The Druids' Mire Crossing (Prologue: Into the Jungle)

[Black Clay Lord]

This is the prologue for my newest Multipart Project: The Druids' Mire Crossing.

This features FimbulwinterFrosts' OC Marais Marecage.

Now why am I revisiting that mire of his? Because it's fun to work with! That's why!

Nobody sinks in this chapter, but this is just the start of the story anyway, so don't worry.
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On a quiet night, when the Harvest Moon was high, Charybdis, and her fellow Drudic sisters Calder, Neried, Masika, and Muiel, set out on a quest. A quest that many had partaken once before: To scour the jungle of Farrona's Wood, and cross the mire that lies within its shifting ground. Instinct told them they were on the right track, but the problem is that Farrona's Wood wasn't on any of their maps. Something that seemed to annoy Calder big time indeed.

"Are we even sure this place even exists?" Calder asks. "It has to just be a myth!" She then said. "Codino confirmed the place was no myth." Charybdis answers. "If it were, she would not have brought that mud from the maiden's bog home." She adds. "Indeed, it's not like that she went into a desert and experienced a mirage." Neried says. "Not unlike the Petrified Forest Desert." Said Masika. "A sad reminder of how a big forest can be taken..." Muiel said.

"All right, enough of all that." Charybdis chimed in. "Let's just go to sleep now. We'll need the rest for the trial that is to come." She says. "If we even find the place..." Calder quips just before she & her sister enter their tents and proceed to go to sleep, slumbering through the quiet evening with only the chirps of nighttime birds, and hooting of owls to fill the air waves. All of these were sounds that were welcomed by all 5 1/2 Mermaids openly, as their smiles show.

The next morning, they were on their way once again, their camping equipment packed up, their campfire put out, and on they go, searching for Farrona's Wood. But before long, Calder stopped suddenly. "Sis?" Neried asked Calder. "Hey! Why'd you stop?!" Masika asked, annoyed. Calder looked up ahead to a sect of trees, and approached them without acknowledging Masika. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" Masika snapped, going after Calder.

Both of the Druidesses stopped however, once at the sect of trees. Calder examined the trees, identifying them to be jungle trees. But there was something else. Someone lived here. Calder looked upon a shrub. "If someone lives here, show yourself!" She says. "My, my~. You druids are a peculiar bunch, aren't you~?" A voice giggled. Then, the owner showed herself, grinning most playfully. Calder lowered her Scythe down, sensing no hostility from the figure.

"Who're you?" Masika asks. "My name is Marais Marecage." She says. "And I bid you welcome, darlings, to the jungle of Farrona's Wood~." "So this is Farrona's Wood..." Calder says in awe. "That's correct." Marais says. "Now, let me guess... Are you here to try your luck at crossing my bog?" She then asks. "We are indeed." Masika says. "See, we wish to learn how to make that thick peanut butter like mud that's found here ourselves." Masika says to Marais.

"Mm hmm, I see." Said Marais. But then, Charybdis, Neried, and Muiel caught up to Calder & Masika. "Hey, you two!" Charybdis says to them, making them face their older sister. "Don't just run up ahead! We won't find the wood if you wander off like that!" Calder points to the jungle soon after. "This is it actually." She quips. "Wait, you found it already?" Muiel asks, a brow raised. "Pretty much." Masika says, before gesturing over to Marais soon afterward.

"This is Marais Marecage. She's the maiden here." She said. "Ah, do pardon me, but..." Marais says. "But perhaps I can get to know who the five of you are?" She then asks. "Of course. My name's Charybdis Socrates." Said Charybdis. "I'm a Druidess who uses dark magic." She adds. "I'm Calder Socrates." Said Calder. "I'm what you call a Balance Druidess. Because I believe in the harmony of nature." She adds. "I'm Neried Socrates." Said Neried.

"I heal my allies with the tranquility of the land. For I'm a Restortation Druidess." Marais smiles. "I believe I will seek your help if I need some help healing the land here." She giggles, before look at Masika. "Masika Socrates." Said Masika. "I'm a Feral Druidess, meaning I specialize in fighting enemies as a big cat." She adds. "And I'm Muiel Socrates." Said Muiel. "I'm a Guardian Druidess. My job is to protect allies with the toughness of bears."

