Finally, after half a day lost in another world Flora met her first human being. Just the fact to be next to another one and to be able to communicate lighten her mood. Now that she can look at her without a monster entangling her, Erin is a tall girl with dark long hairs going to the middle of her back. Two strand of hairs from both side goes to the back of her head to attach the rest with a well made ribbon. She's wearing common clothes with no plate of armor or something to venture in this dangerous place. The only thing she could use is a dagger that is used to cut mushrooms or harvest plants. The crafted dagger has interesting design on the handle, a yellow bird is carved, taking the full length of it.

Someone could consider Erin carefree because that's what she is, even more than Flora. Being born in a tribe of warrior, she always hoped to be recognized by her peers, her inattentive nature made the tribe in dangerous spots so she was unauthorized to go outside. Of course it is not easy for someone, even her family, to order around Erin who's now approaching her twenties. With a flexible body, she can easily goes by windows and jump to the nearest branches, that's how she escaped the bulwark of her tribe. She wanted to prove herself worthy to her people by bringing a merry fruit, a delicious fruit guarding by dangerous creature like this previous plant that caught her. Even the braves of her tribe avoid those, the risk isn't worth being eaten alive by a monster lurking around.

Erin was not inclined to those ideas, something risky is worth taking the risk. Even though she nearly passed away if Flora wasn't around in time. Now that she was safe and sound she will soon forget and not learn her lesson.

- I have to thank you, if it wasn't for you I would be in the belly of this stupid monster right now!

Said Erin while looking with a despise look toward the dead body of the creature.

- Well I must admit if you weren't caught here I would have done the same mistake so don't mind it.

Nearly lost in her mind, Flora now know danger lurk in every corner of this forest, being on the top of the trees or the ground. She looks around in case something was watching them and trying to pounce on them every minute. Erin noticed her looking around anxiously and try to reassure her.

- Oh don't be scared, even if I got caught, I was born in a tribe well known to track beasts and recognize their scent! Right now there is none around, even though we shouldn't stay long here, the sweet scent of this plant will attract unwanted guests.

While saying this, Erin turn around toward the tree and elegantly jump from branches to branches, reaching easily the top of the merry tree. With her sharp dagger she cut 5 fruits the size of a watermelon but with the appearance of an orange. She places two in her backpack and throw the rest to Flora and Squirrel that was now changed back to his initial state.

- Here catch this, it's a gift from me because you saved me!

Panicked, Flora catches three of them and place them on the ground. Erin on her side goes down by jumping just like she went up and land both feet on the ground, it was like she was a gymnast born to do this. She approaches Flora and take one for her and start going the opposite direction from where Flora came.

- Well I wish you the best of luck here, I have a thing to do on my side.

Without turning back she waves at her but at the same time a scream both of them recognizes come from the sky. This was the first creature Flora met in this forest, a giant thunder eagle has caught the scent of the dead plant. It was not for its delicious scent that the green bird was aiming for, but this plant has a defense mechanism similar to those on Earth. When a part of them is cut off, the creature emanate a sweet scent to attract predators that will protect them when in danger. The birds especially recognize this smell from far away and this is a guaranteed meal waiting for them at the end. Here the delicious meal is Flora and Erin.

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Erin in a swift movement run behind Flora's back and with her teeth shaking pronounce this phrase.

- M-m-maybe we will go together, what do you think of this plan?

With a dubious smile on the corner of her mouth Flora accepted, if she led her to more humans it's in her best interest and to be honest, even with her carefree nature, Erin doesn't seem to be the kind of bad girl that will stab you in the back.

- Okay okay, just lead the way.

Flora placed one of the merry fruit in her backpack while holding the last one in her hands. It was sadly not the time to eat something. While following Erin through the deepest part of the forest, she now understand how she got this far without getting caught by other monsters before this one. The path is made of hidden trap doors going under or above roots, concealed by a crafted curtains made of vines to look similar to the forest.

Both girls stopped talking to avoid attracting the giant eagle that is in search of them. In her adventure toward the town of her tribe, Flora learn a lot of things in her way. Some symbols are carved in the bark of trees, surely meaning something she doesn't understand related to their own language.

The night is quietly falling on the forest, without talking Flora inevitably fall into her own mind, thinking of her family that must be desperately looking for her. Her thoughts are interrupted by Erin who turns around to Flora, doing a sign by placing her finger on her mouth, signifying they have to be even more careful from here. She lift the vine curtain and before entering she looks around, in case they've been followed. Then with another sign of her hand she tell her to come inside.

From the outside, this root looks like every other giant roots she's been passing but this one was dug from the inside. Erin who's been accustomed to this place light some candles on the walls and finally say something to Flora.

- You can close the curtain and place this plank back so we will be safe for the night.

She's pointing at a wooden plank that seems to fit perfectly in the frame of the door. She does as she's ordered to and finally turn around to look closely in the room. The root is dug to look alike a small apartment with a rustic side to it that goes well with the wood walls. At the center of the room is a table with four wooden stool inlaid to the ground. The deepest part is a wooden kitchen with some stools ready next to it. Behind the wall where Flora is turning her back on, is a room with two unique beds tidied like they were waiting for visitors.

- It's cute right? The hunters use those when they got deeper in the forest to hunt or harvest for food. We have some around bigger but they're for larger groups of hunters.

She paused for a moment looking at Flora, memories were flowing inside her head of her younger self running around with her father inside. She soon shake her head and get the heavy fruits out of her backpack with some vegetables hidden in some pockets.

- If it's good for you I'll cook for tonight, I know a delicious recipe of vegetables! You will tell me more how handsome of a chief I am.

- Sure, I'll be glad.

She places her stuff on a desk next to the living room. Flora is still gazing around, it's been a day she's been running in dangers and she now reached her deepest reserve of energy. By picking her pockets, she lift her phone, it was now at 18% percent and by the look of it, there is nowhere to charge her phone in this rustic root. Flora look at Erin that is singing a song with her beautiful voice.

" In the valley of the damned, lie the terrifying yet magnanimous spirit of the forest. One day a courageous girl went to meet it, her father was sick and in desperate need of rescue. All the village told her "No, don't go the spirit will eat your soul." But the girl did not listen to them and went nonetheless. Her bravery soon waver, at the entrance of the giant tree she's at."

Flora took a sit on a wooden stool and used the table to look at her mesmerizing singing, hoping she would not stop if she made a sound.

"Ô spirit of the forest listen to my call, my father need your help and I shall offer my soul if I need to. Sang the maiden in front of the door. The wind lift high in the sky and the voice of the spirit resonated in the ears of the young girl. Be it, young one, you will accompany me for eternity and in exchange I'll save your father."

Erin smiled and turn around to Flora.

- That's a song all the children learn where I live, it tell the story of our ancestor that saved her father that got gravely sick. It's been so long that no one know if it's true or not but I still love this song nonetheless.

- It's beautiful, I would be glad to hear another song or legend from around here.

Erin smiled sincerely and answered.

- I would love to, but I would prefer to know more about you first, your clothes and accessories, I've never seen them before.

Here on out, Flora and Erin will build a friendly relationship. Squirrel was long gone asleep on the left bed, he too had an amazing adventure while sticking to the side of Flora.