Chapter 3: Seven Vital Tasks Victor Pine was throwing his arm numb. The swarm of Teak minions was yet to show signs of letting off, so he kept knocking them out of the sky as best he could. Barely audible through the roar of the motors, he heard a hysterical laugh and short yelps of joy. The Birch girl was a monster. She was cutting down everything that came at her while enjoying it. This had been her idea. "The fastest way to get to the watch tower is past Pinewall Port." She'd said. "But, it's under attack right now. We can't get caught up in a fight!" he'd responded before she grinned and said, "We might get to see what the Teaks have in store for us, and they'll be too busy to care about a pair of travelers driving past at any rate." He'd argued, but winning an argument against a Birch was as likely as outrunning a pack of Mank. The High Priest had been clear. The ancient shield dome had to be activated to protect the forest, and so that was their task. They had to get past the swarm. The forest and the Greater Woodlands depended on them. Above, a giant birdlike creature soared past them, heading, he thought, towards their destination. The once far away moon was looming closer, blocking out the sky.