Story Cubes: Dec. 7, 2025
(I am writing this while my daughter is at swim lessons)
Jayne’s map sat crumpled in her satchel, folded into an angry ball moments earlier upon her realization that this quest was futile. It had led her on a pointless route so far. While it was accurate, all the features that she thought would have contained something of value had been a bust. Of course, it made sense, this map could have exchanged hands numerous times before, meaning whatever treasure had once been hidden, was likely now gone.
The best discovery at this point was the shield she recovered at the base of a tree, along with an axe lodged in that same tree trunk. She guessed, based on the destroyed campsite that whoever had been there previously, and who owned that shield, were long gone, and very likely in an unpleasant end.
She took a long breath, slowly exhaling while gently stroking the mane of her horse, Divi. He was a beautiful creature, amber colored, with a blonde, flowing mane. His hooves were shiny, almost unnaturally so, and seemed to shimmer as light caught them, reflecting off them like sun upon the lens of glasses.
Jayne grabbed the reins, and reclaimed the map from her satchel once more, flattening it upon her legs despite her frustrations just a minute ago. The cave should have been here. On the map, it was clearly marked at the foot of this huge hill, where the rocks jutted out like fingers of some giant hidden beneath. But, there was a dense wood here, hiding whatever entrance would have previously been visible from the road.
Divi seemed to sense her annoyance, and took the initiative himself, beginning to trot into the woods. Without any reason to stop him, Jayne grabbed the reins tighter, along with the map, and went for a ride.
It surprised her that within just a a short time after entering the woods that the cave entrance came into view. It had been hidden by the woods, and now that she looked at the trees themselves, they hadn’t grown in a natural thicket. They had been planted here, possibly to disguise and hide the entrance.
Her heart beat quickly with anticipation. She dismounted Divi as soon as he stopped near the cave, unleashing a slight snort of apprehension.
Grabbing the shield and axe, and the now very wrinkled map, she walked with misguided confidence into the dark.
[15 mins mark]
She removed a box of flint and tinder, creating a small fire on the floor of the cave. It was immediately clear that this cave was more than she had envisioned. Just at the edge of light she saw a dark cut in the floor, leading further down. Could it be stairs? She tore a bit of her shirt, wrapping it around the head of the axe and lit it on fire, hoping it would burn slowly as she began to search the cave, desperate for the treasure she had dreamed was hidden here.
[stopping at 17 mins, breaking my own rule a bit]