Bo has a distinct feeling of being watched and several times she thinks she sees eyes reflecting in the dim firelight but the slashing rain makes all things difficult to see. After a few hours she is sure their is faint laughter, mixed in with the constant drumming of the rain.
The night was getting creepier and creepier. The rain wasn't letting up, and there was definitely something out there. After a while she stood and made her way to the edge of the shelter. "All right!" she called loudly into the night. "Might as well come out, whoever you are. Share the fire if you like, or if you're here for trouble, let's get on with it."
The distant laughter flares up louder then dies, away, lost in the hammering rain. Bo listens for hours but nothing changes and the voices do not return.
The rain continues and Bo notices, with some concern, her rock shelter is...melting. Mixed with the water running off the stones is grainy bits of rock, washed away, as if the entire thing was built of very well-packed sand. Gauging it, she feels it will last until morning, even if the downpour continues at this torrential rate.
Finally, exhausted, Bo gives up, lets the fire go out, and allows herself to sleep. If her shelter was melting, she'd need to be moving on in morning, no matter what the weather was doing.
Bo sleeps fitfully. he dreams are full of fast-moving images, blurring past so quickly so can't see anything clearly. Half remembered names and places flit in front of her, just out of reach.
She awakes suddenly, and feels more tired then when she went to sleep.
Around her the day is already started. The rain has stopped and the clouds vanished. The sky overhead is a bright blue, and the sun a burning white spot above the tree line. Has she really slept that long past dawn?
Beside her Pearl us up and moving around, exploring. Shriek is gone, probably flying nearby.
Bo looks around at the glade, which she barely saw last night, through the driving rain.
The stumps of towers and remains of old buildings are almost gone. The seemingly solid stones had melted away into he night and she can see rivers of gray and black mud streaming over the glade, all that remains. A few reduced chunks, misshapen and grainy are all that remains. her own shelter, which had been the largest, is now shorter then her, the overhang a mere shelf.
Even as she watches, grains are falling off the stone, as if the rain was still falling. Bo guesses by noon there will be no sign of this place except an empty patch in the trees.
At on edge of the glade is a path leading onward. It is not the path she came in, and she sees no sign of that one. The well traveled track seems to have been swallowed by the trees and vines of the jungle.
Grateful to have seen the end of the rain, Bo hitched up her backpack. Despite her fatigue, she was in no way inclined to stay here and rest. Looking around at the strange clearing, she glanced at the pile of sand and shook her head. "Whoever you were, I wish you better luck in your next life."
Making her way to the new path, she said, "Well, Pearl, let's get going." The cougar purred encouragingly and slunk ahead up the path, equally glad to be on her way.
As they head up the path, Bo spots Shriek flying above them, marking them. He seems to prefer flying higher today, above the canopy of trees.
This path seems even finer then the one yesterday, cleared of all bark or growing plants. A few areas are even edged with border stones, and covered with gravel. It almost is nice enough to be a garden path for a rich manor home.
As they round a bend, Bo hears something. A tearing, grinding noise. Instantly she identifies it, a falling tree. Hardly an unusual thing in the forest, but it is growing louder....heading right for her!
The sound grows louder, and Bo hears the snapping of vines and the crashing of branches. Suddenly, part of the green wall of foliage on the edge of the path erupts into chaos. A massive tree is falling right toward here, scattering smaller trees and saplings in its path. The roar is like a ocean wave, gather in intensity as is rushes toward the ground.
Bo manages to get out of the way, dodging.
Pearl follows, just missing the falling tree.
With a great crash the huge trunk slams into the earth, making the ground shake. Giant limbs snap and spray wooden splinters everywhere, and there is a great cloud of leaves thrown by the violence. The crown of the tree blocks the entire path, like a green hill was just dropped there.
In the sudden silence after the violence Bo hears laughter, quite close and distinct.
