The next post is going to take me a bit.  I haven’t had a lot of time and won’t have much the next few days.  Just letting you know I haven’t forgot about this!

I propose testing at least one more tree as proof against illusion. Since an illusionist could have either duplicated preexisting trees or plant merely one; thereby fooling us with some reality. A good one would just need ten or so to make the forest look infinite. Though, in light that this is unrealistic, consulting locals and seeking their dwellings would doubtless work. (Great ideas proposed by both Agent Winter and HeroesOfOlympus.)

Perhaps the trees are already inhabitants, does anyone know Ent? It might be worth it to ask the forest for directions. Or my raven could fly over the tree tops and search in every conceivable direction. Thus solving the issue by processes of elimination. Though this would be rather tiring for just one familiar, maybe alongside Pines Dragon? Sybill's instincts could always help guide any aerial searches, if she doen't want to guide us by foot that is?

By the way, the recent installment was great. I particularly enjoyed the appearance of the Vassator as well as Mr Legions absence of tea. Though don't tell him about my enjoyment of the latter. Yet, it might be wise for him to do some research on a Vassator legal skills. Though the beast is probably too terrifying to appear in court; you never know suing might work.

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Okay, it looks like my schedule is calming down.  So I think I’ll have more time to write.

Section 4 (part 1), Group 2:

Pine turned on Joan.  “You said that was your handkerchief,” he said accusingly.

”It was!  You found it,” Joan protested.

”Blaze said this was the way to go,” Midnight pointed out.

”And you agreed with me,” Blaze said.

”Well, I don’t anymore,” Midnight retorted.

Win cut in.  “We all agreed.  Though we may not now,” she said, ending the beginning of an argument.

”Now let’s figure out what to do,” Sybill said.

The Questors thought for a minute.

”I could fly over the forest,” Pine offered.

”I’ll go with Pine,” Felix said.

”Midnight, Blaze and I can go with Pine and Felix,” said Luminescence.

”What if I don’t want to,” Midnight said indignantly.

Blaze nudged him.  “You wouldn’t want to be left on the ground, would you?”

Midnight galred at Blaze.  “Fine, fine.  I’ll go,” he said.  “And then if we see a lake we could scout underwater.”

Mahriel looked doubtful.  “Are you sure splitting up is a good idea?  In storys things always go wrong when groups seperate.”

”The point you make is quite true,” John F. Q said.

”What if we look for some sort of settlement or inhabitants of the forest?” Win suggested.

”That sounds good,” Heroes said.

”But I wanna fly on my dragon!” Pine whinned.

”That idea hasn’t been discarded yet,” Joan told him.  “We’re still discussing plans.”

”We’d have to decide which way to go,” said Pajama.

”I could use my intuition powers to dicide which direction to take,” Sybill said.  “And,” she added as an idea dawned on her, “I could try scrying to find the other Questors!”

John F. Q spoke.  “I propose testing more trees.  A being skilled in the arts of illusion would need but one tree to make it look as if there were a whole forest.”

”I wanna fly on my dragon,” Pine said again.

Joan had an idea.  “What if every few feet someone in the air shouted and the people on the ground shouted back?  That way each group can follow the other.”

”So I can fly —.”  Heroes silenced Pine with a glance.

”Let’s try it,” Mahriel said.  “We can test trees as we go.”

”And if anyone sees anything that looks odd say so right away,” Win added.

”Ahrg!”

The Questors turned around.  Sybill was kneeling over a small dish of water.

”They’re just gone!” she said in shock.

”Who’s gone,” asked Felix.

”The other Questors.  I was scrying on them to see where they are.”

”Where are they?” Blaze said.

“They were running through a forest and — and —,” Sybill struggled to find the word, “nothing covered them up!”

Everyone, including Sybill, looked very confused.  Though perhaps for different reasons.

”How can nothing cover them up?” Luminescence said, voicing the question they all had.

”It was just nothing,” Sybill said sounding frustrated.  “There’s no other way to explain it.”

The confusion didn’t lessen.

”Forget about it,” Sybill said.  “Let’s move on.”  She closed her eyes for a moment.  “We should go strait to the middle of the forest,” she said once she opened her eyes.

There was a pause.  Then Win shook her head, as if to dispell the confusion.

”Right,” Win said.  “Let’s go.”

to be continued...

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I wrote something, finally!  Sorry for the wait everyone.  I hope you enjoyed this.  Thank you for your patience.

Please let me know if you haven’t been mention in a post.  I don’t want anyone to be accidentally left out.