The jeep rattled and shook violently. For a second all I could see was green. Then came browns, blacks, and other earthly colors. The house had become a leafy forest full of tall oak and pine trees. Above was a leafy canopy. Only traces of light fell.
Ethel stopped the vehicle and gracefully clambered out. I followed suit but with much less dignity left as I landed on my face.
My anger started to bubble as I spit out a mouthful of dirt.
Her appearance began to change. Her wavy brown hair was perched low on her head with two strands framing her face. Her glasses faded, and ink traveled down her left arm leaving markings. They were tattoos but I could not identify an image in a single one.
From her pocket, she withdrew a locket. She opened it and drew out a pointer. Not one of the fun ones with the hand on the end that elementary teachers use. This was a plain and dull gray, and for some reason, it had my attention more than the current events taking place.
The crazy woman kissed it, and it too emitted a green light. The once dull pointer grew three inches in length and gentle, bright vines were painted on it. She waved it and my clothes faded into a shaped dress. The bodice and sleeves were fitted green; however, the sleeves began to widen into a bell at the elbows. A tightly fitted creme sleeve with cuffs was underneath. The cufflinks were small emerald leaves. A creme collar poked out at the neck. The skirt was full, but it was that of an A-line dress. The skirt was the same green but with a creme apron. The apron was bordered with the same deep leaves and vines.
I thought to myself "So much damn green. Is she cosplaying some character I don't know about? I watch anime, but I'm not a huge dweeb."
She breaks my thoughts with a laugh, "no questions?"
I shoot her a puzzled look. "Oh, plenty. I just don't want to make the crazy lady with the weird stick mad."
She looks down at her pointer, and she points it towards the air. The painting on its lights and lanterns around the forest begin to light. Orange lights hung on trees, deers came out of bushes, and fireflies began to rise and dance.
"You're beyond weird," I mumble.
She laughs and spins around in a circle. Her arms are spread out wide, and where her pointer is pointing the fireflies follow.
"Welcome to the Forest kingdom. I am one of the healers here." She says with a harsh tone to her voice.
"Excuse me, but I'm beyond confused. Like what kind of dream am I having?"
"You're not dreaming. Here let me explain. Each realm focuses on its strengths. We are in the Forest kingdom. Here the youngest becomes a healer, and the eldest focuses upon the arts of sorcery. I am the only child, so I have mastered both subjects. I serve the Lord. The Ocean Kingdom focuses on strength. Both men and women become soldiers. Some are archers, swordsmen, and others become guards. The ocean people find one weapon they like, and they do not shut up about their abilities. There's also the Prairie people. They have a system of chiefs and live in small towns. They raise stock and crops. They have the most people. The Prairie people are looked down upon, but they are the backbone of this world. The largest realm is the Mountain Realm, but they have the least people. All mountaineers are united under one lord, but they live far apart. They do their mining, craftsmanship, and once a month the lord collects the fees and spreads the goods out upon the realms."
Not a single word has an ounce of kindness. Everyone has some sort of strictness and sourness compressed into each letter.
She takes a deep sigh. "Then there's the cave dwellers. They belong to the younger prince."
"Who's the younger prince?"
"You're such a, nevermind." She sighs. "You're mother faked her death to take over the realms from the king. When she came here she followed the tradition to adopt one of the citizens of a kingdom. She favored a guard from the Ocean, Christian Brooks." Her sour voice grew bitter as she choked out his name.
"Anyway, the Prince pays his dues once a month to the Queen. The dwellers depend upon only the Prarie people for food. Otherwise, we leave them alone." She clapped her hands. "Each realm has a set of colors we follow. It's a tradition passed down. Forest sticks to green and cream. The ocean has blues and greys. The prairie has reds and browns. Those who live in the Grand City with the queen wear purples and golds." She gestures to my outfit.
I was wearing a purple suit with a white dress shirt. A gold tie was at my neck. My pants were tucked into black boots with golden toes and bands of gold around the calves. On the right of my chest was the amulet.
"The Grand City is overrated. Come," she gestures me to follow her. "We need to make it through the forest before we stumble upon. Well, best for you not to know."
As she walks the branches of tree's rise, bushes move to the side, and the lanterns on the nearest trees grow brighter than before. Everything resets itself once we had moved past.
After a ten minute walk we have approached a tree. It was slightly larger than those around. Every twenty to thirty feet another tree stood. Each one was equal in girth.
Ethel touched the base of the tree. From the tree sprouted a singular step; the step looked like it had been taken out of the very tree.
"Wait, what about my stuff?" I reached for her arm. She quickly drew it away.
She points her wand directly at my forehead. "I don't care who you are. I will not hesitate to destroy you. I will have some students retrieve your belongings. Now, are you coming or not?"