Chapter 27: The Camp
"Hey, Satoshi," Fern shouted while slicing down the bushes that blocked our way.
"Yes?" I replied while walking
"Have you seen Reyna?" He stopped. Then Looked at me,
"No" I whispered, "Have you?"
Hmm, didn't Fern go to the chamber?
"Well… I went to your chamber, and she said she will follow."
"Maybe she's still there?" I shrugged.
Maybe…
Then, after an hour of walking, the sun started to set. "Are we far yet?" Fern asked.
"I honestly don't know, let's just follow the willow trees. "
After probably another hour, there were no more bushes in front of us, and we are finally outside the forest.
I 'latched' myself onto a tree before going into the grass plains… I possess trees all the time and I called it latching to make it easier for Fern and Reyna to talk about it,
Then, I lied on the waving grass, my arms as my pillow and for a while, watched the stars while listening to the silent hum of the night. Fern looked at me then asked, "Do you remember the way to the camp at all?"
"Ivy just told me to follow the willow trees, and we did."
He climbed a rock, his eyes scanning the silent plains. "But where's the camp?" He asked.
"It's probably around here somewhere don't worry."I shrugged. " What's the rush anyway."
"Well, not to bust your bubble, but the other humans might find us and I do NOT want that to happen." He snarled.
I stayed silent. What he said makes sense though, I would probably be a chicken up for slaughter if enemies come… and I do NOT want that to happen…
Then suddenly, a loud but inaudible sound came from inside the forest, "Loo-"
"Is that Reyna?" I asked while walking towards the stone that Fern was standing at while he quietly made his way down to the grassy soil.
"Doesn't sound like a girl." He whispered.
The two of us stayed silent while we listened to the approaching footsteps of the figure. And by the time Fern is on the ground, the footsteps also started to get louder as it ruffles the grass.
"Can you latch on to the grass?" Asked Fern.
"I probably can, but I will be a little weaker."
"It's okay, you just have to hide not fight. Just bring out a long stick or root—anything long."
"Okay."
I quickly crouched and touch a blade of grass. How do I go in… Do I just lean in on it? How do I-
"Just lean in." Fern pushed me down on the ground.
I braced myself for impact and closed my eyes. Waiting for the sudden bonk— or maybe not the since the soil is soft.
But wait, there's no bonk. I opened my eyes and...I'm in the ground! I can be a grass?! This is coo-
"Hey!" Fern snarled. "Where's my stick?!"
Oh, right. The stick. I started to moved my roots around like arms, uprooting the thickest and longest one of them just as Fern said.
Afterwards, a long wooden root slowly popped out of the ground. Fern saw the root and immediately snapped it.
He placed his back behind the stone again and held the root. He slid his hand through the root and suddenly, the places of the root that he touched ignited. Turning it to a weapon coated with raging flames… why isn't the root burning? Is that a special kind of fire? How did he transfer energy just like that?
"Hey, how did you do that?" I asked Fern while fluttering about in the wind as a blade of grass.
"What? Ermm… Magic? I'll explain later, you stay there." He rattled before going outside the cover of the rock and confronting the figure.
Then, without waiting for any signals, sparks of fire rose to the sky...a fight!
I immediately latched from one leaf to another. This is the first battle I'll see! I'm excited!
I reached the leaf that gave me a clear view of the fight… Anwen?
"Hey, Fern! Stop!" I shouted as I exited the blade of grass.
"Why?!" He replied as he dashed towards Anwen, chopping downwards with his flaming stick. While Anwen would merely dodge his attack.
"She's an ally!" I shouted again as I exited the grass and ran between the two of them.
Fern jumped backwards, but his stick is still raised. "Explain." He panted.
"She's a friend of mine… I will bring her with us so tha—"
"No." Fern interrupted, crossing his arms. "I can't have a bona fide monster travelling with me to a place riddled with humans Satoshi. That's basically walking around with a 'Hit Me' sign on your back."
"I agree with him, My Lord." Anwen suddenly spoke, from quite a far distance.
"Why don't you get close?" I asked Anwen.
"I would rather not, My Lord." She answered. "I do not want to cause any more trouble."
"It's better like that, monste—"
"Fern." I glared at him.
Fern gulped. He turned away with a frown and walked towards the plains.
I look back at Anwen and she was gone.
"Anwen!" I called. Afterwards, I ran towards the forest and latched on to the first tree I touched. I felt my surroundings, I waved around my roots to see her, switched from tree to tree, but she's really gone…
"I found the camp!" I heard Fern's shout.
I left the 15th tree I tried. I looked back at the forest and saw only the fleeting fireflies, glowing flows and the luminescent flora that flowed with life.
But I promised her to come…
"Satoshi! Come over here!" Fern screamed again. I take one long look at the forest before heading to the camp. It looked more visible now that Fern set up some torches. It's actually pretty hard not to see it in the night.
As I approached the camp, I saw one big, fat figure with long hor— Bettu?! Since when did Bettu get fat?
I quickly ran towards Bettu, past two tents and a blazing campfire. When I arrived, the beetle is munching on piles of… armor? Does Bettu eat metal?
"Yo, Satoshi." Fern's voice came from behind me.
I looked back and saw someone adoring a silver armor and a flowing white cape. "Is that you, Fern?" I asked.
"Yep, doesn't look bad eh?" He bragged while turning around like some model. "I worked hard for this ya know."
"Yea! It's beautiful!" I exclaimed, closely inspecting his armor. I
"Oh and by the way, Bettu seems to have metal magic."
"Hm?"
I looked at Bettu. Still munching on the armor… How did I not notice…
"Those pieces of armor are expensive too." He remarked, "So expensive they're probably priceless."
I get what you're implying guy. You want me to pay for that someday… Ain't happening.
"Well!" I jumped. "Are we done with the preparations?"
"Done?" He weirdly looked at me.
"I haven't even started preparing my guy."
"Well it looks like you're done."
"We don't have food, water, temporary shelter, transport — Oh, wait we have Bettu."
"I will wait for you to prepare then. Take your precious time." I shrugged, walking towards Bettu. .
Then he crossed his arms and frowned, "Aren't you going to help?"
"I don't need food, water and temporary shelter, my guy." I laughed.
"Alright then."
"Oh! Can you tell me about magic?"
"I think Reyna can teach you about that... Keep your eyes peeled if she ari—"
"Yo!" Reyna suddenly appeared from one of the tents.
"HGGGA—Ehem..." Fern jumped, his face twisted as if he's seen a ghost.
Lol what a face.
"Wh-when did you get here Reyna?" He asked Reyna while stuttering.
"I've been here for a while! Just waiting for you two!" Reyna answered, "Oh, and can I look at your status display… Satoshi?"
"Hey, what are you doing." Fern snarled.
"Why? I just want to see hi—"
"Status display?! Stop it Reyna. The man saved us." His eyes squinted, staring straight at Reyna.
"Okay then!" She laughed, "I was just curious."
Then she walked back inside the tent, sneaking a glance at the cutely munching Bettu.
Weird…
"Well then Satoshi, I shall start preparing now." Fern smiled, "You should too, it's going to be a 7day trip towards the nearest town if we're riding Bettu." Then he went straight to the other tent afterwards, leaving me alone in front of the campfire… well technically I have Bettu.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone