World Between Chapter 8 part 2

“You said it was—” The tree branch Cain lifted allowed a different branch to smack him in the face. “‘A little foresty’”

“No, I said I was told was a ‘bit foresty’” Anna said, as she swirled her arm and blow a fierce wind through to lift the branches. “It’s not my fault that means a forest grows up this thing.”

“Okay, but why are there mushrooms?” Aaron replied.

“Because! There! Are! Okay?” Anna answered. “They told me it was safe, so I assume they’re safe. Deal with it.” Anna stomped through as she spoke.

“Wait… who told you what?” Arron asked as he walked through with the others.

“The Dwarves,” Anna replied. “Turns out they’re friendly if you’re not out to destroy their home.”

“Umm… doesn’t this Gem kind of… control their home?” Cain asked.

“Nope. They’re starting to think it’s the cause of some earthquakes, actually.” Anna said. “Breaking now would cause some delays they’d rather avoid, but they didn’t say how or why.”

“Wait so… What are these Gems doing then?” Aaron asked.

Anna shrugged. “Not holding people here. That they were sure of, but breaking them could push us out. We don’t want to be here, and others do.”

“They shouldn’t,” Aaron replied.

“Well, they do,” Anna responded. “Why else are they still here?”

“Trickery is one theory,” Jared answered reaching a plateau and pulling back the vines covering the cave beside him. “There’s a lot about this world we—”

“What?” Aaron asked walking up to Jared. “What is...it…”

“Well?” Anna walked up with Cain. “What so interesting?” Anna paused with her eyes wide. 

“Oh, hey.” Jill greeted. “Quest seems to be going well.”

 Anna stumbled into the mushroom-infested forest. Water rushing down the cave wall as various types of moss and trees grow all around the wide-open cave. Collapsing onto her knees as she looked around.

“What are you two doing here?” Aaron asked.

“Jill wanted to show me this place, and I can see why,” Jen replied.

“And honestly, we figured you’d show up around now,” Jill added. “Not many left to break.”

“How would you even keep track of that?... Wait did you know Sofia was watching the Dark Gem?” Arron questioned. 

“WHY would I have ever told you that, even if I did?” Jill asked.

“Well, no one else has any problem with these Gems breaking,” Arron replied.

“No, but I still have problems with you,” Jill replied. “And your need to force people back!”

“Do you have any idea the number of consequences emerging in our home since people left?” Aaron asked.
“Maybe your people should’ve thought about that before making them want to leave!” Jill said.

Jen walked over to Anna as Jill and Aaron argued. Anna kneeling on the grass looking over the forest again. “Doing okay?” Jen asked.

“We want to destroy this place.. All of it...” Anna said.

“But we don’t now,” Jen said. 

“But we did!” Anna replied.

“Well, Aaron has a point. So much of our population leaving did cause a lot of problems.” Jen answered.
“That’s no reason to think they wouldn’t have wanted to let alone a reason to think we should make them come back,” Anna said.

 “No? Because it was hard to process when I first heard about it,” Jen summarized. “I mean, my sister left without a word at the time.”

“And my… girlfriend,” Anna added.

“I hope you find her out—” Jen started.

“I did. We talked a while… it makes more sense now. I’m not sure, I would’ve come but it makes sense.” Anna interrupted.

“It’s never gonna be flawless,” Jen said. “Even Sofia thinks there’s a lot here that needs to change.”

“I wish we could’ve had this solid of a start.” Anna mutter lost in her memories.

 “We’re going up there to save people!” Aaron shouted.

“Whether they need it or not,” Jen replied.

“What one wants and what one needs is not the same,” Jared said.

“We’re not here to stop you, anyways,” Jen replied. “I’d rather enjoy this trip than try, and it’s a long way up here without flying.”

“Jen,” Jill glared, and then sigh. “Fine… they can stay if they want,” She pouted. “But I’m not happy about it.”