(Sky Jungle) 

--

My party leader shouted to make a leap for a floating island below us or we'd die. 

During our escape from the Inquest mechanist prison, our group managed to save a goblin engineer who helped us commandeer an Inquest dirigible to escape on. Our luck seemed to be too good to be true--understaffed guard posts, an airstrip left carelessly accessible, and an incredible airship ready for takeoff. We should have known it was a trap. 

The Inquest dirigible we had commandeered was rigged with a self-destruction device. They waited for us to get high above the clouds, and then ignited the bomb.

The last things I remember was the intense heat, the incredible amount of pressure that slammed into my back, the goblin shoving something into my arms and pushing me off of the side of the ship, and gravity and wind stinging my face as I fell from the exploding airship. 

"I didn't even get to say goodbye to grandpa", was the last thing I remembered before I blacked out.

--

When I awoke, other than the shining moon and stars above, I was alone.

I was surrounded by foliage unlike any I'd ever seen before. Great trees of all shades of green, blue and red towered above me like great colored skyscrapers, and the smaller trees seem to arch over me, as if providing me shelter. Even the smaller ferns were crowded all around me, as if they were protecting me. The E.S.P. (Emergency Supply Pack) the goblin shoved into my arms was nestled next to me. A light breeze was in the air, which smelled faintly of hibiscus and cinnamon. It reminded me of home.

While I remember wearing only my travelling robes, my arms and legs were bound in leaves, but I felt no danger. It was as if they were providing me strength, because I felt no pain as I awoke, even though I was just pushed from an exploding airship and fell a great distance to this place.

I sat up, and to my amazement, I watched one of the small ferns move a slight distance, just enough for me to notice, but more than enough to know that a plant should not move in that way. From under one of it's leaves a small stream of water started to flow. It ran next to me, and instinctively i cupped some between my hands to drink. It was the most pure water I'd never had, and I instantly felt as if I had a clearer mind and stronger body.

I stood, and the protective ferns moved for sure this time. All at once, it was as if all of the plants around me had come alive to welcome me. I watched in amazement as grass and greens shifted in front of me to create a very clear path. The wind breezed from behind me, and everything around me seemed to beckon to me, "Follow us". 

My instinct told me this must be the right thing to do. I did not feel as if I were in danger. Even though I knew I just survived an exploding aircraft and nearly fell to my death, and that Inquest agents were after us, I'd never felt more safe in my life. I retrieved my E.S.P., and I began to walk.

The path continued to form before me, and I was more sure than ever this place was enchanted. It was a short and easy walk that led me to a most beautiful sanctuary. 

An abundance of bushes with every sort of fruit and berry seemed to crowd in this place. The beauty of the flowers was staggering, as if they were arranged by the stars themselves. The birds seemed to sing in tandem, creating enchanting harmonies unlike I'd ever heard before. Even the grass was welcoming, softening my footsteps. I was simply in awe--I've visited the Queen of Chatrela Castle and enjoyed an extravagant dinner and dance there, but that seemed nothing more than a drunken bardance in a back alley compared to the natural beauty of this place.

There was one building that seemed to rise from the ground as if it has grown from the earth, ornately decorated with bright flowers and flowing water arranged to mimic precious jewels. Before I was close enough to open the earthen doors, they swung open before me. 

I was overjoyed to see the rest of my party there, and in good health! Our newest goblin ally jumped into my arms to hug me, then profusely apologized for pushing me off of a burning craft.

As I started to try to understand the improbability of our situation I started to wonder...

Did this forest....catch us from the sky?


~Feylan Ravenleaf, monk of Ko Valley