Archive of Our Own ^beta

The chirps of birds and the bustle of the morning work made Gura yawn. Her days were spent in the tavern making her used to all the noise. The woods being chopped, the animals various and distinct noises, the dogs that scampered around the town. All of it gave off a very homey feel. Still, the town’s sounds could be heard another day, Gura had a goal in mind for today.  

Sliding on her greyish blue cloak for the morning chill, Gura stretched, warming her muscles for what was gonna be a very long walk. Her clothing was a simple brown tunic with blue accents. A satchel was slung over her shoulder, going down just to the tip of her blue skirt. Her old, but reliable leather boots warming her feet as she stepped out of the tavern. 

Her gloved left hand quickly dug into the satchel as she began making her way down the road. Her right was adorned with a faint mark, a symbol, made from an ancient language. Making out her route, she smirked. This map sure is worthless. She thought, before stuffing it back into her bag.

Making her way down the road, she hummed to herself. Waving and giving her greetings to the townsfolk who’d grown used to her presence in the quaint town. Her boots splashing up water and mud from last night’s rain as she left the village proper. Her gaze narrowed, as she spotted her goal for the day or what could be the next several days depending on her luck.

The forest.

Gura smiled wider, her tail swaying from side to side as she examined the fauna. The trees blew gently in the wind, their leaves scattering across the open field nearby. Gura felt a strange feeling in her chest as she stared into the shadows. 

I wonder, are those stories true? She thought. The words from those in the village echoed in her mind. 

Stories of the forest, that seemed to both contradict and complement one another. Some stories spoke of hordes of evil and mischievous beings, ones that would curse those who entered to become lost forever in the shadows of the trees. Never to be seen again, until, they are reborn as the very beings who cursed them. 

While on the other hand, Gura had heard stories of quite the opposite. Those stories spoke of benevolent beings or a benevolent being. That detail seemed to vary between who was telling it. Who would grant a single wish to those who could find them in the maze of the forest. Many other details were surrounding these tales as well. 

Sometimes, a thick fog would seemingly transport you back the way you came. To safety. While other stories claimed you would eventually pass out, and awake safe at home. As if it was a dream.

These many details, all of which could be true or false, intrigued Gura. Having spent much time on land as a newer adventurer, she was itching at the opportunity to investigate these rumors. It would be a payless job, but the Atlantean didn’t mind that.

Stepping into the forest, Gura watched her surroundings. The noises of nature, birds, rustling trees, and the movement of animals all filled her ears as she slowly and cautiously made her way in.

Perhaps it was her nerves, then, that caused Gura to stumble. Her foot-dragging on a tree’s roots. Gura’s attempt to not fall flat on her face failed even more, as she tumbled over a small ridge, plummeting down before crashing roughly into a bush.

Though it had broken her fall, Gura still groaned in pain. Struggling to get her tail free from the many branches as she stood up. After a solid few minutes of cursing under her breath, she finally tore it free. Ripping off many branches as she stumbled back.

Then, she felt that strange feeling in her chest. Turning around, Gura looked through the trees, her gut telling her something was up. Her right hand opened as she took a few cautious steps forwards, the symbol beginning to glow.

Just as she took a step more, she felt her gut scream at her. Twisting to the side, she narrowly avoided being skewered. Gritting her teeth, Gura forced the symbol on her hand to burn.

Her hand immediately flared up into an almost aquatic blaze, forming an azure trident in her grip. The moment she got a hold of her weapon, she was forced to roll under a root, narrowly avoided her head.

Cursing under her breath, Gura’s eyes darkened. Spotting something moving far off, Gura slung her trident over her shoulder and flung it with all her strength.

Gura had no time, however, to see if it connected. Twisting, rolling, and leaping out of reach from the roots that seemed determined to wipe her insides across the forest floor.

Opening her hand, she willed the azure weapon back, narrowly dodging a root a moment after. Just as she spotting it traveling back, Roots spontaneously appeared all around her.

Before she could even blink they wrapped around her. Hard. Gura felt as if her body would break under the pressure as she was forced to the floor. Only able to watch with fear as her trident fell to the floor as well, wrapped under a blanket of roots.

Despite this, Gura struggled. Summoning every ounce of strength she could, successfully stretching the roots but falling just shy of breaking them.

“God damn trees, just how-” Gura froze, as that feeling in her chest returned. At the same time, the bushes around her began to rustle. Watching them, Gura felt her blood run cold. 

Is this how I go out? The adventurer wondered as the bushes rustled even more. Closing her eyes for what was about to come, Gura took a deep breath.

.

.

.

But the end never came. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes. Looking up in awe, as a girl stood over her. In the surrounding bushes, Gura could see odd creatures. Things that resembled a lion, with bits resembling a deer and some aquatic creature with two large horns on their heads. 

The moment the girl made the slightest movement, Gura’s gaze locked on the girl standing over her, her soft but suspicious gaze piercing Gura’s heart. Her silky and illustrious overcoat blowing in the wind. The frills rustling as Gura felt the roots binding her tighten. Her hands shook, her mind completely occupied by the girl’s gaze.

The two horns and flower-filled hair seemed to grip Gura’s attention, shining, as if to keep her eyes and mind on the girl. 

“Who are you?” Gura muttered under her breath, making the girl smirk. The binds tightened, even more, forcing a wince out of the shark. The girl held in a laugh, as she planted a hand on Gura’s cheek.

Gura’s face quickly became flushed as the girl leaned closer. Hot… Gura thought to herself, as she felt the girl’s hot breath on her ear. 

“I am Nature, dear sapling” She whispered, making Gura’s head feel light. Her legs and arms felt weak, as Nature pulled back to resume standing over her.

“H-How do ya do?” Gura stammered, struggling to get to her feet as the binds miraculously loosened. “I’m uh…” The shark blanked, as Nature watched her with an amused gaze.

Gura felt locked in place. Her heart was entrapped by the golden and soft eyes of the girl. While in her mind she felt she should leave. Get away from the place she’d stumbled into, her heart said otherwise. Rotting her where she stood as a low giggle escaped the girl’s lips. 

“You seem confused, sapling.” The girl’s voice made Gura’s heart race. 

Gura couldn’t tear her eyes off of her, only managing a small “D-Do you…” before trailing off. Nature seemed amused at her inability to reel in her mind. 

“Do I…? What?” Nature prodded, tilting her head in such a way to make Gura’s cheeks burn the heat of a thousand suns. An amused curiosity shining in her eyes.

Gura could only stare, entrapped by the girl. Her heart beating so fast in her chest the girl could probably hear it. Finally, her brains returned and she cleared her throat.

“Uh sorry I was… distracted, anyway, uh…” Gura trailed off again, her attempts to form a coherent line of thought fading away as the girl giggles in amusement once more.

“How about…” the girl began, holding her hand out to the Atlantean. Gura’s shark tail wagging instinctually. “...you join me for some tea?”

Gura could barely process the request. Her mind working overdrive to simply keep her cheeks from bursting into flames. Blinking twice, her brain returned finally as Gura took the girl’s hand. “Sure, that sounds wonderful.” She said, staring into the girl’s soft eyes.

The stories Gura had heard, and the details surrounding them leaving her mind as she felt that odd feeling in her chest flare up even more. The creatures around them faded into the forest once more, as Gura and Nature began walking hand in hand deeper into the forest.