3: Creeping Vines

“At this point I had enough fuel to last another fifteen minutes as I flew just under the radar somewhere in the middle of Red China. Most of my engines were off line and all my navigation systems were down. Needless to say I was flying blind and the large crack in my windshield, from my battle with Karamoto the Ancient Dragon of the Winds, obscured my view significantly. Even though I had enough fuel to fly for fifteen minutes, I wondered if my rugged aircraft would even last that long. This is when a

message came in over our top secret encrypted channel. From what I could make out between the hisses and crackles of static, the mission had been a success and a team was being sent to a rendezvous point at an abandoned warehouse twenty minutes from my current location if I was somehow able to maintain my current speed. I heard a violent rattling and I imagined that yet another vital part was breaking off of my poor plane. So long as it wasn't one of the wings I could at least bring the plan down somewhat straight and make my way to the meet up point by foot. There was an explosion directly to my right, when I looked to discover the source...”

“Good sir, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I believe there is a slightly more pressing matter at hand.”

Sir Robbie turned to see what was important enough to interrupt such a dramatic climax in his story. The man who had addressed him was rugged and adventuresome looking and went by the name of

Andy the Tree Cleaver. He gripped his axe tensely and motioned towards a pair of vines that were creeping along the forest floor. The trees swayed eerily despite the absence of wind and their branches seemed to grasp stiffly towards the adventures. Sir Robbie turned towards the masses that had followed him thus far and addressed them with a suddenly stern voice, “Quickly, you must return to Former Glory! I fear that we have lingered too long in this forest, they were not supposed to return this soon. We will stay here and ensure your safety. Go north for half a day and search for a gate formed by two mighty trees, Lady Beth will instruct you further upon your arrival.”

The hardy man with the axe dashed towards the nearest tree and drove the blade deep into its trunk. Sir Robbie dodged the falling tree and ripped the creeping vines from the ground. The collision of the felled trees threw leaves upward, clouding the air and obstructing the vision of the curious and puzzled crowd.

Sir Robbie's voice echoed from deep in the forest, “Go now!”