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There’s a part of you that wishes you simply got isolated by the storm. Not only have you been separated from your only allies on this journey, but now you’re also stuck with the two people who have done nothing but antagonize you from the start. Seeing the faces of Benicto and Dorez makes you want to run off deep into the forest or up to the mountains, never to be heard from nor seen again. You start to wonder how this could possibly get worse, but you don’t want to tempt the gods into torturing you any further.
As if reading your mind, Benicto sneers and breaks the uneasy silence. “Great. The only other person we can find is oilaskoa? We’re doomed.”
Dorez stands a few paces behind him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looks like she wants to say something but holds back, her eyes darting between you and Benicto.
He narrows his eyes, then lights up as though he’s spotted something upon which to pounce. “What’s the matter? Missing your little friends already?” He steps closer, his eyes glinting with malice. “You’re just dead weight, you know that? If it weren’t for us, you’d be lost out here.”
You nearly grind your teeth down to a powder, biting back a retort and trying to steady your nerves. You’ve learned by now that engaging with Benicto usually only makes things worse.
“Look,” you say, trying your best to not escalate matters, “we’re all in this together now. The storm has scattered everyone, and the only way we’re getting out of this is by working together.”
Benicto laughs, a harsh, grating sound. “Working together? With you?” He spits on the ground in contempt. “You’d just slow us down.”
Dorez shoots Benicto a look, her eyes a mix of frustration and anxiety. “Benicto, this is not the time,” she mutters, but her voice lacks conviction. Her head hangs low, almost as though her neck struggles to hold it up, while she clutches herself tightly. She’s clearly shaken by the separation from the rest of the group and the ordeal of the storm.
Benicto waves her off dismissively. “No, it’s exactly the time. We need to figure out what to do, and I don’t want oilaskoa here slowing us down.” He turns his glare back to you. “Do you even know what to do in a situation like this?”
“We need water,” you say, keeping your voice calm and measured despite the rising anger. “That should be our first priority. And shelter. If we want to survive, we need to find both. Standing here arguing isn’t going to help anyone”
Dorez nods, seemingly grateful for the practical suggestion. Benicto, on the other hand, rolls his eyes, but doesn’t argue. “Fine, we look for water. But don’t think I’m going to carry you if you collapse, oilaskoa.”
You swallow your pride and nod. “Let’s just focus on surviving.”
The forest around you feels oppressive. As you move through it, the towering trees and thick underbrush seems like they’re closing in, mirroring the suffocating tension between the three of you. Every rustle and snap of a twig sets your nerves on edge. But you force yourself to keep moving. Your mouth feels dry with thirst, and you keep your eyes peeled for any signs of a stream or river. The sooner you find water, the sooner you can address the other immediate needs: shelter and food.
“Over there,” Dorez says suddenly, pointing ahead. You follow her gaze and see a slight depression in the ground, leading downhill. “If we follow that, it might lead us to water.”
You nod and take the lead, with Benicto grumbling, but following behind. Dorez stays close, her eyes darting around nervously. As you make your way down the slope, you can’t help but feel a small spark of hope. If you can just find water, maybe you can start to turn this dire situation around.
The journey downhill is treacherous. The ground slick with mud from the recent storm, and the unmarked path is steep and uneven. The cold, wet terrain seeps through your worn, leather shoes. Several times, you nearly lose your footing, and your arms flail to maintain balance. Every stumble is met with Benicto’s derisive snorts. His contemptuous laughter cuts through the sound of your labored breaths. Yet you press on, determined not to let him get to you.
As you push through the tangled woods, your stomach growls in protest, a gnawing reminder of how long it’s been since your last meal. Only the occasional crackling of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures breaks the stillness. The longer you walk, the more isolated you feel within this vast, untamed place, especially while traveling alongside Dorez and Benicto.
Dorez suddenly stops, her eyes scanning the underbrush. She kneels and gently parts the foliage, revealing a cluster of berries. “These look familiar,” she murmurs, picking a few and examining them closely. “They’re similar to what we have back home.”
You watch as she cautiously tastes one, waiting a moment before nodding. “Yup, safe,” she says as she chews. A small smile of triumph slowly grows on her face. She picks more, offering some to you and Benicto, but he steps away, inspecting or searching for some indiscernible item.
