[Trade] An unexpected Guest

The trio of reoseans sat quietly in the cave waiting for the thunderstorm to pass over. Whilst they recuperate from the eventful day things felt peaceful, serene even. Kaiko had gotten comfy curled on top of his bedroll after the party had eaten the mushrooms them and rosealyn had gathered deeper in the cave. Outside of the cave heavy wind was still whipping around creating sounds  that felt otherworldly as the air blew through crystals that were semi hollow creating a persistent yet calming sound.

Shale had started to fall earlier too as the thunderstorm had passed over the cave, yet by this point the worst seemed to have passed over and with the campfire in front of her, Mori couldn't help but start to feel a bit sleepy. She felt comfortable, seen and accepted for who she was, her accomplishment of making it through the thunderstorm currently warming her and her friends' pelts.

She closed her eyes, a content smile on her face as a sense of calm washed over her, if she strained her hearing she could still hear the scratching of quill on paper as rosealyn diligently updated her notes. 

„Found you.“ the runners eyes snapped back open and looked toward the cave entrance, where, seeming to separate itself from the shadow of the forest of the yet still overcast outside a muscular puller with a black pelt featuring crimson streaks across it approached the cave opening, his voice had sounded cold yet gleeful too and with the contorted smirk on his face that was halfway stretched into a snarl Mori knew- he didn‘t come here to ask to sit down by the fire.

The strangers voice and unannounced arrival immediately put everyone in a state of alarm. Kaiko got up and put himself between the group and the approaching dark coated stranger whilst Rosealyn quickly swiped her notes back into her back and joined Kaikos side.

„What do you want.“ said Rosealyn, her expression still relaxed, yet her eyes were intently studying the stranger, her instincts telling her to be cautious.

„Oh nothing really.“ responded the red coated puller, a low growled chuckle following his sentence as he prowled ever closer just like a predator who had successfully cornered its quarry.

„I must say.“ the strangers piercing gaze snapped over to meet Kaikos eyes. „You sure are interesting. Those scorch marks in the forest-“ he nodded into the direction where the group had come from without ever breaking eye contact. „A little birdy told me that those were your doing. And another birdy told me that…“ his muscles tensed, which in turn caused Rosealyn and Kaiko to brace themselves. „they are willing to pay a pretty sum for me to bring you in, pretty boy.“ 

Mori had frozen, staring at the scene unfolding before her eyes in pure and utter disbelief. The stranger lunged, bodies clashing as jaws found their mark and clasped onto their target. The next few seconds were utter and pure chaos, as the stranger and Kaiko started to fight it quickly became clear that the aloof Kaiko didn't have enough martial prowess to be an even match to their assailant. Rosealyn knew this and so she had also decided to throw herself at the dark coated puller- hoping that through their combined efforts they might be able to drive them off.

Mori had finally broken out of her stupor as it became clear that she too had to act, she looked around in a panic, the adrenaline clouding her thoughts. This is when her eyes settled on the campfire again, she quickly pushed herself to her feet and retrieved a still burning log from the fire, the warmth was uncomfortable against her face, yet she knew that it would be much more uncomfortable for that dangerous reosean to deal with.

Another barrage of teeth and claws found its mark just as a crunch rang out followed by a shrill cry ripping through the sounds of fighting which was quickly followed by Mori swinging at the dark coated puller with the burning log, causing them to jump back, which bought Kaiko just enough time to concentrate and channel his magic which sprang forth as a mighty wave of blue flame which he breathed on his foe, much like a dragon would. As Asarbs pelt was hit by the blue flame his face contorted in pain.

„I see. I underestimated you. I will be back.“ said the puller grinning devilishly  before he retreated back into the wilderness of vitalus.

Mori dropped the burning log and looked with concern to kaiko and then to rosealyn. Whilst Kaiko had sustained surface level wounds from the encounter, Rosealyn well…

The opalescent runner sharply inhaled through her teeth, her right front leg pulled up off of the ground as crimson ran down from it stemming from puncture wounds left behind by the assailant. Mori and Kaiko, alarmed at seeing Rosealyn in pain, rushed to her side, the puller immediately checking in on her leg.

„This is bad.“ said Mori, nervously glancing back to the cave opening, half expecting the crimson puller to be there again, the white of his teeth glimmering in the fire. yet she only saw wilderness.

„We need to move.“ said Rosealyn, trying to remain calm she tried to take a step forward, placing the paw down on the ground hesitantly, a part of her hoping that her paw was doing better than she thought it did, yet the sharp pain rushing up from said limb proved otherwise.

Kaiko looked with worry at Rosealyn before his gaze softened, trying to comfort the runner.

„We will get you help. Due to the thunderstorm we actually haven't gotten that far away from the settlement we bought supplies at earlier, someone must know how to treat your wound there.“ Mori nodded enthusiastically. She wished she could help Rosealyn but she knew next to nothing about treating wounds.

„Thanks everyone.“ said Rosealyn before laying down to rest and inspect her paw too, the other two would hastily dismantle the tents and collect their camp supplies.

Kaiko and Mori worked together to crudely bandage up the wound for the travel, before the two of them would take turns supporting their injured friend whilst one of them supported rosealyn the other kept an eye out for that black coated puller, who they were sure was still somewhere in this forest, recuperating from their little run in just to set after them again. Rosealyn was worried about what this puller had truly been after and who he had worked for, she knew she had to be more careful in the future and help Kaiko better to control his magic so that they could keep a low profile. As the trio made their way through the beautiful scenery of Vitalus with its floating islands, shimmering crystals and whimsical plants growing everywhere the sounds of nature had finally started to return to the forest as the sky above cleared up. 

The thunderstorm was over, which meant there was one less thing to worry about. Now they just had to go to a doctor and get some rest.

As Rosealyn hobbled along she couldn't help but smile at Kaiko who was usually so easily distractible, but now that she was hurt he was focused and just intended on getting her to a doctor. Glancing to her right, the clearly worried expression of mori met her gaze, who in return showed her an encouraging smile that only barely masked her anxiety.

In that moment Rosealyn swore to herself that they would be doing this trip again in the future- once she had healed up again.

"Thanks everyone. Lets do this again, but maybe without the creepy stranger from the woods." Kaiko laughed in response with Mori nodding.