Hunting for Flowers in the Dark

   The forest was dark, the only light coming from the dull glow of the small mushrooms that lined the giant trees. A small path along the mushrooms began to light up, three sets of paws leaving small bright footsteps. Heading the front of the group was a light green fish scaled Vayron named Amina, following shortly were two companions that steadily treaded behind her. One was Vayron named Vrisk whose black and white color was stuck through with a pale blue grey, followed by a black and white Vayron wearing a golden horned helm named Rhuybalan. Their current objective was to find some sort of rare plant for a scholar back in the Capital. The scholar was very closed on the matter of why they needed the plant, only that it was for an experimental potion. He had offered to pay a handsome reward due to the plant only growing in the depths of a large forest deep in Vitalus. It’d have to have been a large reward as no one in their right mind would venture that deep for pocket change.

    Rhuybalan shook her short mane as small droplets fell from the upper canopy of the forest. Looking up ahead at their guide she cleared her throat. Amina’s ear flicked, signally that she was listening. Rhuybalan’s voice was lightly muffled from the otherworldly foliage as she asked, “What exactly are we looking for again?”. Vrisk looked over, the same question creasing his face as he tilted his head to the side. Amina slowed her pace to one of the clumps of light green glowing mushrooms, “See these?” she asked her companions who nodded their heads, “We are looking for these but pink”. Tilting her head to the sky she looked up at the dense treetops, “They are found deeper in the forest, the lack of sunlight cultivates them and allows them to develop strong medicinal properties when combined with the right ingredients.” Rhuybalan nodded, satisfied with the answer as the group continued on.

    It had been a good 20 minutes of steady paced walking, the scenery still glowing up the surroundings and casting a lightshow for the quiet party. Vrisk yawned. It couldn’t be helped, the only time when these particular mushrooms are best found is when the night is darkest, er as dark as Vitalus could get at night anyways. Which meant that the group of flora collectors had to venture out very late, during the time when all pups and even most adults were asleep. So it wasn’t unusual for the few yawns to pop up here and there. Even so the group continued, tiredly padding on.

    It wasn’t too much longer after the yawn-fest happened that Amina felt something nagging at her, telling her that something was watching the party and that they should be careful. Her pace slowed, with her two companions’ steps falling in suite. Rhuybalan looked over to her, “Is something wrong?”, but Amina didn’t seem to hear her, or if she did she didn’t respond. Her gaze was locked onto something in front of them in the brush. Vrisk squinted to see what had spooked Amina, feeling a little frustrated after not seeing anything. He was about to start forward again when one of what he assumed was a log moved. He froze. A load hiss like breathing cut through the air. The owner of the noise lifted it’s head up above the foliage, the glowing mushrooms aiding in the only light to dispel the darkness. It revealed to them a very large, very deadly, basilisk. Slithering directly around their path.

    Amina was the first to move, tilting her head to the side to motion the party to go around. Quietly slinking away, careful not to cause any noise, the group left the path. Once they were a few paces away Amina spoke very softly, “We’ll need to give it a wide birth, a basilisk this large could kill all three of us.” Rhuybalan quietly huffed, “We could take it, I’ve fought bigger.” Amina shook her head in disagreement, “We’re ill prepared for something like this. We don’t have any medicine that could cure a bite from it should anyone get hurt and trying to make any potions on the fly would take too long” Amina motioned to the various small plants that could substitute a proper anti-venom. Rhuybalan looked down, she knew Amina was right, by the time they craft an anti-venom it’d already be too late. But she still didn’t like the thought of a basilisk roaming near the area they were going to be searching. Vrisk looked over his shoulder, “Well let’s get out of here then before it notices us!” he whispered anxiously. The other two Vays nodded their head in agreement, continuing forward albeit in a steep curve and a slow pace to avoid whatever else may be hiding in the forest.

    The party continued at a slow pace, being careful to avoid any more dangerous fauna. Vrisk looked down at the map to the area the mushrooms were supposed to be in. Well, it wasn’t really a map more so than it was a set of instructions that describe the areas where it thrives. He looked around, the light was certainly coming from only the surrounding mushrooms and moss, and rather than glowing a light blue the plants were glowing a light pinkish red. “This place does seem to fit the description” Vrisk pipped up. Amina and Rhuybalan looked at the small scroll and nodded their heads. Amina surveyed the area, it looked relatively safe but they should still be on their guard, “Let’s split up and look for any specimens, don’t go too far out and if you see something less than friendly avoid it and regroup.” Vrisk gave a ‘Sounds like a plan!’ and Rhuybalan let out a ‘You got it!’ before the trio split up to look for the elusive mushrooms.

    The group carefully searched for the mushrooms; it was a little tough distinguishing them from the other plants but they were slowly combing through the brush. Some time had passed, Vrisk was rooting through a dense bush when he suddenly had the urge to sneeze. Parting the bush to the sides, he revealed a small cluster of pink mushrooms. He excitedly called out to the others, each one opening the small pouches they were given to gather samples. After carefully picking the cluster, the group began to head back, their energy renewed after finding their quarry. Not wanting to test their luck, the trio made their way back to the Capital on a different path.

***

-CP Calculation-
1103 w/c - 11cp
Corresponding Land (Only Amina) - 1cp
Other member's Reosean - 2cp
Personal Art (Only Amina) - 1cp
Low class quest - 1cp
Total= Amina 16cp/Vrisk 14cp/Rhuybalan 14cp

-BABIE CREDIT TIME-
www.deviantart.com/reos-empire… belongs to me
Vrisk 7794 and Rhuybalan 10179 belong to EternaIIyGold