“How do you know what’s safe to eat?” you ask, curiosity getting the better of you.
Dorez shrugs, handing you a handful of the berries. “I learned to forage from my mother. She taught me to look for certain signs. These berries, for instance, are slightly bitter, but not toxic. They grow in clusters, and the leaves have a distinctive shape that’s similar to what we’re used to back home.” She glances around, spotting another familiar plant. “And these,” she says, plucking a few leaves, “can be brewed into a tea that helps with fatigue.”
“That’s quite a skill to have,” you say, genuinely impressed by her knowledge. “Seems like you’re good at this, knowing what to look for. I wish I knew how to forage like that.”
She gives a small, self-deprecating laugh. “It’s come in handy more times than I can count. We might be in a new land, but nature often has patterns and signs. Similar leaf patterns, colors, smells… It’s not an exact science, but it’s better than starving.”
As you sit and eat, you feel the tension between you and her easing slightly. Noticing that Benicto has wandered off somewhere, you seize the moment to ask, “How did you and Benicto end up on this expedition?”
Dorez hesitates, a look of discomfort settling on her face, then shrugs. “Same as everyone else, I guess. Adventure, a chance to see new lands, make a name for myself. Not much to it. This expedition seemed like the perfect opportunity.” She pauses, her eyes growing distant, and her voice softens. “You know, Benicto... he’s had a hard life. Lost a lot. It’s made him... well, you’ve seen.”
You nod, understanding the implication. “Unfortunately, it’s not been easy for any of us,” you say softly.
“No, it’s not,” she says solemnly. “But we all have our reasons for being here.”
Before you can ask more, Benicto’s voice cuts through the relative calm. “Enough chit-chat,” he snaps, glaring at both of you. “We need to keep moving. Who knows what’s out here watching us.”
Dorez sighs, but stands, brushing off her hands. “He’s right. We need to find water and shelter before nightfall.” Her tone is now brisk and business-like, and her expression hardens as she promptly turns away from you.
The three of you continue your trek. The land becomes darker, with shadows growing longer as the sun dips lower. Like the waning light, the brief connection you felt with Dorez slips away, replaced by the ever-present tension of your predicament.
Finally, you hear it: the faint sound of running water. Your heart leaps, and you quicken your pace, leaving the others to follow close behind. You break through the underbrush and find yourself at the edge of a small, burbling brook. The clear water is beyond a welcome sight.
“There!” you exclaim, gesturing to the gently flowing stream. “We have water!”
Benicto grunts in acknowledgement, his usual sneer tempered by the sight of the water. “At least you’re not completely useless.”
You ignore his remark and move to the edge of the stream, cupping your hands to drink. The cool water is a relief, washing away some of the exhaustion and frustration. As you drink, you feel a small sense of accomplishment. It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless—something you desperately need after these trying times.
Dorez kneels beside you, drinking deeply as well. “We should rest here for a bit,” she says between gulps, “then figure out our next move.”
You nod, finally feeling rejuvenated as the chilled water rushes down your throat. With a renewed vigor, you prepare to find some shelter for the night. Will you need to construct something? Is there a natural formation that you could use for the time being? With the sun sinking low beneath the tree line, your opportunity to find such a location is quickly slipping away.
You glance at Benicto, whose scowl seems permanently etched into his face. “We need to figure out where to sleep tonight,” you say, trying to mask your own uncertainty.
Benicto crosses his arms, his eyes narrowing into slits. “And I suppose you know how we’ll achieve that, oilaskoa?”
Heat rises in your cheeks, but before you can respond, Dorez cuts in. “Do you?” she challenges, her tone sharp, and her eyes flash with a defiance that dares him to deny his ignorance.
Benicto glares at her. It’s clear he doesn’t have the faintest idea, yet he remains standing in stubborn silence, offended to be confronted by her. The two lock eyes, refusing to break or give in.
Taking a deep breath, you decide to break the tension. “We need branches and leaves. Something to cover us from the elements.”
