#4 Between Shadow and Light

Amber followed the buzzing of bees and soon found a big hive, sitting high above her at a tree, almost dripping with honey. Too bad it didn't, that would have meant an easier way to get it.

A quick look around showed one way to get it: climbing the tree. She grinned. That was something she loved to do!

Preparing for her climb, she tucked away some jars in the pockets of her robe and left her backpack behind under the tree. It would just be in her way through climbing.

Without reservation, Amber grabbed the first branch, set her foot on the tree and pulled herself up. So far, so good.

She thoroughly pondered about her next move, deciding carefully which branch would hold her weight. Fortunately, there were enough sturdy ones.

The first half of the climb had been rather easy, but as she crested higher, the branches started to thin out. The buzzing got louder, some single bees started to visit her, although still more curious than angry for now.

It took a lot more time than she thought until the beehive was closer. She clinged to the trunk in front of it, reaching with her arm towards it, but it was still too far. The buzzing got louder, the bees started to notice her presence even more now.

Amber made one step forward on a thicker branch beneath the hive, grabbing another twig with her hand while making slow steps forward, towards the hive, which was now hanging slightly above her. She could see the honey, she was almost there!

The branch cracked under her feet, and while holding her breath for her next moves, she hoped it would hold. Bees started to surround her, whiring around her head. Amber tried to blend them out of her mind, focusing on the task at hand.

As she felt quite stable in her position, she grabbed one of her jars, opened it and slowly reached for the hive. She dunk the jar into the honey, filling it with the yellow liquid up to the brink. Closing the jar again was a challenge, as one of her hands was higher than the other, resulting in honey dripping on her clothes. But she got one jar. Amber noticed immediately that the bees now started to get angry. They noticed the invader!

Multiple ones started to fling towards her, hitting her head, demanding her to stop. For a moment Amber hesitated, but the hive full of honey was tempting. And she gave in.

Ignoring the bees, she repeated the move with the jar again, filling it with honey. It all went rather well, until she closed the lid.

She never heard a buzz as loud as this before. The bee swarm started to rise from the hive and flew towards her. Quick-witted she tucked away the jar and in a slight panic she let herself hang from the branch she stood on, trying to reach another twig to stand on below her. She needed to climb down fast!

However, she quickly noticed that there wasn't enough time, the bees approaching her fast. She would get stung by multiple bees if nothing came to her mind. But the only idea she had was hiding from them in a lake.

Her eyes glistened. That was it!

She promptly sat down on the tree, pulled out her wand and pointed it towards her enemies.

"Aguamenti!" Some water drops trickled down on her. She clenched her teeth, trying to be more determined the next time.

"Aguamenti!" A flush of water gushed out of her wand, making something like an umbrella out of water above her. Others would describe it as a fountain.

Amber smiled brightly as the bees made a sharp turn in order to avoid the water, returning to their hive. She did it! Although, she was now totally soaked.

She ended the spell and hid away her wand again. Now she could climb down with ease.

Or at least she thought she could. What she hadn't considered before the spell was that not only she would get wet, but also the tree. So descending now was a rather slippery issue.

Carefully she started to climb down, slowly placing her feet and hands. And for a short while it worked well - until she lost her footing, her foot and hands slipping from the mossy tree.

"Oh, Merlin!" she screamed, trying to hold onto something near her, but the thin twigs cracked and she tumbled down the tree, landing directly on a root. Although, her right arm made contact with the wood first.

With a loud groan she got up on her knees, noticing immediately that her right arm hurt like hell, and Amber started to feel giddy. For a minute she just sat there, waiting until her surroundings weren't so bright anymore. Then she stood up under pain and summarised her situation.

Her shoulders were covered with honey, she was totally drenched, had wet sand everywhere, bruises too, and her arm may be broken. At least she got her two jars of honey!

Through all that pain, a slight grin appeared on her face. Overall, that sounded like she had been on an adventure! And she wouldn't miss it!

She carefully tucked the jars away in her backpack, tossed the backpack over her left shoulder and made her way back to the castle. Amber guessed she would leave more ingredient hunting for another day.

(OOC: Exit)