Then, drowning out that sound, she hears a loud insect buzzing. Out of the wrecked of the tree's crown, a shape emerges. It is a monstrous wasp, as big as a horse. Wings longer then her arms are buzzing angrily, and a stinger as big as a sword drips green venom. Obviously irritated and confused it looks around, then flies right at Bo.
Alarmed, Bo stared at the enormous wasp, and wondered if the laughers had known the wasp was in there, and had in fact attacked her with it.
The wasp flies right at her, just above the ground. Buzzing angrily it dives, and throws out the massive stinger.
It misses however, and Bo sees drops of green venom spatter the wet ground near her.
Even more alarmed, Bo pulled her shield around and onto her arm, holding it up for defence. She held her other arm out wide and backed slowly away from the wasp. "Hey there, beautiful. Didn't mean to intrude. I'm sorry your tree came down, but it wasn't me. Just calm down, and I'll be on my way. No need to fight." She kept her voice low and gentle, but didn't take her eyes off the giant insect, in case it came at her again.
Bo's calming words seem to have no effect on the attacking insect and she has a feeling it may simply be too primitive, even for her druid touch. Not that she knew exactly what that was.
She holds up her shield and backs up the path as quick as she can. Maybe if she leaves it alone....
Bo doesn't see the quicksand until it is too late.
Suddenly she is knee-deep is a slurry of loose sand and water. The weight presses against her, restricting her movement. Bo nearly falls over, face-planting in the obstruction but she remains upright. However, temporarily trapped, the wasp is instantly on her, jabbing with it's stinger.
Bo can feel the sharp stinger punch through her armor and spike into her shoulder. A burning fire fills the wound as the wasp injects a dose of poison. Instantly she feels woozy and her muscles seem to slacken.
"Ow!" Bo wanted to rub the burning wound, but needed her hands to help get her out. Moving with as much care as she could, she half-swam, half-waded and managed to reach out and grasp the edge. With a mighty haul, she managed to get the majority of her body onto solid ground.
"Pearl! Attack!" she called out, aware that the wasp could come down at her before she was on her feet. The big cat crouched down, ready to spring on the wasp if it came into reach again.
As Bo wades to firmer ground, the wasp dives on her again. This time Pearl throws herself into attack, leaping with graceful agility. For the first time Bo sees the big cat not as an animal but as a fighter.
The bite misses, but the claws rake the flying insects, cracking the hard exoskeleton. Greenish blood oozes from the cuts as the insect turns and attacks the cat instead.
It misses the lithe cat however, who nimbly falls back to the ground, yowling and snarling at the flying bug.
Seeing that there was no reasoning with the creature, and no quick escape, Bo drew her scimitar, shook the clinging quicksand from it, and attacked the huge wasp.
Bo swings at the insect with her scimitar but misses, still waterlogged and covered in clinging sand. Still, the wasp buzzes angrily at being attacked from two angles. After a moment, it flies off, heading back up to the jungle canopy.
Bo and Pearl are alone on the jungle path, the massive remains of the tree behind them. Ahead the path splits. One half is the same wide, nice path she has been following, laid with some stones and kept clear.
The other is a small, dank row choked by plants and weaving among the trees. It looks rarely used and far more rugged.
Pearl nuzzles Bo's side, obviously nervous after the fight with the big bug.
Bo sat down heavily on the ground, her head a bit spinny from the sting and the fight. She prodded her shoulder, wincing at the pain - it hurt like crazy. For some reason, she closed her eyes, continuing to explore the edges of the wound, falling into a light meditative trance as she did so. Everything seemed clear for a moment, in bright focus, and she saw how she could draw energy from the woods around her, and channel it into her own body, using it to heal.
With a quiet word, she made it happen, and she gasped in surprise as the wound actually began to close, and the angry hot pain diminished. When she opened her eyes, the sting was little more than a shiny spot on her shoulder.
"Did you know I could do that?" she asked Pearl. The big cat blinked golden eyes, not deigning to answer.
