(text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You are a cat named "Muffin"
(font: "Metamorphous")[Your human, whom you call "Peasant", is deathly ill. The only way to cure him is with a rare herb that lives deep in the forest. Peasant is too sick to move, and he has no friends to get the herb for him.]
(font: "Metamorphous")[It is up to you to either (text-colour:blue)[ [[make the journey by yourself]] ]or (text-colour:blue)[ [[stay home and sleep.]]] ] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Peasant's life is in your paws. He is the hand that feeds you and scratches the itches that are impossible to reach with your tongue. He has done so much for you. It is time for you to return the favor.
You slip the little satchel Peasant made for you over your head. After crawling through the cat door and gracefully hopping over the fence, you set off on your (text-colour:blue)[ [[treacherous journey.]]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Sleeping would be much easier and safer than crossing a dangerous forest full of monsters and wild animals. You're sure Peasant will be fine. You hop onto his bed and curl up on his stomach for you fifth nap of the day.
Peasant's life fades away in due time. Despite everything, at least he wasn't alone in his final moments.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[The trees loomed over you as you padded your way through the forest. Dead leaves crunched under your paws with ever step. Speckles of sunlight dotted the forest floor, illuminating your path. The sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves graced your long, fluffy ears.
The peace was quickly broken by the sound of an (text-colour:blue)[ [[annoying squawk.]]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Above you was a loud crow squawking for you attention desparately. Why it wanted your attention you had no idea.
You stood there trying to figure out what to you. You could (text-colour:blue)[ [[talk to the crow]] ] and find out what's going on. However, that crow could make a (text-colour:blue)[ [[nice meal]] ]for the road.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[A little detour to help out a fellow animal won't put a damper on your journey. You make your way to the crow and sit down. The crow stops squawking and starts talking:
"I lost my beloved diamond somewhere in this forest! I can't find it anywhere! I need someone with a keen eye and a good sense of smell. Can you help me?"
You ponder your options.
(text-colour:blue)[ [[Help the crow]]
[[Refuse to help]]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You haven't had crow in a long time. You crouched down a wiggled your back end, getting ready for a pounce. However, the crow knew exactly what you were doing and began to attack. You tried batting it around, but it dodged your every move.
The crow chased you through the forest and all the way back to your home.
You knew you shouldn't have gone out by yourself.](set: $helpCrow to true)
(text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Helping a fellow animal out shouldn't take too much of your time. You search every corner of the forest floor with your nose. The crow flew above you as you sniffed every bush and leaf. Eventually, a gleam of light coming from a pile of dirt catches your eye. You dig it out to reveal the crow's diamond. The crow happily takes the diamond and slips comfortably into your satchel.
You now have a (text-colour:blue)[ [[little friend.|rigid rocks]]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You know better than to help with such a meaningless task. You trot away from the crow, listening to his cries fade in the distance as you leave. You knew better than to be distracted with silly side quests. You are a cat after all.
(text-colour:blue)[ [[You continued to trot through the woods.|rigid rocks]]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[After a long walk through the forest, you stumble upon a massive gorge. The inside of the gorge was fill of big pointy rocks that lead to the other side. A falling rock would hit the bottom in about 10 seconds. You could probably land on your feet if you managed to fall, but you would end up with a few broken bones.
Getting across the gorge would be a (text-colour:blue)[ [[challenge.]]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[(if: $helpCrow is true)[Suddenly, your satchel began to move around. Out popped the crow you helped earlier. It grabbed you with its talons and beat its wings to lift you off the ground. As a way of saying thanks for helping it ealier, it decided to carry you safely across the gorge. It set you down gently on the other side of the gorge and flew away.
You meowed a thank you to the crow and continued on your (text-colour:blue)[ [[journey|road fork]] ] ]
(else: )[Your only option to get across would be to (text-colour:blue)[ [[hop on the rigid rocks.]] ]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You leap swiftly from rock to rock, slipping a little on some of them. The rocks were sturdy, but their surfaces were slick and hard to grasp. You couldn't stay on them for very long, or else you would fall to the bottom. You made it to the final rock, which was pretty far away from the rock you were standing on.
Being a cat, you could probably (text-colour:blue)[ [[make the jump]], ] but you also thought about finding a (text-colour:blue)[ [[safer way]] ] to the other side.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You come across a fork in the road that splits off into two paths. Where should you go?
(text-colour:blue)[ [[Path to the left]]
[[Path to the right]]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You crouch down and calculate your jump. With one big push off the rock, you leap high into the air and stretch out your claws. Unfortunately, the rock was much further than you anticipated.
Your paws stay outstretched just a few inches from the rock as you plummet to your demise.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You decided the rock was not worth your life. You continue to hop around the rocks until you finally made it to the (text-colour:blue)[ [[other side|road fork]],] albeit with some scratched and bruised paw pads.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You trot down the path to the left. You find yourself at an old tavern made specifically for cats.
A catvern, if you will.
You stop to get a drink of water, eat a bowl of tuna, and converse with some old feline friends. After you finish, you head back outside and (text-colour:blue)[ [[continue on your way|dragon lair]].] ](set: $haveGold to true)
(text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You trot down the path to the right.
You stumble upon a merchant's cart being raided by small goblins. They're pretty scrawny, so you take them out with ease. As a reward, the mercheant gives you a small bag of gold.
