Khio ceases her struggling and Florian could finally let go without the fear of her wanting to charge back into the fray. Rhetta kept looking out, peaking around the area where they left their horses. Imperial knights had the same idea, so it seemed. They seized the horses, as they had imperial brands on their necks.
Local knights run to join the imperial knights, the air of discord between them is evident. Just by the manner in which the imperial knights looked down on the local knights, however, still required their numbers and knowledge of the area. They would be subjected to the dirty work. They systematically split into various groups to search for the escapees.
"We need to go further into the forest. They won't follow us too deep if they are convinced that we are still in the village." Rhetta states prompting the three to take off running blindly into the forest. The knights get close but they don't make any effort to search in the forest and with only their dismal torchlight that fails to penetrate the darkness of the thick forest proves a heavy obstruction.
They run further in, seeing nothing but tree after tree after losing sight of the entrance. None of them were familiar with the forest of Kilerth and it may have been a risky choice considering it would be nightfall soon. They soon find themselves in a forest clearing, the surrounding trees bordering their temporary sanctuary. It has some flowers and a large pond.
Florian drops down to the forest floor to catch her breath as well as Rhetta and Khio who sit down trying to steady themselves. The exhaustion was finally taking its toll.
"It's getting ridiculous now! Since when have the imperial knights ever been dispatched to small villages like this?" Khio flails her hands about.
"They seem very intent on taking our heads. I don't think we can risk travelling through villages anymore." Rhetta warns, wiping the sweat off of her forehead. "We'll have to find a new route...It's going to be difficult in terms of supplies and now accounting for the fact we don't have horses. It will be tough."
Rhetta looks at one of the tree stumps with evident scars from an axe, unfortunate for the tree that stood here but convenient for a makeshift table. "Florian, do you still have that 'map' on you?"
Florian pulls out the raggedy map from her bag, with everything that had been happening it was expected for the map to get damaged in the mess. Khio sits near the pond and rests against a tree. Rhetta spreads the terrible map on the tree stump, "Florian, is there anything to write with?"
She pulls out her makeshift pencil, it was a tad crude looking. Being a long piece of charcoal wrapped in a bandage, but it got the job done. Rhetta fiddles with the pencil while trying to make sense of the map. Looking at one it was easy to plot out things, following maps in person was her downfall. Though it would be alright with Khio.
"Legacy is located in Azmar village. If we were following the same roads we were previously, it would have taken us through Cromer village, Glanstead and Hilgrim." Rhetta draws the route, circling each of the villages she mentioned. "From there, we could either follow Radlow river which would take longer but be an easier trip, or cut through Epterre pass."
She sighs and taps the makeshift pencil against their improvised table...
"Cutting out villages is our next option. That will mean going through Rosnora forest. It will take us directly to Epterre. The only problem is Rosnora is known to be filled with dangerous beasts." Rhetta continues mumbling to herself and trying to map out the safest route possible. Each one arises with its own issues and challenges. If it's not beasts, then it's knights. However, the fact remained that they had Khio with them and that made Rhetta a little more secure in contending against the beasts. 'What about supplies? We'd have to stop at villages for those unless we solely rely on the forest.'
The surface of the pond rippled, something peered out at the group and lurked beneath the water. The small break of the water's surface was not enough to warrant worry from the group. Who all thought it was most likely a fish or something of the sort.
The unknown figure encroaches and stalks closer, and Khio stands. Walking over to glance at the route Rhetta was charting out, while Florian looked on with fascination. With everyone none the wiser, a dark hand came creeping from the water. Slithering along the ground before wrapping around and seizing Rhetta's ankle. She glances down at the feeling and as she spots the hand, she is pulled violently towards the water.
Florian tries to grab her hand and just barely misses. Rhetta is dragged towards the deep pond. Rhetta draws her sword and sticks it into the damp earth that surrounds the body of water. She clenches her teeth trying to hang on, struggling against the force that pulls her down. The damp ground is loose and proves a poor place to hold on.
