The heavy wooden gate of Glenwood creaked open, its iron hinges groaning a slow, rusty tune.
Aziel, Dr. Hana, and Jonas emerged from the village, stepping onto the well-trodden path leading towards the Elysian Forest.
The morning sun, still climbing in the sky, cast long shadows that stretched and danced with the gentle sway of the trees.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth.
Reaching the forest's edge, they kept to the south, heading towards a section known for its diverse flora.
Once they reached the designated area, the group became focused on their specific ask.
Dr. Hana immediately began scanning the surroundings. Aziel, following her lead, did the same.
"Right," Dr. Hana said, her voice crisp and efficient, "Let's split up, but don't go too far from each other. Aziel, you look for the Silverleaf Fern. It likes damp, shady areas, often near the base of older trees. The leaves are… well, silvery. You can't miss it."
She then rattled off a list of other plants, describing their appearance and preferred habitats with impressive detail.
Jonas, meanwhile, took on the role of silent guardian.
He positioned himself near a towering oak, its branches reaching towards the sky like gnarled fingers. His hand rested on the hilt of a sturdy, well-worn sword, and his eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, alert for any sign of danger.
Aziel and Dr. Hana dispersed, their forms weaving between trees and around thickets of bushes.
They peered under fallen logs, their fingers brushing against rough bark and cool, damp earth. They checked the high branches, squinting against the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy. They scrutinized the spaces between tangled roots, where the earth was dark and rich with the scent of decaying leaves.
The minutes ticked by, marked by the rustling of leaves, the chirping of unseen birds, and the occasional, distant howl of some unknown creature.
Then, something unexpected happened.
One moment, Aziel was examining a cluster of vibrant blue flowers, wondering if they were of any medicinal use.
The next, he realized that the forest had fallen unusually silent. Even the bird calls seemed to have ceased.
He straightened up, a prickle of unease running down his spine.
"Dr. Hana?" he called out, his voice slightly louder than necessary.
Silence.
He called again, louder this time, his voice echoing through the trees. "Dr. Hana!"
Only the rustling of leaves answered him.
He turned towards where he'd last seen Jonas, his pace quickening. "Jonas! Where's Dr. Hana?"
Jonas was no longer by the oak tree. Instead, he was moving rapidly through the undergrowth, his usual calm replaced by a look of intense focus and concern.
"She was just here," Jonas said, his voice low and urgent.
They began a frantic search, calling out Dr. Hana's name repeatedly.
They pushed through dense foliage, their hands and clothes snagging on thorns and branches. They also circled back, retracing their steps, their eyes desperately scanning every inch of the forest floor.
Then, they found something.
In a somewhat hidden spot, thick with shrubs, there was a pool of blood on the forest floor, staining the fallen leaves.
**********
Dr. Hana was on a mission.
It wasn't a grand, world-saving quest, but for her, it was just as important.
She was searching for a particular mushroom, a rare variety known for its exquisitely rich and delicious taste.
This wasn't just any mushroom, it had a peculiar preference for the most inconvenient of habitats.
It had a fondness for dark, damp, and thoroughly overgrown areas. It loved to nestle itself within thickets of thorny bushes and tangled undergrowth, making it a nightmare to locate, let alone retrieve.
Dr. Hana muttered under her breath, a mix of determination and mild annoyance coloring her words.
She bent low, pushing aside a curtain of scratchy leaves, her petite frame struggling against the unyielding vegetation. She could feel a small, frustrated sigh escaping her lips.
The forest floor here was a chaotic mess of roots, fallen branches, and thorny vines.
She pressed onward, her hands carefully parting the dense foliage, her eyes meticulously scanning the ground. It was like searching for a specific, uniquely shaped pebble on a vast, rocky beach.
And then, she saw it.
Nestled beneath a particularly dense bush, partially hidden by a cluster of brightly colored, but utterly useless, flowers, was the mushroom she sought. Its cap was a distinctive shade of deep purple, almost black, with delicate, silvery gills underneath.
A wave of triumph washed over her.
She carefully crouched down, reaching out to pluck her prize. Her fingers brushed against the cool, smooth cap of the mushroom.
But before she could grasp it, a sudden, sharp pain exploded at the back of her head. It felt like being struck by something hard and solid. A wave of dizziness washed over her, blurring her vision.
Still in a crouched position, her hand instinctively flew to the back of her head, her fingers probing the source of the agonizing pain. She felt a wet, sticky sensation.
Her vision swam, the vibrant greens and browns of the forest floor swirling into an indistinct mess.
With a trembling hand, she slowly brought her fingers in front of her eyes. They were coated in a viscous, crimson liquid.
Blood.
She tried to regain her balance, but her legs felt weak and unresponsive. She slumped sideways, collapsing onto the damp earth.
Her body felt oddly heavy, as if gravity had suddenly increased its pull.
With a monumental effort, she managed to turn her head, her blurry gaze trying to make sense of her surroundings.
Through the haze of pain and failing vision, she saw a figure standing over her. It was a shadowy form, indistinct and wavering, but she could hear laughter. It was a cruel, mocking sound that echoed in her ears.
Darkness crept in at the edges of her sight, a black tide threatening to engulf her completely.
And then it took it's momentum. In an instant.
The shadowy figure, the mocking laughter, the vibrant colors of the forest – all faded into an all-consuming black void.
Dr. Hana lost consciousness.