---------------------15-----------------------
The blinding glare of sunlight filtered through the opening in the dungeon, casting a vivid green hue that stretched across the tops of towering jungle trees. Yuna blinked, squinting at the unfamiliar landscape before her, her senses still reeling from the shock of their sudden transition from the cold, dark dungeon to this wild, untamed jungle. The air was thick with moisture, and every breath felt different, like it was charged with energy, the dense forest alive with the sounds of nature.
They had, without a doubt, been transported to a different realm. The undergrowth was a maze of thick vines and twisting roots that seemed to beckon them deeper. The trees around them, ancient and mighty, reached towards the heavens, their trunks gnarled and aged, looking more like pillars that held up the very sky. The sound of birds echoed from the canopy above, while the wind stirred through the leaves, creating a constant, calming rustle.
But despite the beauty of the scene, an uneasy feeling settled over them. The forest seemed too quiet, too vast. Something felt off, like a lurking presence they couldn't quite identify. Fallen trees, broken and twisted, lay scattered across their path, their trunks snapped clean in two, as if something powerful had passed through.
"Must have been something friendly," Lisa said, trying to lighten the mood, her voice carrying a hint of forced humor.
"I think we should get moving," Lisa added quickly, sensing that the joke had done little to calm the tension in the air.
"Where even are we?" Rite muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "And where should we be moving to?"
As they pondered their next move, Yuna's ears twitched, catching a familiar alert from her system.
Void Sense Active.
The notification sent a shiver down her spine as she instinctively looked toward the path of destruction in front of them. There, on the trees, were massive scratch marks—deep gouges that looked as though something large and powerful had passed through recently. The ground in the area was tainted with a strange, grayish smoke that seemed to emanate from the path.
Yuna, using her claws, climbed out of the pack and slowly made her way to the top, her sharp senses immediately on alert. She tapped Rite's head with her paw to get his attention and pointed toward the direction of the tracks. It was clear that something dangerous had passed through here, and Yuna's instincts were telling her that whatever it was, it was close.
Lisa, always one to investigate, pondered aloud, "Could it be another dragon? It seems too big for anything else."
But Yuna's senses were sharper than anyone's. Her nose twitched, and the faint smell of fresh blood reached her, sending a jolt of primal fear through her. The scent was old, but its danger was undeniable. Something had been hurt, and the feral instinct inside Yuna urged her to move, to flee.
"Let's find shelter before it gets dark," Rite suggested, his voice firm with purpose. He turned and began to push through the underbrush, the sound of branches and leaves parting around him. They needed to put distance between themselves and whatever had caused the destruction.
As they trekked deeper into the jungle, Lisa's voice broke the silence. "This doesn't look like any part of Joureafla I've ever seen. It's almost like... a different continent."
"Maybe," Rite replied, "but Joureafla and its surrounding regions are dead or decaying due to the Void corruption. Yet this place..." He gestured around, looking at the lush green plants and vibrant wildlife. "It doesn't match. This is life. Fresh, untouched."
As they continued forward, they stumbled upon a small cave, a perfect place to rest for the night. Rite, ever cautious, collected materials to start a fire, making sure Yuna was close by, never letting her be alone. Lisa took the opportunity to scout, using her magic to extend her senses and search the surrounding area for any signs of danger.
Using her farsight magic, Lisa discovered a wealth of wildlife nearby—deer, rabbits, and other herbivores—most of which seemed to be untouched by the surrounding chaos. The abundance of prey indicated that this part of the jungle was still thriving. But there was no sign of carnivores or humans, and that left them feeling disturbingly isolated.
As night began to fall, Lisa gathered around the campfire with Yuna in her lap, holding her close as the warmth from the flames crackled in the air. Yuna leaned against her, feeling a strange comfort from the older woman. She had never experienced this before, this sense of protection, and it stirred something deep within her—a feeling she hadn't known she needed.
"Did I ever tell you about the gods of this land?" Lisa asked, her voice soft and comforting.
Yuna shook her head, feeling a curiosity growing in her chest as she lay her head down. "No," she whispered.
Lisa smiled softly, her eyes distant as she began her tale. "The elders of Joureafla once spoke of three ancient gods who controlled the world: Calliope, the goddess of the land, Odes, the god of the sky, and Njah, the god of the sea. Each had power over a domain, and together, they kept the world in balance. Calliope could move mountains and shape the land. Odes controlled the rain, helping plants grow and sustaining life. And Njah, though more tempestuous, ruled the seas, shaping the waters of the world."
Yuna listened intently, fascinated by the story. "What happened to them?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Lisa's eyes darkened. "They were the children of a being known as Pasta, a powerful force that brought magic and life to the realm. But after a war between the humans and the gods, things changed. The gods were divided, and the humans killed many of the record keepers, erasing the truth of what happened."
Yuna's eyes fluttered with exhaustion, the warmth of the fire and the lull of Lisa's voice filling her with comfort. As she drifted into a quiet sleep, a sense of peace settled over her—though in the back of her mind, the unknown creature in the jungle still lingered.