The sword dislodges and Rhetta is pulled under.
She sinks to the depths, she grips her sword tightly and looks through the murky water to make out the shape of the hand that holds her. At a difficult and awkward angle she stabs it and injures herself in the process. The hand loosens its grip.
A deafening screech bellows from under the water and Rhetta swims back to the surface. She gasps for breath and coughs from the pain in her lungs. Khio pulls her from the water, the hand appears again to seize the prey it missed. Florian grabs the arm... What should have been its arm. "What the!? It's so slimy." She utters with disgust, struggling to keep her grip on it.
Florian glances over, the two take a defensive stance ready to fight and nod their heads. The slimy limb slips from Florian's grasp and recedes into the water. They stand with bated breath, waiting. Anticipating the moment it will strike.
A dark figure leaps from the water, standing its ground and revealing the form that was concealed by the cover of the water. The creature's size is comparable to a dog, if paid a quick glance one would assume it was a dog.
Its fur is dark brown, appearing black from being wet and spiked from the water. It is a magical creature. In place of paws its appendages resembled human hands, an elongated and easily mistakenly sentient tail that extended to another appendage, a fifth hand.
Beastly yellow eyes glare and fixate at the three, it stretches out its back trying to make itself bigger and emphasising its large spines running down its back. A low snarl falls from the creature's mouth and bares its fangs. It's hunched, and prepared to attack.
Rhetta keeps her nerves steady, Khio holds more awe and admiration in her eyes than anger or fear. Florian panicked and grabbed the nearest weapon she could, which so happened to be a broken log that would double as a club. Khio sheaths her sword and tells the others to do the same. Florian drops the log with a heavy thud that startled the others when they heard the weight. Rhetta looks hesitant, unsure if this is really the best idea. She reluctantly sheathed the sword.
The creature growls, swatting its claws in their direction as a warning. Khio lowers her stance, approaching the creature slowly and relaying that she is not a threat. The hostility does not dwindle and it only stands its ground, unwilling to relent to Khio.
"What is she doing? Will she be alright?" Florian whispers
"Just leave it to Khio, I'm sure there is no creature she can't win over. One way or another."
Khio coos to the creature in a gingerly voice. "It's alright, calm down. No one's going to hurt you." Her voice resembles a loving mother speaking to a dissatisfied child. It shrinks back, still agitated and uneasy. Khio stops and kneels in front of the creature. "Alright, you can come to me then."
Florian watches Khio's actions carefully, with a sense of curiosity and notices the subtle flow of a familiar energy that was not present earlier. It is with full certainty, the same energy she felt at the temple, and the same feeling she recognised in Khio when she glared at the knights at the execution grounds.
Khio holds her hand out trying to coax the beast, its face relaxes and ceases its snarling. It begins to settle down and tentatively approach the one who beckons it. "Down..." Khio says gently, gesturing with her hands encouraging the creature to calm down. The look in its eyes lost all hostility, though Khio knew that this little one was never hostile to begin with; just afraid.
She remains seated and unmoving, her arms welcoming it. A bird flies from the tree, the rustling and fast movement frightens the creature. Its docile movements grow erratic and wrathful in nature again. At his close proximity, it leaps towards Khio with every intent of ripping out her throat. Florian gets goosebumps from the sudden surge of energy in the air as Khio yells. "I said DOWN!"
Its attack stops, it withdraws from Khio. Shrinking into the smallest heap it possibly can, its long tail bunches between its legs before laying down. The vicious growling and snarls morphed into soft whines and whimpers, showing every sign of absolute submission towards Khio.
Khio approaches it and lovingly strokes the creature's head, all the while it stays absolutely still and docile. "I didn't want to be harsh on a pup like you."
Florian felt it clearly, the moment the surge of strange energy arose. It was neither magic, nor the vitality of a warrior. It was nothing other than divine energy.