Moth Dezzo and Rosie Wayton had run away from home two nights ago. Moth had awoken Rosie in the early hours of the morning, squealing about a prophecy and a crow.
Rosie had sat up in bed, confused.
“Rosie! Rosie, wake up! A crow-there was a crow at my window and it was talking! Or maybe it was a raven, I never knew the difference between those two, but anyway the crow said-the crow said AHHHHH!” She screamed with joy.
Rosie rubbed her dark brown eyes and squinted up at Moth in the darkness.
“Have you slept at all?” Rosie asked worriedly.
“That’s completely irrelevant! The crow said that I was the Chosen One! He said there was a prophecy and that it was obviously about me and we have to go now!”
“Go where?” Rosie asked.
“On a quest! We have to go on a quest! A real life hero’s journey!” Moth was already opening a drawer from the girls’ shared dresser. “Rosie, find me a couple of sacks, would you?”
“Moth, I really don’t think-” Rosie started.
“Rosie, don’t you get it?” Moth interrupted her. “This is real! A real life hero’s journey, a real life quest, and a real life Chosen One! Me!”
Moth continued throwing clothes into a sack she’d found on the floor. “And you’re coming with me!”
“Moth, I-”
Moth dropped the sack and rushed over to Rosie, grabbing her by the shoulder and leaning against her with one arm outstretched.
“Rosie, don’t you see? We can change the world, just you and me. But mostly me.”
Rosie sighed. “Are you sure that this is right? Maybe you misheard something.”
Moth stepped away from Rosie to continue grabbing clothes. “I didn’t mishear.”
“What exactly did the crow say?” Rosie asked, getting out of bed and walking over to Moth.
“He said, ‘You, Moth Dezzo, are the Chosen One and you alone can save the world. This world is threatened by a greater evil. A woman named Lady Eralina dwells in a mountain lair. She is cooking up a war, attempting to bring chaos and bloodshed to our world.’ And then he flew away.”
“Are you sure that-”
“Yes, Rosie! I am sure! We have to go on a quest to find Lady Eralina and destroy her! Now, come on!” She picked up the two sacks and shoved one into Rosie’s hand. Moth grabbed onto Rosie’s hand and pulled her out the door of their house.
In the present, Moth and Rosie had just begun to make camp in the forest. They couldn’t stay in an inn because they had no money and Moth tended to stand on tables and proclaim her heroism for all to hear which had resulted in them getting thrown out when they had tried to stay in an inn the first night.
Nevertheless, the pair of girls made camp out of some old bedrolls and managed to get a fire started despite their inexperience.
“Aha!” Moth said. “Now that we have a fire started, we can cook!”
“All we have is this bread and we’re going to need more than that. Plus, I think we should save the bread for a day when we can’t find food.” Rosie reminded her.
“Ugh, fine. I’ll use my impeccable hunting and gathering skills and find us something else to eat.” Moth said as she headed off into the woods.
Moth walked along the woodland path until she found a bush of red berries. She walked back to camp, whistling as she went.
“Aha! I have found berries and I shall now eat these berries! You can have some too, Rosie! Bask in the glory of me!” She said happily, popping a berry into her mouth.
“Moth, are you sure these are safe to eat?” Rosie asked, inspecting the berries.
“Of course, Rosie! They’re quay berries! Mom used to make pies with them!” Moth said.
“Remember when Mom taught us the difference between quay berries and suto berries? Quay berries are completely red but suto berries have a small black spot on the bottom. These are suto berries.” Rosie said.
“Well, I’m sure that’s fine!” Moth said, her mouth full of berries. “I mean, they’re basically the same thing, right?”
“No! Quay berries aren’t poisonous and are perfectly safe to eat with no worrying side effects. Suto berries are dangerous; they can cause hallucinations and even kill you if you’re not careful! Stop eating them right now!” Rosie said just as Moth swallowed a mouthful of the berries.
“Sorry, I wasn’t listening.” She said. Suddenly, the pair of girls heard a scream coming from nearby.
“A cry of distress!” Moth shouted in her most heroic voice. “Rosie, come with me! We must investigate!” She ran off towards the direction of the shout. Rosie followed close behind. She didn’t want Moth to be alone when the hallucinations started.
At the river, they saw a young man splashing and attempting to swim to shore. The river was deep and turbulent.
“Don’t worry. I’ll save you!” Moth said, kicking off her brown leather boots and jumping headfirst into the river.
She swam over to the boy without a problem and heaved him onto the shore.
“Are you okay?” Moth asked. Both she and Rosie were hovering over him with worry on their faces. “Wait a minute...I know you. You’re the baker! Wasn’t your name Nathaniel?”
“Alexander.” He groaned.
“Well, Alexander, it’s nice to see you again.” Moth said.