"A pleasure to meet you all." Marais says. "Now, I assume you all have the same exact wish then?" She asks. All 5 1/2 Mermaids confirm they did. Marais smirks. "In that case, find me at my bog, and we will discuss to do from there. Don't disappoint me before you show up~." She says, before disappearing into the jungle. Calder blinks. "Did anyone else sees the antlers on her head?" She asks. "I thought they were branches." Muiel chimes in.

"Let's ask when we see her again." Charybdis says. The other 4 druidesses nodded, and they followed Charybdis into the jungle itself. As they walked through however, the jungle seemed to shift here & there. However, the shifting landscape did not deter anyone of the druidesses even for a moment. They fought the jungle itself, determined not to lose their way. And sure enough, their determination pulled them through their trek safely in the end.

Before long, the quintet of sisters soon encountered Marais once again. "Hello, again~." She giggles. "We meet once more." Charybdis says. "We do indeed." Marais replies, before stepping up to her bog. All 5 1/2 Mermaids look upon it. "You know... You remind me of a girl who came here once..." Marais says. "I believe her name was... Codino?" She asks. "You mean our sister?" Masika asks. "Oh, she's your sister?" Marais asks, smirking most playfully indeed.

"Well, that explains why you all feel so familiar." She giggled. "That's one mystery solved." Charybdis steps up to Marais. "Well, we found your bog, so will you grant our wish?" She asks. "Not so fast." Marais says. "It is not enough to simply find my bog, you must also cross my bog to get your wish." She adds. Charybdis face palmed. "Dang it! Codino did mention that!" She exclaimed. Marais giggled. "Fret not, it happens." She goes onto say.

"Oh, but dear me..." She then says. "5 of you with the same wish... Hmm..." Calder looks at Marais. "It's too much, isn't it?" She asks. Marais shakes her head. "No, for I've got an idea of how we can make this work." She said. "At least 4 out of the 5 of you must cross my bog to receive your wish." She said. "Huh, that's actually pretty fair." Neried says. "Indeed it is." Marais said. "But that means if two of you fail, you won't be receiving anything." She warns.

"What happens to the failures?" Masika asks. "I leave them trapped in deep muddy stasis until I see fit to release them." Marais answers. "Nobody dies here." She adds. "That's a relief... I think...?" Masika says. "I'll let you decide on who gets to go first. Talk to me when you're ready." Marais says, turning away. "Oh, wait. I want to ask something." Neried said. Marais looks back at Neried. "Are you a Dryad or something?" Neried asks. Marais chuckled.

"Half-Dryad actually." She reveals. "Huh, that's interesting." Neried says, smiling before Marais walks away some. Charybdis meanwhile, finds 5 equally long sticks, and starts to cut notches into them. Namely, one stick has 1 notch, another gets 2, then 3, 4, and finally 5. Charybdis scoops them up. "All right, sisters." Charybdis says. "I've cut notches into this sticks. Whoever gets the stick with one notch goes first." She then says before clenching a fist.

"The other positions are determined by the number of notches on the sticks." Charybdis holds her hand out. "Masika, you draw first." She said. Masika reached for a stick, and drew without hesitation. She saw one notch. "Hey... I drew one notch! That means I go first! I go first! WHOO HOO!!!" She exclaimed, jumping with joy. "All right, next." Charybdis says. Muiel drew next, and saw three notches. "I'm in the 3rd position." Said Muiel, smirking.

"Next." Charybdis says. Neried drew next, and discovers two notches on her stick. "Two notches. I go second." She said. "Next." Charybdis says. Calder drew at this point, finding 4 notches. "I got 4th." Calder quips. "So that settles it then." Charybdis says, opening her hand & showing the last stick. "I'm going last." She then adds. "Have you all decided?" Marais asks. "We have." Charybdis answers as she & her sisters form a nice orderly queue right away.

Marais notes the order: Masika will cross first. Neried will cross 2nd. Muiel will cross 3rd. Calder will cross 4th. And Charybdis will be last. The Maiden cannot help but smirk. Whether one person or not, she was going to enjoy this. "Now which of you will make it across my bog~? And which of you will become one with it~? Ooh, I can hardly wait to watch~." She says. Masika stepped up to the thick yellowish bog of quicksand between her & Marais.

5 druidesses, one big deep mire, and a desire to attain a magical wish. Will the 1/2 Mermaid Druidesses pull off getting at least 4 of them across and have their wish granted? Or will they fail & return home empty handed? The challenge of the Maiden of the Mire was only just beginning anew...

Charybdis, Calder, Neried, Masika, Muiel: Me

Marais Marecage: FimbulwinterFrost: