-Roasted-

                                                        (continued)

“Ohwidus! ” The creature gasped. He stood up hastily and dropped his stick on the ground. He continued to speak in a language they couldn't understand then, tilted his head as he looked to Jaiden and marsh.

The creature walked forward a step. Jaiden held his breath and put out his hand as if to protect Marsh who had hid behind him. Seeing this, the being stopped in his tracks and said something once again. He patted the top of his head, waved, and glanced back to the fire.

“You think… he’s friendly?” Marsh clenched the side of Jaiden's backpack, watching from behind. The creature said something in a questioning manner before waiting a moment, confused. Suddenly, he noticed the stick he dropped had caught fire and he began to stamp it out.

“Ohwids! Eh-” The creature panicked.

“Well, he hasn’t attacked us yet…” Jaiden lowered his hand as Marsh snickered at the stranger's misfortune. Once the flame was out, all that was left of the meat was a charred, dirt-covered clump. He looked down at it before huffedly kicking it in the makeshift fire pit.

He turned back to them and looked as though he was about to say something once more, but instead he patted his head and laughed. He started to Jaiden and Marsh, one hand waving at them, the other guarding a glowing emblem at his chest.

The wind began to pick up, slowly howling as it stumbled in. It brought with it various gaudy leaves of different shapes and sizes. The creature closed his eyes and began to whisper with the breeze. Jaiden tensed up as each of the leaves sorted themselves into lines that spun around the three of them. The bewildering masterpiece of nature enraptured them so. Three leaves in particular danced down and fell on each of their heads, making Jaiden wince while Marsh looked on, amazed.

The creature continued to speak rhythmically until his words began to sound familiar to the brothers. The leaves twisted around and down as the stranger’s words became something they could understand completely.

“... And therefore you will hear,” he finished. As the leaves settled, Marsh and Jaiden, turned back to the creature feeling a faint lightheadedness.

“There,” the creature said, letting his hands fall to his side. The emblem stopped glowing and the forest was untouched.

“What… just happened?” Jaiden stammered as he felt the side of his face. His cheeks were burning up.

“I’ve casted a translation spell,” the creature announced. He held his head up in pride but glanced away, as if to catch his gloating.

“Woah! Like, with real magic? That’s so freaking cool!” Marsh brightened and bounced where he stood. Jaiden was still warry and held his stance. He was too distracted by the hot feeling in his face and a new slight throbbing in his head.

“Now that you can understand me, I may introduce myself,” the creature cleared his throat and continued, “I am Izara Malaroy Altwidus. It’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance.” He bowed stiffly and gave an awkward smile.

“Likewise!” Marsh gasped. He grinned as though he had just peaked in his use of vocabulary.

“What are you two doing here?” Izara asked, tapping his forefingers together. He looked lightly at their backpacks.

“We’re not really sure where ‘here’ even is,” Jaiden jeered. He was still cautious of whatever this creature’s intent was.

“This is the end of the Bristlecone Woods and the start of the Marri Onn forest,” Izara pointed to the twisted trees when he named the Bristlecone Woods and then to his right, into Marri Onn. Jaiden looked dissatisfied with the answer, as naming forests barely made a dent in his knowledge.

“Ok, well, I’m Jaiden and this is my brother-”

“I’m Marshall, but you can call me Marsh,” Marsh interrupted with a hand out for him to shake. Izara only looked, not knowing what to do with the gesture.

“Uh, anyways… Thanks for giving us the ability to understand your… language but we should really get going,” Jaiden started to walk into the Marri Onn forest which was made mostly of birch trees. He waved his hand to his brother as he continued, sternly, “Come on Marsh.” Jaiden put his fingers across his face as the thumping in his head became heavier.

Marsh bounded beside his brother, “Hey, Jaid? Shouldn’t we ask directions from the leaf wizard? Or..?”

“W-wait! It’s been years since a human has come to Amberdon! I’ve never even met one,” the stranger began to pad behind them, “I have so many questions!”

“Well maybe we can talk all about it on our way back but we’re sorta in a hurry,” Jaiden said abruptly.

“Yeah, we’re gonna kill a witch!” Marsh chimed. Izara’s face went pale and he stopped. A crow cawed in the distance as they walked on. “What?” he urged.

“No- no, we aren’t killing anyone, we’re just going to talk,” Jaiden paused and explained in an attempt to ease any suspicion.

“Yeah, she poisoned Jaiden’s date mate,” Marsh declared.

“Wait. Y-your going after the Crow Witch?” Izara strained and held his breath before saying, “Priscillian Crodsfer?”

“Yeah… how did you know? Is she the only witch here or something?”

“No, of course not, but she’s the only one with… that kind of magic.”

“What do you mean?” There was a tension that tainted the air around them.

“She- she has curses! Her magic is… it has consequences,” the creature warned.

“What should we do, then?” Jaiden spat.

“Anything else! She’s far too dangerous!” At this point, Izara was gesturing back to the waterfall, trembling.

“Well, we don’t really have a lot of options so we’re going,” Jaiden trudged sharply back to the forest. This time, Marsh stood timidly to the side and watched.

“No! No, no, no. Please don’t-” Izara fidgeted. His thoughts became disordered with worry. “I’ll help you find a solution! A better one.” Now all was still. Even the trees and the birds decided to go quiet. Jaiden turned to the creature.

“What kind of solution?” He asked.

“An antidote,” Izara straightened his back, “There might be an antidote… we’d just… need to find the ingredients.”