Benicto scoffs low and derisively, but he follows your lead. The two of you begin searching the forest floor and gathering anything you presume could be passable shelter-building materials. Ever practical, Dorez points out sturdy branches and shows you how to lash them together with vines. The three of you work, focused on the task at hand, with only the rustle of leaves and snap of twigs underfoot disturbing the uneasy silence.
As the structure begins to take shape, it becomes painfully clear that none of you have the skills of a true builder. The shelter is flimsy at best, a haphazard assembly of branches and leaves that barely hold together. You can feel Benicto’s eyes boring into you, his frustration simmering just below the surface in constant, silent accusation.
“Great job, oilaskoa,” he mutters sarcastically, his voice dripping with contempt. “This sure will keep us safe.”
Once again, you resist starting a fight with Benicto. You are all tired and anxious, and additionally, Dorez’s words about his unfortunate past echo in your memory. While it doesn’t excuse his treatment of you, it makes your decision to let his poor effort at riling you up roll off your back. For now.
Sensing the rising hostility, Dorez steps between you two. “We did the best we could,” she says firmly. “None of us know how to build a shelter, but we need to work together if we’re going to survive long enough to find the others.”
Benicto opens his mouth to argue, face twisted into a grotesque snarl. But then thinks better of it, seemingly sensing the futility. With a final glare, he turns away, muttering something under his breath.
The three of you huddle under the makeshift shelter as the first drops of rain begin to fall. The sound is a soft, insistent tapping on the leaves that you find soothing amidst the rigors of your arduous journey. It’s certainly not perfect, but it will have to do. You find this place to be a temporary reprieve from the constant bickering, as the rain’s steady cadence soothes your fears and begins lulling you to sleep.
In the dim light, you catch Dorez’s eye. She offers a small, weary smile, as if to silently acknowledge your shared struggle. Despite the flimsy shelter and the relentless challenges, you feel a spark of hope. The rain may fall, the night may close in around you, but you are not alone. Perhaps you can find a way to work together and survive this ordeal after all.
The rain intensifies, drumming on the leaves above with increasing intensity. The shelter creaks and sways under the assault of the wind, but somehow holds. You can hear Benicto’s breathing, a steady, angry rhythm that matches the pounding of the rain. His frustration is palpable, a storm within a storm.
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“Tomorrow,” you begin, your voice barely audible over the rain, “we’ll find a better spot. Maybe there will be better materials, and…” You pause, recognizing how your heart feels heavy with hope, “maybe we’ll find some sign of the others. They might have taken refuge near another, greater source of water after the storm.”
Benicto doesn’t respond immediately. This doesn’t surprise you, and you brace yourself for when he inevitably scolds you for your wishful thinking. Finally—to your astonishment—he merely grunts in acknowledgment.
Dorez shifts beside you, her body a warm presence in the cold night. “We’ll make it,” she says softly, more to herself than to either of you. “We have to.”
The rain continues its relentless percussion. You close your eyes, letting the sound wash over you, drowning out the doubts and fears that wrack your mind.
Time passes, and the rain eventually subsides, leaving a lingering dampness in its wake. The forest around you stirs with nocturnal life. Creatures unseen and unknown call out with a haunting lullaby. You drift in and out of uneasy sleep, the shelter barely more than a fragile cocoon against the night. You hope that the new day will bring with it a sense of renewal, that your fortunes will change, and you’ll find a way through—perhaps to your companions, to Gartzen, to Landera. You hope.
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You’re awoken from a fitful night’s sleep to the sound of a low rumbling. Could your stomach be growling from hunger again? You rise slowly, stiff and sore from the night on the hard ground. Benicto and Dorez follow you, groaning from their exhaustion and reluctance to get up.
The morning air is crisp, and looking out from your shelter, you take in the faint glow of the dawn’s orange and pink hues. Still weary from the previous day’s ordeal, you, Benicto, and Dorez set out in search of food. With a perpetual scowl, Benicto takes the lead. His distrustful eyes sweep the underbrush as if expecting the forest itself to leap out and pounce upon him. Dorez and you follow closely behind, on the lookout for anything edible.
