Being on Hy-Brasil was like stepping into a world of fantasy. The sky was blue. The grasses, green and lush rolled like the ocean in the breeze. A few spots of red could be found poking out amongst the greenery as the small Frelda flower gave promises of soon-to-be blossoms. No sound of birds or insects could be heard, but the ever faint tone of waves crashing into rocks and sandy beaches created an almost never ending white-noise across the small, circular Wonder. It really was beautiful when one took the time to take in it’s splendor and Hy-Brasil’s Knight was doing just that.

Eyes closed, head raised to the wind, her red mane caught by the breeze’s gentle caress seemingly dance around her when not caught in large chunks, behind braids or the clutches of fur around her neck. Sucking in a deep breath, the salty air was heavy enough to not only smell but taste and the Knight did not hate either sensation. It was all welcoming, warm, and very quickly beginning to feel like a piece of home.

Something though. Something tugged at her senses. Was it a desire to explore the parts of the island she had yet to step foot in? No, it was something more than that. She had mentioned to Cashel her interest in wandering the island. His enthusiasm for the idea had been lackluster. In fact, just before her departure he had warned her to be vigilant and wary. Of what he hadn’t mentioned, but she had taken the warning with a grain of salt. What was there to harm her? The Wonder was her own world to protect. If anything she needed to find the answer to the question of how she was going to help the poor souls still trapped on the fog shrouded Wonder. Perhaps this odd, needful sensation was a clue?

She was determined to find out.

Crossing the gently rolling hills of grass and budding blooms, Hy-Brasil wandered further from the sprawling stone castle and further into territory she had yet to explore. The scenery slowly began to shift as small brush and trees started to break the monotony of waving grasses. Eventually the seemingly never-ending knee-height vegetation gave way to a loosely packed forest. Sunlight filtered through the deciduous trees with little effort, but the ground was covered not by grass, but ivy, weeds, or left barren and brown with dirt. It was soothing and Hy-Brasil smiled softly as she leaned against one of the taller trees.

“It’s beautiful.” She murmured gently, eyes trying to take in the scenery around her. It really was magical. “How have I not bothered to come here until now?” It was a shame. Such a place could have worked wonders in easing a chaotic mind.


Pushing away from her tree she continued on, the sound of the ocean grew stronger as she picked her way carefully through the forest. Vaguely she wondered if she’d come across a beach or if it would be another drop off into the ocean. The sobering thought of stepping into thin air was enough to slow her down and make her choose her steps wisely. With each footfall though, she could feel herself growing closer to what she desired. As if a song was being sung and her heart was trying to join in the chorus. She wanted to hurry. That nagging sensation pulled at her so strongly. If only she moved faster. Even ran to her destination which surely just laid ahead, but she kept herself in check.

It seemed that her destination was not the ocean side. Her meanderings led her to a grove. The trees grow close together, closer than others she had seen and created what appeared to be a perfectly circular pattern. In the center, where the light was able to hit the ground unfiltered, a thick, green ivy grew like a blanket upon the earth. It looked soft, luxurious and Hy could not stop herself from bending down to touch the leaves. To her surprise they had a softness to them, a velvet-like sensation greeted her finger-tips with each touch. She’d never seen anything quite like it before. The spear shaped leaves, attached to green, pliable stems were a curious, beautiful anomaly to the plant lover.

As her eyes trailed the trailing vine, they lighted upon a structure nearly covered in the green vegetation standing in the center of the small grove. Brows furrowed in curiosity she stood from her crouched position and began to make her way to the over-grown...bird bath? That’s certainly what it looked like as she grew closer.

A movement to her left pulled her attention. She’d not encountered any sort of animals at all besides the rare appearance of a bird, but whatever it was was much larger than the typical bird she’d ever seen.

Squinting just past the circle of densely packed trees, Hy-Brasil watched carefully. There! It was if a shadow had shifted ever so slightly.

Veering from her intended destination, Hy-Brasil began to slowly stalk toward the shadows of the trees. The golden light of the sun beat down on her, making the darkness beyond the grove seem all that more thick.

There! Again!

“Hello?” She called out as she drew closer. She was within mere feet of the treeline as blue eyes tried to catch what she swore she had seen.

As if in response to her call, a black shadow lacking much form that could be discerned in its rush, ambushed the Knight. There was little time to react. A quick summon of her staff and the weapon was in hand, but gnarly, black hands with fingers abnormally long grabbed hold of the wooden weapon and pushed against the Knight with a strength she had not at all expected.

With her feet still buried amongst the supple vines, she felt herself get caught up as she attempted to adjust her stance to counterbalance from the attack. She fell backwards, the creature on top of her. Something hit the back of her head when she impacted the ground. Dazed for a moment, she could feel the hand upon her face. It was cold and could be described as bony if it had any real structure to it, but somehow Hy-Brasil knew that whatever it was had no real corporeal form.

Or did it?

A feeling of dread washing over her as the cold sensation climbed down her body and into her limbs. It felt remarkably close to a draining but there was something off about it. Something more sinister…

In a flurry of limbs Hy-Brasil kicked upwards. For a split second she felt her foot hit something solid before...nothing.

As if it were made of smoke, whatever it was that had attacked her dissipated into the air. Scrambling to her feet, breath heavy, Hy-Brasil wasted no time in leaving the grove. That strong sense of dread hadn’t eased. She needed to get out. To get away to safety.

With powerful strides and careless haste she charged through the forest. Dodging around trees and pushing her way through bushes and brush.

Even once the trees gave way to her rolling, grassy hills she didn’t stop. No, she didn’t stop until she saw the castle and then her lungs were heaving for air that she could not give them fast enough. Partly out of exhaustion, a need for air, cramping muscles and a new growing sense of security with her ‘home’ in sight, Hy-Brasil stopped and doubled over. Hands on knees she sucked in air in gulps. The wind pulled at her hair which cascaded down and around her face. Some strands stuck to her moist brow as she worked to ease the pain in her body.

Once quivering muscles were back under control and her lungs felt like they weren’t burning from lack of air, Hy-Brasil turned to finally look behind her. Nothing pursued her. The tall grasses had already disguised her hasty retreat back to the castle. Likely, there was no indication of her arrival at the grove.

Brushing her hair back from her face, removing those pieces stuck, she heaved a heavy breath. What would she say to Cashel? Should I even bother to tell him? The question flitted across her mind and she responded with teeth nibbling on her lower lip. She knew she should tell him, but what would she say? That she fled like a coward? That she had failed as a knight of the Wonder and let something terrify her to the point of seeking safety? She should have done something to get rid of whatever it was before it could disappear as it did.

No. No I can’t tell him. I’ll just say I didn’t find anything important. He may lecture me but that’s better than seeing a look of disappointment. Because surely disappointment would be his first reaction. After all, she had fled like a coward.

Decision made, the Knight opted to circle round the castle to cool down. She needed to look unflustered, as if she had merely taken a gentle stroll that led to nothing. Only once she felt the heat of her body ease and lack of moist on her brow did she dare move to enter the castle.

A fleeting thought crossed her mind as she entered the courtyard. Perhaps I’d be better off just leaving.

She brushed the thought away though. Cashel would worry if she didn’t report back to him, even if it was a tale that spoke of nothing more than a stroll. No. Instead she sought out Cashel, all the while she wove the white lie she would present to him.