Amaris has hunted deer before, and yet, this feels different. It felt as if she was being watched, but nothing looked out of place. After she had followed the tracks for a few minutes, she noticed that the movements of the deer were a bit off, as if it had a specific destination. It's only goal should have been to escape, so where was it going? Could it be connected to the feeling of being watched? Amaris kept chasing, but could not stop thinking about this stange behaviour. She walked for a few more minutes and than, she found it.
The deer was just standing there, waiting at her, looking as if it was challenging her. Amaris has never seen something like this, a deer acting like this. Than, she felt vines wrap around her legs, they were growing out of the ground faster thana plant should be able to grow. It didn't take long to figure out what it was, druidic magic.
Amaris has met a fair amount of mages, traveling with the crimson knights. but she never knew much about magic, however, she could always distinguish druidic from other types of magic, it just feels different to her. yet she has never seen an animal cast magic, the thought alone fascinated her. But right now, the most important thing is surviving.
Amaris pulled out her swordbreaker, a type of dagger with hooks on the back side, made specificaly to catch enemy weapons. Gale gave it to her so she could survive without killing, she always has it with her. The deer charged at Amaris, right when she was too entangled to move out the way. She used the swordbeaker it to cut the vines, but after the first cut, she realised it would take too long. she took a split second to thing before using the swordbreaker to catch one of the antlers, and pulling it's head to her side, making the deer move past her and pull her out of the vines.
The deer shook her off, leaving the swordbreaker on it's antler. Amaris left her sword at the camp, her only weapos now were a rope, her bow and 3 arrows.
As soon as she stood up, a tree grew 2 new branches and caught her from behind by the waist. Out of panic, she quickly shot an arrow at the deer. Miss, 2 arrows left.
The branches kept growing tighter around Amaris. She wrapped her rope around the branches and her feet, and than, she pushed the rope with her legs, and pulled the branches. After seeing that she wouldn't be cruched by the branches, the deer charged at her once more. But this time, she was freed fast enough to dodge the attack, after which she shot an arrow at the deer's front left leg. 1 arrow left.
It was at hat moment that she realised. During this fight, toxic plants have been growing around her. The scent filled the air in an unknown way. She understood that the air itself would kill her, unless the source of the magic was gone
Amaris kept moving and avoided the trees. She knows what the deer can do, and she has limited its movement, but she only has 1 arrow left. The next moment will decide the end of the fight. However, she felt bad about killing such an incredible creature. but than a voice called out to her. "I can sence that you don't want to kill him, that is all the proof I need to know you are worthy. So I shall give you another way out. If you accept, shoot your arrow at the ground." her last arrow gave off a green light.
Amaris wasn't stupid, she knew this could be a trick to waste her last arrow. She considered her options. She knew she didn't have the heart to kill it. So... she shot her last arrow at the ground...
The ground where the arrow was shot started to glow. than, a small plant started to grow. It kept growing bigger and bigger. until there stood a great cherry blossom tree. And the air became fine. Amaris and the deer both looked amazed at this sight. "I see you have blessed with the respect of the great spirit Leto." An old elf wearing a long, green cloak walked up to them, and casted a healing spell on the deer's leg.
"Who are you?" Amaris asked.
"I am the archdruid of this forest, Faunus, and you have the blessing of one of the most powerful spirits in the kingdom. If you don't believe me, just look around you." The old man replied.
Amaris looked aroud. and she saw a forest full of spirits, most people shouldn't be able to see.
"If Leto believes in you making a great druid, than so do I, If you want to learn the arts of Druidic, I can teach you."
Amaris was visibley overwhelmed, so much was going through her head. she couldn't talk. Faunus gave her some time. until Gale showed up, and Amaris was reminded about what Luctus told her about being back by dinner.
"Amaris!" Gale called out to her.
Amaris finishes thinking.
"Gale, my father trusts you with his life, Tell him that I'll be fine, and to do the next few jobs without me."
Amaris told gale what happend. Gale can sence souls, he never told Amaris how, but he trusts Faunus because of it.
"I'll come up with something to tell Luctus, next time we meet, you will be a great druid, goodbye."
And so, a new chapter opened in Amaris' life.