Feeling much better, she picked herself up and shook off the worst of the sand and much. "Well, I guess we'd best keep moving. Which way do you suppose is better?" Again, the cougar did not reply, trusting her to make the decision.
Bo was torn. It seemed that someone, or something, was following, harassing, or possibly even herding her. Rather than make the decision, she decided to leave it to chance. Pulling a coin out of her pocket, she flipped it. "Heads, we go left, tails we go right."
As she flips the small coin, Shriek streaks down out of the blue sky. He lands on a branch of the fallen tree, holding a very large, fat squirrel in his claws. As Bo decides which way to go the hawk tears into the animals, dripping blood onto the path. Pearl watches it hungrily.
The coin flip leads to the small, overgrown path.
Together, they head into it.
Instead of waling on a bright well-kept trail, now they are on a small path leading deep into the rain forest. The canopy closes tight overhead, making Bo feel she is crawling through a green and brown tunnel.
There is less overgrowth here, chocked out by the massive trees overhead. On all sides the brown tree trunks march away into the distance, a carpet of brown leaves. Insect and bird calls fill her ears, echoing down weirdly from above.
The path winds among the trees, growing fainter and fainter. It starts to actually vanish here and there, over bare spots and Bo is considering turning back when she sees, ahead, a rough pile of stones. It is a cairn and obviously artificial.
At first Bo felt a moment of panic, thinking that what she was seeing through the greenery was the half-melted place she'd left that morning. Have I been walking in circles? A moment later she realized it was something different she was looking at. Curious, she approaches it cautiously, hoping it's not a trap of some sort.
Bo approaches carefully. Unlike the area with the man of sand, this glade isn't open to the sky. The trees grow thickly overhead, plunging her into a green twilight. She is nearly at the pile of stones before she sees the bodies.
There are about half a dozen of them ringing the stones, lying in twisted piles. They have been here for quite some time, and are mostly white bones, although a few still have stringy bits of meat hanging on them. Rough clothes, tattered and rotting cover some of them, and Bo can see the glint of rusted metal among the remains. At this distance it is hard to see anything else.
Bo considered searching the remains, but after a long moment of thought, decided against it. Either these people died while exploring that cairn, or the cairn was raised as a marker of where they died. Either way, there's no good reason to go further. I won't disturb their resting place, and the path seems to end anyway.
The half-orc held one fist to her heart and bowed slightly to the cairn and the bodies, her other hand touching her temple and then sweeping low to the ground. She didn't really understand what the gesture meant, but she knew that it symbolized respect, and it seemed appropriate. She then turned around and headed back to the fork in the road.
Bo salutes the dead men and the pile of stones. It does give her a sense of the danger of the jungle, but the wasp had already done that today.
The half-orc backtracks her steps, and soon finds herself back at the main path intersection. The sun is bright overhead and the day is growing hot.
Just as Pearl and Bo are heading up the new path (with Shriek happy to be on the wider trail again), she sees movement. Instantly she freezes and stares as a large bear walks out of the woods. She would say it is the largest bear she has ever seen, but she can't recall any other bears. In case, as if walks, her head wouldn't even reach the shoulder's of the mighty animal.
The black haired beast simply walks to the center of the path, ahead of her, and sits down. Bo sense no danger from the relaxed, calm animal. The massive muzzle is stained with gray and Bo realizes this is an elderly ursine, and the dark black eyes look wise.
It peers at the sky for awhile, as if expecting something then looks right at Bo and speaks.
"Hello, traveler." the voice is deep and guttural.
I REALLY wish I could remember my life. Bo didn't think talking bears were the norm, but on the other hand, who knows? At least it seemed friendly.
Concerned that Pearl might overreact, she held her hand flat to the ground and said, "Down." The big cat responded by lying at her feet.
Inclining her head politely, Bo said, "Greetings, and well met. My name is Bo, and this is my companion, Pearl."
