in his way and was about to attack him when Alissa grabbed the golem’s attention again.
She cast another water spell to reveal more of the gem while Kale managed to get his sword. When the gem was wide enough to aim at, Kale dropped the bag of silver and turned the golem’s attention away from Alissa. That gave her enough time to land on a ledge near the golem’s head. While Kale distracted the golem, Alissa caught her breath and rested a bit. As soon as she got some of her strength back, she turned the golem’s attention back to her. Then she yelled for Kale to prepare himself and aim to attack the gem. She chanted. This time, both she and Kale began to glow; especially Kale’s sword. When the sword was glowing at its brightest, she commanded and Kale threw his sword with a strong thrust at the gem. The sword was able to strike the gem this time. It went in deep enough to crack the gem. The gem’s glow dimmed until it turned black, then it shattered.
The golem fell to the ground causing the ground to shake and Alissa to fall from the ledge. Kale ran as fast as he could to catch her before she fell, and succeeded. When she realized he caught her, she clutched her crystal necklace again and reverted to her regular form, then stood up by herself and smacked Kale behind the head.
“What the hell was that?!!” she shouted at him. “You left me all alone to fight that thing while you went ahead and grabbed the silver for yourself!!! I thought we were supposed to be partners whether we liked it or not!”
“Ow!” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry!”
“Sorry isn’t good enough! I could have been killed! What kind of a guy are you?! The guy is supposed to protect the girl!”
“Any girl that can wield a sword is no girl. And you, Miss, are no girl!”
She looked at him and said nothing. She was shocked, insulted, and hurt by his words. She turned away angrily, grabbed the bag of silver, and stomped off. Kale ran after her.
“Lis!! I didn’t mean that! I-”
“Stop it!!! Just leave me alone!”
“Alissa, wait!!” He grabbed her arm to stop her. As he did, she winced.
“LET GO!!!” She turned around hitting him hard across the face. He was knocked down to the ground. She went down to her knees crouching her stomach and holding her injured arm. She bit her lip to try to hold back from crying out.
Kale sat up holding his hurt cheek and looked at Alissa, noticing that her arm was starting to swell a bit. He cautiously approached her. “Alissa...”
“Leave me alone,” she said softly. She got up, wobbly, and began to walk back to the village while still carrying the bag of silver. Kale followed her at a cautious pace. She said nothing to him for the rest of the journey back to the village.

~~~

Back at the village in the small prisoners’ hut, groups one and three waited patiently for group two to return. Tiara had gone to report everything to the chief while everyone else waited. Stephen stood by the door as usual to wait for Tiara. Hans had gone off with some of the women of the village to wash up. Aenea and Auri sat by themselves in a small space of the hut. And Celestra frustratedly sat on the ground, still tied up and wrapped like a mummy in rope.

When Hans returned, Celestra gave him a pleading look in hopes that he would at least loosen the ropes on her. But he told her not a chance and she got even more angry. Finally, he thought it reasonable to at least remove the gag. The minute he did, she started screaming at him which tempted him to tie the gag back on her.
Tiara returned and sighed. “Well, we still need the silver to complete the spell. Seems there is something very special about the silver.”
“It finishes the talisman,” said a dark voice from the entrance. Everyone turned to see a shadow figure standing right next to Tiara. “That’s what it does. And without the complete talisman, no one can return.”
Hans and Celestra both looked to each other, then back at the shadow figure. Moments later, they broke into a loud laughter. Everyone turned and looked at them oddly. Celestra was the one to speak and calm down first. “You’re stranded here too, huh Dorchav?”
“And that’s how you know all about these items! Because you were too weak to retrieve them yourself so you got us to do your dirty work for you!” The two continued laughing.
Dorchav was unamused. “Very funny. How you doing being tied up like a worm on a hook ready to be used for bait on a fishing pole, Cele? Doesn’t look too fun, does it? And you Hans. How did you like swimming in that dank swamp? Didn’t like getting all wet now, did you?”
The two stopped their laughter and glared at their common enemy. Suddenly, the door burst open and Alissa and Kale walked in. Kale was still begging for her forgiveness, but stopped talking once he realized everyone in the room was silent and looking at both him and Alissa. Dorchav gave a mocking smirk at Alissa, who glared in return.
After moments of odd silence, Alissa threw down the bag of silver. “Excuse me everyone.” She turned around, kicked Dorchav very hard in the shin, stomped on Kale’s foot, and left the hut.
The two young men hopped around holding their hurt leg and foot until they eventually fell down. Celestra just looked at the door and shook her head. “Wow... she must be pissed.” She turned to Kale. “So, what did you do to get her so pissed off?”
“I-.... ow! I said that any girl that could wield a sword wasn’t a girl.”
“Oh that’s nice!” She sneered at him. “I’m offended now!”
“Why did you tell her that?!” said Hans.
“I didn’t mean for her to be offended!” He tried to explain the whole situation that happened with him, her, and the golem. But every word he said just made Hans even more angry. When he was done, he said, “And that’s what happened.”
Celestra snickered. “She must have been really really angry at you. Look at your cheek! It’s turning purple!”
“That was when I tried to stop her and apologize. She’s injured, but she won’t say anything.”
“Oh no...” Hans ran out of the hut and after his friend.
Dorchav laughed. “I’m amazed. Someone who has finally gotten her more angry than I ever could. I’m impressed. Now she’s probably going to hate you so much that she’ll want to kill you. That’s a shame too seeing as how you like her so much.”
Kale frowned and glared at Dorchav. Out of anger, he jumped at him with his boot dagger and attempted to kill him. But Dorchav laughed the whole time saying he was nothing more than a weakling. Tiara and Aenea forced them to stop by having Celestra untied and making her use her magic to keep them apart.
“That’s enough!” said Tiara. “We have the final ingredient, so let’s go back to Xenra! I’m not going to have any blood shed until we get back. Is that understood?”
Kale reluctantly nodded in agreement after a few minutes. Dorchav just smirked at him mockingly. Then he left their hut, limping.

~~~

The Rest of Post Twelve