The sika were an animal species nearly older than any others on Elderwood. As old as the Humans. Unlike their fellow aliens they had not settled in Doc Forrest however–not originally.

Instead they had been reared across millenia by the Cloven and over time had grown into a proud type of animal, considered royalty of the forest realms by many of its denizens.

The flocks were led by a single individual who fed on natural treasures the others found and thus did everything in its power to grow further and in turn empower the next generation.

These proud princes often felt constrained under the watchful eyes of the Cloven.

Do not eat this plant, not until this particular season. Poop here, after eating that. Oh, you ate off of two different plants yesterday, we must record the results!

It was patronising to remain under such rules for too long, it chafed worse and worse over time. Despite the risks of going outside the protected realms it was a must for some leaders to keep from stagnating and growing mentally unfit for harsher times.

Even with the far less energy dense areas of the Human lands; that was exactly what was needed some seasons.

Although these lands in particular felt richer and richer each month if you tasted the air across enough acres, either that or he was simply getting used to it, having spent the winter.

Of course it could prove tougher than anticipated. You could run into trouble and have to fight off a horde of frenzied predators–but then you could also find a new ally, and be saved from complete disaster at the last minute.

Then again, Humans certainly had quirks of their own.

In fact they had been acting like a bunch of Cloven [Shamans] on Tigerspice mushrooms last night, at this appointed place near the giant tree, where the [Druid] had said to meet.

A few hours after dawn, when the first of them besides the owner of these lands, was made aware of all the sika standing out in the field, it took mere minutes for a curious, watching crowd to form.

Everybody wanted to know what was going on.

By then the prince had already gone.

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Sten, Lovi and André sat in a tense silence on top of a hill. Eating a cold meal.

André found it incredibly boring.

They had naturally made the run to Blackenberg into a competition, which Lovi won while Sten kept a pace that allowed him to run back besides André to poke him whenever his running form was less than stellar.

He usually did not do such things unless someone requested it. The two took it as a sign that Sten’s facade was cracking, the annoyance making him act out, however slightly.

The only question being: is he annoyed because he has to waste time refuting a baseless accusation, or because we are keeping him from leaving with his friends?

This was the question on Lovi’s mind as the trio made a pretence at enjoying the view as they downed their sandwiches like savages.

Sten was indeed annoyed. Just not for either of those reasons. Harold had assured him that they could meet up at a number of spots, including one near here. All to give Sten options on how to play his part to avoid suspicion long enough that they at least got under way.

He was annoyed because Harold refused to explain how. The lad loved his surprises.

His high level father might still be able to catch up even if Sten made it out to Brunner's place in time to leave with the others, but Birgir would have enough time on the way for his rage to cool and hopefully decide that if Sten wanted to leave that badly then dragging him back would be of no use.

He was doing things this way to avoid the drama, and the screaming and accusations. They could indulge in all that as much as they wanted once he was gone. He had already seen firsthand how it played out for the siblings before him who tried that route, even if they had left for vastly different reasons and under other circumstances. Nobody was dead yet back then.

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It was not because he was truly a prisoner. Only to familial bonds.

“So, the tree tricking technique?” Andrés simple suspicions were already allayed and the routine on the way here had put him into a bootcamp mindset as if that was his habit; which it was.

Lovi glared at the casual and familiar atmosphere that was fighting to settle itself in defiance of the genuine circumstances. “Don’t take it off too far, I’d like to see as well.”

The tree tricking technique was a way to traverse the forest without having to stay on the ground. With the right Skills it allowed you to leap from branch to branch and keep moving if you had enough momentum and took the correct steps.

It was something you could start practising even before gaining a Skill, although it was extremely tiring and not much use at all yet at that point.

Lovi lacked the requisite kind of Skill, despite having reached a second capstone, but there was always the hope of next time.

André on the other hand had yet to receive his Class and still held out hope to get lucky so he would be able to move the way Sten could with his [Weighted Footwork] Skill. Preferably that specific one, since it also let you kick a lot harder.

They practised on roots at ground level and Sten went through how to grip the branch from both ends with your feet if you overbalanced–and how you needed to land and where–once you actually got going and needed to maintain the momentum.

They were at it for hours, building the prerequisite muscle memory and with Sten correcting his form at every slackening of Andrés discipline.

Lovi kept watching from the hill. This was too familiar, it was not how it was supposed to go. It was just so clearly a ruse, but it seemed impossible to figure out how.

Things stayed just as calm as night descended and the time of the [Guilds] departure from Salcret had passed, Sten was still showing no signs of being bothered.

Lovi still felt sure something was up. Andrés snoring next to her especially felt like the opposite of reassurance.

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Harold had a hell of a time at Brunner's–singing and drumming, dancing and flirting–it was a very worthy final memory, he felt. And this one was for the keeping too, he had barely drank last night.

He only took a single shot of the magic mead, and saved another in a flask at his hip for if he met Algernon again before leaving–or even if he just wanted something later–maybe on a fun night out in Dormata, or something.

Such a small amount meant the experience was over quickly, but he still felt the full effect.

The next day he was up at the crack of dawn, with just a little help from Hyde who had been watching the Humans acting weirder than ever last night.

Hyde had actually gone by the kauri together with Brunner and Billie when the two [Arborists] were at the peak of their mead-induced trip and went there to communicate with the thing. Billie had never managed anything of the sort, but Brunner kept insisting it was possible and likely to be more intuitive than ever in their inebriated state.

You’re doing it wrong. Goodbye friend, thank you for growing her.

The two were still laid out sleeping among the roots.

Harold on the other hand had some big promises to live up to today, both to Sten and everyone from the expedition who indulged last night on the merit of his word.

He was not worried though, he could already see that the sika had arrived in the night and were ready to do their part.

He went out into the field before anybody else had woken up and met with the prince who had agreed to settle the favour remaining between them this way.

Like Livia liked to say, it was time to get to work.

In front of an astonished Hyde, Harold went to mount up and then activated his [Primal Domain]. The two were gone from Hyde's sight mere seconds later in a green flash.