"The others will be along shortly." The bear says, scratching its furry head with a massive paw. Bo notes the claws look very long and sharp. Whens he tells Pearl to site the bear looks annoyed and snaps a mouth full of white teeth, but says nothing.
After another glance at the sky, the bear says, 'And what do you think of the forest, Bo?"
As he growls this out, there is another movement from the green undergrowth. An enormous snake reveals itself, thick as Bo's chest, sliding out into the bright sunlight. It moves sinuously alongside the bear, who regards it politely.
It raises up the big head, the bright red tongue darting in and out. After a moment it turns to Bo, studying her with reptilian slowness. Carefully it turns back to the bear and says, voice sibilant and dry, "This is her?"
The bar simply shrugs and nods. In reply the snake hisses somewhat angrily and coils itself up int he sunshine, obviously waiting for others.
Noticing the reaction that her request of Pearl had on the bear, Bo knelt by the big cat and said, "Thank you, my friend, for easing my concern. I did not want to risk you fighting with our new friend here." Pearl bumped her face against Bo affectionately, then got up to investigate.
At the arrival of the snake, Bo started to feel nervous. An enormous talking bear was one thing - a glade full of enormous talking animals was another.
Realizing that the bear's question had gone unanswered, she said, "The forest is...as I believe most forests are. Beautiful. Dangerous. Full of life, and also death. As it is meant to be. Though I haven't seen much of it."
Shriek came soaring down through the canopy, and spiralled down to land on Bo's shoulder. The hawk cried out a challenge to the larger animals, though he made no other move.
Hesitantly, Bo asked, "May I ask, were you waiting for me specifically? And who are you all?"
The bear nods at her answer, but doesn't supply one of his own to her questions. Instead he says, "The others should be here soon..."
From above, a massive white swan appears, gliding over the green trees. With a surprising amount of grace it circles then lands near the bear, fluttering a wingspan as large as Bo's outstretched arms. It turns a dark eye on Bo, then settles down to wait.
More animals arrive, an elegant stag with golden horns, a bestial looking boar, a monstrous tortoise with a shell inlaid with jewels, and finally a small, normal sized mouse that crawls over everyone.
Finally this weird council sits in a half circle, facing Bo. It is hard to read any emotion in the crowd, even for Bo's connection with animals. The set of strange faces, runs the gamut from the unblinking stare of the cold snake to the jittery movement of the mouse.
Finally the bear, sitting in the center, breaks the silence, 'You are lost in our woods. You are a druid." A pause then, 'And you have no memory."
Suddenly the boar breaks out into a deep, rugged laugh, "A running joke of the whole jungle!"
No one else joins in and he finally stops, snorting horribly. The bear goes on, as if no one had said anything, 'We are of two minds. Some of us want to help you, others of us would wish to see you wander these lands forever until you die of some misfortune or other."
"I say we kill her ourselves!" the mouse says fiercely.
'Quiet!" the bear grumbles and the mouse quiets, reluctantly.
Sevens sets of very different eyes turn to Bo and stare, expectantly.
Even as Bo swallows drily at the bear's words, part of her mind grasps onto the word that the bear had used for her. Druid. I'm a druid. The word conjured up a whole host of emotions, none of which really made sense to her. But it felt correct.
Carefully, Bo said, "I would deeply appreciate any help that you are willing to give. If there is anything I can do to earn that help, I will happily whatever is in my power. As you say, I have no memory. I don't know why I entered the jungle, or what I've done while in here. But I can say that my current purpose is to find out those answers, and judge whether the cause that brought me here is still worth doing."
The swan says, in a fluttery voice, 'Well said."
This is met by loud jeers from the boar, the snake and the mouse.
The bear snorts loudly and everyone grows silent again. 'You do not know what we are."
The bear shifts and points a massive, hairy paw at Pearl, who is watching all of this closely, tail lashing side to side.
'We were once all like her. A companion to a druid, or one like them. Serving another..." there are a few grumbles from the others but no one speaks out.
