*this chapter has been edited*

Our surroundings shifted and I found myself in the presence of a few creatures.

Upon this realization I held onto Redain and tried to hide myself from them.

"Are you trying to get me killed?" I questioned, feeling my heart spike up in fear.

"I would never dream of it." He gazed into my eyes, his own shifting to a pale pink.

"I needed to show you our history by taking you to the center. Where it all began, my tribe and my people live here."

I looked around and saw crowns of black and brown. I'd noticed that most creatures either had brown or black situating them.

Redain, having read my mind, answered my question. "The black represents royalty, anyone born with that is royalty. And the brown is a non-royal color, anyone with it is instantly deemed a non-royal." He said, and I gazed around catching tufts of black and brown locks everywhere.

"Let me introduce you to my family." I instantly panicked when he said that but he smiled and shook his head. "You cannot get a few of your answers without going to the roots now can you?" He grabbed my hand and led us past the rows of creatures that greatly resembled him.

Multi colored eyes stared at me in curiosity, but they'd look away and bow when Redain would catch their stare.

"Don't be afraid, they won't hurt you in my presence." He whispered in my ear, his voice soothing me only a bit.

Being in the presence of these creatures spiked up anxiety that swirled and gripped my heart and throat. Making it become a great task to breathe.

My eyes wondered to our surroundings and my breath hitched, the forest around me was breathtaking to say the least.

The buildings around me were made entirely of wood and leaves, yet it portrayed an essence of elegance that was majestic. Everyone moved around us with a purpose and the peace surrounding the area warped its way into my being.

The houses made a beautiful village with dark wood making the foundation bricks of the house, branches and leaves were atop the house, being used as a roof. The houses varied in size, dimension and width.

"Wow." I breathed out.

"Beautiful isn't it?" His gaze caught my own. I could do nothing but nod.

We reached a grand house at the edge of the village, inside the grand mansion of wood were three people and an elderly looking lady inside the kitchen.

Their eyes were shifting upon seeing me, "What is the meaning of this Redain?" The eldest looking male shouted.

"Cecile, meet my family." Redain gestured to the four members looking at me with guarded eyes.

"That is my grandmother," he said pointing to the elderly lady.

"My two older siblings, Nova and Sav." He said, pointing to the boy and girl beside each other.

"And finally, my younger brother Adion," he pointed to a boy who's hair was a mixture of black and brown.

My hands became clammy and I avoided looking them directly in the eye.

Finally a voice spoke interrupting the tense silence, "Come closer dear."

I stood in front of Redain's grandmother. She watched me intently, then brought her hands to either side of my face.

Our foreheads connected and I felt my eyes shift, transporting me to different aspects of my life.

She didn't reach too far back in my memories, before pulling back and staring at me, eyes shifting to a light blue. "I see."

She looked towards Redain, "She is good," he nodded at her. "That is why I brought her here."

"So you seek answers," she grabbed a cane, Adion and Nova immediately going to her side and helping her up.

"Follow me." was all she said.

We walked to the living and everyone took a seat including myself.

"You are in great turmoil dear, but your past is no answer to your burning questions as it is unreachable." She spoke with a never wavering gaze.

"What do you mean-"

"Edna, call me Grandma Edna," her words shook the foundations of my very core. If it wasn't for the fact that I was seating, I was certain I would've tumbled to the ground.

The weapons she holds.

"Youre...Youre the lady from my book," I said shakily.

"Indeed." She gave a small smile, her eyes shifting to a pale pink.

I was beyond floored. The book I had purchased in the library was in fact a true story and the main protagonist was sitting before me.

"How?" was the only thing that managed to tumble out.

"This forest is in danger my dear, and when the forest is compromised it sends for help. Calling those it deems pure and right. You my dear are exactly what the forest needs, that's why it is guiding you. And I believe the story of my life wasn't the only thing that the forest sent?"

I nodded before her words registered to me, "The forest?"

Everyone gave a light chuckle, "The forest is very much alive, guarded by the Gundra, which you could say is our mother nature."

That was the same name the Tambi had used earlier.

My mind would not stop reeling with questions, but one outweighed the rest.

"What would happen if my father collected all the elementals?" Redain's three siblings tensed. While, Grandma Edna's face turned grim.

"The end of the forest as we know it."

I felt defeated, "Why?" I whispered weakly. I didn't understand why my father would want to destroy this place. His story of them having betrayed us was a lie, so what was the real reason for this?

"You tell us," Sav spoke for the first time, his eyes shifting so fast I couldn't tell which color was dominating.

"I...I don't know," I stood up, "but I'll try and find out."

Before I could leave Redain grabbed my wrist, "Hear us out a little longer."

"Your father is a Keta, and like the Sarion, is part of the forest." Nova spoke, shocking me even more.

"And his assistant has one for all Sarions. Every leader in this forest was given an elemental by the Gundra herself. Each elemental is a part of her and has been separated accordingly throughout the forest, but trouble started when your father wanted to control the Gundra for himself." Grandma Edna continued.

"There was never a war with the hunters, he has taken you kids to fight his battles since the previous hunters did not obey your father for long. Your father killed off every last one of the hunters that defied his orders." I gasped, a sick feeling forming in the pit of my stomach as a flash of my father standing over that man appeared, and my mother's horrified face following suit.

"What would the Gundra do in his control?" I managed to choke out.

Adion sighed, "That's the problem. The Gundra was never meant to be controlled, whether it be a good or bad force. If your father awakens the Gundra with the notion of controlling it, she will deteriorate and instantly become a killing machine that will destroy not only Escrade but the earth as we know it." He finished.

These revelations just made my heart even heavier.

"We have to stop him!" I cried out.

"We cannot do that with the hunters under his hold. Hunters are the Gundra's strength and can overpower most of the creatures here. Unless they are not on his side, then the forest is doomed."

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Aaannndd done!

What y'all think? I had a blast writing this one.

Hope you enjoyed this edited chapter.

Let me know in a comment and if you loved it let me know by voting 🌟.

Thank you and until next time!

Mwah!

Mercy💜