*Gruuuhhh...
"What's that noise...?" Chloe asked in a scared and quiet voice.
"It may be a monster... Get ready to fight." Alex responded.
"Izel senses danger...!" Izel claimed, staring at a bush.
Alex, Izel, and Chloe all faced a different direction, getting ready to fight as they remained on guard. Suddenly, a deer towards them. The deer has green, fluffy fur, and it has two large antlers. It looked like an animal that lived in the forest, trying to camouflage in its surroundings. Only this time, it's running away from something. Just as the deer was about to crash into them, Izel pushed Chloe away, both dodging the deer. Alex couldn't dodge in time, so he had to use his greatsword to block the deer from hitting him.
"T-That was close..." Chloe sighed in relief after recovering from the impact of the fall.
"Thanks, Izel." Chloe smiled warily, getting back on her feet.
"Izel will always protect Chloe. Is Chloe really alright?" Izel asked in a worried tone.
"Yes, I'm alright," Chloe replied, walking towards Izel.
"Okay..." Izel said, skeptical of Chloe.
Izel knew that Chloe has a weak body. She would always worry about her, making sure Chloe's doing fine. Those two girls were like sisters—Izel being the older one.
"Too... Strong...! A little help here, please!" Alex yelled, sounding desperate for some help.
Alex was still blocking the deer, getting pushed back every second. Chloe was a little dazed from the fall. Izel raised her right hand, aiming it near Alex.
"Izel will help. Quickly dodge, redhead!"
Izel created a barrier in front of Alex, giving him the chance to escape unharmed. The barrier soon shattered, causing the deer to run away.
"Phew... Thanks, but... Who in the world are you calling redhead??! I have a name, you know...!" Alex argued, sighing.
Izel stared at Alex for a good second, then looked away, ignoring him.
"Urgh, you...! Humph, whatever."
Alex looked away too. Izel looked indifferent while Alex seemed pissed.
"Anyways, why was that deer running away? Usually, those types of animals are pretty calm." Alex changed the topic, trying to keep calm.
"Izel has never seen a deer like that, but Izel knows that prey who can't fight would run away. Deers have antlers. If they're running away, it probably means that they met something they know they can't fight. At least not a fight they can win." Izel said as if the argument between her and Alex had never happened.
"We should find shelter before anything else. We have some food, water, and money. Running into monsters, especially strong ones, would get us killed." Chloe exclaimed, clenching onto the magic pistol in her pocket.
"Izel agrees with Chloe."
"Okay, let's try to find shelter then. We have to stay together while doing so, got it? I don't want to lose anyone." Alex said, unsure of where he should go.
"Izel hears a river nearby."
"Are you sure there's a river around here?" Alex questioned, doubting Izel.
"Izel is sure. Izel can smell it clearly! Follow Izel!"
Izel sped walked towards the direction of the river she said she could hear and smell.
"Izel has a very great sense of hearing and smell. Just trust her. You're unsure of where to go anyway." Chloe stated the truth, following Izel.
"Fine, just this once," Alex muttered, following the two girls.
...
Alex, Izel, and Chloe arrived at a river after speed walking for a few minutes.
"Oh... She's right." Alex said, shocked by Izel's talents.
"I told you," Chloe whispered.
"Izel found a cave!"
Alex and Chloe ran towards Izel.
"If I were you, I could have founded it easily," Alex claimed.
"Uh-huh, sure."
Chloe rolled her eyes.
"I never knew you had this kind of personality. You look like the fragile and shy type." Alex said loudly on purpose.
"That is why you should never judge a person by their looks. You have a lot to learn, kid." Chloe stated.
"What??? I bet I'm older than you." Alex confidently said.
"How old are you?" Chloe asked, tilting her head to one side slightly.
"E-Eleven... What about you?"
Alex felt less confident now that he realized that Chloe was taller than him by a few inches.
"I'm 13. You should respect people that are older than you."
Chloe smiled innocently.
"Pah...!"
Alex looked away, unpleased by his loss.
"Chloe, redhead! Are you both coming inside the cave to explore it or no?" Izel butted in, waiting for the two of them to answer her.
"We're coming, Izel," Chloe replied, walking towards Izel.
Alex followed Chloe as he remained silent about the whole situation.
"You guys, wait a second."
Alex stopped the two girls from entering the cave.
"Look at the footprints. There are signs of animals and other monsters going in, but there aren't any going out. Maybe we shouldn't go in. Let's find another place to stay." Alex suggested, finally speaking up.
"Ah, you're right, midget. Izel, don't go in." Chloe ordered.
Izel nodded obediently.
"Izel saw those footprints. However, Izel thought we could defeat whatever that as inside it. The footprints aren't large." Izel pointed out.
"Better be safe than sorry," Alex exclaimed, putting both of his hands inside the pockets of his pants has casually.
"Also... Who are you calling a midget, old hag?"
Alex looked at Chloe with an angry face.
"I'm telling the truth. Haha, me? An old hag? Pfttt... Yeah, right. We're only two about two years apart. If I'm an old hag, what are you? An infant?" Chloe smirked, knowing that she had won the argument.
Alex kept his mouth shut, unable to think of any comebacks. Chloe giggled, satisfied because she won the argument twice already.