'Servants-"
'Slaves!" the mouse breaks in, sounding angry but says nothing else when the bear turns his massive head toward him.
'Servants to our masters, in a sense." The bear goes on, 'All of us, at some point were awakened or gained our freedom. We have to come to this place to escape our former lives, and gain a measure of peace."
Now he just his muzzle at Bo, "You enter this place, and are a walking disturbance. Others i the jungle are irritated by you, and you force us to make a choice." he raises his growling voice, obviously addressing all of the animals.
'Some of us wish to aid you out of kindness and fond memories, others would wish to harm you out of old grudges and slights. Most of us are simply scared and worried at what you blundering in the jungle may cause..."
A few of the animals nod at this but the snake mutters, 'On with it. You always take so long."
'We ask you to prove yourself to us.A series of tasks, selected by ourselves. If you prove of good honor, skill and bravery, we will aid you in escaping this jungle and gaining some answer. What would you say to such a bargain?"
Bo can tell several of the animals are not keen on this arrangement, and she has a feeling they had a long council about her previously, and feelings still ran high.
As the animals spoke of being servants or slaves, Bo felt alarmed. Kneeling again beside Pearl, she looked at the cat and said, "I don't know how long we've been together, or how you came to find yourself with me. I hope it was choice and not force. I value you as a friend and companion, but if you ever choose to take your leave of me, please know that I will honour that decision, even as I will grieve for your loss." She had no idea how much the cougar understood, but she meant every word. To the others, she said, "I apologize on behalf of my kind, or others like me, who have enslaved you against your will. That is a crime not to be borne."
To the bear, Bo smiled a bit ironically. "I would say that I have little choice. And I wonder how much harm a single person can cause, 'blundering about' in a jungle of this size. But yes, I will complete your tasks to the best of my ability."
The half-circle of animals watch Bo talk with Pearl is silence. Some seem to appreciate the gesture while others seem to scorn it as a obvious attempt at flattery.
To her remark the bear says, cryptically, 'There are others in the jungle. You have even met some of them, indirectly."
Then the animal turns to the others and says, 'Then are we agreed? I vote yes to the tasks." he nods his huge head.
'Yes." the swan says, fluttering a wing toward Bo.
"No." the snake says, coiling and uncoiling.
"No." the boar adds in, tusks gleaming.
"Yes." votes the stag, with a mellow, rich voice that reminds Bo of summer.
"No, in the strongest terms!" cries the mouse, jumping up and down on the back of the boar. "In fact the more powerful she is, the more dangerous..."
'Enough!" the bear roars, 'We already debated this. Enough!" The mouse is forced into mutinous silence.
The vote is tied Bo realizes with alarm, and she has a feeling if the No's win, things will not go so well.
All turn to the tortoise who has not spoken yet. He is ancient and weathered, the old jewels on his shell dim with age. he stands higher then an oxcart and longer too. The massive, wrinkled head looks sculpted from sand, dry and timeless.
Moments stretch, and Bo notes the mouse is looking frantic with anticipation. Finally the jaw opens and a tired, wheezing voice issues worth. 'Aye."
The No's shriek, hiss and roar in frustration while the others simply nod.
The bear turns back to Bo, "Then the accord is struck. You will achieve our four tasks, and we will help you as best we can. All of us." he adds, glaring at the No voters.
Bo nodded her head. The vehemence with which the others voiced their dissatisfaction was unsettling. However, at this point, there was little she could do but trust that they were acting in good faith, and prove herself to them.
"Where do I begin?"
The bear says, 'The first task is mine to assign. You will go past up, up this trail and take the first right you see."
A pause then, "The other inhabitants of the jungle will probably interfere so merely consider them part of the test. You are sure to amuse them. As for the task itself..."
The other animals listen intently and Bo realizes they do not know either, what the task will contain.
"You must save the jellyfish."
