Scarlet Forest
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This is a short story I wrote in the seminar free write time. I will write a sequel to this when I’m able.
Kiva and Xander travel through the Scarlet Forest in search of the Tower of Casadora, a mage tower that is rumored to be the gateway to a vast mage city on an ethereal plain of the same name. The sun was reaching its peak in the sky, and the days heat grew.
Noticing Kiva wiping sweat from her brow, Xander suggested that they should have lunch while they rested.
“I’m fine Xander really, we really should keep mov...” Kiva’s stomach rumbled before she could finish her sentence, feeling bashful she agreed to the idea.
“Kiva, I’ve been worried about you lately. I feel you’ve been pushing yourself too hard ever since we’ve left Solis after completing most of your training,” he says with a concerned tone.
Kiva’s chewing slows as she listens to Xander, then lets out a sigh.
“Xander, you don’t need to worry about me. When I was younger in my own time, I was part of the military. I’ve trekked forests, deserts, hostile cities, even climbed mountains... I’m not some sort of delicate flower,” she says with scowl.
“I understand that Kiva but pushing yourself too much to the breaking point won’t help you on your quest. I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t want you to end up in a bad situation that you can’t escape from,” Xander says gently placing a hand on her knee.
Kiva blushes and immediately stands up, “Xander... I’m fine alright, I can handle myself” she says in a huff, her hands tremble becoming fists. She turns and storms off further into the forest.
Xander sighs and looks down where she sat near what remained of her food. A few moments pass and there is a sudden yelp from Kiva in the distance.
With out hesitation he is on his feet running in Kiva’s direction drawing his blade and shield, rushing through the brush ignoring low hanging branches split when they hit his forehead, or shield.
When he reaches clearing covered in webs and finds Kiva, she is pinned against a large tree grunting, breathing hard has she struggles with all of her strength holding the fangs of red giant canopy spider trying to prevent it from biting her.
Xander can see she is off balance as she struggles with the creature because it had tangled her legs up with webbing.