Heroes of the Grey Forest: Hiro & Olly, #2

By Kaye Wagner

The Grey Forest, a land of dreams and nightmares for those both daring and foolish in their chase for wealth and adventure. Those with such lofty and dubious motives find themselves at the Test for Legends. Those that pass that test, find themselves in the mysterious and deadly groves of the Grey Forest where hopes come to be dashed and death is a welcomed alternative to the constant fear of staying alive.

For the newly minted Legends Olly and Hiro, the charm of the quest quickly wears off as the dangers surrounding them mount in scale and wonder until they find themselves on the brink of death and discovery in the magical and cruel world of the Grey Forest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaye Wagner
• Release date: Oct 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519941787

Book preview

Heroes of the Grey Forest

By

Kaye Wagner

Text copyright © June 2014, Kaye Wagner

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All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission from the author.

Contents

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Grey

Chapter 2: Dual Entry

Chapter 3: First Encounter

Chapter 4: Prisoners

Chapter 5: Questing Party

Chapter 6: Last Rites

Chapter 7: Battlefield

Chapter 8: Night Terrors

Chapter 9: Dead Wake

Chapter 10: Chasing Life

Chapter 11: The Quest

Chapter 12: Endless Fight

Author notes

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Grey

Amazed yet?

The stalky instructor Zhizhi said with the edges of her bobbed hair bouncing in the wind as she stood in front of a downward slope of a hill leading towards a dense forest covered in a misty layer of fog. Dressed in wool winter clothes under the cloudy, but breaking skies of a warm noonday sun, instructor Zhizhi cracked a narrow smile as she looked towards the group of eleven exhausted faces in front of her, all of them standing anxiously with bated breath.

Well, hold your amazement... instructor Zhizhi let her smile wane. You are all Legends now—initiated in the ancient rite and part of a greater Union of individual skilled explorers of the land you see before you. she glanced over her shoulder at the dark and ominous forest at the foot of the hill. You will be Legends of the Grey Forest. She looked back at the nervous group of eleven, seeing their already beaten down state with their clothes in tatters and their blades dulled with the wear of recent battles on them. For many of you, she continued. This will be your first Questing Party down these dangerous paths—more so, you will be going there with limited resources, limited time, and under extreme pressure. Even so, you are to live by the creed of a Legend: To Quest, to Treasure, to Glory, I find. Many of you will not remember these words but they will save your life. They’re words to live by... instructor paused for a moment as she noticed two men to the far corner of the grassy field of new Legends, both of them stepping forward with an aggravated look in their eyes. Dressed in hunting camouflage and holding worn down rifles in their hands, one of them stepped forward with their bare face showing.

Impossible... Kal Bruinswick said. We just finished the test for Legends. How do you expect us to get into a quest without the proper equipment and strategy? We are here to find lost goods and capture beasts, right? How do you expect us to do any of that without the proper equipment or time to prepare? How can we be Legends without the opportunity to plan?

Instructor Zhizhi smiled at the question before she looked at the other faces standing in hesitation in the foggy grassy field in front of a broken mountain a distance behind the group. As she looked at the nervous faces in front of her, two faces appeared more determined than the other newly recruited Legends, younger and fuller than the rest as they stared back down towards the instructor with a sense of pure anticipation. Dual Entries... she spoke aloud to the alarm of the two young Legends standing at the center of the crowd.

Alarmed by the instructor’s words, the boy with the wild raven black hair pressed his open palm against his grey tank top as the beat of his heart increased at the mention of the words.

Hiro, a young girl’s rough voice called out to the boy from his side. Glancing over, Hiro saw the soft features of Olly wearing her silk headdress over her hair while dressed in dark jeans with a sweater on as a slim bag rested on her back.

Big Sis... Hiro replied as he looked at their surroundings with an awkward gaze. How did we get so far from the city? Weren’t we under it for the test?

Enough with the ‘Big Sis’ already, Olly scoffed in embarrassment. Let’s just stick with Olly... And you’re right. The Grey Forest must be a hundred or so miles from the city. It doesn’t make sense how we got here after the test. She said agitated while staring down the instructor’s focused eyes. Breaking her train of thought, Olly focused on the glare of the instructor. You have a problem with us?

Not at all. Instructor Zhizhi smiled. I find it admirable actually that you two would risk it all as a duo rather than as an individual. And to come to this realization at such a young age, I’m impressed... Quite romantic indeed. she said looking at their young faces. Fifteen and thirteen, perhaps the youngest Legends I’ve seen ever join this organization. I commend you on your focus and vision... However, experience is key to a Legend.