Each step forward is cautious and uneasy. The ground beneath you is damp from the night’s rain, making your progress slow. But even as you look upon your surroundings with skepticism, you still admire how the forest awakens around you. Birds call to each other as leaves suspended on the gnarled branches rustle in a gentle breeze like waves crashing upon the shore. The liveliness of nature is a small comfort, though it’s not enough to distract you from the overwhelming hunger in your stomach.
Dorez halts suddenly, her keen eyes catching sight of something amidst the green. A cluster of wild berries and some roots peek through the foliage, looking tantalizingly familiar. You try to recall what you learned from your brief discussion with her yesterday, picking up how she was able to discern what she was foraging. She crouches down to inspect them, and a hint of a smile breaks through her usually stern expression.
“These look safe,” she declares, picking a few berries and popping them into her mouth. The moment stretches, and you watch her closely. Finally, she nods. “We can eat these.”
Relief washes over you. You and Benicto join her, collecting as many berries as you can carry. As you do, Dorez abruptly rushes over to an old and weathered tree, which you think might be an oak, judging by its leaves. She crouches down, her fingers gently brushing away the top layer of soil to reveal a cluster of roots.
“These look promising,” she murmurs, more to herself than to you or Benicto. Her eyes light up, and she excitedly points at them. “I’ve seen these before! They’re like the ones we used to find back home!”
You kneel beside her, examining the roots she has uncovered. They’re thick and knobby, with a mottled brown skin. Dorez carefully pulls one from the ground, investigating it closely before breaking off a small piece and tasting it. She chews thoughtfully, then nods.
Always the skeptic, Benicto crosses his arms and watches from a distance with a deepening scowl. But he doesn’t protest. The sight of edible food is enough to quell even his doubts, if only temporarily. The three of you begin to dig up the roots, working methodically to grab as many as you can.
A rustling noise catches your attention. Benicto motions for you and Dorez to stay quiet. You peer through the brush and spot a small herd of rodents scurrying about, plump and sleek, with deep brown fur that blends seamlessly with the forest floor. Each one is about the size of a rabbit, with whiskers that twitch as they sniff the air. While the idea would make you squeamish any other day, you realize this is a potential source of much-needed protein. Hunger sharpens your senses, and the sight of the small game stirs a primal drive within you.
“We need to catch them,” you whisper, eyes fixed on the scampering creatures.
You, Benicto, and Dorez quickly set to work, trying to devise a plan. Having never attempted to capture anything, the first attempts are rudimentary. You fashion makeshift traps from branches and vines, placing enticing berries upon them, then setting them carefully in the rodents’ paths. Benicto directs with a low and authoritative voice, while Dorez’s hands move with practiced precision.
However, the traps prove ineffective. The rodents easily evade the crude snares with their quick reflexes and sharp senses. You watch in frustration as one by one, they slip through, their small bodies darting away into the shadows.
“Aizue!” Benicto curses, his scowl deepening. “How are these stupid creatures eluding us!”
You take a moment to regroup. Dorez examines the edible roots you gathered earlier. Suddenly, she jumps up with excitement. “We can use these as bait,” she suggests, holding up a root. “If we can lure them into a confined space, we might have a better chance.”
With renewed motivation, you set up a more elaborate trap. Using the roots, you create a trail leading into a narrow pathway lined with rocks and branches, forming a sort of funnel. The plan is simple, and hopefully effective: draw the rodents in and then corner them where they have nowhere to escape.
Benicto positions himself at the entrance of the pathway with a makeshift spear in hand, ready to strike if needed. You and Dorez flank the sides, ready to block any attempts at escape. Looking at your positioning, you’re cautiously optimistic at this plan’s chance of success.
Finally, you’re ready. Every heartbeat stretches into an eternity. Your muscles are coiled, ready to spring into action at the slightest movement. The forest around you seems to hold its breath, the usual cacophony of sounds muted by the intensity of the moment.
Then, you see it. Drawn by the scent of the roots, the first rodent cautiously approaches. It’s soon followed by another, and then another. Slowly, they edge their way into the pathway, noses twitching, whiskers quivering. Your heart pounds in your chest as you urge them closer, closer to the roots.
“Now,” you whisper, the command barely audible.
