Imagine
The backyard is our stage. Sticks become magic wands, swords, spears, and even wizard staffs. Pinecones turn into projectiles, and flowers turn into potions. The ground becomes the stage and the sky becomes the limit. It is here where our story begins.
“We need to find some other way to get in, any ideas?” Arden turns, staff in hand, towards Raiann. “It looks like the front gate has been sealed by a dark and powerful spell. Far too powerful for me.”
~*~
“Uh,” Isa breaks character for a second. “I can’t think of anything.”
“Bruh,” I say, planting my palm into my face.
“Why can’t you just use your wizard powers,” she replies back in annoyance.
“I just said the gate was sealed- were you not paying attention?”
“Shut up,” Isa thinks for a moment. “Okay, okay. I got an idea.” She tightens her grip on the two short sticks she holds.
~*~
Raiann points towards the bottom of the twisted tower that radiates a menacing glow and reeks of... of
“Ew, what is that smell?” Arden raises a hand to cover his nose.
“See those loose rocks?” Raiann ignores him. “They look pretty suspicious, we should go look at those.”
“Yeah, good idea,” Arden nods and the two of them creep forward slowly so as to not disturb the sleeping dragon that resides in the tower. They eventually come across a few loose stones embedded in the wall. The wall is covered in a dark, spongy moss; and the stones appear to be inscribed with a foreign language.
“Well, this doesn’t make any sense,” Raiann steps forward to pull a stone out of the wall to inspect it closer; simultaneously stepping in something squishy and making the wall fall apart. “...Oh god. Found the source of the smell.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
~*~
The small pile of rocks that had been stacked up against the tree had scattered and rolled away, thanks to Isa pulling a rock from the bottom of the pile.
“....Well,” Isa stares down at the mess.
I stare blankly at the ground in disappointment. “Let's just… move on.”
Isa silently scraps dog shit off her shoe in the grass.
~*~
“Here, let me see.” Arden holds a hand out and Raiann carefully places the stone in his hands. “Oh yeah, this is the language HDAKSAJLAF.”
“What?”
“HDAKSAJLAF,” Arden repeats, shaking the stone slightly in Raianns face.
“Okay,” Raiann gives up on getting a solid answer. “Well? What does it say?”
Arden places the stone back into the wall and follows along the strange words with his finger. “Let’s see here, it says; HDSJAHF, FHH GHDKSAGLA JGHAK SGJHKGAHGL DAFGJ AFDJKL.”
“Okay, translate?? Because how am I supposed to know what that means?” Raiann sheaths her two short knives and crosses her arms.
“Beware, a great terrible dragon resides here.” Says Arden in monotone.
“Oh, well that’s not helpful at all.” Raiann glares at the wall.
Arden sighs, “Yeah.”
The two of them stood in silence for what felt like a century but in reality was five seconds. Arden had finally struck two brain cells together.
“Hey, wait a minute. What if I just levitated us up to the window up there?” Arden snaps his fingers with joy, proud of his brilliance.
“Another splendid idea, why didn’t you think of that earlier?” Raiann bows towards Arden sarcastically.
“I don’t know. Anyways, get over here.” Raiann walks over to stand besides Arden as he waves his magic wizard staff in the air and begins to chant in simlish. The two of them “levitate” (they climbed up the ladder to the tree house) to the ungaurded window and sneak into the castle. “Ah, finally! We made it!”
“Hallelujah,” Raiann does jazz hands. “Now be quiet, I sense the dragon is nearby.”
“Ooh shoot, yea,” Arden lowers his voice. “Now we must find the secret jewel and make our escape.”
~*~
The two of us silently creep up the steps of the treehouse, careful to not place their feet on any steps that would creak. We snatch up the magical rock that was painted in red and made our escape, cheering in victory before our parents called us in for dinner. All was well.
Years began to pass, and the times we spent our time imagining became a distant memory. Our lives became dull. We were more worried about our grades and fitting in with the rest of everyone. The world became smaller. But hope was not lost.
“Roll for initiative.”