A jungle continued making its noises, ranging from birds to mammals to even the wind rustling between the trees. As the jungle chattered, a man muttered to himself as he held a map of the continent the jungle was home to. The man wore black, had sheet white skin, and black mist seeped from his currently angry eyes. \u201cNo!\u201d he grumbled as he crossed off an area. \u201cNo! No! NO!\u201d He had four x\u2019s on the map so far. He then roared in frustration. \u201cWe\u2019ve searched every uninhabited area of the Over-realm and STILL no sign of Arsha!\u201d The man, Oyed the Destroyer, then pulled out a communicator. \u201cDr. Borg!\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBorg here,\u201d answered a woman\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStatus report!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStill no Arsha.\u201d Oyed snarled at that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting tired of searching the jungle! Wherever you are, set up camp! I\u2019ll join you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnderstood. Borg out.\u201d The call ended and Oyed moved himself forward\u2026at least, he TRIED to. He felt something pulling at his waist as he tried to move. He then looked down and saw that he was sinking in a mud pit. While most people would feel fear at such a fate, Oyed simply grumbled in annoyance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the love of\u2026WHY DO THESE THINGS EXIST?!\u201d Black mist then formed an outline around him, and he rose out of the mud. The mud tried to hold onto him, but he proved too strong for its grip. Once his feet were free, he floated over to more solid ground. Mud still dripped off of him from the waist down. He pulled some mud off of his thigh and held it in his hand, glaring at it in contempt. \u201cI HATE this place!\u201d He threw the mud at a tree with enough force that it knocked a paper wasp hive down. The wasps soon poured out of the hive, looking for the infidel that dared attack the hive. The swarm found Oyed and began their attack run. The mist surrounding Oyed simply dove at the wasps and surrounded them and their home. The mist then dissolved everything about that particular paper wasp hive; queen, soldiers, brood, and all. \u201cServes you right!\u201d snarled Oyed as he stomped towards Dr. Borg\u2019s position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Borg and her Council Mates set up the camp rather quickly. Remsu decided to add a little personal touch. She fired a spell at a bit of ground and made a mud pit, then fired another spell to dispel any unwanted impurities. \u201cYou know,\u201d she mused, \u201cI haven\u2019t had a decent mud bath for quite some time.\u201d She then slid her hand up her thigh in a sultry manner. \u201cWould everyone care to join me?\u201d she purred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never tried a mud bath before,\u201d mused Dr. Borg. \u201cAlthough, I WOULD need to whip up some protection spells for my prosthesis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think Shempari should do the trick,\u201d mused Shefarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA capital idea,\u201d praised Dr. Borg. \u201cAll right then, Shem-\u201d Her chant was interrupted by Oyed stomping into the camp. Yulduk just couldn\u2019t resist!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLooks like Oyed already took a mud bath!\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLaugh it up, Zombie!\u201d growled Oyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOyed, what-?\u201d asked Yamta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDON\u2019T! \u2026Just don\u2019t!\u201d Oyed then stomped toward a tent. As he reached for the flap, something flew between it and his hand. Everyone followed the direction of the offending object, a piece of fruit, and saw a monkey hooting and clapping his hands. It was Sorsha\u2019s friend, Johgo. \u201c\u2026GET OUT OF HERE!\u201d shouted Oyed as he fired energy blasts at Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCatch me if you can!\u201d taunted Johgo as he leapt from branch to branch to get away form Oyed\u2019s shots. He thought he was being clever, but then he felt a metal hand punch him to the ground. As he picked himself up, he saw Dr. Borg grow from his size to a human\u2019s. Her foot then pinned him to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJohgo, right?\u201d she asked. \u201cFriend of a Free-lance Alchemist working for Realmfleet, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about!\u201d laughed Johgo. Dr. Borg pushed her foot down onto him before letting off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJohgo, it is advisable to NOT provoke me. You and your alchemist friend helped Arsha at one point. Have you helped her again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Dr. Borg pressed down for a longer time. \u201cI DIDN\u2019T! ONLY SORSHA DID!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoes she have Arsha?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYES!\u201d Dr. Borg raised her foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere IS Sorsha?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know! She never told me because of secrecy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve proven useless!\u201d snarled Oyed. \u201cDoctor, squish him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWAIT! SHE GAVE ME A GENERAL LOCATION!\u201d wailed Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026It\u2019s better than nothing. Where?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Mushroom district!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Northern Drelda Forest,\u201d recalled Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo the only thing you can tell me is that I will find Arsha\u2026within the Drelda Forest?\u201d asked Oyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all I know!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026He\u2019s served his purpose. Kill him.\u201d Dr. Borg brought her foot down hard, crushing Johgo\u2019s ribs and organs. The poor monkey lay dead. Dr. Borg then picked up the body and tossed it into the bushes. \u201cIt looks like our search is coming to an end. We rest here until tomorrow morning. I want us to move at dawn!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnderstood, My Lord,\u201d answered Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, Master!\u201d called Yulduk. \u201cWanna join us?\u201d He gestured to the mud pit Remsu made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019ll pass.\u201d Oyed went into his tent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Suit yourself,\u201d muttered Dr. Borg. \u201cShempari!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In another part of the jungle, one of the trees continued its walk\u2026no, not a tree, this was a Dryad. He was accompanied by an Elf woman, a man in Monk\u2019s robes, a Naga girl, a four-tailed Kitsune, and a woman in a green dress. They were Oak, Sorsha, Norvorok, Jaynii, Kimiko, and Lona. They patrolled the jungle for a bit until Oak stopped. \u201c\u2026What is it?\u201d asked Jaynii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe trees\u2026they speak of\u2026of Johgo\u2019s death at the enemy\u2019s hands!\u201d gasped Oak. Sorsha looked at him disbelievingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cD\u2026Dead?\u201d she asked. \u201cMy best friend\u2026dead?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, but yes.\u201d Sorsha then fell to her knees as tears fell down her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHis troop was a good one,\u201d she mumbled. \u201cThey helped me out so much.\u201d Her face then turned to one of rage. \u201cOyed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt gets worse,\u201d muttered Oak. \u201cThe trees report that they made him give up the location of Arsha! She\u2019s not safe now! We must get her into another part of the Drelda Forest!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut Johgo!\u201d protested Sorsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe trees are giving him a respectful burial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Well, at least he had that. Could you glean where he was buried so I can visit him later?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have his grave\u2019s exact location. A Dryad near his troop has already informed them and they\u2019re giving him a proper funeral.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood to know.\u201d Sorsha then dried her eyes. \u201cCome on! Let\u2019s get out of here!\u201d The patrol then headed back to the Drelda Forest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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