Bo waited what felt like a long minute, but there was nothing else forthcoming. Not sure she'd heard correctly, she said, "The...jellyfish? The sea creature, with long tentacles?" She mimed a jellyfish pulsing through the water with her hands. "I need to save one?"
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"By other inhabitants, I assume you mean creatures that are not aware as you are. If you set me on a task that causes me to come in conflict with them, then you must be okay with them coming to harm at my hands. Is this correct?" She didn't want to get punished or accused of cheating for defending herself.
The bear almost seems to smile when he answers, 'Something like that. You'll know it when you see it."
At her next question the boar breaks in, "Asking to commit violence? My old master was not so tentative." But then adds, "Do what you like with them. As for awareness....that has little to do with it."
Then the snake rises up, looking sly, "This raises the next point, one of which is not decided. Shall she do this alone? Or will she be allowed to risk another who cannot make that choice themselves?" A long tail jabs at Pearl, who watches the huge boa with distaste.
There is a rumble of argument from everyone. Apparently this was a heated issue. Their is a split between those who thing she must do it alone while others say willing allies should be permitted.
Over it all the mellow voice of the stag breaks in and says, "What do you say on the matter, druid?"
There is utter silence as everyone stares at her.
"Why do you assume that Pearl has no choice? I do not compel her to travel with me. I was not saying empty words before. I would not compel an animal to fight for me. Are any of you able to communicate directly with her? If so, ask what she prefers. If not, I say let her choose. I will leave, and if she chooses to stay, I will not ask her to come."
Bo words are received in a contemplative silence.
The bear starts to speak but the snake cuts in smoothly, "Pearl, although that name has been imposed by you on her? In any case, the cat is in a state of refined innocence. It is not our place to disturb that. She cannot make this choice on her own, and frankly, we should not demand it of her. The very act of giving her that reasoning would destroy who she is."
This argument seems to fair favor with the others, most of them nodding agreement, even some of Bo's 'allies'.
Bo frowned in annoyance. "All names are imposed upon us by others. Our parents give us a name that pleases us, others call us by nicknames that they choose. You can hardly fault me for finding a name for my friend, when I have no way of asking what name she would prefer. I'm certain that most of you had names for your "masters" that weren't the names they called themselves."
Settling her pack on her shoulders, the half-orc made ready to head up the path. "So, what is your decision? Can my innocent cat friend, whom I call Pearl for lack of a better name to call her, come with me? Or must she stay among you?"
The massive stag shakes his antlers toward the snake and says, 'She has you there. Even you can't argue with that."
The old tortise breaks in, in that wheezy dry voice, 'Quite the cutting remark on nomenclature. Crude, but accurate within the confines of the debate."
The snake retreats, giving Bo a cold stare, scales gleaming green and red.
After a moment the bear says, 'Then it is decided. You may take the panther and the hawk with you." There is a pause as if he is looking for objections but none come.
He waves a paw up the path adding, "Good luck."
Hiding a smile, Bo bowed her head in acknowledgement. Without saying a word to Pearl, she headed up the path indicated, and was pleased but unsurprised when the cougar padded silently along. After they were out of sight of the strange council of talking animals, she relaxed slightly and said, "Okay, I don't remember much about anything, but I'm pretty sure that was weird. And now we're going to save a jellyfish. A jungle jellyfish. Right. Well, here we go."
They kept moving up the trail, looking for the first right hand turn. Bo would like to think she was ready for anything, but after what had just happened, she clearly had no idea what "anything" could entail.
Bo leaves the animals behind and follows the trail. The day is still hot but at least dry today, with no clouds above. Shriek flies above, diving at fat jungle birds. Pearl meows once or twice, with a bit of plaintive cry for food. Bo knows she certainly isn't starving yet, but finding some meat would be a good idea for the cat.
She soon sees a right hand path leading off the main one. It looks nearly exactly the same, wide and well-kept. However, just after a few feet brush and vines suddenly close in, nearly blocking the path, and obscuring her vision. If she wants to head down this, she will have to push blindly into the green wall of plants.