Olly dismissively shook her head. Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ve heard the same story before from my elders. Take it slow, they say. And you know what that kind of thinking brought them? Poverty and hunger... How about we just cut to the chase here, we all became Legends for better lives, not your lofty goals or history. Olly looked around at the other Legends surrounding her, seeing Baines in his desert robes nod in agreement while Kal, a Bruinswick twin, stood steadfastly in agreement. Looking to her left side she saw Carin dressed in his black leather pants and hoody, standing stoically beside a couple of martial artists dressed in blood red robes. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the familiar face of Kanton dressed in his tattered grey tracksuit with a nervous, but restrained expression wearing on his face. Beside him was perhaps the person she knew more about than the others besides Hiro. It was Dasha, standing with her arms crossed as her bow rested over her shoulder beside her quiver. Last, but not least, Olly turned and looked to the far left corner of the grassy field to see Spavogel, the crimson haired menace who she fought and competed against in the darkness of the Dungeon she escaped to become a Legend. Looking at all their faces reassured Olly of what was the main goal of not only her, but also everyone else here.

Now, Olly continued, her domineering attitude shining as bright as ever. How about you just get down to the facts of the situation. We just passed the test, now you want us to quest for the Union, right? What for and how do we deliver?

Instructor Zhizhi looked on with a genuine expression of surprise wearing on her face before she began to laugh to herself.

Hahaha... she snickered in a haughty voice opposite of her composed demeanor. You’re a funny girl, very perceptive of my true intentions and none too shy to address them. No doubt this is the reason you survived the test in the Last Dungeon. Perceptiveness, a valuable skill every Legend needs. Instructor Zhizhi nodded before shooting a piercing stare at Olly. And you’re correct in your perception. She continued. You are here on duty for the Union. All Legends after they’ve completed the test must be on call for the Union for their first job before they are to be bestowed the privileges of being a Legend in the Union. Before you gain all the access, wealth, and notoriety gained with being a Legend, you must capture your first prize and offer it to the Union. Only then will you be recognized as a Legend and giving full privileges.

Kanton, the man dressed in the tattered grey tracksuit, shook his head in confusion. Hey, I thought you said we were already Legends.

You are... To the Legends Union, instructor Zhizhi curved her narrow lips with a smile. But if you wish to be recognized by every Metropolis, city, town, farm and sector, you must have a Legend’s badge. To get that, you must go to your local Legends Union office. There, you offer a gift from the forest. Not anything outside of it, next to it, or near it—you must find a genuine treasure of the Grey Forest and offer it to them. Only then will you earn your privileges as a Legend recognized by all.

Baines stepped forward after her explanation. Genuine treasure? he said with his deep voice. Can you elaborate on that?

Certainly. Instructor Zhizhi replied swiftly. A genuine treasure is anything with value.

Kal Bruinswick shook his head in frustration. And how are we supposed to know that? We know less about this forest than the more prepared Legends—we don’t have the knowledge necessary to quest on these grounds. Just throwing us out there without the proper amount information is suicide. How do you expect us to survive out there?

By learning. Instructor Zhizhi replied. Every Legend learns there is no training course or any form of knowledge that will prepare you for what you are about to experience in this forest. Nothing you have learned up to this point will save you, everything that you start learning now will. Forget what’s fair and focus on what’s in front of you. she gave a stern look to the entire group. What you experienced during your test is but a grain of sand in a beach compared to the Grey Forest. Keep this in mind and you might keep your head on straight out there... her eyes shifted from side to side as she eyed the anxious demeanor of most of the new Legends. She smiled at the sight of their discomfort. Keep in mind, she continued. This is not a test anymore. Do you understand this?

The new Legends fidgeted in response, hesitant to give an answer beyond their head nods. Even Olly held herself back, already feeling the time for them to explore the great unknown in front of them was imminent. With this pressure of the moment weighing down on her, she nodded reluctantly, unable to think of another valid question for the now stoic instructor Zhizhi. Left in a silence filled with anticipation and doubt, the new Legends waited with bated breath for further instructions from Zhizhi. However, she did not offer this—she just stood there, staring past them for a while, letting her eyes linger beyond their shoulders. Curious, Olly looked over her own, seeing nothing behind her save for the building fog clouding the broken Mountain they had all escaped.

What’s going on? Olly muttered under her breath before looking back at the still idle instructor Zhizhi. As the seconds passed, Zhizhi eventually smiled, calming the anxious nerves of the new Legends.

Remember your task... Zhizhi reiterated. Find something of value. She glanced at Kal Bruinswick. This can be anything: a gem, an animal, a plant, ancient artifacts, old technology, wild fruits, rare stone, or mythical beast, She said letting those last words linger in the air. Anything, she continued. Anything a Legend would place high value on is adequate... Let me say that again, make sure it’s something a Legend would place a high value on. Meaning, if you come back with something you think is valuable, but is not valuable to the Union, you will not receive your badge privileges, you will be sent back into the forest to search again. Do you understand this? she glanced over the group of new Legends. They all nodded in response. With these wordless answers, instructor Zhizhi raised her hands in the air before she clapped quickly while wearing a joyful smile on her face. Then let’s start. Run. She said to the nervous silence of the group of Legends.

