The last few days of their journey were some of the hardest for Keke. With each passing sun, the inevitable parting between her and Matt grew closer. The time spent began to feel shorter, and she struggled to fill the space with interesting topics or activities. The task was made more difficult considering she was stuck in a carriage for most of her waking hours.

When the day of her departure at last arrived, she struggled to stay calm.

“We are almost there,” Cailu said, peering out the window. He’d insisted on riding with her and Matt that morning, and Keke was too nervous to object.

She bobbed her leg up and down on the ball of her foot to relieve the anxiety she felt. Cailu shot her a perturbed glance but said nothing. At least the man knew when to leave a girl alone.

Matt rested a hand on her bouncing knee. “It’s a lot greener out here.”

Even from inside the cabin, Keke could smell the aroma of dew-laden leaves, fresh soil, and the excited chirps of birds in search of food for their young. As the carriage continued along the path, the scents grew stronger, and they granted her a calm she hadn’t felt in weeks. The bouncing of her knee slowed, and for a moment, she felt at peace.

“It smells incredible,” Keke remarked.

“The locals prefer to live alongside nature,” Cailu said. “Few places compare when training to become a [Hunter].”

Keke peered through the window to her right. Spires of thick trees passed them by as crystal-clear droplets of water fell from the tips of leaves. The carriage shifted as it traveled up an incline, and Keke leaned against the seat as the forest enraptured her with its beauty.

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful forest,” Keke said in a voice barely above a whisper. Her body itched to explore and see what the thicket was hiding under every rock, every mound of dirt, and what plants grew here that she had yet to see. “This…this is Khasstead?”

She glanced at the elf as he nodded.

“Excited?” Matt asked.

A pang of guilt wracked her frame, drawing up the hairs on her skin. She bowed her head and leaned back, placing her hand over his. “To leave you? Never.” The truth was that her body felt as if it were being pulled in opposite directions. To think that it could be days, weeks, or even months before she saw Matt again crushed her. But thoughts of exploring the vast growth and how to traverse it more effectively fought to bury those feelings.

The carriage traveled upward for some time, and Keke wondered just how high they had gone. After a few minutes, she opened her mouth to ask when the carriage resumed a flat stride and turned to the right. A large fountain came into view, and the carriage rounded it, stopping at the opposite end from where they entered. The weight of the cabin shifted, and the door to Keke’s right opened.

“We’ve arrived in Khasstead,” the chipper coach said, gesturing for them to exit.

Cailu motioned for Keke and Matt to leave first. Keke took the lead, nodding her thanks to the coach on her exit. She strode forward a few steps, gasping with eyes wide. Somehow, the trees were even taller than they had initially appeared. A pair of unfamiliar, strikingly red birds flew overhead into a tree behind her. She’d only just arrived, and already she’d seen a species of Encroacher she would’ve never encountered on Ni Island.

Matt came to her side, furrowing his brow. “Do they just keep going?”

“Huh?” Keke asked, broken from her reverie.

“The trees.” He frowned. “I’ve never seen trees this tall. Makes me feel like they could fall over at any moment.”

She giggled. “I guess they do feel that way, huh?”

“Extra for your service,” Cailu said behind them. Keke turned around to see the elf put a few Bells in the catgirl’s palm. “We will depart in a few hours.”

“Very well! I’ll be at the tavern when you’re ready!” the catgirl saluted before jumping back into her seat and whipping the reins.

Ceres, Kirti, and Zahra approached from the carriage that had been following them. Ceres was practically running, waving her arm through the air like a kitten.

What I wouldn’t give to have that kind of energy, Keke thought as she smiled.

“Sir Matt! I beseech you to inhale deeply!” She shut her eyes, breathing in deep through her nostrils, then out through her mouth. “Have you ever tasted better air?”

“How incredible,” Zahra said with awe. “I had no idea such forests even existed.”

“You trained on San Island, didn’t you? Don’t they have some pretty dense forests?” Matt asked.

“I did,” Zahra said, shaking her head, “but never anything like this. It feels like the land has a voice.”

