Note: These short stories are set in The Magical World of Zealandia, offering glimpses into its adventures and mysteries. While they can be enjoyed on their own, reading Zealandia: The Dreadstones Grasp will provide deeper context and enrich your experience!
The basket wasn’t supposed to float.
Tom stared at it, hovering above their heads, spinning lazily in place. Inside, their hard-earned supplies—bread, dried fruit, a block of cheese—sat as if nothing was amiss.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “Who enchanted the basket?”
“Not me,” Victoria said, glaring at him as if the basket was somehow his fault. “Are you sure you didn’t touch anything you weren’t supposed to?”
“Why do you always assume it’s me?” Tom asked, offended.
“Because it usually is,” Emily said, standing on her tiptoes to reach for the basket. It floated higher, just out of her grasp. “Oh, come on!”
“It’s alive,” Tom said dramatically, stepping back.
“It’s not alive,” Alex said, arms crossed. “It’s enchanted. And probably cursed.”
“That’s worse,” Tom replied, pointing at the spinning basket. “What if it floats away? That’s all our food!”
“Then stop staring and help us grab it!” Victoria snapped.
The group took turns trying to catch the basket. Emily jumped, Victoria used a stick to poke at it, and Alex tried to pull it down by its handle. Each attempt failed spectacularly, the basket always managing to stay just out of reach.
Tom stood back, arms folded. “You’re all doing great. Really inspiring teamwork.”
“Do you want to take a turn?” Victoria growled.
Tom grinned. “Nah. I’m enjoying the show.”
Alex shot him a look. “If this thing floats off, I’m blaming you.”
“It’s not going anywhere,” Tom said confidently, just as the basket began to drift higher into the air. “Uh... okay, maybe it is.”
Emily groaned. “What did I just say about jinxing it?”
The basket floated towards the nearest tree, where it bobbed like a leaf caught in the wind.
“Alright,” Victoria said, rolling up her sleeves. “Time to get serious.”
“You’re going to fight the basket?” Tom asked, grinning.
“No,” she replied. “I’m climbing the tree.”
“Great plan,” Alex muttered. “Nothing ever goes wrong when someone climbs a tree to chase a cursed object.”
Victoria ignored him, hoisting herself up onto the lowest branch. The basket, as if sensing her intent, floated even higher, settling precariously on a thin, swaying branch.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Victoria muttered, climbing higher.
“Careful,” Emily called from below. “If it falls, don’t let it hit you!”
“Thanks for the advice,” Victoria said through gritted teeth.
As she reached for the basket, the branch beneath her creaked ominously. The group below froze.
“Uh, Victoria?” Tom said nervously. “Branches aren’t supposed to make that sound.”
“I’m aware,” she snapped, grabbing the basket’s handle just as the branch snapped beneath her.
For a heart-stopping moment, Victoria dangled in mid-air, clutching the basket. Then the enchantment took hold again, and the basket began to rise, dragging her upwards with it.
“Let go!” Alex shouted.
“I can’t!” Victoria yelled back.
Tom stared, slack-jawed. “Is this how she becomes a legend? Victoria, the Girl Who Floated Away?”
“Not helping!” she shouted.
Emily rummaged through her bag, pulling out a coil of rope. “We’ll pull her down!”
Alex grabbed one end of the rope and threw it towards Victoria, who managed to grab it with her free hand. The group pulled together, slowly dragging her and the basket back to the ground.
When Victoria’s feet finally touched solid earth, she let go of the basket and collapsed onto the grass.
“That,” she panted, “was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Good job,” Tom said, patting her shoulder. “You saved the snacks.”
Alex grabbed the basket, holding it tightly. “We’re not letting this thing out of our sight again.”
Emily crouched beside Victoria, holding out a water flask. “Are you okay?”
Victoria groaned. “Ask me when the ground stops spinning.”
The basket gave one final spin, as if taunting them, before going still.
“Alright,” Alex said firmly. “Whoever enchanted this thing owes us an explanation. And possibly dinner.”
“And a reward,” Tom added.
Emily tilted her head. “Maybe it’s not cursed. Maybe it just likes to float.”
“Great,” Victoria muttered. “A sentient basket. That’s all we need.”
Tom grinned. “I think we should name it.”