The Forbidden Forest

Chapter 3

Silverpaws padded softly on the lush grass with Amber sitting on his back, sweating profusely from the hot afternoon sun. Both of them had set off, with blessings from their elders, at early dawn.

“Are you tired, Silverpaws?” asked Amber to her beloved petmate. Although Amber could communicate with him mind to mind while touching him, she could not help saying out loud to break the silence that surrounded them.

I think I can go for a mile more, panted Silverpaws. They had already taken three breaks during the day. I can smell the scent of some trees.

Amber looked up. The silhouettes of the Arrowheart trees were in the distance. Arrowheart trees never fail to grow in threes, in a triangular fashion. They were the only Arrowheart trees that are located in the middle of Canaberra Island. Arrowheart trees could last for only a century, and new Arrowheart seedlings, strangely, always appear at the same spot on Canaberra Island.

After hearing that she was chosen to carry out the task of getting the TwinkleBerries, Amber was speechless for a few moments. She knew that the Forbidden Forest held many dark secrets and she, despite producing very good results for almost all her classes, was not sure if she could handle them. Sending a young girl to the Forbidden Forest was like sending an innocent sheep to a lion’s den. Nevertheless, Amber knew that under such circumstances, there was no choice. LeafFur Tribe did not have great numbers of Norwicks to begin with in the first place and it was thus really unfortunate that all the Battle Norwicks, except Autumn, was poisoned. To her elders, Amber was considered the most suitable for the task.

Her mother, with her hands full with her two younger twin brothers, was glad that she had one less person to mind but was nonetheless worried for Amber. Despite being flustered and anxious, her mother had helped Amber to pack the necessities for her trip and had kissed her goodbye, wishing her all the best. Her father, being a Commonfolk himself, was more than happy and proud to hear that his precious Norwick daughter had been specially selected for this very important task. Amber sighed, adjusting the strap of her cloth rucksack to a more comfortable position. All she could do now was to hope that her gods would protect her on her journey.

It was dusk when they reached a few metres away from the Arrowheart trees. The triplets of trees were fully-grown, complete with thick crown of heart-shaped, light green leaves. As they neared, Silverpaws suddenly paused, raised his hackles and growled softly.

What’s wrong? Amber asked, her eyes widened for any signs of danger. The wild animals - antelopes, bears, elephants and birds they had encountered along the way had given them a wide berth so far. If there was a threat now, it would be the first that Amber would meet.

I smell a human behind those trees. This human does not belong to our tribe! Silverpaws growled.

Lets investigate who that human is, Amber urged Silverpaws to go forward. He or she might not be an enemy.

***

After arriving at the eastern side of the Arrowheart trees a few moments ago, Sand had got off BlueMoon’s back and had sat comfortably at the foot of an Arrowheart tree, cooling himself under the shade of the tree’s dense branches of leaves. Suddenly he heard a twig snap. He scrambled up to his feet and turned around. His eyes then fell upon a girl about twelve years old, sitting on the back of a Wiford, which coat gleamed in the last rays of the disappearing sun. The girl has amber-coloured eyes, and amber-coloured long hair streaked with orange and red. On her fore-head, just above her nose, were three small green circles forming a triangle, the top circle slightly larger than the bottom two. Sand then noticed the tattoo on the girl’s right arm. The tattoo bore a picture of a brown pawprint, with yellow and green tendrils sprouting from the bottom of the paw on either side. She was part of LeafFur Tribe! Sand raised his right arm, as if ready to shoot magic from his palm at Amber.

“No, wait!” Amber shouted, trying to grab a firm hold on Silverpaws, which was ready to pounce on the stranger. Amber knew that the boy was from SkySea Tribe, after glancing at the picture of a crescent in water within a sun-like symbol on his right arm, but starting a fight was the last thing she intended to do. “I’m not going to harm you!”

“Don’t lie,” replied Sand, fury filling his clear, sky-blue eyes. “Your tribe shot a poisonous arrow at my uncle, and harmed his life!”

“What? We did not do that!” Amber was shocked. She knew that harming the SkySea Tribe was the last thing her tribe would want to do. After all, both tribes were interdependent on each other despite their differences. However…

“Your tribe gave us some poisonous berries, causing the warriors of my tribe to be ill!” Amber challenged. Although she did not want to believe that it was SkySea Tribe who sent the berries, she had to defend herself.

“Nonsense!” roared Sand. “My tribe would never do such a thing!” Sand was convinced that Amber was lying. What a preposterous thing to do, accusing his tribe of something which his tribe would never do! He decided that he would not spare her, even though she was a girl. Sand raised his arm higher, preparing to shoot a strike of lightning at her.

Amber started to protest, but stopped. Out of the corner of her eye, she could discern out a flying black dragon, fire breathing out of its nose, claws outstretched, heading towards her.

Or was it?

No.

It was heading towards Sand.