I was in my hut, working on curing a rabbit that had been infected with Red Death. It was a disease that had infected many plants and animals; the victims had bulging red veins, and their eyes turned red. They became extremely aggressive, and attacked anything in sight.

The rabbit was tied down to the table, to prevent it from attacking me. I'd mixed together different herbs to use on the poor rabbit. I poured some of the blue liquid into the rabbit's mouth, but it didn't make any difference. This was a nightmare. I'd been working on a cure for five years, ever since the whole thing started.

The only good thing to come of this disease was peace with the Sand King and his people. When it all started, the current King had killed his father, who was the most vicious person you could ever meet. The old King had wanted to steal food from everyone outside of his kingdom, since there was a lot less plants and animals to eat. Thankfully, everyone was coexisting in peace, even if it was fragile.

There was a knock on the door. “Come in.”

My friend Batazerith opened the door and walked in. He was black, and had black hair which was in short dreadlocks. He was tall and had huge muscles. Batazerith was wearing a dark blue shirt and trousers, along with a dark blue cape.

“Hey, how's everything coming along?” He asked.

“Not good.” I sighed. “I've tested so many different combinations, but none of them are working.”

“It's alright, we have plenty of food. There's a wall surrounding everyone, so the disease can't get in.”

“I just worry that the food will run out, or that the other kingdoms will run out of food, which could start another war.”

We'd only just gotten over the war with the Sand Kingdom, and it had gone on for nearly a hundred years.

“Don't think so negatively, we're fine. And, I know you're going to find a cure. You're the amazing Lesetta, you can do this.” Batazerith rested his hands on my shoulders.

“Thanks.” I smiled.

He was always great at cheering me up, it was one of the things that I loved about him.

What else could cure these sick animals? A crazy idea came to me.

“I've got a crazy idea. What if I add some of my healthy blood to the mixture?”

“Uh, it does sound pretty crazy, but you might as well try it.”

I lifted my golden dagger from the table and cut the side of my pinky finger, then let the blood drop into the glass cup that still had some of the mixed herbs in it. The colour changed to light purple.

“Maybe you should try it now,” Batazerith said.

I lifted the cup, opened the rabbit's mouth and poured in the liquid. Its eyes slowly returned to its normal colour, and the red veins that had been popping out of the rabbit gradually disappeared.

“It worked!” I exclaimed and grinned.

“You're amazing, I knew you could it!” He exclaimed, then hugged me.

“Aww, I'm so happy.” I grinned.

Now all the animals could be cured, and everything could return to normal. I just hoped that it wouldn't mean that my people would go back to war with the Sand Kingdom.

The rabbit was still normal, this was such a joy. I petted the cute rabbit and there was no aggressive reaction at all.

“We should probably test this on a few other animals, just to be sure,” I said.

We only had infected animals because we didn't want to risk our plants getting infected. If all the plants got infected with the Red Death, then we'd have no food source left.

“That's wise. I have a few other animals in my storage hut.”

I left my storage hut with Batazerith and went out into the beautiful forest. I lived in the forest along with my people; there were trees all around us. The ground was filled with grass, aside from the dusty, brown paths we'd made to get from one hut or treehouse to another.

I walked with Batazerith to his hut, where he had infected animals and some armours and weapons. There was a ferocious tiger; how was I going to get any liquid into its mouth, when it could easily bite my arm off? I wanted to cure all of the animals. Maybe just throwing the liquid on them would work, it was possible that it didn't need to be ingested.

I mixed more of the curing liquid, then got closer to the tiger and threw the mixture over it. Thankfully, the tiger returned to normal, just like the rabbit.

“Oh good, we don't actually have to make the animals drink the liquid,” I said.

“Yeah, that'll make it a lot easier.” He nodded.

I made more of the cure, using some of Batazerith's blood this time, then threw it over the remaining animals. All of them were cured.

