ArylianaMalice

  They all gasp as the try to find their breath. Ina falls over, panting and shaking their hands to get feeling back into them.

  "What the actual fuck was that?" She asks.

  "I don't know..." Raul says.

  "I really don't like that..." Marcus says, his face falling. Both Raul and Ina look over to him.

  "Don't let this get you down, we'll find her." Raul says.

  Marcus nods as they all fix themselves up.

  "Let's camp out here for a little, then we will try again." Ina says.

  They all start setting up their tents. Grabbing a few thick cloths out of their packs and setting them up. Raul grabs a couple sticks and sets up a fire while Marcus cuts up some herbs and spices, mixing them with a few chopped up potatoes and pcing them in a skillet. They dump in some small pieces of ham shortly after. Once it is fully cooked Marcus pulls out a few wooden ptes and separates it into 3 servings. Once they are done eating they all decide to take a rest.

  Leon paces around his office, biting his fingernails.

  What the hell am I even going to do..? Something about this isn't adding up.

  He walks back over to his desk, reports from the cleanup team and from the 3 adventurers scattered about.

  From everything found, it's like the girl disappeared into thin air. No one has found the trail again and for some reason the 'Guardian of the Forest' comes up in 3 of these reports... Don't people realize that it's just a story?

  He takes a deep breath and walks out of his office. Making his way through the hallways and down the stairs to the main room. He heads out the door and through the streets, stopping at a couple pces and taking a look at their wares, trying to take his mind off of the problem for a moment to come back at it with a new perspective. He walks over to a weapon shop and takes a look at a few of the swords and axes on dispy, unable to get his mind off of the missing girl he walks back out of the store.

  He makes his way downtown and takes a look at a few of the stores, the different styles of weapon and armor smithing helping his mind cool down. He finds a clothes shop that interests him, a few coats in the window drawing his attention. The temperature is going to start dropping soon, and I do need a new coat... He walks in and takes a quick look around, a few trench coats and pea coats catching his eye, but unable to find a style he truly feels good about. A woman walks over in a stylized shirt with a fitted jacket over the top, a pair of fitted leather pants.

  "Do you need help with anything sir?" She asks.

  Leon turns to her, "Hello Ms. I was thinking of getting a coat for the upcoming cold season but can't really find anything that I am really interested in, no offense to you I may add, I am just being picky." He says.

  "I take no offense to that," She gives a smile, "I could make something for you if you would like. You have caught me on a drought of orders I hate to admit, and a fitted coat will feel a lot more comfortable."

  "I would like that, what style would you recommend?"

  "Well, would you like a jacket, or a full coat?" She asks.

  "Hmm, honestly something like this," He points to the trench coat, "or this," He points to a cotton jacket. "would be fine."

  "I could make something that includes a bit of both, the length in-between the two. Would you like it on the warmer side?"

  "That would be nice." He says with a smile.

  "Alright, I'll get started on a design."

  Myra snuggles up to the wolf, leaning into the warmth and letting out a sigh of content. [Feeling comfortable?] The wolf asks.

  She is slightly startled but settles quickly, "Yes..." she curls up.

  [Is there anything you would like to do today?]

  "Um..." Myra thinks for a second. "Could... could we walk around a little bit? I kind of w-want to see a little more of the forest..." She looks down at the bedding.

  [If that is what you want.]

  "Th-thank you..." Myra says.

  A few minutes ter the wolf stands up and stretches out, much to the sadness of Myra who was loving the warm and furry bed. The wolf walks over and inspects the stove once more, checking it's stability. Myra gets up and walks over to the wolf, putting her hand on its side.

  "Thank you..." She says.

  [Hmm? What for?] The wolf looks confused.

  "For the f-food... and, everything..." Myra looks to the floor.

  [You are my guest, I am not going to let my guest be uncomfortable.] The wolf turns and licks her cheek.

  Myra giggles a little and then hugs the wolf, causing it to tense up. A few moments ter she backs away looking embarrassed.

  [Ready to go out and look around?]

  "Mhm!" Myra says excitedly.

  The wolf picks her up, causing her to gasp in surprise. The wolf puts her on its back and walks out of the den.

  [Which way do you want to go?] The wolf asks.

  "Umm, is there a-anywhere you like?" She asks.

  The wolf thinks for a moment. [Yes, there is a spot I find quite comforting.]

  "Can we go there?" She asks.

  [I guess so, it's not too far.] The wolf starts to walk through the trees while Myra looks around with joy.

  While they are walking a few animals come up and greet the wolf, some rabbits, some foxes, and some birds. A couple of them inspect the girl but don't pay her much mind other then giving her a small greeting. One of the birds nds on her shoulder causing her to giggle. A deer walks up and greets the wolf, giving a small nod to the little girl before bounding back into the forest. 2 wolves walk up and greet them, though Myra is a little frightened at the sight of them, the fear fades as they are friendly to her.

  After a few more minutes of walking the wolf starts to slow down.

  [We are almost there, be careful.]

  Careful of what?! Myra thinks to herself, grabbing onto the wolf tighter.

  They walk forward as the humidity in the air rises, and the sound of rushing water can be heard. They walk through a break in the trees, finding themselves on a small pteau overlooking a rge waterfall. Trees with glowing white leaves line the fall, the glowing leaves falling slowly compared to the water. At the bottom, the leaves gather on a ke, giving the whole area an ethereal glow. Myra's eyes widen in awe as she is speechless at the site, the wolf puts her down and sits next to her with a soft expression on its face.

  "It's so cool!" Myra says.

  [I have taken care of this pce for many years, I come here when I want to rex away from my home.]

  "You made it?" Myra asks.

  [The waterfall and ke was already here, but the trees are my doing.] The wolf ys down next to her.

  "Wooooow!" Myra looks up to the wolf in amazement.

  The wolf looks down at her with a odd expression, not knowing whether to feel embarrassed or proud. It splits the middle of the emotions and its brain fries a little. [Th-th-thank you... I guess...] It sputters out.

  "Was it hard?"

  [Not necessarily... It just took a long time, even for me.]

  "How long?"

  [I think it was about 50 years.]

  "Woooow!" Myra looks back to the waterfall.

  [It looks much better at night, if... if you would like to come back.]

  "Of course!" Myra says excitedly, turning to the wolf with a huge smile on her face, causing it to feel emotions it has never felt before.

  The adventurers hop out of their tents, stretching out and getting their gear ready. They stamp out their fire and look to each other.

  "Ready?" Ina asks.

  "Yep..." Marcus says, his face down.

  "Mhm." Raul says as he adjusts his armor.

  The 3 of them set out in the same direction as before. Weaving through the trees and looking every direction they can making sure they don't get snuck up on. They start seeing things moving through the shadows, the temperature dropping and the air becoming heavy. They get close to each other, snapping their eyes at the figures moving in the dark. Glowing eyes appearing and disappearing to stay just in their peripherals. The air suddenly becomes thin, the shadows retreating, fog flowing in, and the sound of a crying woman can be heard.

  The continue forward, finding a woman in white, sitting on the floor with her face in her hands, long white hair flowing across the floor. They get a little closer, creeping up while on guard for anything around.

  "Are you okay?" Raul asks, getting only a mumble from the woman as she continues her crying.

  "What was that?" He asks, she looks up at him, her hair falling in front of her face.

  "Why..." She says, trembling.

  "Why what?" He asks.

  "Why... won't... you....... LEAVE!?" She yells in his face, causing him to stumble back startled and swing his sword at her. He hits her neck, causing her head to be separated from her body as it falls limp onto the forest floor. It flips in the air, Raul looking on in terror. The head hangs for a moment, before she starts ughing maniacally. Her body falls into the floor as her head fades and the fog creeps in around them, frost building up on their equipment before it all fades away once more.

  Their breaths quickening and curling over as heat rushes over them.

  "Fucking again? really?" Ina says, shivering slightly.

  "Well..." Raul says, shaking the frost off his armor "at least we know what we are up against now, though I didn't know that there were ghosts here."

  "Probably just didn't want to be bothered so they stay hidden." Marcus says, wiping himself down.

  "Maybe." Raul looks into the forest once more.

  Myra and the wolf walk back into the den, hearing Velora cackling to herself. She turns to them as they walk down.

  "You should have seen the look on their faces!" She ughs some more, "Oh my..." She calms herself down. "I haven't done something like that in a while..."

  [Thank you, Velora.]

  "No problem! Did you two have fun?"

  "Yes!" Myra jumps off the wolf and hops over to Velora, "They showed me a really cool waterfall!"

  Velora looks up to the wolf with surprise as it looks away shyly, Velora's face softens as she looks back to Myra. "That sounds nice."