--- Kat ---
The next two days was an exercise in frustration. It turns out 'you'll know it when you see it' was a terrible bit of advice. Kat and crew had been up and down a handful of paths, getting attacked every step of the way. Sometimes it was clear the monsters were just defending territory but the group was getting at least a little annoyed. Lily had even taken to attacking properly in the later attacks.
The first turnoff on the first day was really notable. It had a lovely stone pathway lined with blue stones on the edges. It looked to be done in exceptionally high quality and if a stone path, made by an earth wizard and professionally maintained was anything else? The group decided they'd be surprised. Experience more content on m v|l e-NovelFire
Sadly for them, while it likely was professionally maintained by an earth mage, it also wasn't where they needed to go. It took them around three hours of travel to arrive, but instead of a town they found a mansion set into a cliff. The guard at the door informed them this was the summer home of the king, and was also used to grow some herbs. Which, sure, great. Long Live the King and all that.
Problem was, it really wasn't where they wanted to be.
So back down the pathway they went and onto the main road once again. Once they took a short break to snack, they were moving again. They kept going until they found a side path that quickly changed into a bridge suspended amongst some large trees. While the wooden rope bridge didn't seem likely to be maintained by an earth mage...
The short track of road DID. It was beautifully done with floral designs carved into the stones underneath a layer of something obsidian like that allowed you to see those designs through a sort of blueish lens. It looked wonderful and maybe counted as the road they were looking for? So into the forest they went.
This ended up being a massive slog. You see, it was clear they couldn't take the horse up on the shaking bridge so they tried to follow along from the ground. Well, the group learnt why there was a bridge at all. Apparently this particular forest was home to every single ambush predator in existence, along with all of their close relatives.
Their first few steps into the woods had a bunch of brownish monsters that looked a bit like a cross between a worm, a leech and a piece of shit. They were disgusting to look at, with mouth full of teeth and just to add to the effect, smelt like rotting leaves. But it was fine, a few waves of fire and it was all dealt with. Nobody commented on Hunter's use of fire at the time.
They would later regret not encouraging her to use more.
A few steps later and from the shadows this monkey fox thing and its friends burst into action. They had fox ears and a bushy tail but they had a gorillas size and a monkeys build with large claws ready to tear things to shreds. Lily took great interest in the shadows they'd left while the rest of the group cut them down.
"Well it's not here, so leave me the fuck alone," grumbled the woman. Slamming the door in their faces.
Kat growled a bit at the response but didn't make any further moves. She wanted to throw open the door and beat some manners into the old woman. They'd just spend HOURS fighting through the fucking forest because she has a fancy road leading to her house... and it was the wrong place.
Sure it wasn't necessarily this woman's fault... but where are the signs! Why have such a fancy entrance if you're just going to tell people to fuck off? Kat didn't know what to think, but none of them were particularly kind thoughts.
"I suggest we camp here. I suspect the old woman feeds the beasts here and manages them. They likely know better then to bother her home. Once that is over... we will need to make our way back. If you do not mind Kat, perhaps it is worth considering the option of carrying Kamiko and the horse. The branches are mostly high enough for it not to be an issue and we can make better time with your aura up.
"In case you are wondering why I have neglected to use my own but were too polite to ask? Well, my own aura is not so good against ambush hunters, as many simply react on instinct. They attack disturbances without truly understanding why and I cannot use my more advanced tricks on groups.
I am happy to provide some demonstrations on the way back, but if the monsters at least know where we are we can more easily deal with their responses. If they attack blindly it can be harder to judge their attacks," suggested Hunter.
"That's fine," said Kat tiredly. Abusing her aura so much to ensure they made it through the forest had been exhausting in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. Kat made a mental note to practice that particular skill in the future.
"Um... should we... maybe not cook tonight?" offered Kamiko hesitantly. "Just... there's a lot of monsters around and even if they'd normally avoid the area around the door, they might just ignore that threshold if there's food on offer,"
"You just want an excuse to eat jelly," accused Lily.
Kamiko blushed and looked away while Kat chuckled a bit at her friend getting caught. Hunter however, thought it was a good idea. "I am not overly fond of jelly myself but I do believe Kamiko's suggestion is a good one to bear in mind," With Hunter's vote, Kat and Lily just shrugged and went along with things. They had enough prepared food for it to be no issue.
And so ended the day of frustration... but only the first one. Tomorrow was something else!