A Short Story: Anjou & Penelope’s Great Adventure

It had been three nights since Anjou and Penelope left Lychee Park. They were in the depths of Elven Forest making their journey to Indigo Woods. From there it would be one moon till they reached Larkspur Falls. As they ventured deeper and deeper into the forest Anjou knew not that the Twiddle Brigade and Pine Titans were marching on the forest from the west, but Penelope had an eerie feeling.

“Anjou, I don’t think we should go any further” “… are you tired?” Anjou asked as he slowed his pace. “No, something is wrong. Look at my petals” Penelope said as she ran her fingers over the petals drooping along her face “… see they’re downcast” “are you thirsty?” Anjou asked jokingly with a smile as he stopped and rested on a stomp and Penelope followed suit taking her rest beside him.

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“My petals never wilt like this; we should go a different way” Penelope interjected into the silence growing between them. “Penelope, I have traveled this path before many times, I assure you it is safe” “Anjou, I am a flora, guardian, and protector of Lychee Park, I know when danger is lurking” “maybe your petals are drooping because you are anxious, this is the furthest you have been from home.” “I’m not anxious, something is wrong – I can feel it” Penelope persisted and then a rumble erupted beneath their feet. Quickly, Anjou stood up and launched into the air to survey the land.

Anjou looked to the north, south, and east and saw nothing, but as his gaze shifted to the west, he saw Pine Titans and the Twiddle Brigade marching through Elven Forest. “Impossible” Anjou said aghast as he drifted back down to the forest floor. “What is it? What did you see?” “Pine Titans and the Twiddle Brigade, they’re marching in from the west, we must move quickly” Anjou said as he grabbed Penelope’s hand, and then they began to run through the forest. With each passing moment the Pine Titans and Twiddle Brigade grew nearer. As they ran, the ground beneath them trembled with each step the Pine Titans took.

Penelope’s sentinel senses began to overload as they ran east. Penelope knew something was amiss; she felt as though they had been beset even though they were several paces ahead of the Pine Titans and Twiddle Brigade. Anjou’s mind was consumed with thoughts of how they were going to make it out of the forest. The Twiddle Brigade was known for mining foreign lands for jewels, stones, precious metals, and the like. He knew that if the Twiddle Brigade had garnered the forces of the Pine Titans and set out on Elven Forest that pillage and plunder were in the air, and even war should the forest resist.

Elven Forest had been a peaceful land and safe passageway for generations. Elven Leviathans protected Elven Forest, but it had been centuries since Elven Leviathans had been seen. It was rumored that the forest had known peace for so long that the Elven Leviathans had amalgamated with the land. Elven Forest overflowed with kyanite, citrine, and spessartite garnets. Even so, brigand mercenaries had never ventured into Elven Forest, for it was believed that if the land were mined it would awaken the Elven Leviathans and destruction would ensue.

Penelope began to feel the vibrational strain in the forest and hear deep moaning from the trees just as a member of the Twiddle Brigade attempted to mine a rock riddled with crystals. “Anjou, something is wrong!” Penelope shouted, and just as the last word slipped from her mouth the thicket path began to burst open, trees fell, roots whipped through the air, and monstrous creatures came forth from the land; the Elven Leviathans had awakened. Anjou and Penelope were lifted into the air with the ruble as the Elven Leviathans came forth. Penelope shouted for Anjou as she began to plummet to the forest floor. Hurriedly, Anjou dashed to Penelope and caught her. The Pine Titans charged towards the Elven Leviathans and a battle to the likes Anjou had never seen but had heard of in woodland fairy folklore began.

In the midst of charting a new path to safety the captain of the Twiddle Brigade spotted Penelope. “Look! It’s a flora” the captain shouted and launched out towards Penelope and the crew followed suit. Floras were things of legend, and the Twiddle Brigade knew many would pay their weight in gold for one. Hungrily the Twiddle Brigade pursued Penelope and Anjou as the war between the Pine Titans and Elven Leviathans raged on around them. Penelope tripped and the Twiddle Brigade laid siege to her. Anjou began to fight the Twiddle Brigade crew members, but there were so many of them he was quickly overwhelmed. “Penelope!” Anjou shouted as he tried to break free from the grasp of the lieutenant. The Twiddle Brigade yanked on Penelope’s petals as they bound her. Penelope yelped as a few of her petals fell off, and then in an instant the magic of Lychee Park filled the forest, and the Twiddle Brigade was overwhelmed with a scent so fragrant they began to choke. Penelope’s stems thickened and bulged against the ties that bound her until they broke.

Hastily, Penelope and Anjou began to make their way through the forest. “We have to take the way of Hellebore to Canterbury Bell River, and from there we’ll ride the waters to Larkspur Falls” Anjou shouted over all the chaos. Steadily, Anjou and Penelope made their way out of Elven Forest and proceeded into Hellebore. As soon as the rumbles of Elven Forest could no longer be heard Anjou and Penelope sat and rested.

“You are so brave” Penelope said after a few moments of silence between them, “we’re saved because of you though” Anjou said as he shook his head, feeling terrible he had not listened to Penelope when she first warned that she sensed danger. “No, we saved each other, if you had not caught me, I would have been trampled by the Pine Titans” Penelope said with a glow in her eyes as her petals regained their stature and new petals sprouted. “Do your petals always grow back” Anjou asked in awe “yes, but if I would have been trampled there would be no regeneration; from the earth I came and to the earth I would have returned.” Penelope said as she stood and then extended a hand to Anjou. “Come now, I want to see Larkspur Falls” Penelope said as a grin grew on her face and then Anjou took her hand, and they began their travels again.

“How did you create the mist in the forest?” Anjou asked as they came to Canterbury Bell River. “Our ability to protect Lychee Park comes from sacrifice” Penelope said as she recalled the fallen petals, but then quickly shook the image out of her mind. “How long till we reach Larkspur Falls now?” “at least three moons, but with strong winds maybe just two” Anjou said as he plucked a sturdy canterbury bell flower and fastened it into a boat. “Shall we rest here or continue?” Anjou asked as he shared with Penelope a few berries he had foraged. “I’ll rest on the water” Penelope said as she took the berries and ate. “Come then, let us be off and away” Anjou said with glee as he helped Penelope onto the boat, pushed it onto the stream of the river, and then set off. “We’ll have to ride the torrents down to Larkspur Falls, it’ll be a bit jarring, but I promise we’ll survive” Anjou said and then Penelope laughed. “Pine Titans, the Twiddle Brigade, Elven Leviathans, and now torrents – the floras back home will never believe” Penelope said, and then snuggled up to Anjou and fell asleep.

~ To Be Continued