H – Happy

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part 7 – Grow: 

Adriana ventured into the Forbidden Forest to find the field of blue flowers where she had been left as a baby. She finds Springbounder ther, who explains that she needs to pick three flowers for her journey, but only the right ones. A blazing flash of light ignites the field, destroying all of the flowers, but not before Adriana grabs three of the closest flowers to her. Springbound runs away, as does Adriana. Questioning whether or not to continue this quest, she chooses to continue. 

————

Destiny – Part 8 (happy)

Rowan thought that he had accomplished his task. He was to find the girl when she arrived and then befriend her. With her trust won, he was to dissuade her from completing her task. He didn’t actually know what her task was or given any specific instructions as to how to convince her not to complete it. He decided that the first thing he would do was to find her and find out what she hoped to accomplish. 

It took him a while to find where she was headed, and once he saw her enter the path going up the mountain, he followed her. Rowan made his move as she reached the end of the path where the mountain became steep and would need expertise to climb. He approached her and said, “Interesting place for you to be. Do you climb these hills often?”

After conversing with her (see D – Dance), he helped her climb up to where she could find some shelter and possible directions. He hoped that she would begin to trust him, allowing him to use that trust at a later time to complete his assignment. 

Rowan was known under another alias in these parts and needed to make a hasty exit, as the villagers here might question why he was with her.  He did not want Adriana to know who he worked for.  He did, however, stay close enough to follow her again. 

The next day, as she wended her way through the paths, it became apparent that Adriana was heading towards Queen Isolara’s palace. He witnessed her meeting the queen, and as they entered the palace, Rowan made his way to the one guard he had used before. With a quick exchange of money and promises, the guard would secure a place to overhear the queen’s conversation with Adriana and report back to Rowan. 

Rowan now knew who she was, at least as much as anyone else, and where she would go. He planned to continue following her, but when she stopped and looked around, Rowan stood still and remained hidden.  When he appeared, he planned to explain to her that the Forbidden Forest was named as such because anyone who entered it never came out, the same, causing all the kingdoms that surrounded the forest to ban anyone from entering it, and that she should give up her quest. It never dawned on Rowan that there was no reasonable explanation for why he was there.  It certainly would not have engendered her trust in him. 

Regardless of his plan, he never had a chance to attempt it. As she arrived at the edge of a field of flowers, he noticed a chimera waiting there. They appeared to know each other. This was an unexpected development.

Adriana seemed to be doing all the talking, as no sound was coming from the chimera, yet the chimera was communicating with her somehow. Rowan debated whether or not to go forward and talk to both of them. He could be very persuasive at times. He hoped to convince them both not to complete her quest. It sounded like a good plan. 

But that was not to be. Before Rowan could step forward, there was a blazing flash of light, and the field of blue flowers burst into flame. The flames were too great and hot to pass and allow Rowan to do anything. When the fire died down, all the flowers were gone, as were the chimera and Adriana. 

Rowan was not happy. His plan had been disrupted.

To be continued in I – Idea