A month later...
Phoenix P.o.v
She and her friends,Sky,Fenir,and Forest were exploring the northern forest from their town for a biology project for school,they all had green thumbs and thought forest seemed almost magical. She took lots of pictures. Then she heard a noise behind her. Then odd purple plants that looked like giant Venus fly traps surrounded them. They screamed. But then several arrows flew through the air out of nowhere and turned them into rosy pink,harmless plants. Then a women hopped down. A girl actually,she looked 16,she had black hair like her,although it was straight and hers was curly,and evergreen eyes with slightly tanned skin. She was wearing a black hood and kind of midevil style clothing.
"Thank you for saving us!"Sky said. The stranger just looked at them with sad eyes,as if she had recently lost someone dear to her and said,"No problem,you should really leave,it's not safe here"
Then she left.
"Are we going to follow her?"Fenir asked.
"Yeah"She responded. So they all snuck through the bushes as quietly as they could. Then the girl stopped on a branch and looked around as if she were on to them but kept going. Then she got to a tree house and stopped. She took off her hood and set down her bow and quiver and went inside. Then Sky stepped on a stick by accident. Then the girls head whipped towards their direction. She scowled.
"I told you to leave!You risk your lives by coming here!"She shouted sternly.
"We were just-" She started but then they heard a hiss. Their were three jackolopes ensnared by thorns,their eyes were glowing an eerie onyx black. Then the girl took out a vile with a pink substance inside,she opened it up and poured it on the creatures. The thorns receded and the jackolopes eyes shifted to a more normal color. The animals hugged her affectionately and she smiled a little.
"What was that?" Forest asked in shock. The girl sighed.
"A purification potion,there is an evil corrupting the forest,many plants and animals are dying,and those that aren't are becoming hostile. The arrows I shot at the plants that nearly killed you were dipped in the same thing" She explained. Phoenix's head was spinning. This forest was magical after all!
"We can help!We love the forest,if you showed us how to make the potion we could spread it around the forest and accomplish a lot more together then you could by yourself!"Phoenix offered. The girl looked sincerely shocked.
"You...Barely know me,and you do that for my home,for this forest?" She asked.
"Of course!"Sky said enthusiastically. The girl looked grateful but still quite shocked.
"Whats wrong?" She asked.
"It's just...I've seen the worst of people for such a long time,I suppose I forgot they could also be truly kind at times" She said then she paused "What are your names?"
"Oh,I'm Phoenix,this is Fenir,Forest and Sky,we were in the forest for a school project.What's your name?" She added.
"It's Briar" She responded. She showed them inside,around her door there were lots of strange flowers.
"Hey guys look at this weird plant"Forest said and he made a funny face at the flower and it copied it.
"Careful,some plants can steal your life,others,can steal your soul" Briar said stoically. Forest carefully backed away from the plant muttering apologies. She giggled. Then they entered Briar's home,it was very nice for a tree house,glowing crystals for light and wood carved furniture and it was all decorated nicely by forest finds like pine cones,leaves and holly. Then she went upstairs and the squad followed behind her. Then upstairs there was a huge cauldron made on stone and had a crystal embroided on it and there were many viles,some filled,some empty on the shelves and ingredients and herbs hanging from the ceiling. Then she saw a door leading somewhere.
Briar,reading the look on her face said,"Don't open that door unless I tell you it's alright".
"Okay..."She said,she figure it out later.
"Now,get ready to be taught magic and potions,because it's not gonna be easy"She said. They all nodded.
"Alright then,let's get started"