“That’s because it does,” an approaching woman said. Keke and the others turned to the source of the sound to see a catgirl with a build similar to her own. Long brown hair tied into innumerable braids framed a fair-skinned face with vibrant green eyes. Tight, form-fitting leather garbbed her generous curves from head to toe. A brown fur cloak draped over her shoulders, giving her the air of an experienced leader. “The land is always talking. You just need to listen.”

“A-ah,” Zahra stammered.

“Mm, yes. I think I hear the trees now,” Kirti said, wearing a familiar smirk.

Cailu stepped forward with a hand to his chest. “Forgive my Party member’s ignorance. My name is Cailu Raloquen.” Keke watched and fought down a laugh as Matt mouthed Cailu’s next words in time with Cailu. “First of his name. Are you Sylva?”

“I am.” Sylva crossed her arms. She flicked her head toward Keke. “Are you Keke?”

Keke blinked. “Yes, that’s me. How did you—”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Cailu informed me of your coming weeks ago.” She came closer, sniffing the air mere inches from her face. Afterward, she drew back, and the slightest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You smell of the forest. How long have you been a [Scout]?”

“About four years.” It felt weird to say it. Choosing an initial Class was a very personal thing. To share it openly with so many others listening and watching felt intrusive. “It’s always been a part of me.”

Sylva seemed to think nothing of it, though. “I can see that.” She looked up, and her gaze caught a large black bird deftly flying between the trees. “Let’s get inside. Looks like it’s starting to rain.”

As Sylva led them away from the fountain, Keke took in every sight she could. Unlike the villages and towns she’d visited prior, the dwellings appeared to be crafted from several logs stacked on top of one another. The buildings had awnings on each side, protecting fires, crafts, and penned Encroachers from the oncoming drizzle.

What Keke found most interesting, however, was that despite the amount of women laboring outside, the air was quiet. Each of them worked with steady hands, talking in smooth tones and treading lightly wherever they went. She liked to believe she had an ear for the subtle, but she found it difficult to hear much of anything.

“In here,” Sylva said, opening the door to one of the dwellings. Inside, a hearth was burning at the back of the room, blanketing the room in a vibrant orange glow. Sylva strode in first, Cailu and his Party close behind her. Keke entered with Matt and Ceres afterward, awestruck by the design. She’d never seen finer carpentry in her life. The chairs were lined with furs to make them softer, and the heads of Encroachers were mounted on the walls. “Take a seat, please.”

Cailu offered Sylva a nod before she disappeared behind a pair of batwing doors. Keke frowned, then took a seat on one of the larger couches closer to the hearth where a long table stood. Matt and Ceres flanked her while Cailu and his Party took the couch on the other side of the table.

“This reminds me a lot of the camping trips I took as a kid,” Matt said.

“Camping trips?” Keke asked. She loved hearing about his previous world.

“Yeah. My parents loved the outdoors. They’d fight a lot, but going out to the forest was kinda nice. We’d dig for bugs, cook some of the fish we caught, and—” He stopped, then bowed his head.

“It’s not forever,” she whispered. She knew he hated to make a scene in front of others. “I’ll be right back by your side before you know it.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know. Just thinking is all.” He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “Anyway, we’d sleep in cabins like this one. It’s kind of nostalgic.”

“It sounds like it. Believe it or not, Cannoli’s the one that likes digging up bugs.” Keke giggled. “We can try it together when we’re back on Ni.”

Matt nodded and gave her a weak smile.

Sylva returned with her left hand closed into a fist. She walked up to Keke and then opened her hand to reveal a small trinket. Thin sinews wound together in a web pattern in the center of a wooden hoop, holding a pure white feather in their grasp. “Wear this at all times, Keke. This marks you as a [Hunter] in training. Consider it your heart.”

“I will. Thank you,” Keke said, taking the medallion. She turned it around to find a small clasp on the back. She slid the clasp onto her collar, then shook it to make sure it was secure. A chill shot down her spine, and she fought down the urge to gasp. “What was that?”

“The medallion has recognized you,” Sylva said. “It acknowledges you as one of its own. I’ll explain it more tomorrow.” Keke nodded, and Sylva took a seat opposite the hearth. “We don’t have a tavern, but we would be happy to feed you before you leave.”

