Page 5 of Surrendered to Mate
"Fuck me," I mutter, ducking under a low-hanging branch that tries to grab at my hair. "What kind of place is this?"
The pull grows stronger with each wingbeat, urging me forward. I weave through the increasingly bizarre landscape, my senses on high alert. The air itself feels charged, crackling with an energy that makes my skin tingle.
Suddenly, I spot it. An ancient tree, more massive than any I've seen before, stands in a small clearing. Its gnarled trunktwists and writhes, the bark seeming to shift and move like living skin. It's grotesque and beautiful all at once.
I land softly, approaching the tree with caution. The magical resonance is strongest here, emanating from the very core of this ancient giant. As I circle the trunk, I notice something odd – a small opening at its base, barely visible amidst the writhing bark.
"Well, isn't that interesting," I say, crouching down to examine the opening. It's just large enough for a person to crawl through, though the thought of entering such a confined space makes my wings twitch uncomfortably.
The pull is unmistakable now, drawing me towards this hidden entrance like a moth to flame. Every instinct screams that this is dangerous, potentially deadly. But after centuries of monotony, the thrill of the unknown is too tempting to resist.
I hesitate, my hand hovering inches from the tree's twisted bark. The magic pulsing from within is unlike anything I've encountered before - ancient, primal, and undeniably powerful. Every instinct screams at me to turn back, to report this anomaly to the Council. But that persistent pull, that maddening curiosity, urges me forward.
"Fuck it," I mutter, steeling myself. I've come too far to back down now.
I close my eyes, focusing my vrakken senses to probe for any immediate threats or traps. The magic swirls around me, complex and layered, but I detect no malevolent intent. At least, nothing overtly hostile.
Taking a deep breath, I step closer to the opening at the base of the tree. It's barely large enough for me to squeeze through, and the thought of being trapped inside makes my wings twitch uncomfortably.
As I reach out to touch the bark, the tree suddenly comes alive. The gnarled wood writhes and twists, forming a grotesqueface right before my eyes. Its features are alien, more plant than animal, with hollowed eyes and a gaping maw.
"Holy shit," I breathe, stumbling back a step.
The face's mouth opens, and a sound unlike anything I've ever heard emerges. It's a language, that much I can tell, but one so ancient and otherworldly that it defies comprehension. The words seem to bypass my ears entirely, resonating directly within my mind.
It's a test, I realize quickly. And as the magic swells in me, clearly liking what it has found, I decide to dive in. Let it test me.
The ancient words flow from my lips, a language I've never spoken yet somehow understand. It's as if some dormant part of my mind has awakened, tapping into knowledge buried deep within my vrakken blood.
The tree's grotesque face contorts, its wooden features twisting into what I can only interpret as surprise. Then, with a groan that reverberates through the forest, the bark begins to peel back. It's a mesmerizing and slightly nauseating sight, like watching flesh separate from bone.
"Well, fuck me sideways," I mutter, watching as a small chamber is revealed within the trunk.
Cautiously, I step forward, my eyes adjusting to the dim interior. The chamber is cramped, barely large enough for me to stand upright. Roots snake along the walls, pulsing with an eerie, bioluminescent glow. But it's what lies at the center that truly catches my attention.
Nestled among gnarled roots and what appear to be fossilized insects is a tablet fragment. It's unlike any artifact I've ever seen, its surface covered in unfamiliar symbols that seem to dance and shift before my eyes. As I reach out to touch it, I can feel the magic emanating from the fragment, a subtle but unmistakable pulse of energy.
"What the fuck are you?" I whisper, carefully evaluating the tablet without touching it.
I don't see anything blocking it, don't feel any wards or spells. It seems to be waiting for me, the symbols glowing faintly like it's trying to encourage me to take. I can sense there's more to this artifact than meets the eye, some hidden power or knowledge just beyond my grasp.
As I examine the tablet, my mind races. This wasn't part of my mission, but it could be invaluable. The Council would be intensely interested in this discovery. But something holds me back from immediately planning my return. There's more to uncover here, I can feel it.
I reach out and grasp the tablet, feeling its weight in my palm. The moment my skin makes contact, a jolt of energy surges through me. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before - raw, primal power coursing through my veins.
"Fuck," I gasp, nearly dropping the artifact.
The symbols on the tablet's surface begin to glow brighter, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. I can feel... something... at the edge of my consciousness. A presence, vast and ancient, brushing against my mind.
The chamber around me starts to vibrate, the roots along the walls writhing with increased intensity. I clutch the tablet to my chest, realizing I need to get out of here fast.
As I turn to leave, the tree's inner walls begin to close in. I dive through the opening, tucking and rolling as I hit the forest floor. Behind me, I hear the groan of wood as the tree seals itself once more.
Breathing heavily, I examine the tablet in my hands. The symbols have stopped glowing, but I can still feel the power emanating from it. This isn't just some ancient relic - it's a key to something far greater.
"What the fuck have I stumbled into?" I mutter, running a hand through my hair.
The forest around me seems different now, charged with an energy I hadn't noticed before. Or perhaps it's me who's changed. I can feel the magic of this place more acutely, like a web of power connecting everything.