Disturbance in Gribb Forest

Claw marks, much larger than the average forest dwellers. Thomas didn't even need to go that deep into the forest to spot the damages on the tree barks. Though a Rabid Jackal is still a bit of a stretch, there is no doubt there is something in the woods. The marks run deep and the sap is still dripping from the tree; the creature hadn't gotten too far.

How had it gotten so close to Farrafut without attracting attention? Why was there only a sighting just recently? Thomas' head filled with questions, but he knows the only way to find out is to get a good look at the monster first.

From his satchel came a thin coil of rope several meters long. Every two meters, the rope carefully coils around strange small fruits resembling a raspberry. The rope holds each berry, known locally as a flashberry, tight enough that they can't slide off, yet not too much that it might burst them open. The length of the modified rope itself could cover quite a significant distance, yet Thomas decides to abstain from using it too early. He needed to make sure he'd had enough to survey a deeper area.

Gribb is not as big as other forests in the region, but it is commonly used as an efficient trade route to Farrafut. Every day, several merchants would make their way across the evergreen to deliver goods to the town, so it would be a very serious issue if some monster finds out they could be easy prey.

After cautiously traversing a barely visible trail, He finally came across the spot he was looking for. On a small clearing was a pile of animal carcasses, each looking like they were freshly hunted. Intelligence is never a good sign. Wasting no time, he unraveled the rope and methodically set up a perimeter around the clearing, the thin line just barely visible as it blends in with the thick shrubbery.

Once the "spotting ground" was set, all that was left to do was to look for a good place to hide. Reaching once more into his satchel, he took out a large dark green cloak and a small flask containing a cyan-colored liquid. He then sprinkled the cloak with the contents of the flask and hid behind a large mossy boulder. He only had his dagger at hand, so it is imperative he avoids conflict at all costs. Even with a signal flare, it would still take an hour or two for Farrafut's cavalry to reach him.

Perhaps he should've bought more bread. It didn't look like the monster was anywhere close by for the time being. If it was, it would've definitely attacked him as soon as he reached the clearing. The concealment potion will mask his scent for a few hours, so he considered taking a nap while he waits.

Time passes by as he dozes off. The forest used to be popular among novice adventurers, but now it was famous for its tranquility. Sometimes he wonders if it would be ok to just set up camp here and live a simple life.

A simple life wouldn't be so bad. After all, he had lived nearly his entire life on the streets of a cold and miserable city, he never experienced the leisure of living normally in the temperate wonderland.

But just as he was starting to have nice dreams, Thomas heard a pop.

The tiny lightweight seeds of a flashberry are not only meant for proliferation, but for self-defense as well. When an unripe fruit is severely damaged, the seeds come flying out with a loud pop, along with highly irritating chemicals. It would not be enough to incapacitate a large monster, but it helps to keep it distracted for a few minutes.

Thomas immediately checked the rope. By keeping the rope slightly dangling, he made sure that small animals could not accidentally trigger the rope if they touch it. The only things capable of setting the berries would be those that weigh no lighter than an adolescent human child.

He carefully followed the tugs on the thin rope, keeping his dagger at the ready at all times. He is yet to find out what he was dealing with, but a good measure is to never let one's guard down.

On the opposite side of the clearing, he sees the rope contorted behind a bush, followed by several flashberries setting off. Thomas waited in nervous anticipation for an ear-shattering roar to confirm his suspicions.

"WAAAAAHH! I SURRENDEEER!"

Strange, he thought. That doesn't sound like a monster.

If anything, it sounds more like a girl.

"W-What is this?! Why is there a trap here?! Is anyone there?"

Yes, definitely a girl; or a very convincing mimic.

After a minute-long of more crying and more flashberries detonating, Thomas decided to check who or what was caught in his trap or else it might attract more wild animals.

Without breaking his stealth, he carefully made his way to the source of the insistent yelling while keeping a close eye on the clearing. With all the noise the girl was making, they'd most likely encounter whatever was lurking in the forest soon.

Finally, he reaches the bush where the voice was coming from. Peering through the leaves, he confirms his suspicions.

Entangled tightly in a complicated cluster of thin rope that used to be his makeshift monster tripwire, is a person covered in small seeds and irritating plant chemicals. Her slender figure was undeniably that of a girl in her mid to late teens. She donned a short dirty cloak that covered most of her head and upper body, but Thomas could see a bit of her long straight pitch-black hair poking out. Her clothing is of a strange design, nothing like he had seen before, but the leather padding near the vitals suggests it was made for protection. She kept her eyes shut, perhaps because of the irritants from the flashberries. But her face, though haggard and wet with tears and plant fluids, was pure and unadulterated by any blemishes. She was suspended in an unusual manner, which was strange because the rope was not meant to entangle anything. It might be because of the shock and panic that she had found herself in that predicament.

"Hey, you alright?" Thomas quietly asked.

"Who's there? I'm sorry but I don't have any money right now so please let me go. I promise I won't report you or anything,"

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you," Thomas reassured. "Sorry miss, I didn't know there were other people nearby. Give me a sec, I'm gonna untie you,"

"Eh? Umm... It's ok, I was also a bit careless. If it's not too much of a bother, can you wipe my eyes first? They burn really badly..."

"Sure thing, "

Thomas took out a small handkerchief and gently wiped the muck off the girl's face. Still feeling the sting of the flashberries, she hesitates for a moment before slowly opening a pair of glistening scarlet red eyes. He didn't notice it before, but she was a rather attractive young woman.

