New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.
Sounds of the battle echo across the Pond.
You have fought and protected and defended valiantly.
When the darkness slowly begins to retreat further away from the Pond, you feel like victory is finally within your grasp. Cheers go all around you as the darkness retreats further, slinking away from the light of the Pond.
You’ve won.
You’ve finally won.
You can finally rest.
New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.
As Amina nears the Pond, the quills on her back begin to tingle – she’s acutely attuned to the Pond’s magic, and yet, it doesn’t feel like it always does.
Rather, the Pond’s magic feels discordant, tumultuous, cacophonic. After Bao found her leagues away from the Pond, the pair have spent the last week journeying back. Bao has been a steadfast companion – patient with Amina (fast travel was never her strong suit) but also an infallible compass through the ruins of the now-unfamiliar forest. The forest is now bare, ruined from wicked and mean-spirited magic, and Amina’s heart aches at the sight.
New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.
Sounds of the battle echo across the Pond.
Xiaolong and her team are keeping the shadows at bay and so far, they have successfully held steady their positions. But as the fight stretches into the dying light, the shadow’s power intensifies – so do the number of those injured.
Gen had prepared plenty of healing potions before the fight began, but he never anticipated that he would need even more. Gen works his fastest, but herbalism and alchemy are exact arts that require time, care, and patience. And as the injured and weary trickle into the Pond to seek rest from the battle, he fears that his best is not enough.
New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.
The battle for the Pond rages on. But as the fight stretches into day and night, so does the destruction and chaos.
From what Cuddle the Otter can overhear from the cooking fires, the fight has been steady and the Pond friends are slowly getting the upper hand. While Cuddle is relieved that the fight is going well, she cannot help but worry.
Tasked with caring for the forest sprites, feeding them and making sure that they have everything that they need to feel safe and comfortable, Cuddle knows better than anyone the impact the fighting has had on those who had no choice but to escape. Because the forest, the sprites say with their sad bell-like language, is being destroyed. Intent on possessing the Pond’s power, the darkness has consumed and devoured other sites of magic to fuel its relentless assault on the Pond.
New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.
The magical boundary shatters.
Darkness spills into the Pond like opaque smoke. Shadowy fingers, like in Gen’s garden, reach forth and drain the greenery and life from the Pond’s flora. Drained, the plants wilt and slump, their energies stolen. A chill blankets over you too, and the courage you held onto gives way to despair and hopelessness. Is this the darkness’s doing? How can there be hope now…? What hope do you have against such power?
“Friends!” calls Xiaolong, as the darkness looms closer. With a stamp of her wooden staff, you feel warmth and hope swell in your chest, your mind clearing. “Believe in your friends, because they will protect you! Believe in yourself, because you are strong!”
Corporeal shadows emerge from the darkness. They have no face, no expression, but they have legs that carry them closer and hands that wield weapons as deep as the moonless night.
