#I just wanted to write a clear view on magna's experience in the forest

[flamexbound]

Crisped and blackened bodies of dead man-eating goblins and their giant dogs littered the forest floor, lying in heaps from where the explosion from the firestorm spell had thrown them. Their bodies hung in the branches of trees, spines broken over exposed roots, furry bodies of dead squirrels who'd been unfortunate collateral damage were steaming slightly under a light covering of snow. A black fox picked through the cooked meat as if disbelieving its nose. With a ruffle of wings and a drizzle of snow from the tree canopy, a carrion crow jostled for space on an already crowded branch, pecking and cawing at each other for whichever meatiest bits appealed to their hunger. Their harsh calls sounded over the forest.

Then one of the bodies coughed and groaned. For an instant the forest fell silent, then an explosion of wings and panicked caws brought more shaken snow down to the forest floor and onto Magna's wild redhead. Coughing up burned bits and the leftover smoke from her spell, Magna clawed her way out of the snow pile and gasped for air, blue eyes wild, face streaked with soot. The snow burned the blackened flesh on her hands like vinegar. Her red hair was singed down to the roots, filling her nose with the reek of roasted hair. Every part of her body stung and felt heavy with exhaustion. Her chest creaked and cracked as she reached around to try and feel around for any injuries. Magna winced but concluded that she wasn't bleeding too heavily…simply covered in cuts and scratches. It was a sight better then an arrow to the knee.

The spell had been a success, but at what cost?

During the night, the goblins had surrounded her meager little camp in a swarm of knives, axes, teeth, and astride giant dogs tattooed in blue ink and armored with leather hide. Magna had chased her mount, Brood, away from the small army with a well-placed slap on his rear and when the horse made its escape, she summoned enough fire to blow the entire area into cinders, blasting the army of goblins sky-high.

Magna shook her head to silence the ringing in her ears. When that failed, she smacked her ear until it died down to a dull hum, then shoveled up a fistful of snow and stuffed it into her mouth, moaning in relief as the snow melted in her mouth and wetted her dry tongue. "Curse this damned forest! Had I known I would encounter this amount of resistance I would have stayed home!" Scooping up another fresh clump of snow, Magna wiped the char from around her eyes. It was only her hands that had been truly burned. Her face and body were just coated with ash and whatever it was that goblins gave off when they caught fire. Black water ran down her face like an old whore's smudged make-up, Magna looked over the forest where she now found herself and clicked her tongue. Almost as if appearing out of thin air, Brood whickered and trotted over, the skeleton horse with its mane and tail of red fire trailed behind it like mist in the eve. "Shhh," Magna soothed, stroking his snout.

"We're almost there."

With a hiss of pain, Magna inelegantly dragged herself onto Brood's back, clinging on tightly to the reins. Magna was sore, her hair singed, and her hands burned from unleashing her most powerful spell, but she'd made it this far and was determined to see it through…no matter the cost. With another click of her tongue, Magna guided her mount over the broken, burnt bodies of her foes and proceeded on the poorly constructed road…the tower looming up ahead.

@deaddoveadventures