The group of three wanders through the thick forest of Avens Woods. It is daytime as they travel, though it is always night in these mysterious woods. Faeda follows close to Edeline, wary of every strange noise from the dark branches around them. Galen seems to become more and more agitated.

Galen: "Why the hell are we traveling in these woods???"(>_<)
Edeline: "Well... I have to stop by my village for a few things." (;^_^)
Galen: "WHAT? You took us off the path, just to visit family???"
W('O')W
Edeline: *smack* "Calm down! If I'm going on this journey, I need a different sword!" (;u_u)
Faeda: (;^_^)
Galen: "But still... you could have explained that before... not drag us here!" (>_>)
Faeda: "Um... what's your village like?" (;^_^)
Edeline: "Oh... about that... you guys, can't come in. I'll leave you just before the secret entrance and then come back." (;^_^)
Galen: "Grr! You've got to be kidding me!" (;u_u)
Edeline: "What's the matter, Galen? Scared?" (^_^)
Galen: "NO!" W('O')W
Faeda: ...I am... (o_o)

After a little while, Edeline shouted "Be right back!" and disappeared into the woods. "Hey!!!" growled Galen, "You better come back soon or we're leaving you!" Faeda took a seat on a nearby mossy rock. "Lousy Edeline," grumbled Galen, "Always showing off, thinks the world of herself..." "So," smiled Faeda, trying to keep her mind off the unknown creatures of the woods, "Do you and Edeline know each other well?" "I know her well enough to know she's a pain in the butt!" shouted Galen, towards the darkness. He then gave a sigh and turned to face Faeda.

Galen: "...Hey... You're not scared, are you?" (o_O)
Faeda: "..." (o_o)
Galen: "Relax! There aren't many monsters roaming here." (^_^)
Faeda: "Not many...???" (o_o)
Galen: "What are you getting worked up for? You've traveled without escorts, remember? Now, you have a better chance, with me on the job!" (^_^)
Faeda: "...Actually... I traveled by boat." (;^_^)
Galen: "I knew it! You couldn't have been THAT lucky to avoid so many monsters! And it makes sense, being that most cruise ships have the latest technology in monster deterrence!" (^o^)
Faeda: "No... not a cruise ship. I traveled by dingy." (;^_^)
Galen: (@_@)

Galen was becoming confused! "But... how?" he pondered, "How could you sail the ocean in a dingy and not come across one sea monster? And besides that, how did you sail the ocean in a mere dingy and not be overturned by the storms!?" "I guess... I'm lucky." Faeda smiled. "Yeah, right!!!" yelled Galen, "NO ONE is that lucky!" Faeda just smiled. There was snap of a branch nearby. "About time, Edeline." frowned Galen, "You kept us waiting long enough." But no one was around. An eerie howl echoed around them, but they could not see what creature was nearby.

Faeda: "What was that???" (o_o)
Galen: "Hmm... I don't know... but it doesn't seem too close. Edeline, where the hell are you?" (>_>)
Faeda: "I-I'm scared..." (o_o)
Unknown: *HOWL*
Faeda: "Eeek!" (>_<)
Galen: "Come on out and fight!" W('O')W
Unknown: *HOWL*

Suddenly, Faeda's seat begins to move! "What's happening???" she shrieks. "That rock!" gasps Galen, "It's the monster!" "Aieee!" screams Faeda, hopping off and running behind Galen. The rock-like creature, no bigger than a dog, stares with dark beady eyes. "What a weakling," scoffed Galen, "Taking you on will be a piece of cake!" The rock-creature howled again and hundreds of other rock-creatures came to it's defense. "What?" frowned Galen, then grabbing Faeda's arm, "RUN!!!" They ran deeper through the woods, the thunder of the herd close behind, ducking and dodging low branches.

Faeda: "I hope you're not expecting coins, for 'escorting', because I don't feel like paying someone for just grabbing my arm and running!" (u_u)
Galen: "Shut up and just run!" (;u_u)
Faeda: "Where are we going?" (o_o)
Galen: "How should I know!? Quick! In here!" (>_>)

Galen pulls Faeda into a hidden cave, covered in a curtain of dark vines. Together, they listen as the herd marches by, not noticing the cave, and disappearing deeper into the woods. After a while of silence, Faeda asks in a small voice "Are they gone yet?" "I think so," sighed Galen in dark, "But maybe we should wait a few moments, before we head outside." "You're afraid!" gasped Faeda, surprised. "I am not!" yelled Galen, his voice booming off the cave walls, "It's common sense to wait, just in case there are a few trailing behind the army!" "Okay, okay." sighed Faeda, "Whatever you say." "I'm not afraid!" growled Galen. Then silence for a while... There is a small whistle outside. "That's Edeline," says Galen, "Let's go!" The two step outside and Galen whistles back. After a while, a breathless Edeline marches towards them.

Galen: "Took you long enough..." (>_>)
Edeline: "Where did you guys go? You shouldn't have left the meeting spot." (u_u)
Galen: "We were attacked by rock-creatures!!! We had to run! And we wouldn't have been in this mess, if it weren't for you!!!" W('O')W
Edeline: "Rock-creatures? ...Oh, you mean the Mossy-Demons! Yah... I forgot to mention to not sit on anything that looks like a rock. They're mostly harmless, unless you sit on them. They hate being sat on." (;^_^)
Galen: "Gah!!!" (@_@)
Faeda: "Did you get your sword?" (^_^)
Edeline: "Yep! My best one for long journeys! Now, lead the way, Faeda!" (^o^)

Faeda closed her eyes, palms together, and listened for a while. "East." she smiled. "Okay..." said Edeline, a little confused by Faeda's movements, "Let's head east." They walked on through Avens Woods. Edeline's confident, Galen's sulking, and Faeda's smiling...