The idea of reneging on her agreement didn't occur to Bo. The "path" ahead was no path at all, but she had agreed to take it, so take it she would. "Stay close," she said to Pearl, unnecessarily. The cougar was more at home in this place than she would ever be. "Let's see what's through here."
Bo pushed through the bushes and vines, not having any idea what she was about to find.
Bo pushes her way into the foliage and instantly loses her bearings. It is much like diving under the surface of a green leafy lake, totally immersive and disorientating. After a few moments of struggle however, she breaks through the clinging vines and hits open air. She stumbles a bit from the change, then looks around her. She is stunned.
The druid stands in a forest yes, but no rainforest. This is a hardwood forest of oaks, beeches and elm. They spread out around her, widely spaced, leaving pleasant glades between them. The soil is dark and rich, with the smell of fertility. There is a riot of color. The leaves of the trees are red, gold and brown, gently falling in a soft breeze. Playing through the leaves is a warm yellow sun quite different then the blazing disc that punished the rainforest.
Behind her, the bushes and vines remain, blocking any view of the rainforest that, maybe, is still behind her.
As Bo stood frozen, staring at the changed landscape, she felt a moment of envy for Pearl. The big cat wasn't concerned about such things as landscape continuity, or missing memories. All she knew was that this forest felt more home-like than the jungle, and she immediately padded happily into the glade. Refined innocence. His Slitheryness might have actually been onto something there.
Overhead, Shriek cried out in delight, happy to be in such an open forest. He immediately spied a rodent of some sort, and within seconds had it in his talons. As he feasted on his snack, Bo thought, When we're done with the jellyfish, this might be a good place to hunt. Before we go back for challenge number 2.
After a moment or two trying, and failing, to get her bearings, Bo moved carefully into the glade. It certainly seemed a friendlier place than the jungle, though the lack of appalling heat may have been the main reason for that. The bear had mentioned other creatures, however, that would interfere, so Bo tried not to let her guard down.
The breeze is cooler and Bo finds it a relief from the swelting jungle humidity. She pushes into the wood, pearl and Shriek at her side. The druid has no idea what she is looking for but she has a feeling she will know it when she sees it.
She steps into a wide glade, the short grass covered with yellow leaves. It is like a painting, perfectly still and nearly otherwordly vibrant. Her breath catches at the sheer beauty of the sight.
Then the thing glides into the clearing.
It looks...a little like a jellyfish. A delicate-looking creature floats silently in midair, hovering over the leaves without disturbing them. It has a fringe of red bird’s feathers around its quivering central mass and long tentacles trailing from its center, with each tentacle ending in a snapping beak. It sings to itself very softly as it flies, each beak making a different note in an eerie harmony.
Bo thought she was getting used to weird. Nope.
Watching it for a moment, trying to get an idea of how dangerous it was, she thought, So...save it. Save it from what? Is it in danger? Is it lost? Does it belong in the other jungle? Certainly doesn't look like it needs to go in the sea." Staying put, and telling her animals firmly to stay at her side, Bo watched the strange creature for a few minutes.
Bo wracked her brains as the horse-sized creature floated gently about. Had she ever heard of anything even remotely like this before?
Bo searches her mind for something to help her place this weird, surreal sight into context. This is difficult for someone lacking a memory but that weird sense she still has (that tells her trees should be green and the sky blue) tells her this that a floating giant jellyfish is wrong.
Even as Bo is pondering this, she hears something. Voices.
From quite nearby, behind a massive spreading oak, she can see two humanoid shapes huddling in the gloom. They are talking in rapid, quiet voices too low for Bo to make out. They don't seem to have noticed here, pointing instead to the floating creature in the clearing.
Save the jellyfish.
The words just kept circling in Bo's head. It seemed straightforward enough and yet...
Wondring what the people were talking about, Bo crept around behind the tree, trying to get close enough to hear what was being said. Were they the threat? She couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was happening here.