Olly, unsure of the orders the instructor was giving, looked over her shoulder towards the backside of the grassy hill they were positioned on. There, she saw a fog building behind them, filling out the empty space. Alarmed by the sight, Olly slowly stepped forward, turning to Hiro as she did. Let’s go. She said to him before looking back at the hesitant Dasha and Kanton. You heard her, are you coming? she asked as she looked past them, noticing the building fog enveloping the once wide-open grassy field. Or do you want to get lost in that? she nodded towards the fog behind them. Kanton and Dasha took a quick glance over their shoulders to see this fog.

What the— Kanton hopped away as he tailed Olly and Hiro. What is that?

Dasha shook her head in worry as she moved beside Kanton. The fog, it’s moving, changing positions from the front side of the forest to the top of the hill.

Yes, Olly nodded as she looked over to the other Legends moving away from the approaching fog, all of them looking over their shoulder towards it. Now it’s pushing us.

Where? Dasha asked.

Where else? Olly replied as her and the rest of the Legends found themselves standing at the edge of the hill. There’s only down towards the forest to go to now. She said looking at the vast and wild forestry at the foot of the hill. Olly and the rest of the Legends stopped in hesitation at the edge of the hill while looking down its slope leading to the Grey Forest. There they all looked anxiously at the thick base of the forest, uneasy with the darkness within its maze like interior. As Olly looked down with the rest of the group, she noticed the instructor was missing, vanishing from their line of sight like a ghost in the night.

Where did the instructor go? Olly said alarming everyone around her.

Hiro looked around after hearing her words. Yeah, he nodded. She was here at the edge of the hill, right?

Yeah... Dasha replied. She probably went down to the bottom side of the hill by the forest. Probably using those quick feet of hers.

Yeah. Olly agreed as she and the other Legends began to step down the hill. However, as everyone began their descent, a scream echoed out behind them as a wild roar of an unseen beast rang in their ears, alarming Olly and everyone else as they turned and looked back into the fog to hear howls of nearing wolves call out from the mist behind them until all the wolves busted out from their murky hiding spot, their fangs bared and ready for attack. Surprised and terrified at the sight, Olly echoed the parting words of the instructor. Run! Olly shouted out as wolves emerged from the fog behind her, leaping towards the group of Legends standing idle at the top of the hill. Alarmed by the sight, Olly quickly reached for the side arm pistol on her belt, but as she did, one giant black wolf leaped in her direction, its fangs bared as it jolted towards her. Gritting her teeth, Olly pulled out her gun from her holster. Raising it up just as the wild wolf inched closer to her, Olly aimed with one hand, unable to grip the gun fully as she pointed towards the raging wolf. Trembling at the sight of the large animal, Olly pulled the trigger, blowing out half of the face of the animal as the recoil from her shot pushed her backwards, tilting her already off balance body over the edge of the hill. Just as she was about to fall down, the still flying body of the large wolf smacked against her chest, forcing her down the hill, rolling her over its grassy surface as the blood from the near decapitated beast flung around her.

Olly! Hiro shouted out at the top of the hill, watching Olly roll her way down with the lifeless body of a wolf tumbling with her. As he stood there distracted by Olly’s fall, yells from his side caught his attention as one of the men dressed in martial arts robes screamed in pain as a wolf bit his arm just as he fell down the hill while his blonde haired friend in similar robes chased him down trying to fight off animal.

Hiro! a rough female voice shouted beside Hiro as someone grabbed his head, lowering it down while the both of them leaped forward and down the hill, rolling across its grassy surface as the battle cries of the Legends echoed out beside them both. Gunshots firing, the sound of piercing blades against flesh, and the battle cries of warriors made the chorus to the sudden attack against the group. Hiro, listening to this song of battle, finally looked at the face of the person holding on to him as they bounced across the grassy surface. There he saw Dasha gritting her teeth as her eyes looked to their side towards a call of help above them.

Help! Kanton shouted as he rolled down the hill in a ball as two wolves followed him, ready to pounce on his warm body. Hiro saw Dasha sharpen her eyes at the sight before she released Hiro, pulling out the last arrow in her quiver and placing it onto her bow as she bent on two knees, sliding down the last few feet of the hill on them while she aimed at the two wolves attacking Kanton. Bouncing onto the flat surface, Hiro watched as Dasha took steady aim just as the two wolves lined up with each other, one beside the other. Seeing this, Dasha’s eyes lit up as she released her arrow, letting it zip across the hill towards the beast, splitting the first wolf’s head open, piercing straight through it until it stuck on the head of the second wolf behind it. Both wolves instantly went limp as they rolled down the hill.

Hiro smiled at the sight, amazed by the skill of Dasha. However, as he marveled at her skill, he noticed a wolf swooping down the hill, moving in a curve right outside