“I can't believe this!” I shook my head. “I really did manage to find the cure for these poor animals. Now we can go out and cure all the plants and animals.”

“Well, you're going to have to get Zavard's permission first.”

He was the Sand King. I hated him and his people for all that they'd done — his father had killed my parents, and they'd slaughtered many more. It was unforgivable, even if there was peace between our people.

“Ugh, are you for real?” I groaned.

“Yep, he has the largest kingdom, and they were the ones who led the wall building. He controls who goes in and out.”

“Well, he has to let us out, I literally have the cure!”

“He'd be mad not to let you out.”

“Maybe we should leave it a few days to be certain that the animals really are cured.”

“Alright, then we're telling everyone.”

“Sounds good.” I smiled.

I went back to check on the rabbit, and it was still fine. It was time for a well-deserved rest, so I walked to my treehouse, climbed the ladder, then went inside. The yellow sofa looked super comfortable, so I flopped down onto it.

Today I would rest, but in a few days time, I'd be going off to the desert to meet with Zavard. It was going to be awful meeting those horrible savages, but it had to be done.

****

A few days passed, and all of the animals were still normal, so my cure must've worked. I told everyone about the cure, and showed it working on an infected animal. Everyone was delighted, so much that they threw a celebration.

I sat by the warm campfire with Batazerith. This would be my last night here, so I had to enjoy it while I still could. I'd be going off to the harsh, hot desert tomorrow. I'd miss my beautiful trees and greenery, as well as the enchanting colourful flowers.

“You haven't ever been away from home, have you?” Batazerith asked.

“No, I haven't. I'm not really looking forward to it. I've heard the desert is roasting hot, with no water around for miles.”

“Yeah, it's not that nice. But, it shouldn't take more than two days to get to Ozarion.”

“That's where the Sand Kingdom is?”

“Yes, it's the capital.” He nodded.

“Have you been before?”

“No, but Azerial has, she even met Zavard for discussions of peace.”

Azerial was our leader, and she was very old. She had white skin, just like me, and long straight white hair. Her face had a few wrinkles, but it was a lot less than you'd expect for someone who was so old.

“I should talk to her so that I know what to expect,” I said, then got up and walked over to her.

She was right by the fire, so it was a lot hotter here, than where I'd been sitting with Batazerith.

“Do you have any advice for me?” I asked.

“Zavard is a reasonable man, be polite to him and explain why you want to go out to the Dead Lands. Then, he should allow you to leave,” Azerial replied.

“Thank you, I hope all this goes well.”

“I believe you can do it.” She stroked my wild curly blonde hair.

“Thank you.” I smiled.

“Please be careful out there.”

“I will be.”

I was going to miss this place, it was my home, everyone I knew was here, and it was a beautiful area. After celebrating for hours, I went to my treehouse, then went to bed. There'd be a long journey ahead, so I needed as much rest as possible.

The next day, I packed up my things, taking as many weapons as I could. No one who I knew had been outside the wall and come back alive. Batazerith had bought the infected animals from a merchant, who'd got it from someone who went out to the Dead Lands for whatever reason. I packed many healing herbs as well because I might need them for myself, and I'd definitely need them to cure the plants and animals. I packed lots of food, since I wouldn't be able to eat the infected plants or animals. My dark green bag was completely full and heavy, but I'd manage. Thankfully, the disease was only spread by eating something infected, so there was no way I'd catch the disease. I had everything with me, so I left my treehouse, and climbed down.

Batazerith was at the bottom, carrying a large brown bag. “Why do you have that bag with you?” I frowned.

“You didn't think I'd let you leave without me, did you?”

“Uh, I didn't really think about it,” I replied and shrugged.

“Well, I'm coming with you. Now, you'll have company, and it's safer with two of us going.”

“Thanks, I'm happy to have you along.”

We walked together, leaving our safe and welcoming home. I loved that Batazerith was coming with me because he was my best friend, and I'd feel better knowing that he had my back.