“I told you that if you wanted to get through me, you’d have to prove yourself a Pandava,” murmured the forest that was not a forest but a palace. “Arjuna was the greatest hero who ever lived.”
Aru thought that was a rather sweeping statement to make.The greatest?Really?
In front of her, a bow and arrow appeared on the ground.
Oh no.
She didn’t even know how to use a bow. Did you string it? Notch it? Aru cursed.
She should have paid more attention when she was watching Lord of the Rings last week. Maybe if she’d looked at how Legolas used a bow instead of, you know, just looking at Legolas, she would’ve been a little bit more prepared.
“Are you truly a Pandava brother, or are you just a liar?”
“What do you want me to do with this?” Aru said, gesturing at the bow.
“Simple, little pinch of mortality: If you aim true, you’ll escape this illusion. If you don’t, well, you’ll die. Don’t worry, we can make this whole ordeal go much more quickly. Watch.”
As he spoke, the fireflies began to grow brighter. Heat filled the air. Aru’s eyes widened.
The fireflies were made of actual fire.
…And Then Came the Horde of Godzilla-Size Fireflies
Silence settled over the forest.
“Mini!” screamed Aru.
Was this illusion different from the others? Was it a physical thing, or something living in her mind? Aru squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them quickly. Nothing. She thought the illusion would be like a creepy glitchy thing, as if one moment she’d see the illusion and the other moment she’d see the reality.
“Mini?” Aru called again.
On the ground, the bow and arrow taunted her.
“Hey, palace!” she called. “If you let me out, I’ll wash your windows!”
Still no reply.
“Fine, roll around in filth for all I care!”
Something burned her toe. “OW!”
It was one of the fireflies.
At first, the fireflies had simply floated through the darkness, heating the air. But then they’d begun tolandon the boulders and the branches of the giant forest. Now it looked like a golden net had been stretched over the forest, but it was eerilystill.
The smell of something charred hit her. A burnt circle appeared right next to her toe.
“Oh no,” said Aru softly.
Whatever the fireflies touched, they kindled.
At her back, she heard crackling, the sound of brush catching fire. Smoke plumed into the air. The fireflies reflected off the shiny forest leaves, looking like possessed Christmas lights.
Aru swiped the bow and arrow from the ground and took off running.
The fireflies followed close behind. A flame nearly scorched her ear.
Aru dove behind a rock and peeked out. The forest was on fire. Literally. Metaphorically. All the–allys.