In a flurry of movement, you and Dorez spring into action, blocking the exits with branches and rocks. The rodents panic, darting back and forth, but the pathway holds. Benicto lunges forward and aims his spear with precision. The first rodent falls, and then another, while you and Dorez urgently work to secure the rest.
The moment is chaotic, filled with the sounds of struggle and the frantic scurrying of the trapped creatures. But then, it’s over. You stand there, panting. At your feet lie enough small game to feed you all, and the sight lifts your spirits. You actually did it! You all pulled it off!
Benicto’s scowl actually softens with a rare look of approval in his eyes. “Good work,” he says, his voice grudging, but sincere.
Dorez smiles with a genuine expression of relief. “We did it,” she says, her eyes meeting yours.
Feeling a sense of accomplishment, you all make your way back to the rickety shelter by the stream. As you approach, the forest seems eerily and unsettlingly silent. Your instincts prick up, and you raise your hand, signaling for the others to halt.
A low, rumbling growl echoes through the trees. This time, you know it’s not your stomach anticipating breakfast. You look around, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. The underbrush rustles, and a large, shadowy figure emerges—a puma, eyes gleaming with hunger, muscles rippling under its sleek coat.
“They have pumas here?” Benicto remarks with a slight quiver. Dorez and you are too stunned and full of fear to respond.
The puma sizes up its prey, circling you with a deepening growl. Benicto brandishes the makeshift spear from earlier, trying to appear threatening. With your head, you point toward the shelter. Dorez and you hold your ground, backing slowly towards it, hoping to use it as a barrier.
Without warning, the puma lunges. Benicto thrusts his spear, managing to graze the predator. But it’s not enough to deter it. The predator snarls, enraged at the audacity. Thinking quickly, Dorez places the small game near the flames and grabs a burning stick from the remnants of your fire. She waves it at the puma, hoping the weak flames will be enough to scare it off and dissuade it from eating your prized hunt.
The predator snarls, momentarily hesitating. You seize the opportunity, grabbing a rock and hurling it at the puma with all your might. The rock strikes the beast on the nose, causing it to yelp in pain and back off slightly.
Taking advantage of the puma’s distraction, the three of you retreat to the shelter. Benicto and you hold the entrance, with spear and rocks in hand, while Dorez fans the flames, making them as large and threatening as possible.
The puma circles the shelter, its eyes glowing in rage. The beast starts to lunge at you, swiping its paw with a lightning quick strike. The claws graze Benicto, slicing through his clothing. He shouts in pain and looks down, noticing that he’s gotten off lucky: the creature only ripped through his clothing, just missing his flesh.
Now the beast searches for a way to reach you, looking for where to strike next. But the smoke and flames frighten it, causing it to back away. You and Dorez wave sticks aglow with fire, shouting at the top of your lungs to frighten it away. The animal is unamused, baring its long fangs.
After a few more laps, you decide to make a compromise with the puma. Despite Benicto’s protests, you take one of the rodents and fling it at the predator. At first, the creature is confused, growling fiercely toward you. But once it sees the rodent’s lifeless body nearby, it snatches up the prey and casually departs the area.
Breathing heavily, you watch as the puma slinks back into the forest. The three of you remain still, delaying any celebrations until you all feel confident that the beast has left. After what you hope is enough time passing, you finally relax, exchanging relieved glances as you lower your provisional weapons. Benicto laments his torn garment and declares that the rodent you tossed was your meal, but Dorez quickly reminds him of the reality of his circumstances: that he was spared being mauled. The adrenaline slowly ebbs away, leaving you shaky, but alive.
Realizing you cannot stay in one place for too long, especially with predators around, you quickly gather your belongings. The memory of the puma’s fierce eyes still haunts you. With your small game secured and the threat of the puma still fresh in your minds, you decide to move on and search for the rest of your party.
The sun has already begun its descent by the time you depart. The hunt and the encounter with the puma took more time out of the day than you realized. Now, you grow concerned that you won’t be able to find either your companions nor a more secure shelter. Or, worse, your way back to the settlement.
Benicto looks up at the sky, appearing to mutter some type of calculations to himself. He points in a seemingly random direction. “That should be the way back to Aitzabal,” he proclaims.
