"Ooo, I can't wait to explore the forest tomorrow! I'm so tired of this snow."
"I've never seen trees so big they block the snow from touching the ground. At least it'll be easier to travel, and we can cover more distance too. If we head straight for Rumble City we'll have to cross some bridge? It shouldn't take us no longer than a week."
"A week just to make it to a bridge? Jugo this better be a joke," complained Hisoka.
"All the sanctuaries are far apart. Even though the wandering woods are within eyesight it'll still take two days to get to the Sequoia Sanctuary and that's if we don't get lost."
"Ok ok, I get it. Is the curse still affecting you?"
"Not really, my arm is still a little sore but I should be good."
"How about you Kyou?"
"I'm still feeling a bit drained. I should be good as new by tomorrow if Hisoka makes more of that stew."
"It's getting dark and I don't even have a rabbit to make with the stew."
"Aw!" Disgruntled by the turn of events Kyou sits down on a log by the fire. Hiding her hand behind her she uses 'Hivemind' a technique that spreads her vines wide and thin to sense the vibrations of this in the area. Kyou starts sweating profusely the more and more she uses her vines. Locating a rabbit under a bush she snares it in her vines. Squealing under the bush the rabbit alerts Jugo and Hisoka. Checking out the bush Hisoka turns around.
"Kyou you have to be careful using your gift while inflicted by the curse it's dangerous."
"I'm gonna get more dangerous if I don't get any more of that stew."
"If you like it that much I'll show you how to make it." While Jugo packs his map back up a faint scent can be smelt coming from the forest. He stares blindly off into the dark abyss almost as if he's waiting for something to emerge from it.
"Is he ok? Hey, Jugo wanna help us make the stew!" Snapping out of a trance he turns.
"Yeah let me just put away the map." That night the trio learned from each other. Hisoka taught them how to make rabbit stew. Kyou taught them how to weave bracelets using all of their hair. Jugo taught them how to know what direction they were going by using the stars. As the trio slept under the stars Jugo dreamed of the scent he smelled.
"There it is again what is that?" Looking around he stares off into the forest. Entering a trance-like state Jugo gets up from his sleeping bag and slowly walks into the forest. Each tree he passes the deeper the darkness becomes. A pair of red glowing eyes appear above Jugo. Staring off into a blank void he doesn't react. Waiting for Jugo to get closer the eyes reach out to sniff him. Stopping right before the eyes its mouth opens wide biting Jugo's torso off. Jumping awake screaming Jugo scans his surroundings looking for the beast from his dream.
"What happened who's attacking?"
"No one the pore thing had a nightmare."
"Kyou why are you up so early? You need rest."
"Oh I'm fine the curse is pretty much gone."
"Pretty much gone doesn't sound like fully recovered. You don't know what could be in those woods that we have to go through to get where you want to go!"
"I thought we agreed that going to Rumble City was the best plan?"
"Yeah, but that's beside the point. It was your idea to go yet you're the least prepared. Jugo has the map and compass, and I cook the food while you've been playing in the snow. You need to be more prepared and focused. How is it that you've been calling the shots but Jugo's been leading us everywhere?"
"I don't have to take that from you! I'm the one that got us over the wall. We wouldn't even be here without me! If you don't want to go to Rumble City then you don't have to. I'll go by myself!" Angrily packing her bag Kyou storms off into the woods.
"Kyou wait! Hisoka go apologize!"
"No, she doesn't listen! She's impulsive, unprepared, and always has to do things her way!"
"Exactly! An impulsive girl who was unprepared just walked off to the forest by herself. Can you sleep good at night knowing you left her to die by herself?"
"Shit. Ok let's hurry and pack up she couldn't have gotten far." Walking through the grassy forest Kyou complains about the argument. While complaining she looks up to see green sunbeams shining through the ice and leaves. Losing track of what direction she's going Kyou's stomach growls. Wandering around she finds an apple tree too high for her to reach. Extending her arm out Kyou tries to channel nature energy but sweats bullets straining herself. Feeling woozy she stops to catch her breath. Vision getting more blurry by the second Kyou passes out under the apple tree landing on a moss patch around the trunk.
"Damn, where did she go! Jugo can you smell her or something?"
"No, my sense of smell has been weird since we got close to the forest. It's almost like something rubbed itself on the entire forest."
"Is that why you've been acting weird staring off into the forest and waking us up screaming? Do you think something is in here with us?"
"I hate to say it but yes, and whatever it is it's big. We have to find her now."
"Way ahead of you. I don't have the curse so I'll look around from the branches with my gift you cover the ground."
"Got it." Looking around for a bit Hisoka points out.
"There's a shorter tree over there let's check it out."
"It's just an apple tree."
"But all the apples are still on the tree. Isn't that a bit odd, especially because we're in the wild?" Walking around the tree Hisoka asks.
"How big do you think that thing is?"
"I don't know, why?"
"I think I found its claw marks." Jugo comes around revealing two feet long claw marks.
"Jugo use your gift! Run as fast as you can and find her we need to leave Now!" Using the speed of a rabbit Jugo sprints through the forest with Hisoka following through the trees.
"There she is!" Running up to her Jugo checks for a pulse.
"She's alive but unconscious." Jumping down from the trees Hisoka demands.
"She must have tried to use her vines to get an apple and passed out from the curse. Get her on my back so we can leave." A loud thump could be heard from behind the tree. The leaves rustle as a branch snaps back. Crunch, with just one sound everything went from bad to worse. Emerging from the back of the tree a large bear finishes its apple.
"That's way too big to be a bear!"
"That's it! That's what I saw in my dream!" Peering down at the boys. The zenith bear roars at them.
"Run!" the group ran through the forest weaving between trees. Giving no leeway the zenith bear keeps up closing in on the boys.
"Here take her!" Passing Kyou to Jugo Hisoka aims his bow at the bear. Firing off a flurry of arrows they all bounce off the bear's thick hide. Growing more irritated the bear lunges at Hisoka swiping at him. The bear barely misses him ripping his bag open.
"Take her back ill distract it!" exchanging Kyou Jugo breaks away from Hisoka.
"Over here moss ball!" Changing its focus to Jugo the bear charges. Jugo turns both of his arms into bear claws to fight back. He gets a few blows in but gets swiped away and thrown into a tree.
"Jugo!"
"I'm good. My arms have a bear's thick skin too." Jugo's arm shivers from the swipe and the effects of the curse.
"I have to end this soon." Clenching his fist Jugo prepares to fight again. Using his speed he swiftly dodges the bear's strikes and lands a few of his own too. Looking around Jugo breaks a branch off of a nearby tree. Grinding the dirt under his foot he breaks off into a full power sprint. The bear swipes again but Jugo slides under it. Jumping backwards he spins around stabbing the bear in the left eye. Enraged from the pain the bear stands on his hind legs and roars. Slamming its paws down the bear destroys the ground beneath Jugo's feet tripping him. The bear's golden opportunity arises. It swipes at Jugo again sending him flying into another tree and back to the ground. Struggling to stand Jugo crawls towards Hisoka.
"Jugo get your ass up now!" standing on his knees Jugo exclaims with a smile.
"Be a good friend and keep her safe." Looming over Jugo the bear bites down on Jugo's head and right side of his body.
"Jugo!" Running away with tears in his eyes Hisoka carries Kyou desperately looking for an exit.