2.17 I love a good treasure hunt, especially when it involves mythological creatures. Artist: JNickBlack
Phoenix Treasure
Shane slid down the last few feet of the slope. He took off his boots one at a time and dumped out the rocks and dirt that had collected inside from his climb down the steep walls. Feeling much better, he pulled out the map and looked at the clue again. On the map there were a group of symbols: a chest drawn in red ink, a rock, the symbol for a river on maps, a bird also drawn in red ink, the number 3, and an upside down U. Shane translated it as thus: red treasure, boulder, river, red bird, third arch. Then there was a very basic drawing of two parallel lines with a river running through the middle, three squiggly lines at the top, and an X three quarters of the way down. Shane assumed the red bird was a Phoenix and the location was Phoenix Canyon. The three squiggly lines meant Phoenix Falls and the treasure, which could only mean rubies, was near the third arch in the canyon.
If his calculations were correct, Shane should be right where the X was. Now he just had to look for boulders near the third arch. There were seven arches total. He had counted the arches backwards on his march along the top edge of the canyon. He remembered the thrill he had received when he had found a ratty old purse with the folded up map hidden inside the inner lining. The feeling returned stronger now that he was so close to finding the rubies.
Phoenix Canyon was where the old kingdom had mined for rubies. That is until they had dug too deep and too far north and woken the ancient phoenixes thought to be extinct. The fiery birds had taken up roost near the Falls where the Canyon ended and were a constant source of grief for anyone nearby. Ever since then, rubies had understandably become one of the rarest gems and were worth a fortune to those lucky enough to find them.
Shane just had to find some rubies and leave before he encountered any of the fiery birds and he would be set for life. Granted, the third arch where he was currently looking was perilously close to the Falls. He could even hear them in the distance, but it would be worth it. He worked his way around the river, occasionally digging in case the rubies were buried. It hadn’t been more than ten minutes before he spotted the chest lying next to a boulder almost his size. Shane grinned. It was too easy.
He jogged over to it, but paused before he reached the boulder. It was too easy. He pulled out the map and read the warning at the bottom again. Be ye warned, all who seek the treasure. A red and black death awaits those not deemed worthy. Proceed ye with caution. Shane did not fancy being burned to death by a phoenix, with nothing but his smoldering ashes as all that remained of him, but he didn’t see any around so he continued forward more cautiously this time. He pulled out his sword for good measure. He hopped on the boulder and reached down to grab the chest when a small, bright red creature leaped into the air from behind it. Shane froze as he stared directly into the eyes of a phoenix. A baby phoenix. It’s long wings and tail swayed gently as it hovered above the chest. A bead of sweat trailed down Shane’s face and dripped off, hitting the dusty ground. The phoenix cocked its head and Shane swung with his sword.
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