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I could not believe I was going through with this. And of course my nerves were bursting at the seams. My legs trembled so much I thought I was going fall down. I had to keep it together!

Morpho: “Oooooh Hope! ~ I have gathered the whole village, including the Chief himself! All of them eagerly await your grand entrance. I even came up with some choreograph…y…”

He blinked a couple of times in disbelief. Was I that obvious?

Morpho: “Are you feeling alright, my friend?”

Hope: “Oh yeah! Its that every part of me wants to crawl into an deep dark abyss and never see the light of day again”.

Morpho: “I know! Isn’t it exhilarating!? I dare say it is the best part of any performance!”

I sighed forcefully as I stroked my shoulder.

Hope: “Morpho, this isn't the time for theatrics. I need to come out and say it. I need to get this right. If I mess up, its-“

Morpho: “Hope!”

I flinched at the sudden seriousness in his tone. His furrowed eyes softened.

Morpho: “You are not speaking in front of a bunch of strangers. These are people you see every day.

Hearing his encouraging words made my troubles and worries melt away.
For approximately two seconds. 

Hope: “But that's the problem!”

Morpho: "Brushing that aside, I’ll be in the back if you need me. Now, go on and give them a show they won’t forget!”

Morpho: [whispers] “Yes! A perfect theatrical performance! Ten out of ten!” 

Hope: “I heard that!”

Morpho: “No you didn’t! Best of luck!” ~

———

Chief: “Herbalist Hope, what might this be about?”

Hope: “Oh! Um… sorry…I have an announcement to make. I…I want to lead an expedition and journey through Decade Forest! I believe there are medicinal herbs we have yet to discover.”

Chief: “Well this was most… unanticipated. Alas, we will set aside a time to deliberate this new development. A few months or so should suffice”.

Hope: “I… never said this decision was up for discussion”.

Chief: “W-what did you just say!? You dare disobey your own chief and throw away everyone and everything you’ve known for the sake of your own selfishness? Megaloceros, forgive her”.

The village erupted in disapproval.

“You want to leave us behind?! We raised you! Honestly, the audacity of youths these days” one aggravated peryton shouted.

Hope: “I-Its not like that!” I cried out in desperation. “All we have ever done was work. That’s all we do. We weren’t born into this world to be worked to death. That’s not living!”

Chief: “And who will replenish the crops needed for medication in your place?”

Hope: “I harvested the last remaining crops of the year this morning. The stocks are plentiful for both medicine and food. There are also extra rations stored away should there be an outbreak of blight. I have fulfilled my end of the quota. So its about time we take our leave”.

I made the mistake of looking at the crowd as I walked away. There amidst the chaos was my mom, in tears. It was the first she heard of it from me.

“Sugar…”

She mouthed that nickname. I had never seen her so broken. 

Hope: “I would make it up to her when I got back. I owed her that much at least” I thought.

There was so many things I wanted to say in that moment, but my mouth refused to move. So instead I walked away. I climbed up an ancient oak tree I liked to sit on, knowing that a lot of time will pass before I get to take in its view once again. I watched as the villagers returned to their duties, most not afraid of giving me a dirty look. But the middle of the crowd was Morpho. When he noticed me, he took an over exaggerated bow. 

Morpho: “You forgot to take a bow”
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Scorched Earth Blurb:
Under the guise of discovering new herbs, Hope and four others escape from their overworked life of Home Village, excited by the prospect of adventure. But when one of her crew goes missing, Hope refuses to return home without them. On their mystical journey they discover new locations, characters, cultures and make a very powerful enemy. Can they uncover Hibernia’s darkest secrets and save their friend in time?

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Hope and Chief (c) me
Art (c) me