“We would be most grateful,” Cailu said, nodding.

“Think nothing of it. Bring back a large Encroacher next time I see you, and we’ll consider ourselves even.”

“We could at least pay you,” Keke offered.

Sylva cocked a brow. “Did Cailu not tell you?”

“Tell us what?” Matt asked.

“Your Bells have no value here,” Sylva said. “We deal in trade, not in coin. Coin is the purveyor of greed.”

“I admire your traditional outlook,” Kirti said with a playful smile.

“Kirti,” Cailu warned.

Kirti hummed.

“You deal in trade alone?” Zahra asked, genuine curiosity coloring her tone. “I’ve never been somewhere like this.”

“Coin deceives and corrupts. Only the land is honest and true,” Sylva explained.

Ceres put both hands to her chest. “My goodness. I am overwhelmed by such purity.”

“Give back, and you have nothing to fear. It is as simple as that.” Sylva glanced at Cailu, then at Matt. “With that said, I would make a request of the men.” Matt and Cailu looked at her. “Our clan leader’s daughter seeks to have a child of her own to pass on her lessons. Would either of you be able to assist her?”

Keke’s heart skipped a beat.

Cailu blinked, and Matt wrung his hands.

“Yeah, I can help you out,” Matt offered. “What’s her name?”

“Lily. After dinner, I can take you to her cabin.”

Matt nodded. He seemed to be chewing on the thought. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll help her out after dinner.”

“You have our thanks,” Sylva said, offering the first warm smile Keke had seen since their arrival. “She’ll be elated.” She rose from her seat. “I’ll see to it that dinner doesn’t take long. As grateful as I am for your help, we prefer to avoid as much foreign influence as possible.”

“We understand,” Cailu said.

Sylva smiled briefly again, then disappeared behind the batwing doors.

Keke wanted to ask him if he was sure, but not in front of everyone like this.

“I’m going to step outside for a minute,” Matt said, getting up. “The wagon and the cabin aren’t doing much in the way of fresh air.”

“I’ll join you,” Keke offered.

Matt paused, glanced at her, then smiled. “Okay.” He gestured for her to follow, and the two stepped outside, closing the door behind them.

The rain had worsened since they arrived. It was a steady downpour, washing out the other scents Keke had smelled earlier. Now, all there was was water. As the droplets pelted the rooftops, catgirls shared meals with one another under the safety of the awnings. Amusingly enough, she could hear them better now.

Probably because they have to speak louder.

That wasn’t important. The man standing beside her was.

“Are you okay with doing that, Matt?” Keke at last asked.

Matt glanced at her. “I have to be. Besides, it’ll give me some good Experience and Bells.”

I don’t want you to look at it like that.

“I need to take it more seriously, so I will.” He crossed his arms and drew a deep breath. “It’s weird, isn’t it? What would’ve happened if you didn’t pull me out of the water? Would I have ended up in some other catgirl’s care? Would I have gotten eaten by a Defiled?”

“Why are you talking like that?” His tone worried her. It wasn’t the tone of a person who was saying goodbye; it was the tone of a man who’d given up. “You know that the first thing I’m going to do as soon as I change to [Hunter] is send for you, right?”

“I know,” he nodded. “I’ve just…been thinking a lot, I guess. Now that we’re finally here, the day we met is just playing through my mind a lot. I keep repeating it in my head, and a part of me wishes I could stop it.”

“Matt…” She nudged closer to him and pulled his left arm free before wrapping her arms around his elbow. She leaned against his shoulder. He felt so strong and solid, and yet she could practically touch the turmoil in his heart. She sympathized. “Things will work out, you’ll see.”

“Yeah. I know. I guess I’m just feeling nostalgic is all.” Matt sighed. “Jeez, listen to me. I gotta stop that. I should be trying to look at this like another adventure.”

“Hey. We can both think about the next adventure later.” She nuzzled his bicep. “For now, let’s just enjoy the time we have.”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

They watched the rain fall together in silence.

Maybe this will do us some good. Our relationship is becoming…dangerous.

image [https://i.imgur.com/aOCqjUK.png]