CYOA Wednesday 2025 #13 [Beyond the Woods 13]

This fantasy CYOA story continues today. Synopsis below:

When Derek, Jade, and Clara go camping, they stumble upon a portal to another dimension filled with strange creatures and sexy seductresses.

The “mermaids” attack. Clara is entranced and dragged into the lake. It’s up to Aethera to come to the rescue. Now what? You decide.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/125255217

Read the thirteenth segment below:

13 – Underground Meadow

The tunnels stretched endlessly before them, an intricate labyrinth of shadowed passages and towering stone arches. The latter were carved with worn symbols and intricate patterns that hinted at a forgotten past. The air grew heavy with the scent of damp earth, enveloping them like a cool, clammy embrace.

Yet, mingling with this earthy aroma was something unexpected—an elusive, sweet fragrance, almost floral, that danced on the breeze, providing a stark contrast to the cold, mineral odors that permeated the depths of the caves. The juxtaposition of scents created an air of enchantment and intrigue in the subterranean world.

Aethera led the way, her glowing form casting eerie silhouettes on the walls as they descended deeper into the Undercroft. The ground beneath their feet sloped downward, steep and unrelenting, forcing them to brace themselves against the rough stone walls to keep their balance.

Clara’s breath echoed in the narrow space, her soaked clothes clinging to her as she struggled to warm herself. Derek stayed close to her side, his hand brushing against hers in silent reassurance. Jade walked ahead, her eyes fixed on Aethera, her posture tense with anticipation. The further they went, the more the walls began to change. The rough, jagged stone gave way to smoother surfaces, and faint veins of bioluminescent minerals pulsed like veins in the rock. Dripping water could be heard in the background.

Aethera paused at a bend in the tunnel and turned to the others. “We’re close to a suitable resting place. Stay together and keep following me.”

Past a small rock bridge, the air grew warmer, the sweetness intensifying until it was almost overpowering. They entered another narrow passageway. Ahead of them, a faint glow began to emerge.

The tunnel burst open into an immense, underground meadow. The ceiling vanished into an abyss of darkness, yet the space blazed with a radiant light pouring from the flowers that blanketed the ground. They came in every color imaginable—vivid purples, fiery oranges, delicate pinks, and electric blues—each bloom glowing with an ethereal light. The air buzzed with a soft hum, like the quiet vibration of a thousand tiny wings. The scent of the flowers was intoxicating, flooding their lungs with dizziness.

Clara stepped forward, her feet sinking into the soft, velvety petals. The flowers reached up to her knees, swaying gently as if moved by an invisible breeze. In the center of the meadow, a cluster of towering blooms rose like a fountain of light, their colors shifting and blending in a mesmerizing dance. The ground beneath their feet was warm, alive with a pulsing energy that seemed to vibrate through every cell in their bodies.

“They’re beautiful,” Jade whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. Derek stayed close, his gaze scanning the meadow, though the danger of the lake seemed to fade in the face of such beauty. Aethera watched them, a smile playing on her lips.

The flowers responded to their presence, the colors deepening and brightening as they moved through the meadow. Clara reached out to touch one bloom, and as her fingers made contact, the flower released a delicate, shimmering mist that drifted upward, vanishing into the air. The mist carried a faint musical note, like the soft ring of a bell, and the sound echoed through the meadow, harmonizing with the hum of the flowers.

“It’s even more breathtaking than the forest above,” Clara said.

“I knew you’d say that,” Aethera replied. “Clara, give me your hand, please.”

“Okay.”

Aethera’s hand was warm as Clara’s fingers intertwined with hers. The connection sent a subtle tingling sensation up Clara’s arm, as though a quiet energy pulsed through Aethera’s touch. Without a word, Aethera guided Clara deeper into the meadow, weaving through the sea of glowing blooms. The flowers parted around them, their light dimming as the pair passed, only to brighten again in their wake. Jade and Derek followed at a distance, their footsteps quiet against the soft, petal-covered ground, their faces awestruck as they took in the beauty of the meadow.

As they walked, a patch of flowers caught Clara’s eye. They were unlike the others—deep, fiery red, their glow more intense, almost magnetic. The blooms seemed to hum with a different frequency, as though they held a secret or a power all their own. Aethera led Clara to the edge of this crimson circle, where the red flowers grew in perfect symmetry, forming a round, glowing ring. In the center of the circle was a small, bare patch of ground, smooth and untouched by petals.

“Step inside,” Aethera said, her voice soft but commanding. “Stay there for just a moment. You’ll understand why.”

Clara hesitated, though only for a heartbeat. There was something about Aethera’s tone that inspired trust, even in the face of the unknown. She took a deep breath and stepped into the circle. The moment her feet touched the bare earth, a warmth bloomed beneath her, like the ground itself was alive and radiating heat. It wasn’t an uncomfortable heat—more like the soothing warmth of sunlight on a summer day. The sensation spread through her body, chasing away the lingering chill of her damp clothes.

She closed her eyes, letting the warmth seep into her bones. But as she stood there, she felt it—her clothes, heavy and clammy from the lake water, began to dry. The fabric lightened against her skin, the dampness evaporating as though pulled away by an invisible force. Even her hair, which had clung to her scalp in cold, wet strands, began to warm and lighten, the tangles loosening as the moisture was drawn from it. She opened her eyes to find that her shirt and pants were dry, as though she had never been wet at all.

The warmth began to fade then, the ground beneath her returning to its natural temperature. The red flowers’ glow softened, their pulse slowing until they matched the rhythm of the meadow once more.

“How do you feel?” Aethera asked.

“Amazing,” Clara murmured. “Like… like I’m a part of the meadow.”

“You are,” Aethera replied. “Even if only for a moment. This place has a way of connecting with those who enter it.”

“This is incredible,” Jade said, wandering closer to the circle. “Where are we now?”

“This place doesn’t have a name. All I can tell you is that the flowers here absorb and amplify the life force of the meadow. They can heal, protect, and even grant temporary strength to those who walk among them. It’s safe to stay here for while. Gather your strength because you’ll be needing them soon enough.”

The three friends nodded in unison and sat down to rest awhile. Deep down, they knew their troubles were only getting started.

To decide what happens next, head over to my Patreon (you can join for free), and vote on the poll there until next Sunday. 

If you’re new to these CYOA stories, here are the basic rules:

1) You can only choose one option;

2) If there’s a tie at the end of the poll, and the competing options can be combined somehow, I’ll do that. If not, I get the deciding vote to keep the tale going.

3) The process continues every Wednesday until the story runs its natural course.

Have fun.