Rosie walked over to Moth and Alexander. “Moth, come on. We need to get back to camp before-”
Rosie’s words were lost in Moth’s scream. She stood up, her green eyes wide and frantic. “WHAT IS THAT THING?” She screamed, pointing at the empty air.
“Uh, what’s wrong with her?” Alexander asked, sitting up.
“She ate some suto berries earlier.” Rosie said worriedly.
“Suto berries? Didn’t her mom ever teach her not to do that?” Alexander asked.
“Our mom actually. My family adopted Moth when she was a baby.” Rosie explained as she walked over to Moth. “Moth, are you okay?”
Moth was cowering in a lump behind a large gray rock between the forest and the river. Rosie walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Moth?”
“Rosie, get away! There’s a great threat here and only I can dispel it!” Her words were slurred as she stood up and turned to face the rock. Alexander walked over to them.
“You’re hallucinating.” He said.
Moth spun around. “Do not speak to me, you beast of the forest!” She shoved Alexander out of the way and went back to staring at her imaginary foe.
Rosie walked towards Moth slowly and carefully, as one might approach a wild animal. “Moth, calm down.”
“Rosie?” Moth’s eyes were unfocused.
“Yes, Moth, it’s me.” Rosie said softly.
“Rosie! You have to help me! There’s a monster here!” She thrust her hand out in front of her, palm open. “I don’t think I can fight it alone.”
Rosie looked over at Alexander. “Um, could you please help me knock her out?” She asked in her sweetest, most timid voice.
“Knock her out? Why?” Alexander asked.
“The berries should wear off eventually and it’ll be a lot easier if she’s knocked out, but I’m not strong enough to lift something that heavy.” Rosie explained.
Moth was throwing punches at the air. Alexander grabbed a rock and stood back a bit. He threw the rock at the back of Moth’s head, hoping the blow would be enough to knock her out without killing or seriously hurting her.
That’s all I need, he thought. To be responsible for this crazyhead’s death. I don’t need her blood on my hands. For a variety of reasons.
Moth fell forwards, apparently unconscious and Rosie raced over to catch her before her face collided with the muddy riverbank.
“Um, you wouldn’t mind helping me carry her, would you?” She asked, awkwardly holding Moth by the armpits, as one might hold a cat or baby if they were reenacting the opening scene of The Lion King. Alexander sighed and took Moth by the legs. Together, he and Rosie carried Moth back to their makeshift campsite.
A little while after they arrived at the camp and laid Moth down on her sleeping bag, Alexander started to walk back into town.
“Wait!” Rosie cried out as he turned to leave.
“What is it?” Alexander asked.
“Please, you have to help us!” Rosie said. Her hands were clasped together. She was clearly pleading.
“Why would I do that?” Alexander asked.
“You saw my sister back there. She’s a mess. She needs help and if she thinks you’re part of this story, then you’re going to be part of it!” Rosie ranted.
“Look, I don’t wanna get wrapped up in that weirdo’s delusions. I’m leaving. Good luck trying to keep your sister from losing her marbles!” Alexander said. He was about ready to storm off and return to his bakery when he heard a rustling sound and turned around to find Moth sitting up on her sleeping bag. Her clothes and hair were still wet from her dive into the river.
“Rosie? What’s going on? Why is Nathaniel here?” She asked dazedly. “Did you change your mind about joining us?”
“No, I’m not going to join your weird little adventuring cult! Leave me alone!”
“Not so fast! I saved your life at that river and that means you can’t leave! You still owe me a great debt that must be repaid, and the only way you can repay me is by joining our party!” Moth proclaimed, putting an arm in front of her.
“What if I give you a big cake instead?” Alexander asked.
“Nope! It’s the only way to possibly repay me; although if you want to throw in a cake as well that would be greatly appreciated.” Moth said.
“You’re not going to give up, are you?” Alexander sighed.
“Nope!” Moth said cheerfully. “I need a love interest and you’re perfect! I mean, you’re smart and cute and you hate me and think I’m crazy which makes for a perfect start to our relationship! We can bicker and you can call me nuts but then my powers will reveal themselves and you’ll be like, ‘Oh, wow, she was telling the truth the whole time’ and then we can make out and everything will be perfect and we’ll live happily ever after and-”
“Yeah, no. I’m only joining you because you seem mentally unstable and I don’t think this poor girl should have to deal with all this on her own.” He gestured at Rosie.
“You’re already fitting into the “sarcastic love interest” trope! I love it!” Moth cheered. “Anyway, you should go back to your bakery and gather up the supplies you’ll need to come with us! And change clothes, too. Can’t have you wearing a flour-covered apron when we’re fighting dragons.”
Alexander rolled his eyes and head back into town to change clothes and leave a note for his dad.
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