You now have(text-colour:blue)[ [[gold|dragon lair]].] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You finally make it to the cave that holds the herb. The mouth of the cave was huge and gaping. There was nothing to illuminate the inside of the cave. With one brave step, you make your way into the cave, prepared for (text-colour:blue)[ [[anything]] ] that could get in your way.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[There it was. In the middle of the cave, being illuminated by a single ray of sunshine. The herb was in full bloom and very healthy. You walk to the herb and grab it with your mouth. But before you could pull it up, a loud roar rings out in the darkest part of the cave. You shrieked and jumped up in the air, your fur standing on end. A large, green dragon emerged from the darkness and look down at you with angry eyes.
What now?]
(text-colour:blue)[[[Fight the dragon|fight]]
[[Talk to the dragon]]
[[Steal the herb]]](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[What do you want to talk about?
(if: $haveGold is true) [ (text-colour:blue)[ [[Bribe the dragon with your gold]] ]
(text-colour:blue)[ [[I just want to talk]] ] ]
(else: ) [ (text-colour:blue)[ [[I just want to talk]] ]] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Even the most generous dragon could never turn down a bag of gold. You dropm the bag of gold at his feet and asked for the herb. The dragon's eyes lit of at the sight of it. He quickly picked the herb and handed it to you.
You thanked the dragon and ran (text-colour:blue)[ [[back home|home]].] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You ask the dragon about the herb. It starts to speak:
"This herb here helps me stay alive. I am the last dragon of my kind in existence, so I need it to stay alive."
His explanation seemed reasonable enough. Maybe you could come up with (text-colour:blue)[ [[something]].] You really needed that (text-colour:blue)[ [[herb|fight]] ] though.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Just then, an idea popped into your head. There was quite a bit of the herb, and Peasant only needed a little bit of it. After a bit of discussion with the dragon, you were able to obtain a bit of the herb. You and the dragon thank each other peacefully and you pad happily (text-colour:blue)[ [[back home|home]].] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You unsheathed your claws and leap onto the dragon's neck, digging your teeth and claws into his tough scales. The dragon roared in pain as he thrashed his neck around, trying to throw you off. You jump off of his neck and plan your next attack.
You did a lot of damage to his (text-colour:blue)[ [[neck]],] so maybe you could attack there. There was also his (text-colour:blue)[ [[chest]],] which was out in the open.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[The color in Peasant's cheeks quickly returned after ingesting the herb. Soon enough, his illness had comepletely disappeared. For the first time in a while, Peasant sat outside on his rocking chair. He gently stroked your back as you loafed on his lap. He pat your head as he told you the words you always loved to hear:
"Good cat"](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[You jump back up to do more damage to his neck. However, the dragon was ready for you. He swatted you out of the air with his tail, smashing your body against the cave wall. Before you coukd even get up, you saw a bright orange flash heading toward you, The flash grew hotter and hotter as it approached.
You closed your eyes and accepted your fate.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[With one courageous leap, you latch onto his chest and bite down as hard as you can. The dragon roars louder as he falls to the ground helplessly. You had hit the weak spot. It wasn't long before the dragon was defeated.
Once you had caught your breath, you plucked the herb and trotted (text-colour:blue)[ [[home|home]] ] triumphantly.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Uncial Antiqua")[''(align:"=><=")[ [Muffin and the Herb]]'']
(align:"=><=")+(font: "Metamorphous")[[[Begin|Your Journey Begins]]]
(align:"=><=")[ <img src="https://www.pngplay.com/wp-content/uploads/13/Paw-Print-PNG-Free-File- Download.png" width="70" height="70">]
(text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Carefully yet swiftly, you plucked the herb from its mound and took off through the forest. As you run back through the path you had taken, you make a few quick glamces back to make sure the dragon wasn't following you. So far, it looked like the coast was clear. You hastily tuck the herb in your pouch to protect it while you sprinted all the way back (text-color:blue)[ [[home.|stolen]] ] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[After a terribly long sprint, you finally make it back home. Without hesitation, you pull the herb out of your satchel and pluck some of the flowers off of the stem. You then hop up onto Peasant's bed and force the flowers into his mouth with your paw. As he slowly chews and swallows the flowers, his strength slowly starts to return. His hand reaches up toward the top of your head. You lean in to prepare fpr a head pat.
Until...
(text-color:blue)[ [["RAAAAAAUUUURRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"]] ] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[The dragon had followed you all the way back to your house! You jumped up and run in all different directions. Smoke puffed out of the dragon's nostrils as he breathed fire into the air furiously. You unsheathed your claws, preparing for a (text-color:blue)[ [[fight.]] ] Although, Peasant's strength had been partially restored. Maybe he could be of some (text-color:blue)[ [[help.]] ] ](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Peasant is in no condition to fight a dragon! It was up to you to defeat the dragon! With one big leap, you pounce toward the dragon's head. unfortunately, the dragon was quicker than you. He opened his mouth and caught you in his jaws.
Well, at least Peasant would get to join you soon after.](text-colour:black)+(font: "Metamorphous")[Slowly, Peasant put his hand up to the dragon's muzzle. The dragon hesitated at first, but then he touched his muzzle to his hand. He seemed to calm down a lot after that.
Peasant finally fully recovered from his illness, though things were not the same. You now had to live with the dragon you stole the herb from. peasant decided to adopt him since he could grow more of the herb. It took a bit of time to get used to, but you two eventually became best friends.
In the end, everything turned out okay. And of course, Peasant told you those words you always loved to hear.
"Good cat"]