Fearless Friendship in the Forest of Fates

The sun glistened off the shards of iced soil amongst the barren tree line. The sparse, jagged trees and bushes were a stark contrast to the vibrant green of the fronds that swayed gently in the warm afternoon breeze. The silence of the wood was only broken by the occasional creak of ice giving way under footsteps.

As their footsteps broke through the icy layer, Jencha was reminded of what he had been told about this place, about why his sister had been taken here... It was not something he wanted to think about now, as he made his way into this haunted forest. He focused instead on keeping his feet steady as they marched up an incline in front of them.

The reason they had chosen him to come with them was simple: he knew it better than anyone else alive. He had lived there for ten years after all. His father had been an explorer who led expeditions into uncharted territory, and they'd lived in that house by the edge of the forest ever since Jencha's mother died. That was before his sister got sick and they moved back to his grandparents' home in a village where she could get better treatment.

Jencha felt his sadness welling up as he thought about his father returning from one expedition with a young Qudir in tow. 'That's Qudir,' he had said to Jencha proudly. 'He'll be coming with us from now on.' Qudir had arrived on their doorstep half-frozen and starved and barely conscious, but eager to escape the hellish desert. His father didn't know how long he'd spent out there, but Jencha suspected it hadn't been long enough for him to forget how dangerous it could be, even for someone like Qudir who was tough and strong beyond belief.

Looking to Qudir now, trudging along beside him and scanning their surroundings intently as always, Jencha saw that though he looked weary, he did not look scared; at least not like Jencha felt right now. This wasn't something that should be happening today - it was too soon after their last trip out here; it was too soon after her last relapse - all hope shouldn't have been lost so quickly... But it has, and now they're here again because they've got no other choice, because Jencha *knows* where she is... whatever happens next will be up to him and Qudir: Praying to God would do no good; praying to Eril would be a waste of time; trying to ask for help from any of the people back at home would only get them laughed at or worse if word got back to their parents... Everyone thinks they're dead anyway... He wondered if anyone would care if they never left this cursed forest again; if anyone would notice or even care if they never came home again... Suddenly, a loud crack made him jump as pieces of ice fell around them; whether it meant they were near or just near enough that more crumbling ice could fall on them from above was not clear. He turned to see Qudir staring up into the canopy above them expectantly as if looking for something - or someone - among the boughs above them. Jencha followed his gaze but saw nothing except shadows shifting slowly against one another in the breeze filtering down through the trees... It would be hard for anyone to hide among those branches; maybe that's what Qudir was waiting for? Maybe whoever took her is hiding up there? Maybe we can ambush them? Maybe we can catch them off guard? Maybe we can take her back before she gets sick again? Maybe we can take her far away where she'll be safe? Maybe we can change things this time? Maybe this time it won't turn out like it did before?!