This is a first draft of Chapter 3 of The Unicorn Guide, the fourth book in the 11 Quests series. Books 4, 5 and 6 tell a new story, so you can read The Unicorn Guide even if you haven’t yet read the first three books. Since this is a first draft, if you spot any errors please let me know! I’d be happy to find out in email and fix it. Feel free to send along any other comments you may have. Make sure you read Chapter 1 first!
Chapter 3
The Lost Jungle
With the rising of the sun, the leaves of the Fiery Ferns darkened and finally turned solid green, each leaf releasing a final wisp of smoke to welcome the day. Glider was sitting on the branch with Tumi, resting his wings.
On this morning, Tumi had no need to start running right away. He was certain that no one from his tribe had ever seen the Lost Jungle before. Having Glider with him was comforting, because the old fay would be able to teach Tumi all he needed to know to live comfortably in the Lost Jungle until it was time to return to his own jungle.
“I’m hungry,” Tumi said. He climbed down the tree and looked around at the plants in the vicinity.
Glider flew down to a small bush from which several squarish, light brown pods were dangling. He pulled off one of the pods and flew back to stand next to Tumi. Glider was stooped with age and only came up to the boy’s knees.
“Here, try this,” Glider said, handing the pod to Tumi. “It’s called mealfruit. From what I’ve heard, there’s nothing quite like it outside the Lost Jungle.”
Tumi took the mealfruit and looked it over skeptically. It certainly looked unlike any fruit he had seen before. The outside was soft and slightly porous. The smell was pleasant enough, and slightly sweet. He took an experimental bite. The inside of the mealfruit had a variety of textures, colors and flavors. There were small, round reddish bits that were like beans, sheets of something green and leafy, a yellow-brown goop spread throughout. It was a bit spicy and entirely delicious.
Glider had taken half of a mealfruit for himself, leaving the other half on the bush for some other creature to enjoy.
“Yum!” Tumi exclaimed. It didn’t take long for him to devour the whole mealfruit. The fruit was well-named because Tumi felt full and satisfied after finishing it. “Can you find mealfruit everywhere in the Lost Jungle?”
“Alas, no,” replied the fay. “They’re not very common, and they’re a bit hard to spot.”
Tumi looked around at the other plants in the vicinity. He was about to ask Glider about an unusual orange-leafed plant when the fairy spoke up first.
“What’s your name, boy of the tribes?”
“Tumi.”
“Well, Tumi, I have enjoyed our little meal together and a chance to study your bow. Now, I must take my leave.”
“Why? Where are you going?”
“I have an appointment with an old dragon friend of mine. I have learned through experience that it is best to not keep a dragon waiting. Good day.”
Tumi didn’t say another word as he watched Glider walking away, heading off into the jungle. The trees seemed to bend away from the fay as he flew through the jungle, and Tumi could briefly see a bit farther into the dense jungle. He realized that he had no idea where he was. He was lost… in the Lost Jungle.
Continue reading with Chapter 4