Amanda trudged through the underbrush, her eyes scanning the ground between every bush and tree. With a wave of her hand she channeled her power, letting the magic push aside branches and leaves as she searched for anything valuable. It was better not to touch the plants with her hands, in case any of them might be poisonous.
The call of birds sounded from the trees. She looked up, scanning the branches. Nothing was in sight; even the most colorful of birds could find hiding places among the vibrant foliage of the jungle. She could trust her ears, though, to lead the way.
She followed the sound of the bird calls, shifting the backpack on her shoulder. It was filled with some minor goods she had scavenged from the jungle floor: colorful rocks that could be made into simple jewelry, a few herbs she could sell to alchemists for use in making tonics and potions, and a pouch of freshly fallen nuts that would sell well when salted and seasoned.
She didn't want to return to the market without something more valuable, however. The goods she had collected would fetch a moderate price, enough to keep her fed at least, but it would be a waste of her time in coming here to leave without something more. So she continued to follow the sound of the bird calls, scanning the treetops for signs of colorful wings.
Suddenly a zhenniao burst into flight overhead. She watched it fly off, wishing for a bow to shoot it down. But it was gone before she knew it, leaving behind only empty sky, and a single green feather floating on the breeze.
She hurried towards the drifting feather, reaching out a hand. As it floated down towards her, it slowed in its descent, then stopped in mid-air. She held it floating over her hand, slowly turning in place as she examined it with a critical eye. It was clean and unbroken. Not much of a price for just a single feather, but it was better than nothing.
Her head jerked to the side when she heard a man's voice nearby. She glanced around, while reaching into her backpack to fish out a small wooden box to preserve the feather in.
The call of birds sounded from the trees. She looked up, scanning the branches. Nothing was in sight; even the most colorful of birds could find hiding places among the vibrant foliage of the jungle. She could trust her ears, though, to lead the way.
She followed the sound of the bird calls, shifting the backpack on her shoulder. It was filled with some minor goods she had scavenged from the jungle floor: colorful rocks that could be made into simple jewelry, a few herbs she could sell to alchemists for use in making tonics and potions, and a pouch of freshly fallen nuts that would sell well when salted and seasoned.
She didn't want to return to the market without something more valuable, however. The goods she had collected would fetch a moderate price, enough to keep her fed at least, but it would be a waste of her time in coming here to leave without something more. So she continued to follow the sound of the bird calls, scanning the treetops for signs of colorful wings.
Suddenly a zhenniao burst into flight overhead. She watched it fly off, wishing for a bow to shoot it down. But it was gone before she knew it, leaving behind only empty sky, and a single green feather floating on the breeze.
She hurried towards the drifting feather, reaching out a hand. As it floated down towards her, it slowed in its descent, then stopped in mid-air. She held it floating over her hand, slowly turning in place as she examined it with a critical eye. It was clean and unbroken. Not much of a price for just a single feather, but it was better than nothing.
Her head jerked to the side when she heard a man's voice nearby. She glanced around, while reaching into her backpack to fish out a small wooden box to preserve the feather in.