Dorez scoffs. “How can you be so certain?”
“Based on the positioning of the sun, and the direction of the stream, obviously,” he confidently states. You look around the environment, wondering how he’s making such determinations. You may not be an expert in scouting, but something in his deduction doesn’t sit well with you. If it were as simple as he makes it out to be, you believe you all would’ve found your companions by now, at least.
“When did you become an avid explorer?” she teases. You notice there’s an uneasiness to her smile, as though she’s trying not to get on Benicto’s bad side. But you feel as though she isn’t confident in his assessment, as well. However, you know that any protest you make will be quickly dismissed and met by his ire. You’re not sure how to navigate this situation, but you expect this journey will not go well if you can’t figure out the correct way to go, and soon.
Under any other circumstances, you’d find your trek through these foreign forests to be pleasurable, soaking in the sights and relishing in the new environments. But now, everything in this treacherous landscape feels like it’s threatening you. Every step, every noise, every shadow plots your demise. After wandering the land long enough until the sun begins to settle into the horizon, the three of you realize that finding your way back is not as simple as you once believed.
Eventually, you all have no choice but to establish another temporary shelter. The construction of this one is shoddier than the last, hastily thrown together and built while exhausted, hungry, and becoming increasingly frustrated. You want so badly to criticize Benicto, belittling him for his poor navigational skills. For likely having you all travel further away from the settlement, and endangering your lives.
But you think better of it. He’ll only become defensive, making an already tense journey even more so. It’ll also upset Dorez, who, you can already see, is furious with him, but is also refraining from chastising him. Most of all, it won’t accomplish anything. You’ll all still be lost, still aimlessly wandering these forests, and cause further division, when you all need to be working together now more than ever. It doesn’t stop you from making a determination on your own, however: first thing in the morning, you decide, you will try and figure out the direction you should be going, and contemplate leaving these two behind in pursuit of your fellow Legido explorers.
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The breaking morning sun hits your face, waking you up and reminding you that you’re still lost in these woodlands. Grumpily, you move about the shelter, collecting your items as you plan to leave. You’ve had it with Benicto, and though you feel tensions lifting between you and Dorez, you simply cannot allow yourself to be misled any further. You just hope that you can slip away before either of them notices.
As you grab your satchel, a rustling in the nearby bushes alarms you. Not again, you think, hoping the puma hasn’t been tracking you all this way. There’s no food inside this camp; what else could it want? A small part of you hopes it’s more of the rodents you hunted yesterday. You never would’ve thought such a creature would taste good, and maybe it’s due to your hunger, but you found them savory and delightful once Dorez got the fire pit working and roasted them, sharing a part of her portion. Sure, cleaning them was a chore, but—
More rustling. It’s tremendous, sounding like it’s from some creature much larger than a rodent. Your heart sinks. You don’t want to have to fight off yet another predator. But it’s giving you no choice. You’ve made it this long. You will continue to do whatever it takes to survive.
You’re about to wake up the other two, to bring in more support in defending the shelter. But as you tiptoe toward where they are both sleeping, you listen for the cadence of the footsteps. It’s not as if the creature is lurking in the underbrush, stealthily stalking its prey. No, this sounds like a lumbering beast. Perhaps this isn’t a predator, but instead, it’s prey.
You pat the ground behind you, and your fingers land on Benicto’s makeshift spear. You could be a hero. You could find your group’s next meal. Maybe this will get Benicto off your back, if only temporarily. This could make traversing the rest of these untamed lands a little more bearable, at least for today.
You clutch the splintering branch in your palm, then hold it out in front of you. With steady, careful steps, you approach the rustling sound. It’s still clumsily traversing about, just out of sight. You see hints of the figure just beyond the bushes that separate you. This is it. You’re going to slay this beast. Glory is just within reach. All you have to do is…
Something about this animal strikes you as peculiar. It’s not a hairy monster, nor a typical woodland creature. It has hair on its head and… clothes? It’s shorter, pudgier than anything you’ve seen so far. And then, it turns to face you, wide eyed with terror. But you immediately recognize that face.
“Iker?” you shout, confused, startled, surprised, and relieved.