peculiar trio

In a forest a peculiar group gathered, a human, a semi-beast and an Elf. The group had been breathing heavily and unrestrainedly.

[Did anyone get hurt while fleeing?]

[All right here, plus some scratches. Fortunately the assassins weren't using poison on the blades]

The answer was Nor, a human male in his thirties, 1.86m tall, with short blond hair and golden eyes. Wearing scuffed leather armor and a dangerous gash to his abdomen deep enough to cut through his garment and draw some blood.

After these words he patrolled his surroundings looking for any unwanted visitors.

Unfortunately he wasn't the worst of the bunch.

[I'm cool too, but I'll need a helping hand here Amelia]

Khan a fifty-year-old semi-beast, wearing only a pair of pants, with a ridiculously muscular body and scars showing for all to see, six feet tall and a grizzly bear coat covering his back, legs and arm, atop his back. head a pair of small animal ears.

Unfortunately during the escape he was injured and lost one of his arms. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, the man left the group leader to tend to his wound.

Amelia, the leader of the group and the oldest over a hundred years old and looking like a young woman in her twenties, has straight brown hair and vibrant green eyes that seemed to glow, standing 1.63m tall, slim figure with A-breasts. cup and pointy ears, something common of their race.

Kneeling in front of the werebear, Amelia stretched out her arms and cast a simple spell.

[𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠]

A small circle of intricate runes formed over the man's severed forearm, quickly closing the wound, unfortunately not recovering the lost limb.

[*sigh* this should be for a while, we need to find a place to rest, we've been running away for days on end and I don't think we'll make it without restoring at least a little of the energy... even my spirit can't take all this turmoil anymore ]

Amelia then looked at a small cloth bag at her waist where a small fairy slept.

[but it's going to get tough with the assassins chasing us, at least we're out of alliance territory and we're almost in the Tormented Desert]

[yes, this is the last forest and also our last cover, moving forward will only be desert]

After a few minutes of silence, Nor came back with a tired face.

[the assassins will take at least an hour to get close, we have a clear path to leave]

Amelia then stood up and looked around as she stretched her limbs, they were in a pretty large clearing, some trees fallen around them and a little grass growing in the place.

{something is not right}

Following the hunch Amelia approached the fallen tree and then realized it had been knocked over by something.

[Nor, during patrol, how many monsters did you see?]

[hmm... actually I didn't see any within 500 meters, I also saw a monster's nest, probably a bird. This forest region doesn't seem to have many monsters]

{so it was a false shot? No, whatever knocked down the trees must have a reason and if there's nothing around here, it must be your territory}

[Don't let your guard down, let's take our advantage and move quietly, look for something to eat and recover as much as we can. Enjoy this, then we have to run in open country and in the heat]

Khan and Nor looked at each other for a brief moment and sighed, the werebear then rose and formed up, he being in the front using his keen senses to lead the way, Amelia in the center giving the orders and helping in the fight and Nor behind taking care of any ambush.

The group walked a few minutes in silence until they saw a stream, it was even possible to see some fish jumping or simply passing by with the flow of water.

[hoho I was smelling the smell from afar, then, does anyone buy a fish for lunch?]

The werebear didn't wait for an answer as he entered the stream and began fishing with his hand, tossing the fish towards the group.

It was then that Nor noticed something and couldn't help but laugh.

[hey old bear, where's your space ring? Wouldn't it be easier to throw your catch at him?]

Khan stared at the laughing human with a smug face and pointed at what was left of his arm.

[turns his ass this way, my hand must be somewhere in there with my ring]

[I'm wondering, old man! Your...]

[you two arrive! Khan keep fishing and Nor put everything in your storage ring, until we deliver the package you're responsible for the supplies, understood?!]

[[Yes ma'am!]]

The pair soon went back to work, but they could see that something was wrong, Amelia was pale and sweating, she was nervous about something and didn't hide it.

After a little more than twenty minutes the group had caught some fish and some fruit they found in the surroundings, it was time to leave the forest.

Moving forward, the group was almost out of the forest, but the discomfort of seeing their leader ready for a fight, even though there were no signs of enemies around. Amelia circulated mana through her body in a discreet and slow way, her right hand did not move away from her belt, where her rapier was.

It was then that Nor could stand it no longer and asked in a low tone.

[what's the matter with you? Weren't you the one who said to take it easy before leaving the forest? You're acting so scared you don't even look like the same person we know!]

Amelia then turned her face back a little and gave a small, rare smile, but that wasn't what caught her attention, no, it was the fear in her eyes, a pure terror, like a prey that knows there's no escape and he was just enjoying his last moments.

[do you know the name of the forest we are in?]

Before Nor could complain about the obvious attempt to sidestep his question, Khan responded.

[Frontier of the Nest]

[right then, has anyone seen any bird monsters so far? Or rather, have you seen any animals besides fish?]

Before there was any response, Amelia spoke in the most serious tone she could manage.

[No matter what happens, no matter what monster we see on the way, don't look back and most importantly, don't stop walking, or we'll all die]

...