Erybelle: Let it go and try to cheer her up.
From Create Your Own Story
You open your mouth to say something more but the way Maple is staring off into the distance and worriedly biting her nails stops you. Maybe it's better if you help her get her mind off things for a while. Maple's told you on multiple occasions that you're the only person who's ever managed to cheer her up and make her laugh and you pride yourself in it. You turn around and quickly pull out two green plants and hold them up to the sides of your head.
In a garbled voice you declare, "I come in peace from the planet 'Dontyoufrown'. Take me to your leader and you will be spared, earthling." You make several silly faces as you inch closer to her and finally she bursts out laughing.
"Wow Erybelle, you are such a dork." She chuckles and takes the plants from you. "It's also funny because you happened to pick up Arborvitaes or 'Tree of Life'. In the flower language they usually mean everlasting friendship." Your eyes widen, amazed at how she identified them so easily when you can't even pronounce the name. But, just as planned, it worked like a charm. Maple seems much more like her usual self as she makes some tea for the two of you using the Arborvitaes you picked out. You sit in peace for a while, listening to the song of the birds and the call of the wind. You nearly drift off to sleep until Maple rouses you, shaking your shoulders frantically.
"W-What is it?" You ask her groggily and she points into the distance where a group of dark figures begin to appear out of the shadows. The closer they come the larger they seem and the more menacing their faces appear. It isn't until you see the fire on their torches and the dirt on their pitchforks that you bolt up and Maple drops the two mugs of tea. They shatter on the ground, the Arborvitaes lost.
"Erybelle... That's him. That's the Priest that was here earlier, I swear." Maple murmurs to you, rushing to hide her flowers and herbs, urging you to do the same with your belongings. "I don't like him Ery. We should get out of here. He's probably just here to cause more trouble again..."
The faster you two move, the faster the crowd seems to approach you. You're only looking at the figures in front of you though, and as soon as you stand up somebody or something grabs you from behind and that's when the screaming starts. You automatically begin to kick and shout but your arms are restrained, tied back by something itchy that digs into your skin and leaves blisters. As you fight against it you find that you've been tied up with rope and you're jostled around in the crowd of bodies as they push you and shove you somewhere. You trip over your own feet and they poke you with something that pierces your skin and draws blood. Finally they pick you up over their heads and begin to carry you through the dark woods. Your vision is dotted with stars and dizziness as you're crudely transported to the gallows where they hang the criminals.
You're thrown onto a platform surrounded by kerosene soaked branches and dried wood, your back digging into a wooden stake. Again rope is tied around your stomach, tied so tightly that you can't breath. You look around everywhere for Maple, needing to see her face just one more time. You need to tell her sorry, you need to tell her this isn't her fault and that you...
You see her. Just out the corner of your eye. Still wearing the flower chain around her head that you made her yesterday, her plain white dress matching yours, stained with dots of crimson and mud. In that moment you don't care about the horde shouting hateful words at you, begging for your slow tortuous death. You loosen the gag around your mouth until you can form clear words from your constricted throat. This may be the last time you'll be able to talk to her and you want to make it worth something if this is the end.
What should you do?
