The early morning was warm, the grass was still wet and the birds chirped as they began their daily routine.

"Alright! Let's get going." Gyll said ready to venture off into the dark forest.

"Somebody has to stay and keep the supplies safe," Razyl said.

Everyone just looked at Razyl, who understood that he'd be the on to say.

"Oh...I see...I'll just...hang out here I guess." Razyl said trying to sound happy.

"Great, let's go!" Gyll said as he marched off, Mi followed him giving Razyl a thumbs up, Kaber just patted Razyl on the shoulder and let too.

As the group followed the map down a muddy path, deep into the forest which seemed to be located in a large basin, many streams fed into it turning the forest into more of a swamp at ground level.

"So who do you think dropped the map?" Kaber asked.

"I don't know, but what's the worst thing that can happen from following a random map blindly," Gyll replied.

The group walked slowly in silence for a bit before Gyll turned one hundred and eighty degrees, "I just taught of at least ten horrible things, let's go back." Gyll cried.

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

"We went this far, we have to keep going," Kaber replied, grabbing Gyll by the collar and dragging him forward.

"Stop being such a coward!" Kaber demanded, "What's the worst thing that- I mean, the chances of us getting hurt are.. I-" Kaber stumbled over his words.

"What he's trying to say is that we can't go back right now," Mi said.

"Yes, exactly! We can't go back now, for that would cost us our honour!" Kaber exclaimed.

"What I meant is that your arguing attracted just about every beast in our area, and they're following us." Mi corrected Kaber.

"Yes, that's what I m-" Kaber stopped mid-sentence, before turning back and seeing a massive Spore Fiend.

It's hunched body was covered in luminous pink sores and its many orifices oozed pink slime. It has an unproportionally large upper torso and leet and arms as thick as tree trunks.

It's giant jaw hung loosely open revealing rows upon rows of sharp needle-like teeth each wiggling slightly.

Its skin was like that of a cross between a dried fruit, leather and moss.

It must have been at least five meters tall and three meters wide.

Gyll stood perfectly still, "Kaber, please tell me there's nothing scary behind us..." Gyll pleaded.

"N-no, it's just...extremely intimidating," Kaber replied.

Kaber picked Gyll up, holding him under his arm, and started sprinting down the path, Mi followed behind.

"Mi, can you kill it?" Gyll asked,

"Not without bathing the local area in position spores and slime..." Mi replied.

"LOOK OUT!" Kaber yelled as the group fell down a cliff into the darkness.

 [https://i.imgur.com/XF64xpW.jpg]