The sun is setting and our heroes have finally reached the mysterious Mist Woods. There are many rumors about the night mist here, some on the edge of ridiculous and some that are frightening. And our heroes were beginning to indulge the frightening. "I heard," said Adie, in a very hushed voice, "That if the night mist touches your skin, your insides turn into liquid." Faeda shuddered and Galen swallowed hard. "Well, I heard," said Edeline, looking around, "That strange monsters lurk in the mist. That if you touch it, you will get pulled into the belly of some unknown beast." "Ahh." whimpered Faeda. "S-Stop!" shook Galen, "Y-You're scaring Faeda!"

Edeline: "It's okay, Galen. These are just rumors, probably no truth to them." (;^_^)
Faeda: "Probably?" (o_o)
Adie: "Most likely not. They're old campfire stories." (^_-)
Faeda: "Whew!" (;^_^)
Galen: "Whew!" (;^_^)
Edeline: (o_O)
Galen: "I-I mean, for Faeda's sake. We don't want her to be afraid, do we?" (;^_^)
Edeline: "Uh-huh..." (>_>)

The four walked on, staying close and listening for any strange movements among the trees. "Hmm," said Adie, in deep thought, "I'm a little confused about something..." "What is it?" smiled Faeda. "It's about you, actually." Adie said shyly, "You see, I'm heading for home. Galen and Edeline are escorting you. But where are you headed to, Faeda?" "That's what we'd like to know." said Edeline and Galen at once. "Um," Faeda said, a little nervous, "I can't say yet." "What?" asked Adie, "Is it some kind of secret?" "Yes." nodded Faeda. "That's SO weird!" laughed Adie. Galen and Edeline sighed, Faeda smiled. There was a sudden shadow, moving in flash speed, circling them.

Adie: "What?" (o_o)
Galen: "What's going on?" (o_o)
Edeline: "Is it some type of monster?" (o_O)
Faeda: "Eeek!" (o_o)
Unknown: "You, there! Why are you here?"
Galen: "Come on out and fight fair!" (>_<)
Edeline: "We were just passing through, we mean no harm." (;^_^)
Galen: "Speak for yourself!" (>_>)

A twelve foot tall, orange and white striped, cat stepped from the shadows with loud thud! The ground shook and everyone fell off their feet! "Ahh!" they screamed. "Was that an challenge?" asked the cat, an eager grin on it's face. "What a big kitty!" squealed Faeda, a huge grin on her face. "Um," frowned Galen, "No... I didn't challenge you." "It sounded so." nodded the cat, looking for a fight. "I don't fight cute house-pets." said Galen, folding his arms. "C-cute?" choked the cat, in deep anger, "Who are you calling cute!?"

Edeline: "Gee... seems like the kitty version of Galen." (>_>)
Adie: "I was thinking the same thing..." (;^_^)
Faeda: "Kitty! Kitty!" (^o^)
Cat: "No one calls me cute!!!" W('O')W
Galen: "Whatever. I thought you were a fearsome forest demon, now I'm disappointed." (u_u)
Cat: "You will pay for that remark!" W('O')W
Faeda: "Pretty kitty!" (^o^)

"Sprinkles!" yelled a woman's voice, "Stop this foolishness!" "Sprinkles?" said Edeline, Galen, Faeda, and Adie. A young woman, carrying a small bouquet of flowers, emerged from the shadows. "Lady Vi," bowed the huge cat, taking a few branches off a nearby tree, with his huge ears, "I apologize. But it's been a while since I had a battle with a worthy opponent." "But," she frowned, "You can't pick fights with random passersby!" "I know." sighed Sprinkles, "But, I'm just so bored! I've manged to get rid of all the monsters of this forest and now there's nothing else to do." "Don't worry, kitty." smiled Faeda, "The monsters will be plenty again... soon." The woman gasped, looking towards Faeda with wonder.

Vi: "You hear it too?" (o_O)
Faeda: "I've known it for some time..." (^_^)
Galen: "Known what? What's going on?" (o_o)
Vi: "At any rate, I am Vi. I am planing to head North." (^_^)
Faeda: "I am Faeda and we are headed in the same direction." (^o^)
Vi: "But are you headed to the same destination, I wonder..." (>_>)
Edeline: "So secretive!" (;^_^)
Adie: "Yeah, I know what you mean." (o_O)
Vi: "Faeda and friends, would you mind taking a rest until morning. I wish to travel with you." (^_^)
Galen: "Well, that depends... how much are you willing to pay for our services?" (>_>)

Edeline elbowed Galen in the stomach. "Oof!" he doubled over, "Why'd you do that!?" "Since when do we charge people for escorting?" frowned Edeline. "We should!" Galen sulked, "This group keeps getting bigger and bigger! Lousy free-loaders..." "Do you live in these woods?" Adie asked Vi, ignoring Galen's comments. "Yes," nodded Vi, "In a small hut, nearby. You are all welcomed to camp by my home. I will make supper." "Food!" smiled Galen, "I'm starving! Let's go!" "Who's the 'free-loader' now?" mumbled Edeline.
Outside of a small brown hut, our group ate a nice potato and fish stew, laughed and talked. Sprinkles napped by the lake, just twenty feet away. After a while, Vi began to sing a soothing melody, while they sat around the campfire. "That's nice." sighed Faeda, "What's it called?" "I have no idea." smiled Vi, "Just something I made up." "Oh," nodded Edeline, "So you're a Bard." "Yes," nodded Vi, "Of a long line of artists. My dream is to make all of Serenity safe and happy, with the songs I sing." "That's a very nice dream." yawned Adie.
...One by one, they fell asleep under the stars, while moonlight fairies danced among the lilypads in the lake...