The tunnel wound down in the same spiral as the cavern that had led Osric to the dragon. He couldn’t see this, but the centrifugal force kept him pressed against the right side of the icy passage. As the spiral widened and the slope decreased, so did his speed, and he dropped out of the tunnel and landed in a soft tuft of high grass.
The mountain loomed behind him now, blocking out half of a cloudless blue sky. Night had given way to day. The sun had not crested the massive growth of the overgrown jungle that lay before him. No trails or paths revealed themselves, only thick, tangled growths of strange and colorful plants.
Osric walked along the edge of the jungle until he found an opening. He didn’t know which of these plants might be irritating or poisonous, so he tried to avoid contact wherever possible. The sunlight glinted through patches of vegetation in narrow beams. With no other means of orientation, Osric walked in the direction of the sun.
The jungle was dark but beautiful. The plants smelled rich, fragrant, and floral. Strange hybrids of lizards and birds flitted through the tree branches. Osric picked up a fallen branch to ward off any unseen predators, should they attack.
The sun was almost at midday when he emerged from the jungle on the outskirts of a city in the trees. Faeries flew in all directions, dazzling in their color and speed. Unsure of his reception, Osric approached.
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