The wind rapidly whipped through her hair as she shoved the tree branches, chrome diopside leaves chiming. “Look up!”, Rose called from her bruised shoulder. Shivat ran beside Rose, jumping and leaping to keep up. Amos glanced up as he swiped his sword, slicing charcoaled vines. “Two stars!” Rose spun around to face them. “Two? She wants us to turn around? That’s not possible,” Rose said panting. “I don’t know”, Mila breathed. “It can’t be!”, Rose exclaimed. Glancing up, she began climbing a now crooked tree. “What are you doing?”, Amos said grabbing her calf. “Getting a closer look”.

As she stood up on a thick branch, she surveyed the sky. “I don’t see any other stars… wait”. Rose’s eyes scanned quickly, holding her finger out to the small group of allies. “What is it?”, Mare asked. “My stars Mare, cut it out with the load of questions!”, Amos said annoyed. “Hey, I see a pattern!”, Rose shouted from atop the tree. Mila climbed up the tree, her toes wrapped around the edge of a branch. “What do you see?” Rose squinted, leaning closer. “It’s a… fountain, with a hut. Does that mean anything?” Mila’s eyebrows knitted. “No”. Rose dropped her head. “This isn’t working”. Mila stood on the branch concentrating. “Oh my gosh, yes, the fountain! There’s a fountain made of stone, it shapes Mother Nature with her arms up. It’s near my hut!” Rose turned to Mila, excitement in her eyes. “Come on, you guys!”, Rose shouted jumping from the tree. As Rose helped Mila down, Amos slid the sword in his sheath. “Where to?” 

“My hut!”, Mila called, skipping cheerfully. “Isn’t your hut like destroyed by now? The storm was pretty bad,” Mare pointed out. Mila stopped short, shoulders slumping. “Yeah, you’re right. I probably lost everything,” she said, Shivat nuzzling her head against her calf. “What about Melody?”, Rose questioned. Mila’s eyes widened, then she took off alone. “Melody! Melody, where are you, my little birdy!”, Mila called. Amos rolled his eyes as Mila called out. “I don’t think that’s a good idea to shout that much, we could draw attention and you would be the reason we end up -” “Don’t say that word, please,” Rose muttered. “Yes, ma’am”. “Mila, could you please wait?!”, Mare called jogging. Mila stopped, a tear falling beautifully down her face.

 “I can’t lose her, she’s been my friend since childhood,” she explained. Amos sighed, feeling pity for Mila and her bird. “Alright, fine. Find her fast, our priority is Celeste, then Queen Spina. “Thank you, MELODY!”, Mila screamed. Standing up on a cracked log, she whistled gracefully. In the distance, a little chirp was heard. Shivat barked as she jogged ahead hearing the bird chirp. Running to her hut, Mila found Melody slurping up little drops of water from the busted fountain. “Melody! Oh sweetie, where were you?” she cooed, caressing the bird’s green back. Melody tilted her head to a pile of leaves and vines that were charred and ripped.  Mila lifted her finger for her to perch on and gasped. 

“My home!”, Mila cried. Kneeling over the disaster, she wept. “That, wretched witch! She ruined it! This took long hard days”. Rose bent down to pick her up. “I am truly sorry about your home, but we need Celeste. We’ll help you rebuild it, alright?” Mila looked up, swiping her holographic tears. “You’re right. Silly me, crying over something I can rebuild. Let’s go”. As they all turned around, Melody flew up above the trees, wings pointed towards their next clue. “So, you are telling me Celeste told us to come here for the bird?”, Amos said. “I guess she’s more important than we thought,” Mare said rubbing her eyes. “What’s the code?”, Mila asked. Rose squinted up at the sky. “I can’t tell. The stars aren’t visible”. She then smashed a large leaf and put it to her eye as a lense. “So, there’s an arrow. Pointing south”, Rose said tossing her makeshift lense. “So, back to Queen Spina’s?”, Mare asked leaning against a tree. “Yeah, it’s what Celeste says”.

                                                    🌹

As they trudged back to the castle, the lavender sky had faded into the deep black night as Rose lit their path. “Is this a trap?”, Mare asked yawning. “Celeste wouldn’t do that,” Rose corrected. Facing the castle of thorns, which felt like the millionth time, they slipped inside. “Well, we’re here. Now what?”, Amos asked. “Don’t you guys have faith in Celeste?”, Rose asked irritated. Shivat nodded her head panting in response. “Thank you Shivat. She would never mislead us”. Rose walked over to the small tables, lighting the black candlesticks. “I don’t like being in here at night,” Mare added shivering. Rose frowned, then placed a coat of warm light over her shoulders. “Thank you,” she said, tugging at it. “I would’ve given you my jacket but I don’t have one,” Amos said. “Yeah, I figured,” Mila added as Melody rested on her shoulder. Mare leaned against a black velvet chair, then sighed. “I feel like we aren’t getting anywhere. Celeste has disappeared and we’ve been wandering around Uniclandia like there’s no tomorrow. We need to make pro - “ “You’ll never make it anywhere. Long live Queen Spina,” an eerie, scratchy voice whispered in the darkly lit room. Shivat growled, her aquamarine eyes narrowing viciously.

Rose swiveled quickly as hot steaming hands dug into her ribcage. Grunting in pain she whacked Fiama’s head with a bolt of light, knocking her flat on her back. Amos whipped out his sword, the edge piercing her stomach. “Surrender! Where is Queen Spina?!,” he commanded. Fiama huffed, then chuckled. “I won't let you find her. Long live the Queen of thorns”. Amos pushed on the sword slightly, flesh sinking in. “Where is she?” Fiama laughed. “I'm not going to betray my queen. The true queen of Uniclandia. Long live the queen of thorns, long live the queen of thorns, long live -” Amos lifted his sword in position to kill her. “Wait! I'll tell you. Under one condition”. “You don't get the privilege to make conditions. Now tell us!”, Amos commanded.  Fiama flinched at his command, making her confess. “She's making her way to the castle”. “The castle of Abalonia?”, Rose asked, her arm above her head with bolts of light. “Yes. She wants to kill Queen what's her face?” Rose and Amos exchanged panicked glances. “We need to save Queen Stellina,” Rose said. 

“Yes, her. The plan is to burn down the castle, then kidnap the queen. If you want her back, she would make you surrender Uniclandia”. Amos breathed deeply, removing his sword from position. “We need to leave now”. Rose, Amos, Mila, Mare, and Shivat (and Melody) made their way out of the dark room.  “Please don't leave me here. Please, I beg you. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I don't mean those things”. Rose turned to face Fiama laying on the floor. “Just leave her,” Amos said tugging her hand. “No, hold on”. Rose walked over to Fiama. “You mean that you regret being Queen Spina's pawn?” Fiama swallowed hard, holding back her tears. “Yes, I do, I regret everything. Please forgive me. I'll do whatever you ask of me. Have mercy on me,” Fiama begged holding her ankle. Rose flinched at her touch, but then realized that her touch was cold. 

Rose kneeled down next to Fiama, staring into her now calm, tearful eyes.  “Please,” she whispered. Turning back to her group, Rose wiped a tear. “I.. I forgive you,” Rose whispered. Fiama broke down, sobbing as Rose pulls her into a hug. “Thank you, thank you!”, Fiama cried, gasping. Rose stood up as Fiama bowed down to her feet. “Long live Queen Rose”. Rose gasped, standing still. She turned back to face her allies. Amos watched stunned, Mila wiping her eyes as Mare had her hand to her mouth and Shivat with her paw to her eye. Amos then spoke in shock. “Long live Queen Rose.”

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