He wondered how a girl like her got this deep into the forest. Though there are fewer monsters lately, It's still not advisable to go to these parts alone.

After blinking a couple of times, she seemed to be regaining her vision.

"Thank you, It's still a bit irritating, but it feels bet-" before she could finish, she suddenly stopped once she got a good look at Thomas.

Her eyes widened briefly, before turning into a hundred-yard stare. Thomas, confused by her reaction, stopped as well.

"Are you perhaps an adventurer?" she asked soullessly.

"Y-yes?"

"Ah, I see," her face turned flushed. "May I make a request? Can you please make it clean and painless? Oh, and if it's ok with you I would like to have a few last words as well,"

"What...?" Thomas didn't know how to respond.

The girl teared up and began to sob.

"Kali...I'm sorry for screwing up again..."

"No I-I just said I wasn't gonna hurt you, honest! Why are talking like that?"

Something was definitely off-putting about this girl. Even worse, he realized the position he found himself in. A girl is tied up and crying. If anyone else saw them right now, they'd most likely get the wrong idea. This is bad, very bad.

"Seriously, stop crying," he tried his best to console her. "Just hold still. You'll be free in no time,"

He was initially going to just undo the knots that bind her little by little, but he needed to get this over with as soon as possible. It's a waste, but he'd have to cut it.

But as he took out his dagger to sever the rope, the girl started flailing wildly again.

"Eep! I change my mind, that dagger looks too rusty! I really don't know If I'm worth any bounty so you don't have to waste effort on me!"

"Hey, quit squirming! I might actually cut you!"

After a long and exhausting struggle, Thomas was finally able to free the girl. However, it didn't save him from a few cuts from her kicks.

"I...told you...I wasn't gonna lay a finger on you..." Thomas kneeled on the ground to catch his breath.

"You're really not going to cash me in for a bounty?"

"Of course not! Damn, what is the matter with you?"

The girl, keeping her distance, leaned on a nearby tree while wiping off some of the remaining flashberries residues on her clothes. Strangely, she kept the hood over her head despite having to wipe the top of her head as well.

"Then, thank you very much Mr...?"

"Thomas, Thomas Fetcher. No need to add a Mr,"

He was only 22, though he's aware his face doesn't show it sometimes.

"I see, my name is Sofirus von Valefar. Though I prefer just Sofie," she said with a respectful bow. "I thank you for your kindness,"

Sofie cautiously approached Thomas to return his handkerchief then quickly returned to her previous distance once he took it.

"Now I'd you'd excuse me, I'll be on my way now. Goodbye!" she said before running off in a hurry, leaving Thomas in utter bewilderment.

Thomas tried to recount what had just happened. Weird, he concluded. Everything about her was weird. Even her name was out of the ordinary or at least compared to the other residents of the province of Jylle. Maybe it's best not to get involved with her any further.

But as he watched her image disappear quickly behind the tree trunks, he came to a sudden realization.

"That's not the way out of the forest,"

Sofie was going deeper into the forest. Thomas wasn't sure if she had any weapons she can use to protect herself, but judging from her outfit, there was no way she could've been equipped with anything larger than a short sword.

"Hey! You're going the wrong way!" he tried to warn her, but it seems she had gone far enough that she couldn't hear him.

The Rabid Jackal, or whatever he was dealing with, hasn't appeared yet, but it would've likely been drawn to all their yelling earlier. With the recent happenings, Thomas would've packed his belongings and try again tomorrow, however that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

After breathing a loud, slightly infuriated sigh, he decided to give chase. It's definitely not a good day for someone to get hurt.

"[Prowl] [Scan],"

He decided to use his simple magic to get to her faster. His senses significantly improved along with the speed at which he ran. Tracks of Sofie's movement across the shrubbery were highlighted in his vision, giving him a clear path to follow. Before long, she was within his line of sight again. She seemed to have stopped running and was searching for something.

"Sofie!" he yelled.

"Huh? Thomas? What are you- No, don't tell me,"

Her face shifted from confusion to terror as she turned and ran once again. She was a lot faster this time around, probably due to adrenaline. But despite that, Thomas had no trouble catching up to her. Soon he was almost at arm's reach.

"I knew it! You really are after me!" she screamed.

"That's not it, you numbskull! Just listen for a second!"

"I humbly decline! You were going to trick me again, I can already tell!"

"It's not safe here! There's a monster si-"

"It certainly isn't. Not until you leave me alone!"

Thomas was getting nowhere.

With the peaceful option thrown straight out of the window and sunset getting closer, he decided to just stop her by force. He reached out and grabbed her by the hand, both nearly losing their balance before completely stopping.

"How fiendish... giving me the sliver of hope then snatching it away once I let my guard down. You adventurers are as devious as I had imagined. No wonder the-"

"I SAID LISTEN," Thomas, visibly upset, grabbed Sofie by her shoulders. "I couldn't care less what you're talking about, but there have been reports of a dangerous monster in this area and it's partly my job as an adventurer to make sure idiots like you get to go home with all your limbs attached. If you don't want me to drag you out of here, you'd do us both a favor and allow me to escort you out, capeesh?"

"...capeesh"

"Good," he slowly let go of the girl. "Luckily, we're not too far from a shortcut that leads directly out of the forest. See that tree-"

As he pointed, Thomas suddenly stopped. There was something behind the woods that wasn't there before. It stared at them with two pairs of blood-red eyes whilst swinging a large spiked tail along the shrubbery.

"That's not a Rabid Jackal, either,"